Poor feto maternal outcomes and associated factors among labouring mothers referred to Nekemte city public hospitals, East Wallaga Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Abstract Background: Deliveries are not always free from poor fetal and maternal outcomes. The majority of obstetric complications are referred to tertiary hospitals however, there is limited evidence regarding the magnitude of poor maternal and fetal outcomes and their associated factors among referred laboring mothers in Ethiopia and especially in the study area. Objective: The study aimed to assess the magnitude ofpoor fetal and maternal outcomes and associated factors among laboring mothers referred to Nekemte City public Hospitals, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 420 referred laboring mothers in the two public hospitals of Nekemte City from February 10, 2023, to April 10, 2023. The data were entered to EPI- DATA software version 4.6 and then, exported to SPSS Version 26.0 for analysis. A binary Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with poor feto-maternal outcomes. A bivariable binary logistic regression model was used to select candidate variables at p-value ≤ 0.25. A multivariable binary logistic regression model with 95% CI and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) was used to identify variables associated with poor feto-maternal outcomes at a P-value < 0.05. Result: Poor fetal and maternal outcome was 46.2% (95%CI: (41% - 51%) and 24.1% (95% CI: 20%- 29%) respectively. Unable to read and write (AOR: 3.64, 95% CI: (1.11-11.96), multiple pregnancies (AOR: 4.23, 95% CI: (1.26, 14.25), and Preeclampsia 3.9, 95% CI: (1.11-13.67) were significant factors for poor maternal outcome. Rural residence (AOR: 1.99, 95% CI: (1.21, 3.29), a cesarean delivery (AOR: 2.64, 95% CI: (1.56, 4.47), gestational age <37 weeks (AOR: 8.09, 95% CI: (1.52, 12.91), <4 antenatal care visit (AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: (1.23-4.58), were found to be significant factors for poor fetal outcome. Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study, the poor fetal and maternal outcomes were linked to obstetric complications among referred pregnant women. Unable to read and write, multiple pregnancies, and, - pregnancy induced hypertention were factors associated with poor maternal outcomes. Rural residence, cesarean deliveries, Gastational age less than 37 weeks and less than four ANC visits were factors associated with poor fetal outcomes. Therefore, detecting and managing obstetric complications early, improving antenatal care further and pregnant women should also have their blood pressure checked regularly.