Knowledge and attitude towards preconception care and associated factors among women of reproductive age with chronic disease in Amhara region referral hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022.

INTRODUCTION: Preconception care (PCC) is an important window to target maternal morbidity and mortality, especially for women with chronic diseases. However, little is known about knowledge and attitudes towards preconception care among women with chronic disease. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards preconception care and associated factors among women of reproductive age with chronic disease in Amhara region referral hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022. METHOD: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in Amhara region referral hospitals from April 15 to June 1, 2022. A total 828 women of reproductive age with chronic disease in four referral hospitals were selected using a stratified and systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected by using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and chart review. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out. An Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was computed to see the strength of association between outcome and independent variables. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: This study found that 55.6% of respondents had a good knowledge of preconception care, and 50.2% had a good attitude towards PCC. Formal education (AOR: 1.997, 95% CI: 1.247, 3.196), primiparity (AOR: 2.589, 95% CI: 1.132, 5.921), preconception counseling (AOR: 3.404, 95% CI: 2.170, 5.340), duration of disease ≥ 5 years (AOR: 6.495, 95% CI: 4.091, 10.310) were significantly associated with knowledge of PCC. Older age (≥ 35years) (AOR: 2.143, 95% CI: 1.058, 4.339), secondary education and above (AOR: 2.427, 95% CI: 1.421, 4.146), history of modern family planning use (AOR: 2.853 95% CI: 1.866, 4.362), preconception counseling (AOR: 2.209, 95% CI: 1.429, 3.414) and good knowledge of PCC (AOR: 20.629, 95% CI: 12.425, 34.249) were significantly associated with attitude towards PCC. CONCLUSIONS: Women's knowledge and attitude towards preconception care were found to be low. Important measures include promoting secondary education and carrying out awareness campaigns, incorporating preconception counseling into routine medical follow-up care, and encouraging the use of modern family planning methods.

Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Pre-lacteal feeding, the introduction of liquids or non-breast milk foods before establishing regular breastfeeding, poses significant risks to newborns, depriving them of vital nutrients and the protective benefits of colostrum while exposing them to infection hazards. Despite breast milk being a renewable and comprehensive source of infant nutrition for the first six months of life, prevalent in many low income country are pre-lacteal feeds such as honey, sugar-water, jiggery water, castor oil, and goat's milk. These practices, widespread in such regions, carry potential risks of infection and aspiration. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding and identify associated factors among mothers with children under six months in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia. METHOD: A community-based cross-sectional study took place in Dilla town, southern Ethiopia, spanning from June 20 to August 20, 2022. The study included a total of 372 participants, selected through simple random sampling for kebele and systematic random sampling for individual participants. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and subsequently coded, entered, cleaned, and edited using SPSS version 23.0 software. The presentation of data utilized tables and figures, followed by a logistic regression analysis to identify potential factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding. The significance level was set at a p-value less than 0.05 for the final model. RESULT: The prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding practice was 176 (47.3%) in the study area and having no maternal education (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI; [1.01-5.84] colostrum avoidance (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI; [2.03-6.86] and lack of breast feeding counseling (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI; 1.40-2.57), were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Pre-lacteal feeding practice among mothers of children aged less than 6 months in Dilla town was found to be higher than the national prevalence. No formal education, colostrum avoidance, lack of breastfeeding counseling, were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. So awareness creation activities on the risks of PLF (pre-lacteal feeding) and improving breastfeeding counseling targeted to all mothers and care givers including their families within the study area is vital.

Determinants of late-stage cervical cancer presentation in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Behind breast, colorectal, and lung cancers, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting females. Despite, it is a preventable form of cancer both the incidence and mortality figures reflect it as a major reproductive health problem. Late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis is associated with complicated clinical presentation which can result in short survival time and increased mortality. Several factors contribute to the late-stage presentation of cervical cancer patients. In Ethiopia nationally summarized evidence on the level and the factors contributing to late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis is scarce. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis and its determinants in Ethiopia. METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive literature was searched in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and African Online Journal to retrieve eligible articles. A weighted inverse variance random effect model was used to estimate pooled prevalence. Cochrane Q-test and I2 statistics were computed to assess heterogeneity among studies. Funnel plot and Egger's regression test were done to assess publication bias. RESULT: Overall, 726 articles were retrieved and finally 10 articles were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis in Ethiopia was 60.45% (95%CI; 53.04%-67.85%). Poor awareness about cervical cancer and its treatment (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: (1.03 - 2.33, longer delay to seek care (AOR = 1.02, 95% CI: (1.01 - 1.03)) and rural residence (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI:( 1.56 - 2.75)) were significantly associated to late-stage diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, six in every ten cervical cancer cases are diagnosed at the late stage of the disease. Poor awareness about cervical cancer and its treatment, long patient delay to seek care, and rural residence were positively associated with late-stage diagnosis. Therefore intervention efforts should be made to improve public awareness about cervical cancer, minimize patient delay to seek care, and expand screening services specifically in the rural residing segment of the population to detect the disease early and improve survival.

