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.

Level of Late Initiation of Antenatal Care Visit and Associated Factors Amongst Antenatal Care Attendant Mothers in Gedo General Hospital, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Background: Antenatal care is a care given for pregnant women and is taken as a key maternal care service in improving and keeping health of both life outcomes for mothers and newborns. Countries with low antenatal care coverage are the countries with very high maternal mortality ratios. Objective: Hence, The aim of this study was to determine the level of late initiation of antenatal care visit and associated factors amongst antenatal care follow up in Antenatal care (ANC) services at Gedo General Hospital, Western Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2021. Methodology: A health facility based cross-sectional study design was conducted from July 10-30, 2021 using primary data review and face-to-face interviews among clients receiving ANC. A total of 347 mothers was selected by simple random sampling and were interviewed while they come to antenatal care follow-up in Gedo general hospital. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and then changed to SPSS version 23 for the analysis purpose. Those Variables which are P < 0.25 in binary logistic regression were selected as a candidate for multiple logistic regressions to determine independently associated factors. The adjusted odds ratio was employed with 95% CI to illustrate the strength of association and P < 0.05 was used to state a statistical significance. Result: Among 330 women, about 58.5% of women came for their first ANC visit initiation lately. Being a housewife, having a family size >4, and having a distance from the health facility >1 h were higher odds of late first ANC visit initiation as compared to vice versa. Besides, women aged 20-24 years had 0.18 times and 25-29 years had lower odds of late first ANC visit initiation. Conclusion: Majority of women began their first antenatal care initiation lately. Therefore, the provision of awareness on the significance of attending the first antenatal care early via health extension workers is recommended.

Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake and its associated factors among adolescent school girls in Ambo town, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2020.

BACKGROUND: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has offered a great promise to reduce the cervical cancer burden; its utilization (uptake) however has been lagging. However, the levels and factors associated with the uptake of the vaccine have not been well investigated, especially in the local context. OBJECTIVE: To assess the uptake of human papillomavirus vaccination and its associated factors among adolescent school girls in ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional quantitative study design supplemented with the qualitative inquiry was employed to assess Human Papillomavirus vaccination uptake and its associated factors among 422 adolescent school girls in Ambo town, central Ethiopia from December 1-30, 2020. The collected data were coded, entered, and cleaned by using Epi info 7.2.3 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to compute summary statistics and proportions. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used for the strength and directions of association. A P-value of < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Qualitative findings have been analyzed with manual thematic analysis. RESULT: The proportion of HPV vaccination uptake among school girls in this study was 44.4%. Hearing about HPV vaccine [AOR = 2.50, 95%CI: (1.045-5.959)], availability of awareness creation [AOR = 2.53, 95%CI: (1.507-4.258)], and favorable attitude [AOR = 2.049, 95%CI: (1.153-3.64)] were the key identified factors associated with vaccination uptake. In addition, poor perception, fear of side effects, and misunderstanding were among the major factors identified by qualitative findings. CONCLUSION: There was low uptake of HPV vaccination among the school Adolescents in the study area. Availability of awareness creation programs, favorable attitude towards HPV vaccine, and hearing about HPV vaccine was significantly associated with the uptake of the HPV vaccination. Therefore, awareness creation and behavior change education are mandatory to scale up the vaccination.

Stillbirth and Associated Factors Among Women Who Gave Birth at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Stillbirth, which accounts for half of all the perinatal mortality, is not counted on policy, program, and investment agendas around the globe. It has been underestimated public health burden, particularly in developing countries. Ethiopia is among the top countries with a large prevalence of stillbirth in the world. However, there is a dearth of study on the current magnitude of stillbirth in the study area. Therefore, this study intended to assess the prevalence of stillbirth and its associated factors to bridge the gap. Methods: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted from 1 to 28 February 2019 and data were collected by reviewing the chart records of all the women who gave birth in the past 2 years (January 2016 to December 2018) at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.2.0.0 software and transported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean, and SDs were generated. Determinants of stillbirth were analyzed using a binary logistic regression and presented by adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% CI. Results: The prevalence of stillbirth was 14.5% (95% CI: 11.7%, 17.6%). Low birth weight (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.23-4.76), prematurity (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.10-4.01), premature rupture of membranes (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.14-3.77), antepartum hemorrhage (AOR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.66-6.67), obstructed labor (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.48-5.56), and preeclampsia (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.28-6.62) were an independently associated with stillbirth. Conclusion: The prevalence of stillbirth in this study was high. Low birth weight, preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, antepartum hemorrhage, obstructed labor, and preeclampsia were independently associated with a stillbirth. Therefore, much study is needed involving different stakeholders to reduce stillbirths by improving the health status of women through the provision of quality maternal care including referral systems.

