Dropout from maternity continuum of care and associated factors among women in Debre Markos town, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract Introduction Maternity continuum of care is the continuity of maternity health care services that a woman uses antenatal care, skill birth attendant, and postnatal care. This Continuum of care in maternal health has become one of the government concern and program for planning and evaluating strategies within currently existing maternal health system of Ethiopia. It is an important intervention in reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, there is no clear information on the proportion of dropout from maternity continuum of care in Ethiopia. Objective The aim of this study was to assess proportion and associated factors of dropout from maternity continuum of care among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Debre Markos town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study with cluster sampling technique was conducted among 605 mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Debre Markos town. The data were collected from August 1-30/ 2018 by face to face interview through pretested and semi-structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regressions (Bivariable and Multivariable) logistic regression model were done. In multivariable analysis variables with P-value < 0.05 in 95% confidence interval for Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to determine factors associated with dropout from maternity continuum of care. Results The proportion of drop out from maternity continuum of care was found to be 32.2 %(95%CI: 28.4-36.2). Have not exposure to media (AOR= 2.62, CI: 1.465-4.675), women who heard about PNC (AOR= 0.07, 95%CI: 0.035-0.154), unplanned pregnancy (AOR= 3.40, CI: 1.114-10.389), and having<4 ANC follow up (AOR = 3.03, CI: 1.963-4.685) were statistically significant variable with the dropout from maternity continuum of care. Conclusion and recommendations In this study, the proportion of dropout from maternity continuum of care is found to be high. The greatest gap and predictors for dropout was observed at postnatal care level, to reduce this drop out interventions on specified associated factors need to be implemented.