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.

No abstract

No abstract