ABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences among cervical cancer patients during follow-up care. Patients and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with purposively selected cervical cancer patients receiving follow-up treatment at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: The results obtained in this study indicated that women experienced a variety of physical and psychosocial difficulties in the context of cervical cancer care. The data analysis resulted in five themes. Women have undergone difficulties indicated as lack of satisfaction with the health care experience, dealing with treatment side effects, struggle in work and daily life, having stress, disruption in social relationships, and financial difficulties incurred because of their illness and treatment. Conclusion: This study highlights that cervical cancer patient's experience is the outcome of a complex interplay by personal, clinical, psychological, and social spheres. Thus, interdisciplinary approach between health and psychosocial professionals is needed during follow-up care in order to help women experience better psychosocial adjustment.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Measures of maternal death are fundamental to a country's health and development status. In developing countries, it remains a daunting and largely unmet public health challenge. There were two studies completed over 10 years ago in Jimma University Specialized Hospital to identify trends, but recently there have been many changes in Ethiopia to reduce maternal death. Therefore, it is important to track the achievements made in Ethiopia in the context of Jimma University Specialized Hospital. No study undertaken in the country has quantified deaths of women from specific causes after controlling confounders. OBJECTIVE: To assess trends and causes of maternal death in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A time-matched case-control study was conducted on 600 (120 cases and 480 controls) females who utilized obstetrics and gynecology services from January 2010 to December 2014. To observe trends in maternal death, maternal mortality ratio was calculated for each year. Stata version 13 was used to analyze causal inference using propensity score matching method. RESULTS: Maternal mortality ratio was 857/100,000 and had a decreasing trend from it's highest in 2010 of 1,873/100,000 to it's lowest of 350/100,000 in 2014. The leading cause of maternal death was hemorrhage (54%) (ß=0.477, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.307, 0.647), followed by pregnancy-induced hypertension (20%) (ß=0.232, 95% CI: 0.046, 0.419), and anemia (12%) (ß=0.110, 95% CI: 0.017, 0.204). CONCLUSION: There is a decreasing trend of maternal death. Hemorrhage was the major cause of death identified in each year of study.
