Association of Men's Awareness of Danger Sign of Obstetric Complication and Male Involvement’s in Birth Preparedness Practices at South Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) indicate that maternal mortality in Ethiopia is one of the highest in the world. This death toll can be prevented partially through increasing awareness on danger sign of obstetric complications and birth preparedness practices for mother, husbands and other family members. Community based cross sectional study was done. Adult males with a wife or partner who had been through childbirth in the preceding 36 months were included in the study. Data was collected by pretested structured questionnaires and multi stage cluster sampling was used to reach 845 samples which were calculated by using StatCalc program of Epi Info 7. Collected data was cleaned and entered in to Epi Info 7 and exported to SPSS (IBM-20) for further analysis. Hierarchical logistic regression model and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confident interval were used to show association between men awareness and birth preparedness practices. The total numbers of men interviewed were 836 that makes response rate of 98.9%. Severe abdominal pain (87%) was the most recognized danger sign during pregnancy and 17.9% men involve in saving money.  Forty two point two percent of men had awareness of danger sign and 9.4 %( 95% CI: (7.42, 11.4) of men involved in birth preparedness practice. Strong association between men awareness of danger sign of obstetric complications and involvements in birth preparedness practices persisted after adjusting for probable confounders. Thus respondents who had awareness of danger signs were two times (AOR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.06, 3.41) more likely to involve in preparedness practice than respondents who had no awareness of danger signs of obstetric complication. The prevalence of men awareness of danger sign & involvement in birth preparedness practice was very low

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension Among Civil Servants Working in Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia

Despite Hypertension is a global public health challenge and a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death attention was not given in developing countries. Therefore measuring the prevalence and identifying predictors of Hypertension is very important. Institution based cross sectional study design was employed from March–April, 2016 by taking 319 randomly selected civil servants working in in Arba Minch town. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and standardized instruments for physical examination by 5 trained nurses. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Bi-variable and Multivariate logistic regression was employed for analysis of risk factors. The mean SBP and DBP of study participants were 120.87 + 14.15 mmHg and 80.28 + 8.8 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 27.8% (95% CI = 22.9-32.7%). Civil servants of age 50 years and above [AOR = 13.3], age 40-49 years [AOR = 5], age 30-39 years [AOR = 3.5], abdominal obesity [AOR=12.2], general obesity [AOR = 4.2], stress status [AOR = 12.3], current alcohol drink [AOR = 3.3], ex-drinker [AOR = 8.9] and family history of hypertension [AOR = 5.6] were found to be significantly associated with hypertension. The prevalence indicates that it is hidden epidemic in this population; therefore for screening and risk reduction program are needed

Incidence of Opportunistic Infections Among Adult HIV Positive People Receiving Co-trimoxazole Prophylaxis

In Ethiopia, Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis therapy (CPT) used to prevent opportunistic infections among people living with HIV is the standard of practice; however incidence of opportunistic infection and their predictors are rarely documented in the country. This was a retrospective follow up study to describe the incidence and predictors of opportunistic infections among 244 adults receiving CPT. Participants were followed for a median time of 72 weeks. During a study period a total of 53opportunistic infections were recorded; making the overall incidence rate 23.9/100 person-years. High incidence of opportunistic infections is likely to occur if: the clients were married (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.965;(95% CI: 1.109, 3.451), had history of tuberculosis treatment (AHR: 2.34(95% CI:1.05, 5.24)), patients who are indicated for CPT because of both clinical and WHO clinical staging criteria(AHR 2.418 (95% CI:1.02, 5.72 ),and had poor adherence to CPT (AHR, 2.11 (95% CI: 1.19-3.72)). Eventhough adherence is non-substitutable strategy to prevent opportunistic infection, the cohort of HIV patients failed to adhere to CPT, which in turn resulthigh incidence of opportunistic infections among them, therefore improving adherence as guideline should be a priority to prevent OIs among people living with HIV in the study region

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension among Civil Servants Working in Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia

Despite Hypertension is a global public health challenge and a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death attention was not given in developing countries. Therefore measuring the prevalence and identifying predictors of Hypertension is very important. Institution based cross sectional study design was employed from March–April, 2016 by taking 319 randomly selected civil servants working in in Arba Minch town. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and standardized instruments for physical examination by 5 trained nurses. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Bi-variable and Multivariate logistic regression was employed for analysis of risk factors. The mean SBP and DBP of study participants were 120.87 + 14.15 mmHg and 80.28 + 8.8 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 27.8% (95% CI = 22.9-32.7%). Civil servants of age 50 years and above [AOR = 13.3], age 40-49 years [AOR = 5], age 30-39 years [AOR = 3.5], abdominal obesity [AOR=12.2], general obesity [AOR = 4.2], stress status [AOR = 12.3], current alcohol drink [AOR = 3.3], ex-drinker [AOR = 8.9] and family history of hypertension [AOR = 5.6] were found to be significantly associated with hypertension. The prevalence indicates that it is hidden epidemic in this population; therefore for screening and risk reduction program are needed

Barriers to Males Involvement in Family Planning Services in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia: Qualitative Case Study

Effective utilization of family planning services are major contributors of improved maternal health. This, in turn, needs adequate involvement of male partners through direct uptake the services and approval of the spouses’ usage. Yet the family planning method utilization as well as male involvement is indicated to be low in Ethiopia. Qualitative case study was conducted in August 2015 in Arba Minch town to identify barriers to male involvement in uptake of family planning services. Open ended, semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the participants. Four men and four women are purposively selected. Interviews were conducted in audibly private location after verbal consent was obtained from the recruited individuals. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The narratives were then translated to English and the responses are aggregated in to nine concepts. The final aggregated data were analyzed using OpenCode 3.4 software based on thematic framework analysis. Total of eight participants (four men and four women) were interviewed where seven are married and one is single. Participants identified that, Perception (or opinion) towards family planning as women’s issue, Sex preference for inheritance and considering children as measure of blessing of and Fear of partner sexual promiscuity and to reduce women’s attractiveness were barriers for male involvement in modern family  planning method. Future interventions aimed at improving family planning services and methods utilization in Arba Minch town and similar settings need to consider these bottlenecks for male involvement

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID-19 pandemic among adult population in Sidama Regional State, Southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study.

