Objective. Although importance of postpartum family planning is essential and immediate postpartum insertion of long acting and reversible contraceptives (LARC) is recommended, evidence on its uptake and associated factors is limited in Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess utilization of immediate postpartum LARC among women who gave birth in selected public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia. Method. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected women who gave birth in selected public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia from 10 March to 09 April 2020. At discharge, all eligible women who gave birth in the facilities were interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with utilization of immediate postpartum LARC. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval was used to report association, and significance was declared at p value < 0.05. Results. From a total of 546 women invited to the study, 530 (97.1%) participated in the study and 98 (18.5%; 95% CI: 15.1%, 22.0%) reported starting long acting reversible contraceptives. Women who reported discussing about contraceptives with partners ( aOR = 6.69 , 95% CI: 3.54, 12.61) and receiving postpartum counselling on contraceptives ( aOR = 5.37 , 95% CI: 3.00, 9.63) were more likely to using contraception. However, women who live >30-minute walking distance from the nearest health facility ( aOR = 0.47 , 95% CI: 0.26, 0.85) and reported disrespect and abuse during childbirth ( aOR = 0.22 , 95% CI: 0.12, 0.40) were less likely to start LARC. Conclusions. Almost one in five women delivering in public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia started using LARC. Provision of respectful maternity care including counselling on the importance of immediate postpartum family planning is essential for increasing its uptake.

Background Women’s undernutrition during pregnancy increases the risks and burdens of maternal and neonatal morbidity, death, and disability through its vicious cycles of irreversible intergenerational negative effects. Despite the high burden of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy in semi-pastoral communities of eastern Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information on its major risk factors. This study revealed determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women attending primary healthcare units in Chinaksen district in rural eastern Ethiopia. Method A facility-based case-control study was conducted among 113 cases and 113 controls in Chinaksen district from February 01 to March 30, 2017. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Multivariable logistic regression analyses conducted to identify significant determinants of acute undernutrition. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to report the strength of association and statistical significance declared at p value < 0.05. Results Sixty (53.1%) of cases and 56 (49.6%) of controls were in the age group of 25-34 years and their mean ± SD age of cases and controls were 26.6 ± 5.7 and 28 ± 5.5 years, respectively. In this study, larger family size (AOR = 6.98, 95 CI [2.82–17.27]), lack of prenatal dietary advice (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI [1.67–8.00]), did not participate in a cooking demonstration (AOR = 5.41, 95% CI [2.39–12.24]), used substances (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI [1.30–10.23]), absence of basic latrine (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI [1.28–6.58]), low minimum dietary diversity of women (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI [1.20–5.12]), and household food insecurity (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI [1.44–6.51]) were significantly increased the odds of acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Conclusions The study revealed that living in crowded families, lack prenatal dietary advice, did not participate in cooking demonstrations, substances use; lack of toilet, low minimum dietary diversity, and household food insecurity were significant risk factors for acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Strengthening multi-sectoral approaches through improving dietary diversity/quality and food access/quantity would be essential to prevent, and reduce the risks, burdens, and impacts of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy.

Background Poor nutritional status of women during prenatal and pregnancy increases the risk of maternal mortality and neonatal birth outcome complication. It is important to identifying factors affecting maternal undernutrition during pregnancy and evidence answering major determinant factors was limited in Ethiopia. This study was assessed to determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women attending primary health care unit in Chinaksen district, eastern Ethiopia. Method a facility-based case-control study was conducted on 226 (113 cases and 113 controls) pregnant women attended primary healthcare units in Chinaksen district from February 01 to March 30, 2017. Data entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses applied to identify determinant factors acute undernutrition. A p value < 0.05 was considered to be declare statistically significant. Result women living in large family size (AOR = 6.98, 95 CI: 2.82, 17.27), low minimum dietary diversity for women (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.20, 5.12), house hold food insecure (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.44, 6.51), not advised prenatal dietary diversity (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.67, 8.00), not participated on cooking food demonstration (AOR = 5.41, 95% CI: 2.39, 12.24), using substance (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.30, 10.23) and have not basic latrine (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.28, 6.58) were found to be statistically significant factor with acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Conclusions The study revealed main determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Large family size, low minimum dietary diversity, house hold food insecurity, not advised prenatal dietary diversity, not participation on cooking food demonstration, substance use and have not basic latrine were a basic determinant of acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Multi-sector approach is required to deal with acute undernutrition among pregnant women and improving minimum dietary diversity food and ensuring household food security is essential in improving maternal nutrition.

Background: Even though compassionate respectful maternity care during childbirth is an important component in improving the quality of maternal health care service and its utilization, evidence shows burden and associated factors of disrespect and abuse were limited in Ethiopia. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess disrespect and abuse during childbirth and associated factors among women gave birth in public health facilities in East Hararghe Zone, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 530 women gave birth in randomly selected public health facilities in East Hararghe zone from 01 to 30 April 2020. All eligible women gave birth in the facilities were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Data entered using EpiData 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with disrespect and abuse during childbirth. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to report association. A p-value less than 0.05 were used to declare as statistically significantly associated with the dependent variable. Results: overall 77% (95% CI: 73%, 81%) of women reported at least one types of disrespect and abuse during childbirth. Women having monthly income less than 2000 Birr (AOR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.41, 3.71), living greater than 30 minute away from nearby health facilities (AOR= 2.10 95% CI: 1.30, 3.39), not attended ANC visit (AOR=4.29, 95% CI: 2.17, 8.52), and delivered during nighttime (AOR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.37, 3.41) were more likely reported disrespect and abuse during childbirth. Conclusion: Almost four in every five women delivered in public health facilities in East Hararghe zone were disrespected and abused during childbirth. Encouraging all pregnant women to attend ANC visit and improving the quality of health care service during nighttime in all health facilities is essential for reducing disrespect and abuse.

Background: Optimal breastfeeding is one of the best and cost-effective strategic interventions to prevent and reduce child death. Globally, it prevents 13% of childhood death, yearly. Few previous studies addressed the levels of domains of optimal breastfeeding practice separately, more emphasized the practice of urban-dwellers and employee mothers’ infants and focused on the practice of infants aged 6-24 months. This study assessed optimal breastfeeding practice and associated factors among infants aged 0-6 months in Boke district in rural eastern Ethiopia. Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 390 randomly selected mother-infant pairs from February 01-30, 2018. Pretested-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from mother-infant pairs. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 24. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with optimal breastfeeding practice. P-value<0.05 and AOR (95% CI) were used to report significance and association, respectively. Results: Optimal breastfeeding practice among infants aged 0-6 months was 55.9% (95%CI: 50.7%, 60.8%). Mothers’ age of 15-24 years (AOR=3.58, 95%CI: 1.06, 11.95) and 25-34 years (AOR=3.49, 95%CI: 1.08, 11.28), having formal education (AOR=2.98, 95%CI: 1.92, 4.62), facility delivery (AOR=1.96, 95%CI: 1.24, 3.12) and good knowledge about breastfeeding (AOR=1.82, 95%CI: 1.16, 2.86) significantly associated with optimal breastfeeding practice. Conclusions: Prevalence of optimal breastfeeding practice among infants of 0-6 months was low. Youth maternal age, institutional delivery and knowledge on breastfeeding were significant predictors of optimal breastfeeding practice. Promoting institutional delivery and enhancing maternal awareness about breastfeeding practice through existing healthcare services, formal education and Media-outlets would be essential to improve to prevent and reduce the burden of suboptimal breastfeeding practice in the communities.