ASSESSMENT OF UTILIZATION AND SATISFACTION OF URBAN HEALTH EXTENSION SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE (15-49 YEARS) IN ASSELA TOWN, OROMIYA REGIONAL STATE SOUTHEAST ETHIOPIA, FROM SEPTEMBER 1 TO 30 IN THE YEAR 2025

Abstract

Abstract Background: Urban Health Extension service utilization and satisfaction was affected by lack of knowledge and participation on packages in the study area and period. Objective: It was to assess the magnitude of utilization and satisfaction of health extension services and associated factors among women of age (15-49 years) in Assela Town, Oromia Regional state South East Ethiopia in September 2025. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Using single proportion and 1.5 desinge effect formula by adoption 51.8% from a study in Hawasa Town and final sample size was 632. Sampling procedure was by stratified random sampling from all 8 kebeles 8 ketenas were selected by lottery; allocating proportionally. Urban Health extension services utilization and satisfaction was dependent variable. Independent variables related to socio demographic and behavioral factors. An adopted questionnaire was developed in Kobo toolbox. And pretest was done on 5% of the sample in Gonde Town. Ethical clearance from Public Health Department, verbal consent of each participant was obtained. Face to face interview by using close and open ended questionnaire data collection was done. Data analysis: Kobo toolbox collected data was transferred to SPSS version 27 to analyze by binary logistic regression by considering 95% CI, p-value < 0.05. The answers from open ended question was triangulated. Results: With a response rate of 98 %( 618/632) the Urban Health Extension service (UHEP) utilization and satisfaction was 28% and 41% respectively. Among associated factors with 95% CI and p-value <0.05 were knowledge about UHEP 6.7(AOR=6.7; 95% CI: 3.15-14.97), participation of women on planning of UHEP activities 5.36 higher (AOR=5.36; 95 CI: 1-19.6) than their respective counterpart. Conclusions and Recommendations: The study came with results among researches reported least utilization proportion. The associated factors were manageable by the town health office, health extension workers and kebele administers. Awareness creation, participating women in planning and best experience sharing between families on health extension activities were among the recommendations.