Intimate partner violence and its associated factors among married women at Jeldu district, Central Ethiopia: A community-based mixed cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Intimate partner violence is a global threat, regardless of any religious, cultural, or economic differences. Few studies have been conducted before in rural areas of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence among married women in Jeldu district. Methods: A community-based mixed cross-sectional study was conducted among 620 married women in Jeldu district, west Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select study participants. The quantitative data were checked and entered into Epidata and STATA version 15.0 for analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of intimate partner violence. The finding of the quantitative study was triangulated with the findings of focused group discussion. Results: Six hundred seven married women participated in the study making a response rate of 97.43%. The lifetime and past 12 months prevalence of intimate partner violence was 57.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53.78%-61.62%) and 53.20% (95% CI: 49.28%-57.12%) respectively. Partner with lower education (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 3.64 (95% CI: 1.07-12.38), alcohol intake by partner (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.31-2.81), equal dominance on family affairs (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.18-0.51), and family size >5 (AOR = 4.54, 95% CI: 1.89-10.91) were factors significantly associated with intimate partner violence. Conclusion: The prevalence of intimate partner violence was relatively higher among married women study area. Partner's lower educational status, alcohol intake of the partner, dominance on family issues, and family size were factors associated with intimate partner violence. So, gender offices, and district and regional educational sectors should design appropriate strategies and work hard to tackle the problem.

Effect of short inter-pregnancy interval on perinatal outcomes among pregnant women in North-west Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) is the elapse of time between the end of one pregnancy and the conception of another pregnancy, while birth to pregnancy interval, is the time gap between live birth and the conception of the next pregnancy. Hence, this study assessed the effects of short inter-pregnancy intervals on perinatal outcomes among women who gave birth in public health institutions of Assosa zone, North-west Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based prospective cohort study was conducted among 456 mothers who visited health facilities for the fourth antenatal care appointment (152 exposed and 304 non-exposed). Women who gave their recent birth with the pregnancy interval of <24 months or/and had an abortion history of <6 months were considered as exposed otherwise non-exposed. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews by using questionnaires and checklists. The collected data was entered using Epi-data and exported to STATA for analysis. A log-binomial regression model was used to identify the effect of short inter-pregnancy intervals on the perinatal outcomes. Results: The overall incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes is 24%. Mothers who had short inter-pregnancy intervals have two times the risk to develop low birth weight (RR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.16-3.82), and low Apgar score (RR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.06-2.69). Similarly, the risk to develop small for gestational age (RR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.19-7.54), and preterm birth (RR: 3.14, 95%CI: 1.05-4.66) was about 3 times among mothers who had short inter-pregnancy interval compared to mothers who had an optimal inter-pregnancy interval. Conclusion: Short inter-pregnancy interval increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and low Apgar score. Health Policy makers, National health managers and health care providers should work on increasing the awareness of optimal inter-pregnancy intervals and postpartum family planning utilization to reduce the effect of short inter-pregnancy intervals on adverse perinatal outcomes.

Maternal Satisfaction and Factors Associated with Institutional Delivery Care in Central Ethiopia: a Mixed Study.

BACKGROUND: Women satisfaction recognized as an important outcome of the maternal health care delivery system. Despite the Ethiopian federal ministry of health implemented compassionate, respectful, and caring as one of the health sector transformation agendas to increase health service utilization, the level of maternal satisfaction of institutional delivery is still low. This study aimed to assess maternal satisfaction and factors associated with institutional delivery care in central Ethiopia. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study, which involved quantitative study supplemented with qualitative methods were employed. Mothers were proportionally allocated to each selected kebele according to the number of their size. Data were collected by a face-to-face interview using a standardized questionnaire to determine the level of maternal satisfaction with birth care. The result was presented using texts, percentages, and tables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed between dependent and independent variables at 95% confidence intervals and a P-value < 0.05 to show a significant association. In the qualitative part, data were transcribed carefully and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: The overall a total of 451 respondents participated in this study making a response rate of 98%. The level of maternal satisfaction was 36.6% in this study. Spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVD) (AOR: 7.33, CI: 2, 26.79), being attended by female sex health workers (AOR: 1.54, CI: 1.04, 2.28), receiving ambulance service to arrive at health facilities (AOR: 7.84, CI: 2, 61.63), utilizing of maternal waiting areas AOR: 1.72, CI: 1.09, 2.66), and respectful care (AOR=1.55, CI: 1.03, 2.34) were factors associated with maternal satisfaction. From qualitative study, three themes and ten categories have emerged. CONCLUSION: Maternal satisfaction towards the delivery service was low. SVD, being attended by female sex health workers, ambulance service, cleaned delivery room, and respectful care were factors associated with maternal satisfaction. The health facilities in the study areas need to work on improving health facility cleanliness, health workers' compassionate and respectful care, and providing ambulance service as a main means of transportation for laboring mothers.

Antenatal care booking within the first trimester of pregnancy and its associated factors among pregnant women residing in an urban area: a cross-sectional study in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess antenatal care (ANC) booking within the first trimester of pregnancy and its associated factors among urban dwellers of pregnant women in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Public and private health facilities that provide ANC services in Debre Berhan town. OUTCOME MEASURE: First ANC booking within the first trimester of pregnancy. PARTICIPANTS: Urban dwellers of pregnant women in Debre Berhan town (n=384). RESULTS: A total of 387 pregnant women in Debre Berhan town were selected for this study, of which 384 responded giving a response rate of 99.2%. The proportion of pregnant women who had ANC booking within the first trimester of pregnancy was 156 (40.6%; 95% CI: 35.8% to 45.6%). In the multivariable analysis, the odds of first ANC booking within the first trimester was higher among pregnant women who had secondary school (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.84; 95% CI: 1.10 to 3.19) and more than secondary level of education (AOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.27 to 4.03) compared with those who had less than a secondary school level of education. Pregnant women who have any ill health with their current pregnancy (AOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.21 to 3.27) were more likely to start booking within the first trimester than their counterparts. The odds of ANC booking within the first trimester was threefold higher among women with knowledge of ANC (AOR: 3.05; 95% CI: 1.52 to 6.11) compared with their counterparts. CONCLUSION: First ANC booking within the first trimester was found to be low among urban dwellers of Debre Berhan town. Secondary school and more educational level, having ill health during early pregnancy and women's knowledge about ANC services were statistically associated with ANC booking within the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, improving ANC booking according to the WHO recommendation requires due attention. Further qualitative research exploring why early ANC booking remains low among urban dwellers is important to design intervention modalities.

