Status of Skilled Birth Attendance Utilization and Determinants Among Women of Child Bearing Age in Chencha Woreda, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia, December 2016

Abstract

Abbreviations: ANC, antenatal care; BEmONC, basic emergency obstetrics and neonatal care; C/S, cesarean section; CemON, comprehensive and emergency obstetrics and neonatal care; CI, confidence interval; DHS, demographic and health survey; EDHS, ethiopian demographic and health survey; EmOC, emergency obstetric care; ETB, ethiopian birr; HEW, health extension worker; HF, health facility; HSDP, health sector development program; MDG, millennium development goal; MMR, maternal mortality ratio; MOH, ministry of health; PAD, professionally assisted delivery; PI, principal investigator; RH, reproductive health; SBA, skilled birth attendants; SNNPR, southern nation, nationalities and peoples region; SPSS, statistical package for social studies; SSA, sub sahara africa; SVD, spontaneous vaginal delivery; WCBA, women of child bearing age; WHO, world health organization. Introduction Addressing maternal health encompasses social, cultural, health systems and health policy factors globally. Among these factors complications of pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of maternal morbidities and mortalities for women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in developing countries. The WHO estimates that over 500,000 women and girls die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth each year, worldwide, with approximately 99% of these deaths occurring in developing countries. With a maternal mortality ratio of 545 deaths per 100,000 live births. 1,2 As revealed in the UN MDGs, reducing maternal mortality as well as improving maternal and reproductive health, represent important areas of concern in the world today. Nearly 3.4 million of the 8 million infant deaths each year occur within the first week of life and are often due to a lack of or inappropriate care during pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period. 3 Hemorrhage, infection, eclampsia, obstructed labour and post abortion complications accounts for 80% of all direct causes maternal deaths, and the final 20 % are due to indirect obstetric causes like HIV/AIDS, anaemia, malaria and cardiovascular disease. Between Abstract Background: Approximately 99% of maternal deaths are occurring in developing countries and most of these deaths could have been prevented if mothers had access antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy, were attended by a skilled birth attendant. However the prevalence of skilled birth attendance and institutional delivery were still low in developing countries like Ethiopia. Therefore this study was aimed at exploring the reasons for low skilled birth attendance in rural communities of Chencha District Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia.