BackgroundNowadays, obstetric analgesia is provided routinely in most developed countries. However, in developing countries, labor pain management is not a well-established service. The poor utilization of labor analgesia in low-income countries including Ethiopia results in laboring mothers in unmeasured suffering, let alone analgesia. The aim of this study was to assess utilization of obstetric analgesia in labor pain management and associated factors among obstetric caregivers in public health facilities of KTZ, Kembata Tembaro zone, Southern Ethiopia.Materials and methodsA facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among all obstetric caregivers at KTZ in public health facilities from March to April 2017. Data were collected by a pretested, self-administered, and structured questionnaire. A convenient sampling technique was used and descriptive analysis was done to characterize the study population. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with utilization of labor analgesia. The adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used to show the strength of the association and a P-value <0.05 was used to declare the cutoff point in determining the level of significance.ResultsThree hundred forty respondents participated in the study with a response rate of 93%. The prevalence of labor analgesia use by the respondents was 37.9%. On multivariable logistic regression analyses, inadequate knowledge, positive attitude, and unavailability of labor analgesia drugs were significant independent predictors of obstetric analgesia utilization.ConclusionProportion of analgesia utilization was low; inadequate knowledge, positive attitude, and unavailability of analgesia drugs in the facilities were significantly associated with obstetrics analgesia utilization. Health institutions and health personnel should work on provision of training for those obstetric care providers, and necessary drugs should be available in each facility.

Background: Along-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) method is abirth control method, which provides effective contraception for an extended period of time without requiring user action. The most common methods of these contraceptives are non-hormonal copper intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) and implantable contraceptive which are safe, effective, convenient and less expensive for the users. Ethiopia is one of the Sub-Saharan African countries with highest maternal mortality rate with 673 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The prevalence of family planning in Ethiopia among married women is 29% of these 2% and 3.4% are using IUCD and implant, respectively. There are many factors related to the use of long-acting methods. Despite this, the use of long acting reversible contraceptives is still low in Africa, especially Ethiopia. There is no study that documented use of long acting reversible contraceptive and its predictors in the study area. This study was carried out to fill the gap in information about the practice of long-acting contraceptives use in Jimma Town. Moreover, the study will help the policy makers to design appropriate strategies for encouraging greater use of long-acting contraceptives thereby ensuring further declines in fertility and better reproductive health of couples. Objective: This study was to assess predictors of long acting reversible contraceptives use among married women visiting health facilities in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was employed from February to March 2012among married women visiting public health facilities in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. A total of 422 married women were selected using systematic sampling methods. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire and focus group discussion guides, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to isolate an independent effect of predictors. Results: A total of 418 married women were interviewed giving a response rate of 99.1%. The overall prevalence of long acting reversible contraception use was 16%.Out of 39.8% who intended to use long acting reversible Contraceptives (LARCs), 82.1% preferred to use implant while 17.9% preferred. The main reasons mentioned by the majority of married women for not using LARCs were: rumor (48.1%), husband's opposition (47.6%), fear of side effects (36.80%), and religious prohibition (34.80%). On multivariable logistic regression analyses, couples discussion, husband's attitude/ feeling about long acting contraceptives, provider's discussion with client, myths and beliefs (misconception) and religious prohibition were significant independent predictors of long acting reversible contraceptives use. Conclusions: There is low utilization of LARCs in the study area. The results imply the need for designing appropriate behavior change communication about family planning, especially about LARCs using Health Extension Workers and women's development army to encoura...

Background: Postnatal care is one of the most important maternal health-care interventions for prevention of illnesses and deaths during the postnatal period. Globally, more than 350,000 women die annually from complications during pregnancy or childbirth, almost all of them (99%) in developing countries. In Ethiopia, utilization of postnatal care service is very low due to various factors and these problems significantly hold back the goal of decreasing maternal mortality. Objective: To asses postnatal care service utilization and associated factors among mothers in Lemo Woreda, Hadiya Zone, South Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross sectional study which is supplemented by qualitative method was employed from March to April, 2015. A total 352 mothers who gave birth 12 months prior to the study period were selected by using random sampling technique. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussion guideline were used to collect data. Data were entered into EPI info version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 16.0 for the quantitative study and thematic framework analysis was applied to the qualitative portion. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model were used to isolate independent predictors of postnatal care service utilization. Results: The prevalence of postnatal care services utilization was 51.4%. The most cited reasons for not obtaining postnatal care services were lack of knowledge on benefits of postnatal care (59%), being busy on other family matters (38.6%) and socio-cultural practices during puerperium (20.4%). The predicted probabilities, using multivariable logistic regression, showed that maternal knowledge on postnatal danger signs (AOR=4.46, 95% CI: (2.15, 9.24), previous experience of obstetric complication (AOR=4.52, 95% CI: (1.63, 12.54) , antenatal care visit (AOR=6.34, 95% CI: (2.33, 17.23), place of delivery (AOR: 7.94, 95% CI: (3.12, 20.18), and socio-cultural practices during puerperium (AOR: 0.07, 95% CI: (0.02, 0.24) were factors found to be significantly associated with postnatal care services utilization. Conclusion and recommendations: In this study postnatal care service utilization was found to be higher as compared to findings of some other studies conducted in the country. Developing targeted public education campaign strategies about the benefits and timing of postnatal care in a sustainable manner is an important interventional package. More over engaging community influential members in the promotional activities about the use of institutional delivery and devise educational or behavior change strategies that discourage harmful traditional practices during puerperium can be some of the essential interventions to be done at different levels.

Background: Sexual activities among adolescent have been reported to be increasing worldwide. Several studies in Sub-Saharan Africa have also documented increasing premarital sexual activities among adolescents.

Historical accounts of famines in Ethiopia go as far back as the 9th century, however, evidence on its impact on health only started to emerge from the 15th century onwards. Unfortunately, famine has been endemic in Ethiopia in the last few decades. The 1973 famine is reported to have claimed over 300,000 lives. In 1985 approximately 10 million people were reported to be starving, with approximately 300,000 already dead and about 1000 dying daily. In the following years, droughts leading to food shortage have had local and national adverse health effects, in particular in 1999/2000. This paper describes the initial findings of a literature review of evidence on the health impact of droughts leading to famine in Ethiopia and highlights gaps in knowledge. The key finding, thus far, is the marked paucity of health impact data. This review also highlights the fact that adverse health impacts of famines are probably complex and long lasting. Interpretation of any health impact data is difficult as there are few baseline data to compare. Health effects also impact livelihoods. Livelihood disruption following famine does not just affect one generation but also subsequent generations. Surveillance systems are needed so that records of the health impacts of a drought that leads to famine can inform action. With climate change bringing increased likelihood of drought and famine in some parts of the world, the findings of this review could be beneficial not just for Ethiopia but also elsewhere.