Table 2 Cultural awareness of maternal health providers in Bahir Dar city Administration, April, 2012

Pregnant women are prohibited from protein foods

180

65.7

8

2.9

86

31.4

Pregnant women are encouraged to work a lot to hasten the labor

202

73.7

9

3.3

63

23.0

Massaging the abdomen of laboring women is un common

57

20.8

13

4.7

204

74.5

I believe strictly on science rather than culture

193

70.4

16

5.8

65

24.1

Supernatural forces are responsible for pregnancy outcomes

223

81.4

12

4.4

39

11.2

Women’s perceptions of health are no different from my own

34

12.4

7

2.6

233

85.0

Husband &family members should be excluded from delivery room

94

34.3

7

2.6

173

63.1

The same approach should be followed when caring for all women

229

83.6

7

2.6

38

13.8

Am aware of the stereotyping attitudes towards my clients

180

65.7

17

6.2

77

28.1

Every laboring women must wear hospital gown

104

38.0

13

4.7

157

57.3

People from different cultural groups equally share the same values and beliefs to the host community

184

67.2

16

5.8

74

27.0

There are many differences in values and beliefs within any single ethnic group

267

97.4

2

0.7

5

3.0

Gender, age, class and generation are important in person’s identity

253

92.3

4

1.5

17

6.2

Cord cutting by the family themselves are important to individuals

33

12.0

10

3.6

231

84.4

Sex difference of healthcare provider has no impact on the service utilization of women

172

62.8

9

3.3

93

33.9

Roles for maternal health decisions vary between males and females in the community

241

88.0

5

1.8

28

10.2

To avoid imposing values on their clients practitioners should be aware of their own value and belief systems

261

95.3

3

1.1

10

3.6

Culture is influenced by personal, social and psychological factors

252

92.0

6

2.2

16

5.8