Introduction

The quality of obstetrics care is reflected by the magnitude of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality rates of a certain country, which is considered as one of the vital indicators of health status. Despite the advances in modern obstetrics care, maternal morbidity and mortality remains an international problem [1].

Worldwide, 3 million women give birth vaginally every year, many experiencing of problems like: perennial trauma from episiotomy, spontaneous obstetric lacerations, or both [2].

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest maternal morbidity and mortality ratio (MMR), an average of 500 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births [3].

Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (EFMOH) has applied multi-pronged approaches to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, improve access to and strengthen facility-based maternal and newborn services is one such approach, and is also a major issue of concern in Health Sector Transformation Plan 2015/16–2019/20 of Ethiopia [4].

Childbirth is a normal physiological process and a significant emotional event in a woman’s life. While proper choice of interventions is proven to be associated with the highest safety and effectiveness to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality [5].

Caesarean section (C/S) is a surgical intervention designed to prevent or treat life threatening maternal or fetal complications [6]. A Caesarean section is often performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby’s or mother’s life or health in danger. Some are also performed upon request without a medical reason to do [7].

Though the safety of caesarean section has improved, to date the morbidity rates are still high compared to the vaginal delivery [8].

According to world health organization (WHO) C/S rate in any population should lie within the range of 5–15%, and there is no justification in any specific geographic region to have more than 10–15% C/S births [9].

The C/S rate in Addis Ababa has increased considerably from 2.3% in 1995–1996 to 24.4% in 2009–2010. Since 2003 the rate persisted beyond the upper optimum level of WHO which is 15% [6].

Most of the studies concluded that vaginal delivery is safe and give a good selection for patients to have qualified assistance and careful management during delivery [10].

Vaginal delivery is the preservation and promotion of the normalcy of labor and delivery, including the woman’s active participation in the birth process [2].

Although fetal and maternal outcomes depends on the quality of care provided starting from the preconception period, the success of it is relied on timely and appropriately carried out intra partum care [11].

The appropriateness and ethical aspects of on-demand C/S has been hotly debated by obstetricians and women’s group for some years now. The debate has focused on the questions of risks and benefits of vaginal and C/S delivery and woman’s autonomy to choose her mode of delivery [6].

Most women expressed a preference for vaginal birth (70.8%). The majority of women (68.7%) made positive comments about vaginal birth, believing that it involved less suffering, better recovery, less risk, quicker, allow earlier discharge from the hospital, and better for women and their newborn babies [5]. Hence, evidence on maternal preference and mode of delivery among women is rare in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess maternal preferences, mode of delivery and associated factors, in Hawassa city public and private hospitals, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods and materials

A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out from January 01-30/2017 among women who gave birth at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city. Hawassa is the administrative city of Southern nation nationalities people regional state, which is located 275km away from Addis Ababa the capital city of Ethiopia. According to Hawassa city administration health department, the total population in 2016/2017 was expected to be 351,567 [12]. Out of the total population 170,510 (48.5%) were females. Women who were in child bearing age group (15–49) were 69,769; from this 12,167 were expected to be pregnant. Hospitals found in the city are: one governmental comprehensive specialized referral, one primary hospital and three private primary hospitals. The city had two governmental and one private hospital which give all delivery services (c/s and vaginal delivery).

The sample size was determined using the software Epi Info version 7 with the following assumptions: 95% confidence interval with 76.6% prevalence of vaginal deliveries [6], with (α = 0.05), 5% marginal error (d = 0.05). The final sample size was 304. Women who gave births at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city were included in the study. All public and private hospitals which gave vaginal and cesarean section delivery were included in the study. Sample size was proportionally allocated based on the number of births in the past one months. Using the expected 610 deliveries all hospitals in one month K value was 2. Systematic sampling procedure was used to interview study participants at postnatal ward. The first interviewee mother was selected by using simple random technique. Exit interview was conducted at a convenient and appropriate place.

The data was collected face to face using structured and pretested questionnaire interviews at the postnatal ward. The questionnaire was prepared by reviewing existing literatures, which consists of socio demographic characteristics, personal characteristics and obstetric history. Pretest was done 5% sample with similar sociodemographic characteristics of outset of study hospitals. Necessary amendment was made based on pretest findings accordingly.

