Determinants of neonatal near miss among neonates admitted to public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia, 2021: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal near-miss (NNM) cases refer to situations in which babies are on the verge of dying between the ages of 0 and 28 days due to severe morbidity that occurs during pregnancy, delivery, or extra-uterine life, but survive either by luck or due to high-quality health care. Identifying NNM cases and addressing their determinants is crucial for devising comprehensive and relevant interventions to tackle neonatal morbidity and mortality. Hence, this study aimed at finding out the determinants of NNM in neonates admitted to public hospitals in Hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted in three selected hospitals in southern Ethiopia from May 1 to June 30, 2021. A total of 484 participants took part in the study (121 cases and 363 controls). Controls were chosen using systematic sampling approaches, whereas cases were recruited consecutively at the time of discharge. Cases were selected based on the Latin American Centre for Perinatology (CLAP) criteria of an NNM. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and a data extraction checklist were used for data collection. The Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis with a p-value of <0.05 was used to determine the determinants of NNM. RESULTS: Ninety-seven (80.1%) and 56 (46.2%) near-miss cases encountered at least one pragmatic and management criteria, respectively. The most common pragmatic and management criteria were gestational age less than 33 weeks (44.6%) and intravenous antibiotic usage up to 7 days and before 28 days of life (27.3%), respectively. A short birth interval [AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.57], lack of ANC [AOR = 3.37; 95%CI: 1.35, 6.39], Caesarean mode of delivery [AOR = 2.24; 95%CI: 1.20, 4.16], the occurrence of a third maternal delay [AOR = 3.47; 95% CI: 2.11, 5.75], and poor birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) plan[AOR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.49,4.13] were identified as a significant determinants of NNM. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The provision of adequate ANC should be a priority for health care providers at service delivery points. To avoid serious neonatal problems, mothers who deliver by Cesarean section should receive more attention from their families and health care providers. Health care providers in the ANC unit should encourage pregnant women to implement the WHO-recommended elements of the BPCR plan. To achieve optimal birth spacing, healthcare providers should focus on the contraceptive provision. Unnecessary delays in health facilities during childbirth should be avoided at all costs.

The level of Community-Based Essential Newborn Care utilization and associated factors among rural women in Southern Ethiopia, 2020: Based on the updated Community-Based Essential Newborn Care guideline.

BACKGROUND: A Community-Based Essential Newborn Care is a national initiative that incorporates a newborn care program into the continuum of maternal and child health care through enhancing community participation to reduce child morbidity and mortality and encourage healthy growth and development. This study aimed at assessing the level of Community-Based Essential Newborn Care service uptake and its associated factors among rural women in the Guraghe zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural districts of Southern Ethiopia, from 1 to 31 May 2020. A multistage sampling technique was applied. Using a systematic random sampling technique, a total of 818 respondents were selected. The data collected by a pretested structured questionnaire were entered into EpiData 3.1 and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 23) for analysis. To identify significant predictors of Community-Based Essential Newborn Care utilization, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to estimate the strength of associations, and statistical significance was declared at a p value <0.05. RESULTS: One-third, 269 (33.1%) (95% confidence interval = 30.0-36.2), of women and their newborns got the entire packages of the Community-Based Essential Newborn Care program. Desire on the last pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio = 2.66, 95% confidence interval = 1.56-4.51), birth preparedness and complication readiness plan (adjusted odds ratio = 4.82, 95% confidence interval = 3.26-7.12), timing of the postpartum visit (adjusted odds ratio = 3,56, 95% confidence interval = 2.00-6.34), attending monthly pregnant women conference (adjusted odds ratio = 3.01, 95% confidence interval = 1.99-4.57), and being a certified model household (adjusted odds ratio = 1.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-2.85) were identified as key predictors of Community-Based Essential Newborn Care utilization. CONCLUSION: The uptake of the full Community-Based Essential Newborn Care packages in the study area was low. Health care providers at the health institution and community level should give due emphasis to improve contraceptive service delivery. Besides, health extension workers at the community level should work on providing immediate postpartum visits, creating model households, and strengthening pregnant women conferences.

