Preeclampsia and its determinants in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a serious condition that is linked to poor perinatal outcomes. In Ethiopia, the overall prevalence of preeclampsia and its associated factors is uncertain. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to find the prevalence of pre-eclampsia and its determinants in Ethiopia. METHODS: To find primary studies, PubMed, Google Scholar, HINAR, Scopus, the Web of Sciences, and grey literature searches were used between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2023, in Ethiopia. A Microsoft Excel sheet was used to extract data. The pooled prevalence of pre-eclampsia was predicted using a random-effect model. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies were included. The pooled prevalence of pre-eclampsia was 11.51% (95% CI: 8.41, 14.61). Age > 35 years old (AOR = 2.34, 95%CI, 1.74-2.94; p-value = 0.64), housewife (AOR = 2.76, 95%CI, 1.2-4.32; p-value = 0.37), previous history of pre-eclampsia (AOR = 4.02, 95%CI, 2.91-5.55; p-value = 0.09), family history of hypertension (OR = 1.84, 95%CI, 1.39-2.3; p-value = 0.4), history of chronic hypertension (AOR = 2.44, 95%CI, 1.8-3.08; p-value = 0.67), history of multiple pregnancies (AOR = 1.45, 95%CI, 1.09-1.8; p-value = 0.38), and alcohol intake during pregnancy (AOR = 1.53, 95%CI, 1.03-2.04; p-value = 0.03) were the determinants of pre-eclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to previous studies, the overall pooled prevalence of pre-eclampsia was high. Pre-eclampsia is associated with maternal age >35 years, being a housewife, having a history of preeclampsia, having a history of chronic hypertension, having a family history of hypertension, having diabetes mellitus, drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and having multiple pregnancies.

Diet quality of preparatory school students in Awi Zone, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess diet quality and associated factors among preparatory school students in Awi Zone, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A school-based cross-sectional study design was used in this study. SETTING: The study was carried out in Awi Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 834 preparatory school students participated in the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Diet quality was the outcome variable, and it was computed using the dietary diversity score, food variety score and consumption of animal-source foods. Students with high dietary diversity scores, appropriate animal-source food consumption and adequate food variety scores were labelled as having good-quality diets. Data were collected using a pretested structured self-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were employed to analyse the data. Variables with p≤0.2 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression model. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine the strength of the association. Statistical significance was determined at p value less than 0.05. RESULTS: Only 24.7% (95% CI: 21.7%, 27.7%) of preparatory school students had good-quality diets. Being female (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.88, 95% CI: 2.0, 4.1), residing in an urban setting (AOR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.2), having an educated mother (AOR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.7), having pocket money (AOR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.6) and nutrition information (AOR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.1), and family monthly income >8000 Ethiopian birrs (AOR=3.90, 95% CI: 2.2, 7.1) were factors significantly associated with having good-quality diet. CONCLUSION: The majority of the preparatory school students had poor-quality diets. These findings highlight the necessity of nutrition education that considers the sociodemographic characteristics of the students and their families. Implementing income-generating interventions for low-income households was also recommended by the findings.

Factors associated with institutional delivery among mothers who gave birth within 1 year prior to the study at Gilgelbelles town, Northwest Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess factors associated with institutional delivery among mothers who had delivered within 1 year prior to the study at Gilgelbelles town, Northwest, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A community-based mixed-methods study was conducted from 1 February 2020 to 2 March 2020. SETTING: This study was conducted at Gilgelbelles town, Northwest Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: Included 422 mothers who delivered 1 year prior to the study at Gilgelbelles town. OUTCOME MEASURES: Utilisation of institutional delivery and factors associated with institutional delivery. METHODS: The quantitative data were collected by the simple random sampling technique, entered into Epi data V.3.1, and analysed using SPSS V.23.0. The qualitative data were collected by using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis was done manually to supplement the quantitative result. RESULTS: In this study, 39.6% (95% CI=34.8 to 44.3) of mothers were given childbirth at the health facility. In multivariable analysis maternal age group of 15-20 years, secondary and above educational level, good knowledge on danger signs of obstetric, antenatal care visits, good awareness of birth preparedness and complications readiness plan, getting married after the age of 18 years, faced at least one complication during pregnancy, less than two children, travelled <30 min to reach a nearby health facility, having decision making power and not practised traditional malpractice during labour were significantly associated with institutional delivery. The qualitative result shows that cultural factors of the society and the lack of adequate delivery material in the health facility were identified as the major reason for the low utilisation of institutional delivery services. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the proportion of institutional delivery was low. Sociodemographic, reproductive and knowledge-related factors were associated with institutional delivery. This indicates a need of taking appropriate interventions by integrating other stakeholders to increase the utilisation of institutional delivery services.

