Awareness and healthcare seeking behavior of neonatal danger signs, and predictor variables among mothers/caregivers in four developing regional state of Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Mothers/caregivers should be aware of a newborn's danger signs and promptly seek medical attention. Hence, this study assessed mothers'/caregivers' awareness, healthcare seeking behaviors for neonatal danger signs and their determinants in the developing regional state of Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among mothers/caregivers of neonates in the developing regional state of Ethiopia. The sample was determined in collaboration with the Central Statistics Agency of Ethiopia. Stratified multi-stage cluster sampling was used to recruit the sample. Data were collected through an interviewer administered structured questionnaire using a tablet computer. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied to identify determinants of awareness and treatment-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs. RESULTS: The result of the study showed that nearly one-third (32.7%) of the respondents had a good level of awareness of neonatal danger signs, and 69.0% of the respondents had good healthcare-seeking practice about neonatal danger signs. Regional state (Benishangul-Gumuz) [AOR = 1.61; 95% CI (1.09, 2.39)], Muslim's [AOR = 1.75; 95% CI (1.20, 2.55)] and permission to travel to a health facility [AOR = 0.48; 95% CI (0.37, 0.63)] were determinants of mothers'/caregivers' awareness about neonatal danger signs. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance and institutional delivery were shown to have a positive association with neonatal healthcare seeking (AOR = 2.14 and AOR = 2.37, respectively). CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia's developing regional states, mothers/caregivers were remarkably unaware of neonatal danger signs. Region, religion, mothers'/caregivers' age, and need for permission to travel to a health facility were predictor variables for neonatal danger sign awareness. Better healthcare seeking practices, which are determined by ANC attendance and institutional delivery, are observed in these regions. Federal and regional governments should give these regions due attention. Moreover, regional health bureaus and health professionals should tackle the problem by focusing on the identified factors.

Social and behavior change communication competency among front-line healthcare system actors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) plays a critical role in improving behavior and health outcomes across the continuum of healthcare. Failing to implement tailored SBCC strategies continues to pose a risk of ill health, increase disease burden, and impact the quality life of people. In Ethiopia, front-line healthcare system actors' knowledge and skills about SBCC have not been rigorously assessed. Thus, the current study aimed to assess healthcare system actors' competencies in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating SBCC interventions in Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 01 August and 31 October, 2020. Five hundred twenty-eight frontline healthcare system actors in SBCC in Ethiopia were included using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire adopted from Communication for Change; SBCC capacity assessment tool. Descriptive analysis frequencies, percentages, mean, median, standard deviation (SD), interquartile range (IQR) were employed. Besides correlations and linear regression with robust standard errors were carried out. A 95% confidence interval and a p-value of less than 0.05 were used to declare significant statistical association. RESULTS: A total of 488 frontline workers participated in the study, with a response rate of 92.4%. The mean SBCC knowledge score was 13.2 ± standard deviation (SD) 3.99 and 59.2% scored below 60% of the expected maximum score. The standard mean score of overall skill in SBCC intervention was 2.36 (SD ± 0.98) and 52.6% of them scored below mean score. The SBCC knowledge was significantly predicted by the service year and the regional variation. On the other hand, SBCC skills was significantly predicted by sex, service year, profession, regional variation, and SBCC knowledge. The regional variation was the main predictor of both knowledge and skill on SBCC. The regression models explained 23.1% and 50.2% of the variance in knowledge and skill of SBCC, respectively. CONCLUSION: Front-line healthcare system actors in Ethiopia has low knowledge and skills in SBCC. Variations in SBCC knowledge and skill were observed based on demographic and professionals experience related characteristics. Hence, continuous capacity building activities need to be given to frontline healthcare system actors to enhance their knowledge and skill on SBCC program and achieve the intended health results.

Assessment of willingness and determinants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among the general population of the Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia: a 2021 cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and the factors influencing it among the population of the Somali region in Ethiopia through a cross-sectional COVID-19 survey. DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: The survey was conducted in eight selected districts of the Somali region in Ethiopia from 20 October 2021 to 30 October 2021. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were chosen using simple random sampling and data analysis used Stata V.14. Both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression methods were applied, with variables having a p value below 0.2 considered for inclusion in the final model, where statistically significant factors were identified at p<0.5. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Willingness to take the vaccine. RESULTS: A total of 1010 respondents participated in this study. The proportion of people's willingness to take the vaccine was 65% (95% CI 62 to 68). When you believe moderately or highly that getting a COVID-19 vaccine will protect others (AOR=6.2, 95% CI 1.43 to 26.6) and (AOR=7.2, 95% CI 1.7 to 29.7), then you will protect others as well. Whereas, a desire to get vaccinated little, moderately and highly (AOR=4.3, 95% CI 1.77 to 10.4), (AOR=20, 95% CI 8.5 to 47) and (AOR=147, 95% CI 55 to 392), respectively, was significantly associated with willingness to take the vaccine. Moreover having close family and friends who want them to get a COVID-19 vaccine (AOR=2, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.57) and religious leaders or community leaders (AOR=1.8, 95% CI 1 to 3.1) were significant factors in the multivariable logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: This study found that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was low in the Somali region. Factors positively linked to one's willingness to get vaccinated included the belief that it protects others, personal desire for vaccination and support from family, friends, community and religious leaders.

Factors and misperceptions of routine childhood immunization service uptake in Ethiopia: findings from a nationwide qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: While the routine childhood immunization program might be affected by several factors, its identification using qualitative evidence of caretakers is generally minimal. This article explores the various factors and misperceptions of routine childhood immunization service uptake in Ethiopia and provides possible recommendations to mitigate them. METHODS: In this study, we used a qualitative multiple case study design collecting primary data from 63 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with a purposefully selected sample of children's caretakers (n = 630). RESULTS: According to the results of this study, the use of routine childhood immunization is dependent on four major factors: caretakers' behavior, family characteristics, information and communication and immunization service system. In addition, the participants had some misperceptions about routine childhood immunization. For example, immunization should be taken when the child gets sick and a single dose vaccine is enough for a child. These factors and misperceptions are complex and sometimes context-specific and vary between categories of caretakers. CONCLUSION: Our interpretations suggest that no single factor affects immunization service uptake alone in a unique way. Rather, it is the synergy among the factors that has a collective influence on the childhood immunization system. Therefore, intervention efforts should target these multiple factors simultaneously. Importantly, this study recommends improving the quality of existing childhood immunization services and building awareness among caretakers as crucial components.

Factors and misperceptions of routine childhood immunization service uptake in Ethiopia: findings from a nationwide qualitative study

Introduction: while the routine childhood immunization program might be affected by several factors, its identification using qualitative evidence of caretakers is generally minimal. This article explores the various factors and misperceptions of routine childhood immunization service uptake in Ethiopia and provides possible recommendations to mitigate them.Methods: in this study, we used a qualitative multiple case study design collecting primary data from 63 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with a purposefully selected sample of children's caretakers (n = 630).Results: according to the results of this study, the use of routine childhood immunization is dependent on four major factors: caretakers' behavior, family characteristics, information and communication and immunization service system. In addition, the participants had some misperceptions about routine childhood immunization. For example, immunization should be taken when the child gets sick and a single dose vaccine is enough for a child. These factors and misperceptions are complex and sometimes context-specific and vary between categories of caretakers.Conclusion: our interpretations suggest that no single factor affects immunization service uptake alone in a unique way. Rather, it is the synergy among the factors that has a collective influence on the childhood immunization system. Therefore, intervention efforts should target these multiple factors simultaneously. Importantly, this study recommends improving the quality of existing childhood immunization services and building awareness among caretakers as crucial components