Prevalence and associated factors of obstructed labour among labouring mothers in Southern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: An obstructed labour poses a significant threat to maternal and newborn health, especially in low-income countries, like Ethiopia.This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with obstructed labour among women admitted to a public hospital in the Wolaita zone.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to September 2023 to assess the prevalence of obstructed labour and associated factors among mothers giving birth at public hospitals in the Wolaita zone.The study used systematic sampling techniques to collect the required sample size and used a structured questionnaire to collect data.Then, the collected data was entered in to EPI data V.4.6 and analyzed using Stata version 14.Research results were presented in many different methods, such as tables, text, and graphs.Bivariate logistic regression was initially used to identify potential factors associated with obstructed labour, with variables with p values less than 0.25 considered candidates for multivariable logistic regression.A final multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed, with variables with a significance level of p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.. Results:The prevalence of obstructed labour in study participants was 20(9%).The incidence of obstructed labour was significantly associated with age 24 hours AOR: 4.4, 95% CI (2.56, 7.67) and use of parthograph with partially filled AOR: 4.2, 95 % CI (2.63, 6.98). Conclusion:The study showed that 9% of mothers had experienced obstructed labor, which is contrary to the national policy that obstructed labor should not be performed in public facilities.The main causes are imbalance of the pelvic head area, wrong position and abnormal expression.Factors such as maternal age, duration of labor, and use of a a partograph during labor and delivery were found to be significantly associated with obstructed labor.