Predictors of delay seeking delivery services at labor onset among pregnant women in the singida region of Tanzania: analytical cross-sectional study

Background Delays in seeking childbirth care are the leading cause of high maternal mortality in developing countries. Despite the Tanzanian government's efforts, such as exempting childbirth services in all government hospitals, timely access to and reporting to health facilities for childbirth care among Tanzanian women remains a challenge. Objective The study aimed to assess the predictors of delayed seeking of facility birth at the onset of labor among pregnant women in the Singida region of Tanzania. Methodology A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 pregnant women in labor and postpartum women. A principal investigator and research assistants collected the data through a validated questionnaire and checklist. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 23, through descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) and inferential statistics [Chi-squared test ( χ 2), and binary logistic regression analysis]. Results The majority of women 65.1% had type 1 delay, where it took more than one hour to make a decision. Meanwhile, 71.4% women reached the delivery facilities less than one hour, which is type 2 delay, and most of the women 97.1% started receiving care less than thirty minutes after reaching the healthcare facilities. Regarding predictors of delay, type 1 delay was predominant over types 2 and 3, but none of the predictors indicate an association. Most of the women in type 2 delay used less than one hour to reach the facilities, which was influenced by women's residence and religion. Also, the type 3 delay was influenced by women's religion. Conclusion Type 1 delay of women making a decision to seek delivery services at healthcare facilities is predominant in the study area. Since sociodemographic characteristics of study participants, delivery services accessibility, and knowledge were found to have no association with type 1 delay, the application of different models and theories should be carried out to investigate specific predictors for type 1 delay in the same participant setting. The type 2 delay is associated with individuals living in rural areas and belonging to the Muslim. Meanwhile, type 3 delay is also influenced by women's religious beliefs.