Background: Globally, perinatal asphyxia is a significant contributing factor for neonatal morbidity and mortality. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors with perinatal asphyxia among newborns in Dilla University referral hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among newborns in Dilla University referral hospital, Ethiopia from February to April 2017. Systematic random sampling techniques were used to enroll a total of 262 study subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the perinatal asphyxia among newborns. Result: Of the newborns, 32.8% had perinatal asphyxia, and factors associated significantly were anemia during pregnancy (adjusted OR=2.99, 95%CI: 1.07–8.35), chronic hypertension (adjusted OR=4.89, 95%CI: 1.16–20.72), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (adjusted OR=3.59, 95%CI: 1.74–7.42), and low birth weight newborns (adjusted OR=3.31, 95%CI: 1.308–8.37). Conclusion: Maternal anemia during pregnancy, chronic hypertension, meconium stained amniotic fluid, and low birth weight were significantly associated with perinatal asphyxia. Therefore, early screening and appropriate intervention during pregnancy, and intrapartum might reduce perinatal asphyxia among newborns.

Background. Jaundice in the neonate is one of the most common clinical problems. Globally, every year about 1.1 million babies develop it and the vast majority reside in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Study on magnitude and local factors associated with neonatal jaundice is limited in Ethiopia. So this study was aimed at assessing magnitude and predictors of neonatal jaundice among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of public hospitals in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia. Methods. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2016 in neonatal intensive care unit of Mekelle city public hospitals. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data was collected by interviewing mothers through structured questionnaire and reviewing neonates’ medical records using checklist. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with neonatal jaundice. Results. A total of 209 neonates with their mothers were included. The proportion of neonatal jaundice was found to be 37.3%. Prolonged labor [AOR = 4.39; 95% CI (1.8-10.69)], being male [AOR = 3.7; 95% CI (1.54-8.87)], maternal “O” blood group [AOR = 5.05; 95% CI (1.53-16.72)], sepsis [AOR = 2.64; 95% CI (1.15-6.05)], and blood type incompatibility [AOR = 18.21; 95% CI (6.36-52.13)] were positively associated with neonatal jaundice while night time delivery [AOR 0.42; 95% CI (0.18-0.96)] showed negative association. Conclusion. The magnitude of neonatal jaundice among neonates was found to be high. Duration of labor, time of delivery, sexes of neonate, sepsis, maternal blood group, and blood type incompatibility were significantly associated with neonatal jaundice. Therefore, improving newborn care and timely intervention for neonates with ABO/Rh incompatibility are recommended.

BackgroundSurgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs after surgery within 30 days in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Some of the common symptoms are: drainage of cloudy fluid from the surgical wound, pain or tenderness, localized swelling, redness, and raised body temperature. Lack of data on surgical site infection among women who underwent cesarean section (C/S) initiated us to undertake this paper which is targeted to assess the magnitude and determinants of SSI among women who underwent cesarean section.MethodsRetrospective document review study design was conducted among mothers who underwent cesarean section in Ayder Comprehensive, Specialized Hospital (ACSH) from September 2014 –January 2016. Mother’s charts were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were cleaned using EPI info version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to summarize the data.ResultA total of 206 medical records of women who underwent C/S in ACSH comprehensive specialized hospital were reviewed. The mean age was 27 years (+ 5 year). The magnitude of surgical site infection was 11.7%. Premature rupture of membrane (PROM), prolonged labor, rural setting, human immune deficiency Virus, chorioaminities and blood loss showed significant association [(AOR = 8.818 95%CI (21.71–35.816)], [AOR = 16.17, 95%CI (2.850–91.819), [AOR = 5.666,95%CI (1.568–20.483)], [AOR = 6.982,95%CI (1.382–35.269), [AOR = 16.17,95%CI (2.850–91.819)] and [AOR = 0.097,9%CI (0.017–0.569)] respectively.ConclusionThe magnitude of post C/S infection in this study 11.7%. PROM, prolonged labor, residence, HIV, Chorioaminities and blood loss are considered to be an independent risk factor.

Background. HIV infected women in sub-Saharan Africa are at substantial risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. In developing countries including Ethiopia counseling and provision of modern contraceptives of choice to HIV infected women including those on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an important strategy to prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Little is known about the existing practices and utilization of modern contraceptives among HIV positive reproductive age women attending ART units. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess utilization of modern contraceptives and associated factors among HIV positive reproductive age women attending ART units in zonal hospitals of Tigray region, North Ethiopia. Method. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 364 HIV positive reproductive age women in all zonal hospitals of Tigray region using systematic sampling technique. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used to obtain information from the respondents. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate methods were used to analyze utilization of modern contraceptives and the factors associated with it. Result. Three hundred sixty-four subjects participated with a response rate of 99.2%. The mean age of the respondents was 31.9 ± 6.5 (SD) years. About 46% of participants utilized modern contraceptives, 59.9% out of them used dual method. However, a significant proportion of the respondents (46%) reported that they wished to have a desire for children. Being secondary education and higher (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.17–6.95) and currently on HAART (AOR: 3.23; 95% CI: 1.49–7.01) they were more likely to utilize modern contraceptive. But those women who were ≥25 years old, house wives, single, divorced, or widowed were less likely to utilize modern contraceptive. Conclusion. Results of this study revealed that the number of respondents who were ever heard of modern contraceptives was high. However, modern contraceptive utilization was still low. Additional efforts are needed to promote modern contraceptive utilization in general and dual method use in particular among HIV positive reproductive age women.

Objective: To assess factors associated with sexual violence among female administrative staffs of Mekelle University, North Ethiopia. Results: From the total number of participants, 188 (52.8%) had shift work and 110 (30.9%) of these had day and night shift. About half 180 (50.2%) of the participants face sexual violence similarly, 53 (14.9%) of the victims of violence performed by their boss. In multiple logistic regression analysis young age [AOR: 2.319 (1.059-5.075)], educational status of secondary school or less [AOR: 1.981 (1.126-3.485)], office and students related workplace [AOR: 4.143 (1.975-8.687), 2.887 (1.396-5.973)], having night shift [AOR: 2.131 (1.258-3.611)], having multiple partner (AOR: 8.916 (3.052-26.047)] and knowing other female violated in office [AOR: 3.920 (2.326-6.606)] were the factors associated with sexual violence.