Background Severe pre-eclampsia is more dominant in low and middle-income countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, severe pre-eclampsia remains a major public health problem contributing to high rates of maternal mortality. Few studies have investigated the relationship between severe pre-eclampsia and associated factors in East Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with severe pre-eclampsia among postpartum women in Zanzibar. Methods A hospital based analytical cross-sectional study design was used. Purposive sampling was utilized for the selection of hospitals. Proportionate sampling was used for selection of representatives from each hospital and participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Postpartum mothers were included in the study. The study was conducted by an interviewer who administered a questionnaire with close ended questions and chart review for data gathering. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis and descriptive and multiple logistic regression was performed for control of confounders. Results This study included a total of 400 participants with a 100% response rate. Participants ranged from 17 to 45 years of age with mean age (SD) of 28.78 (±6.296). The prevalence of severe pre-eclampsia among postpartum women was 26.3% ( n = 105). After adjusting for the possible confounders, factors associated with severe pre-eclampsia were; maternal age group of 15–20 years (AOR 3.839; 95% C. I 1.037–14.210), pregnancy from new partner/husband (AOR 7.561; 95% C. I 3.883–14.724), family history of high blood pressure (AOR 6.446; C. I 3.217–12.917), diabetes prior to conception (AOR 55.827; 95% C. I 5.061–615.868), having high blood pressure in a previous pregnancy (AOR 19.382; 95% C. I 4.617–81.364), paternal age above 45 (AOR 2.401; 95% C. I 1.044–5.519) and multifetal gestation (AOR 7.62; 95% CI 2.01–28.84). Conclusion The prevalence of severe pre-eclampsia among postpartum women in Zanzibar is high. Common risk factors in this setting include maternal age of 15–20 years, pregnancy with a new partner, family history of high blood pressure, pre-existing diabetes prior to conception, a history of high blood pressure in previous pregnancy paternal age greater than 45 and multifetal gestation.

Background: Globally, birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of neonatal death. In Tanzania, neonatal deaths are estimated to be 25 deaths per 1000 live births and birth asphyxia accounts for 31% of those deaths. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 40 health centers within 7 districts in Dodoma Region among nurses working in maternity units. Simple random sampling was used to select participants. A knowledge questionnaire and performance skills checklist were used to assess nurses' knowledge and skills respectively. Chisquare and binary logistic regression were employed to test association and identify significant predictors of HBB knowledge and skills. Results: A total of 172 participants completed the study out of 176 recruited. This represents a respondent rate of 98%. Findings indicate that age, duration of professional training, and experience in maternity were significant predictors for knowledge and skills. However, after control of the confounders, experience in the maternity unit was found to be the only significant predictor of knowledge and skills in resuscitation of the neonates (AOR = 2.94; CI: 0.96-8.98; P = 0.05) and (AOR = 4.14; CI: 1.12-15.31; P = 0.03) respectively. Nurses with longer maternity nursing care experience of 5 years and above were better able to answer questions that demonstrated adequate knowledge (53.9%) and perform skills correctly (53.2%) related to HBB. Those with less than 5 years' experience had limited knowledge (20%) and skills (10.5%). Conclusion: In this setting, direct work experience in the maternity unit was the main factor influencing knowledge and skills in neonatal resuscitation with HBB.

Background: Knowledge and reported self-care practices of postpartum women are important for early detection, prevention and treatment of puerperal sepsis. Objectives: This study analyzes the knowledge and self-care practices for prevention of puerperal sepsis and their determinants among postpartum women. Methods: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study which included 343 postpartum women was conducted from February to March 2021. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Predictors of knowledge and self-care reported practice were determined using binary logistic regression. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: More than half ( n = 213, 62.1%) of the postpartum women had adequate knowledge on prevention of puerperal sepsis. Only 39 (11.4%) of the women reported adequate self-care practices toward prevention of puerperal sepsis. Secondary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.49, p = 0.001), tertiary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval = 0.19–1.38, p = 0.021) and getting information from healthcare providers (adjusted odds ratio = 1.06, 95% confidence interval = 0.55–2.06, p = 0.049) were significant determinants of knowledge on prevention of puerperal sepsis. Also, secondary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.11, 95% confidence interval = 0.04–0.30, p = 0.001), tertiary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.16, 95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.39, p = 0.001), and having more than four antenatal care visits (adjusted odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 0.49–3.27, p = 0.041) were significant determinants of reported self-care practices for prevention of puerperal sepsis. Conclusion: A significant gap in reported self-care practices to prevent puerperal sepsis was evidence. Secondary and tertiary education were significant predictors for both knowledge and self-care reported practices. Special attention should be given to women with low education level.

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Background Partograph is the graphic recording for labour management and monitoring of pregnant women in labour pain. The well-plotted data allow the nurse to recognize any abnormal conditions earlier and decide to employ proper actions to the particular pregnant mother in labour pain during the delivery of nursing care. However, its uses have been recommended by WHO among nurses around the globe but it is not fully utilized. This study aimed to determine the level of practice and factors influencing partograph utilization among nurses in Singida, Tanzania. Methods Analytical cross sectional study was conducted involving 150 nurses randomly selected from Sokoine health center and Singida Regional Referral Hospital in Singida municipality, Tanzania from January to February 2020. A self-administered structured questionnaire on partograph use to deliver maternal care among pregnant women was the main data collection tool. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software program version 23 was used for data entry, screening, processing, and analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in which findings were presented in tables. Results Out of 150 nurse midwives 58.7% (n = 88) were females. Only 38.7% (n = 58) of the study respondents had a high level of practice on the utilization of partograph during labour monitoring. Their levels of education were identified to be a protective factor because those who had University education were more times likely to practice using partograph when delivering care compared to other lower education levels (AOR = 16.757; 95%CI: 6.394; 43.915; p < 0.01). Also, their professional qualifications were discovered to be a protective factor because nurse officers and midwives officers were more times likely to practice using partograph as compared to other professional qualifications (AOR = 8.323; p = 0.004; 95%CI: 0.098; 0.642). Conclusion This study found that many nurses in Singida municipality had a low level of practice in utilizing partograph when delivering of health care among patients. Continuous and formal supportive supervisions and on job training at national and health facilities need to be emphasized and adhered to promote quality of health services by use of partograph and cost-effective maternal and newborns health.

Introduction Antenatal care services are vitally important in monitoring pregnancy and identifying the risk factors during pregnancy. However, many pregnant women under-use these services and factors associated with under-use are not well explained. Therefore, this study aimed to use the health belief model and self-determination theory to explore antenatal care services use among postnatal women in the Mara region. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving postnatal women from April to July 2020 was conducted using a structured questionnaire. A total of 384 postnatal women were recruited using systematic sampling. The associations between constructs of the health belief model and self-determination theories with antenatal care service variables were examined using the Chi-squared test, followed by logistic regression analysis. P<0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statically significant. Results Of 384 participants, 53.4% were self-determined on antenatal care services use, 46.9% had a high level of perception on antenatal care services use and 49.7% had adequate knowledge on antenatal care services use. Being from the Kurya tribe reduced the odds of being self-determined. Most (85.9%) postnatal women had attended fewer than eight recommended antenatal care visits. Multivariate analysis showed low autonomy (P=0.038), and low perceived barriers (P=0.007) were predictors for antenatal care visits. Conclusions Antenatal care services are still inadequately used in the Mara region. Low perceived autonomy and low perceived barriers are significantly associated with antenatal care services use. Health management teams and health stakeholders should collaborate to improve the situation.

Background Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common and life-threatening bacterial infection among neonates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, aetiology, and susceptible antimicrobial agents among neonates with UTI. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study that included 152 neonates with clinical sepsis who were admitted at Dodoma regional referral hospital from January to June 2020. Bacterial growth of 1 × 103 colony forming units/mL of a single uropathogen was used to define the presence of UTI. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0 and multivariate analysis was used to determine the predicting factors of UTI. P <0.05 was regarded statistically significant. Results The prevalence of UTI was 18.4% (28/152). Klebsiella pneumoniae 64.3% (18/28) and Enterobacter spp. 35.7% (10/28) were the bacterial agents isolated. The bacterial isolates were 90%, and 60% sensitive to ciprofloxacin and amikacin, respectively. Low Apgar score (AOR = 12.76, 95% CI = 4.17–39.06, p<0.001), prolonged labour (AOR = 5.36, 95% CI = 1.28–22.52, p = 0.022), positive urine nitrite test (AOR = 26.67, 95% CI = 7.75–91.70, p<0.001), and positive leucocyte esterase test (AOR = 6.64, 95% CI = 1.47–29.97, p = 0.014) were potential predictors of UTI. Conclusion The prevalence of UTI confirmed by urine culture among neonates that were included in the present study indicates that this problem is common in the population where the study was conducted. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. were the uropathogens which were isolated. Ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and amikacin were sensitive to the isolated uropathogens.