Four (04) obstetric care providers who have BEmONC training were recruited and training was given for 02 days on the objective, relevance of the study, confidentiality of information, respondent rights, informed consent, and technique of interview; 01 health professional who have 1st degree (BSC midwife) were trained and supervise the data collection. Data entry was done using EPI Info 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 software for analysis. The presence of association between independent and dependent variables was determined using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval by applying logistic regression model.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristic and experiences of study participants

A total of 304 mothers participated in this study, with response rate of 98.7%. The ages of participants ranged from 18 to 45 years. The mean age (in years) of the study population was 27.02 ± 4.95 years. Sidama was a dominant ethnic group, which accounted 35.3% (n = 106). On the other hand, 45.7% (n = 137) of participants were housewives, whereas 31.3% (n = 94) of participants had graduated from college or university (Table 1).

Table 1

Socio demographic and economic characteristics of mothers who gave birth at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city hospitals, Southern Ethiopia 2017, (n = 300).

Variables Frequency Percentage
Age 18–22 68 22.7
23–27 100 33.3
28–32 99 33.0
33–37 25 8.3
38–45 8 2.7
Religion Orthodox Christian 86 28.7
Protestant 145 48.3
Muslim 56 18.7
Catholic 2 .7
Jehovah witness 3 1.0
otherΩ 8 2.7
Ethnicity Sidama 106 35.3
Wolayta 45 15.0
Amara 62 20.7
Oromo 78 26.0
Other© 9 3.0
Marital status Single 9 3.0
Divorced 3 1.0
Widowed 1 .3
Married 287 95.7
Occupation of the mother House wife 137 45.7
Government employed 73 24.3
NGO employed 14 4.7
Private 44 14.7
Student 25 8.3
Other® 7 2.3
Occupation of spouse Farmer 55 18.3
Government employee 115 38.3
NGO employee 20 6.7
Private 95 31.7
Student 5 1.7
Other€ 10 3.3
Residency Urban 233 77.7
Rural 67 22.3
Monthly income Extreme poor 60 20.0
Under poverty 24 8.0
Above poverty 216 72.0
Educational status of mother Illiterate 48 16.0
Read and write 7 2.3
Primary school complete 66 22.0
Secondary school complete 64 21.3
Above secondary school 21 7.0
Graduated from college or university 94 31.3

OtherΩ: waqfetah, Traditional believer. Other©: Silte, kaffa. Other®: pension, merchant. other€: pension.

Obstetric factor and experiences of study participants

About 88.3% (n = 265) of the participants were multi para, and 93.3% (n = 280) of pregnancy was planned. Concerning antenatal care 95% (n = 285) of the mother had ANC contact. Thirty percent of the mothers were referred due to ante partum hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension, fetal distress and premature rupture of membrane (PROM) (Table 2).

Table 2

Obstetric characteristics of mothers who gave birth at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city hospitals, Southern Ethiopia 2017, (n = 300).

Variables Frequency Percentage (%)
Para Nulipara 30 10.0
Multipara 265 88.3
Grandpara 5 1.7
Pregnancy Planned 280 93.3
Unplanned 20 6.7
Gestational age Pre-term 26 8.7
Term 267 89.0
Post term 7 2.3
ANC follow up Yes 285 95.0
No 15 5.0
Number of ANC visit No visit 15 5
1 6 2
2 34 11.3
3 43 14.3
4 150 50
More than four 52 17.3
Referral status Refer 90 30.0
Not refer 210 70.0
Day of admission Working day 233 77.7
Other day 67 22.3
Time of admission Morning 112 37.3
Midday 69 23.0
Evening 86 28.7
Night 33 11.0
Previous pregnancy complication Yes 72 24.0
No 228 76.0
Types of previous pregnancy complication c/s scar 36 12
still birth/neonatal loss 27 9
Over weight baby 4 1.3
Other◈ 5 1.7
Types of c/s Elective c/s 42 14
Emergency c/s 106 35.3
Maternal preference of mode of delivery Caesarean section 38 12.7
Spontaneous vaginal delivery 262 87.3

Other◈: Hypertension, obstructed labor.

