Knowledge, acceptability, and use of misoprostol for Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage after home birth setting in rural Ethiopia

Background: In low income countries especially Africa, more than a third of all maternal deaths are attributed to hemorrhage. Bleeding after childbirth (postpartum haemorrhage) is an important cause of maternal mortality, accounting for nearly one quarter of all maternal deaths worldwide. For prevention of post partum hemorrhage, misoprostol may be the only technology available to manage PPH at home-births. Objective: the study aimed to assess the knowledge and future intentions of mothers to use misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in pastoralist community of Somali regional state in Ethiopia. Methods: the study was a cross sectional study on a population of women of reproductive age group living in the Adadle district. A multi stage random sampling technique was applied. A structured questionnaire with closed and open ended questions was used to collect the required information. Data entry, cleaning and analysis was carried out using SPSS version 19. Results: A total of 829 women between the ages of 15-49 involved in the study. Of the respondents asked, 42(5.8 %) had a knowledge of the drug used and 34 of them have seen or heard of a woman given misoprostol after the baby was born and before the delivery of the placenta. Close to 42% of mothers were noted their willingness to use misoprostol in the future and the majorities prefer traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to provide the tablet during delivery. Health professionals such as doctors and nurses were engaged in administering the tablet as reported by 88% of the respondents. Degrees of involvement of Health extension workers (HEWs) and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in misoprostol use were found to be very low 2.8% each respectively. Conclusion: Close to six percent of mothers in the study was aware of misoprostol and future intention is reported by only 42% and the majorities prefer TBAs to provide the tablet during delivery. So raising awareness and knowledge of HEWs, community members and TBAs regarding the advantage of the tablet is very crucial in enhancing uptake of the drug and reducing incidence of PPH.