Hidden cost of hospital-based delivery and associated factors among postpartum women attending public hospitals in Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Since 2005, the healthcare system in Ethiopia has implemented policies to promote the provision of free maternal healthcare services. The primary goal of these policies is to enhance the accessibility of maternity care for women from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, the aim is to increase the utilization of maternity services, such as institutional deliveries, by removing financial obstacles that pregnant women may face. Even though maternity services are free of charge. The hidden cost has unquestionably been a key obstacle in seeking and utilizing health care services. Significant payments due to delivery services could create a heavy economic burden on households. OBJECTIVES: To determine the hidden cost of hospital-based delivery and associated factors among postpartum women attending public hospitals in Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia 2023. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 411 postpartum women in Gamo Zone Public Health Hospitals from December 1, 2022, to January 30, 2023. The systematic sampling technique was applied to reach study units. Data was collected using the Kobo Toolbox Data Collection Tool and exported to SPSS statistical software version 27 for analysis. Simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were done to see the association of variables. The significance level was declared at a P-value < 0.05 in the final model. RESULT: The median hidden cost of hospital-based delivery was 1142 Ethiopian birr (ETB), with a range (Q) of 2262 (504-2766) ETB. Monthly income of the family (ß = 0.019), obstetrics complications (ß = 0.033), distance from the health facility (ß = 0.003), and mode of delivery (ß = 0.072), were positively associated with the hidden cost of hospital-based delivery. While, rural residence (ß = -0.041) was negatively associated with the outcome variable. CONCLUSION: This study showed the hidden cost of hospital based delivery was relatively high. Residence, monthly income of the family, obstetric complications, mode of delivery, and distance from the health facility were statistically significant. It is important to take these factors into account when designing health intervention programs and hospitals should prioritize the availability of essential drugs and medical supplies within their facilities to address direct medical costs in hospitals.

Household food insecurity and associated factors among postpartum women in southern Ethiopia: a community based cross sectional study.

Approximately two billion individuals, or 26.4% of the global population, live in moderate- to severely food-insecure circumstances. It was discovered that not receiving all recommended antenatal care throughout one's pregnancy is one of the effects of household insecurity. The majority of women in Ethiopia, one of the most food-insecure countries in the world, with 10% of the population facing food poverty, devote more of their time to household duties, making food insecurity in the home the primary effect of poor prenatal care utilization. The main objective this study was to assess the status of household food insecurity among postpartum women at Arba Minch town, southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 381 mothers who were enrolled from December 1, 2022, to January 30, 2023. The total sample size was allocated proportionately to the number of postpartum women living in each kebeles taking from the town registry of health extension workers for immunization. Thus, systematic sampling was applied. Kobo Toolbox was used for data collection and cleaning, which was then analyzed using the statistical package of Social Science Version 26 (SPSS). In this study, the prevalence of food insecurity was 30.2% (95% CI 25.5-34.5). The associated factors with household food-insecurity were maternal occupation (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.27, 0.90), late antenatal care initiation (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 2.13, 5.91), and low monthly income (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.38, 6.93). Food insecurity among postpartum mothers in the study area is high. Families who are severely food insecure require quick assistance to lower poor maternal and neonate's outcomes. Furthermore, enhancing the occupation of mothers is crucial in reducing the morbidities and mortality of food insecure mothers, such as delayed prenatal care services, anemia, low birth weight, and stillbirth.