Terefe, Hirut(PhD)Berihan, Niguss2018-07-232023-11-102018-07-232023-11-102010-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/9637Many of women in developing countries are at a great risk in terms of high maternal morbidity and mortality due to factors related to pregnancy and childbirth in these countries. A cross sectional study was conducted from February 15 to March 15, 2010 in Gozamin Woreda in Amhara Regional State to assess factors affecting utilization of maternal health care services. A total of 587 women who had at list one live births in the five years preceding the survey were selected systematically. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured questionnaires and FGD were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The analysis revealed that about 59.3% of the women had at least one prenatal visit during their recent pregnancy. About forty five percent of those women attending antenatal care had their first visit during their first trimester of pregnancy. Among ANC users 64% of had less than four antenatal care contacts in the recent pregnancy. The most important reasons for not attending ANC care were being healthy and being too busy. Majority of deliveries took place at home; about 71% of deliveries took place at home. Presence of relatives nearby, Transportation problem, and lack of privacy were the main reasons cited for resorting to home delivery. The majority of the respondents were able to name the danger sign of pregnancy related problems. In multivariate analysis the risk of non-attendance of ANC and home delivery was higher for those women whose residence was rural, low educational status, higher parity and being housewife at old age. In addition ANC service utilization significantly affect utilization of delivery care provided in health institutions (P-value less than 0.05). In conclusion, the study revealed that more women attend ANC during pregnancy than those derived at health institutions. Demographic and socio-cultural factors were found to be barriers to utilization of maternal health care services. Educating girls, providing health education on maternal health care services, and improving the services of health extension workers in rural areas were recommended to improve utilization of both services.enMaternal health care, antenatal care, place of delivery, AmharaThesis