Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Health Professionals in Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Early screening for cervical cancer is a key life-saving intervention in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite the high burden of cervical cancer, the coverage of cervical cancer screening is low in developing countries, including Ethiopia. There is a paucity of information on the utilization of cervical cancer screening among female health professionals in eastern Ethiopia. This study aimedto assess the determinants of cervical cancer screening among female health professionals in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia. Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 232 female health professionals in Harar town from September 01 to 30, 2022. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify significant factors for the level of cervical cancer screening. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to report the strength of association and statistical significance declared at p value < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of cervical cancer screening among female health professionals was 16.8% (95% CI: 11%, 22%). Higher education level (AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 1.68, 10.90), use of contraceptives (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.17, 6.23), training on cervical cancer screening (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.05, 6.08), good knowledge about cervical cancer screening (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.44, 7.91), and positive attitude toward cervical cancer screening (AOR = 5.31, 95% CI: 2.04, 13.83) were independent factors that increased the utilization of cervical cancer screening. Conclusion: One in every six female health professionals was screened for cervical cancer. Education level, contraceptive use, cervical cancer screening training, cervical cancer screening knowledge, and attitude toward cervical cancer screening were the determinants of cervical cancer screening utilization among female health professionals. Improving the health professionals' knowledge and attitude toward cervical cancer screening through upgrading their education level and training on cervical cancer screening would be essential to improving the level of cervical cancer screening.

Prenatal depression among pregnant women attending public health facilities in Babile district, Eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression during pregnancy is a significant health concern that can lead to a variety of short and long-term complications for mothers. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information available on the prevalence and predictors of prenatal depression in rural eastern Ethiopia. This study assessed prenatal depression and associated factors among pregnant women attending public health facilities in the Babile district, Eastern Ethiopia. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 329 pregnant women attending Babile District Public Health Facilities from November 1 to December 30, 2021. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with prenatal depression. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to report the association, and the significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of prenatal depression was 33.1% (95% CI = 28.0%, 38.2%). A lower income (AOR = 3.85, 95% CI = 2.08, 7.13), contraceptive use (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.98), unintended pregnancy (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.27, 3.98), history of depression (AOR = 5.09, 95% CI = 2.77, 9.35), poor social support (AOR = 5.08, 95% CI = 2.15, 11.99), and dissatisfied marriage (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.30, 4.33) were the factors associated with increased prenatal depression among pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: One in every three pregnant women in rural eastern Ethiopia had prenatal depression. Monthly income, contraceptive use, pregnancy intention, history of depression, social support, and marriage satisfaction status were the determinants of prenatal depression. Preventing unintended pregnancies by encouraging women to utilize modern contraceptive methods is essential for mitigating and controlling the risks and burdens of prenatal depression and its negative consequences.

Disrespect and abuse during childbirth in East Hararghe Zone public health facilities, eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Compassionate and respectful maternity care during childbirth has been identified as a potential strategy to prevent and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite its importance, there is a paucity of information on the level of disrespect and abuse meted out to mothers in eastern Ethiopia. This study assesses the level of disrespect and abuse suffered by women during childbirth, and the associated factors, in public health facilities in the rural East Hararghe Zone in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 530 women who gave birth in 20 public health facilities in the East Hararghe Zone during the period between 1 April and 30 April 2020. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the factors associated with disrespect and abuse during childbirth. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95% CI) was used to report this association, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Overall, 77% (95% CI: 73%-81%) of women reported at least one type of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in the East Hararghe Zone public health facilities. In this study, factors such as households having an average monthly income of below 57.22 USD (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.41-3.71), mothers residing at more than 30 min away from a nearby health facility (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.30-3.39), those not receiving antenatal care (AOR = 4.29, 95% CI: 2.17-8.52), and those giving birth during nighttime (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.37-3.41) were associated with at least one type of disrespect and abuse during childbirth. Conclusion: More than three in every four women who gave birth in the East Hararghe Zone public health facilities were disrespected and abused during childbirth. Encouraging all pregnant women to pay attention to antenatal care visits and improving the quality of healthcare service during nighttime in all health facilities will be essential for preventing and reducing disrespect and abuse and its negative consequences.

Determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women attending primary healthcare unit in Chinaksen District, Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study.

