Abstract:
Introduction: Most maternal deaths take place during labor and within few weeks after delivery.
The availability and utilization of emergency obstetric care facilities is a key factor to reduce
maternal mortality. However, there is limited evidence how these institutions perform and how many
people utilize them in Gamo Goffa zone, south west, Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess availability and utilization of emergency obstetric care services in Gamo Goffa
zone.
Methods: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted among all health facilities (3 hospitals
& 63 health centers) that exist in Gamo Goffa. A retrospective review of obstetric services, records,
documents, cards and/or registration books of mothers treated and/or served in Gamo Goffa zone
health facilities for last one year during data collection. The data collectors visited each facility and
observed the records and interviewed head nurses. Data entered to computer based SPSS Version 16
statistical analysis was employed and results were presented and discussed.
Results: There were 3 basic and 2 comprehensive emergency obstetric care facilities per 1,740,885
population. The proportion of births done by skilled attendants in health facilities was 6.6% of all
expected births, and the caesarean section rate was 0.8%. The proportion of maternal deaths among
births attended in health facilities was 1867/100,000 live births (79/4231). Health facilities that are
far from Arbaminch hospital (>50km) had significantly lower number of births than the nearest to the
zone (p-value=0.006).
Conclusion: The availability of basic and comp EmOC facilities for 1,704,885 population were far
below the recommended by the UN. The proportion of institutional delivery and cesarean section was
low.
Recommendations: Improve existing facilities or making fully functional with posting midwives
and trained personnel with emergency surgery, provision of blood transfusion services and medical
supply, an effective referral system.
