Preconception care utilization and associated factors among reproductive age women in Mizan-Aman town, Bench Sheko zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2020. A content analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preconception care is highly important in reducing a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes and helps to improve maternal health. Preconception care optimizes women's health and improves pregnancy outcomes. It is a cost-effective first-line preventive strategy for birth defects. However, preconception care utilization in Ethiopia was very low. Studies on these issues are limited in Ethiopia in general and in Mizan-Aman town in particular. OBJECTIVE: To assess preconception care utilization and associated factors among reproductive age women in Mizan-Aman town, Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study design was employed from April 16 to May 26, 2020 in Mizan-Aman town. The total study participants were 624 reproductive age women. Data were collected by using pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaires and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 then exported to STATA version 14 and analyzed accordingly. Univeriate and Bivariable analysis was done by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test. Multivariable statistical analysis using generalized linear regression model (GLM) approach was used to classify factors of preconception care utilization. Since our response variable is measured in terms of count variable, we used a Poisson regression model with a log link function. Finally, Statistical significance between dependent and independent variables were assessed by odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Overall, 28.6% of the women receipt atleast one item of preconception care while only 1.5% were taken the whole recommended components of preconception care services. The most common item received in the study area was taking micronutrient supplementation (18.5%). Age of women, educational status, husbands educational status, husbands occupation, wealth status, distance from the health facility, waiting time to get services, planning to pregnancy, age at first pregnancy, previous ANC use, Previous PNC use, adverse pregnancy experience, women's knowledge of preconception care, and attitude on preconception care were determinants of preconception service utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Preconception care component utilization was lower as compare with recommended service with different disparities. Multipurpose tailored strategies which incorporate a woman with no formal education, poor knwledge on preconception care,never take maternal services previously and distant from health facility could improve preconception care service utilization. Advocative strategies on preconception care component and planning pregnancy may elicite more women to use the services of preconception care.

Timely initiation of postpartum contraceptive utilization and associated factors among women of child bearing age in Aroressa District, Southern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, more than 90% of women during the first year of postpartum period want to either delay or avoid future pregnancies. The first year postpartum period is more crucial time to use modern contraceptives that enhance maternal and child health, so more attention should be given on time of initiating modern contraceptive utilization after delivery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of timely initiation of postpartum contraceptive utilization among women of child bearing age in Aroressa district, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: The study was conducted in Aroressa district from March 15 to April 15, 2017. A community based cross-sectional study design with interviewer administered structured and pretested questionnaire was used. Multistage sampling technique was employed involving a total of 695 women of child bearing age who delivered a child in the past 12 months prior to the study period. Data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epi data version 3.1, then exported to statistical package for social science version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were done. p-value < 0.05 was used to consider significant variables. RESULTS: The magnitude of timely initiation of postpartum contraceptive utilization was found to be 31.7% [95% CI (28, 36)]. Antenatal care [AOR = 1.94, 95% CI (1.23, 3.01)], postnatal care [AOR = 1.90, 95%CI (1.23, 2.94)], spousal communication on contraceptive methods [AOR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.09, 2.41)] and resumption of menses after delivery [AOR = 2.6, 95% CI (1.47, 3.81)] were predictors positively associated with timely initiation of postpartum contraceptive utilization. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of timely initiation of postpartum contraceptive utilization was low. Strengthening integration of family planning information with antenatal and postnatal care follow up and encouraging spousal communication by promoting information, education and communication activities is important to enhance contraceptive use on timely manner.

Disparities in risky sexual behavior among khat chewer and non- chewer college students in Southern Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Risky sexual behavior (RSB) and its consequence among school adolescents and youths have been well understood. It is still a common practice among college and university students living away from their controlling families compounded with the ever-worsening khat chewing habits. However, the relation between khat chewing and RSB is not well studied particularly among college students in Ethiopia. Hence, this study contributes to the literature by examining disparities of RSB among khat chewer and non-chewer students in Southern Ethiopia with the purpose of improving adolescent and youth health. METHODS: An institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 1211 college students at Arba Minch town in March 2015. Respondents were selected by employing a simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by using a pre-tested, structured, self- administered questionnaire. The data was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics version 21. Level of statistical significance was declared at a p- value of < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime and current RSB among college students was 40.8 and 36.5% respectively. The lifetime and current prevalence of RSB among khat chewers (82.2 and 30.9%) was significantly higher than non-chewers (74.2 and 27.6%) respectively (P-value = 0.001). Male sex (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.28, 2.6), urban residence (AOR = 1.63,95% CI = 1.17, 2.28), age of students (AOR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.09,1.28), living away from family (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.62,3.7), having high peer pressure (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.85-3.59), an increase in average grade point (AOR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-0.99), regular attendance of religious institutions (AOR = 0.24, 95%CI = 0.12, 0.42), watching pornographic movies (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.79,3.51), khat chewing (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI:=1.91,4.76) and alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.54,3.35) were factors associated with RSB. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable proportions of students were engaged in khat chewing and RSB. RSB was significantly higher among khat chewers as compared to non- chewers. Comprehensive sexuality education was recommended to college communities and by extension to the ministry of health and education to address the identified factors so that RSB can be reshaped.