Abstract
INTRODUCTION: pregnant women waiting areas are residential facilities where women who live remotely can wait before giving birth at a hospital or health center. About 80% of people in developing countries live in rural areas, where poor access to maternity services accounts for many maternal and perinatal deaths. Although, pregnant women waiting areas are recommended to reduce maternal and infant deaths data on the utilization of pregnant women waiting areas limited in Ethiopia and the study area. Thus, this study assessed the utilization of pregnant mothers waiting area and associated factors among pregnant mothers at Damboya district Kembata Tembaro Zone south, Ethiopia in 2020. METHODS: community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 16 to April 15/2020 at Damboya district Kembata Tembaro Zone Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were coded, edited, and cleaned then double entered into epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 by multivariate logistic regression analysis were reported as independently associated factors for utilization status of pregnant mothers waiting area. RESULTS: this study shows pregnant women waiting area utilization was 28.1% at 95%CI (24-32). A distance greater than 30 minutes [AOR: 2.29, 95%CI (1.38-3.62)], wealth fourth quintile [AOR: 3.66, 95%CI (1.73-7.73)], awareness for PWWAs [AOR: 2.30, 95%cCI (1.12,4.74)], Good attitude [AOR: 3.0, 95%CI (1.8-5.0)], Favorable subjective norm [AOR: 2.40, 95%CI (1.50-4.0)] and low perceived barrier [AOR: 2.10, 95%CI (1.30-3.3)] were factors associated with utilization of Pregnant women waiting areas. CONCLUSION: utilization of pregnant women waiting areas in the study area was low. A distance greater than 30 minutes, wealthy family, good awareness of pregnant women waiting areas, favorable subjective norm, good attitude, and low perceived barriers were predictors of utilization. To increase their utilization, we need to focus on; improving the economic status of mothers, awareness creation, and work on attitude, subjective norm, and the barriers to utilize pregnant women waiting areas.