Informed choice and its associated factors among women received immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives at public hospitals in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, 2022.

INTRODUCTION: It is crucial to ensure the quality of family planning (FP) services through women's informed choice during the provision of long-acting reversible contraceptives. In Ethiopia, previous studies have focused on the quality of family planning services. However, much emphasis was not given to the informed choice of immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), particularly in the study area. This study determines the mangnitude of informed choice and associated factors among immediate postpartum women who received long-acting reversible contraceptives. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 - August 31, 2022, among 373 immediate postpartum women who received long-acting reversible contraceptives at public hospitals in the Sidama regional state, Ethiopia. Women were selected and interviewed using a systematic random sampling technique and via a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire respectively. Data was collected using Kobo Toolbox software and then exported to the Statistical Package for Social science (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify the predictor variables. RESULTS: The magnitude of informed choice of long-acting reversible contraceptives was 23.5% (95% CI (19.6%-27.7%)). The messages through posters about long-acting reversible contraceptives at the facility (AOR 3.6, 95% CI (1.92-6.79), postpartum family planning counseling during antenatal care (AOR 2.8, 95% CI (1.2-6.4), previous contraceptive use (AOR 3.23, 95% CI (1.12-9.33), and being secondary and higher educated (AOR 2.92, 95%CI (1.27-6.73) and (AOR 5.7, 95% CI (2.267-14.669) respectively were factors significantly associated with informed choice during immediate postpartum family planning service. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: In the current study, nearly one-fourth of women were informed about LARCs. Socio-demographic factors, prior use of contraception, exposure to posters that have messages about long-acting reversible contraceptives, and postpartum family planning counselling during antenatal care are factors that affect the woman's ability to make an informed choice. There should be immediate PPFP counselling that focuses on a full range of contraceptive method choices to facilitate postpartum women's ability to make informed choices.

Maternal Third Delay and Associated Factors among Women Admitted for Emergency Obstetric Care in Public Hospitals in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia.

Background: Timing to get obstetric care is critical in preventing maternal death and disability. Maternal third delay, the delay in receiving care after reaching health facilities, involves factors related to organization, quality of care, patient referral, and availability of staff and equipment. However, data is limited on maternal third delay and its associated factors at higher health facilities in Ethiopia. Objective: This study is aimed at assessing the magnitude of maternal third delay and associated factors among women admitted for emergency obstetric care in public hospitals in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2021. Face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire and data extraction from medical charts were carried out in selected 542 women (using systematic sampling method). The collected data were coded and entered using EpiData, and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done using SPSS version 25. Statistical significances were declared at p value less than 0.05. Results: Maternal third delay was identified among 29.3% (95%CI = 25.2 - 33.5) of the respondents. Additionally, women who arrived with a referral from other health facilities (AOR = 0.311, 95%CI = 0.181 - 0.534), well prepared for birth and its complications (AOR = 2.418, 95%CI = 1.51 - 3.869), self-employed (AOR = 0.223, 95%CI = 0.122 - 0.409), being a government employee (AOR = 0.157, 95%CI = 0.063 - 0.396), having ANC follow-up (AOR = 2.795, 95%CI = 1.318 - 5.928), and absence of health professional (AOR = 4.63, 95%CI = 2.857 - 7.50) were significantly associated with maternal third delay. Conclusion: This study identified that maternal third delay was high, which indicates that women have not received emergency obstetric care in the recommended time range after they arrived at the health facilities.

