Experience and Perception of Healthcare Workers on the Challenges of Follow-Up and Treatment of Tuberculosis Patients in Southern Ethiopia: An Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Background: There is a scarcity of research evidence on TB follow-up and treatment challenges from a healthcare worker's perspective in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and describe the experience and perception of healthcare workers on the challenges of follow-up and treatment of TB patients in Southern Ethiopia. Material and Methods: A qualitative exploratory-descriptive study was employed among 26 purposely selected Healthcare Workers (HCWs) from Wolaita Sodo University-Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Achura, Boloso Sore, and Tida Health Centers in December 2021 and January 2022. Initially, the maximum variation purposive sampling technique was employed, then based on the data requirement of the study it was enriched by a theoretical sampling method. The required data were collected through one-on-one face-to-face audio-taped in-depth interviews. Data analysis was conducted by using a qualitative data analysis framework for the applied research method. NVivo Software Version 11 was used to ease data organization and analysis. Detailed textual narration of subthemes, and themes was done using direct verbatim quotations in the respective headings and subheadings. Results: In the current study, three major themes and eleven sub-themes emerged from the data. The three major themes include the experience of healthcare workers, perceived challenges, and suggestions for improvement of TB patients' follow-up and treatment. Healthcare worker's experience, compliance with infection prevention protocols, fear of contracting and/or spreading TB, public awareness of TB, socio-economic burdens, providers-related problems, shortage of medical supplies, unconducive physical work environment, provision of holistic support for the patients, provision of in or out of service training, and supportive supervision were the sub-themes. Conclusion: This study explored the multidimensional challenges adjoining follow-up and treatment of TB patients. Regular monitoring and supportive supervision accompanied by appropriate and timely decisions and feedback are vital to ensure effective follow-up and treatment of TB patients in Ethiopia.

Prevalence and Predictors of Postpartum Depression Among Male Partners Who Came to Postnatal Follow-up Clinic with Their Partner in Selected Public Health Centers of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia, 2019.

BACKGROUND: Paternal postpartum depression is a serious public health problem which has a significant effect on mortality and morbidity level. Its effect is not limited to the partner, but it also affects the family, the marital relationship and development of the child. Therefore, this study was planned to assess the prevalence and predictors of paternal postpartum depression among accompanying partners in selected public health centers of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 male partners. The study was conducted in 25 randomly selected health centers and samples proportionally allocated to each health center. Finally, the study participants were selected by systematic random sampling method. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.2.0 and exported to IBM SPSS for further analysis. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was considered at a cutoff point ≥10 to detect depression. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were done. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and p-value results in multivariable logistic regression were used to declare strength and presence of association. RESULTS: Four hundred and ten partners participated in this study making a response rate of 97%. Seventy (17%) of the participants had paternal postpartum depression. Family income (AOR=3.0; 95%CI: 1.1-8.2), substance use (AOR=4.5; 95%CI: 1.5-13.3), family support (AOR=3.9; 95%CI: 1.3-11.3), marital relation (AOR=4.1; 95%CI: 1.5-11.0), unplanned pregnancy (AOR=3.5; 95%CI: 1.4-8.7) and infant sleeping problems (AOR=10.0; 95%CI: 4.1-24.0) were variables significantly associated with paternal postnatal depression.

Partograph Utilization and Associated Factors among Obstetric Care Providers Working in Public Health Facilities of Wolaita Zone, 2017.

BACKGROUND: Obstructed or prolonged labor is a major cause of maternal deaths. Prolonged and obstructed labor contributed to 13% of global maternal deaths which can be reduced by proper utilization of a partograph during labor. Obstetric caregivers' use of the partograph during labor has paramount importance in identifying any deviation during labor. Even though partograph use is influenced by different factors as obtained from the literatures, the magnitude of partograph utilization and the factors associated with its use are not well determined in the health facilities of Wolaita Zone. OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of partograph utilization and factors that affect its utilization among obstetric caregivers in public health facilities of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia, 2017. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on obstetric caregivers. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered to EpiData version 3.01 and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for further analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to see the association of different variables. RESULT: A total of 269 obstetric caregivers participated in the study. Among those who were utilizing the partograph, 193 (71.7%) routinely used it for all laboring mothers and 76 (28.3%) of participants reported that they do not routinely utilize it. Greater number of service years (AOR = 4.93, 95% CI: 1.53-15.88), on-the-job training (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.43), good knowledge (AOR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.61-6.97), and favorable attitude towards partograph utilization (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.28-7.03) were significantly associated with partograph utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation. Partograph utilization among obstetric caregivers in the public health facilities was good. Greater years of work experience, in-service training, having good knowledge, and favorable attitude towards partograph utilization among obstetric caregivers independently determined partograph utilization. Provision of on-the-job training to make obstetric caregivers improve knowledge and skill on partograph utilization, maintaining caregivers' retention to decrease turnover by providing different incentives to more experienced obstetric care providers, and establishing favorable attitude could improve the proper use of the tool.