HIGH RISK FERTILITY BEHAVIOR AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS IN WOLKITE TOWN, GURAGE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: High risk fertility behavior is a serious concern of public health. These risk factors result in premature birth, reduced birth weight, anemia, perinatal death, increase need of caesarean sections and unsafe abortion. Also result in increased chance of maternal and child mortality and hindering economic growth of individual and country. In addition to commons socio-economic-demographic variables, individual beliefs are introduced as new. Objective: To assess High risk fertility behavior and associated factors among mothers in wolkite town, Gurage zone, central Ethiopia 2024. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 300 women in Dec 2024 using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through interviews. One or more of condition listed below was classified as HRFB; giving birth at < 18 or >34 years (old primi), a birth interval of < 24 months or having > 3 children. HRFB was coded as "1" and non-HRFB as ‖0‖. Epi data version 4.6 was used for data entry and analysis was done by SPSS version 25. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in bivariate were moved to multivariate analysis to control confounding factors. P-values and AOR by 2.42 times (AOR= 2.42 CI:1.125-5.24). Also, Belief on having a large family is often seen as symbol of wealth and divine blesse is significantly associated with HRFB (AOR =2.16 CI:1.23-3.79). Conclusion; This study concluded that the prevalence of HRFB was higher. Marital status, autonomy, belief on large number of children and knowledge of contraception were identified as factors, increase health education, behavioral change education communication should be given attention to the reduction of the magnitudes as well as associated factor