Abstract:
Background:A majority of maternal deaths are considered preventable, if pregnant women
are prepared for birth and complications and have timely access to appropriate
interventions when obstetric complications occur.
Objective: To assess birth preparedness, complication readiness and associated factors
among pregnant women attending antenatal care services at public health facilities in
Harari Region, Ethiopia, 2018.
Methods:A Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from randomly
selected 419 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic from April 02, 2018 to Augest 31, 2018.
Structured pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were
coded, entered on to EPI Data version 3.0, and exported to SPSS version 20 computer software for
analysis. Bivariateand multivariate analysis was performed to assess the association between each
independent and dependent variable. All variables with p-value of less than 0.25 were entered into
multivariate analysis to control for all possible confounders and to identify factors associated with
birth preparedness and complication readiness. Odds Ratios along with 95% Confidence intervals
were constructed tomeasure the strength of the association and level of statistical significance was
set at 0.05.
Results:Birth preparedness and complication readiness was 210(52.1%), 95% CI: (47.2%, 56.9%).
Women who whose age was 35 and above (AOR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.95, 10.96). Women who were
urban residence (AOR=3.61, 95% CI: 1.46, 8.96), women who planned to get pregnancy
(AOR=3.64, 95% CI: 2.17, 6.09), women who heared term BPCR (AOR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.08,
2.92), knowledge about obstetric danger sign during pregnancy (AOR=3.27, 95% CI: 1.88, 5.69)
and knowledge about obstetric danger sign during child birth(AOR=6.10, 95% CI: 2.60, 14.31)
were found to be significantly associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The status of Birth preparedness and complication
readiness was 52.1%, Maternal age ≥35, urban residence, planned pregnancy, heared term
BPCR, knowledge of obstetric danger sign during pregnancy and during childbirth were
significantly associated with birth prepares and complication readiness. there for maternal
health care provider in collaboration with health extention workershould work on
information about BPCR and inhance their knowledge about danger sign during pregnancy
and child birth. further morerural residence and unplanned pregnancy need to get more
attention.
