Sexual and reproductive health issues and associated factors among female night school students in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues and associated factors among female night school students in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. DESIGN: Institution-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: 16 night schools were selected from 4 zones in the Amhara Region. The data were collected between 1 January and 28 February 2019. PARTICIPANTS: 1428 female night school students aged 15-24 years. OUTCOMES: Prevalence of SRH issues, defined as those who had experienced at least one SRH issue during their lifetime (including sexual violence, sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, unwanted pregnancy, early marriage and abortion). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used in the analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of SRH issues was 32.7% (95% CI 29.5% to 35.9%). Having secondary education (adjusted (OR) AOR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.86), being single in marital status (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.74), not discussing SRH issues with their families (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI 2.13 to 3.40) and poor knowledge of SRH services (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI 2.08 to 3.32) were significantly associated with SRH issues. CONCLUSION: The lifetime prevalence of SRH issues among female night school students was high. Being single, having a secondary education, not discussing SRH issues with family, and having a poor understanding of SRH services were associated with SRH issues. Qualitative studies should be conducted to explore students' feelings and intentions about SRH issues.

Home based postpartum care and determinants in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal mortality remains a persisting public health challenge in Ethiopia. Timely intervention to neonatal morbidity and early neonatal care visit could reduce the burden of mortality. Studies related to home based postnatal care is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess home based postnatal care visits and determinants in Ethiopia. METHODS: A secondary data analysis using 2016 EDHS data was conducted among 7590 women who had live births two years preceding the survey. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis model was used and those variables with a P-value ≤ of 0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as predictors. Results: Home based postpartum care by health care providers was 6.3% and 67.9% of women gave birth at home. Women perceived that distance is not big problem [AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.68], richer wealth index [AOR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.48], attending antenatal care visit [AOR = 2.17; 95% CI:1.57, 2.99], giving birth in health institution [AOR = 2.07; 95% CI:1.53, 2.80], giving birth by cesarean section [AOR = 3.41; 95% CI: 2.33, 4.99], and having awareness about neonatal danger sign [AOR = 3.68; 95% CI: 2.90,4.70] were factors associated with home based postpartum care. CONCLUSION: Home based care by health care providers was low. Therefore, measures should be taken in increasing the number of nearby health care facility, strengthen the continuum of care on antenatal care follow-up, institutional delivery and improve mother's knowledge about neonatal danger sign.

Perception towards preeclampsia and perceived barriers to early health-seeking among pregnant women in selected Hospitals of South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is one of the top maternal morbidity and mortality that disproportionately affects pregnant women in low and middle-income countries where access and quality of health services are limited. People in different areas perceive preeclampsia differently which directly or indirectly affects the timing and place of heath seeking. Positive perception about perceived causes, perceived complications, and prevention of preeclampsia is central for the prediction and early diagnosis of the disease. However, little is known about the perception of pregnant women towards preeclampsia in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the perception towards preeclampsia and perceived barriers to early health-seeking among pregnant women in selected Hospitals of South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A qualitative study using phenomenological approach was implemented among 20 purposively selected pregnant women who visited health facilities for antenatal care service in four selected Hospitals of the South Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region. Data were collected through an in-depth interview (IDI) using a semi-structured interview guide from January to February 2020. Thematic analysis was executed using Open Code Software version 4.03. RESULTS: The majority of the participants believed preeclampsia as a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disease and mainly associated it with overweight and nutritional problems. With regards to the perceived severity, the study participants agreed that preeclampsia can lead women to death. Personal delay, lack of awareness about the disease, transport problem, and low socioeconomic condition were perceived as the major reasons for the delay to early health-seeking (the 1st and the 2nd delay). While poor service provision and long waiting times were the barriers to receive services at the health facility level (the 3rd delay). CONCLUSION: The majority of the participants believed preeclampsia as a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disease and mainly associated it with overweight and nutritional problems. The finding of this study implied that awareness creation about the danger of hypertension during pregnancy and its risk reduction mechanisms shall be emphasized. The care provision at health facilities shall be improved by decreasing long waiting time which discourages service utilizations aside from improving early seeking behavior of pregnant women through different interventions.