Utilization of Maternal Health Services in Western Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: More than two-thirds of maternal deaths could be averted if all women had access to maternal health services. Thus, this study is aimed to assess the utilization and determinants of maternal health services among women who gave birth in the past 6 months in East Wollega, Western Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 postpartum women. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using pretested structured questionnaires, entered using Epi Info version 7.0, and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis and logistic regressions were performed. The adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used, and statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05.

Results: The study showed that coverage of antenatal care (ANC) was 40% in rural and 45% in urban areas. Sixty-one percent of participants in rural and 81.7% in urban gave birth at health institutions. The coverage of postnatal care (PNC) was 22% in rural and 18% in urban respectively. Provision of essential program services was low. Counseling during ANC and the presence of danger signs of pregnancy were associated with the utilization of maternal health services.

Conclusion: In this study, utilization of maternal health services was low. Given this low utilization and associated factors, it is recommended that counseling during ANC and awareness-raising about danger signs of pregnancy should be promoted.