Mainstreaming emergency contraception in Ethiopia\u27s public sector: Final project report

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and ECafrique launched a two-year project in 2004 to mainstream emergency contraception (EC) in the country’s public sector. The project aimed at improving reproductive health care among young women and reducing the country’s abortion rate by expanding access to EC. Overall, its goal was to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating EC within the public sector’s broader contraceptive mix and was guided by the following objectives: to scale-up and promote public sector EC services in five of Ethiopia’s most populated regions; to document the characteristics and use patterns of EC clients in the public sector; and to introduce Postinor 2 as the first dedicated EC pill registered for use in Ethiopia. To achieve these objectives, the project undertook a set of activities aimed at improving provider competency, increasing public demand, and ensuring commodity security. Results of the final project evaluation, detailed in this report, demonstrate the project’s success. Service statistics show that EC utilization steadily increased throughout the implementation period, and data from provider and client surveys provide insight into the attitudes and issues influencing EC access

Abortion and Unwanted Pregnancy in Adigrat Zonal Hospital, Tigray, North Ethiopia

Unwanted pregnancy is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. This study was done to determine the causes of unwanted pregnancy and its impact on maternal health. A cross sectional study (February 1, 2002-January 31, 2004) was conducted on 907 patients with diagnosis of abortion and admitted to the gynecological ward of Adigrat zonal hospital, Tigray Region, Ethiopia. This accounts to 12.6% of all hospital and 60.6% of gynecolo-gical admissions. The majority of these women (69.8%) had unwanted pregnancy. Modern contraception methods were not in use in 76.2% of unwanted and 57.7% of wanted pregnancies (P = 0.008). Interference was reported in 81.4% of unwanted pregnancy. High incidence of complication was reported in patients with unwanted pregnancy. In this study it is found that unwanted pregnancy is associated with increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. The development and prompt implementation of a strategy that enables women to safely manage unwanted pregnancy is recommended (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[3]: 183-188).Key words: unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, modern methods of contraception

Exploring barriers and opportunities for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia prevention and management in Ethiopia

The Ending Eclampsia Project is a five-year cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Population Council, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health Ethiopia, which seeks to expand access to quality underutilized interventions and commodities for the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E). This report presents qualitative findings from formative research conducted to: 1) assess the policy and health systems environment related to PE/E prevention and management, 2) identify potential bottlenecks in the supply chain, 3) investigate PE/E knowledge, attitudes, and practices at policy, health system, and community levels, 4) describe the barriers for provision/utilization of prevention and management for PE/E (including antenatal care and postnatal care, at the service-delivery and community level), and 5) explore similarities and differences in PE/E knowledge, attitudes, and care-seeking behaviors (practice) across settings and perspectives. The report also presents relevant quantitative findings from an Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey analysis and elements of a policy desk review

Perinatal Outcomes of Magnesium sulphate and Diazepam use in Severe Pre-eclamptic and Eclamptic Mothers, Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Currently the preferred anticonvulsant used to treat and prevent fits in eclampsia is magnesium sulphate. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the perinatal outcomes of magnesium sulphate and diazepam use in the management of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. A retrospective hospital based cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using data collection format. Data was collected from the hospital delivery care register and patient chart records of all mothers who presented with the diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in two years and three months period from January, 2010 to April, 2012. Descriptive analysis such as frequency and percentage, Chi-square test, binary logistic regression and non parametric tests were analyzed by SPSS version 16.0. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant in all tests. A total data of 343 births were included in this study. Two hundred seventeen from magnesium sulphate and one hundred forty from diazepam treated mothers group, were reviewed and analyzed

Mothers' satisfaction with referral hospital delivery service in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A woman's satisfaction with the delivery service may have immediate and long-term effects on her health and subsequent utilization of the services. Providing satisfying delivery care increases service utilization. The objective of this study is to assess the satisfaction of mothers with referral hospitals' delivery service and identify some possible factors affecting satisfaction in Amhara region of Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A hospital-based cross-sectional survey that involved an exit interview was conducted from September to November 2009 in three referral hospitals in Ethiopia. A total of 417 delivering mothers were enrolled in the study. Client satisfaction was measured using a survey instrument adopted from the Donabedian quality assessment framework. We collect data systematically from every other postnatal woman who delivered in the referral hospitals. Multivariate and binary logistic regression was applied to identify the relative effect of each explanatory variable on the outcome (satisfaction).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of mothers who were satisfied with delivery care in this study was 61.9%. Women's satisfaction with delivery care was associated with wanted status of the pregnancy, immediate maternal condition after delivery, waiting time to see the health worker, availability of waiting area, care providers' measure taken to assure privacy during examinations, and amount of cost paid for service.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The overall satisfaction of hospital delivery services in this study is found to be suboptimal. The study strongly suggests that more could be done to assure that services provided are more patient centered.</p

Comprehensive responses to gender-based violence in low-resource settings: Lessons learned from implementation

The Population Council undertook a program of technical assistance and research to strengthen the evidence base on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) programming in sub-Saharan Africa. This project created an active network of implementers and researchers across sub-Saharan Africa, all of whom were charged with developing, implementing, and evaluating core elements of a comprehensive, multisectoral model for strengthening responses for survivors of SGBV, especially survivors of sexual violence. Based on the experiences of these partners, this document reviews the findings, lessons learned, and promising practices in the provision of comprehensive SGBV services in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings are intended to serve as a resource for programmers and policymakers throughout the region, and contribute to the emerging evidence base on such program strategies

Prevalence and associated risk factoprs of Induced Abortion in Northwet Ethiopia

No Abstract Available Ethiop.J.Health Dev. Vol.19(1) 2005: 37-4

Sexual and gender based violence in Africa: Key issues for programming

The Population Council is supporting a multisectoral and multicountry network of partners dedicated to strengthening sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) services. Initiated in 2006, the network aims to promote a comprehensive approach to preventing and managing SGBV throughout the region. The implementing partners aim to develop feasible, effective, and efficient models for a comprehensive response to the needs of SGBV survivors; strengthen services that address the health, psychological, and criminal justice consequences of violence; and reduce the determinants of violent behavior within communities. This brochure summarizes the key points of a literature review by the Population Council on SGBV designed to inform partners across Africa. The review is a resource for developing a comprehensive model of care, support, and prevention that partner countries can adapt, as a whole or in part