Objective This study aimed to assess rate of HIV seroconversion and predictors among seronegative male partners living with HIV-positive women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods Institutional-based retrospective cohort was used to conduct the study. All eligible 227 sample medical records were used for the study. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate seroconversion time. Cox proportional-hazard regression was used to identify predictor variables. Results In this study, 227 seronegative male partners living with HIV-positive women were followed for 60 months retrospectively and 38 (16.7%) seroconversion was observed. The overall seroconversion rate was 6.4 (95%CI: 4.64–8.76) per 100 person-year observation. Time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, CD4 level, condom use, and having history of pregnancy after being diagnosed as discordant were identified significant predictors of seroconversion. Conclusion The risk of HIV transmission from seropositive partner to seronegative partner in a discordant couple is poorly controlled. Seronegative partners in discordant a couple can be seropositive at any time with influence of predictors unless proper protective measures, counseling, and follow-up are given emphasis.

Background The study was conducted in public health centers of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, and use of labour pain relief methods and associated factors among obstetric caregivers in the study setting. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 1–30, 2018. The study was conducted among three hundred and nine sampled obstetric caregivers. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 Software for cleaning and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out for variables with a p-value < 0.25 in bivariate logistic regression to determine significant relationships between the dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance was determined at 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value below 0.05. Result The overall use of labour pain relief methods reported was 34.4%, (30.4% non-pharmacological and 8.4 pharmacological, respectively). More than half of the study participants (54.2%) had adequate knowledge about labour pain relief methods. In multivariate analysis, being a midwifery profession [AOR =2.814, 95% CI = (1.574–5.031)], having positive attitude [AOR = 4.370, 95% CI = (2.523–7.567)], and professionals with a medium level of education [AOR = 3.450, 95% CI = (1.993–5.971)] were factors significantly associated with knowledge of obstetric caregivers about labour pain relief methods. In multivariate analysis, knowledge of obstetric caregivers [AOR = 3.821, 95% CI = (2.091–6.980)], positive attitude of obstetric caregivers [AOR = 2.455, 95% CI = ((1.358–4.436))] and experience of obstetric caregivers [AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = (1.350–4.845) were factors significantly associated with the use of labour pain relief methods. Conclusion In this study, the overall use of labour pain relief methods by obstetric caregivers was low. Systemic opioid (Pethdine) was reportedly one of the most known pharmacological pain relief methods in this study. Providers’ knowledge, attitude and work experience had shown statistical significance with the use of labour pain relief methods. Task-oriented in- service training is required to fortify obstetric caregivers’ knowledge and attitude towards the use of labour pain relief methods.

Background Uterine rupture has a significant public health importance, contributing to 13% of maternal mortality and 74%-92% of perinatal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, and 36% of maternal mortality in Ethiopia. The prevalence and predictors of uterine rupture were highly variable and inconclusive across studies in the country. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and predictor of uterine rupture in Ethiopia. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2009 checklist. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online databases were searched. The Newcastle- Ottawa quality assessment tool was used for critical appraisal. I 2 statistic and Egger’s tests were used to assess the heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. Results Sixteen studies were included, with a total of 91,784 women in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of uterine rupture was 2% (95% CI: 1.99, 3.01). The highest prevalence was observed in the Amhara regional state (5%) and the lowest was in Tigray region (1%). Previous cesarean delivery (OR = 9.95, 95% CI: 3.09, 32.0), lack of antenatal care visit (OR = 8.40, 95% CI: 4.5, 15.7), rural residence (OR = 4.75, 95% CI: 1.17, 19.3), grand multiparity (OR = 4.49, 95% CI: 2.83, 7.11) and obstructed labor (OR = 6.75, 95%CI: 1.92, 23.8) were predictors of uterine rupture. Conclusion Uterine rupture is still high in Ethiopia. Therefore, proper auditing on the appropriateness of cesarean section and proper labor monitoring, improving antenatal care visit, and birth preparedness and complication readiness plan are needed. Moreover, early referral and family planning utilization are the recommended interventions to reduce the burden of uterine rupture among Ethiopia women.

