Health professional's knowledge and use of the partograph in public health institutions in eastern Ethiopia:a cross-sectional study

Background: The partograph is a vital tool for health professionals who need to be able to identify pathological labor. It is used to recognize complications in childbirth on time and to take appropriate actions. We aimed to assess the knowledge and utilization of the partograph and associated factors among health professionals at public health institutions in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out among health professionals who were working in public health institutions. Multistage sampling with proportional to size allocation was used to recruit a total of 441 study participants. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data in this study. Eight midwives were recruited and trained to facilitate the data collection activities. Data were entered into Epi data software and exported into SPSS (22.0) for analysis. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multiple logistic regression were computed to determine proportions and significant association with knowledge and use of the partograph among health professionals. Results: More than half of health professionals, 232(53.7%) had a good level of knowledge about the partograph. However, only 196(45.4%) of health professionals had fair knowledge of partograph. Nevertheless, the proportion of the partograph utilization to follow labor progress by health professionals was 92.6%. Working in the health center [AOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.48], being a midwife [AOR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.60, 5.60] and in-service training [AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.42] were significantly associated with good level of knowledge. Health professionals who had inservice training about the partograph [AOR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.35, 4.98] and who had positive attitude about the partograph [AOR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.30, 6.30] were significantly associated with utilization of the partograph. Conclusion: Only less than half of health professionals had fair knowledge about the partograph. Having in-service obstetric care training, type of health institutions and profession were significantly associated with knowledge of the partograph. Health professionals who had positive attitude towards use of the partograph were significantly associated with the partograph utilization. We suggest regular in-service training of health professionals can enhance their knowledge and utilization of the partograph

Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study

Background: In 2016, the World Health Organization recommended inclusion of an ultrasound scan as part of routine antenatal care to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, most rural women in Ethiopia do not have access to ultrasound scanning as part of their routine antenatal care. Recently, ultrasonography services were introduced at health centers in Harar, Kersa, and Haramaya districts in Eastern Ethiopia. This expoloratory study aimed to examine experiences of pregnancy surveillance midwives in the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) who performed ultrasonography at health centers that are in the catchment area of Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems, in Eastern Ethiopia. Objective: To explor midwives’ experiences across 14 health centers in Eastern Ethiopia, located in the Kersa, Haramaya, and Harar Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems from February to April 2022 Design: Exploratory qualitative study. Methods: The methods used were based on the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research framework. Purposeful sampling was used to explore experiences of midwives who performed ultrasonography at selected health centers. The Midwives are recurited, trained and stationed at the health ceners to do ultrasound scanning and other activities by the Child Helath and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) pregancny surveillance activities. Among 17 midwives who had undergone ultrasonography training and who were actively involved in ultrasound scanning at health centers in Kersa, Haramaya, and Harar Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems, three midwives who worked at health centers with no power or near a hospital were excluded. Using tape recordings and note-taking, data were collected through in-depth interviews based on a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis used for data categorization, and the trustworthiness of data was kept throughout the procedure using credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. Results: In this study, we identified five main themes: Ultrasonography positively impacts midwives trained as sonographers; performing ultrasound scans enhances the skills and confidence of midwives, improving their professional development, Individual perception of self-efficacy; midwives’ belief in their abilities to perform ultrasound scans effectively influences their job satisfaction and motivation, Provision of care; integrating ultrasound into antenatal care enhances the quality, therapeutic communication, and personalized nature of care provided to pregnant women, Barriers to providing ultrasonography services; challenges such as shortage of ultrasonography-trained staff and workload can hinder the delivery of ultrasound services in rural areas, Community acceptance; the level of community understanding, trust, and support towards ultrasound technology and midwives as sonographers impacts the successful implementation and sustainability of ultrasound services. Conclusion: Ultrasonography performed by midwives at rural health centers had a considerable impact on antenatal care services and incareased confidence of midwives

