Magnitude of neonatal sepsis and its associated factors among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in Hawassa Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, 2020.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of disease and death among neonates globally. And it made a great contribution to neonatal admission to intensive care units. To mitigate the ongoing neonatal crisis and accomplish the goal of sustainable development through a decrease in neonatal mortality, information from various regions is needed. Despite the considerable burden of neonatal sepsis in our setting, no prior studies were conducted in the study area. So, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 287 neonates from March 1, 2020, to April 25, 2020. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi Data 3.1 software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 23.0 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables having a significant association with neonatal sepsis. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant during multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The study found that the magnitude of neonatal sepsis was 56%. The mean age of neonates was 3.2(SD±2.2) days. Around two-fifths (39%) of neonates were in the gestational age of <37 completed weeks. A quarter of mothers(25.8%) were delivered through cesarean section. During labor, 251 (87.5%) mothers had ≤4 digital vaginal examinations. Moreover, the finding revealed that mothers who delivered by cesarean section [AOR = 2.13, 95% CI (1.090-4.163)]. neonates who had been resuscitated at birth [AOR = 4.5, 95% CI (2.083-9.707)], and neonates who had NG tube inserted [AOR = 4.29, 95% CI (2.302-8.004)] were found to be significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that neonatal sepsis was prevalent among more than half of the neonates admitted to the NICU. Therefore, designing strategies to enhance the aseptic techniques of professionals in the provision of care and actively and collaboratively working with cluster health facilities is highly recommended.

Magnitude of postpartum depression and associated factors among women in Mizan Aman town, Bench Maji zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The first 12 months after childbirth may represent a high-risk time for depression. In Ethiopia there is a paucity of evidence about its magnitude and associated factors during that period. So, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of depression and associated factors among postpartum women in Mizan Aman town, Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia 2017. METHODS: A community based cross- sectional study design was employed from March 15 to April 15, 2017. Four hundred sixty women were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Face to face interview were conducted using structured questionnaires and standardized scales. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was done to see crude association between each independent variable and outcome variable. Variables with p value < 0.25 in bivariate analysis were entered to multivariable logistic regression analysis to control for confounding. Adjusted odd ratios with 95%CI were calculated to identify independent predictors of postpartum depression. RESULT: Four hundred fifty-six postpartum women participated in the study giving a response rate of 99%. The magnitude of postpartum depression among the study population was 102 (22.4%, 95% CI: 19.84-24.96). Postpartum depression is relatively higher in the first 6 weeks after birth. Postpartum depression is higher among mothers with age range between 18 and 23 years (aOR 3.89 95%CI: 1.53-9.90), unplanned pregnancy (aOR 3.35 95% CI: 1.701-6.58), child having sleeping problems (aOR 3.72 95%CI: 1.79-7.72), domestic violence (aOR 2.86 95%CI 1.72-8.79), unsatisfied marital relation (aOR 2.72 95% CI 1.32-5.62), poor social support (aOR 4.30 95% CI 1.79-10.30), history of previous depression (aOR 7.38 95% CI 3.12-17.35) and substance use (aOR 5.16 95% CI 2.52-10.60). CONCLUSION: The magnitude of postpartum depression was high. This underlines health care planners' needs to incorporate screening strategies for depression following childbirth.

Evaluating quality of contraceptive counseling using SERVQUAL model: A cross-sectional study in southern Ethiopia, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Providing quality contraceptive counseling services is essential to support mothers in using modern contraceptives that meet their needs. However, the quality of service provision has not been evaluated in a study setting. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the quality of contraceptive counseling using a service quality model in southern Ethiopia. DESIGN: A facility-based cross-section study was conducted. METHODS: The study was conducted from 15 May to 15 June 2021 at the public health facilities of Boloso Bombe Woreda in southern Ethiopia. In total, 391 clients were included using systematic sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured service quality questionnaire, entered into EPI data version 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS version 25 for data analysis. The significant difference and correlation between the mean of a client's perception and expectation were determined using the Wilcoxon's sign test. The correlation between sociodemographic characteristics and the quality of counseling was tested using the Friedman's test. A p value of <0.05 was taken as the criterion for statistical significance. Finally, the result was presented in a table and pie chart. RESULTS: The study participants included 391 women of childbearing age attending family planning clinics, with a 96.6% response rate. Overall, the quality of advice was found to be low. Respondents' ages (p < 0.001, χ2 = 385.00), number of living children (p < 0.001, χ2 = 381.04), marital status (p < 0.001, χ2 = 359.60), type of contraceptive method (p < 0.001, χ2 = 379.61), user type (p < 0.001, χ2 = 368.59), occupations (p < 0.001, χ2 = 379.00), and educational status (p < 0.001, χ2 = 371), 20) were statistically associated with the quality of counseling service. CONCLUSION: In all health facilities, the quality of contraceptive counseling services was low. Family planning users had high expectations of the contraceptive counseling service compared to that which they received.

Assessment of Low Birth Weight and Associated Factors Among Neonates in Butajira General Hospital, South Ethiopia, Cross Sectional Study, 2019.

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight is defined as when a newborn weighs less than 2,500 grams within an hour of birth. Globally, it has been known that around 15.5% of newborns were below the normal level of weight at their birth and 95% of these infants lived in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight among newborns delivered at Butajira General Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed. All 196 paired study participants (newborn-mother) who were born on a one-month duration of the data collection period were included in the study. A pretested questionnaire was used to gather pertinent information about mother and newborn along with measuring newborn birth weight. RESULT: Majority of mothers 175 (92.1%) were aged between 20 and 34 years, and 186 (97.9%) were married. About 169 (88.9%) were protestant religion followers. This study showed that the magnitude of low birth weight among study participants was 12.5%, and factors such as maternal medical complication during pregnancy, maternal MUAC less than 23 cm, and birth interval less than 24 months were significantly associated with low birth. CONCLUSION: The study finding indicated that a significant number of newborns measured underweight which is below the normal level of weight at birth. The study identified factors such as maternal medical condition during pregnancy, maternal MUAC less than 23 cm, and birth interval less than 24 months. Based on study findings, we recommend health care officials, policymakers, key persons in the family, and volunteers to work on nutritional values particularly during pregnancy and before pregnancy. Spacing of birth is crucial to have healthy baby and healthy family even healthy society at large, so attention should be paid on family planning utilization.