BackgroundIn many developing countries including Ethiopia, maternal morbidity and mortality still pose a substantial burden and thus progress towards the fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) remains slow. Raising awareness of women about the danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth is the first essential step in accepting appropriate and timely referral to obstetric care. However, in Ethiopia little is known about the knowledge level of mothers about obstetric danger signs. The objective of this study was to assess the status of knowledge of danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth among mothers who gave birth in the past two years prior to the survey in Tsegedie district, Tigray regional state, Ethiopia.MethodsA Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 20, 2012 to June 30, 2013 on a randomly selected sample of 485 women who had at least one delivery in the past two years. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. Focus group discussion and in-depth interviews were utilized to supplement the Quantitative data. Bivariate and multivariate data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.0 software.ResultFour hundred eighty five mothers participated in the study making a response rate of 100%. Vaginal bleeding was the most commonly mentioned danger signs of pregnancy (49.1%) and childbirth (52.8%). Two hundred eighty five (58.8%) and 299 (61.6%) of respondents mentioned at least two danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth respectively. One hundred seventy (35.1%) and 154 (31.8%) of respondents didn't know any danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth respectively. Educational status of the mother, place of delivery and having functional radio were found to be independent predictors of knowledge of women about the danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth.ConclusionEducational status of the mother, place of delivery and having functional radio were independently associated with knowledge of women about obstetric danger signs. Thus, provision of information, education and communication targeting women, family and the general community on danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth and associated factors was recommended.

BackgroundThe incidence of premature rupture of membranes ranges from about 5% to 10% of all deliveries. A woman with premature rupture of membranes is at risk of intra-amniotic infection, postpartum infection, endometritis, and death. A neonate born from premature rupture of membranes mother is at high risk of respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage and death. Little is known regarding the risk factors in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify risk factors of premature rupture of membranes among pregnant women admitted to public hospitals in Mekelle city, Tigray, Ethiopia.MethodsHospital based unmatched case control study design was implemented on 240 samples (160 controls and 80 cases) from pregnant mothers admitted to public hospitals in Mekelle city from February – April/2016. Data was collected by interviewer administered Structured questionnaire and checklist. Binary logistic regression model was used to see the association between dependent and independent variables and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of premature rupture of membranes.ResultsA total of 160 controls and 80 cases were enrolled in the study. Multivariable logistic regression showed that history of abortion [AOR 3.06 (CI: 1.39, 6.71)], history of PROM [AOR 4.45 (CI: 1.87, 10.6)], history of caesarean section [AOR 3.15(CI: 1.05, 9.46)] and abnormal vaginal discharge in the index pregnancy [AOR 3.31(CI: 1.67, 6.56)] were positively associated with premature rupture of membranes.ConclusionsPast obstetric history and risks in the index pregnancy have an association with premature rupture of membranes. The finding of the study suggests early identification and treatment of genitourinary infection.

