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Background The continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth, and after delivery is an effective strategy to avert maternal and newborn deaths. A low proportion of mothers have achieved the continuum of maternal care in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the rate and factors associated with the completion of a continuum of maternal healthcare services in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted over two months (from September to October 2021) in 18 kebeles of the Hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia. Multistage cluster sampling was carried out to select the required study subjects, and data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of individual and community-level factors on key elements of the care continuum. The measure of fixed effects was expressed as an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results In this study, only 11.3% of women completed all components of the care continuum, which included four or more antenatal visits, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care. The factors that are significantly associated with the completion of maternal care include higher maternal education [AOR = 4.1; 95%CI: 1.3–12.6], urban residence [AOR = 1.8; 95%CI: 1.1–3.0], time of first antenatal care follow-up [AOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.6–4.6], knowledgeability regarding postnatal danger signs [AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.3], being in the highest wealth quintile [AOR = 2.8; 95%CI: 1.2–6.6] and primipara [AOR = 3.6; 95%CI: 1.4–9.4]. Conclusion The rate of continuum of maternal healthcare services utilization was low in the study area. The findings indicated that higher maternal education, urban residence, time of first antenatal care follow-up, knowledgeability regarding postnatal danger signs, being in the highest wealth quintile and primipara were the factors associated with the completion of the continuum of maternal care. As a result of this study’s findings, program planners and ministry of health and non-governmental organizations working on maternal health should prioritize continued and strengthened health education in order to increase the completion level of the continuum of maternal healthcare services.

Background Induction of labor is one of the most used obstetric procedures in the world. It is performed in around 20% of all pregnancies. Failed induction of labor, on the other hand, has been associated with poorer mother and newborn health outcomes. Besides, there is a scarcity of data on the current burden and drivers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with failed induction in Worabe Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on medical records of mothers who delivered through induction of labor during September 1st, 2018 to August 30th, 2020. The samples were collected using a systematic sampling technique. The data was extracted using a checklist. Data were entered into EpiData (version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (version 24). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to decide the association of explanatory variables with the outcome variable. Odds ratio with their 95% CI were calculated to identify the presence and strength of an association. A p-value of < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results In this study, the prevalence of failed induction was observed to be 22.2%. The associated factors included rural residence (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 3.12–11.02), primiparity (AOR = 8.4, 95% CI: 2.72–22.36) and unfavourable bishop score (AOR = 5.9, 95% CI: 4.52–16.12). Conclusions In comparison to the rate reported in developed countries, the study area had a high rate of failed induction. Being rural residence, primiparity and unfavourable bishop score were the associated factors of failed induction. Therefore, to reduce of the rate of failed induction, health care practitioners should analyze cervical status (using Bishop Score) to decide the possibility of successful induction, with a focus on associated factors like parity.

Background Childbirth in nearby health facilities is an important strategy to reduce complications for mothers and newborns, including death. Bypassing nearby birthing health facilities is common in developing countries. However, there is a lack of data in the study area on the extent and reasons for bypassing. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing these gaps.Methods A facility-based mixed study was conducted at the Dire Dawa administration, Ethiopia, from December 1–30, 2022. Simple random (quantitative) and purposive (qualitative) sampling techniques were used. Data were collected through interviews using structured (quantitative) and semi-structured (qualitative) questionnaires. Quantitative data were entered and cleaned by Epi DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22). A P-value of 0.05 or less at multivariate with 95% confidence intervals was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed.Results 635 participants (quantitative) and twelve for the qualitative analysis were included. The overall bypass was 30.9%. Higher age group (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.43–3.82), rural residence (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.11–3.22), no formal education (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.23–4.16), obstetric care needs during antenatal care (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.33–4.22), and health professionals’ behavior (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.99–4.78) were associated with a higher likelihood of bypassing.Conclusion Bypassing childbirth health facilities was moderate. Perception, health professionals, and facility-related factors were the main identified themes in the qualitative results. Stakeholders recommended improving obstetrics services and researchers conducting additional research.

Globally in 2019, it was reported that 295,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year. In Ethiopia, skilled birth care service uptake was low. Thus, the study aimed to assess the magnitude of skilled birth care uptake, and associated factors among women from socially disadvantaged minorities in the Kambeta-Temabaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to enroll 521 study participants. Data were entered using EPI-INFO and SPSS-21 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done and the degree of association was assessed using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and variables with p values <0.05 were declared statistically significant. The magnitude of skilled birth care service uptake among women from socially disadvantaged minorities was 19%. Maternal education, occupation, awareness of birth care, pregnancy plan, number of births, mothers’ lifestyle, and social subordination were significantly associated with skilled birth care service uptake in the study area. Thus, awareness creation on skilled birth, improving access to education for women, increasing the employability of women, and conducting community forums to avoid social discrimination against minorities are highly recommended.