COMPLETION AND PREDICTORS OF MATERNITY CONTINUUM OF CARE AMONG WOMEN IN THE POST-PARTUM PERIOD IN GEDEB DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

“Maternity continuum of care” refers to the continuity of care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and after delivery. Although it is an effective strategy for improving maternal and child health, the coverage of these interventions was low. Furthermore, there is limited evidence on completion and predictors of maternity continuum of care particularly in Gedeb district. Objective: To assess the completion and predictors of the maternity continuum of care among post partum women who gave birth in last 6 months in Gedeb district, southern Ethiopia; from june 1 to 30, 2022. Method and Material: A community based, cross sectional study was conducted, among 625 women with in 6week- 6 months post postpartum period, Simple random sampling was employed to select study participants. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect data through face-to-face interviews. Data were coded and entered into Epi-data-3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 26. A bivariable analysis with 95% CI was performed, and variables with P value < 0.25 during binary logistic regression were entered into a multivariable analysis to identify the predictors of maternity continuum of care. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) along with their 95% confidence interval was used to measure association of independent variables with the outcome variable and level of significance was declared at p<0.05. Results: The study revealed that only 32.00% (200) (95% CI:28.45 – 35.77) of women completed the Maternity continuum of care. Maternal education status with primary education [AOR=2.09; 95% CI (1.23, 3.55)] and with secondary and above education [AOR=1.97; 95% CI (1.01, 3.87)], get counselled by health care provider during ANC [AOR=1.89; 95% CI (1.22, 2.92)], well prepared on birth preparedness and complication readiness plan [AOR=4.13; 95% CI (2.23, 7.62)] and being knowledgeable on the key obstetric danger sign [AOR=4.13; 95% CI (2.60, 6.55)] were significantly associated with maternity continuum of care. Conclusion: The completion of maternity continuum of care completion was relatively low in the study area. Therefore, improving the educational status of women, counselling during antenatal care follow-up for subsequent care, ensuring knowledge of the women on obstetric danger signs and health promotion programs aimed to improve birth preparedness and complication readiness plan is crucial to increase level of maternity continuum of care.