Half-time evaluation of a new 4-year Ph.D. program in nursing and midwifery at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia.

A new four-year Ph.D. programme in nursing and midwifery, the first of its kind in Ethiopia, was started in 2018/2019 at the University of Gondar when eight doctoral students in nursing and midwifery entered the program. We who have been involved see this as an appropriate time to evaluate what has been accomplished to date and to look toward future possibilities. Our aim in carrying out such an evaluation and presenting our findings is in part to determine if similar programs might be developed in other similar settings and in part to learn what modifications to the present program might be considered. The key elements of a questionnaire survey with closed and open response alternatives were based on the content, structure and learning outcomes of the home university Ph.D. programme as described in the curriculum. The questionnaire responses captured changes that would be needed to maintain a fully satisfactory programme that blends onsite instruction and online access to faculty resulting in a twenty-first century blended Ph.D. programme. Improved dialogue between the home university faculty and the external supervisors is needed. The programme can provide a career pathway that midwifery and nursing educators can follow in their own country rather than having to leave to study in another country. The findings provide insight into the feasibility of extending similar Ph.D. programmes to other parts of East Africa and with the SDG 5 in mind with an increased focus on women leadership. The justification for this initiative is to meet the need for more nursing and midwifery faculty who can provide quality midwifery and nursing education in East African countries. Retention of these professionals will help to deal with the shortage of healthcare personnel and will provide better care for the general population.

Surgical site infection and associated factors among women underwent cesarean delivery in Debretabor General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: hospital based cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean section rates have been increasing dramatically during the past three decades and surgical site infections are becoming a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women undergoing cesarean deliveries. However there is lack of sound evidence on both the magnitude of the problem and the associated factors in developing countries including Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess proportion of surgical site infection and associated factors among women undergoing cesarean delivery in Debretabor General Hospital. METHODS: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted from May to December / 2017. All women delivered by cesarean section in Debretabor General Hospital during data collection period were our study population. Data were collected using Pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire/ data extraction tool and post discharge phone follow up and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression model was used to determine the association of independent variables with the outcome variable and odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were used to estimate the strength of the association. RESULTS: Proportion of surgical site infection among cesarean deliveries was about 8% (95%Cl: 5.4, 11.6). Pregnancy induced hypertension (AOR = 4.75, 95%CI: 1.62, 13.92), chorioaminitis (AOR = 4.37, 95%CI: 1.53, 12.50), midline skin incision (AOR = 5.19, 95% CI: 1.87, 14.37 and post-operative hemoglobin less than 11 g/deciliter (AOR = 5.28, 95%CI: 1.97, 14.18) were significantly associated with surgical site infection. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy induced hypertension, chorioaminitis, midline skin incision and post-operative hemoglobin of less than 11 g/deciliter were independent factors associated with surgical site infection. Cesarean deliveries with concomitant pregnancy induced hypertension, chorioaminitis and post-operative anemia needs special care and follow up until surgical site infection is ruled out. It is also advisable to reduce generous midline skin incision and better replaced with pfannensteil incision.