Skilled birth care uptake among women from socially disadvantaged minorities in the Kambata-Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Globally in 2019, it was reported that 295,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year. In Ethiopia, skilled birth care service uptake was low. Thus, the study aimed to assess the magnitude of skilled birth care uptake, and associated factors among women from socially disadvantaged minorities in the Kambeta-Temabaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to enroll 521 study participants. Data were entered using EPI-INFO and SPSS-21 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done and the degree of association was assessed using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and variables with p values <0.05 were declared statistically significant. The magnitude of skilled birth care service uptake among women from socially disadvantaged minorities was 19%. Maternal education, occupation, awareness of birth care, pregnancy plan, number of births, mothers’ lifestyle, and social subordination were significantly associated with skilled birth care service uptake in the study area. Thus, awareness creation on skilled birth, improving access to education for women, increasing the employability of women, and conducting community forums to avoid social discrimination against minorities are highly recommended.