Clinical competency and associated factors among undergraduate nursing students studying in universities of Southern regional state of Ethiopia, 2021.

Background: Clinical practice is the means by which nursing students learn to apply the theory, facilitating integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skill in the clinical setting which becomes arts and science of profession. This correlation of theory and practice, and the building of meaningful experience, take place during clinical practice in the health care service. Even though, nursing students need to have clinical competency during practical setting, there were little available evidences regarding to their competency status in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess magnitude of clinical competency and its predictors among undergraduate nursing students studying in universities of Southern regional state of Ethiopia in 2021 G C. Methods: Multi-centered institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 undergraduate nursing students studying in eight universities of Southern regional state of Ethiopia in 2021 academic year. Systematic random sampling technique after proportional allocation to each selected university was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire by face to face interview after written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epidata version 3.01 and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) software version 26. Descriptive statistic for all variables and bi-variable and multi-variables logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with clinical competency was computed and expressed in odds ratio. The result was presented in the form of text, tables and figures and those variables with P-value of <0.05 in multivariable analysis were declared as statistically significant. Result: From 423 total calculated sample sizes, 414 of them were participated in this study giving a response rate of 97.8%. From those participants, 248 (59.9%) of them has clinical competency [95% CI: (55.18%, 64.62%)]. In multivariable analysis, studying in post basic program [AOR: 5.58], conducive clinical learning environment [AOR: 4.10], good staff-student interaction [AOR: 7.44], satisfaction [AOR: 20.66] and positive attitude towards clinical practice [AOR: 2.49] were factors significantly associated with clinical competency. Conclusion: In this study, the overall magnitude of clinical competency was found to be unsatisfactory (59.9%). Studying in private program, non-conducive clinical learning environment, poor staff-student interaction, low satisfaction and negative attitude towards clinical practice were identified as factors associated with clinical incompetency. Policy makers, universities and teaching health facilities need to work collaboratively to create nurses with clinical competency by focusing on proper screening to select candidates for studying in private program, creating conducive clinical learning environment, integrating students with clinical staffs to facilitate learning and positive attitude change of students towards their profession to increase level of satisfaction.

Determinants of macrosomia among newborns delivered in northwest Ethiopia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Macrosomia is associated with the risk of mortality and morbidity in neonates and their mothers. Despite the considerable public health effect of macrosomia, evidence on the determinants of macrosomia is limited in Northwest Ethiopia in general and in Amhara region in particular. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of macrosomia among newborns delivered in referral hospitals in 2020 in Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 279 mothers and their newborns in Amhara region referral hospitals. Newborns weighing 4000 g and above and between 2500 and 3999 g were considered cases and controls, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify the determinants of macrosomia. RESULTS: In total, 273 of 279 mothers and their newborns (97.8% response rate) were included. The mean birth weights of cases and controls were 4312.97 ± 357.53 g and 3161.92 ± 452.12 g, respectively. Weight gain over pregnancy, antenatal follow up, physical activity during pregnancy, and neonate sex were the main determinants of macrosomia. CONCLUSION: The main determinants of macrosomia were determined in this study. Government should place special emphasis on reducing the modifiable factors of macrosomia.

Respectful maternity care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in three hospitals of Southwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: One of the primary barriers to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality is disrespect and abuse during childbirth in biomedical facilities. Despite the serious consequences of disrespect and abuse during childbirth, there is no evidence of the prevalence of respectful maternity care in Southwest Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of respectful maternity care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in three hospitals in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 348 mothers who gave birth in three hospitals in Southwest Ethiopia. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify the factors of respectful maternity care. Results: In this study, 348 mothers with their newborns were included, making a response rate of 100%. The overall prevalence of respectful maternity care was 81.2%. Maternal age [AOR = 2.54; 95% CI (1.01-6.43)]; maternal occupation [AOR = 5.23; 95% CI (1.15-23.72)]; antenatal care follows-up [AOR = 2.86; 95% CI (1.01-8.20)]; and discussions with the provider about the place of delivery during antenatal care follow up [AOR = 5.58; 95% CI: (2.12-14.70)] were found to be the most significant components of respectful maternity care. Conclusion: The provision of respectful maternity care was high, but there are complaints of disrespect and abuse still present in three hospitals in Southwest Ethiopia. Maternal age, maternal occupation, antenatal follow up, and discussion with the provider about the place of delivery during antenatal follow-up were associated with respectful maternity care. Thus, improving antenatal care service utilization and discussions with health care providers about the place of delivery during antenatal care follow-up should be focused on.

Undernutrition and Its Associated Factors Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Children on Follow Up in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2020.

Background. Undernutrition is a global problem and the biggest threat to human life and economic progress. It is the main cause of child morbidity and mortality especially in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. The severity of the problem is even worse when children are infected with human immunodeficiency virus. However the seriousness of the problem, there were limited studies conducted in the study area. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the magnitude of undernutrition and its associated factors among HIV-infected children on follow up in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2020. The data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were coded and entered into Epi data 3.1 and exported to SPSS 26.0 for analysis. P-value <.05 was considered as statically significant. Results. The magnitude of undernutrition in this study was 30.3%. Dietary diversity (AOR = 1.73; CI 1.07-2.81), nutritional counseling (AOR = 2.42; CI 1.45-4.04), family size (AOR = 0.50; CI 0.27-0.93), WHO staging (AOR = 1.77; CI 1.08-2.88), and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (AOR = 1.75; CI 1.06-2.87) were predictors of undernutrition. Conclusions. Nearly one-third of the children included in this study had undernutrition. Poor dietary diversity, adherence to ART, nutritional counseling, family size, and WHO staging were factors significantly associated with undernutrition. Early screening and treatment of opportunistic infections, close attention to dietary counseling for caregivers and proper feeding habits will alleviate the problem.