Late antenatal care initiation: the case of public health centers in Ethiopia

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of late initiation of antenatal care visit and associated factors among antenatal care follow up women in Tselemte district health facilities. The data were obtained at health facilities level in a single survey within 1 month and there is no continuation part of this study or previously published part elsewhere. Results 60.5% of women were late to initiate the first antenatal care visit. Time constraint with household activity (24.4%), distance to health center (17.2%) and fear of long waiting time in health facility (19.5%) were among the reasons mentioned for late initiation of antenatal care visit. Monthly income ≤ $21(400 ETB) (AOR = 4.54, 95% CI 1.07, 19.33), women who accompanied by their husband during antenatal care visit (AOR = 6.99, 95% CI 2.82, 17.31), who had information access on antenatal care (AOR = 4.85, 95% CI 1.88, 12.50) and distance from home to health center (AOR = 5.44, 95% CI 1.54, 19.25) were significantly associated factors with late initiation of antenatal care visit. This study illustrated that large number of pregnant women still late for first antenatal care visit. Husband involvement and health education about the timing of antenatal care initiation should be encouraged in all aspects of maternal care

Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among HIV positive mothers in Northern Ethiopia.

BackgroundIt is estimated that sub-optimal feeding, especially non-exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6months of life, results in 1.4million deaths and 10% of disease burden in children younger than five years. Worldwide, it is estimated that only 34.8% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first 6months of life, the majority receiving some other food or fluid in the early months. Besides, the Ethiopian demographic and health survey (2016) stated that the median duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Tigray region was 3.8 months which is shorter than the recommended duration. The main purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among HIV positive mothers in public hospitals of Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia.MethodsA facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 9 to October 11, 2016, in public hospitals of Tigray region. Data was collected by using structured questionnaire using face-to-face interview among 304 eligible women through a systematic sampling technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Binary and multiple variable logistic regressions ("odds ratio") analyses were calculated with 95% CI and p value ≤ 0.05 as significance were used.ResultTwo hundred seventy (88.8%) of mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Infant feeding counseling during antenatal care of last pregnancy [AOR = 6.9, 95% CI; 2.63, 17.99], knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding (AOR = 5.5, 95% CI; (2.12, 14.02] and attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding [AOR = 7.9; 95% CI; 2.96, 21.21] had significant association with exclusive breastfeeding practice.ConclusionsA high proportion of mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Infant feeding counseling, knowledge and attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding practice were the predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among HIV positive mothers. Strengthening infant feeding counseling during antenatal care and improving mothers' knowledge and attitude on exclusive breastfeeding is essential

MOESM1 of Late antenatal care initiation: the case of public health centers in Ethiopia

Additional file 1. An English version questionnaire used to measure this findings and it was developed from different published literatures and adjusted contextually