Birth preparedness and complication readiness practice and influencing factors among women in Sodo town, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2018; community based cross-sectional study.

Background: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a strategy that helps women to consider all available maternal health care services during pregnancy and prepare for potential complications. Though global annual number of maternal deaths decreased to an estimated 303,000 in 2015, avoidable morbidity and mortality remains a formidable challenge in many developing countries which account for approximately 99% (302,000) of the global maternal deaths in 2015. This study aims to assess the practice and factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness among women in Sodo town, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia; 2018.

Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from June 1-30, 2018. A total of 495 (pregnant and recently delivered women), were randomly selected and interviewed using pretested structured questionnaire. The data were entered using EPI Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were reported and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was carried out to see the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable.

Result: Of 506 sampled participants, 495 (49.5% pregnant and 50.5% recently delivered) participated, which made a response rate of 97.8%. 48.5% of women were prepared for birth and ready for its complication in the study area. From multivariable analysis, women in the age group of 15-24 (AOR = 2.39, 95% C. I = 1.19, 4.46) and 25-34 years (AOR = 1.89, 95% C. I = 1.10, 3.25); women who attended college and above level of education (AOR = 2.07, C. I = 1.11, 3.88); women counseled to prepare potential blood donors (AOR = 1.90, 95% C. I = 1.15, 3.12) and to identify skilled birth attendants prior to birth (AOR = 1.59, 95% C. I = 1.05, 2.39) and women whose partners and/or families were counseled (AOR = 2.16, 95%C.I = 1.25, 3.74) were factors positively associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness practice.

Conclusion: Although not satisfactory in view of expectations, a relatively higher practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness had been observed in the study area compared with the previous reports. Healthcare workers at the grassroots should be encouraged to involve women's partners and/or family members while explaining birth preparedness and complication readiness with a special emphasis on older (> 35 years) and uneducated women in order to improve the practice in the study area.