Utilization and associated factors of cervical cancer screening service among eligible women attending maternal health services at Adare General Hospital, Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia.

This particular study aimed to assess the magnitude of cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among eligible women attending maternal health services at Adare General Hospital, Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia, 2022. Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling technique among 299 eligible women from March 1- to April 30, 2022. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data was also entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. Both bivariable and multi-variable logistic regression model was fitted and the presence of association was declared at a p value of less than 0.05. The strenth of association was determined using adjusted odd ratios together with a 95% confidence interval. Among interviewed women, 19.8% (95% CI 15.5%, 24.0%) of them had screened for cervical cancer at least once within the past five years. Place of residence (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI 0.14-0.96), modern contraception use (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.04-5.96), discussion about cervical cancer with healthcare providers (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI 1.08-5.07), and comprehensive knowledge about cervical cancer (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.10-0.62) were independently associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization. The study depicted relatively low utilization of cervical cancer screening services. The women were more likely to utilize the service if they are dwellers of urban residences, used modern contraception, had discussion about cervical cancer with healthcare providers, and had good comprehensive knowledge about cervical cancer. Thus, women living in rural areas should get more emphasis on cervical cancer prevention strategies, and improving consistent discussion about cervical cancer with clients visiting for maternal health services by healthcare providers in health facilities also be recommended.

Determinants of neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of public hospitals in Hawassa City Administration, Sidama Region, Ethiopia, 2020: an unmatched, case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the determinants of neonatal sepsis in the neonatal intensive care units of public hospitals in Hawassa City Administration, Sidama Region, Ethiopia, in 2020. DESIGN: Institutional-based, unmatched, case-control study. SETTING: The study was conducted in three public hospitals (Hawassa University Teaching Hospital, Adare General Hospital and Hawela Tula Primary Hospital) of Hawassa City, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 331 (110 cases and 221 controls) neonates with their index mothers were included in the study from 1 August to 30 September 2020. OUTCOME MEASURES: A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire and data extraction checklist were used to collect data. Data were coded and entered into EpiData V.3.1 before being exported to SPSS V.20 for analysis. The factors associated with neonatal sepsis were assessed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. P value of less than 0.05 was used to establish statistically significant association of variables. RESULTS: Caesarean section delivery (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.56, 95 % CI 1.3 to 5.00), maternal anaemia (AOR=2.58, 95 % CI 1.45 to 4.6) and lack of vaccination with tetanus toxoid (AOR=3.5, 95% CI 2.07 to 6.19) were all identified as factors significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Caesarean section delivery, maternal history of anaemia and lack of vaccination with tetanus toxoid were found to be risk factors for neonatal sepsis. Establishing preconception care practice, strengthening the quality of antenatal care and standardising infection prevention practice are needed to improve neonatal health.

Association between maternal HIV infection and birthweight in a tertiary hospital in southern Ethiopia: retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and low birth weight (LBW) continue to be significant public health concerns in many low-income countries including Ethiopia. Yet the effect of maternal HIV infection on birth weight has not been thoroughly explored and the existing studies reported opposing findings. We examined the association between maternal HIV infection and LBW in a tertiary hospital in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the medical records of 277 HIV-negative and 252 HIV-positive mothers who gave singleton live birth between September 2014 to August 2017 in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. The recodes were identified using systematic sampling approach and relevant information were extracted by using pretested extraction form. Multivariable binary logit model was fitted to examine the relationship between the exposure and outcome while adjusting for potential confounders. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) is used for summarizing the findings of the analysis. RESULTS: The mean (± standard deviation) birth weight of infants born to HIV-negative women (3.1 ± 0.7 kg) was significantly higher than those born to HIV-positive counterparts (3.0 ± 0.6 kg) (p = 0.020). The prevalence of LBW was also significantly higher in the HIV-exposed group (22.2%) than the non-exposed group (13.7%) (p = 0.011). In the logit model adjusted for multiple covariates, HIV-positive women had four times increased odds than HIV-negative women to give birth to LBW infant(AOR = 4.03, 95% CI: 2.01-8.06). Other significant predictors of LBW were rural place of residence (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.16-3.60), prenatal anemia (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.71-5.90), chronic hypertension (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.10-12.46) and preeclampsia (AOR = 6.80, 95% CI: 3.00-15.38). CONCLUSION: Maternal HIV infection is associated with increased odds of LBW. HIV prevention activities are also likely to contribute for the reduction of LBW.