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IntroductionPregnant women suffer from varying levels of generalized anxiety disorder that result in poor obstetrical outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder among pregnant women attending antenatal care during COVID-19 at the public health facilities in the east Gojjam zone.MethodsA health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted, from 1–30 December 2020. A total of 847 pregnant women were included in the study using a systematic random sampling technique. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect the data. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Statistical significance was determined using a p-value &lt; 0.05 and a 95% confidence level.ResultsThe prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder was 43.7%, with a 95% CI (40.28–47.12). Having &lt;3 the number of children (AOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.11–2.13, having a negative attitude about COVID (AOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.07–2.02 and having a high-risk perception about COVID (AOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.34–2.57 were factors significantly associated with generalized anxiety disorder.ConclusionsThe study found that the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder was high. Having less than three children, having a negative attitude, and having a high-risk perception of COVID were independent risk factors of generalized anxiety disorder. Appropriate interventions should be considered to address generalized anxiety disorder during the pandemic.

BackgroundPuerperal sepsis is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, particularly in low and middle-income countries where most maternal deaths occur. Women with puerperal sepsis are prone to long-term disabilities, such as chronic pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, and secondary infertility. Besides this, puerperal sepsis has received less attention. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the incidence of puerperal sepsis and its predictors among postpartum women at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted among 330 postpartum women from September 2020 to 2021. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire with a data extraction checklist was used to collect the data. Data were entered into Epi data 4.2 and analyzed using STATA 14.0. The incidence rate of puerperal sepsis was calculated, and a Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival probability of developing puerperal sepsis. The cox-proportional hazards regression model was fitted to identify predictors of puerperal sepsis.ResultsThe study participants were followed for a total of 1685.3 person-week observations. The incidence rate of puerperal sepsis was 14.24 per 1,000 person-weeks. However, the overall incidence of puerperal sepsis was 7.27%. Not attending formal education [AHR: 3.55, 95% CI: (1.09–11.58)], a cesarean delivery [AHR: 4.50; 95% CI: (1.79–11.30)], premature rupture of the membranes [AHR: 3.25; 95% CI: (1.08–9.79)], complicated pregnancy [AHR: 4.80; 95% CI: (1.85–12.43)], being referred [AHR: 2.90; 95% CI: (1.10–7.65)], and not having birth preparedness and complication readiness plan [AHR: 2.95; 95% CI: (1.08–10.50)] were statistically significant predictors of puerperal sepsis.ConclusionThe incidence of puerperal sepsis was 7.27%. Not attending formal education, cesarean delivery, premature rupture of membranes, complicated pregnancy, referral status, and absence of birth preparedness and complication readiness plan were predictors associated with the incidence of puerperal sepsis.

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Objectives: Puerperal sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can lead to death and long-term morbidities of postnatal women, such as chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, and secondary infertility. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of postnatal women at Debre Markos town health facilities toward the prevention of puerperal sepsis and its associated factors. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 30 July 2020. In all, 404 sampled postnatal women took part in the study. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select each study participant. Data were entered into Epi data 4.6 and analyzed by statistical package for social sciences 25. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out for variables with a p value less than 0.25 in bivariate logistic regression to determine significant associations between the outcome and independent variables. The statistical significance was determined using a 95% confidence interval with a p value of less than 0.05. Results: The study reported that 44.6% and 40.8% of postnatal women had adequate knowledge, and good practice toward the prevention of puerperal sepsis, respectively. Factors associated with knowledge were urban residence [adjusted odds ratio = 5.84, 95% confidence interval = (3.54–9.46)], primiparity [adjusted odds ratio = 1.85, 95% confidence interval = (1.19–2.89)], and attending formal education [adjusted odds ratio = 2.41, 95% confidence interval = (1.11–5.22)] of study participants. Attending formal education [adjusted odds ratio = 2.46, 95% confidence interval = (1.13–5.37)] and having adequate knowledge [adjusted odds ratio = 2.34, 95% confidence interval = (1.49–3.67)] were factors associated with the prevention practice of postnatal women toward puerperal sepsis. Conclusion: Less than half of postnatal women had adequate knowledge and good practice to prevent puerperal sepsis. As a result, obstetric caregivers and other concerned bodies should consider strategies to increase the awareness level of women about puerperal sepsis. Interventions to improve the community’s educational level should also be considered.