Introduction: Birth preparedness is the way of planning for normal birth and anticipating the actions needed in case of an emergency. Use of a skilled birth attendant and particularly inadequate preparation for rapid action in the event of obstetric complications, are well documented factors contributing to delay in receiving skilled obstetric care. This study was to give basic data on the issue that may help health workers and policy makers to implement and scale up safe mother hood program in an attempt to decrease the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rate in Ethiopia.Objective: To assess birth preparedness and associated factors among antenatal clients in Kucha woreda health centers, Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2014.Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from December 2014 to April 2015. A total of 458 Antenatal care (ANC) clients from all rural health centers were randomly selected after proportionally allocated to average number of ANC clients from registration book and interviewed at every third interval. Pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and six trained diploma graduate female nurses were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics was done to assess basic client characteristics. Result: This study indicated that the proportion of antenatal women prepared for birth was 44%. Variables having statistically significant association with birth preparedness were both pregnant women with their husbands education level of tertiary (AOR=4.10, 95%CI: 1.67- 10.06) and (AOR=2.86, 95%CI: 1.33- 6.18) respectively, total monthly income of >1000eth.birr (AOR 3.67, 95%CI=1.83-7.36), four and above ANC visit (AOR 2.12, 95%CI=1.12-3.99),knowledge of danger signs (AOR 1.96, 95%CI=1.21-3.17), and the presence of still birth (AOR 2.88, 95%CI=1.36-6.09).Conclusion and recommendations: The magnitude of birth preparedness was very low. Women’s and husband’s education should be promoted by Kucha woreda health office in collaboration with Kucha woreda education office. Education and counseling on birth preparedness plan for ANC clients must be given by health care providers. Keywords: Birth preparedness, Kucha, Gamo Goff
