Objective The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge about neonatal danger signs and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 4 months attending immunization services. Result The study recruited 432 mothers to participate. A knowledge score of neonatal danger signs was found [32.9% (95% CI 28.9%, 37%)]. Mothers educated to secondary level were 4.9 times more likely to know about neonatal danger signs [(AOR = 4.9, 95% CI (1.15, 21). Similarly, mothers whose husband educated to college and above [AOR = 4.95, 95% CI (1.15, 21)], and being multipara mother [(AOR = 2.59, 95% CI (1.05, 6.6)], were factors significantly associated with good knowledge of mothers about neonatal danger signs.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The Apgar score is a method to quickly summarize the health of newborn children. It establishes a simple and clear classification of newborns, which could be used to predict survival and to compare methods of resuscitation and perinatal experience across hospitals and obstetric practices. Low Apgar score is associated with various immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes of newborns. Hence; in order to decrease the risk/complications, identifying the determinant factors of low Apgar is crucial to act on the modifiable risk factors. This study is aimed to investigate the determinant factors of a low Apgar score in newborn children.METHOD: The study was conducted in Lemelem Karl general hospital; northern Ethiopia. An institutional-based unmatched, case-control study was implemented. Data were retrieved from medical charts of 662 newborns’ mothers who gave birth in the hospital from Sep 2014 to Sep 2017. Among these, 221 of them were cases (charts of mothers whose newborns’ fifth minute Apgar score was <7) and 441 of them were controls (charts of mothers whose newborns’ Apgar score was 7 and above). Data was collected using a pretested and structured checklist using systematic sampling and data was entered & analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to determine the association and statistical significance was declared at P-value of ≤0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that low Apgar score was significantly associated with antepartum hemorrhage [Adjusted odss ratio (AOR) 3.509; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.526-8.067), P= 0.003], pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders [AOR 2.69; 95% CI (1.351-5.357), P= 0.005], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR 2.63; 95% CI (1.399-4.944), P= 0.003], Cesarean delivery [AOR 2.005; 95%CI (1.223-3.287), P= 0.006],meconium-stained liquor [AOR 6.955; 95% CI (3.721-13.001), P<0.001], and low birth weight [AOR 4.38; 95% CI (2.216-8.657), P<0.001].CONCLUSION: Result from this study showed a remarkable linkage of low Apgar score with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, meconium-stained liquor, and low birth weight. Therefore, meticulous antenatal care and labour management service are recommended to prevent low Apgar score and the concomitant neonatal death.

BACKGROUND: The Apgar score is a method to quickly summarize the health of newborn children. It establishes a simple and clear classification of newborns, which could be used to predict survival and to compare methods of resuscitation and perinatal experience across hospitals and obstetric practices. Low Apgar score is associated with various immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes of newborns. Hence; in order to decrease the risk/complications, identifying the determinant factors of low Apgar is crucial to act on the modifiable risk factors. This study is aimed to investigate the determinant factors of a low Apgar score in newborn children.METHOD: The study was conducted in Lemelem Karl general hospital; northern Ethiopia. An institutional-based unmatched, case-control study was implemented. Data were retrieved from medical charts of 662 newborns’ mothers who gave birth in the hospital from Sep 2014 to Sep 2017. Among these, 221 of them were cases (charts of mothers whose newborns’ fifth minute Apgar score was <7) and 441 of them were controls (charts of mothers whose newborns’ Apgar score was 7 and above). Data was collected using a pretested and structured checklist using systematic sampling and data was entered & analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to determine the association and statistical significance was declared at P-value of ≤0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that low Apgar score was significantly associated with antepartum hemorrhage [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.509; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.526-8.067), P= 0.003], pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders [AOR 2.69; 95% CI (1.351-5.357), P= 0.005], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR 2.63; 95% CI (1.399-4.944), P= 0.003], Cesarean delivery [AOR 2.005; 95%CI (1.223-3.287), P= 0.006],meconium-stained liquor [AOR 6.955; 95% CI (3.721-13.001), P<0.001], and low birth weight [AOR 4.38; 95% CI (2.216-8.657), P<0.001].CONCLUSION: Result from this study showed a remarkable linkage of low Apgar score with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, meconium-stained liquor, and low birth weight. Therefore, meticulous antenatal care and labour management service are recommended to prevent low Apgar score and the concomitant neonatal death.

Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the determinants of cesarean section deliveries in public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019. Method. A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted to study 780 (260 cases and 520 controls) women who delivered in public hospitals of Addis Ababa from August 22 to September 20, 2019. The cases were all mothers who delivered through caesarean section, and controls were all mothers who delivered vaginally in the same time in the study area. Data were collected from the randomly selected women and looking into their cards. Data were entered on EpiData 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for cleaning and analyzing. Binary logistic regression and AOR with 95% CI were used to assess the determinants of caesarean section. Results. Majority of the study participants were in the age category 20–34 years. Nearly more than 1/3rd of the participants (32.7% cases and 34.6% controls) have attended primary school. Most of the cases 217 (83.5%) and few of the controls 21 (4%) possess previous caesarean section. One hundred three (52.3%) of the cases and 329 (63.6%) controls were multi-parous. Previous caesarean delivery (AOR = 6.93, 95% CI; (3.39, 14.16)), singleton pregnancy (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI; (0.12, 0.83)), birth weight less than 2500 gm (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI; (0.18, 0.92)), birth weight greater than 4000 gm (AOR = 16.15 (8.22, 31.74)), completely documented partograph (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI; (0.078, 0.23)), and pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI; (1.46, 4.08)) were significant determinants of caesarean delivery in this study. Conclusion. Previous caesarean section, number of delivery, birth weight, partograph documentation, and pregnancy-induced hypertension had significant association with caesarean section delivery in this study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of preterm births among mothers who gave birth in Axum and Adwa public hospitals, North Ethiopia, 2018. Result: This study showed that 13.3% from the total 472 mothers gave a preterm birth. Being a rural resident (AOR=2.13,95% CI:(1.07,4.22), short inter pregnancy interval (AOR= 5.4, 95% CI: (1.32, 22.05), previous preterm birth(AOR= 3.74, 95% CI: (1.03, 16.34), Premature rupture of membrane(AOR=4.14, 95% CI: (1.92, 8.89), induced onset of labor(AOR=2.49, 95% CI: (1.06, 5.85) multiple pregnancy(AOR= 5.69, 95% CI: (2.27, 14.28), malaria during pregnancy (AOR= 4.71, 95% CI: (1.98, 11.23), Presence of chronic illness (AOR= 4.55, 95% CI: (1.83, 11.26) were significantly associated with preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to investigate determinant factors of low Apgar score in newborns delivered at Lemlem Karl General Hospital, Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia; 2018. RESULTS: Socio-demographic characteristics of mothers were not significantly associated . However, antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=3.509; 95%CI 1.526-8.067), pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders (AOR=2.69; 95%CI 1.351-5.357), prolonged second stage of labor (AOR=2.630; 95%CI 1.399-4.944), meconium stained liquor (AOR=6.955; 95%CI 3.721-13.001)) & low birth weight (AOR=4.380; 95%CI 2.216-8.657) were significantly associated with low Apgar score. Some obstetric factors & one fetal factor were significantly associated with low Apgar score. Therefore, improving labor management of mothers those who are diagnosed with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders, prolonged second stage of labor, and meconium stained liquor is recommended. KEY WORDS : Determinant, Low Apgar score, Ethiopia.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of preterm births among mothers who gave birth in Axum and Adwa public hospitals, Tigray, North Ethiopia, 2018. Result: This study showed that 13.3% from the total 472 mothers gave a preterm birth. Being a rural resident (AOR=2.13,95% CI:(1.07,4.22), short inter pregnancy interval (AOR= 5.4, 95% CI: (1.32, 22.05), previous preterm birth(AOR= 3.74, 95% CI: (1.03, 16.34), Premature rupture of membrane(AOR=4.14, 95% CI: (1.92, 8.89), induced onset of labor(AOR=2.49, 95% CI: (1.06, 5.85) multiple pregnancy(AOR= 5.69, 95% CI: (2.27, 14.28), malaria during pregnancy (AOR= 4.71, 95% CI: (1.98, 11.23), Presence of chronic illness (AOR= 4.55, 95% CI: (1.83, 11.26) were significantly associated with preterm birth.