In Ethiopia, neonatal mortality has been declined since the declaration of Millennium Developmental Goals, but the rate was slower since 2006. Thus, this study was designed to assess the determinants of neonatal mortality (NM) in North Shoa Zone. A community based case-control study was conducted on 84 cases and 252 controls. Cases were deceased new-borns within 28 days of birth while controls were infants survived beyond the first 28 days. Data were collected from mothers of the cases and controls using interviewer administered questionnaires. Multivariate analysis was done to examine determinants of NM. Variables significantly associated with NM in bivariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis. Neonates whose mothers not attended antenatal care (AOR: 3.47; 95%CI: 1.44–8.32), delivered at home (AOR: 2.86; 95%CI: 1.56–5.26), and not received postnatal care services (AOR: 3.09; 95%CI: 1.73–5.51) were more likely to die. The odds of neonatal death was higher among neonates not breastfed within the first hour of delivery than those who breastfed within the first hour of delivery (AOR: 23.48; 95%CI: 8.43–65.37). Likewise, no-colostrum intake was positively associated with neonatal death. Neonates born to mothers who not received or received a single dose of tetanus toxoid injection (TTI) were more likely to experience death than those neonates born to mothers who received two or more doses of TTI (AOR: 2.05; 95%CI: 1.14–3.70). Furthermore, being small in size at birth (AOR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.33–5.33) and male in sex (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.06–3.26) were risk factors for NM. In conclusion, neonatal mortality was significantly associated with factors that are modifiable through addressing the continuum-of-care approach in healthcare services in North Shoa. This implies that ensuring a continuity of health care services for maternal and new-borns from antenatal to postnatal care will improve neonatal survival.

BackgroundBreast milk is comprised of the essential nutrients that an infant needs in the first six months of life. Timely initiation of breastfeeding guarantees that infants receive the colostrum, ‘the first breastmilk’, which contains antibodies that protect the newborn against diseases. Breastfeeding within the first hour of life prevents newborn death due to sepsis, pneumonia, diarrhea and hypothermia. Although breastfeeding is a common practice in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence show that early initiation of breastfeeding is low.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 583 mothers with infants younger than or equal to 6 months of age attending Maternal and Child Health (MCH) clinics of public health institutions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from April to May 2012. A simple random sampling design was used to select the institutions included in this study. Data from mothers of infants were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. We analyzed the data to examine factors associated with initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth using logistic regression models.ResultsOf 564 (96.7%, 564/583) mothers who breastfed their infants, 58.3% (329/564) initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth. In the adjusted analysis, mothers who had three or more infants had about twice higher odds of timely initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 2.10; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]1.04, 4.30) compared with mothers who had one infant. Furthermore, women who started antenatal care at their fourth month of pregnancy or later had a 49.0% higher odds of initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth (aOR 1.49; 95% CI 1.01, 2.19) compared to mothers who started antenatal care before their fourth month of pregnancy.ConclusionsInitiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth was low. Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth was highest among multiparous women, mothers aged 30–34 years, and women who began antenatal care at their fourth month of pregnancy or later. Public health officials and health care providers should consider interventions to promote and support early initiation of breastfeeding.

Breast Self-Examination is a method where by women examines their breasts regularly to detect any abnormal swelling or lumps in order to seek prompt medical attention. Knowledge, attitude and practice towards breast self-examination is important among females for screening, early detection and diagnosis of breast Cancer. Objective of the Study was to determine knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breast self-examination among female students in Debre Birhan University, 2013. Institutional based cross sectional study design was used among 374 students. Simple random sampling was used. Data was entered onto Epi Data version 3.01, exported to and analyzed by SPSS version 20 statistical software. From the total of 367 participants 170 (46.3%) had heard about breast self-examination while most 197 (53.7%) had never heard about it. The commonest source of information about breast self-examination was media 118 (69.4%). Majority 273 (74.4%) of the respondents had poor knowledge, most 289 (78.7%) of the respondents had negative attitude and majority 281 (76.6%) of the respondents had poor practice of breast self-examination. Practices have associations with academic year, department and media exposure. Generally, in this study knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination was unsatisfactory. Poor practice is an indication of poor knowledge and negative attitude. Programs should be strengthened about breast selfexamination and its importance for early detection of breast cancer.

Background. Hypertensive condition during the pregnancy of the mother that usually occurs after 20 weeks of gestation age is clinically considered preeclampsia. This health problem of pregnant mothers can lead to various complications for both the mother and the baby. But the risk factors for preeclampsia have not been well documented. Therefore, availing up-to-date information on the prevalence and associated factors of preeclampsia is essential for its early identification and management. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of preeclampsia and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC). Methods. Cross-sectional study design was used from March 1, 2022, to March 30, 2022, among 235 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital (TBGH) from March 1, 2022 March 30, 2022, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling was employed to get study participants from antenatal care attendants. Data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The presence of statistical association was determined using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Variables with P values less than 0.05 were considered statically significant. Result. A total of 235 participants were enrolled in the study with a 99.1% response rate. The prevalence of preeclampsia among the current pregnant women who attended ANC in Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital was 5.5% with 95% CI (AOR = 1.3–10.0). Significant variables such as respondents age >35 years, 2.1 (AOR = 1.3–3.4), history of preeclampsia 8.5 (AOR = 1.2–10.3), history of hypertension 2.9 (AOR = 3.0–7.3), ANC visit <3 times 8.5 (AOR = 3.1–13.4), and family history of hypertension 2.2 (AOR = 1.24.3) were significantly associated with preeclampsia. Conclusion. A considerable proportion of pregnant women were experiencing preeclampsia. History of preeclampsia and hypertension, family history of hypertension, and maternal age were associated factors of preeclampsia. Therefore, health professionals working in health institutions give more attention to controlling hypertension during antenatal service.