A twenty-four-hour observational study of hand hygiene compliance among health-care workers in Debre Berhan referral hospital, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene (HH) is recognized as the single most effective strategy for preventing health care-associated infections. In developing countries, data on hand hygiene compliance is available only for few health-care facilities. This study aimed to assess hand hygiene compliance among health-care workers in Debre Berhan referral hospital, Ethiopia. METHODS: This study employed the WHO hand hygiene observation method. Direct observation of the health care workers (HCWs) was conducted using an observation record form in five different wards. Trained and validated observers watched HCWs while they had direct contact with patients or their surroundings, and the observers then recorded all possible hand hygiene opportunities and hand hygiene actions. Observation was conducted over a 24 h period to minimize selection bias. More than 200 opportunities per ward were observed according to WHO recommendation, except in neonatal intensive care unit. HH compliance was calculated by dividing the number of times hand hygiene was performed by the total number of opportunities for hand hygiene. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed for compliance with the exact binomial method. RESULTS: A total of 917 hand hygiene opportunities were observed during the study. Overall HH compliance was 22.0% (95% CI: 19.4-24.9). HH compliance was similar across all professional categories and did not vary by shift. Levels of compliance were lower before patient contact (2.4%; 95% CI: 0.9-5.3), before an aseptic procedure (3.6%; 95% CI: 1.6-7.6) and after contact with patient surroundings (3.3%; 95% CI: 1.2-7.9), whereas better levels of compliance were found after body fluid exposure (75.8%; 95% CI: 68.0-82.3) and after patient contact (42.8%; 95% CI: 35.2-50.7). CONCLUSION: HH compliance of HCWs was found to be low in Debre Berhan referral hospital. Compliance with indications that protect patients from infection was lower than that protect the HCWs. The findings of this study indicate that HH compliance needs further improvement.

Health Care Seeking Behavior for Common Childhood Illnesses in Jeldu District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Even though health care seeking interventions potentially reduce child mortality from easily treatable diseases, significant numbers of children die without ever reaching a health facility or due to delays in seeking care in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess health care seeking behavior for common childhood illnesses and associated factors. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeldu District from January to February 2011. A systematic sampling method was used for sample selection. Data were collected from 422 caregivers with under-five children who experienced diseases within six weeks before the survey. Interviewer administered structured and pre-tested questionnaire which were used to collect data. Data entry and cleaning were carried out using Epi Info version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive analysis was done to determine the magnitude of health care seeking behavior. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 422 caregivers of under-five children were participated in the study giving an overall response rate of 97.5%. Three hundred fifteen (74.6%) children sought care from health facilities for all conditions. However, only 55.4% of them were taken to health facilities as first source treatment during their illness and prompt care was also very low (13.7%). Marital status of the caregivers (AOR = 2.84; 95%CI: 1.62-4.98), number of symptoms experienced by the child (AOR = 2.04; 95%CI: 1.24-3.36) and perceived severity of the illness (AOR = 3.20; 95%CI: 1.96-5.22) were predictors of health care seeking behavior. CONCLUSION: Health care seeking behavior for childhood illnesses was delayed and decision to seek care from health facilities was influenced by worsening of the illnesses. Thus, community level promotion of prompt health care seeking is essential to enhance the health care seeking behavior for child hood illnesses in the locality.

Determinants of Neonatal Mortality in North Shoa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, neonatal mortality has been declined since the declaration of Millennium Developmental Goals, but the rate was slower since 2006. Thus, this study was designed to assess the determinants of neonatal mortality (NM) in North Shoa Zone. A community based case-control study was conducted on 84 cases and 252 controls. Cases were deceased new-borns within 28 days of birth while controls were infants survived beyond the first 28 days. Data were collected from mothers of the cases and controls using interviewer administered questionnaires. Multivariate analysis was done to examine determinants of NM. Variables significantly associated with NM in bivariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis. Neonates whose mothers not attended antenatal care (AOR: 3.47; 95%CI: 1.44-8.32), delivered at home (AOR: 2.86; 95%CI: 1.56-5.26), and not received postnatal care services (AOR: 3.09; 95%CI: 1.73-5.51) were more likely to die. The odds of neonatal death was higher among neonates not breastfed within the first hour of delivery than those who breastfed within the first hour of delivery (AOR: 23.48; 95%CI: 8.43-65.37). Likewise, no-colostrum intake was positively associated with neonatal death. Neonates born to mothers who not received or received a single dose of tetanus toxoid injection (TTI) were more likely to experience death than those neonates born to mothers who received two or more doses of TTI (AOR: 2.05; 95%CI: 1.14-3.70). Furthermore, being small in size at birth (AOR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.33-5.33) and male in sex (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.06-3.26) were risk factors for NM. In conclusion, neonatal mortality was significantly associated with factors that are modifiable through addressing the continuum-of-care approach in healthcare services in North Shoa. This implies that ensuring a continuity of health care services for maternal and new-borns from antenatal to postnatal care will improve neonatal survival.