QUALITY OF BASIC EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC AND NEWBORN CARE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS ATTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN EAST GURAGE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA, 2024

Abstract

Background: The majority of maternal and newborn deaths occur at birth or within 24 hours of life. Nearly a quarter of all pregnancies may lead to fatal complications either during pregnancy, delivery, or in the postpartum period that require significant obstetric interventions. The presence of skilled providers and universal access to quality basic emergency obstetric and newborn care is considered essential to reduce maternal and child mortality. The main aim of this study is to assess the quality of basic emergency obstetrics and newborn care in the study area. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers receiving basic emergency obstetric and newborn care services in selected health facilities of the East Gurage zone. The study included 375 participants, who were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, and means were computed to summarize data, and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the association between the predictive and dependent variables. A 95% confidence interval and P-value of < 0.05 were used to declare the significance of the association. Results: Among 375 attending mothers, 372 participated in the study, making the response rate 99.2%. The prevalence of quality of BEmONC was 65.6% with a 95% CI (60.5, 70.4). Multiparity (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.12-3.30), wanted pregnancies (AOR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.31-4.95), planned visits (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.29-4.11), presence of a companion (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.46-5.00), and overall maternal satisfaction (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.29- 3.73) were significantly associated with quality of BEmONC services. Conclusion: The overall quality of BEmONC services received was poor. Multiparity, wanted pregnancies, planned visits, presence of a companion, and overall maternal satisfaction were found to have a significant association with the quality of BEmONC services. The health system, care providers, and other stakeholders should emphasize improving the quality of BEmONC service by referral delays, disparities in healthcare access, and unaccounted influencing factors that may still impact service quality.