The effect of maternity waiting homes on pregnancy outcomes in West Gojjam, northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background/Aims Maternity waiting homes are temporary shelters for pregnant women located near a hospital or health centre and are designed to reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. However, studies assessing the association between maternity waiting home use and adverse pregnancy outcomes are limited. This study assessed the association between maternity waiting home use and adverse pregnancy outcomes in northwest Ethiopia. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted among women attending antenatal care in public health facilities in West Gojjam, northwest Ethiopia. Pregnant women (28 weeks or more gestation) were enrolled and followed up until birth. Maternity waiting home use was classified as if a pregnant woman stayed for at least 1 week in a maternity waiting home before birth. Log-binomial regression analysis was used to calculate the effect of maternity waiting homes on adverse pregnancy outcomes and to control the effect of potential confounders. Results A total of 810 women completed follow up and were included in the analysis. The incidence of composite adverse pregnancy outcomes was lower among maternity waiting home users compared to non-users (16.3% vs 24.5%). Maternity waiting home users had a lower risk of perinatal death (P=0.003), low birth weight (P=0.004) and preterm birth (P=0.007) than non-users. There were no significant differences in the risk of prolonged labour and postpartum haemorrhage between maternity waiting home users and non-users. Conclusions Staying in a maternity waiting home was significantly associated with a lower risk of perinatal death, low birth weight and preterm birth, and maternity waiting home users had approximately 50% lower adverse perinatal outcomes than non-users. Therefore, the Amhara Regional Health Bureau, zonal health departments, district health offices and other stakeholders should strengthen the use of maternity waiting homes.