Determinants of potential life-threatening maternal conditions (PLTCs) in Tigray, northern Ethiopia: a case‒control study

Globally, potentially life-threatening maternal conditions (PLTCs) are significant public health threats. Ethiopia had the highest prevalence of PLTC (17.55%). However, there is limited evidence on the determinants that increase the occurrence of PLTC in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of the PLTC in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. A case‒control study was carried out between January 21 and April 20, 2024. Data were collected from 1027 participants (341 cases and 686 controls) through interviews and card reviews. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed via SPSS version 24 to identify factors associated with the PLTC. In this study, variables such as having no formal education (AOR: 2.78; 95% CI 1.50-5.15), not in a marital union (AOR: 4.33; 95% CI 1.23-15.23), alcohol intake during pregnancy (AOR: 1.77; 95% CI 1.13-2.76), a history of stillbirth (AOR: 3.02; 95% CI 1.81-5.04), twin birth (AOR: 2.24; 95% CI 1.03-4.86), chronic hypertension (AOR: 11.37; 95% CI 3.71-34.88), prior cesarean section (CS) (AOR: 2.40; 95% CI 1.27-4.50), malaria during pregnancy (AOR: 4.10; 95% CI 1.25-13.45), not taking foliate (AOR: 4.10; 95% CI 1.25-13.45), induced labor (AOR: 7.33; 95% CI 4.31-12.47), and CS delivery (AOR: 2.39; 1.59-3.6) were increased risk of PLTC. However, completing recommended prenatal care visits (AOR: 0.59; 95% CI 0.41-0.86) was associated with lower odds of developing PLTC. Therefore, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, programmers, and healthcare providers should use the underlying evidence for the prevention and management of the PLTC.