IntroductionHIV is still an enormous global burden and it is also causing loss of huge health care workers (HCWs) on the already limited human resource capacity in health care services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Variety of methods of accelerating HIV testing is required to increase the rate of HIV testing and expand treatment services. Therefore, this study was aimed to find out the prevalence, feasibility and options of HIV self-testing practices in Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study design triangulated with qualitative method was conducted from February to May, 2012. The data was collected using a semi-structured pretested questionnaire and in-depth interview, at government and private health centers or clinics and hospitals. During the data collection all the available healthcare workers (HCWs) which encompass the internship students including: Medical, Health Officer, Nurses, Midwives and Laboratory students, and health professionals working in the selected health institutions were involved.ResultsA total of 307 HCWs were included in the analysis and we found that 288(94.4%) of them were ever tested for HIV, of which majority 203 (70.5%) were tested by themselves though 244(80%) of the HCWs had motivation or interest to be tested by themselves. Generally, of the ever tested only 85(29.5%) were tested by the help of health care providers/counselors other than self. Regarding the place where the HCWs had the test, majority 136 (69.4%) tested by themselves at the health facility and the rest were tested at their home, office, market and church. The main reason stated for self-testing was the need for confidentiality for the test result, which was mentioned by 205(82%). Moreover, 35(14.0%) claims lack of time to access the ordinary counseling and testing services.ConclusionThis study depicts high rate of HIV self-testing practice among HCWs. This shows that HIV self-testing can be considered as one pillar to increase the HIV-testing services and a means for the HIV prevention and control policy, through increasing HIV testing uptake and awareness of HIV status. However, the implementation may require the role of different stakeholders and decision makers with further study to extend the options.

BackgroundMaternal mortality rates are unacceptably high in Ethiopia. Institutional delivery with skilled care of the mother is one of the interventions proven to reduce the risk of complications that can cause maternal and neonatal mortality. Quality of service given during antenatal visits and childbirth are important measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of skilled institutional delivery and its repeat use during a subsequent pregnancy and to identify any reasons why women avoid institutional delivery.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2012 in Chilga Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected from women who gave birth during the year preceding the survey. Information was entered and cleaned using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Multivariate and binary logistic regression was used to identify the relative effect of each explanatory variable on the outcome.ResultsA total of 402 (84.2%) women gave birth at home. Previous experience of skilled institutional delivery had a limited role in subsequent acceptance or use of institutional delivery. Most mothers who had previously had institutional delivery gave birth at home. Although 111 (40.8%) women visited the health facility during their pregnancy only because of illness, 184 (38.8%) did not know when to visit for antenatal care. In multivariate analysis, lower maternal education, being a rural resident, previous use of institutional delivery, remoteness of the health facility, and multiparity were factors significantly associated with less likelihood of institutional delivery. Number of months pregnant at the time of the first antenatal visit had no role in increasing the likelihood of institutional delivery.ConclusionThe quality of the obstetric services presently available for women living in Ethiopia needs review.

Background: Many HIV-infected infants and children die from HIV related causes without their HIV status being known or receiving HIV care. All HIV exposed infants should be tested by Dried Blood Spots (DBS)-PCR before or at 6 weeks of age. Testing is a crucial step to facilitate early access to antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, studies that assess the level of use and implementation of HIV DNA testing in Ethiopia are lacking. Objective: To investigate the rate of early infant diagnosis (EID), defined as having blood drawn for HIV DNA-PCR testing, and predictive factors of EID among infants born to HIV infected women. Method: A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted from April to June 2012 in three public hospitals and three health centers, in Northwest Ethiopia. Mother-infant pairs were followed from delivery until the time of the HIV diagnostic test. Data were captured using standardized forms. The time-to-diagnostic test was estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimators. Factors associated with EID were evaluated using logistic regression. Result: Of the 266 HIV-exposed infants identified from the health facilities, only 109 (41.0%) infants had early HIV DNA-PCR tests. The median age at the time of HIV diagnostic testing was 60 days (95% CI: 47 -73 days), and the median turnaround time between blood draw for DNA-PCR testing to delivery of a test result to the respective health facility was 36 days (95% CI: 33 -40 days). A total of 35 (13.2%) infants were diagnosed with HIV infection. The predictors of EID were the mother having prenatal care, maternal receipt of ART during pregnancy and place of birth. Conclusion: Three out of five HIV-infected women did not bring their infant for HIV testing during the recommended 6 week interval after birth. Special attention is required for infants born to HIV-infected women who did not

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In Ethiopia, an estimated 676 maternal deaths occur for every 100,000 live births. The major causes of mortality and morbidity are direct obstetric causes; they mainly occur from the third trimester of pregnancy to the first week following delivery. This study elucidates the type, magnitude and associated factors of postpartum morbidity conditions among pregnant women who gave birth at the health institutions and is essential to understand the health care need for obstetric emergencies, postpartum conditions and to prepare health organizations to better monitoring and evaluation of safe motherhood programs.Objective: To assess birth outcome and prevalence of postpartum morbidity among women attending antenatal care and gave birth at health institutions in Gondar town. Methods:We have conducted a four-month follow up study among 203 randomly selected pregnant women from five health institutions in Gondar town. Data were collected between