Mode of delivery

The prevalence of caesarean section in Hawassa city was 49.3% (n = 148), from this 35.3% and 14% were emergency and elective caesarean section respectively. Meanwhile, 81.7% (n = 121) of the caesarean section delivery was decided by obstetricians (Figure 1).

Figure 1 

Decision for caesarean section delivery in Hawassa city hospitals.

Maternal preferences for mode of delivery

Eighty-seven percent of the mothers preferred spontaneous vaginal delivery (Table 2).

Factors associated with caesarean section delivery

Monthly income above poverty line, previous history of pregnancy complication, current obstetric problem, maternal preference of C/S delivery and Parthograph follow up were the factors associated with caesarean section delivery (Table 3).

Table 3

Factors associated with caesarean section delivery among mothers who gave birth at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city hospitals, Southern Ethiopia, 2017 (n = 300).

Characteristic/s C/S delivery OR (95% CI) P-Value
Yes No Crude Adjusted
Age 18–32 130 137 0.79 (0.38–1.63)    
33–45 18 15 1.00    
Residency Urban 118 115 1.27 (0.73–2.18)    
Rural 30 37 1.00    
Marital status Married 144 143 2.27 (0.68–7.52)    
Not married 4 9 1.00    
Monthly Income Above poverty 115 101 1.76 (1.05–2.94)*   3.78 (1.86–7.69)** 0.00
Under poverty 33 51 1.00     1.00    
ANC follow-up Yes 139 146 0.64 (0.22–1.83)    
No 9 6 1.00    
Pregnancy Planned 142 138 2.40 (0.89–6.43)    
Un planned 6 14 1.00    
GA Term 133 134 1.19 (0.58–2.46)    
Pre/post-term 15 18 1.00    
Day of admission Working day 110 123 0.68 (0.39–1.18)    
Weekend 38 29 1.00    
Previous pregnancy complication Yes 55 17 4.69 (2.56–8.59)*   4.63 (2.15–9.97)** 0.000
No 93 135 1.00     1.00    
Condition of mother Stable 141 147 0.68 (0.21–2.20)    
Unstable 7 5 1.00    
Parthograph follow up Yes 105 43 1.00     1.00    
No 143 9 0.15 (0.72–0.33)*   0.12 (0.04–0.32)** 0.000
Amniotic fluid Rupture 30 28 1.13 (0.64–1.99)    
Intact 118 124 1.00    
Current obstetrics problem Yes 50 26 2.48 (1.44–4.25)*   8.15 (4.25–15.62)** 0.000
No 98 126 1.00     1.00    
Number of senior Two 40 25 1.88 (1.07–3.23)*   0.57 (0.06–5.47)     0.63
More than two 108 127 1.00     1.00    
Payment for delivery Yes 39 20 2.36 (1.30–4.29)*   4.55 (0.44–47.34)     0.20
No 109 132 1.00     1.00    
Parity Prime Para 18 12 1.62 (0.75–3.48)    
Multi Para 130 140 1.00    
Types of hospital Public 109 131 0.45 (0.25–0.80)*   0.56 (0.28–1.07)    
Private 39 21 1.00    

* P-value ≤ 0.25.

** Adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics and some concepts of Mode of delivery.

Factors associated with maternal preference for caesarean section delivery in Hawassa city

Previous pregnancy complication and having no Parthograph follow-up were the factors associated with maternal preference for Caesarean section delivery (Table 4).

Table 4

Factors associated with maternal preference for caesarean section delivery among who gave birth at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city hospitals, Southern Ethiopia 2017, (n = 300).

