Assessment of health care seeking and its associated factors among rural and urban mother of Burie woreda, West Gojam, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Half a million women die annually due to pregnancy and child birth related events. In addition, three hundred million women in the world currently suffer from long-term or short-term illness brought about by pregnancy or childbirth. Objective; To assess health care seeking and its associated factors in rural and urban mothers of Burie woreda. Methodology: A cross-sectional community based quantitative study was conducted from June to December 2010 among rural and urban Mothers of Burie woreda west Gojjam on 678 respondents. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select the respondent’s. Random sampling technique was used to select each household. Structured and pretested Amharic questionnaire was used for data collection. During data collocation continues supervision were undertaken by supervisors to keep data quality. Result: Total of 637 respondents was interviewed. Of which 346(60.7%) seek healthcare for ANC. When health care seeking of mothers for ANC was adjusted for sociodemographic variables Educational status (AOR=3.330 and 95% CI=1.478-7.504)and Educational status of the husband (AOR=3.376 and 95% CI 1.298-8.784) have significant association. Only 175(32.2%) gave birth at health institution, when these were adjusted for other socio demographic variables, educational status of the husband has significant association with institutional delivery (AOR=3.586 and 95%CI 1.690-7.608). conclusions; Out of the interviewed mothers 60.7% attained ANC for their last pregnancy, 32.2% gave birth their last birth at health institution and 58.6% attained PNC for their last birth .Maternal age, their educational status, their resident, marital status of mother, occupation of mother, husbands educational status, husbands occupation have significant association with getting institutional delivery, ANC follow-up, and PNC service. Recommendation: A holistic approaches involving all relevant stakeholders is needed to improve the utilization of service by pregnant mothers to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.