Factors associated with the intention to use maternity waiting homes among pregnant women in North Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Maternity waiting homes are residential facilities, located near a qualified healthcare facility, where pregnant women can await their delivery and be transferred to a nearby healthcare facility shortly before delivery, or earlier if complications arise. Although evidence has shown that maternity waiting homes reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, there is limited information about factors associated with the intention to use maternity waiting homes in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify factors associated with intention to use maternity waiting homes among pregnant women. METHODS: The study used a community-based cross-sectional study design. Simple random sampling was used to select 399 pregnant women. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered pre-tested structured questionnaire.A binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULT: Two hundred and eighty (70.2%) women indicated they intended to use a maternity waiting home during their current pregnancy. Participants' educational status, having experienced a previous institutional delivery, the affordability of food while staying at the maternity waiting home, placing a burden on their attendant, having children in the household who can be cared for by the community or family during the woman's absence, and having household chores covered by their family/community were the factors associated with the intention to use a maternity waiting home. CONCLUSION: Relatively few respondents intended to use maternity waiting homes. Empowering women and giving them agency by ensuring their needs are met are important measures necessary to increase the use of maternity waiting homes.

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its association with birth asphyxia in hospitals of Tigray region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Birth asphyxia is the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Some studies indicate intimate partner violence during pregnancy is a risk factor for birth asphyxia. In Ethiopia, intimate partner violence during pregnancy is reported to be high. Despite this high prevalence, there is a lack of data about the association of birth asphyxia and intimate partner violence. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its associated factors with birth asphyxia in health facilities in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. METHODS: This was an institutional-based cross-sectional study conducted at select health facilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Random sampling technique was employed to select health facilities and systematic sampling was used to select 648 study participants. Data was entered by using Epi info version 3.5.1 and was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to assess the association between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and birth asphyxia after adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy was 47(7.3%). Eighty two (12.7%) babies were delivered with birth asphyxia. Intimate partner violence during pregnancy had a significant association with birth asphyxia, AOR (95% CI) = 4.4(2-9.8). In addition to this, other factors that were associated with birth asphyxia include place of residence [ AOR (95% CI) = 2.7(1.55-4.8)], age > 19 [AOR (95% CI) = 2.9(1.29-6.5)], age 20-35 [AOR (95% CI) = 3.1(1.06-9.3)], gestational age < 37 weeks [AOR(95% CI) = 7.2(3.5-14.8)] and low birth weight [AOR(95% CI) = 3.9(2.1-7.3)]. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of birth asphyxia in this study is high and is further increased by intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Health care providers and policy makers should take measures aimed at preventing intimate partner violence during pregnancy to reduce harm to the mother and adverse birth outcomes.

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and risks of low birth weight and preterm birth in hospitals of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

Intimate partner Violence (IPV) can affect any woman, irrespective of their economic status, religion, or culture. This is a human-rights issue and due to its prevalence and adverse effects on pregnancy and birth, it must be given greater attention. Further, there is a lack of data in the Tigray region about adverse birth outcomes due to intimate partner violence during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its association with low birth weight and preterm birth in Tigray region. Across-sectional study design was used. 647 women were involved in the study. Simple random sampling techniques were employed to select health facilities and systematic sampling was used to select study participants. Data were entered using Epi info version 3.5.1 and was analyzed using SPSSversion 20. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and preterm birth and low birth weight while adjusting for possible confounders. The prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy was 7.3% and the prevalence of low birth weight and preterm birth were 18.5% and 10.8% respectively. There was a statistically significant association between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and low birth weight. After adjustment for socioeconomic status, women's habits and obstetric factors, the pregnant women who were exposed to intimate partner violence during pregnancy were two times more likely to have a child with a low birth weight (2.39 (95% CI: 1.26-4.55)). The prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy, low birth weight, and preterm birth in this study was high. Women who experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy had an increased risk of low birth weight. These findings justify a call to the federal minster of health to take measures aimed at avoiding intimate partner violence during pregnancy to reduce adverse birth outcomes.

Self-referrals and associated factors among laboring mothers at Dilla University Referral Hospital, Dilla, Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: When medical cases are difficult to manage at the level of primary health care units (PHCU), formal referral assists patients transferring to a higher level of care. In contrast, self-referral and bypassing are synonymously used in literature to describe the phenomenon of patients skipping their units to get basic medical services, even though they are close to their residence. Though proper and timely referral prevents the majority of deaths from obstetric complications in developing countries, more than 50% of referrals are self-referral trends. Such patient practice is increasingly becoming a concern for many health-care systems. OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of self-referrals and associated factors among laboring mothers at Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1-September 30/2021 among laboring mothers at Dilla University Referral Hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 375 laboring mothers. Data were collected using a face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into a computer using Epi-Data 4.6 statistical program and then exported to STATA version 16 for analysis. In bivariate analysis variables with a p-value ≤ 0.25 were selected as a candidate variable for the multivariable analysis. P-value < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval considered as a statistically significant associations in the multivariable analysis. RESULT: 375 eligible mothers participated in the study, with a response rate of 98.16%. The magnitude of self-referrals among laboring mothers was 246 (65.6%) with 95% CI (0.60-0.70). Time ≥ 30 min to reach nearby facilities (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI, 1.08, 2.81), having no medicine supplies at nearby facilities (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI, 1.08, 2.82), having no equipment and supplies at nearby facilities (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.03, 2.78), having ANC visits ˃ 3 times (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI, 0.15, 0.55) and having poor perception of health provider technical competence at nearby facilities (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI, 1.83, 4.79) were found as significant factors for self-referral. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of self-referral was high. Frequent Antenatal visits were protective, however time to reach the nearest facilities, perception towards health care providers, medicine, equipment and supplies at the nearest facilities were positive influencing factors. Government stakeholders should keep working on improving the quality of health service, especially at primary health care units(PHCU).

