Assessment of Utilization of Skilled Birth Attendant at Delivery in Mekelle Town, Northern Ethiopia
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Date
2007-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: skilled attendant for every pregnant woman during childbirth is the most critical
intervention for improving maternal and child health. Ethiopia with maternal mortality ratio of
673 per 100,000 live births, the majority of births are delivered at home and the proportion of
deliveries assisted by skilled attendant is very low.
Objective: to assess utilization of skilled birth attendant at delivery, among mothers who gave
birth the last one year prior to the survey in Mekelle town.
Methodology: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted from Sep. 2006 to
Oct.2006.Women who had delivered in Mekelle Town, within the last one-year prior to the
survey obtained using proportional to population size of 10 “Tabias” through random walking
were interviewed using structured and pre-tested questionnaire.
Result: A total of 600 women were included in the study. 69% of the women utilize skilled
birth attendant during delivery. Among the client who had institutional delivery their
satisfaction to the time the health worker spent with them, cleanliness of instrument or
equipment, the courtesy and respect offered by the provider, measures taken to assure their
privacy and comfort , and professional competency and skill of the health worker during
delivery was (95%). Births to women with primary education are two times more likely
(OR=2.19and 95%CI=1.33-3.61), and births to women with secondary and above education are
four times more likely (OR=3.90 and 95%CI=1.95-7.81) to utilize SDA as compared to
illiterate women. Women who have secondary and above educated husband are three times
more likely to utilize SDA than those illiterate (OR=3.10 and 95%CI=1.29-7.42). Women with
first pregnancy OR=4.11 and 95%CI= 2.20, 7.68), women who have ANC visits OR=2.95 and
(95%CI= 1.63, 5.37), women who know presence of pregnancy and delivery complication
OR=3.40 and 95%CI 1.76.-6.57), women who obtained MCH information 2.27 and 95%CI
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1.17-4.41), Those who have visit to health facility OR=2.95 and 95%CI=1.06-8.21), those who
can get transportation OR=2.67 and 95%CI=1.59-4.49), and those their husband’s prefer to use
skilled delivery attendant during delivery OR=4.65 and 95%CI=2.37-9.13), were more likely to
utilize skilled delivery attendant than those who are disadvantaged.
Conclusions: increasing educational opportunities for both women and their husbands and
particularly for girls, promotion of ANC follow-up with provision of MCH information
particularly, the need for SDA at every childbirth, health workers particularly health extension
workers should promote community awareness programs, home visit, and community-based
delivery systems which focus the disadvantaged women and facilitation of supportive
environment, such as supplies, equipment, establishing functioning system of referral and
appropriate training of midwifes are recommended
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Keywords
Skilled attendant for every pregnant woman during childbirth