Home delivery practice and its predictors in South Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Institutional delivery is one of the key interventions to reduce maternal death. It ensures safe birth, reduces both actual and potential complications, and decreases maternal and newborn death. However, a significant proportion of deliveries in developing countries like Ethiopia are home deliveries and are not attended by skilled birth attendants. We investigated the prevalence and determinants of home delivery in three districts in Sidama administration, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Between 15-29 October 2018, a cross sectional survey of 507 women who gave birth within the past 12 months was conducted using multi-stage sampling. Sociodemographic and childbirth related data were collected using structured, interviewer administered tools. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression models were run to assess independent predictors of home delivery. RESULTS: The response rate was 97.6% (495). In the past year, 22.8% (113), 95% confidence interval (CI) (19%, 27%) gave birth at home. Rural residence, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 13.68 (95%CI:4.29-43.68); no maternal education, aOR = 20.73(95%CI:6.56-65.54) or completed only elementary school, aOR = 7.62(95% CI: 2.58-22.51); unknown expected date of delivery, aOR = 1.81(95% CI: 1.03-3.18); being employed women (those working for wage and self-employed), aOR = 2.79 (95%CI:1.41-5.52) and not planning place of delivery, aOR = 26.27, (95%CI: 2.59-266.89) were independently associated with place of delivery. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of institutional delivery in the study area has improved from the 2016 Ethiopian Demography Health Survey report of 26%. Uneducated, rural and employed women were more likely to deliver at home. Strategies should be designed to expand access to and utilization of institutional delivery services among the risky groups.

Hydrometrocolpos Presenting as a Huge Abdominal Swelling and Obstructive Uropathy in a 4 Day Old Newborn: A Diagnostic Challenge.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal swelling is an uncommon presentation in newborn babies. A combination of huge abdominal swelling, obstructive uropathy and imperforate hymen in newborns has not been reported in the medical literature. CASE DETAILS: We report a 4 days old newborn with a rare presentation of hydrometrocolpos which posed a diagnostic challenge and consequently resulted in delays in diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: Hydrometrocolpos should be considered as a differential diagnosis in neonates who present with huge abdominal swelling.

Surveillance of Bacterial Meningitis, Ethiopia, 2012-2013.

Among 139 patients with suspected bacterial meningitis in Ethiopia, 2012-2013, meningococci (19.4%) and pneumococci (12.9%) were the major disease-causing organisms. Meningococcal serogroups detected were A (n = 11), W (n = 7), C (n = 1), and X (n = 1). Affordable, multivalent meningitis vaccines for the African meningitis belt are urgently needed.