Timely initiation of breastfeeding among women who gave birth by cesarean section in central Ethiopia, 2022: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundTimely initiation of breastfeeding reduces the risk of neonatal mortality. However, there was paucity of literature on the timely initiation of breastfeeding among women who gave birth by cesarean section (CS) in Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of timely initiation of breastfeeding and factors associated with it among women who gave birth by CS in central Ethiopia.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 women who gave birth by CS. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and observation checklist, entered into EpiData 4.6, and exported to statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 26.Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed and statistical significance is declared at pResultsThe magnitude of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 47.4% [95% CI: (42.5, 52.6)]. Attending four or more antenatal care visits [(AOR): 2.27, 95%CI: (1.28, 4.02)], counseling during antenatal care [AOR: 4.78, 95% CI: (2.66, 8.60)], early skin to skin contact with newborn [AOR: 2.83, 95% CI: (1.60, 5.02)], post-delivery counseling [AOR: 2.93, 95% CI: (1.56, 5.50)], and getting assistance from health professionals [AOR: 3.07, 95% CI: (1.64, 5.75)] were factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding.ConclusionsThe magnitude of timely initiation of breastfeeding in the study area was low. Strengthening counseling by health care practitioners during ANC and post-natal period should be prioritized to support women in initiating early skin-to-skin contact within one hour of birth is mandatory

sj-docx-3-whe-10.1177_17455057241228135 – Supplemental material for Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study

Supplemental material, sj-docx-3-whe-10.1177_17455057241228135 for Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study by Maleda Tefera, Haymanot Mezmur, Mohammed Jemal and Nega Assefa in Women’s Health</p

sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455057241228135 – Supplemental material for Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455057241228135 for Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study by Maleda Tefera, Haymanot Mezmur, Mohammed Jemal and Nega Assefa in Women’s Health</p

sj-docx-2-whe-10.1177_17455057241228135 – Supplemental material for Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-whe-10.1177_17455057241228135 for Midwives’ experiences of performing obstetric ultrasounds in antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: Qualitative exploratory study by Maleda Tefera, Haymanot Mezmur, Mohammed Jemal and Nega Assefa in Women’s Health</p

Basic neonatal resuscitation skills of midwives and nurses in Eastern Ethiopia are not well retained: An observational study.

BackgroundNeonatal resuscitation is a life-saving intervention for birth asphyxia, a leading cause of neonatal mortality. Worldwide, four million neonate deaths happen annually, and birth asphyxia accounts for one million deaths. Improving providers' neonatal resuscitation skills is critical for delivering quality care and for morbidity and mortality reduction. However, retention of these skills has been challenging in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess neonatal resuscitation skills retention and associated factors among midwives and nurses in Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested, structured, observational checklist. A total of 427 midwives and nurses were included from 28 public health facilities by cluster sampling and simple random sampling methods. Data were collected on facility type, availability of essential resuscitation equipment, socio-demographic characteristics of participants, current working unit, years of professional experience, whether a nurse or midwife received refresher training, and skills and knowledge related to neonatal resuscitation. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the association between neonatal resuscitation skill retention and independent variables.ResultsAbout 11.2% of nurses and midwives were found to have retention of neonatal resuscitation skills. Being a midwife (AOR, 7.39 [95% CI: 2.25, 24.24]), ever performing neonatal resuscitation (AOR, 3.33 [95% CI: 1.09, 10.15]), bachelor sciences degree or above (AOR, 4.21 [95% CI: 1.60, 11.00]), and good knowledge of neonatal resuscitation (AOR, 3.31 [95% CI: 1.41, 7.73]) were significantly associated with skill retention of midwives and nurses.ConclusionBasic neonatal resuscitation skills of midwives and nurses in Eastern Ethiopia are not well retained. This could increase the death of neonates due to asphyxia. Being a midwife, Bachelor Sciences degree or above educational status, ever performing neonatal resuscitation, and good knowledge were associated with skill retention. Providers should be encouraged to upgrade their educational level to build their skill retention and expose themselves to NR. Further, understanding factors affecting how midwives and nurses gain and retain skills using high-level methodology are essential

Factors associated with timely initiation of breast feeding among women who gave birth by CS at hospitals of Kembata Tembaro and Hadiya zones in southern Ethiopia, 2022 (n = 403).

Factors associated with timely initiation of breast feeding among women who gave birth by CS at hospitals of Kembata Tembaro and Hadiya zones in southern Ethiopia, 2022 (n = 403).</p