Predictors of Maternal Near Miss in Public Hospitals of West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Maternal mortality reduction remains a priority to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for mothers and newborns in the new sustainable development goals agenda. There is no evidence-based study done regarding maternal complications and near-miss in the study area. Objectives: This study assessed the predictors of maternal near-miss in public hospitals of West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: An unmatched case-control study was conducted among 664 (166 cases and 498 controls) women who gave birth in public institutions in the West Shewa zone. Structured questionnaires and checklists were used to collect the data. Bivariate, multivariable logistic regression, and adjusted odds ratios were used to describe the strength and directions of association. Results: The odds of maternal near-miss were higher among mothers with increased maternal age [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.065, 95%CI: (1.015-1.117)], who could not read and write (AOR = 3.06, 95%CI: 1.314-7.135), had primary (AOR = 3.49, 95%CI: 1.518-8.044), and secondary (AOR = 3.213, 95%CI: 1.418-7.282), had no antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR = 2.25, 95%CI: 1.100-4.607), mothers who had a first delay of more than 6 h [AOR = 2.38, 95%CI: (1.517-3.735)] and the distance from health facility of > 60 min [AOR = 4.021, 95%CI: (1.817-8.896)]. Conclusion: In this study, delay in decision making and reaching the health facility, lower educational status, not having ANC follow-up, and increased maternal age were significantly associated with maternal near misses. Therefore, the Ethiopian federal ministry of health and other stakeholders should work on increasing ANC coverage, awareness creation, and strong means of transportation to tackle the complications of a maternal near miss.

Occupational injury and associated factors among cement factories workers in central Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The cement industry experiences accident rate is high compared to other manufacturing industries. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the occupational injury and associated factors among cement factories workers in West Shoa Zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia 2020. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 374 study participants were selected by using a systematic random sampling technique with K-interval. The collected data were entered into Epi-Info version 7 and analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify the magnitude of occupational injury and the factor associated. A statistically significant association was declared at a 95% confidence interval and p-value<0.05. RESULTS: The study revealed that the magnitude of occupational injury among workers of cement factories was 183(48.9%). Workers found in an engineering department were 3.7 times more likely to be injured than those who were working in a clinker department [AOR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.35-10.18]. Those workers who were working room did not have danger signs were 2.9 times more likely to be injured than their counterparts [AOR 2.99, 95% CI: 1.79-4.98). Those workers who did not use personal protective equipment were 3.7 times more likely to be injured than those who were used Personal Protective Equipments [AOR: 3.78, 95% CI: 1.76 - 8.12]. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of occupational injury in cement factories in the study area was high. The factories' managers must provide adequate and quality safety materials in a timely and supervise their appropriate use and put danger signs where it is required.

Fertility Desire, Knowledge of Prevention of MCT of HIV and Associated Factors Among Men and Women Attending ART Clinic at Public Health Institutions of West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2020.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects young people in their reproductive years. Most of the studies conducted in Ethiopia focus on the fertility desire of women of reproductive age and did not give due consideration to the men's fertility perspective. Thus, this study aimed to assess the fertility desire, knowledge of prevention of mother to child of HIV (PMTCT), and associated factors among HIV-positive men and women attending ART clinic at west Shewa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study design was applied to identify fertility desire, PMTCT knowledge, and associated factors among 590 HIV-positive reproductive age group men and women attending ART clinics at public health institutions of West Shewa zone. Data were collected by pre-tested structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of predictors on fertility desire and knowledge about PMTCT. Odds ratio, 95% CI, and P value 0.05 were used to measure the statistical association. RESULTS: The prevalence of fertility desire and knowledge of PMTCT in the study area were 58.8% and 30.7%, respectively. The odds of fertility desire were higher among the respondents aged >25 years [AOR=4.64, 95% CI (2.75-7.85)], housewives [AOR=3.14, 95% CI (1.90-5.21)], merchants [AOR=5.31, 95% CI (2.55-11.05)], ART use for ≤5 years [AOR=5.13, 95% CI (2.37-11.12)] and among those voluntarily tested to know their HIV status [AOR=2.16, 95% CI (1.30-3.58)]. Besides, the odds of fertility desire were low among husband who cannot read and write [AOR=0.07, 95% CI (0.02-0.23)], primary education [AOR=0.22, 95% CI (0.09-0.56)], and secondary education [AOR= 0.32, 95% CI (0.14-0.73)] when compared with husband education of college and above. Likewise, the odds of PMTCT knowledge were higher among the respondents aged less than 25 years [AOR=2.53, 95% CI (1.32-4.86)] who undergone voluntary testing during HIV diagnosis reasons [AOR=1.55, 95% CI (1.03-2.35)], and ART use for more than five years [AOR=1.94, 95% CI (1.26-2.98)]. CONCLUSION: Younger age, husband education, occupation, recent HIV test, and voluntary testing were significantly associated with fertility desire. Likewise, the younger age group, voluntary testing and counseling, and those on ART for more than five years had higher odds of PMTCT knowledge. Therefore, strengthening voluntary testing and counseling strong counseling on PMTCT throughout the follow-up care and involvement partners is of paramount importance should be insured to decrease MTCT.