Descriptive epidemiology of gynaecological cancers in southern Ethiopia: retrospective cross-sectional review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiology of gynaecological cancer among patients treated at Hawassa University Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) from 2013 to 2019. DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional review. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND OUTCOME MEASURE: A total of 3002 patients' cards with a diagnosis of cancer at a tertiary hospital named HUCSH were reviewed between February and May 2020. HUCSH is the only oncological care centre in the southern region of Ethiopia. Of this all-gynaecological cancer charts were extracted and descriptive and trend analyses were done. The review was conducted between February and May 2020. RESULT: Out of all 3002 cancer cases, 522 (17.4%) cases of gynaecological cancers were identified in 7 years. Cervical cancer accounted for 385 (73.8%) of all gynaecological cancers in this study, the next most common gynaecological cancers were ovarian cancer 55(10.5%) and endometrial cancer 51(9.8%), respectively. The mean (SD) age was 44.84 (12.23). Trends of all identified gynaecological cancers showed continuous increments of caseload year to year. Since 2016 increment of cervical cancer is drastically vertical compared with others. CONCLUSION: Despite the limited use of a registration and referral system in primary health institutions, the burden of gynaecological cancers has increased over time. Treatment steps should be taken as soon as possible after a cancer diagnosis to prevent the disease from progressing.

Obstetric fistula repair failure and its associated factors among women underwent repair in Yirgalem Hamlin fistula center, Sidama Regional State, Southern Ethiopia, 2021: a retrospective cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula repair failure is a combination of unsuccessful fistula closure and/or incontinence following a successful closure. It causes a burden on both the patients and the fistula centers. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of obstetric fistula repair failure among women who underwent fistula repair at Yirgalem Hamlin fistula center in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among women who underwent fistula repair at Yirgalem Hamlin fistula center, Southern Ethiopia, during the period from January 2016 to December 2020. All 562 women who underwent fistula repair in the last 5 years were included in the study. The data were collected using a pre-tested checklist from September 22 to October 22, 2021. The data were then imported into EPI info-data version 3.1, exported to SPSS version 25, and analyzed. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed, and the significant statistical test was assessed at a 95% confidence interval. Variables with a p value of < 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were regarded to have a statistically significant relationship. RESULTS: The magnitude of obstetric fistula repair failure in this study was 28.8%. Obstetric fistula repair failure was found to be associated with labor duration > 48 h (AOR = 2.037; 95% CI 1.268, 3.272), Goh Type 4 fistulas (AOR = 3.939; 95% CI 1.623, 9.560), fistula size > 3 cm (AOR = 6.627; 95% CI 3.802, 11.554), completely destructed urethra (AOR = 3.192; 95% CI 1.234, 8.256), and bladder catheterization > 14 days (AOR = 2.944; 95% CI 1.380, 6.281). CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of obstetric fistula repair failure was significantly higher than the World Health Organization standard. Obstetric fistula repair failure had a positive association with a longer duration of labor, Goh Type 4 fistulas, large fistula size, total urethral injury, and a longer period of bladder catheterization. Therefore, the concerned bodies need to implement interventions on factors affecting obstetric fistula repair failure to reduce or prevent the failure of obstetric fistula repair.

Factors associated with preterm birth among mothers who gave birth at public Hospitals in Sidama regional state, Southeast Ethiopia: Unmatched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth remains the commonest cause of neonatal mortality, and morbidity representing one of the principal targets of neonatal health care. Ethiopia is one of the countries which shoulder the highest burden of preterm birth. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess factors associated with preterm birth at public hospitals in Sidama regional state. METHODS: Facility-based case-control study was conducted at public hospitals in Sidama regional state, from 1st June to 1st September/2020. In this study, a total of 135 cases and 270 controls have participated. To recruit cases and controls consecutive sampling methods and simple random sampling techniques were used respectively. Data were collected using pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and checklist via chart review. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Independent variables with P-value < 0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression were candidates for multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The response rate was 100%. Rural resident (AOR = 2.034; 95%CI: 1.242, 3.331), no antenatal care service utilization (AOR = 2.516; 95%CI: 1.406, 4.503), pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR = 2.870; 95%CI: 1.519, 5.424), chronic medical problem during pregnancy (AOR = 2.507; 95%CI: 1.345, 4.676), urinary tract infections (AOR = 3.023; 95%CI: 1.657, 5.513), birth space less than 2 years (AOR = 3.029; 95%CI: 1.484, 6.179), and physical intimate violence (AOR = 2.876; 95%CI: 1.534, 5.393) were significantly associated with preterm birth. CONCLUSION: Most of the risk factors of preterm birth were found to be modifiable. Community mobilization on physical violence during pregnancy and antenatal care follow-up are the ground for the prevention of preterm birth because attentive and critical antenatal care screening practice could early identify risk factors. Besides, information communication education about preterm birth prevention was recommended.

