Effectiveness of couple-based health education on utilization of maternity waiting homes among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia: A study protocol for cluster-randomized trial

Background: Maternity waiting homes are used to enhance women's access to health facilities in low-resource settings; however, its use remains low in Ethiopia. It is important to investigate strategies that can enhance the usage of maternity waiting homes in Ethiopia. Methods: The purpose of his study is to assess how well couple-focused health education works to increase maternal knowledge, attitudes, and use of maternity waiting homes in rural Ethiopia. A cluster-randomized trial with two parallel groups will be the study's design. Three hundred twenty samples will be drawn from 16 clusters (160 in each group). Clusters will be assigned to intervention or control groups using a restricted randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Women who are in their 14–16 weeks of gestation, or in the early stages of their second trimester, along with their male partners, will participate in the study. Health education, home visits, and the distribution of leaflets will be the intervention packages. Discussion: The trial results will provide conclusive evidence on whether couple-based health education can improve women's access to maternity waiting homes in rural Ethiopia.