Utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated net and its associated factors among pregnant women in Dawo district, Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023.

Introduction: The use of long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) is one of the most effective malaria prevention strategies, particularly among pregnant women. It has mosquito-killing repellent and physical barrier properties. Pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as non-immune migrants, mobile populations, and travelers, are the most vulnerable groups to malaria. Even when pregnant women are given priority, not all nets owned by households are used by pregnant women. Therefore, the risk of the occurrence of malaria during pregnancy is also high. Objective: This study aimed to assess the utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated net and its associated factors among pregnant women in Dawo district, Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in Dawo district, Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, from 21 to 30 April 2023. A total of 353 pregnant women were chosen through simple random sampling and interviewed face-to-face using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Before being exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23, the data were coded and entered into EPIDATA version 4.6. The study examined the prevalence of long-lasting insecticide-treated net use among pregnant women in the Dawo district using descriptive statistics. Analytical statistics, such as bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses, were used to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Statistical significance was determined using a P-value of <0.05 and adjusted odd ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets were utilized by 55.5% (95% CI: 50.4-60.7%) of all pregnant participants in the study, which was below the national target. Pregnant women who have antenatal care (ANC) contact for current pregnancy adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.95, 11.10), community-based health insurance (CBHI) enrollment (AOR = 2.38, 95% confidence intervals, CI: 1.38, 4.11), children under 5 years of age (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.62, 4.43), understanding that malaria poses a risk to fetuses (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI: 1.26, 8.41), and LLINs access (AOR = 12.47, 95% CI: 3.98, 39.08), were factors that significantly associated with LLIN utilization. Conclusion: In conclusion, the utilization of LLINs was relatively low. ANC contact for current pregnancy, CBHI enrollment, having children under the age of 5, having a high income, and understanding that malaria poses a risk to fetuses were factors significantly associated with LLIN utilization among pregnant women.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of group B streptococci among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A systemic review and meta-analysis study.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal colonization or infection with drug-resistant Group B streptococcus is a serious disease that affects mother, fetus, and infant. The knowledge of maternal colonization and antimicrobial susceptibility test is substantially needed for a nation to formulate a policy or change the already existing one to reduce maternal, fetus, and infant mortality. As a result, the goal of this review was to determine the pooled prevalence Group B streptococcus colonization and antimicrobial susceptibility among Ethiopian pregnant women. METHODS: Literature searches were carried out in the electronic biomedical databases and indexing services such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Original records of research articles, available online from 2014 to December 2020, addressing prevalence and antimicrobial-resistance pattern of Group B streptococcus in pregnant women were identified and screened. Endnote citation manager software version X9 for windows was utilized to collect and organize search outcomes and for removal of duplicate articles. The relevant data were extracted from included studies using a format prepared in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA 14.0 software for the outcome measures analyses and subgrouping. The I 2 index was used to measure heterogeneity between studies and median, and interquartile (25%, 75%) was used to assess antimicrobial susceptibility rate. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Sixteen original articles were found in both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Group B streptococcus colonization was recorded in 979 of the 5743 pregnant women, resulting in a 16% overall frequency (95% confidence interval: 13%-20%). The estimated prevalence varied significantly between studies with significant heterogeneity (χ2 = 154.31, p = 0.001, I 2 = 90.28). Ampicillin (97.8%; interquartile range = 89.5%-100%), penicillin G (95.5%; interquartile range = 89.5%-100%), and vancomycin (100%; interquartile range = 89.5%-100%) susceptibility were all high in Group B streptococcus, whereas tetracycline (29%; interquartile range = 89.5%-100%) susceptibility was low. Group B streptococcus colonization rates in Ethiopian women during pregnancy were virtually similar to those in many underdeveloped countries, and Group B streptococcus isolates were highly sensitive to ampicillin, penicillin G, and vancomycin.

Low Utilization of Partograph and Its Associated Factors among Obstetric Care Providers in Governmental Health Facilities at West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, prolonged and obstructed labors were among the common causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the routine use of partograph as a key intervention to avoid prolonged and obstructed labor. Despite the recommendation, studies indicated that the partograph utilization among obstetric care providers (OCPs) is still low. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the level of utilization of partograph and associated factors among obstetric care providers working at health facilities in the West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia 2019. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1st to 22nd March 2019. A computer-generated simple random sampling technique was used to select 325 study subjects. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire and using an observational checklist. Additionally, 200 partograph charts were reviewed. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association. RESULTS: A total of 322 obstetric care providers were included in the study, giving a response rate of 99.1%. The level of partograph utilization in the study area was revealed to be 31.1% (95% CI: 25.97-36.13). Only 3% of the reviewed partograph was recorded according to the recommended standard. In this study attending training (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.99-7.78), availability of partograph (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: 1.69-16.22), perceived as not time-consuming task (AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 1.19-10.96), adequate number of OCPs available (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.16-7.33), presence of supervision (AOR = 4.35, 95% CI: 2.11-8.97), having a positive attitude (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23-5.02), availability of standard protocol in a health facility (AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: 2.31-9.60), and lack of commitment (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.63) were factors significantly associated with partograph utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation. Partograph utilization in the study area was found to be low. Almost all reviewed partograph charts were not recorded as to the recommended standard. Attending training, availability of partograph, perceived as it is not time-consuming, the available number of OCPs, presence of supervision, having a positive attitude, available standard protocol, and commitment were factors associated with partograph utilization. Therefore, all concerned stakeholders should emphatically consider those identified factors for intervention.