The effects of stillbirth and abortion on the next pregnancy: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Abortion and stillbirths are the common obstetrics condition in Ethiopia and their effect on the next pregnancy was not well identified in resource limited settings. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of stillbirth and abortion on the next pregnancy. METHODS: A prospective cohort study design was implemented. The study was conducted in Mecha demographic surveillance and field research center catchment areas. The data were collected from January 2015 to March 2019. Epi-info software was used to calculate the sample size. The systematic random sampling technique was used to select stillbirth and abortion women. Poison regression was used to identify the predictors of MCH service utilization; descriptive statistics were used to identify the prevalence of blood borne pathogens. The Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to estimate survival to pregnancy and pregnancy related medical disorders. RESULTS: 1091 stillbirth and 3,026 abortion women were followed. Hepatitis B was present in 6% of abortion and 3.2% of stillbirth women. Hepatitis C was diagnosed in 4.7% of abortion and 0.3% of stillbirth women. HIV was detected in 3% of abortion and 0.8% of stillbirth women. MCH service utilization was determined by knowledge of contraceptives [IRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18-1.42], tertiary education [IRR 4.29, 95% CI 3.72-4.96], secondary education. [IRR 3.14, 95% CI 2.73-3.61], married women [IRR 2.08, 95% CI 1.84-2.34], family size [IRR 0.67, 95% CI 1.001-1.01], the median time of pregnancy after stillbirth and abortion were 12 months. Ante-partum hemorrhage was observed in 23.1% of pregnant mothers with a past history of abortion cases and post-partum hemorrhage was observed in 25.6% of pregnant mothers with a past history of abortion. PREGNANCY INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS was observed 14.3% of pregnant mothers with a past history of stillbirth and pregnancy-induced hypertension were observed in 9.2% of mothers with a past history of stillbirth. CONCLUSION: Obstetric hemorrhage was the common complications of abortion women while Pregnancy-induced diabetic Mellitus and pregnancy-induced hypertension were the most common complications of stillbirth for the next pregnancy.

Childbirth at home and associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality remains a major challenge to health systems worldwide. Although most pregnancies and births are uneventful, approximately 15% of all pregnant women develop potentially life-threatening complications. Childbirth at home in this context can be acutely threatening, particularly in developing countries where emergency care and transportation are less available. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of home childbirth and its associated factors among women in Ethiopia at their last childbirth. METHOD: For this review, we used the standard PRISMA checklist guideline. This search included all published and unpublished observational studies written only in English language and conducted in Ethiopia. PubMed/Medline, Hinari, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), ProQuest, Cochrane Library, African Journals Online, Ethiopian's university research repository online library were used. Based on the adapted PICO principles, different search terms were applied to achieve and access the essential articles from February 1-30, 2020. The overall selected search results were 40 studies. Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction and Stata version 11.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) for data analysis. The quality of individual studies was appraised by using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality appraisal checklist. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed by the Cochrane Q and I2 test. With the evidence of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were computed. The pooled prevalence of childbirth at home and the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval was presented using forest plots. RESULT: Seventy-one thousand seven hundred twenty-four (71, 724) mothers who gave at least one birth were recruited in this study. The estimated prevalence of childbirth at home in Ethiopia was 66.7% (95%CI: 61.56-71.92, I2 = 98.8%, p-value < 0.001). Being from a rural area (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.48-12.07), being uneducated (AOR = 5.90, 95% CI: 4.42-7.88), not pursuing antenatal (ANC) visits at all (AOR = 4.57(95% CI: 2.42-8.64), having 1-3 ANC visits only (AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 3.8-8.26), no birth preparedness and complication readiness plan (AOR = 5.60, 95% CI: 6.68-8.25), no media access (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI: 2.27-5.27), having poor knowledge of obstetric complications (AOR = 4.16: 95% CI: 2.84-6.09), and walking distance more than 2 hours to reach the nearest health facility (AOR = 5.12, 95% CI: 2.94-8.93) were the factors associated with giving childbirth at home. CONCLUSION: The pooled prevalence of childbirth at home was high in Ethiopia. Being from a rural area, being uneducated, not pursuing ANC visits at all, having 1-3 ANC visits only, no media access, having poor knowledge of obstetric complications, not having a birth preparedness and complication readiness plan, and walking time greater than 2 hours to reach the nearest health facility increased the probability of childbirth at home in Ethiopia.

