Delays in Utilization of Institutional Delivery Service and its Determinants in Yem Special Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia: Health Institution Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Institutional delivery service is one of the key and proven interventions to reduce maternal death. It ensures safe birth, reduce both actual and potential complications and maternal death and increase the survival of most mothers and newborns. But most deliveries in developing countries occur at home without skilled birth attendants. The 2014 EDHS report revealed that 83.4% deliveries took place at home whereas only 15.4% of deliveries were institutional [1]. Maternal deaths are strongly associated with delays to utilization of institutional delivery service and inadequate medical care at the time of delivery. Several factors have been identified as barriers to early access to skilled care by women especially in developing countries; these include perceived quality of care at health facility, inadequate number of skilled personnel, geographical inaccessibility and financial constraints, decision making power, awareness on danger sign of pregnancy and benefit of utilizing institutional delivery services [2]. Even with the best possible antenatal care, it is established that delivery could be complicated and timely utilization of institutional delivery service is essential to safe delivery care [3]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the delays in utilization of institutional delivery service and its determinants in Yem Special Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia.