Antenatal care utilization and nutrition counseling are strongly associated with infant and young child feeding knowledge among rural/semi-urban women in Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia

There is a gap in evidence linking antenatal care (ANC) utilization, nutrition counseling, and knowledge of pregnant women about infant and young child feeding (IYCF), particularly in low-income settings. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the association between ANC follow-up and nutrition counseling with IYCF knowledge. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 390 pregnant women in the rural kebeles of the Harari region from January to June 2019. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews on tablet computers. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were employed. An adjusted odds ratio (with 95% CI) was used to determine the strength of association between IYCF knowledge with ANC follow-up and nutrition counseling by adjusting for educational status, occupation, gravida, and distance to the nearest health center. Overall, 54.4% [95% CI 49.2, 59.2] of currently pregnant women were knowledgeable about IYCF of which only 20% started ANC follow-up and 24.4% received nutrition counseling. Out of 288 multigravida women, only 51.4% had ANC follow-up during their last pregnancy. In the adjusted model, ANC follow-up during the current pregnancy (AOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.07–3.22), those who received nutrition counseling (AOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.09–3.38), literate in education (AOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.07–2.73), multigravida (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.12–3.43), and far from the nearest health center (AOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93–0.97) were significantly associated with the mothers IYCF knowledge. Thus, health care providers should encourage mothers to attend ANC during pregnancy and provide nutrition counseling about the IYCF

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

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-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

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