Education Role in the Institutional Delivery in the Islands Area: A Study in Maluku Region, Indonesia

This study analyzed the education role in institutional delivery in the Maluku Region, Indonesia. The 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Research data were analyzed using a cross-sectional approach. 1,913 Moluccan women ages 15 and older who experienced delivery during the last five years were included. Institutional birth was the outcome variable, while education level was the exposure variable. Additionally, eight control variables were considered: province, residency, age, marriage status, occupation, wealth, number of births, and antenatal care. The associations among these variables were examined using binary logistic regression. The findings indicate that education significantly influences institutional birth. Secondary-educated women had 1.8 times higher odds of delivering in a medical facility than primary-educated women (AOR 1.800; 95% CI 1.761-1.839). Women with higher education were nearly three times more likely to use facility-based delivery services compared to those with primary education (AOR 2.891; 95% CI 2.808-2.976). Education plays a crucial role in institutional delivery rates in the Maluku Region. The higher a woman's education level, the greater the likelihood of utilizing healthcare facilities for childbirth. Enhancing community awareness and expanding access to formal education are essential strategies for improving facility-based delivery services in this region.