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and risk of still birth in hospitals of Tigray region Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy may represent a time of exceptional vulnerability to intimate partner violence because of changes in women's conditions. Despite the fact that intimate partner violence during pregnancy confers considerable risk to the health of the woman and her fetus, data regarding to association of stillbirth and intimate partner violence is lacking in Tigray region. The objective of this study is to assess intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its association with still birth among postpartum mothers in hospitals in Tigray Region of Ethiopia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design was used to assess 648 women about intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its association with still birth. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select health facilities and systematic sampling was used to select the study participants. Data was entered by using Epi info version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and stillbirth while adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of still birth was 3.6%in this study population. There was a statistically significant association between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and still birth. Pregnant women who were exposed to intimate partner violence during pregnancy were three times more likely to have still birth 3.3(95% CI: 1.1-9.7) as compared to those who were not exposed. Another important factor associated with stillbirth was low birthweight 16.7(95% CI,6-46). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of still birth in this study was high. Women who subjected to intimate partner violence during pregnancy had greater risk of having stillbirth baby.

The role of counseling on modern contraceptive utilization among HIV positive women: the case of Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Over 90% of the children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus are infected through the mother to child transmission process according to literatures. Preventing unintended pregnancy by using contraceptive methods is crucial for reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity. Here we set out to assess the prevalence and associated factors of modern contraceptive utilization among sexually active reproductive age women attending Anti-Retroviral Therapy clinics in Amhara Region referral hospitals in 2016. METHODS: An institution based cross sectional study was carried out from April to July 2016 surveying women of reproductive age attending the Anti-Retroviral Therapy clinics in the five Amhara Region referral hospitals. A pretested and semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. EpiInfo7 and SPSS version 20 soft wares were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Significant associations were identified on the basis of the adjusted odds ratio, with 95% Confidence Interval, and p value ≤0.05, was taken as statistically significant. RESULT: The proportion of women utilizing modern contraceptives was 47.7% with (95% CI: 43, 52.5%), the male condom being the most (64.2%) utilized method. The use of the contraceptive methods was most prevalent among women 15-24 years of age (AOR = 6.5, 95% CI: 2-10) and age of 25-34 (AOR = 3, 95% CI: 1.6-5.5), having an urban residence (AOR = 0.095, 95% CI: 0.03-0.28), having discussed contraceptives with partner (AOR = 7, 95% CI: 5.3-11.9), receiving counseling from health care providers (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.8-7), previous history of contraceptive utilization (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI: 2.6-8.3), and with CD4 count >500mm3/dl (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3-4.3). CONCLUSION: The proportion of women utilizing contraceptive has been low in Amhara Region referral hospitals. Encouraging patients to discuss about contraception with partners and repeated counseling by health care providers may strengthen contraceptive utilization.

Prevalence and associated factors of dysmenorrhea among secondary and preparatory school students in Debremarkos town, North-West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecologic disorders and a frequently observed cause of anxiety and discomfort among female adolescents. Its prevalence varies between 16% and 91% in women of reproductive age. Its population statistics are too scant in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of dysmenorrhea among secondary and preparatory school students in Debremarkos town, 2016. METHODS: Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from Sept.26 to Oct.17, 2016 among secondary and preparatory school students in Debremarkos town. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 539 individuals selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were checked, coded and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Univariate, bivariate and multivariable analysis were carried out. Binary logistic regression model was computed and P value < 0.05 was considered as significant. All ethical procedures were considered. RESULTS: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 69.3%. Age, AOR (95% CI) =1.38(1.15, 1.65), family history of dysmenorrhea, AOR (95% CI) = 9.79(4.99, 19.20), physical activity, AOR (95% CI) =0.39(0.13, 0.82), sugar intake, AOR (95% CI) =2.94 (1.54, 5.61), early menarche AOR (95% CI) =4.10(1.21,13.09), late menarche AOR (95% CI) =0.50 (0.27, 0.91), heavy menstrual periods AOR (95% CI) =2.91(1.59, 5.35) and sexual intercourse AOR (95% CI) =0.24 (0.10.0.55) had statistically significant association with the occurrence of dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Age, positive family history of dysmenorrhea, physical activity, excessive sugar intake, early menarche, late menarche, sexual intercourse and heavy menstrual periods had a statistically significant association with the occurrence of dysmenorrhea.