HOME DELIVERY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS WHO GAVE BIRTH LAST TWELVE MONTHS IN MAKUEY DISTRICT, NUER ZONE, GAMBELLA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Home delivery is defined as any birth occurring at home rather than in health facility, is considered an unsafe form of delivery and, is associated with high risk of maternal and peri-natal mortality and other pregnancy complications. Typically maternal mortality rate is becoming excessively high, (94% of it) happened in low-resource settings countries, and most could have been prevented worldwide. It has become increasingly clear that Maternal Mortality Rate in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly attributed to home delivery. Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of home delivery and its associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the past twelve months in Makuey District, Nuer zone, Gambella Region, Ethiopia, and the study started from April 15- May 15, 2022. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 584 randomly selected mothers who gave birth in the past 12 months in Makuey District, Nuer zone, Gambella Region, Ethiopia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The descriptive result was presented using 95% CI. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors independently associated with the place of delivery. The analytical result was presented in adjusted odds ratio (AOR). P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Result: Home delivery is found to be 38.5% (95% CI: 34.4- 42.5) in this study. Not having a written birth preparedness plan (AOR: 4.11; 95% CI: 2.45-6.89), women’s dissatisfaction towards opinions of delivery services (AOR: 5.10; 95% CI: 2.67-9.75), not having mass media exposure (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.24-3.81), and no antenatal care visits (AOR: 4.70; 95% CI: 2.81-7.85) were found to be significantly associated with home delivery. Conclusion: Home delivery was high in Makuey district, Nuer zone. Birth preparedness, maternal dissatisfaction towards the opinions of delivery, history of ANC visits, and media exposure about delivery services were found to increase home delivery. Activities targeting plans for birth preparedness, good services provision in health facilities, encouraging numbers of ANC visits, and health facility delivery benefits advocacy in media were the crucial areas to tackle the problems.