The association between male involvement in institutional delivery and women's use of institutional delivery in Debre Tabor town, North West Ethiopia: Community based survey.

BACKGROUND: Maternal deaths remain high in Ethiopia mainly due to poor maternal health service utilization. Despite men are the chief decision-makers and economically dominant in Ethiopia, the impact of their involvement on maternal health services utilization is not clear. This study aimed to assess the association between male involvement and women's use of institutional delivery, and factors influencing male partners' involvement in institutional delivery. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May, 2019. A total of 477 married men who have children less than one year of age were interviewed. Face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire were used for data collection. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were carried out. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Overall 181 (37.9%) husbands/partners were involved in institutional delivery for the most recent child birth. Male partners involvement in institutional delivery was strongly associated with an increased odds of attending institutional delivery by spouse [AOR: 66.2, 95% CI: 24.8, 177.0]. Education [AOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.18-0.59], knowledge on maternal health [AOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.11-2.50], favourable attitude towards institutional delivery [AOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.23-2.71], and no fear while supporting spouse [AOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.28-5.50] were positively associated with male partners involvement in institutional delivery. CONCLUSION: Male partner's involvement in institutional delivery was inadequate. This study reported a significant beneficial impact of male involvement on maternal health through improved utilisation of institutional delivery. Therefore, maternal health interventions should target husbands as consumers of maternal health services, and healthcare/government policies that isolate or discourage men from having active engagement in maternal health should be improved.

Progression of pregnancy induced diabetes mellitus to type two diabetes mellitus, an ambidirectional cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated level of blood glucose. It affects more than 422 million people globally. In resource limited settings, the progression of gestational diabetes (GDM) to DM was not well investigated and this research work was conducted to estimate the incidence of DM after GDM and their predictors in resource limited settings. METHODS: A retrospective and prospective cohort studies were used from January 2010 until December 2019. The data were collected using patients chart review, interview and collecting blood sample. Initially, baseline data were collected from GDM and GDM free women and update data were collected every 3 month. Clinical nurses were used to extract the necessary data from medical charts and to collect the data using patient interview. Laboratory technologists were used to measure the blood glucose level of the study participants. The study was conducted in pregnant women presenting themselves in the referral hospitals of Amhara regional state. The sample size was calculated using Epi-info software. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the profile of study participants. Kaplan Meier survival curve and life-table were used to estimate the survivals of study participants. Incidence density was used to estimate the incidence of DM. Cox regression was used to identify the predictors DM. RESULTS: A total of 4892 women were followed giving for the response rate of 88.62%. The mean age of study participants at the start of the study was 28.34 years with standard deviation [SD] ±7.48 years. DM was associated with gestational diabetes mellitus [AHR (adjusted hazard ratio); 2.53, 95% CI: 2.14-2.99], frequency of breastfeeding [AHR; 0.72, 95% CI: 0.69-0.74], age [AHR; 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.05], parity [AHR; 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07-1.21], regular physical exercise [AHR; 0.45, 95% CI: 0.37-0.55], family history of DM [AHR; 2.04, 95% CI: 1.76-2.37], stillbirth [AHR; 1.67: 95% CI: 1.34-2.07], abortion [AHR; 2.64, 95% CI: 2.25-3.09]. CONCLUSION: The progression of GDM to DM was very high and special follow up should be implemented for women with a history of abortion, stillbirth, and family history of DM.