The magnitude of hypertension and associated factors among clients on highly active antiretroviral treatment in Southern Ethiopia, 2020: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Following the introduction of Highly Active Anti Retro Viral Treatment (HAART), the survival of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) has improved. However, hypertension remains a major challenge for people living with HIV. Very little effort has been made to examine the magnitude of hypertension and its contributing factors among clients receiving HAART, particularly in southern Ethiopia. Hence, the current study aimed at determining the frequency of Hypertension and associated factors among clients receiving HAART at Wachemo University Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Referral Hospital, southern Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study took place from January 20- March 20, 2020. A systematic sampling technique was employed in the selection of 397 clients. Interviewer administered pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Blood pressure and anthropometric parameters of PLHIV were measured. The data was encoded and entered using Epi Data Version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Then bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% CI was used to present the estimated effect size and declare the presence of statistically significant association respectively. RESULTS: The magnitude of hypertension among clients on HAART was 11.0% 95% CI [7.93, 14.04]. Being on HAART for at least 60 months (AOR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.24-5.21), being on TDF/3TC/EFV combination (AOR: 4.61, 95% CI: 2.52-8.3), and high alcohol consumption (AOR: 4.31, 95% CI: 1.84-10.02) were identified as significant predictors of hypertension among clients on HAART. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The magnitude of hypertension in the study area was in a considerable state to plan and implement intervention measures. For those clients who have received TDF/3TC/EFV and TDF/3TC/NVP and those who have been on HAART for 60 months, a strong emphasis should be placed on planning a strict follow-up. A concerted effort among health care providers is needed through counseling and education to discourage the habit of high alcohol consumption among clients.

Determinants of Premature Rupture of Membranes Among Pregnant Women Admitted to Public Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia, 2020: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: A gush of amniotic fluid any time before the onset of labor is known as premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). Its consequences vary from maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity to country-wide economic loss. At the national level in general, and in the study area in particular, little is known about PROM and its determinants. Hence, this study aimed at identifying determinants of PROM among pregnant women admitted to public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted on 279 pregnant women (93 cases and 186 controls) admitted to public hospitals from October 1 to 30, 2020. Pregnant women admitted to maternity wards of selected hospitals with a painless gush of fluid spilling out from the vaginal canal were considered as cases. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and data abstraction tools were used to collect data. The data were coded and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The determinants of PROM were identified by applying a multivariable logistic regression analysis at a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: Term PROM accounted for the majority, 55 (59.2%) of cases. Previous history of abortion (AOR: 4.14, 95% CI: 2.21-9.07), lack of ANC (AOR: 3.51; 95% CI: 1.33-8.27), previous history of PROM (AOR: 4.91; 95% CI: 2.23-9.82), caesarean delivery (AOR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.24-6,40), using of a maternal waiting room (MWR) (AOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15-0.74), and mid-upper arm Circumference (MAUC) <23cm (AOR: 3.69, 95% CI: 1.58-8.64) were identified as significant determinants of PROM. CONCLUSION: Health-care providers should work on providing adequate ANC by tracing mothers who have not received it and advising pregnant women to use MWR in the final weeks of their pregnancy. Furthermore, maternal and child health care units must place a strong focus on screening and managing the nutritional status of pregnant women. Furthermore, women with a history of abortion, caesarean section, and PROM need due attention from health care providers to mitigate the occurrence of PROM.

Option B plus antiretroviral therapy adherence and associated factors among HIV positive pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to Option B plus Antiretroviral Therapy plays a vital role in preventing mother to child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and development of drug resistance. This study was aimed to assess adherence to option B plus ART and associated factors among HIV positive pregnant women at public Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted on HIV positive pregnant mothers attending public health facilities' antenatal care unit. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to select 290 HIV positive pregnant women enrolled in the Option B plus program. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with option B plus ART adherence. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as cut of point to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The overall adherence to option B plus ART among HIV positive pregnant women was 236 (81.4%). Three in twenty, (14.8%) participants were none adherent to Option B plus ART due to difficulty in adopting time schedule and forgetting to take medication. During first trimester of pregnancy, 16 (5.5%) were stopped taking ART medication due to side effects. Pregnant women who started ART at the time of HIV diagnosis [AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: (1.02, 3.95)], and who had five or more antenatal care visits [AOR = 4.10, 95% CI (1.65, 10.02)] were more likely to adhere to option B plus ART. Women who should travel 30-60 min on foot to access ART from service delivering facilities were less likely to adhere to option B plus [AOR = 0.39, 95% C I: (0.17, 0.88)]. CONCLUSIONS: The overall adherence to option B plus ART was suboptimal. Measures that improve recalling ability of individuals to take ART on time, and minimize ART side effects during first trimester of pregnancy need to be given emphasis. The study finding indicates the need for reconsidering the ad-hoc focused antenatal care visit at policy and program level by increasing the number of follow up visit with proper counseling on ART adherence benefits, and improving service accessibility.