Background Seeking healthcare in children is unique since parents decide upon the type and frequency of healthcare services accessed. Mothers/caregivers lower healthcare seeking behavior is one of the major reason for increased morbidity and mortality from childhood illness in developing countries. Hence, this study aimed to assess healthcare seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers towards childhood illnesses in selected health centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 422 sampled mothers/caregivers of children age 0–59 months, from April 18 to May 11, 2016. Ten health centers were selected using simple random sampling technique and proportionate number of participants were included from each health centers. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize socio-demographic characteristics and multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with of healthcare seeking behavior. Result In case of illnesses, 26.5% of mothers/caregivers sought healthcare for their children. Among the common childhood illnesses, acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea accounted for 47.6 and 31%, respectively. Mothers/caregivers healthcare seeking behavior towards common childhood illnesses were influenced by child’s age (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI:1.02, 3.13), education of mothers/caregivers (AOR = 4.24, 95% CI:1.32, 13.63), family size (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI:1.06, 13.78), perception of severity of illnesses (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI:1.05, 3.84), previous experience of similar illnesses (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI:1.36, 9.86) and previous history of under-five child death (AOR = 13.31, 95% CI:5.13, 34.53). Conclusions The common under-five childhood illnesses were acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. The study also revealed that there was a delay in seeking healthcare and this was significantly associated with age of the child; mothers/caregivers level of education; family size; perception of illness severity; previous experience of similar illnesses and under-five child death. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-019-1588-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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BackgroundIn Ethiopia, undernutrition among women on antiretroviral therapy has been a major challenge to achieve the full impact of intervention. Twenty seven percent and 17% of reproductive age Ethiopian women are chronically malnourished and anemic, respectively. Most studies to examine risk factors have been limited to the general population and ART-naive HIV-positive women, making it difficult to generalize findings to ART-treated HIV-positive women. The objectives of this study were thus to assess nutritional status and associated factors among adult women (≥20 years) on antiretroviral therapy.MethodsFrom August to September we conducted an Institution based cross-sectional survey among 276 women on antiretroviral therapy in Humera Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia. Data was collected using structured and standard face to face interview, anthropometric measurements, BD FACS (CD4 count machine) and Sysmex-21 (hemoglobin analyzer). Logistic regression was done using SPSS version 16 to identify factors that are associated with nutritional status.ResultsThe prevalence of under nutrition (Body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2) Was 42.3% (95% CI: 37.4% - 47.3%). Severe, moderate and mild under nutrition was detected on 12%, 10% and 20.3% respondents, respectively. The prevalence of wasting (percentage body weight loss >5%) was 75% (95% CI: 70.4% - 79.2%). Severe wasting was accounted for 26.9% of respondents.In the multivariate analysis, Household food insecurity [AOR = 1.85; 95%CI 1.16, 2.86], inadequate dietary diversity [AOR = 1.19; 95%CI 1.08, 1.75], anemia [AOR = 1.67; 95%CI 1.05, 2.65] and absence of nutritional support [AOR = 0.34 95%CI 0.22, 0.54) were found to be independent predictors of under-nutrition.ConclusionHIV/AIDS is associated with an increased burden of undernutrition even among ART treated women in Humera Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia. In addition to ART among HIV positive women interventions to ameliorate poor nutritional status may be necessary in this and similar settings. Such interventions aimed at improving household food security, dietary diversity, micronutrient supplementation, proper use of therapeutic food, as well as treating oral candidiasis.

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.

Background: Acute diarrhea is defined as experience of three or more watery stools, with or without blood, in 24 hours period. It is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children under the age of five in developing countries. On the African continent, diarrhea cause more child deaths than Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and measles.

Back ground: Various studies have reported that loss of one or both parents to AIDS confronts children with immense psychological and social problems and this forces them to employ various coping mechanisms to overcome the problems they encounter in their day to day lives. Consequently, the psychological well-being of these children has become a serious concern. Objectives: To assess the factors associated with psychological distress of AIDS orphan adolescent's in Mekelle city, Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study design was used. Two hundred and ninety three subjects were included in this study between 10-19 age groups. Data was collected using a pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and scales including Hamilton-Anxiety Depression and Rosenberg's rating scale were used to measure the orphans' level of depression, anxiety and self-esteem. Result: Among the study participants, 74 (25.3%) orphan adolescents were depressed in the week before the survey. Moreover, 52 (17.7%) orphan adolescents where anxious. Self esteem and employment opportunity were the main variables associated with depression and anxiety. Conclusion: Orphan adolescents are having psychological problems and may be particularly vulnerable group that can affect their present and future life. Thus, a more focused and concerted effort is needed to improve their mental health, Care givers of orphan adolescents, in addition to providing material support such as educational materials, medical and food, further studies should be made to compare the psychological health of AIDS, non-AIDS and nonorphan adolescents. Generally, this study contributes to our understanding of how children respond to parental death.