Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and associated factors among reproductive age women in Raya Kobo district of Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of danger signs of obstetric complications during pregnancy, labour, and postnatal period is the first essential step for appropriate and timely referral. This study aimed to investigate predictors of knowledge about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period among mothers of reproductive age women who gave birth in the last 12 months. METHODS: A quantitative community based cross-sectional study was employed during March 2016. The study included 493 mothers who were selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were identified as statistically significant factors. RESULTS: About forty-seven percent (46.7%), 27.8%, and 26.4% of the mothers were knowledgeable about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period, respectively. Vaginal bleeding was the most frequently cited danger sign during the three periods. Mothers' secondary or above education level increased odds of knowledge about danger signs during pregnancy (AOR: 3.63; 95% CI 1.19, 11.07) and postpartum period (AOR: 5.31; 95% CI 2.13, 13.22). Additionally, being employed (AOR: 5.41; 95% CI 1.03, 28.32), delivery at health institution (AOR: 2.14; 95% CI 1.17, 3.92) and number of ANC visits were statistically significant factors. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of mothers about obstetric danger signs was low in the study area. Empowering women, improving the quality of health information about danger signs during ANC follow up, and promoting institutional delivery are the recommended interventions.

Misconceptions About Female Cancers Contributing to Late Presentation to Health Facilities in Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality from female cancers is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. More than three quarters of women visiting health facilities are diagnosed with late-stage cervical and breast cancer. Evidence reveals that misconception affects timely health seeking behavior which could have averted expensive treatment and poor survival. This study aimed to explore misconceptions about female cancers that may have contributed to late presentation of the problem to health facilities in Sidama region, Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out in June 2021. Nine focus group discussions (six with women and three with men) and 14 key informants were conducted. Data were collected using interview guide until all information get saturated. Data were inductively coded and qualitative content analysis was applied. Results: A total of 63 (24 men and 39 women) people participated in this study. Nearly all (12) key informant interviewees have awareness about cervical and breast cancer, yet reported that their community members clearly lack awareness and they are working to improve misconceptions regarding cervical and breast cancer. The focus group discussion participants (15 men and 36 women) reported lack of detailed information related to cervical and breast cancer. Women believe that cervical and breast cancer mainly resulted from poor hygiene, trauma, having multiple sexual partners, early marriage, breast exposure to heat, not breast feeding, birth complication, urinating in the sun, hereditary, devil's intrusion and God's punishment. Conclusion: There were misconceptions among the community on what cervical and breast cancer mean, how they could happen, what the symptoms are, why and when to screen, when to seek health care and how to use modern treatment options. Therefore, we recommended the design of social and behavioral change strategies to address the misconceptions among different population groups.

Maternal Third Delay and Associated Factors among Women Admitted for Emergency Obstetric Care in Public Hospitals in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia.

Background: Timing to get obstetric care is critical in preventing maternal death and disability. Maternal third delay, the delay in receiving care after reaching health facilities, involves factors related to organization, quality of care, patient referral, and availability of staff and equipment. However, data is limited on maternal third delay and its associated factors at higher health facilities in Ethiopia. Objective: This study is aimed at assessing the magnitude of maternal third delay and associated factors among women admitted for emergency obstetric care in public hospitals in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2021. Face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire and data extraction from medical charts were carried out in selected 542 women (using systematic sampling method). The collected data were coded and entered using EpiData, and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done using SPSS version 25. Statistical significances were declared at p value less than 0.05. Results: Maternal third delay was identified among 29.3% (95%CI = 25.2 - 33.5) of the respondents. Additionally, women who arrived with a referral from other health facilities (AOR = 0.311, 95%CI = 0.181 - 0.534), well prepared for birth and its complications (AOR = 2.418, 95%CI = 1.51 - 3.869), self-employed (AOR = 0.223, 95%CI = 0.122 - 0.409), being a government employee (AOR = 0.157, 95%CI = 0.063 - 0.396), having ANC follow-up (AOR = 2.795, 95%CI = 1.318 - 5.928), and absence of health professional (AOR = 4.63, 95%CI = 2.857 - 7.50) were significantly associated with maternal third delay. Conclusion: This study identified that maternal third delay was high, which indicates that women have not received emergency obstetric care in the recommended time range after they arrived at the health facilities.

