Women's preferred childbirth positions and associated factors among postpartum mothers in public hospitals of South West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: maternal birth position is the position a mother assumes during childbirth. Freedom to choose birth positions will benefit the woman, baby, and health system. In Ethiopia, women are still giving birth by the lithotomy position, despite their preference. Only perception of mothers on birth position is known in Ethiopia. Objective: This study was intended to assess the magnitude of women's preferred childbirth positions and associated factors among postpartum mothers in public hospitals of South West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2022 Method: Facilities-based cross-sectional study design supplemented by qualitative data was conducted from September 1-October 30, 2022. Systematic random sampling techniques was used to select 633 mothers. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariables and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done to identify associated factors. Variables with p-value <0.05 were identified as statistically significant. Result: About391(64.2%) of study participants gave birth by their preferred birth position.Mother age 21-30years (AOR=0.05;95%CI[0.004-0.75]) and 31-40years (AOR=0.02;95%CI[0.002-0.35]), attending school (AOR=3.88;95%CI[1.38-10.93]), Government employee (AOR=2.33;95%CI[1.08-5.01]), a monthly income of 2500- 5000ETB(AOR=2.95;95%CI[1.32-6.56]),previous history of home delivery (AOR=1.96;95%CI[1.02-3.80]) and rural residence (AOR=0.43;95%CI[0.23-0.82]) were associated with women's preferred childbirth position. The qualitative finding depicts that health facility and health care providers-related barriers were the main barriers to women's preferred childbirth position in the study area. Conclusion: Women's preferred childbirth position was not respected for more than one-third of study participants. Mother age, educational level, occupation, monthly income, previous place of birth, and residence were associated with women's preferred childbirth positions. Health facility and health care providers related barriers were the main barriers to women's preferred childbirth position. Health professionals in study area should respect the mother's preferred childbirth positio