Male partners involvement in human immune deficiency virus testing and counseling during prenatal care visits in Bichena town Westcentral Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Transmission of the Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) from mother to child remains a significant problem in developing countries. Male partners' involvement in HIV testing and counseling is a major entry point for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. This study aimed to assess male partners' involvement in HIV testing and counseling during prenatal care visits in Bichena town, Westcentral Ethiopia. RESULTS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from October 1/2018 to June 15/2019 among 406 male partners. Less than half (41.38%) [95% CI: 36.20-46.10%] of the male partners were involved in HIV testing and counseling. In multivariable analysis male partners who are found in the age group of 20-29 years, secondary, and diploma and above educational level, good knowledge of the services provided in the prenatal care visits, male partners whose wife had ≥ 4 prenatal care visits, good knowledge of mother to child transmission (MTCT) and PMTCT of HIV, entering the prenatal care room together with his wife, discussing maternal health issue with health care providers, and travel < 15 min to reach a nearby health facility were associated with male partners involvement in HIV testing and counseling.

Factors associated with timely initiation of antenatal care among pregnant women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the timely initiation of Antenatal Care and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics at Bahir Dar city, North West Ethiopia. DESIGN: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted. METHODS: Data were collected on 804 pregnant women from 20 February to 27 March 2017. Face-to-face interview through systematic sampling technique was applied. Binary logistic regression was performed using SPSS software version 21, and the level of significance of association was determined at p-value <0.05 with a 95%confidence interval. RESULTS: This study identified 44.2% of pregnant women started their first antenatal care timely. Maternal secondary and above level of education AOR = 7.07 (95% CI: 4.41, 11.35)), age at first pregnancy >18 years AOR = 2.77 (95% CI: 1.39, 5.57) and having information about the correct time of ANC booking AOR = 3.14 (95% CI: 1.67, 5.92) were significantly associated with timely commencement to first antenatal care.

Non-pharmacological labor pain management and associated factor among skilled birth attendants in Amhara Regional State health institutions, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers have a responsibility to provide pain management support to women during labor. Labor pain management in low and middle income countries primarily relies on non-pharmacological methods, as there is little access to pharmacologic pain management. This study aimed to determine the utilization of non-pharmacological labor pain management (NPLPM) and associated factors among skilled birth attendants (SBAs) in Amhara Regional State health institutions, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 592 SBAs working in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A multistage sampling was used to collect data using a pretested interview-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done to characterize the study population. Logistic regression was used to model predictors of NPLPM utilization among SBAs, including age, qualifications, type of medical institution, knowledge, attitudes, and the presence of a protocol. RESULT: Nearly forty seven percent 277(46.8%) of SBAs in the study cohort utilized NPLPM. SBAs who had adequate knowledge of NPLPM had 2.8 times increased odds of using NPLPM than SBAs who had inadequate knowledge. (95%CI 1.89-4.014). SBAs who had a positive attitude had 4.12 times increased odds of using NPLPM than SBAs with a negative attitude (95%CI 2.36, 7.2). SBAs who had labor a pain management protocol in their facility had 3.98 times increased odds of using NPLPM than those who didn't have a labor pain management protocol (95%CI 1.83, 8.62). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis pointed to a gap in the utilization of NPLPM in the Amhara Region facilities studied. Less than half of SBAs used NPLPM when caring for laboring women. Professional factors related to use of NPLPM included the age of SBAs, their attitudes, level of education, and knowledge concerning pain management. NPLPM was also significantly associated with the availability of labor pain management protocols.

Proportion and Associated Factors of Nonreassuring Fetal Heart Rate Patterns in Finote Selam Primary Hospital, North West Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Nonreassuring fetal heart rate patterns (NRFHRP) suggest fetal conciliation or a deteriorating ability to handle the stress of labor. Nearly half of stillbirths occurring worldwide are due to hypoxia which is primarily manifested by NRFHRP. Hence, this study assessed the proportion and associated factors of NRFHRP in the Finote Selam primary hospital, North West Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to April 1, 2019, on 364 charts of mothers who gave birth from January 2017 to January 2018 at the Finote Selam primary hospital. A computer-based simple random sampling technique was used to select charts. A secondary data was collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from different literatures. The data was entered and analyzed using Epi Info version 7 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Binary logistic regression was executed, and all explanatory variables with p value < 0.2 were entered into multivariable logistic regressions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control the effect of confounding variables and to identify factors affecting NRFHRP. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were computed, and statistical significance was declared if p < 0.05. RESULT: Out of 364 total deliveries, NRFHRP was detected on 55 (15.1%) fetuses, and the commonest NRFHRP detected was bradycardia 44 (80%). Most NRFHRP (38.18%) occurred on the deceleration phase of labor. There was no identified possible cause for NRFHRP on 34.5% of cases. Referral from nearby health institutions [AOR = 2.832 (95% CI 1.457, 5.503)], primigravida [AOR = 2.722 (95% CI 1.377, 5.381)], augmentation of labor [AOR = 3.664 (95% CI 1.782, 7.534)], and meconium-stained amniotic fluid [AOR = 6.491 (95% CI 3.198, 13.173)] were significantly associated with NRFHRP. CONCLUSION: The proportion of NRFHRP is high. Referral from nearby health institutions, primigravida mothers, augmentation of labor, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid were significantly associated with NRFHRP. Implementing a better referral link and close monitoring during follow-up could minimize NHFHRP.