WOMAN DECISION-MAKING AUTONOMY ON MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICE UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN IN LEGETAFO TOWN, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Autonomy of women in health care decision-making is tremendously crucial for improved maternal health outcomes and women’s empowerment. Women with greater freedom of movement are more likely to receive maternal health. However, little has been investigated woman autonomy of on maternal health care decision-making and contributing factory in Ethiopia. Hence, it is important to obtain information on the contributing factors of decision-making autonomy. Objective: The study was carried out to assess women’s decision-making autonomy on maternal health care services utilization and associated factors among reproductive age women in Legetafo town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Legetafo town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia from February to March 30, 2020. A total of 513 reproductive age women were selected systematically sampling interval of ten from two selected kebeles. Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1.and exported into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 for analysis. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between the independent variables and dependent variable. Odd ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value less than 0.05 was used to state statistical significance. Results: A total of 508 women participated in the study with the response rate of 99%. Overall, 279 (54.9%) of women had decision-making autonomy on maternal health care services utilization. In adjusted model, age category-30-39(AOR=5.60, 95%CI 1.39-22.45); attending education (AOR=6.98, 95%CI, 1.39-35.09) and household income (AOR = .13, 95%CI 0.03–0.66), have significant association with women decision-making autonomy on maternal health care services utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation: women decision-making autonomy on utilization of maternal health services among women is very low. The study results suggest that women empowering and education actions that increase women’s autonomy at home could be effective in helping assure good participation on maternal health decision making