Ethiopian and American Collaboration: Process, Accomplishments, and Lessons Learned.

From 2015 to 2018, the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ESOG), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health, and the Center for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan collaborated to define and execute the goals of ESOG to enhance education, research, publishing, and clinical care in Ethiopia. We outline the processes used to define and execute these goals, accomplishments toward achieving them, and key lessons learned.

Antenatal care strengthening for improved health behaviours in Jimma, Ethiopia, 2009-2011: An effectiveness study.

INTRODUCTION: health systems in low-income settings are not sufficiently reaching the poor, and global disparities in reproductive health persist. The frequency and quality of health education during antenatal care is often low. Further studies are needed on how to improve the performance of health systems in low income settings to improve maternal and child health. OBJECTIVES: to assess the effectiveness of a participatory antenatal care intervention on health behaviours and to illuminate how the different socioeconomic groups responded to the intervention in Jimma, Ethiopia. SETTING, INTERVENTION AND MEASUREMENTS: an intervention was designed participatorily and comprised trainings, supervisions, equipment, health education material, and adaption of guidelines. It was implemented at public facilities. Household surveys, before (2008) and after (2010) intervention, were conducted amongst all women who had given birth within the previous 12 months. The effect of the intervention was assessed by comparing the change in health behaviours (number of antenatal visits, health facility delivery, breast feeding, preventive infant health check, and infant immunisation) from before to after the intervention period at intervention sites, relative to control sites, using logistic mixed effect regression. RESULTS: on the basis of 1357 women included before and 2262 after the intervention, there were positive effects of the intervention on breast feeding practices (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4; 3.6) and preventive infant health check (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5; 3.5). There was no effect on infant immunisation coverage and negative effect on number of antenatal visits. The effect on various outcomes was modified by maternal education, and results indicate increased health facility delivery (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 0.8; 6.9) and breast feeding practices (OR 18.2, 95% CI: 5.2;63.6) among women with no education. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the facility based intervention improved some, but not all health behaviours. The improvements indicated amongst the most disadvantaged antenatal care attendants in breast feeding and health facility delivery are encouraging and underline the need to scale up priority of antenatal care in the effort to reduce maternal and child health inequity.

Antenatal care strengthening for improved quality of care in Jimma, Ethiopia: an effectiveness study.

BACKGROUND: Interventions for curing most diseases and save lives of pregnant and delivering women exist, yet the power of health systems to deliver them to those in most need is not sufficient. The aims of this study were to design a participatory antenatal care (ANC) strengthening intervention and assess the implementation process and effectiveness on quality of ANC in Jimma, Ethiopia. METHODS: The intervention comprised trainings, supervisions, equipment, development of health education material, and adaption of guidelines. It was implemented at public facilities and control sites were included in the evaluation. Improved content of care (physical examinations, laboratory testing, tetanus toxoid (TT)-immunization, health education, conduct of health professionals, and waiting time) were defined as proximal project outcomes and increased quality of care (better identification of health problems and increased overall user satisfaction with ANC) were distal project outcomes. The process of implementation was documented in monthly supervision reports. Household surveys, before (2008) and after (2010) intervention, were conducted amongst all women who had given birth within the previous 12 months. The effect of the intervention was assessed by comparing the change in quality of care from before to after the intervention period at intervention sites, relative to control sites, using logistic mixed effect regression. RESULTS: The continued attention to the ANC provision during implementation stimulated increased priority of ANC among health care providers. The organizational structure of the facilities and lack of continuity in care provision turned out to be a major challenge for implementation. There was a positive effect of the intervention on health education on danger signs during pregnancy (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.6;5.7), laboratory testing (OR for blood tests other than HIV 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9;4.5), health problem identification (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1;3.1), and satisfaction with the service (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2;0.9). There was no effect of intervention on conduct of health professionals. The effect of intervention on various outcomes was significantly modified by maternal education. CONCLUSION: The quality of care can be improved in some important aspects with limited resources. Moreover, the study provides strategic perspectives on how to facilitate improved quality of ANC.

