Scientific studies on the level of birth preparedness and complication readiness plan and associated factors among women who gave live birth are necessary to design appropriate intervention strategies. The level of birth preparedness and complication readiness plan and associated factors among women who gave live birth in Bahir Dar, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia.
This study revealed that one hundred ninety-four (59.1%) mothers who gave live birth in the past one year had a good practice on birth preparedness and complication readiness plan. This finding was in line with the study conducted in Bankura District, West Bengal (59.0%)(8). However, more mothers in the study area had good practice towards birth preparedness and complication readiness than study conducted in Oromia Region, Ethiopia (16.5%)(9), Ghana (23%)(10), Adama Town (29.1%)(7), Goba woreda, Oromia region, Ethiopia (29.9%)(11),Dire Dawa, East Ethiopia (54.7%)(12), and Chamwino districtcentral Tanzania (58.2%)(13); respectively.
This difference might be due to the fact that this study was conducted in populations who have better access and awareness of health information including BPCR. In addition, this might be due to the fact that nowadays the government has given great attention to reducing maternal and child mortality via strengthening maternal health care services and health information communication. But greatly lower than the study conducted in rural India (62.4%)(14) Addis Ababa (68%)(15) and Kenya (70.5%)(16) respectively. This difference might be due to the fact that on these two areas the study was conducted among mothers who were Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in Health Facilities, which might increase their awareness and readiness towards BPCR.
In addition to determining the Proportion of birth preparedness and complication readiness plan, this study also assesses various factors that have a statistically significant association with birth preparedness and complication readiness plan among women who gave live birth.
Birth preparedness and complication readiness plan was significantly associated and lower among mothers whose monthly Income was less than five hundred Ethiopian birrs. This finding was supported by a study done in Robe Woreda, Ethiopia; as the monthly income of women was significantly associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness(10).
This might be due to as the monthly income of the mother advances; they might have better access to health information and is able to make them wise decision and payment on their own which in turn might increase their health care seeking behavior towards BPCR.
Mothers with a family size of three or less had statistically significantly associated and they had a lower practice of BPCR.This finding was supported by a study done in Adama Town(7). This might be due to as family size decrease; mothers’ tendency to be exposed to the health information on BPCR reduced. In other words, the number of birth preparedness decrease while family size decrease.
Mothers who gave birth two or less were significantly associated and lower to have good practice towards BPCR. This finding was in line with a study conducted in Adama town(4). In contrast with this, a study conducted in Uganda showed that mothers who gave birth four times or more were significantly associated and lower to have good practice to BPCR(17). The possible justification for this finding might be due to the fact that mothers with a higher parity might face previous pregnancy and birth complications. In addition, they might have previous Antenatal visits and/or Institutional delivery which might pave the way to get health information regarding birth preparedness and complication readiness.
Mothers whose Age >25 years were 98.7% less likely to have a good practice of BPCR plan compared to having greater than 18–24 years. This study was congruent with a study conducted in Kofale District, South East Ethiopia(18). This also justified as older women may believe and had less attention to the use of modern health care due to earlier experiences.
Mothers whose education level, Primary and below were 99% less likely to have good practice towards BPCR than Secondary and above. Education and birth preparedness had a positive relationship. This finding was similar to the study undertaken in Nigeria and Thailand (19, 20). Because of more educated women were better to plan for transportation and other activities for delivery.
Mothers whose monthly Income less than five hundred birrs were 99.9% less likely to have a good practice of BPCR compared to having greater than or equal to five thousand. This evidence is consistent with a study conducted in Dale District, Southern Ethiopia(21). On the other hand, this finding contradicts the study conducted in Robe Woreda, central Ethiopia(9).
Limitations of the study
Since this is a cross-sectional study, it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between the birth preparedness and complication redness and other independent variables.
Conclusion
The practice level of mothers who gave live birth in the past year towards birth preparedness and complication readiness plan, in Bahir Dar town was found to be low as per government need. In this study Maternal Age, Education, Monthly Income, Parity, and Family Size showed significant association with BPCR.