Economic Burden of Cancer on Cancer Patients Treated at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Cancer causes the highest economic loss of all of the leading 15 causes of death worldwide. The economic loss includes the loss of income and the expenses associated with health care costs. The Low awareness of the community toward cancer, the inadequacy of professionals and service providers, and the high budget consuming nature of the treatments are creating a great burden on the cancer patients. The objective of this study was to calculate patient side cancer treatment cost and to assess the contributing factors, among the cancer patients who were treated at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The health facility based cross-sectional study design was employed using a consecutive sampling technique. Questionnaires was used to collect primary data; while chart was used to collect the secondary data. Indirect costs incurred on these patients due to off job days were checked. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to illustrate the data. On average, $209.99 was spent on treatment by each cancer patients. Of these, medication cost is the highest ($20.77, IQR = 0.53-112.56) from the direct medical costs, and transportation cost is the highest ($58.33, IQR = 22.0-131.67) from the indirect medical costs. Inpatients paid $245.16 (IQR = 147.64-439.20); while outpatients paid $147.37 (IQR = 81.42-240.50). The patients lose about 55.99% of their average annual income. Outpatients pay $0, 92 less than in patients (P = 0.00, CI -0.72-0.34), and the cost increases by $0.2 for the patients who came from Oromia. The cost of transportation and medication were the one which were significantly affecting the burden; but the total cost of treatment was lesser when compared to similar studies done in different areas. The cost balances toward the patients who came from the Oromiya region. Treatment service has to be extended to West Arsi Zone to minimize the cost of transportation and awareness about cancer is needed in the first place and due attention has to be given to thyroid cancer. Furthermore, facility side study should be done to see the complete picture of the burden.

Knowledge about cervical cancer screening and its practice among female health care workers in southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among the women in the world. Early screening for cervical cancer is a key intervention in reduction of maternal deaths. Health care workers have a significant contribution to improve cervical cancer screening practice among women. Hence, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of cervical cancer screening among female health care workers in southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted during March and April, 2015. All hospitals in Hawassa city administration and Sidama zone were purposively selected. A simple random sampling technique was used to draw the health centers. After proportional allocations to their respective health facilities, a total of 367 female health workers were selected by simple random sampling technique. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were entered to SPSS version 20.0 for further analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to see the association of different variables. RESULTS: Out of the total respondents, 319 (86.9%) had a good level of knowledge on cervical cancer. Similarly, a majority of them, 329 (89.6%), 321 (87.5%), and 295 (80.4%), knew about the risk factors, symptoms, and outcomes of cervical cancer, respectively. More than two thirds of the respondents, 283 (77.1%), knew that there is a procedure used to detect premalignant cervical lesions and 138 (37.6%) of them mentioned visual inspection with acetic acid as a screening method. In this study, only 42 (11.4%) of the respondents were screened for cervical cancer (confidence interval [CI]: 8.7, 13.9). Being a physician (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =0.12, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.79) and working in a cervical cancer screening center (AOR =0.14, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.68) had a lower odds of cervical cancer screening practices. CONCLUSIONS: Significant numbers of health care workers were knowledgeable on cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening among health care workers in southern Ethiopia was found to be low. Being a physician and working in a screening center had lower odds of cervical cancer screening practice. In spite of having adequate knowledge on cervical cancer the reasons for low practice of cervical cancer screening among health care workers needs to be investigated.