Timing of first antenatal care attendance and associated factors among pregnant women in public health institutions of Axum town, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2017: a mixed design study.

BACKGROUND: Timely initiation of antenatal care can avoid pregnancy related problems and save lives of mothers and babies. In developing nations, however, only half of the pregnant mothers receive the recommended number of antenatal care visits, and start late in their pregnancy. Thus, the study was conducted to assess the magnitude of timely initiation of antenatal care and factors associated with the timing of antenatal care attendance in Axum in which studies regarding this issue are lacking. METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study mixed with qualitative approach was conducted. A total of 386 pregnant women were selected using systematic sampling technique for the quantitative study. In addition, 18 participants were selected purposively for the qualitative part. The quantitative data were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire while the qualitative data were collected using an open-ended interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and the qualitative data were analyzed using Atlas software. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to control the effect of confounders. RESULTS: The magnitude of timely attendance of antenatal care was 27.5% (95% CI: 23-32%). Unintended pregnancy (AOR = 2.87; CI 95%: 1.23-6.70), maternal knowledge (AOR = 2.75; CI 95%: 1.07-7.03), educational status of the women (AOR = 2.62; CI 95%: 1.21-5.64), perceived timing of antenatal care (AOR = 3.45; CI 95%: 1.61-7.36), problem in current pregnancy (AOR = 3.56; CI 95%: 1.52-8.48) and advice from significant others (AOR =2.33; CI 95%: 1.10-4.94) were found significantly associated with timely booking of antenatal care. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of timely attendance of antenatal care is low. Educational status, maternal knowledge, unintended pregnancy, problem in current pregnancy, perceived timing of antenatal care, and advise from significant others were the significant factors for timing of antenatal care. Therefore more effort should be done to increase the knowledge of mothers about importance of antenatal care and timely ante natal care booking.

Quality of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) services from patients' perspective in Adigrat town, Eastern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. 2017: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Most of the maternal and newborn deaths occur at birth or within 24 h of birth. Provision of quality Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) is very crucial and the current recommended intervention to prevent maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers receiving at least one of the signal functions of BEmONC services. A total of 398 women were included in the study. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered Tigrigna version questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to control the effect of confounders. RESULTS: The perceived quality of BEmONC was 66.7%, which is poor. Clients scored lower quality rates on aspects such as the availability of necessary equipment, lack of clean and functional shower and toilet and administration of anti-pain during delivery and manual vacuum aspiration (MVA). Quality of BEmONC was lower among rural residents (AOR = 0.273, 95% CI: (0.151-0.830). Whereas, Presence of companion (AOR = 2.259; 95% CI: (3.563-13.452) were found with a higher score of quality of BEmONC compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: The overall perception of quality of BEmONC services received was poor. Residence, ANC follow-up, and presence of companion during labor or delivery were found to have a significant association with the perceived quality of BEmONC services.