Background: The world health organization (WHO) estimate that
about 536,000 women of reproductive age die each year from
pregnancy related complications. In addition in Ethiopia Delivery
attended by health professionals was poor where most deliveries
occur at home, they are attended by non-professional personals.
This situation very well explains the high MMR in Ethiopia.
Method: Community based cross- sectional study was conducted
on Women of reproductive age groups who gave birth within 5 years
preceding the survey. Study was conducted from March 14 to 23,
2014 in Tahtay-Adiabo district of the North West regional sate of
Tigray. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select
samples. Data was collected by structured questionnaire and edited
and tallied and analyzed for percentage, frequency by dummy table.
Cross tabulation was performed on variables to compare & explore
relationships. Statistical analysis was made by chi square.
Result: The prevalence of institutional delivery service utilization
was 16.22%. The majority of the mothers 83.78% were giving birth
at home. Among 83.78% clients, who gave birth at home 42.74%
of them were attended by trained traditional birth attendants and
so no need to go to health institution, 28.22% of them stated their
reason for home delivery as sudden onset of labor, 4.84% of them
as had no previous history of difficulty in birth and 24.19% as lack
of transport. Mother’s preference, always passing through normal
labor and Economical problem were some of the reasons mothers
reported not to give birth in health institution.
Conclusion: Presence of trained birth attendants at home, sudden
onset of labour, no previous history of difficult labour, lack of
transport are associated with low prevalence of institutional delivery
service utilization.