Abstract:
Introduction: Every pregnancy faces risks and a woman may die as a result of complications during
pregnancy and childbirth. Every day, almost 800 women died from preventable causes secondary to
pregnancy and childbirth. In Ethiopia, up to 500,000 pregnant women suffer by short-term and or long
term complications every year related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Objective: To assess birth preparedness and complication readiness plan practices and associated
factors among pregnant woman in Arba Minch zuria district, Gamo zone, SNNP: Ethiopia, 2023
Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in July 1-30/ 2023, involving 417
randomly selected pregnant women. A standardized data collection tool was used to collect and
analyze the data using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, including text, tables, and graphs, were
used to summarize the data. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the impact of risk
factors on the outcome variable. Variables with a p-value ≤ 0.25 were included in a multivariable
analysis to control for confounding and determine the independent effects of factors on birth
preparedness and complication readiness. The final model's goodness-of-fit was assessed using the
Hosmer and Lemeshow chi-square statistics. Adjusted odds ratios were used to report the associations,
with statistical significance declared at a 95% confidence interval and a p-value < 0.05.
Results: About 34.5% of women were well practiced birth preparedness and complication readiness.
Women who had one alive child (AOR=0.09; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.70),women who has no partner support
on birth preparedness and complication readiness (AOR=0.69; 95%CI: 0.24, 0.96) and no knowledge
on pregnancy danger sign (AOR=0.02; 95%CI: 0.00, 0.08) were statistically and significantly related
with birth preparedness and complication readiness.
Conclusion: The study found a concerning lack of birth preparedness and complication readiness in
the area. Several factors emerged as statistically linked to this gap, including: first-time mothers
(primiparas), limited partner support for preparing for birth and managing complications, and
inadequate knowledge of pregnancy danger signs.