Epidemiology of podoconiosis in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Podoconiosis is a non-filarial swelling of the lower extremity endemic in tropical regions, North America and India. The aetiology and pathophysiology of the disease remain unknown. We propose conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the burden and risk factors of podoconiosis in Ethiopia reported in studies from 2009 to 2019. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search the following electronic databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Hinari, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ISI (Web of Science) and Google Scholar. Medical subject headings will be used to extensively search relevant literature on electronic databases using related keywords such as epidemiology or prevalence, magnitude or burden, podoconiosis, and Ethiopia. Grey literature and manual search will also be performed to retrieve unindexed research articles. Two reviewers will screen all retrieved articles, conduct data extraction and then critically appraise all identified studies. We will analyse data using STATA V.14 statistical software. We will demonstrate pooled estimates of podoconiosis and associated factors with effect size and 95% CI. The presence of heterogeneity among studies will be examined by forest plot as well as the I2 heterogeneity test. Potential causes of heterogeneity will be explored by carrying out sensitivity and subgroup analyses. The presence of publication bias will also be examined by observing funnel plots and objectively by Egger's regression test. If the funnel plot is asymmetric and/or Egger's test was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05), the trim and fill (Duval and Tweedie's) analysis will be performed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study will use publicly available data and will not identify the authors of the publication by name. In light of these and as has been indicated, research ethics clearance is not required for evidence syntheses in such reviews. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019127459.

Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors in Child and Adolescent Health, 1990 to 2017: Findings From the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors 2017 Study.

Importance: Understanding causes and correlates of health loss among children and adolescents can identify areas of success, stagnation, and emerging threats and thereby facilitate effective improvement strategies. Objective: To estimate mortality and morbidity in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2017 by age and sex in 195 countries and territories. Design, Setting, and Participants: This study examined levels, trends, and spatiotemporal patterns of cause-specific mortality and nonfatal health outcomes using standardized approaches to data processing and statistical analysis. It also describes epidemiologic transitions by evaluating historical associations between disease indicators and the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and fertility. Data collected from 1990 to 2017 on children and adolescents from birth through 19 years of age in 195 countries and territories were assessed. Data analysis occurred from January 2018 to August 2018. Exposures: Being under the age of 20 years between 1990 and 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Death and disability. All-cause and cause-specific deaths, disability-adjusted life years, years of life lost, and years of life lived with disability. Results: Child and adolescent deaths decreased 51.7% from 13.77 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 13.60-13.93 million) in 1990 to 6.64 million (95% UI, 6.44-6.87 million) in 2017, but in 2017, aggregate disability increased 4.7% to a total of 145 million (95% UI, 107-190 million) years lived with disability globally. Progress was uneven, and inequity increased, with low-SDI and low-middle-SDI locations experiencing 82.2% (95% UI, 81.6%-82.9%) of deaths, up from 70.9% (95% UI, 70.4%-71.4%) in 1990. The leading disaggregated causes of disability-adjusted life years in 2017 in the low-SDI quintile were neonatal disorders, lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, malaria, and congenital birth defects, whereas neonatal disorders, congenital birth defects, headache, dermatitis, and anxiety were highest-ranked in the high-SDI quintile. Conclusions and Relevance: Mortality reductions over this 27-year period mean that children are more likely than ever to reach their 20th birthdays. The concomitant expansion of nonfatal health loss and epidemiological transition in children and adolescents, especially in low-SDI and middle-SDI countries, has the potential to increase already overburdened health systems, will affect the human capital potential of societies, and may influence the trajectory of socioeconomic development. Continued monitoring of child and adolescent health loss is crucial to sustain the progress of the past 27 years.

Factors associated with prelacteal feeding in North Eastern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the negative impact of prelacteal feeding on the growth and development of children, it is widely practiced in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess prelacteal feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 24 months in the North Wello zone. METHODS: A quantitative community based cross-sectional study was employed during March 2015. Eight hundred and forty four (844) mother-child pairs were selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. Descriptive statistics, binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with prelacteal feeding practice. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were identified as statistically significant factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of prelacteal feeding was 11.1 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 9.0, 13.0). Colostrum discarding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 8.7; 95 % CI (3.8, 20.1)) and lack of counseling about breastfeeding (AOR: 2.6; 95 % CI 1.27, 5.4) were the factors associated with prelacteal feeding. The major reasons stated for providing prelacteal feeds were "culture" and "do not have enough milk". CONCLUSION: Prelacteal feeds are offered to nearly one child in every ten in the North Wello zone. Colostrum removal and lack of counseling on breastfeeding at antenatal care visit are important positive predictors of prelacteal feeding practice. Awareness of the risks associated with prelacteal feeding, promotion of counseling on breastfeeding and the health benefit of colostrum during antenatal care visits are recommended interventions to reduce prelacteal feeding practices in the study areas.