Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its association with birth asphyxia in hospitals of Tigray region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Birth asphyxia is the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Some studies indicate intimate partner violence during pregnancy is a risk factor for birth asphyxia. In Ethiopia, intimate partner violence during pregnancy is reported to be high. Despite this high prevalence, there is a lack of data about the association of birth asphyxia and intimate partner violence. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its associated factors with birth asphyxia in health facilities in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. METHODS: This was an institutional-based cross-sectional study conducted at select health facilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Random sampling technique was employed to select health facilities and systematic sampling was used to select 648 study participants. Data was entered by using Epi info version 3.5.1 and was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to assess the association between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and birth asphyxia after adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy was 47(7.3%). Eighty two (12.7%) babies were delivered with birth asphyxia. Intimate partner violence during pregnancy had a significant association with birth asphyxia, AOR (95% CI) = 4.4(2-9.8). In addition to this, other factors that were associated with birth asphyxia include place of residence [ AOR (95% CI) = 2.7(1.55-4.8)], age > 19 [AOR (95% CI) = 2.9(1.29-6.5)], age 20-35 [AOR (95% CI) = 3.1(1.06-9.3)], gestational age < 37 weeks [AOR(95% CI) = 7.2(3.5-14.8)] and low birth weight [AOR(95% CI) = 3.9(2.1-7.3)]. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of birth asphyxia in this study is high and is further increased by intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Health care providers and policy makers should take measures aimed at preventing intimate partner violence during pregnancy to reduce harm to the mother and adverse birth outcomes.

Child health services and armed conflict in Tigray, North Ethiopia: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Access to basic health services, notably child health services, is severely hampered by the armed conflict in Tigray, North Ethiopia. Little is known regarding the impacts of the armed conflict during the war in Tigray on access to child health services. The current study investigates the impact of the armed conflict on the utilization of child health services in Tigray. METHODS: 4,381 caregivers from randomly recruited households (HHs) with at least one child younger than 1 year old participated in a community-based cross-sectional survey. We collected data on childhood immunizations and illness-related treatment seeking from August 4 to 20, 2021. We describe data using frequency and percentage and carry out an internal comparison among the study participants using chi-square tests. RESULTS: 4,381 children under the age of one included in the study. In total, 39% of infants received no basic vaccines, 61.3% of the children under the age of one received at least one vaccine, and 20% received all the vaccinations recommended for their age. About 61% of children were affected by at least one childhood ailments where majority of them were from rural areas. Mothers who did not seek postnatal care (PNC) were responsible for more than 75% of reported childhood illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: A sizable portion of children were unvaccinated and had at least one childhood sickness while the war was in progress. Particularly, people who live in rural areas reported a higher percentage of children's illnesses but a lower use of child health services. To lower childhood morbidity and mortality in the besieged area, such as Tigray, local to global actors need to get coordinated and warrying parties should stop weaponization of vaccination healthcare services.

Risk Factors of Antepartum Hemorrhage Among Mothers Who Gave Birth at Suhul General Hospital, 2016: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Antepartum hemorrhage is a very serious problem and contributes significantly to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Ethiopia. Identification of risk factors of antepartum hemorrhage will help for prevention and control programs. METHODS: An institutional-based case-control study was conducted from July 2013 to June 2016. A simple random sampling technique was employed, and 420 mothers' medical cards were reviewed using a pretested checklist. The data were entered in to EPI-info version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis, and all variables with a P-value<0.2 at bivariate logistic regression analysis were considered as a candidate for multivariate logistic regression analysis, and those variables with a P-value<0.05 in multiple logistic regression analysis were considered as significantly associated at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Results of the multiple logistic regression showed that those mothers whose age was in the range of 35-44 years were significantly 4-times more likely to present with antepartum hemorrhage as compared to mothers in the age range of 15-24 years. Moreover, mothers who presented with a previous history of cesarean section were 4.7-times more likely to present with antepartum hemorrhage than those who had no previous history of cesarean section. Furthermore, women with a previous history of abortion were 2-times more likely to develop antepartum hemorrhage as compared to women who had no previous history of abortion. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: In this study, the factors found to be risk factors of antepartum hemorrhage were maternal age, previous history of cesarean section, and previous history of abortion. Strategies towards reduction of unwanted pregnancy to prevent abortion, pregnancy at advanced age, and to reduce the cesarean section rate should be emphasized.

Prevalence and factors associated with unmet need for family planning among the currently married reproductive age women in Shire-Enda- Slassie, Northern West of Tigray, Ethiopia 2015: a community based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Unmet family planning is one of the common causes for low contraceptive prevalence rate in developing countries including Ethiopia. Thus, this study designed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of unmet need in Shire Endaslassie town, Northern west of Tigray, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross sectional study design was employed. Multistage sampling technique was employed and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire by interviewer administered technique. Questionnaires were reviewed and checked for completeness, accuracy and consistency. Reviewed data were entered to Epi info 7 and analyzed by SPSS version 20 statistical software. Variables with P-value of less than 0.2 in bivariate analyses were entered for multivariate analysis and AOR at 95% CI with p-value of less than 0.05 were considered as significant variables. RESULTS: The overall unmet need for family planning in the study area was 109(21.4%). 74(14.5%) for spacing and 35(6.9%) for limiting. Age group of 35-39 and >=40 (AOR= 2.7,95%CI:1.1,6.5), (AOR = 2.65, 95%CI:1.10, 6.40) respectively, decided numbers of desired children more than five (AOR = O.48, 95%CI: 0.28, 0.80), discussions of client with heath care providers (AOR = 6.32, 95%CI: 2.56, 15.58), previous use of modern family planning (AOR = 2.29, 95%CI, 1.20, 4.34) were significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. CONCLUSION: Unmet need for family planning in the study area was high, so continuous discussion on modern family planning with community health workers and encouraging of women to decide desired numbers of children of less than five in general are better to be strengthened.