Abstract

Background: Maternal and child mortality and morbidity are higher during childbirth in developing countries compared to developed countries. Institutional delivery service utilization is indispensable to improve maternal and child health.However, the proportion of women utilizing institutional delivery service in Ethiopia is very low. In addition, little is known about factors contributing to home delivery.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of home delivery and associated risk factors at Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed on 423 study participants. Data were collected by semi-structured questionnaire through face to face interview. A systematic sampling technique was used to select study participants. After cleaning and checking completeness of collected data, data was entered into Epi data version 3.3.1 software and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 21.0 for analysis. Logistic regression was used to find out the association between explanatory and response variables. Explanatory variables which fulfill the assumption of logistic regression and had a P-value less than 0.25 from bi-variable logistic regression were considered for the multivariable logistic regression model. The strength of association was evaluated using odds ratio at 95% confidence interval (CI) and P-value < 0.05 was considered to declare significant associations.

Results: The prevalence of home delivery in this study was 36.64% (n=155/423 and it had significant association with illiteracy AOR=2.7 [(95%CI); (1.37-5.43)], multi-gravida AOR=2.12 [(95%CI); (1.09-4.10)], history of antenatal care (ANC) follow up AOR=4.15 [(95%CI); (2.57-6.70)] and husband educational status AOR=13.5 [(95%CI); (2.86-63.62)].

Conclusion: The prevalence of home delivery in this study was high compared to world health organizational recommendation. Educational status of the mother, gravida, antenatal care follow up and husband educational status were factors that had a significant association. Women empowerment through educational opportunities, increase antenatal care follow up and male involvement in maternal health service are recommended. 

Keywords

home delivery, associated factors, Jimma town