MATERNAL MORBIDITY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS WHO CAME FOR CHILD BIRTH AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF EAST ARSI ZONE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Maternal morbidity refers to any health condition complicating pregnancy and childbirth that has a negative impact on the woman's wellbeing. Despite improvements in maternal mortality and morbidity, approximately 830 women die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth-related complications globally each day. Although, the concept of maternal morbidity is emerging analogous to maternal near miss, there is a paucity of evidence on its magnitude and factors associated with it particularly in the study area. Objective: To determine the magnitude of maternal morbidity and associated factors among mothers who came for childbirth at public hospitals of East Arsi Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia from July 1- August 30/2023. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 660 mothers who gave birth at public hospitals. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire supplemented with review of medical records. Data was entered using Epi-Data 3.1 software and analyzed using SPSS 24. Association was described using adjusted odds ratio along with 95% CI and statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. Result: In this study, the magnitude of maternal morbidity was 59.2% with 95% CI (55%-63%). Factors such as, gravidity (AOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.15-3.70), having history of stillbirth (AOR: 2.04, CI: 1.03-4.05), having history of abortion (AOR: 2.17, 95% CI:1.23-3.91), history of complication in previous pregnancy (AOR: 7.97, CI: 4.14-15.4), women who gave birth by cesarean section for current pregnancy (AOR: 2.92, CI: 1.59-5.37), birth preparedness plan (AOR: 2.64, CI: 1.379-5.068), ANC follow up (AOR: 7.28, CI: 5.01-11.4) and women with first delay (AOR: 3.78, CI: 1.768-8.075) were independent predictors of maternal morbidity. Conclusions and recommendations: According to this study, nearly three out of every five women developed maternal morbidity in this study area. Ensuring a continuum of care from antepartum to intrapartum; strengthening ANC and attention to mothers with bad obstetric history, might have a contribution to minimize maternal morbidity cases