Time to initiation of modern contraceptive method use after childbirth and its predictors in Southern Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Timely initiation of modern contraceptive use is vital to prevent unintended pregnancy and its related morbidities and mortalities. However, there is a scarcity of evidence about the duration of time elapsing from childbirth to initiating modern contraceptive use following childbirth and its associated factors in the study area for evidence-based interventions. Therefore, we aimed to assess the time to initiation of modern contraceptive method use and its predictors in Hossana town, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted at public health facilities in Hosanna town. A total of 503 study participants were included in the study using a systematic random sampling technique. The Box and Whisker plot was used to estimate the time to initiation of modern contraceptive use. A Weibull regression model was applied to identify predictors of time to initiation of modern contraceptive use. Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to interpret the strength of the association. RESULTS: The median time to initiation of modern contraceptive use was 6 months, with an interquartile range of 3 months. Husband/partner attending higher education [AHR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.57], women who had parity of more than two [AHR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.67], and women who had communicated with their husband/partner about modern contraceptive methods [AHR = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.41, 6.67] were more likely to initiate modern contraceptive method use within six months after childbirth. In contrast, women with an older age of greater than or equal to 30 years [AHR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.82] and who did not resume sexual intercourse after childbirth [AHR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03] were less likely to initiate modern contraceptive method use within six months after childbirth. CONCLUSIONS: The median time to initiation of modern contraceptive method use after childbirth in the postpartum period was delayed from the World Health Organization recommendation of at most 6 weeks. Emphasis should be given to older women, women with lower parity, and men's participation in contraceptive communication to improve timing for initiation of modern contraceptive use after childbirth and to curb the five-month lag periods.

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Associated Factors among Residents of Hossana Town, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is the only legal product that kills a large number of its consumers when used as intended by producers. Information on cigarette smoking and associated factors among adults at the household level is very limited. OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence of cigarette smoking and associated factors among residents of Hossana town, Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A cross-sectional study design was performed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify risk factors of cigarette smoking. Variables significant at a p value of less than 0.05 were considered as independent predictors. Hosmer and Lemeshow test statistics were done to test the model fitness for the final model. Similarly, multicollinearity was checked by using collinearity statistics (tolerance and VIf). RESULT: In total, 591 people responded to the survey, resulting in a 98.2% response rate. Among the study participants, cigarette smokers were 183 (31.0%). Educational status, alcohol use, and parental smoking were all found to have a significant relationship with cigarette smoking among research participants in Hosanna town. When compared to people with a college education or above, illiterates are approximately nine times more likely to consume cigarettes (95% CI = 9.058 (3.52, 22.469)). Alcoholics are about twice as likely as nondrinkers to smoke cigarettes (95% CI = 2.288 (1.548, 3.383)). Those who have cigarette-smoking parents are approximately twice as likely as their counterparts to smoke cigarettes (95% CI = 2.288 (1.548, 3.383)). CONCLUSION: According to this survey, the prevalence of cigarette smoking was high. Furthermore, cigarette smoking was linked to illiteracy, alcohol consumption, and parental smoking in this study.

Option B plus antiretroviral therapy adherence and associated factors among HIV positive pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to Option B plus Antiretroviral Therapy plays a vital role in preventing mother to child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and development of drug resistance. This study was aimed to assess adherence to option B plus ART and associated factors among HIV positive pregnant women at public Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted on HIV positive pregnant mothers attending public health facilities' antenatal care unit. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to select 290 HIV positive pregnant women enrolled in the Option B plus program. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with option B plus ART adherence. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as cut of point to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The overall adherence to option B plus ART among HIV positive pregnant women was 236 (81.4%). Three in twenty, (14.8%) participants were none adherent to Option B plus ART due to difficulty in adopting time schedule and forgetting to take medication. During first trimester of pregnancy, 16 (5.5%) were stopped taking ART medication due to side effects. Pregnant women who started ART at the time of HIV diagnosis [AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: (1.02, 3.95)], and who had five or more antenatal care visits [AOR = 4.10, 95% CI (1.65, 10.02)] were more likely to adhere to option B plus ART. Women who should travel 30-60 min on foot to access ART from service delivering facilities were less likely to adhere to option B plus [AOR = 0.39, 95% C I: (0.17, 0.88)]. CONCLUSIONS: The overall adherence to option B plus ART was suboptimal. Measures that improve recalling ability of individuals to take ART on time, and minimize ART side effects during first trimester of pregnancy need to be given emphasis. The study finding indicates the need for reconsidering the ad-hoc focused antenatal care visit at policy and program level by increasing the number of follow up visit with proper counseling on ART adherence benefits, and improving service accessibility.