Complete continuum of maternity care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last twelve months in Mekane Selam town North-East Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study,2021

BACKGROUND: Complete continuum of maternity care has significant value in improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns. Assessing the complete continuum of maternity care is a global priority, particularly in developing countries. Despite the fact that the complete continuum of maternity care prevents more than half of all maternal and neonatal deaths, Ethiopia remains one of the largest contributors to the global burden of maternal and neonatal deaths due to the low implementation of the complete continuum of maternity care. Thus, this study aimed to assess the coverage of the complete continuum of maternity care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in the study area. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study with a multistage sampling technique was conducted among 479 mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Mekane Selam town. Data were collected from September 1 to November 30/2021 using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was computed. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a P- value< 0.05 were used to identify significantly associated factors. RESULTS: The coverage of a complete continuum of maternity care was 42.4% (95% CI: 37.9%, 47%). Respondents with higher educational status (AOR = 4.17, 95% CI: 1.52, 11.44), pre-pregnancy contraception utilization (AOR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.80, 6.92), planned pregnancy (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.27, 6.97) and early initiation of antenatal care (AOR = 4.57, 95% CI: 2.86, 7.31) were significantly associated with complete continuum of maternity care. CONCLUSION: The coverage of complete continuum of maternal care was low in the study area. The coverage could be expanded by making the necessary interventions on the associated factors. It is essential for women to acquire education, utilize contraception, plan their pregnancies, and begin antenatal care at an early age in order to enhance the coverage of complete continuum of maternity care.