Uptake of cervical cancer screening service and associated factors among age-eligible women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in developing countries. Since cervical cancer is a preventable disease, screening is an important control and prevention strategy, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for all women aged 30 years and older, and even earlier for some high-risk women. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the uptake of cervical cancer screening among age-eligible women in Ethiopia. METHOD: Review identification was performed through the search of online databases PubMed, Google Scholar, HINARI, EMBASE, Science Direct, Cochrane library, African Journals, and other gray and online repository accessed studies were searched using different search engines. For critical appraisal of studies, Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used. The analysis was conducted by using STATA 11 software. To test the heterogeneity of studies, the Cochran Q test and I2 test statistics were used. To detect publication bias of the studies, the funnel plot and Egger's test were used. The pooled prevalence of cervical cancer screening and the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval were presented using forest plots. RESULT: Twenty-four studies with a total of 14,582 age-eligible women were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled national level of cervical cancer screening among age-eligible women in Ethiopia was 13.46% (95%CI:11.06,15.86). Knowledge on cervical cancer and screening (OR = 4.01,95%CI:2.76,5.92), history of multiple sexual partners (OR = 5.01, 95%CI:2.61,9.61), women's age (OR = 4.58, 95%CI:2.81,7.46), history of sexually transmitted disease (OR = 4.83,95%CI:3.02,7.73), Perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer (OR = 3.59, 95%CI:1.99,6.48), getting advice from health care providers (OR = 4.58, 95%CI:3.26, 6.43), women's educational level (OR = 6.68,95%CI:4.61,9.68), women's attitude towards cervical cancer and screening (OR = 3.42, 95%CI:2.88,4.06) were the determinant factors of cervical cancer screening uptake among age-eligible women in Ethiopia. CONCLUSION: The pooled prevalence of cervical cancer screening was remarkably low among age-eligible women in Ethiopia. Thus, to increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening among age-eligible women regularly, it is better to create awareness programs for early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, and educational interventions that teach the step-by-step practice of cervical screening to increase women's attitude for screening. Additionally, it is better to inform every woman is susceptible to cervical cancer, especially after starting sexual intercourse, and screening remains fundamental in the fight against cervical cancer before becoming invasive. Moreover, counseling and improving the confidence of women by health care providers to undergo screening is recommended.

Factors Associated with Episiotomy Practices in Bahirdar City, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Episiotomy is the surgical enlargement of the vaginal orifice during the last part of the second stage of labor or childbirth by an incision to the perineum. The World Health Organization advises the use of episiotomy on a restricted and selective basis. Indeed, the rate of episiotomy in developed countries is decreasing, but in developing countries, including Ethiopia, it still remains high. Therefore, this study tried to assess the proportion and factors associated with episiotomy among women who gave birth at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar City, North West Ethiopia, 2017. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 411 mothers from February to April 2017. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and supported by observation using standard checklist with systematic random sampling technique. Data was entered by Epi Info and analyzed by SPSS version 23. The association between variables was analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model. P-value <0.05 at 95% CI was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The proportion of episiotomy was 41.1% with 95% CI (36.5%, 46.2%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that primiparity (AOR=6.026, 95% CI (3.542,10.253)), prolonged second stage of labor (AOR=4.612, 95% CI (2.247,9.465)), instrument delivery (AOR =3.933, 95% CI (1.526,10.141)), using oxytocin (AOR=2.608, 95% CI (1.431,4.751)), medical resident attendant (AOR =3.225, 95% CI (1.409,7.382)) and birth weight ≥4000 grams (AOR=5.127,95% Cl (1.106,23.772)) were significantly associated with episiotomy practice. CONCLUSION: The proportion of episiotomy was high. Parity, using oxytocin, second-stage labor duration, instrument delivery, birth weight, and delivery attendant were statistically significant factors for episiotomy practice. Therefore, as per our findings, we suggest awareness creation, and the setting and use of new national guidelines, the practice of routine episiotomy should be abandoned, and selective and restrictive use of episiotomy is highly advised.

