Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40790472›Full record

SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Delays in the decision to seek care and associated factors among women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tesfahun Simon Hadaro, Misgun Shewangizaw, Teketel Ermias Geltore, Merkin Bekele, Lakew Desta Zewude, Mesfin Abebe, Yilma Chisha, Kusse Urmale Mare, Simeon Meskele Leyto

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Tesfahun Simon HadaroDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia. tesfu.2633@gmail.com.
Misgun ShewangizawSchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Teketel Ermias GeltoreDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia.
Merkin BekeleDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia.
Lakew Desta ZewudeSchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Mesfin AbebeDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
Yilma ChishaSchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Kusse Urmale MareDepartment of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia.
Simeon Meskele LeytoDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDelays in seeking care during pregnancy and childbirth can result in serious complications for women and a major contributor to maternal illness and death, especially in low-resource countries like Ethiopia. However, there is an inconsistency in findings of a study that has been conducted on the delay in decision to seek care. Thus, this review aimed to determine the combined prevalence of delay in decision to seek care and associated factors in Ethiopia.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on the prevalence of delay in the decision to seek care and its associated factors. Five bibliographic databases and libraries, namely, Medline/PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Hinari, were used. Data extraction was performed using Microsoft Excel, and after cleaning and sorting, analysis was performed using STATA 17 software. The quality of each article was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies. The pooled rate of delays in the decision to seek care and associated factors among mothers was estimated with a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was examined using Cochrane Q statistics and the I2 test, and publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger's regression test.

resultsA total of twelve studies were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of delays in the decision to seek care at health facilities among women in Ethiopia was 44.69% (95% CI: 37.02-52.36). Several factors were significantly associated with these delays, including having no formal education (AOR = 4.48; 95% CI: 3.30-5.60), residing in rural areas (AOR = 5.40; 95% CI: 2.30-8.50), being unemployed (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.80-3.49), husband-only decision-making (AOR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.13-4.50), and lack of antenatal care follow-up (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.30-4.10).

conclusionThe high pooled prevalence of delayed decision-making in seeking care highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions. These should focus on enhancing access to healthcare services, increasing maternal education, and promoting consistent antenatal care follow-up. Addressing these areas can significantly reduce delays and lead to improve maternal and public health outcomes.

Indexed as

Decision MakingPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultEthiopiaFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansMaternal Health ServicesPregnancyPrenatal CarePrevalenceTime FactorsDelay in seekingEmergency obstetric careEthiopiaInstitutional delivery serviceWomen

Identifiers

PMID40790472
PMCPMC12341225

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.