Antenatal care strengthening in Jimma, Ethiopia: a mixed-method needs assessment.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed how health system priorities matched user expectations and what the needs for antenatal care (ANC) strengthening were for improved maternal health in Jimma, Ethiopia. METHODS: A questionnaire survey among all recent mothers in the study area was conducted to study the content of ANC and to identify the predictors of low ANC satisfaction. Further, a qualitative approach was applied to understand perceptions, practices, and policies of ANC. RESULTS: There were no national guidelines for ANC in Ethiopia. Within the health system, the teaching of health professional students was given high priority, and that contributed to a lack of continuity and privacy. To the women, poor user-provider interaction was a serious concern hindering the trust in the health care providers. Further, the care provision was compromised by the inadequate laboratory facilities, unstructured health education, and lack of training of health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Health system trials are needed to study the feasibility of ANC strengthening in the study area. Nationally and internationally, the leadership needs to be strengthened with supportive supervision geared towards building trust and mutual respect to protect maternal and infant health.

Maternal outcomes of magnesium sulphate and diazepam use in women with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Preferred anticonvulsant used to treat and prevent fits in eclampsia currently is magnesium sulphate. Clinical monitoring of tendon reflexes, respiration rate and measuring hourly urine output should be done to ensures safe administration of magnesium sulphate. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate maternal outcomes of magnesium sulphate and diazepam use in the management of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective hospital based cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using data collection format. Data was collected from the hospital delivery care register and patient chart records of all pregnant women who presented with the diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in two years and three months period from January, 2010 to April, 2012. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 16.0. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant in all tests. RESULTS: A total of 357 patient charts, 217 from magnesium sulphate and 140 from diazepam treated pregnant women group, were reviewed and analyzed. Three pregnant women from the magnesium sulphate treated group and eleven pregnant women from diazepam treated group had at least one convulsion after taking the drug. Greater proportion of patients in the magnesium sulphate treated group had less than four days postpartum stay as compared to the diazepam treated patients (82.3% versus 66.2%). Seizure occurrence, duration of postpartum hospital stays and birth outcome had a statistically significant association with the type of anticonvulsant used. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium sulphate is more effective than diazepam in the management of severe pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women in terms of seizure prevention, shortening postpartum hospital stay and reducing maternal morbidities.

Maternal outcomes of magnesium sulphate and diazepam use in women with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Ethiopia / Resultados maternos del uso de sulfato de magnesio y diazepam en mujeres con pre-eclampsia grave en Etiopia

Background: Preferred anticonvulsant used to treat and prevent fits in eclampsia currently is magnesium sulphate. Clinical monitoring of tendon reflexes, respiration rate and measuring hourly urine output should be done to ensures safe administration of magnesium sulphate Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate maternal outcomes of magnesium sulphate and diazepam use in the management of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. Methods: A retrospective hospital based cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using data collection format. Data was collected from the hospital delivery care register and patient chart records of all pregnant women who presented with the diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in two years and three months period from January, 2010 to April, 2012. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 16.0. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant in all tests. Results: A total of 357 patient charts, 217 from magnesium sulphate and 140 from diazepam treatedpregnant women group, were reviewed and analyzed. Three pregnant women from the magnesium sulphate treated group and eleven pregnant women from diazepam treated group had at least one convulsion after taking the drug. Greater proportion of patients in the magnesium sulphate treated group had less than four days postpartum stay as compared to the diazepam treated patients (82.3% versus 66.2%). Seizure occurrence, duration of postpartum hospital stays and birth outcome had a statistically significant association with the type of anticonvulsant used. Conclusions: Magnesium sulphate is more effective than diazepam in the management of severe pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women in terms of seizure prevention, shortening postpartum hospital stay and reducing maternal morbidities (AU)

