Magnitude and Associated Factors for Home Delivery Among Women Who Gave Birth in Last 12 Months in Ayssaita, Afar, Ethiopia-2016. A community Based Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Proper medical attention and hygienic conditions during delivery can reduce the risk of complications and infections that can cause the death or serious illness of the mother or newborn baby.Home deliveries are common in developing Home deliveries range from 22% in Senegal, 65% in Tanzania, 87.7% in Bangladesh and 94% in Ethiopia.Objective: To assess the magnitude and factors associated with home delivery in Ayssaita district, Afar, Ethiopia, 2016.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in May2016 with 317 sample using structured questionnaire.Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted and Odds ratio with 95% CI and p value of < 0.05 for statistical signifi cance were declared.Results: About 71.0% of women delivered at home and majority of them were assisted by nonskilled attendants (75.4%).The independent predictors for home delivery in this study were maternal age, maternal residence, maternal education and maternal awareness on at least one danger signs during pregnancy.Conclusion: Majority of women (74.4%) attended at least one antenatal visit from skilled health care providers during their recent pregnancy however; majority of them gave birth at home (71.0%) and assisted by non-skilled attendant.Being rural resident, illiterate, younger age, and not having least awareness on at least one danger signs were the independent predictors for home delivery.Women empowerment through educational opportunities; strengthening health extension workers to create community awareness on the importance of institutional delivery particularly for the rural pastoralist mothers are recommended.