BIRTH PREPAREDNESS AND COMPLICATION READINESS PLAN PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANET WOMAN IN ARBA MINCH ZURIA DISTRICT, GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA 202

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.