IntroductionThe discrepancy regarding maternal mortality continues to be a health concern between developing and developed countries. The majority of global maternal deaths occur in developing countries, specifically, in the sub-Sahara African region which alone accounts for more than half of these deaths. It has been indicated that utilization of the partograph was significantly associated with improved maternal and neonatal outcomes of labour and that is why the World Health Organization recommends the universal use of the tool during labour. Therefore, this study has assessed the level of partograph use and its associated factors among obstetric caregivers in East Gojam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA health facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected obstetric caregivers in Northwest Ethiopia. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a clinical observation checklist. The data were entered into Epidata version 3.1, and cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 statistical software.ResultAbout three quarters, or 198 (72.53%), of the obstetric caregivers, had attained diploma level of education. However, 153 (56.04%) of the obstetric caregivers had what was considered to be good knowledge about the partograph, but utilization of the tool was slightly lower than their level of knowledge, 147 (53.85%). Utilization of the partograph was significantly higher among obstetric caregivers holding a Bachelor of Science degree and above, than Diploma holders (AOR (95% C.I) 2.07 (1.15–3.75)) and the use was higher among those who were regularly working in the delivery ward compared to those regularly working in the Adult Outpatient Department (AOR (95% C.I): 2.25 (1.07–4.72)). Moreover, caregivers who had a good knowledge about the partograph and who had received on the job training in obstetric care were also more likely to use the partograph during labour and delivery (AOR (95% C.I): 1.79 (1.05–3.06) and 4.85 (2.63–8.96)) respectively.ConclusionThe results of this study revealed that although more than half of obstetric caregivers had a good knowledge of the partograph, the actual utilization of the tool was slightly lower than the knowledge they had. Therefore, in this study, we suggest that providing on the job obstetric care training for obstetric caregivers, about the partograph in particular, would improve partograph utilization.

Background: Stunting is a major public-health problem in low and middle-income countries, and it increases risk of morbidity and mortality during childhood. In Ethiopia, it is a major public health problem.Objective: To assess prevalence and associated factors for stunting among school children at Debre Markos town and Gozamen woreda, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. Methods and materials:Cross-sectional quantitative study design was employed. The study area and study sites were selected by random sampling method and the study subjects were taken by systematic random sampling technique. The study was conducted at eight selected schools. The study was carried out from March 2013 up to June 2013.Statically analysis: Data were entered into Epi-info (version 3.5.1) satirical software then exported in to SPSS version 16.0 statistical programs and anthroplus software was used to determine HAZ score of individual values. Result:The overall prevalence of stunting was 48.1%, out of which, 5% were severely stunted, 14.3% moderately stunted and 28.8% mildly stunted, and the mean was 1.72 with standard division of 0 .887. 3.1% boys and 1.9% girls were severely stunted. As the age increased stunting was significant. Rural school children were highly stunted as compared to urban children. Conclusion:This study showed that stunted rate was alarming magnitude. Total prevalence of stunting in this study was 48.1%; 5% were severely stunted (<-3SD), 14.3% moderately stunted (<-2SD) and 28.8% mildly stunted (<-1SD). As this study showed all age groups of schoolchildren were affected. However, age groups 13-15 years were significantly associated. Living in rural area was independently associated with increasing rate of stunting. Sex difference was no significant.

Introduction. Universal use of partograph is recommended during labor, to improve maternal and fetal outcome. The aim was to assess knowledge and attitude of obstetric caregivers about partograph and associated factors. Methods. Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted on 273 study participants. Study facilities and study units were selected using simple random sampling technique. Midwives, Nurses, Public Health Officers, Medical Doctors, and masters in Emergency Surgery and Obstetric were included in the study. Epi-data and SPSS statistical software were used. Results. About 153 (56.04%) and 150 (54.95%) of the obstetric caregivers had good knowledge and favorable attitude about partograph, respectively. Knowledge of partograph was significantly higher among obstetric caregivers that learnt about partograph during their College and who had received partograph on job training (AOR: 2.14, 95% C.I (1.17–3.93)) and (AOR: 2.25, 95% C.I (1.21–4.19)), respectively. Favorable attitude towards partograph was significantly higher among obstetrical caregivers who had training and learnt about partograph during their college (AOR: 3.37, 95% C.I (1.49–5.65)) and (AOR: 2.134, 95% C.I (1.175–3.877)), correspondingly. Conclusion. Above half of obstetric caregivers had good knowledge and a favorable attitude on partograph. The provision of on preservice and job training is necessary to improve caregivers' knowledge and attitude.

Background. Neonatal sepsis is one of the major public health problems globally, particularly, in developing countries. Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Escherichia coli are the common pathogens for neonatal sepsis in developing countries. However, the pooled estimate of common pathogens causing neonatal sepsis in developing countries is still unknown. Therefore, this study is aimed at computing the pooled proportion of the leading cause of pathogens for neonatal sepsis in developing countries. Methods. We strictly followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines to report this systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, Science Direct, and other search engines such as Google Scholar, Africa Journals Online, and Hinari were used to obtain studies related to the leading cause of pathogens for neonatal sepsis in developing countries. The search was done from October 1 to December 30, 2018, by considering both published and gray literature. Studies were evaluated based on the PRISMA guideline checklist by using their titles, abstracts, and full texts. Studies were extracted using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, and STATA software version 14 was used to analyze data. Heterogeneity between studies was checked based on Cochran’s Q -test and the corresponding I 2 statistic test. Results. The pooled prevalence of the leading cause of pathogens of neonatal sepsis in developing countries were Klebsiella (26.36%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.22%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (23.22%), and Escherichia coli (15.30%). Common pathogens were varied across regions; for instance, pooled isolated Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was 25.98% in Africa, 16.62% in Asia, and 36.71% in Latin America, and Klebsiella was 29.80% in Africa, 23.21% in Asia, and 22.00% in Latin America. Also, Staphylococcus aureus was 27.87% in Africa and 18.28% in Asia, and Escherichia coli was 22.97% in Asia and 9.43% in Africa. Conclusions. This study highlights that the more prevalent common isolated pathogens in developing countries were Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus aureus pathogens were predominantly high in Africa as compared to other Asian and Latin American countries. At the same time, Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was more prevalent in Latin America compared to other regions. Escherichia coli is more dominant in Asia as compared to Africa and Latin America.

