The Association of Women Empowerment Dimensions with Antenatal Care Utilization among Mothers Attending Delivery And Postpartum Services at Jimma Town Public Hospitals, Oromia Region, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: - Women empowerment is a multidimensional global development goal. Women in developing countries are exposed to disempowerment. Which leads women to mortality and morbidity by inhibiting them from determinant maternal care like antenatal care. It is impossible to decrease maternal mortality without sufficient and timely antenatal care. However, the association between women empowerment and antenatal care utilization was understudied. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the association of women empowerment dimensions with recommended antenatal care utilization. Objectives: - To assess the association of women empowerment dimensions with antenatal care utilization among mothers attending delivery and postpartum services at Jimma town public hospitals, Oromia Region, South West Ethiopia, 2022. Method: - A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 305 mothers selected by systematic random sampling from July 1 – August 31, 2022. A structured interviewer-administrated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and then exported to the SPSS version 26. Pearson correlation, Bivariate and multivariate linear regression were used to determine the association between the women empowerment dimension and antenatal care utilization. Result: Out of 305 respondents, 301( 99.1%) gives their complete responses. The finding shows that about 12%; 95% CI(8.5-16.2) utilized recommended antenatal care contact.Multivariate linear regression shows freedom of movement (=1.176 ,=0.00) a high self-efficacy (β=0.046, =0.00), self-esteem(β=0.088, =0.00), an internal locus of control (β =0.062, =0.00), and labor force participation (β =0.624, = 0.001), Age at first marriage (=0.087,=0.003)were all associated with recommended antenatal care utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation- Women empowerment dimensions have a positive and statistically significant association with antenatal care utilization. Only one in ten mothers utilized recommended antenatal care contacts. So to improve recommended antenatal care utilization by mothers, empowerment of women by health professionals, hospitals, and other stakeholders is very important.