• Hodo Abdikarim, Abdisalam Hassan Muse, Mukhtar Abdi Hassan, and Yahye Hassan Muse.
• Faculty of Science and Humanities, School of Postgraduate Studies and Research (SPGSR), Amoud University, Borama, Somalia.
• Aten Primaria. 2024 Sep 16; 57 (2): 103082103082.

ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aimed to identify the determinants of home deliveries among women in Somaliland, with the objective of informing targeted interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes.DesignA cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing data from a nationally representative sample of 3250 women in Somaliland. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors influencing the likelihood of home delivery. SITE: The study was conducted in Somaliland, a region where home delivery remains prevalent.ParticipantsThe study included 3250 women of reproductive age in Somaliland who had given birth.InterventionsNo specific interventions were administered as part of this study. The focus was on understanding the factors associated with home deliveries.Main MeasurementsSociodemographic, economic, and regional factors were examined as potential determinants of home deliveries. Education levels of women and their husbands, maternal age at first marriage and first birth, and household wealth were among the main measurements analyzed.ResultsThe analysis revealed that higher education levels were associated with a decreased likelihood of home delivery. Women with secondary (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.32-0.55) or higher (OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.12-0.37) education were less likely to deliver at home than those with no education. Similarly, women whose husbands had a secondary (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.41-0.73) or higher (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28-0.66) education were less likely to deliver at home. Increased maternal age at first marriage (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.06) and first birth (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05) were significant predictors of home delivery. Lower household wealth was also associated with a higher likelihood of home delivery. Significant regional variations were observed, with certain regions showing higher rates of home deliveries compared to others.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to address sociodemographic and regional disparities in the utilization of institutional delivery services in Somaliland. Strategies should focus on improving access to and quality of maternal healthcare services, empowering women's decision-making, and engaging men to address gender norms within households.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Publicado por Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.

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