Pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects and their associated factors among antenatal care attendees in referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, in 2019.

Background: Birth defects (BDs) are structural, behavioral, functional, and metabolic disorders present at birth. Due to lack of knowledge, families and communities stigmatized pregnant women following the birth of a child with birth defects. In Ethiopia, there was limited evidence to assess the level of knowledge among pregnant women despite increasing magnitude of birth defects. Objectives: This study aims to assess pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects and its associated factors among antenatal care (ANC) attendees in referral hospitals of Amhara regional state in 2019. Materials and methods: Between 1 June and 30 June 2019, 636 pregnant women receiving prenatal care participated in an institution-based cross-sectional study. The approach for sampling was multistage. A semi-structured pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered in EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value of ≤0.05 declared statistical significance association. Results: A total of 636 pregnant women were included in the analysis. Accordingly, pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects was found to be 49.2% (95% CI: 45.4-53.1). Age group of <25 years (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04-0.61), urban residence (AOR = 6.06, 95% CI: 2.17-16.94), ANC booked before 20 weeks of gestational age (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.37-8.54), and ever heard on birth defects (AOR = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.87-13.43) were significantly associated factors with pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects. Conclusions: Approximately half of the pregnant mothers were aware of birth defects. Addressing pre-pregnancy and pregnancy health information and education particularly on the prevention of birth defects is recommended.

The magnitude and associated factors of immediate postpartum anemia among women who gave birth in east Gojjam zone hospitals, northwest- Ethiopia, 2020.

BACKGROUND: Globally around half a million maternal death occurred annually related to labor and delivery of which twenty percent is contributed by post-partum anemia. Postpartum anemia contributes about two percent of total maternal mortality in Ethiopia. Immediate postpartum anemia is a common public health problem in most parts of the globe, being frequent in low and middle-income countries including in the developed world. The previous studies cut off point for immediate postpartum Anemia is 11mg/dl which is the cutoff point of anemia after one week of postpartum, environmental factors like barefoot were not addressed in the previous studies and the previous studies were conducted in a single facility This study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of immediate post-partum anemia among women who gave birth in East Gojjam zone hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 20-November 20 2020 on immediate post-partum anemia. During the study 467 study participants were included by using systematic random sampling method Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and a blood sample was used for hemoglobin determination. Data were checked, coded, and entered into Epi-Data Version 4.2 and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regressions were done to identify predictors of immediate post-partum anemia and a 95% confidence interval of odds ratio at a p-value less than was taken as a significance level. RESULTS: The overall magnitude of immediate postpartum anemia among mothers who gave birth in East Gojjam Zone Hospitals were found to be 21.63% (95% CI:18.12%, 25.11%), not having antenatal care follow-up (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.92;95% CI:1.20,7.06), assisted instrumental delivery (AOR = 2.72; 95% CI:1.08,6.78),mid-upper arm circumferences less than 23cm (AOR = 5.75;95% CI:3.38, 9.79), antepartum hemorrhage (AOR = 4.51; 95% CI:2.42, 8.37), never wearing shoes (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI:1.10, 6.14) were found to be significantly associated with immediate postpartum anemia. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that immediate postpartum anemia is a moderate public health problem in the study area. A more careful strategy is ideal to increase antenatal care follow-up that sticks to national guideline contact schedule, safe reduction of instrumental and cesarean deliveries to the minimum, quick and timely linkage and treatment of malnourished pregnant mothers to the center where they get adequate health care services, along with a high index of suspicion in mothers diagnosed with antepartum hemorrhage, wise and vigilant advice on consistent use of the shoe for pregnant mothers are recommended to tackle the burden of immediate post-partum anemia.

Uterine rupture among mothers admitted for obstetrics care and associated factors in referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, institution-based cross-sectional study, Northern Ethiopia, 2013-2017.

BACKGROUND: Maternal morbidity and mortality have been one of the most challenging health problems that concern the globe over the years. Uterine rupture is one of the peripartum complications, which cause nearly about one out of thirteen maternal deaths. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of uterine rupture among obstetric case in referral hospitals of Amhara Regional State, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from Dec 5-2017-Jan 5-2018 on uterine rupture. During the study randomly selected 750 charts were included by using simple random sampling method. Data were checked, coded and entered into Epi info version 7.2 and then exported to SPSS Version 20 for Analysis. Binary Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of uterine rupture and 95% Confidence Interval of odds ratio at p-value less than 0.05 was taken as a significance level. RESULT: The overall prevalence of uterine rupture was 16.68% (95% CI: 14%, 19.2%). Distance from health facility >10km (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.44; 95%CI:1.13,5.28), parity between II and IV (AOR = 7.26;95% (3.06,17.22)) and ≥V (AOR = 12.55;95% CI 3.64,43.20), laboring for >24hours(AO = 3.44; 95% CI:1.49,7.92), with referral paper(AOR = 2.94;95%CI:1.28,6.55) diagnosed with obstructed labor (AOR = 4.88;95%CI: 2.22,10.70), precipitated labor (AOR = 3.59;95%CI:1.10,11.77), destructive delivery (AOR = 5.18;95%: 1.22,20.08), No partograph (AOR = 5.21; 95% CI: 2.72,9.97), CPD(AOR = 4.08;95%CI:1.99,8.33), morbidly adherent placenta (AOR = 9.00;95%:2.46,27.11), gestational diabetic militias (AOR = 5.78; 95%CI:1. 12,20 .00 ), history of myomectomy(AOR = 5.00;95%CI:1.33,18.73), induction and augmentation of labor (AOR = 2.34;95%:1.15,4.72) obstetric procedure (AOR = 2.54;95%: 1.09,5.91), previous caesarian deliveries 4.90 (2.13,11.26) were found to be significantly associated with uterine rupture. CONCLUSION: This finding showed that the prevalence of uterine rupture is higher. A more vigilant approach to prevent prolonged and obstructed labor, use of partograph, quick referral to a well-equipped center and prevention of other obstetrics complications need to be focused on.