Factors associated with maternity waiting home use among women in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia : a multilevel cross-sectional analysis

Maternity waiting homes (MWHs) are temporary residential spaces located within or close to health facilities, offering skilled obstetrical care. Data used in this analysis were collected from three districts in Jimma Zone in the southern part of Ethiopia. The survey targeted 3840 women. Qualitative research from this study setting and other areas in Ethiopia highlight the pivotal role of husbands and family support in enabling women’s use of MWHs. Findings have implications for achieving equity in access to maternal healthcare, as poorer women with little social support in the form of companions accompanying them for health facility visits, are among the more vulnerable groups