Zelalem Tenaw, Mekdes Mekonnen, Mina Mengistu, Tiruwork Getahun
Background: Institutional delivery is the key intervention to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. However, most of the mothers in developing country including Ethiopia are giving birth at home. This study, therefore, aimed at filling the gaps, by attempting to explore the factors which are affecting an institutional delivery service utilization in study area. The main objective of this study was to assess magnitude and factors affecting institutional delivery in women who have antenatal follow up at Hawassa referral hospital, Hawassa, south Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 257 pregnant women. Interviewed a structured questionnaire including socio demographic characteristics and factors affecting institutional delivery. Data entry was done by using EPI Info 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 software package for analysis. Results: Among pregnant women 83.2% (n=139) at age group of 15-24 years old mothers give birth at health facilities. While 94.4% (n=17) of the mother at age group of 25-29 years old were give birth at home. Most of the pregnant mothers 76.1% (n=150) were prefer to give birth at home, because of different factors such as, privacy 102 (39.7%). Majority of the mothers 76.7% (n=197) were give their recent birth at health facilities. Most of the time institutional delivery was decided by both husband and wife 78.7 %( n=155). Conclusion: The prevalence of institutional delivery was high. This could be achieved due to high ANC utilization and health education. Therefore efforts should be made to sustain ANC utilization in the study area.
