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. 2020 Aug 26:2020:4318197.
doi: 10.1155/2020/4318197. eCollection 2020.

Determinants of the Continuum of Maternal Healthcare Services in Northwest Ethiopia: Findings from the Primary Health Care Project

Asmamaw Atnafu  1   2 , Adane Kebede  1 , Bisrat Misganaw  3 , Destaw Fetene Teshome  3 , Gashaw Andargie Biks  1   2 , Getu Debalkie Demissie  4 , Haileab Fekadu Wolde  3 , Kassahun Alemu Gelaye  2   3 , Mezgebu Yitayal  1   2 , Tadesse Awoke Ayele  2   3 , Telake Azale  4 , Terefe Derso  5 , Tsegaye Gebremedhin  1 , Endalkachew Dellie  1
Affiliations

Determinants of the Continuum of Maternal Healthcare Services in Northwest Ethiopia: Findings from the Primary Health Care Project

Asmamaw Atnafu et al. J Pregnancy. .

Abstract

Background: The maternity continuum of care is the continuity of maternal healthcare services that a woman uses, which includes antenatal care (ANC 4+), skill birth attendant (SBA), and postnatal care (PNC) within 48 hours of delivery. It is one of the essential strategies for reducing maternal and newborn mortality. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with the completion of a continuum of maternal healthcare services among mothers who gave birth in the past five years.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 01 to June 29, 2019, among 565 randomly selected mothers who gave birth in five years before the study in primary healthcare project implementation districts of north Gondar zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were computed, and in the multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p value of less than 0.05 were used to identify the associated factors with completion of the continuum of maternal healthcare services.

Results: The study revealed that the overall completion of the continuum of maternal healthcare services was 21.60% (95% CI: 18.20, 24.90). Women who were able to read and write (AOR: 2.70, 95% CI: 1.22, 6.04), using car/motorcycle as a means of transportation to get the health facility (AOR: 5.59, 95% CI: 2.29, 9.50), travel time less than an hour to get the health facility (AOR: 4.98, 95% CI: 2.97, 8.38), being satisfied with the service delivery (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.11), and getting health education on maternal healthcare services in the last 6 months (AOR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.52, 5.05) were factors associated with the completion of the continuum of maternal healthcare services.

Conclusions: The completion of the continuum of maternal healthcare services was relatively low, indicating that women were not getting the likely health benefit from the present health services. Therefore, interventions should focus on increasing women's awareness, improving the availability of services at nearby health facilities, and improving service delivery by considering women's preferences and needs to increase their satisfaction are essential to increase the completion of maternal healthcare services.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Maternal health services and the continuum of care among women who give births in the last five years, findings from the primary health care project in northwest Ethiopian districts, September 2019 (n = 565).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of dropout from the continuum of maternal healthcare services among women who give births in the last five years, findings from the primary health care project in northwest Ethiopian districts, September 2019 (n = 565).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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