Abstract:
BACK GROUND: Every pregnant woman faces the risk of sudden, unpredictable complications that
could end in death or injury to herself or to her infant. Hence, receiving care from a skilled provider
has been identified as the single most important intervention in safe motherhood. Birth preparedness
and complication readiness improves care seeking during child birth and obstetric emergency by
reducing the delays in obtaining care. Birth preparedness and complication readiness includes
planning for a birth attendant and location, arranging transportation, identifying a blood donor, and
saving money.
OBJECTIVE: To assess birth preparedness and complication readiness and associated factors
among pregnant woman in Duguna Fango Woreda, Wolayta Zone.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Community based cross sectional study was conducted in
October 2013. A multistage clustered sampling technique was used to select 578 pregnant women.
Data were collected using pretested and structured questionnaire. Then collected data were entered in
EpiData version 3.1 and analyses were done by using SPSS version 16.0. Descriptive statistics were
computed to determine proportion of birth preparedness and complication readiness practices and
other variables. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predicators of birth
preparedness and complication readiness.
RESULTS: Five hundred sixty nine pregnant women were interviewed, with the response rate of
98.4%. Two hundred forty eight (43.6%) pregnant women identified health facility for child birth and
emergency, 103(18.1%) women arranged transportation, 308(54.1%) saved money for emergency,
62(10.9%) identified skilled birth attendant and 17(3%) arranged compatible blood donor. One
hundred four (18.3%) of pregnant women were well prepared and ready for emergency. The
multivariable analysis shows that primigravidas, knowledge of at least two danger signs during
pregnancy, knowledge of at least two danger sings during postpartum, attending antenatal care and
past obstetric complication were factors associated with birth preparedness.
CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATION: The birth preparedness and complication readiness
practices in study community were low and knowledge of key danger signs was not comprehensive
among pregnant women. The health care providers should advice pregnant women on key danger
signs in comprehensive way. The government officials and partners emphasize on improving birth
preparedness practice.
