Spatial distribution and associated factors of poor tetanus toxoid immunization among pregnant women in Ethiopia: spatial and multilevel analysis.

Background: Neonatal mortality from tetanus can be reduced by 94% when pregnant women receive at least two doses of tetanus toxoid. In Ethiopia, immunization programs are suboptimal despite their importance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the geographic distribution and associated factors of poor tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods: Secondary data analysis was used using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). ArcGIS version 10.8 statistical software was used to explore the spatial distribution of poor TT immunization and SaTScan version 9.6 software was used to identify significant hotspot areas of poor TT immunization. For associated factors, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted using STATA version 14 software. In the multivariable multilevel analysis, adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI was reported to reveal significantly associated factors of poor TT immunization. Result: In Ethiopia, the spatial distribution of poor tetanus toxoid immunization was clustered with Global Moran's I = 0.59 at p-value of <0.0001. The highest poor TT immunization clusters were observed in the East and South Tigray, the central part of Amhara, West Afar, East Somali, and West Gambella. Pregnant women with no Antenatal care (ANC) visits [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 10.46, 95% CI: (8.82, 12.41))], pregnant women with 1-3 ANC visits [aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: (1.31, 1.73)], media exposure [aOR = 1.45, 95% CI: (1.26, 1.67)], poor wealth index [aOR = 1.22; 95% CI: (1.03, 1.45)], middle wealth index [aOR = 1.23; 95% CI: (1.03, 1.47)], family planning use [aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: (1.11, 1.57)] and community level education [aOR = 1.43, 95% CI: (1.14, 1.80)] were significantly associated with poor tetanus toxoid immunization. Conclusion: Poor tetanus toxoid immunization among pregnant women varies in Ethiopia. It was highest in East and South Tigray, the central part of Amhara, West Afar, East Somali, and West Gambella. Therefore, public health programs should design targeted interventions in identified hot spots to improve tetanus toxoid immunization. Health programmers should be promoting optimal ANC visits, women's education, and family planning use.

Early Postnatal Home Visit Coverage by Health Extension Workers and Associated Factors Among Postpartum Women in Gidan District, Northeast Ethiopia.

Objectives: To determine the coverage and associated factors of early postnatal home visits (PNHVs) by health extension workers (HEWs) among postpartum women in Gidan district, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between 30 March and 29 April 2021 in the Gidan district, Northeast Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 767 postpartum women participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with early PNHVs by HEWs. Results: The coverage of early postnatal home visits was 15.13% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.75, 17.87]. Women's education, institutional delivery, time to reach health posts, and participation in pregnant women forums were significantly associated with early PNHVs by HEWs. Conclusion: In the current study, the coverage of early postnatal home visits by HEWs remains low in the study area. The concerned bodies should consider interventions that promote women's education and institutional delivery, and more efforts should be made to improve community-based participation and links with HEWs.

Determinants of full immunization coverage among children 12-23 months of age from deviant mothers/caregivers in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis using 2016 demographic and health survey.

Background: Despite remarkable improvements in child health services utilization, childhood immunization has been poorly implemented in Ethiopia. However, evidence on the coverage of immunization among children from mothers/caregivers with no education (non-educated mothers were the most identified risk for underutilization of services) are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the determinants of full immunization coverage among children 12-23 months of age from deviant mothers/caregivers in Ethiopia. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) on a sample of 1,170 children 12-23 months of age identified from deviant mothers/caregivers (mothers/caregivers with no education) through a two-stage stratified sampling. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the individual and community level determinants of full immunization coverage among children 12-23 months of age with their deviant mothers/caregivers. In the final model, a p-value of < 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to select statistically significant determinants of full immunization coverage. Results: The overall full immunization coverage among children 12-23 months of age identified from deviant mothers/caregivers was 27.4% (95%CI: 25.0, 31.0) in Ethiopia. Deviant mothers/caregivers who are employed (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.68, 2.45), being in the rich household wealth status (AOR = 2.54, 95%CI: 1.53, 4.22), residing in city (AOR = 5.69, 95%CI: 2.39, 13.61), having one to three (AOR: 3.28, 95% CI: 2.12-5.07) and four and more ANC follow-up during the recent pregnancy (AOR: 3.91, 95% CI: 2.45, 6.24) were the determinants that increased full immunization coverage among children 12-23 months of age. Conclusions: Full immunization coverage among children 12-23 months of age from non-educated mothers/caregivers was low and far behind the national target of coverage. Therefore, a system-wide intervention should be used to enhance employability, wealth status, and key maternal health services like ANC follow-up among non-educated mothers/caregivers to increase their children's full immunization coverage.

Poor adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and associated factors among pregnant women who had at least four antenatal care in Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: In developing countries, including Ethiopia, maternal mortality is a major public health concern. The Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) reported that the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 420 per 100,000 live births in 2016. Iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) is a key intervention to reduce these deaths. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of poor adherence to IFAS and associated factors among pregnant women who had at least four antenatal care in Ethiopia. Methods: Secondary data analysis was used using 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). We analyzed the data using Stata version 14. To identify factors associated with poor adherence to IFAS, a multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model was fitted. Variables with a p < 0.05 in the multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model were declared as significant factors associated with poor adherence to IFAS. Result: The magnitude of poor adherence to IFAS was 82.87% (95% CI: 80.96-84.65). Women education; primary [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31-0.75] and secondary (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.29-0.96), husband education; primary (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.86) and secondary (AOR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.29-0.95), and community media exposure (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.27-0.79) were significantly associated with poor adherence to IFAS. Conclusion: In the current study, more than eight out of ten pregnant women who had at least four antenatal care had poor adherence to IFAS. Thus, promoting maternal and husband education and establishing community media with a priority on iron-folic acid supplementation and health-related programs are essential strategies to reduce poor adherence to IFAS.