ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the length of stay in health facilities after childbirth and associated maternal and neonatal factors in Ethiopia.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingEthiopia.Participants2260 mothers who participated in the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey were included in the study.OutcomeLength of stay in health facilities after childbirth was the outcome variable of the study.ResultIn Ethiopia, the mean duration of postpartum stay for mothers in health facilities was 21.96 (19.97–23.94) hours. Nine hundred and sixty-eight (34.80%) women remained in health institutions for ≥24 hours after delivery. Gestational age, birth weight and mode of delivery were significantly associated with length of stay. Gestational age was found to be inversely associated with length of stay. Mothers who had a vaginal delivery were 8.89% (adjusted HR (AHR) 8.89, 95% CI (4.28 to 18.46), p<0.001) more likely to discharge earlier from health facilities after delivery, compared with those who had a caesarian section. Women with larger size neonates during birth were 19% (AHR=0.81, 95% CI (0.67 to 0.96), p=0.019) more likely to stay longer in health facilities than women with average size neonates. Women with a smaller size neonate during birth were 16% (AHR=0.84, 95% CI (0.70 to 0.99), p=0.040) more likely to stay longer at a health facility, compared with those with an average size neonate.ConclusionA small percentage of Ethiopian mothers stayed in health facilities for 24 hours or more after delivery. Encouraging mothers to stay in health facilities for the recommended period after childbirth can play a significant role in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.

Background: Antenatal iron supplementation is one of the strategies designed to prevent anemia during pregnancy and Ethiopia has been implementing it for the past several years. Yet, studies showed that both the intake of iron supplementation and its adherence remained low. However, most of these studies were small scale studies and lack representativeness. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and factors associated with iron supplementation adherence among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Method: The data from 2,650 women who participated in the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey was analyzed. The outcome of the study was adherence to antenatal iron supplementation. Those women who took iron tablets for ≥90 days during pregnancy were considered as adherent while the rest were considered as non adherent. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings and logistic regression was used to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables.Result: Among 2,650 women included in the study, 424 (13.4%) of them took iron tablets for ≥90 days. The residents of Tigray and Benishangul regions and Addis Ababa have higher adherence to iron supplementation. Additionally, early and frequent antenatal care visits were positively associated with adherence to iron supplementation. Conclusion: In Ethiopia, the adherence of pregnant women to iron supplementation remains unacceptably low. Efforts need to continue to improve the coverage and utilization of antenatal care throughout the country. Additionally, equitable health access should be ensured throughout the country.