The relationship between school meals with thinness and stunting among primary school students, in Meket Wereda, Ethiopia: comparing schools with feeding and non-feeding program.

BACKGROUND: Though undernutrition affects academic performance, significant number of Ethiopian school children have undernutrition. To avert nutritional problems the government in collaboration with the world food program has implemented a school feeding program. However, data on the nutritional status of primary school students were scarce in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between school meals with thinness and stunting among primary school students in Meket Woreda and to identify associated factors. METHODS: A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 1091 students, from April 1-27, 2015. The study participants were selected using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry and analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were done. Anthropometric data were analyzed using Anthro-plus software. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, thinness was commoner in nonschool feeding program schools (37.5%) compared to school feeding program schools (27.8%) but stunting was less common (48.3% versus 58.5%). However, after adjustment for confounding, there was no difference in stunting levels, but the adjusted odds ratio for thinness in nonschool feeding program schools was 2.6 (95% CI: (1.8, 3.8)) times higher than in school feeding program schools. Other independent risk factors for thinness were: having uneducated mother, being a male and taking meal once daily. Independent risk factors for stunting were ethnicity, having uneducated mother, un-piped water supply, taking meal once daily, type of diet and being a male. CONCLUSION: The provision of meals seems to offer considerable protection against thinness, though not against stunting. Thus, school meal program should be scaling up into schools in food insecure areas.

Awareness and Its Associated Factors of Obstetrics Fistula among Antenatal Care Attendees in Injibara Town Health Institutions, Awi Zone, North West, Ethiopia, 2019.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula is abnormal passageway between the vagina and bladder or rectum, and it has the most devastating effects on physical, social, and economic levels and represents a major public health issue of thousands of women, which failed to provide accessible and appropriate intrapartum care for women within a developing country, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, we tried to assess the awareness and its associated factors of obstetrics fistula among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care clinics. METHODS: A health institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed from March 4 to 29/2019 among 413 pregnant women. Data was collected by a systematic random sampling technique and entered into a computer using Epi data 3.5, edited and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences 23.0 version. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95% and p value of less than 0.05 considered statically significant. RESULT: This study identified that 39.5% with 95% confidence interval (34.6-44.6%) of pregnant women had good awareness about obstetrics fistula. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that living in urban [AOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.07 - 3.69], attending formal education [AOR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.06 - 4.12], having history antenatal care [AOR = 3.87, 95% CI = 1.60 - 9.68], and childbirth at health institution [AOR = 7.10, 95% CI = 2.52 - 2.02] were significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula. Conclusion and recommendation. This study showed that awareness of obstetrics fistula was low. Residency, education, and occupation of the women, having history of antenatal care and childbirth at health institution was significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula. Still, there is a gap on awareness of obstetrics fistula; therefore, it is good to emphasize on providing information on maternal health care issues, particularly about obstetrics fistula.

Factors associated with knowledge on obstetric danger signs among women who gave birth within 1 year in Bahir Dar city administration, North West, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess factors associated with knowledge on obstetric danger signs among women who gave birth within 1 year in North West, Ethiopia. RESULTS: Overall, 37.9% of the respondents were knowledgeable. Women mention three and more key danger signs during pregnancy and after delivery were 15% and 18.5% respectively. Decision making power of women [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.10, 2.29], starting antenatal visit lately [AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.63, 6.33], housewife [AOR = 2.15, 95% CI 1.25, 3.68], merchant [AOR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.05, 3.88], and government employees [AOR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.38, 5.49] were among the predictors of knowledge on obstetric danger signs.