Abstract

Background: The maternal mortality rate is 412 per 100,000 live births in Ethiopia which is the highest in the world. Skilled birth attendance during childbirth and immediate postpartum care can prevent 75% of maternal mortality but women are not willing to deliver in the health institutions due to ignorance of their sensitive issues by health professionals. Additionally, the care given in the health institution is not psychologically supportive of what they need. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of abusive maternal care and associated factors during childbirth in North Wollo Hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was implemented in 2018 with a sample size of 394. Stratified systematic random sampling was applied to select the study participants. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire adapted from the White Ribbon Alliance Declaration of women's right during childbirth. Data were entered by EPI- data version 3.1 and analysed by using SPSS version 23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out. Model fitness was assured.

Result: The level of abusive care among childbearing women was 47.1%. Women who attended their childbirth at general hospital (AOR =0.13, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.26), women who had no antenatal care (AOR =2.08, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.39) and women who had two birth attendants (AOR =0.56, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.92) were significant association with abusive maternal care.

Conclusion: The level of abusive maternal care in health institutions is high as compared to national and international standards. Women who attend their childbirth at general hospitals, having antenatal care and the number of birth attendants were factors associated with abusive maternal care. The interventions better to focus on increasing pregnant women’s ANC follow up. The health institutions also better increase the number of professional skilled birth attendants to address women’s concerns during childbirth.