Preference of homebirth and associated factors among pregnant women in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Home birth preference is the need of pregnant women to give birth at their home with the help of traditional (unskilled) birth attendants. Homebirth with unskilled birth attendants during childbirth is the main leading indicator for maternal and newborn death. In Ethiopia, numbers of women prefer homebirth which is assisted by unskilled personal. However, there is no information regarding the problem in the Arba Minch zuria woreda. Therefore, it is important to identify prevalence of preference of homebirth and associated factors. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the preference of home birth and associated factors among pregnant women in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site, from May 1 to June 1, 2021. Using simple random sampling technique, 416 study samples were selected. Data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were coded and entered into Epi-Data version 4.4.2.1 computer software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25 for analysis. Bi-variable binary logistic regression for the selection of potential candidate variables at p-value < 0.25 for multivariable analysis and multivariable binary logistic regression to identify the association between homebirth preference and independent variables were carried out. The level of statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. RESULT: In this study, in Arba Minch demographic health surveillance site, the prevalence of preference of pregnant women to give birth at their home was 24% [95%CI: (19.9%-28.2%)] The factors significantly associated with the preference of home birth were husband involvement in decision making [AOR: 0.14 (0.05-0.38)], no access of road for transportation [AOR: 2.4 (1.2-5.18)], not heard about the benefit of institutional birth [AOR: 5.3 (2.3-12.2)], poor knowledge about danger signs [AOR: 3 (1.16-7.6)], negative attitude toward services [AOR: 3.1 (1.19-8.02)], and high fear to give birth at institution [AOR: 5.12 (2.4-10.91)]. CONCLUSIONS: In Arba Minch demographic health surveillance site, the prevalence of preference of pregnant women to give birth at their home was 24%. Husband involvement in decision making, no access of road for transportation, not heard about the benefit of institutional birth, poor knowledge about danger signs, negative attitude toward services, and high fear to give birth at health institutions were factors significantly associated with the preference of home birth.

Individual and Obstetric Risk Factors of Preeclampsia among Singleton Pregnancy in Hospitals of Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is the second most common problem that causes maternal morbidity and complication in low-income countries. In contrast to death due to other direct causes, preeclampsia-related death is appeared to be connected with multiple factors; yet, factors have paucity and are limited. Considering the clinical significance, this study aimed to identify that individual and obstetric factors of preeclampsia can be an input for disease identification involving clinicians in southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted among mothers with a singleton pregnancy who attended perinatal care in all six public hospitals in the provinces around the Omo stream. A sample size of 487 women with a singleton pregnancy (163 cases and 326 controls) was involved in the study. All cases were enrolled, while controls were selected consecutively using a random sampling technique. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and data extraction sheet. Descriptive data were presented using percentages and numbers. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors at a p value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between the family history of hypertension (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.16-5.05), no pregnancy interval (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.03-2.55), and normal body mass index (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.87) and the occurrence of preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: Primary relatives with a history of chronic hypertension and no pregnancy interval were identified as risk factors of preeclampsia, while having a normal body mass index was found to be a protective factor of preeclampsia occurrence. To improve early detection and timely management of preeclampsia, the clinician should give attention to women who have no previous childbirth and whose close relatives had a history of chronic hypertension, as well as working on the protective factor is recommended.