Characteristics Maternal Preference C/S delivery OR (95% CI) P-Value
Yes No Crude Adjusted
Age 18–32 35 232 1.51 (0.19–2.29)    
33–45 3 30 1.00    
Residency Urban 35 198 0.27 (0.08–0.89)*   2.45 (0.61–10.12)     0.204
Rural 3 64 1.00     1.00    
Marital status Married 36 251 0.79 (0.17–3.70)    
Not married 2 11 1.00    
Monthly Income Above poverty 33 183 2.85 (1.07–7.57)*   2.24 (0.69–7.26)     0.178
Under poverty 5 79 1.00     1.00    
ANC follow-up Yes 36 249 0.94 (0.20–4.34)    
No 2 13 1.00  
Pregnancy Planned 36 244 1.33 (0.29–5.96)    
Un planned 2 18 1.00    
GA Term 36 231 2.42 (0.55–10.50)     1.99 (0.37–10.72)     0.42
Pre/post-term 2 31 1.00     1.00    
Previous Pregnancy complication Yes 25 47 8.80 (4.19–18.45)*   10.02 (4.50–22.33)** 0.000
No 13 215 1.00     1.00    
Parthograph follow up Yes 23 225 0.25 (0.12–0.53)*   0.25 (0.10–0.62)** 0.002
No 15 37 1.00     1.00    
Amniotic fluid Rupture 4 54 0.45 (0.15–1.33)    
Intact 34 208 1.00    
Current obstetrics problem Yes 11 128 0.43 (0.20–0.89)*   0.53 (0.22–1.29)     0.164
No 27 134 1.00     1.00    
Payment for delivery Yes 9 50 1.32 (0.59–2.96)  
No 29 212 1.00  
Parity Prime Para 2 28 0.46 (0.17–2.03)  
Multi Para 36 234 1.00    

* P-value ≤ 0.25.

** Adjusted for socio demographic characteristic/s and some concepts of maternal.

Discussion

Cesarean section is a reproductive concern both in developed and developing countries. It is increasing through time in many countries without health gain. Evidence suggest that increment of Caesarean section has not decreased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess maternal preference, mode of delivery and associated factors at public and private hospitals in Hawassa city Southern Ethiopia. The prevalence of caesarean section in Hawassa city is 49.3% (n = 148), from this 35.3% were emergency caesarean section. This finding is inconsistent to the WHO recommendation and the study done in Addis Ababa 24.4% [6].

The possible explanation might be most of the Hawassa city public and private hospitals used as referral from Oromia and south regions rural areas and the women may come with obstetrical complications.

The prevalence of Caesarean section delivery in private hospital (65%) was higher than public hospitals (45%). The difference might be private hospital users are economically good and can afford the payment. They might be choose the Caesarean section to escape from labor pain.

In Ethiopia obstetrics related cares at public health institutions is freely available, while in private hospitals the average charge for spontaneous vaginal delivery was 34 USD and for caesarean section was 130 USD.

Eighty-seven (n = 261) of the mothers were preferred vaginal delivery. This finding is higher than the study conducted in Brazil where 70.8% of mothers preferred vaginal delivery [5].

Maternal preference for Caesarean section delivery increases significantly with previous history of pregnancy complication (AOR = 10.02, 95% CI [4.50–22.33]) this might be due to a bad experience from a previous pregnancy complication. Women who had a partograph follow up was less likely to have a caesarean section delivery (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.10–0.62]). The possible reason might be during the Partograph follow-up unnecessary decision for caesarean section would be avoided due to strict follow-up.

Despite 87% (n = 261) of the mothers who preferred spontaneous vaginal delivery, 13.52% (n = 41) of them decided their mode of delivery. Obstetricians decided 81.75% (n = 245) the Caesarean section mode of delivery. This might be due to work overload and payment-related issues. One obstetrician had work both in private and public hospitals; due to this, there is no time to follow up. This could lead to the increase of using the caesarean section. Having monthly income above poverty line 3.78 times higher odds of Cesarean section, having previous pregnancy complication 4.63 times higher odds of Cesarean section, having current obstetrics problem 8.15 times higher odds of Cesarean section. However, having a Partograph follow up shows a 0.25 times lower chance of Caesarean section. In this finding, monthly income coincided with the study done in Eastern Ethiopia [13].

The strength of this study is adding a variable like Partograph follow ups and maternal preference of delivery. The limitation of this study is not involving obstetric health care providers in the study, self-reporting data which means non-observation.

Conclusion

The prevalence of the Caesarean section mode of delivery in Hawassa city was high compared with the World Health Organization threshold. Monthly income above the poverty line, previous pregnancy complications and current obstetrics problems are increasing Caesarean section delivery, whereas utilization of Partograph is decreasing Caesarean section delivery. Therefore, utilization of Partograph could lessen unnecessary caesarean section deliveries.

Data Accessibility Statement

We sent all which is available, as there is no remaining data and materials.