Human papillomavirus vaccine acceptance among adolescent girls in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting females. Human papillomavirus vaccination of adolescent girls is the primary strategy for cervical cancer prevention but in Ethiopia, it lacks emphasis. Despite different studies done and found a highly variable level of vaccine acceptance; however, there was no summarized evidence on the issues as a nation. Thus this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of human papillomavirus vaccine acceptance by adolescent girls and its associated factors in Ethiopia. METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive literature was searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Online Journal databases. A weighted inverse variance random effect model was used to estimate pooled prevalence. Cochrane Q-test and I2 statistics were computed to assess heterogeneity among studies. Funnel plot and Eggers test were done to assess publication bias. Review manager software was used to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance. RESULT: Overall, 157 articles were retrieved and finally 7 articles were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of adolescent human papillomavirus vaccine acceptance was 46.52% (95%CI; 30.47-62.57%). Subgroup analysis showed that adolescent vaccine acceptance was highest in the Oromia region and lowest in Addis Ababa. Knowledge about human papillomavirus vaccination (AOR = 3.89, 95% CI: (2.85-5.32)) and attitude (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: (2.03- 3.44)) were significantly associated with adolescent's vaccine acceptance. CONCLUSION: Human papillomavirus vaccine acceptance of adolescent girls in Ethiopia was low. Knowledge about the vaccine and attitude to vaccination were positively associated with their vaccine acceptance. Therefore, policymakers and program planners should target school-aged adolescents in increasing their awareness and changing their attitudes to enhance their vaccine acceptance in order to prevent and control cervical cancer.

Neural tube defects among new borns: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Neural tube defects are a major public health issue that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-income countries such as Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, particularly in the study setting, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence, magnitude, and associated factors of neural tube defects. As a result, the purpose of this study was to evaluate neural tube defects and associated factors in JUMC. Methods: This study was an institution-based cross-sectional study conducted from June to September 2021. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous literature. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Independent variables with a p-value < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant with neural tube defects. Results: The prevalence of NTDs in this study was 3.6%. Preterm newborns with GA < 34 AOR 2.9(1.2-9.7), newborns with birth weight b/n 1,000-1,499 AOR 5.2(1.1-9.4), born with weight b/n 1,500-2,499 AOR 2.1(1.3-8.7), exposure to smoke AOR 2.1(1.2-8.8), radiation AOR 6.8(1.3-14.5), at least one history of abortion AOR 10.1(7.2-21.0) and mothers with AED intake AOR 5.7(2.3-18.4) were found to be associated significantly. Conclusion: The results indicated a significant frequency of neural tube abnormalities in newborns. The use of AEDs, abortion, and radiation have all been linked to those NTD cases. Pregnant women are advised to learn more about the need of beginning prenatal care as soon as possible because the aforementioned issues will be addressed during this treatment.

Proportion of births protected against neonatal tetanus and its associated factors among mothers who gave birth within the past 6 months in Gozamn district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Today, neonatal tetanus accounts for a significant portion of newborn and under-5 mortality - 40% and 57%, respectively - and is the most prevalent cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing nations. As a result, more study on birth protection against neonatal tetanus is required because it is such a terrible condition with such a high death rate and there is a need for more recent evidence on it. From April 1 to 30, 2022, a community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Gozamn district of Northwest Ethiopia. A two-stage stratified sampling procedure was applied, with an overall sample size of 831. The data were gathered using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. It was then checked, cleaned, and entered into Epidata software version 4.6 before being exported to Stata version 14 for analysis. The proportions of birth protected against neonatal tetanus were 58.57% (95% CI (55.15-61.89%) in the study. Mother who had radio (AOR = 3.09,95%CI: 2.09, 4.56), mother who travel less than one hour to reach nearest health facility (AOR = 1.96,95%CI: 1.23,3.10), mother who gave birth of their last child in the health institution (AOR = 4.17,95%CI:2.39,7.28), mothers who had information from health professional (AOR = 2.56,95%CI:1.56,4.19) and > 4 ANC visit (AOR = 2.57,95%CI:1.55,4.26) were positive predictors of birth protected against neonatal tetanus. Low levels of maternal protection against neonatal tetanus were seen in this study location. To enhance the percentage of births protected against neonatal tetanus, professional-based guidance regarding the TT vaccine are essential.