Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Institutional delivery is a delivery that has taken place in the hospitals or
health centers by skilled birth attendants. Although one of the key strategies in reducing maternal
death is increasing institutional delivery service through skilled birth attendance; use of this
service by pregnant mothers is significantly lower in Ethiopia as well in the study area.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess institutional delivery service use and
associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months prior to the study in lemo
district, hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia.
METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 04 – 29,
2019 among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months prior to the study. Stratified Cluster
sampling was used to get 634 total sample sizes. A pre tested semi- structured questionnaire was
used to collect quantitative data and semi-structured, open ended questionnaire for qualitative
data collection tool. Data capturing was done using Epi-data version 3.1 Software. Then, for
analysis exported to SPSS version 20 Bivaraite analyses was carried out to identify factors that
are associated with institutional delivery service use. Multivariate regression analysis was
performed for those factors that showed a statistically significant association in the Bivaraite
analysis. Information obtained from participants through in-depth interview was analyzed using
thematic analysis.
Results: Out of the 634 participants, 609 mothers participated in this study resulting in a
response rate of 96.1%. About 259(42.5%) mothers used health institution for delivery services.
Institutional delivery service use was affected by mother’s level of education. Mothers who
were able to read and write (AOR=8.3, 95%CI: 4.3-16.0), Urban residence AOR= 2.9, 95%CI:
1.3-6.4], good Knowledge towards delivery and pregnancy complications AOR=2.1 95%CI: 1.2-
3.0),governmental workers (AOR=2.3, 95%CI: 1.2-4.4), wealth status of highest income mother
(AOR= 3.5,95%CI: 2.0-5.9) &anti natal care visit AOR= 3.5,95%CI: 2.0-6.3).
Conclusion: Institutional delivery service use by mothers was low. Lack of formal education,
lower ANC visit, poor knowledge towards institutional delivery services and lower
socioeconomic status of the respondents were factors associated with lower use