Background: Women's undernutrition during pregnancy increases the risks and burdens of maternal and neonatal morbidity, death, and disability through its vicious cycles of irreversible intergenerational negative effects. Despite the high burden of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy in semi-pastoral communities of eastern Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information on its major risk factors. This study revealed determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women attending primary healthcare units in Chinaksen district in rural eastern Ethiopia. Method: A facility-based case-control study was conducted among 113 cases and 113 controls in Chinaksen district from February 01 to March 30, 2017. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Multivariable logistic regression analyses conducted to identify significant determinants of acute undernutrition. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to report the strength of association and statistical significance declared at p value < 0.05. Results: Sixty (53.1%) of cases and 56 (49.6%) of controls were in the age group of 25-34 years and their mean ± SD age of cases and controls were 26.6 ± 5.7 and 28 ± 5.5 years, respectively. In this study, larger family size (AOR = 6.98, 95 CI [2.82-17.27]), lack of prenatal dietary advice (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI [1.67-8.00]), did not participate in a cooking demonstration (AOR = 5.41, 95% CI [2.39-12.24]), used substances (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI [1.30-10.23]), absence of basic latrine (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI [1.28-6.58]), low minimum dietary diversity of women (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI [1.20-5.12]), and household food insecurity (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI [1.44-6.51]) were significantly increased the odds of acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Conclusions: The study revealed that living in crowded families, lack prenatal dietary advice, did not participate in cooking demonstrations, substances use; lack of toilet, low minimum dietary diversity, and household food insecurity were significant risk factors for acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Strengthening multi-sectoral approaches through improving dietary diversity/quality and food access/quantity would be essential to prevent, and reduce the risks, burdens, and impacts of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy.

Determinants of short birth interval among married multiparous women in Chinaksen district, eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study.

Background: The short birth interval is a common public health issue that affects women's and children's health in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a higher burden of short birth intervals reported in Ethiopia, there is limited evidence to indicate the primary risk factors, particularly in rural eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the determinants of the short birth interval among married multiparous women in Chinaksen district, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based case-control study was conducted among randomly selected 210 cases and 210 controls from April 01 to June 30, 2019. The total sample size (219 cases and 219 controls) were calculated using Epi-Info software version 7.2. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 27, and multivariable logistic regression analyses conducted to identify the determinants of short birth intervals. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to report the strength of association and statistical significance declared at p-value < 0.05. Results: The women in the young age group (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.26), missed their antenatal care visits (AOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.21), failed to utilize postpartum contraceptives (AOR = 5.98, 95% CI: 3.62, 9.89), did not attend postnatal care visit (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.05), nonexclusive breastfed (AOR = 4.05, 95% CI: 2.18, 7.52), short and medium period of breastfeeding (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI: 1.34, 12.10) and (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.62, 7.82), respectively and female sex of preceding child (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.18, 3.12) were the important risk factors of short birth interval. Conclusions: Women's age, antenatal care visits, postnatal care attendance, utilization of postpartum contraceptives, exclusive breastfeeding practice, duration of breastfeeding, and sex of the preceding child were the primary predictors of short birth intervals. Improving the utilization of maternal healthcare services in health facilities would be imperative to prevent and reduce short birth intervals, and its negative consequences.

Utilization of Immediate Postpartum Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives among Women Who Gave Birth in Public Health Facilities in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Although importance of postpartum family planning is essential and immediate postpartum insertion of long acting and reversible contraceptives (LARC) is recommended, evidence on its uptake and associated factors is limited in Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess utilization of immediate postpartum LARC among women who gave birth in selected public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected women who gave birth in selected public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia from 10 March to 09 April 2020. At discharge, all eligible women who gave birth in the facilities were interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with utilization of immediate postpartum LARC. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval was used to report association, and significance was declared at p value < 0.05. RESULTS: From a total of 546 women invited to the study, 530 (97.1%) participated in the study and 98 (18.5%; 95% CI: 15.1%, 22.0%) reported starting long acting reversible contraceptives. Women who reported discussing about contraceptives with partners (aOR = 6.69, 95% CI: 3.54, 12.61) and receiving postpartum counselling on contraceptives (aOR = 5.37, 95% CI: 3.00, 9.63) were more likely to using contraception. However, women who live >30-minute walking distance from the nearest health facility (aOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.85) and reported disrespect and abuse during childbirth (aOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.40) were less likely to start LARC. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in five women delivering in public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia started using LARC. Provision of respectful maternity care including counselling on the importance of immediate postpartum family planning is essential for increasing its uptake.