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Background: Despite the implementation of different interventions, maternal health service utilization in the Ethiopian Somali regional state is still unsatisfactory. This is because the policies and interventions were simply a copy paste of the agrarian regions without considering the local pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess maternal health service utilization and associated factors among pastoral and agro-pastoral reproductive age women living in Jigjig town. Methods and Materials: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jigjig town from June 2011. A total of 722 women who had history of child birth within the last twelve month were included in the study. A multi stage random sampling techniques was applied. Pretested structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of maternal health care service utilization. Result: Out of 722 mothers involved in the study 66% had used antenatal care once for their recent pregnancy. While 115(15.9%) and 179(23%) had gave birth at health institution and had received post natal services from the nearby health institution respectively. The independent predictors for antenatal were being younger age (<35) AOR=0.67, CI: (0.52-0.780, having positive attitude AOR=4.8, CI: (3.5-9.0) and being lower parity AOR=5.9,CI (3.8-7.2) where as being married[AOR=4, CI:(3.40-9.30), high income group [AOR=11.6,CI:(8.4-12.4) and having positive attitude [AOR=11.4,CI; (9.3-21.0) were independent predictors for institutional delivery while maternal education [AOR=5.3,CI: (5.2-6.0) was independently associated with post natal care. Conclusion: The rate of utilization of the three important maternal health services by women in Jigjiga town is lower than the previous studies done in and around Ethiopia as well as international recommendations. Hence health education addressing both couples to bring about behavioral change should be strengthened in collaboration with stake holders with in the town.
Seifu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.