IntroductionCOVID-19 incidence is increasing and different measures have been adopted to control the spread of the pandemic in Ethiopia. Among these measures, enhancing the knowledge, positive attitudes, and proper practices of prevention measures about the disease is a basic strategy to control it. However, community compliance to control measures is largely dependent on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19.ObjectiveTo assess the current level of KAP towards COVID-19 pandemic and predictors among the rural dwellers in Sidama regional state, Southern Ethiopia; 2020.MethodsThis community-based prospective cross-sectional study was carried out from May 1-30, 2020 on a sample of 1,278 adult populations in Sidama regional state, Southern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to choice the study participants. The data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. We have entered data using Epi data version 3.1 and all analyses were done using SPSS version 25. KAPs scores of study participants based on their independent variables were compared using Chi-square test, t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as required. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with KAP. The important assumptions of the logistic regression model were checked to be satisfied. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the existence and strength of associations.ResultsFrom a total of 1,214 study participants, the overall attained knowledge, attitude and practice score about COVID-19 were 90%, 82.4% and 65%, respectively. Among these, 43.9%, 37.5%, and 24.4% of the study participants had demonstrated good knowledge, high attitude and proper practice, respectively. The mean knowledge scores were significantly different between sex, categories of marital status, educational levels, main occupation, and the monthly income quintiles of the study participants (pConclusionsThe majority of study participants had showed good knowledge and optimistic attitude toward COVID-19. But, the level of practice lower than that expected to maximize effective control measures. Further public education interventions and community sensitization campaigns are required for rural adult population in the Sidama regional state, Ethiopia

Utilization and Predictors of Maternal Health Care Services among Women of Reproductive Age in Hawassa University Health and Demographic Surveillance System Site, South Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Regular utilization of maternal health care services decreases maternal morbidity and mortality. However, major predictors that influence the utilization of the existing maternal health care services are complex and differ from place to place. Therefore, assessing these predictors assists health planners to prioritize promotion strategies and is a fundamental step for intervention. This study assessed the utilization and predictors of maternal health care services among women of the reproductive age in Hawassa Health and Demographic Surveillance System site, South Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 682 women of the reproductive age from January to February, in 2019. A two-stage stratified sampling method was utilized. Data were collected using a structured, face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were entered using Epi Data 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The variables were entered into the multivariable model using the backward stepwise regression approach. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with utilization of the maternal health care. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed to assess the presence and strength of associations. Result. The overall utilization of ANC, institutional delivery, and PNC was 69.1, 52.1, and 32.7%, respectively. The odds of utilizing ANC were 4.72 times higher for women who have a formal education (AOR: 4.72, 95% CI = 2.82–7.90) as compared to those who have no formal education. The odds of utilizing institutional delivery were 5.96 times higher for women who had ANC follow-up (AOR: 5.96; 95% CI = 3.88–9.18) as compared to those who had no ANC follow-up. Presence of information about the PNC (AOR: 3.66; 95% CI = 2.18–6.14) and autonomy of a woman to make decision on health issues (AOR: 6.13, 95% CI = 3.86–9.73) were positively associated with utilization of PNC. Conclusion. The utilization of maternal health care services is far below the national target in the study area. Maternal and paternal education status, autonomy of the woman to make decision on the health issues, wealth status, and having a plan on the current pregnancy were major predictors of the maternal health care service utilization. Providing information and training about the model household to the women about maternal health care service utilization using various methods of health education should be considered

Factors associated with Institutional delivery in Boricha district of Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia

Every year, 40 million women give birth at home without the help of askilled birth attendant. In 2011, 287,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth. Almost all these deaths occur in developing countries where mothers and children lack access to basic health care. Reports showed the low utilization of health facility for delivery service in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the utilization and factors influencing institutional delivery. Community based cross sectional study was conducted from January to February 2013/14 in Boricha District of Southern Ethiopia among mothers who gave birth in the last 1 year. Multistage sampling techniques were used to collect data from 546 mothers. Taking in to account place of birth for the last child, only 4.9% women gave birth in a health facility. Women’s education level (AOR=4.4 (95% CI=1.36-14.33)), timing of firstANC visit (AOR= .03 (95% CI=0.004 - 0.205)), women’s advice to deliver in a health facility during ANC (AOR = 31.15 (95% CI=2.02-479.52)), women’s knowledge of birth related complications (AOR= 12.4 (95% CI=2.67-57.16)) and decision making power (AOR=0.2 (95% CI=0.060.82)) showed significant association with institutionional delivery. Institutional delivery in the study area was found to be very low. Raising awareness on institutional delivery to maximize delivery service utilization and strengthening provision of education and counseling to deliver in health facility during antenatal care visits at individual and community level should be given due emphasis