Practice of Non-Institutional Delivery and Its Associated Factors Among Women Who Gave Birth in Southern Ethiopia, 2022

BACKGROUND: Since 2000, the Ethiopian ministries of health and other stakeholders have taken some measures to enhance institutional delivery. However, the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2019 report indicated that more than 50% of Ethiopian reproductive-age women gave birth outside health facilities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the practice of noninstitutional delivery among women who gave birth at Boloso Bombe Woreda (district) in southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 252 study participants from June to July 2022 in Boloso Bombe Woreda. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire and systematic sampling techniques were used to select the study subjects. Data were entered into the EPI data, version 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS, version 25. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs), along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were used and the level of statistical significance was declared at a p-value of 0.05. RESULTS: In this study, 252 participants completed the survey, with a 97% response rate. The prevalence of noninstitutional delivery among study participants was 68.7% (95% CI: 63.1–72.9). In this study, mother's occupation, such as working as a daily laborer (AOR = 3.6; 95% CI [1.2–11.2]); absence of antenatal care history (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI [1.3–8.6]); poor knowledge of labor complications (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI [2.2–6.1]); and place of first delivery (AOR = 8.7; 95% CI [3.2–23]) were factors that were positively and significantly associated with the practice of noninstitutional delivery. However, last pregnancy planned was negatively associated with the practice of noninstitutional delivery (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI [0.2–0.8]). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the majority of study participants practiced noninstitutional delivery in this study area. Therefore, we strongly recommend that all responsible bodies should take immediate action to reduce the practice of noninstitutional delivery and improve those identified factors.