Delay in making decision to seek care on institutional delivery and associated factors among postpartum mothers in South Gondar zone hospitals, 2020: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Delay in seeking emergency obstetric care contributes to high maternal mortality and morbidity in developing countries. One of the major factors contributing to maternal death in developing countries is a delay in seeking emergency obstetric care. This study aimed to assess the proportion and associated factors of delay in deciding to seek emergency obstetric care on institutional delivery among postpartum mothers in the South Gondar zone hospitals, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from September to October 2020. A total of 650 postpartum mothers were recruited using a systematic random sampling technique. We collected the data through personal interviews with pretested semi-structured questionnaires. We used a logistic regression model to identify statistically significant independent variables, and entered the independent variables into multivariable logistic regression. The Adjusted Odds Ratio was used to identify associated variables with delay in deciding to seek emergency obstetric care, with a 95% confidence interval at P-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The proportion of delay in deciding to seek emergency obstetric care on institutional delivery was 36.3% (95% CI: 32.6–40.1). The mean age of the respondents was 27.23, with a standard deviation of 5.67. Mothers who reside in rural areas (AOR = 3.14,95%, CI:2.40–4.01), uneducated mothers (AOR = 3.62, 95%, CI:2.45–5.52), unplanned pregnancy (AOR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.84–7.96), and no health facilities in Kebele (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.43–6.32) were significantly associated with delay in a decision to seek emergency obstetric care. CONCLUSION: The proportion of delay in deciding to seek emergency obstetric care was 36.3% among postpartum mothers in the South Gondar zone hospitals. One of the factors contributing to maternal death is a delay in seeking emergency obstetric care in South Gondar zone. Pregnant mothers living in the rural area, unplanned pregnancy, uneducated mothers, no health facilities in Kebele were associated factors in the study area. Therefore, stakeholders must address them to reduce the proportion of delay in deciding to receive on-time obstetric care as per the standards.