Introduction. Hepatitis virus infection is a major public health burden and silent killer disease in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses and associated factors among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in three tertiary hospitals in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1121 pregnant women. Data on sociodemographic and associated factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) using ELISA. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis, and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between factors associated with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis virus C infection. Results. A total of 1121 pregnant women were included in the study. The mean age of study participants was 27.2 ± 4.8 yrs. The majority of pregnant women (895 (79.8%)) were from urban areas. The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody was 52 (4.6%) and 18 (1.6%), respectively. The coinfection rate of HBV/HCV was 1.4% (1/69). Ten (19.2%) of HBV positive cases were coinfected with HIV. There were no coinfections of HCV and HIV. Interestingly, pregnant women with a history of multiple sexual partners (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI, 1.7–7.6), blood transfusion (AOR = 7.6, 95% CI, 2.9–16.9), family history of HBV (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI, 1.7–7.6), being HIV-positive (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI, 1–5.9), and tattooing (AOR = 2, 95% CI, 1–3.8) were significant predictors of HBV infection. Similarly, young age (17–25 yrs) (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI, 1.8–8.6) and no educational background (AOR = 5, 95 CI, 1.7–14.8) were significant predictors of HCV infection. Conclusions. Hepatitis B and C viruses’ infection was intermediate among pregnant women; some risk factors were significantly associated with the majority of cases. Infants born from these infected mothers are at risk of infection. This calls for screening and integration of HBV prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) into HIV. Thus, the provision of health education on hepatitis B and C viruses’ transmission, vaccination, and screening of all pregnant women routinely are essential for the prevention of these viruses.

Introduction Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy characterized by more than 5% weight loss and ketonuria. Although there are cases in Ethiopia, there is still insufficient information regarding the determinant factors of hyperemesis gravidarum.This finding helps to decrease maternal as well as fetal complications of hyperemesis gravidarum by early identification of pregnant mothers who are at high risk. This study aimed to assess determinants of hyperemesis gravidarum among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public and private hospitals in Bahir Dar, North-West Ethiopia, 2022. Method A multicenter, facility-based, unmatched case-control study was conducted on 444 pregnant women (148 cases and 296 controls) from January 1 to May 30. Women with a documented diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum on the patient chart were considered as cases, and women who attended antenatal care service without hyperemesis gravidarum were assigned as controls. Cases were selected using a consecutive sampling technique, whereas controls were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The data were entered into EPI-Data version 3 and exported into SPSS version 23 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify determinants of hyperemesis gravidarum at a p-value of less than 0.05. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine the direction of association. Results Living in urban (AOR = 2.717, 95% CI : 1.693,4.502), primigravida (AOR = 6.185, 95% CI: 3.135, 12.202), first& second trimester of pregnancy (AOR = 9.301, 95% CI: 2.877,30.067) & (AOR = 4.785, 95% CI: 1.449,15.805) respectively, family history of hyperemesis gravidarum (AOR = 2.929, 95% CI: 1.268,6.765), helicobacter pylori (AOR = 4.881, 95% CI: 2.053, 11.606) & Depression (AOR = 2.195, 95% CI: 1.004,4.797) were found to be determinants of hyperemesis gravidarum. Conclusion Living in an urban area, primigravida woman, being in the first and second trimester, having family history of hyperemesis gravidarum, Helicobacter pylori infection, and having depression were the determinants of hyperemesis gravidarum. Primigravid women, those living in urban areas, and women who have a family history of hyperemesis gravidarum should have psychological support and early treatment initiation if they develop nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Routing screening for Helicobacter pylori infection and mental health care for a mother with depression at the time of preconception care may decreases hyperemesis gravidarum significantly during pregnancy.

Introduction Cesarean delivery carries both short term and long-term maternal complications. Eventhough it’s being a public burden, the proportion of complications and underlying risk factors are not studied well in our setup. This study aimed to assess the proportion and associated factors of complications of cesarean sections among mothers who delivered at Bahir Dar city public specialized hospitals, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 2021. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at two specialized Hospitals in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia. The sample size was 495 mothers who had cesarean section in the time period from January 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020. Checklist was used to retrieve information from the patient medical document. Study population was selected from the operation registration book. Systematic sampling was used after arranging the study frame based on date of operation. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was done. In multivariable logistic regression variables with p value < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval were significantly associated with outcome variable. Result Overall maternal complication rate was 44.04% (95% CI: 39.6–48.5). Living in rural setting (AOR = 4.247,95%CI: 2.765–6.522), having one or more obstetric complication (AOR = 1.913,95% CI: 1.214–3.015), cesarean section done at Second stage of labor (AOR = 4.358,95%CI: 1.841–10.317), having previous cesarean section (AOR = 3.540,95%CI: 2.121–5.910), emergency operation (AOR = 2.967,95%CI: 1.492–5.901), duration of surgery taking more than 60 min (AOR = 3.476,95%CI: 1.521–7.947) were found to be significantly associated with maternal complications. Conclusion The magnitude of maternal complication of cesarean section was higher than most studies. Living in rural setting, having obstetric complications, previous cesarean scar, emergency surgeries, operation done in second stage of labor and prolonged duration of surgery are important predictors of maternal complication. Therefore, we recommend timely and adequate progress of labor evaluation, timely decision for cesarean delivery and vigilant care in post-operative period shall be conducted.

Background Hepatitis virus infection is a major public health burden and silent killer disease in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Despite the recommendations of the World Health Organization, screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in pregnant women is not done routinely in public health institutions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the burden of HBV and HCV and its associated factors among pregnant women in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Methods A total of 1121 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Data on sociodemographic and associated factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood was collected from the pregnant women, and serum samples were tested for HBsAg and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) using ELISA. The status of HIV-infected pregnant women was collected from the records of their charts. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis, and a binary logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between factors associated with HBV and HCV infection. Results The seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody were 4.6% and 1.6, respectively. The co-infection rate of HBV/HCV was 1.4% (1/69). Ten out of 52 HBV positive cases (19.2%) were co-infected with HIV. Only 20 (1.8%) pregnant women had the HBV vaccine. Interestingly, pregnant women with a history of multiple sexual partners (AOR = 3.2,95% CI,1.7–7.6), blood transfusion (AOR = 7.6,95% CI,2.9–16.9), family history of HBV (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI,1.7–7.6), being HIV-positive (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI,1-5.9), and tattooing (AOR = 2, 95% CI, 1-3.8) were significant predictors of HBV infection. Conclusions HBV and HCV infections were intermediate among pregnant women; risk factors were responsible for the majority of cases. Infants born from these infected mothers are at risk of infection. This calls for integration of HBV prevention into the PMTC of HIV. Thus, the provision of health education on HBV and HCV transmission, vaccination, and screening of all pregnant women routinely is essential for PMTCT.