Timing of Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth Dose in Exposed Newborns, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus disease is a global acute and chronic communicable disease. Mother-to-child transmission is the reason for high carrier rates. Unvaccinated newborns infected through mother-to-child transmission are at >95% risk of developing chronic hepatitis B virus disease. Vaccination is the most effective measure to reduce the global incidence of hepatitis B virus disease. Despite the World Health Organization's target to achieve 90% of the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose by 2030, little is known about the vaccination status of exposed newborns. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the timing of the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose in exposed newborns in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed on 422 systematically selected exposed newborns from April 2, 2022, to August 28, 2022. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were entered into Epi data 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 23 software for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regressions were performed. Variables with a p-value <.05 at a 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered statistically significant. Results: The proportion of neonates who received their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine on time was 57 (42.5%) (95% CI: 38.3-46.1%). A higher likelihood of vaccinating their exposed newborns on time was associated with formal education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.01, 95% CI: 2.21-7.09), four or more ANC visits (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 2.05-6.21), and husband engagement (AOR = 4.31, 95% CI: 2.03-6.34). Conclusion: The proportion of timely initiation of the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose in Southwest Ethiopia was low. Thus, strengthening health education on the hepatitis B vaccine, encouraging women to have at least four ANC visits, and encouraging male involvement help improve the timely administration of the hepatitis B vaccine.

Discontinuation rate of long-acting reversible contraceptives and associated factors among reproductive-age women in Butajira town, Central Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Discontinuation of contraceptives without any change in fertility intention is often associated with unintended pregnancy which ends up with induced abortion and unplanned birth. Despite the Ethiopian government's emphasis on the provision of long-acting contraceptive methods, little attention has been paid to the study of its discontinuation; particularly, no study has been reported in the study area. Thus, this study aimed to assess the discontinuation rate of long-acting reversible contraceptives and associated factors among reproductive-age women in Butajira town, Central Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 April to 1 May 2020. A systematic random sampling method was used to select 227 women. Data were collected by a structured and pretested questionnaire. Epi-data (version 4.6.2) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 25) were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to predict the relation between dependent and independent variables. Finally, a significant statistical association was assured using an adjusted odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval and p value < 0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that the discontinuation rate of long-acting reversible contraceptives was 50 (22.5%; 95% confidence interval: 17.8-27.2). The main reason for discontinuation was facing side effects 26(52%); from these menstrual disruption 19 (73.1%) was the main reason. Time consumed to reach the health facility (adjusted odds ratio: 6.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.46-25.97), desire to have more children (adjusted odds ratio: 5.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-24.81), and counseled about the benefit of long-acting reversible contraceptives (adjusted odds ratio: 0.08, 95% confidence interval: 0.02-0.39) were predictors of discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptives. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This study showed that the discontinuation rate was high when compared to Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016. Routine pre-insertion counseling about the benefits and side effects of long-acting reversible contraceptives by healthcare providers is highly recommended. In addition, we recommend further trials using larger sample sizes on predictors of discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptives.

Knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among maternal health care providers working in urban public health institutions of Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Provision of preconception care is significantly affected by the health care provider's knowledge of preconception care. In Ethiopia, preconception care is rare, if even available, as part of maternal health care services. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among health care providers working in public health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 March to 1 April 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 415 maternal health care providers. We utilized a structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire to collect data. Data were entered into EpiData (version 3.1) and exported to STATA (version 16) for analysis. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. All covariates with a p value ⩽0.20 in bivariate logistic regression were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to control the confounding variables; variables with a p value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of 410 respondents, 247 (60.2%; 95% confidence interval: 55.4-65.1) had good knowledge of preconception care. Having an educational level of Bachelor of Science degree and above (adjusted odds ratio: 6.97, 95% confidence interval: 3.85-12.60), 5 or more years work experience (adjusted odds ratio: 2.60, 95% confidence interval: 1.52-4.49), working in a hospital (adjusted odds ratio: 2.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.25-4.99), reading preconception care guidelines (adjusted odds ratio: 3.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.40-6.68), and training on preconception (adjusted odds ratio: 2.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.37-6.15) were significantly associated with good knowledge of preconception care. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Three out of five maternal health care providers in this study had good knowledge of preconception care. Facilitating continuous refreshment training and continuous professional development for health workers, preparing comprehensive preconception care guidelines for health institutions, and reading preconception care guidelines were highly recommended.