Abstract:
Background: Birth preparedness and complication readiness has been considered as
comprehensive strategy aimed at promoting the timely utilization of skilled maternal health
care. Birth preparedness and complication readiness includes identifying a skilled provider,
health facility, preparing emergency funds, transport, food and blood donor. However,
practice and factors affecting have not been well studied at in the study area.
Objective: To assess practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness and
associated factors among women who gave birth in the last twelve months in Wolliso Town
Administration, Oromia region, Ethiopia 2018.
Method: A community based cross sectional study was carried out among randomly
selected 444 women who gave birth in the last twelve months from February 12- March12,
2018. Structured pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data.
Data were coded, entered on to EPI info version 3.5.1, and exported to SPSS version 20-
computer software for analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data.
Bivariable logistic regression 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 multivariable logistic regression 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 estimated to measure the strength of the association
Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less than or equal to 0.05
Result: The practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness was 246(56.6%), 95%
CI: (53%, 60%).Women who were literate (AOR=2.73, 95% CI: 1.39, 5.38), presence of
antenatal care follow up (AOR=5.05, 95% CI: 2.67, 9.54), women with obstetric
complication (AOR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.49), information about birth preparedness
(AOR=8.28, 95% CI: 2.95, 23.23), knowledge about obstetric danger sign during pregnancy
(AOR=4.02, 95% CI: 1.78, 9.12) and knowledge about obstetric danger sign during postpartum
(AOR=3.73, 95% CI: 1.58, 8.78) were found to be significantly associated with birth
preparedness and complication readiness.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The practice of birth preparedness and complication
readiness was low in the study area. Educational status of mother, ANC visit, obstetric
complication, information about birth preparedness and knowledge on obstetric danger sign
during pregnancy and during post-partum were significantly associated with birth prepares
and complication readiness. Improving antenatal care, giving special emphasis to danger
signs are recommended.