Background: Neonatal intensive care settings are important to save the lives of sick neonates; however, parents are challenged by many stressful conditions during their stay outside the rooms of intensive care units. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of parents in a neonatal intensive care unit at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: In this study, a phenomenological qualitative approach was used to explore parental experience and data were collected using in-depth interviews from purposively selected parents. In addition, a thematic approach was used to analyze the data using Open Code Software Version 4.02. Results: In this study, parents found to developed psychological problems like anxiety, stress, worry, hopelessness and state of confusion. Emotional related conditions were anger, crying, sadness, frustration, dissatisfaction, regret, disappointment, feeling bad, self-blaming, nervousness, disturbance and lack of self-control. Parents expressed that health care providers showed indiscipline, lack of commitment and not cooperative at all. Conclusion: Parents of neonates in the intensive care unit were challenged due to a shortage of money and traveling a long distance. Psychological and emotional factors were identified as major stressors of parents during their stay in the NICU. Hence, providing psycho-emotional supports, strengthening parents–healthcare providers’ interaction, and scale up neonatal intensive care unit service into the primary health care unit are recommended.

Introduction:The partograph is a vital tool used to reduce maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity and to prevent prolonged and obstructed labor, as well as postpartum hemorrhage and fistula formation. This study explored the use and barriers of the partograph among obstetric caregivers in East Gojam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.Methods and materials:A cross-sectional study design consisting of both quantitative and qualitative methods was utilized. Data was collected through a structured clinical observation checklist and semistructured questions. The content of the checklists was developed according to modified WHO partograph. Thematic analysis was employed using open code software version 3.6. Coding was done immediately after the data was collected. The coded data was defined and categorized into groups. Once the categories were identified and the names given, the data was related to the objectives of the study. Data was crosschecked to ensure consistency between the themes and the categories. Then we summarized the themes and drew conclusions that gave answers to the research questions.Results and conclusion:This study showed that participants believed partograph is an essential tool used to reduce maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity and to prevent prolonged and obstructed labor, as well as postpartum hemorrhage. They explained that work overload, lack of skill and competency, negligence, lack of motivation and a shortage of infrastructure and resources hindered utilization of the partograph.

Background: Social capital is defined as social relations that may provide individuals and groups with access to resources and supports in community networks. It has become an important issue to be studied in the field of public health. This study aimed to review pieces of literature about the role of social capital on the utilization of maternal and child health services in low- and middle- income countries.Methods: Mixed-methods research review and synthesis, using three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct), was performed. Besides, Google Scholar and Google search engines were used. Both quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in low- and middle- income countries, published in English, in grey and commercial literature were considered. Results: A total of 1,545 studies were identified, of which, 328 records were removed due to duplication. Then, 13 records were selected after reading titles, abstracts, and full texts. Of these eligible studies, six studies were included for quantitative synthesis, and seven of them for qualitative synthesis. Moreover, six quantitative studies and seven qualitative studies were included. Of the six reviewed quantitative studies, five of them addressed the relationship between social capital and health facility delivery. Likewise, women who lived in communities with higher membership in groups that help form intergroup bridging ties had higher odds of antenatal care use. Synthesized qualitative findings revealed that women received some form of emotional, informational, and instrumental support from their network members. Receiving health information from trusted people and socio-cultural factors influenced the use of maternal health services.Conclusions: Social capital has a great contribution to the utilization of maternal and child health services. Countries aiming to reduce maternal mortality should identify context-specific approaches to benefit from its social capital. On the other hand, measurement tools for social capital require due attention as there is no uniformity across studies and most of them were conducted using a cross-sectional design. Hence, further longitudinal and interventional studies should be employed to pin down the direction of causality.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42021226923

Irrational use of medicines is a key reason for the increase and spread of antimicrobial resistance and it is a global concern. It is a fast mounting universal crisis. The main of this study of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of university students on antimicrobial resistance at Debre Markos University. Institutional based comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to July with total sample size of 670. Participants were selected using simple random sampling method using random number table. Data clerk double entered the data into Epi data version 3.1 and transferred to SPSS Windows software version 21.0. Those variables that had associations at binary stage with p-value &lt; 0.1, not collinear and biologically important variables were entered in to multiple logistic regression models. The cut off point for association was p-value &lt; 0.05.<strong> </strong>About 14.8% study participants had adequate knowledge towards drug resistance.  Rural residences of the participants were significantly associated with drug resistance as compared to urban residence. Knowledgeable participants were significantly protective to self- medication and drug resistance as compare to those who had inadequate knowledge and participants who had positive attitude were positively associated with self-medication as compare to those who had negative attitude. The overall knowledge of participants regarding to antimicrobial resistance was low. In the other hand, majority of participants had positive attitude. Those participants who had positive attitude were significantly associated with antimicrobial resistance as compared to who had negative attitude.