PREVALENCE OF DISRESPECT AND ABUSE DURING FACILITY BASED CHILDBIRTH AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOLKITE AREA PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, GURAGE ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Background: - In many countries, rates of facility-based childbirth have increased substantially in recent years. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the acceptability and quality of maternal health services provided at facilities and, consequently, maternal health outcomes have not improved as expected. Disrespect and abuse during childbirth is increasingly being recognized as an indicator of overall poor quality of care and as a key barrier to achieving improved maternal health outcomes, but little evidence exists to describe the scope and magnitude of this problem, particularly in urban areas in low-income countries. Objectives: - To assess the prevalence of disrespect and abuse experienced by mothers during facility-based childbirth and its associated factors among Wolkite area public health institutions Gurage zone, south Ethiopia, 2020. Methodology: - A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in December 1 to 30, 2020. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire from 373 mothers consecutively included in the study immediately prior to discharge from the facility. Data was analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 21 and the result was presented by using tables. Results: - The overall prevalence of non-respectful care was 85.6%. Of the type disrespect and abuse that were studied, non-consented care 76.5% were the most prevalent types, followed by non-dignified care 67.4%, physical abuse 57.9%, non-confidential care 28.5%, abandonment of care 23.8%, discrimination 20.3% and 0% detainment. Husband‟s income, age, ethnicity and profession of main birth attendant were the factors associated with disrespect and abuse during childbirth in facility. Conclusion and recommendation: - More than three of four women experienced disrespect and abuse during facility childbirth. It can be a barrier to utilization of facility for childbirth. Preventing disrespect and abuse is important to improve quality of maternal care and institutional deliveries. The prevalence of women‟s disrespect and abuse during childbirth at the health care facilities in this study area is very high. Therefore, health managers need to work hard to tackle the problem.