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Multilevel logistic regression reports adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with p-values \u003C0.05. SBA use is lower among older women and women initiating ANC in the third trimester, and higher with maternal education, household wealth, and younger age at first birth.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/determinants-of-skilled-birth-attendant-delivery-among-reproductive-age-women-in-lesotho-a-multilevel-analysis-of-demographic-and-health-survey-data/445066/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/determinants-of-skilled-birth-attendant-delivery-among-reproductive-age-women-in-lesotho-a-multilevel-analysis-of-demographic-and-health-survey-data/445066.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"OmBimo","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the focus of the study in Lesotho?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The study examines determinants of skilled birth attendant (SBA) delivery among women of reproductive age in Lesotho using 2023–2024 demographic and health survey data.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What data and methods are used to analyze SBA delivery?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"It uses a cross-sectional design with nationally representative data of 1,407 women aged 15–49 and applies multilevel logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Which groups show lower or higher likelihood of SBA delivery?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Women aged 35–49 have lower odds of SBA delivery, and initiating ANC in the third trimester is associated with reduced SBA use. Higher maternal education, wealthier households, and earlier age at first birth are associated with increased SBA delivery.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},445066,1791024909,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":55,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":112,"preview_page_count":4},962090893581,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","OPEN ACCESS  \nCitation: Endale HT, Asefa T, Mengstie TA, Getnet M, Endalew HL, Getahun AB, et al.(2026) Determinants of skilled birth attendant delivery among reproductive age women in Lesotho: A multilevel analysis of demographic and health survey data. PLoS One 21(1): e0340011. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal). pone.0340011  \nEditor: Sabita Tuladhar, Donor Organization in Nepal, NEPAL  \nReceived: June 23, 2025  \nAccepted: December 15, 2025  \nPublished: January 6, 2026  \nPeer Review History: PLOS recognizes the benefits of transparency in the peer review process; therefore, we enable the publication of all of the content of peer review and author responses alongside final, published articles. The editorial history of this article is available here: [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal). pone.0340011  \nCopyright: © 2026 Endale et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,  \nRESEARCH ARTICLE  \nDeterminants of skilled birth attendant delivery among reproductive age women in Lesotho:  \nA multilevel analysis of demographic and health survey data  \nHiwot Tezera Endale1*, Tseganesh Asefa2, Tiget Ayelgn Mengstie1, Mihret Getnet3,4, Helen Lamesgin Endalew5, Amare Belete Getahun6, Gashaw Dessie1,  \nThomas Kidanemariam Yewodiaw7, Engidaw Fentahun Enyew8,9  \n1 Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2 Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,  \n3 Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 4 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 5 Department of Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 6 Department of Anesthesia, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 7 Medical Officer at International Medical Corps, Amhara Region Emergency Operation Center, Gondar Field Office, Gondar, Ethiopia, 8 Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 9 Department of Reproductive Health, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia  \n* [hiwottezera1@gmail.com](hiwottezera1@gmail.com)  \nAbstract  \nBackground  \nSkilled birth attendant (SBA) delivery, defined as childbirth assisted by trained healthcare professionals such as doctors, midwives, and nurses, is a cornerstone of the World Health Organization’s Safe Motherhood Initiative to reduce maternal mortality. Despite high SBA coverage in Lesotho, maternal mortality remains elevated. This study aimed to assess the determinants of SBA delivery among reproductive-age women in Lesotho using the 2023–2024 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey data.  \nMethods  \nA cross-sectional study design was applied using nationally representative data of 1,407 women aged 15–49 years. Multilevel logistic regression models were employed. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported, with p-values \u003C0 .05 considered statistically significant.  \nResults  \nSkilled birth attendant (SBA) coverage was 91.8% . Women aged 35–49 had 60% lower odds of SBA delivery (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0. 17, 0.95) . Higher maternal  \nPLOS One | [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340011](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340011) January 6, 2026 1 / 12  \nwhich permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.  \nData availability statement: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting  information files.  \nFunding: ","cbCaivPPTR08Usxi","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaivPPTR08Usxi","pdf",428537,12,"English","# Abstract\n## Background\n## Methods\n## Results\n## Conclusion\n# Introduction","[{\"question\":\"What is the focus of the study in Lesotho?\",\"answer\":\"The study examines determinants of skilled birth attendant (SBA) delivery among women of reproductive age in Lesotho using 2023–2024 demographic and health survey data.\"},{\"question\":\"What data and methods are used to analyze SBA delivery?\",\"answer\":\"It uses a cross-sectional design with nationally representative data of 1,407 women aged 15–49 and applies multilevel logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.\"},{\"question\":\"Which groups show lower or higher likelihood of SBA delivery?\",\"answer\":\"Women aged 35–49 have lower odds of SBA delivery, and initiating ANC in the third trimester is associated with reduced SBA use. Higher maternal education, wealthier households, and earlier age at first birth are associated with increased SBA delivery.\"}]","Determinants of skilled birth attendant delivery among reproductive age women in Lesotho - A multilevel analysis of demographic and health survey data | PDF",1790710194]