Cultural malpractices during pregnancy, child-birth and postnatal period among women of child bearing age in Loma Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Every day nearly 810 women died from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Sub-Saharan Africa shares two-thirds of the world's maternal mortality ratio. World health organization recommends skilled care to save the lives of women and newborns. However, cultural malpractice is a common practice in developing countries like Ethiopia. So this study intends to determine the prevalence of cultural malpractice during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period and associated factors. METHOD: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Loma district southwest Ethiopia from February to June 2018. A sample of 387 reproductive-age women who gave birth in the last two years was included using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. A multivariable logistic regressions model was used to identify independent predictors of cultural malpractice. Significance association was declared by AOR at 95% confidence and p-value <0.05. RESULT: A total of 387 participants were involved in the study yielding a response rate of 100%. The prevalence of cultural malpractice during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal period was 68%, 37.5%, and 72.6% respectively. The occupational status of women being students (AOR = 3.198, 95% CI: 1.250, 8.184) was an independent predictor of cultural malpractice during pregnancy. Age less than 30 (AOR = 2.075, 95% CI: 1.282, 3.357), rural residence (AOR = 1.892, 95% CI: 1.014, 3.532), occupation housewife (AOR = 2.841, 95% CI: 1.228, 6.575), merchant (AOR = 3.077, 95% CI: 1.134, 8.346) and number of pregnancy less than five (AOR = 2.707, 95% CI: 1.594, 4.597) were independent predictors of cultural malpractice during childbirth. Occupation housewives (AOR = 0.408, 95% CI: 0.226, 0.736) and a number of pregnancies less than five (AOR = 1.832, 95% CI: 1.035, 3.244) were independent predictors of cultural malpractice during the postnatal period. CONCLUSION: and recommendation: cultural malpractice among reproductive-age women was high. Therefore, concerned bodies should strengthen the promotion of skilled birth attendance and community sensitization on the cultural malpractice consequences.