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Seifu Wanaka,1 Sultan Hussen,2 Amsalu Alagaw,2 Kabtamu Tolosie,3 Negussie Boti2 1Gamo Zone Health Department, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 2Arba Minch University, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 3Arba Minch University, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Statistics, Arba Minch, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Negussie BotiDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, EthiopiaEmail Hanehalid@gmail.comBackground: Maternal health delays like delay in deciding to seek care, reaching a health facility, and receiving appropriate care were identified as the main contributing factors for maternal mortality and morbidity in many developing countries including Ethiopia. However, little is known about the magnitude and factors predisposing for maternal health delays in Ethiopia especially in a rural part of the country. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the magnitude of maternal delays for institutional delivery and associated factors among mothers attending post-natal service at public health facilities of the Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural districts of Gamo zone. Eleven public health centers in the two districts were selected randomly. The Systematic random sampling method was used to select study participants from each public health centers. A total of 394 postnatal mothers were selected every secondly and interviewed in a separate room. Face to face interview methods were used to collect the data. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the associated factors for the three delays.Results: The magnitude of first, second and third maternal delays were 46.80%, 44.00%, and 31.70%, respectively. Unemployed women [AOR: 2.20, 95% CI (1.15, 4.16)], birth preparedness [AOR: 2.70, 95% CI (1.29, 5.71)], husband’s decisions making [AOR: 6.00, 95% CI (2.87, 12.42)] were found to be significantly ... |