Antecedentes: El anticonvulsivante preferido para tratar y prevenir ataques en eclampsia es actualmente el sulfato de magnesio. Para garantizar una administración segura del sulfato de magnesio debería realizarse una monitorización clínica de los reflejos tendinales, velocidad de respiración y producción horaria de orina. Objetivo: Este estudio se realizó para evaluar los resultados maternos del uso de sulfato de magnesio y diazepam en el manejo de la pre-eclampsia y eclampsia graves en el Hospital especializado de la Universidad de Jimma. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal retrospectivo mediante recogida de datos. Los datos se recogieron del registro de cuidados prestados en el hospital y de las historias clínicas de todas las embarazadas que presentaron diagnóstico de pre-eclampsia o eclampsia grave en los dos años y tres meses entre enero 2010 y abril 2012. El análisis se realizó con un SPSS versión 16.0. Se consideró significativo para todas las pruebas un p<0,05. Resultados: Se revisaron y analizaron un total de 357 historias clínicas de 217 pacientes tratados con sulfato de magnesio y 140 con diazepam. Tres embarazadas tratadas con sulfato de magnesio y 11 tratadas con diazepam habían tenido, al menos, una convulsión después de tomar el medicamento. La mayor proporción de pacientes tratadas con sulfato de magnesio tuvo menos de 4 días de estancia post-parto comparadas con las tratadas con diazepam (82,3% versus 66,2%). La aparición de convulsiones, la estancia hospitalaria post-parto y los resultados del parto tuvieron asociación estadísticamente significativa con el tipo de anticonvulsivante utilizado. Conclusiones: El sulfato de magnesio es más efectivo que el diazepam en el manejo de pre-eclampsia y eclampsia graves en términos de prevención de convulsiones, reducción de la estancia hospitalaria post-parto y reducción de las morbilidades maternas (AU)

Ocular emergencies presenting to Menelik II Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Ocular conditions such as trauma, painful red eye of any cause, painless sudden visual loss and others are commonly seen as ocular emergencies, and can lead to ocular morbidity and visual loss. OBJECTIVE: To determine types and causes of ocular emergencies seen at Menelik II hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October, 2007. Consecutive patients who presented with ocular emergencies at any time of the day were prospectively evaluated and registered on a formatted questionnaire. Evaluation of the patients included history of presenting illness, visual acuity testing intraocular pressure measurement on non-perforated and non-infected eyes, and complete eye examination in order to arrive at the diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 26,400 patients attended Menelik II hospital during the study period. Of these, 758 (3%) were persons with an ocular emergency. The majority of patients (n=551; 72.7%) were male, with a male to female ratio of 2.7:1. The age group of 16 to 30 years was the most affected (47.9%), followed by those aged 15 years or younger (27.3%). Ocular trauma and ocular infections accounted for 75.6% and 13.1% of cases, respectively. Of the total ocular emergencies, open globe injuries constituted 171 (22.6%), corneal foreign bodies and abrasion 125 (16.5%), and open adnexal injuries 119 (15.7%). Metal and wood were the commonest work-related causes of ocular injuries in adults, with both together accounting for 60% of all ocular injuries. Children, on the other hand, sustained ocular injury while playing with others in 128 (22.3%) of cases. CONCLUSION: This study was able to provide a more complete picture to improve understanding of the nature and circumstances of ocular emergencies in Ethiopia. Ocular emergencies were dominated by ocular trauma, particularly affecting males and working-age adults. Public education and use of protective safety measures are recommended to alleviate the problem.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome: a case report.

This report refers to a rare case of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome that had presented at the age of 35 years with complaint of abdominal mass, primary amenorrhea and infertility to Jimma University Hospital. A well-developed breast with absence of axillary and pubic hair was seen on examination. There was also an abdominal mass arising from the pelvis occupying the hypogastric and right iliac region. Additionally, there was a reducible mass of 5 by 4 c.m at the left inguinal region. She had a normal female external genitalia with blindly ending vagina of about 4 c.m long. Laporotomy was done and a grayish white solid mass of 20 by 10 c.m. was found and removed. The reducible mass in the left inguinal canal was also removed surgically which was followed by herinorraphy. There were no ovaries or any other internal female genital organs identifiable. Histopathology of the tumor showed features of seminoma while the mass in the inguinal canal was consistent with testis. Literature review on diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management of androgen insensitivity syndrome was made and discussed. This is the first case report of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) in an Ethiopian patient.