Background: Adverse perinatal outcomes are the major cause of neonatal morbidity, mortality, and long-term physical and psychological consequences. Contradicting evidence across studies was reported about the impact of grand multiparity on adverse perinatal outcomes. Older literature reported increased incidence of perinatal complications in grand multiparas, but, recent reports failed to support this finding. In addition, there is a paucity of comparative studies on perinatal outcomes. Thus, the study aimed to compare the perinatal outcomes in grand multiparous (GM) and low multiparous (LM) women who give birth in North Shewa Zone Public Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was done among 540 (180 GM and 360 LM) women from January 1 to March 30, 2021. The data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire through interviews and reviewing patient charts. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. The data were entered using Epi-Data version 4.6. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit was applied to test for model fitness. The statistical significance level was declared at a p-value of ≤0.05. Results: In this study, the prevalence of adverse perinatal outcomes was 14.1% (95% CI: 10.9-17.2). Stillbirth/IUFD (33.3%) and low APGAR score (60%) were frequently occurred complications in grand multiparas. Nevertheless, meconium aspiration (26%), admission to NICU (65.2%), macrosomia (61%), and prematurity (52.2%) were higher in low multiparous women. Age above 35 years (AOR (CI) = 2.61 (1.23-5.53)), rural residence (AOR (CI) = 8.31 (3.05-22.6)), being a government employee (AOR (CI) = 0.19 (0.05-0.69)), lack of antenatal care (AOR (CI) = 9.76 (3.03-31.5)), and previous pregnancy complications (AOR (CI) = 3.10 (1.63-5.90)) were significant predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, parity did not show a statistically significant association with perinatal outcomes. Conclusion: Maternal age, residence, occupation, lack of antenatal care, and previous pregnancy complications were significant associates of perinatal outcome. There was no statistically significant difference in perinatal outcome between GM and LM women. Socioeconomic development, good antenatal care, and early identification and treatment of complications are needed regardless of parity.

BackgroundThe postpartum period is known as a high-risk period for the onset of different maternal mental health problems. Globally, 10–20% of postnatal mothers suffer from depressive symptoms. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinant factors of postpartum depression among mothers attending their postnatal and vaccination services at public health institutions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodologyHealth institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 461 postnatal mothers attending public health institutions in Addis Ababa from 15 May 2021 to 15 July 2021. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select the public health institutions and a systematic random sampling method was used to get selected, postnatal mothers. Epidata version 3.1 and SPSS version 25 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. P-value ≤ 0.05 was used as a cut point of statistical significance in multivariable binary logistic regression.ResultsFrom total postnatal mothers 91(19.7%) of them had postpartum depression. Occupational status [AOR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.04, 8.15], marital status [AOR = 2.69, 95% CI =1.33, 5.45], income management [AOR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.53, 8.21], sex of baby [AOR = 5.07, 95% CI: 1.24, 20.69], history of child death [AOR = 6.93, 95% CI: 2.67, 15.79], unplanned pregnancy [AOR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.65, 7.93], negative life event [AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.39], substance use during pregnancy [AOR = 6.23, 95% CI: 2.72, 20.05], history of depression [AOR = 5.08, 95% CI: 1.79, 14.39], and marriage satisfaction [AOR = 6.37, 95% CI: 2.63, 14.29] were determinant factors of postpartum depression.ConclusionThe prevalence of postpartum depression in this study is high compared to national findings. Occupational status, marital status, income management, sex of baby, history of child death, unplanned pregnancy, negative life event, substance use during pregnancy, history of depression, and marital satisfaction were determinant factors of postpartum depression. The ministry of health should integrate mental health services with existing maternal health care services. It would be better if all healthcare professionals working in the maternal and child health unit will routinely screen postpartum depressive symptoms and link them to mental health services.

BackgroundThe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many communities including students. Even if restrictions are being lifted in some countries, i.e., Ethiopia, COVID-19 is not gone yet. Adjusting to the “new normal”, an emerging prevention response to the virus, can greatly recover public health and education. Thus, this study aimed to assess students' perception of national efforts at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, including approaches to prevention measures, and associated factors during campus re-entry.Methods and MaterialsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among 682 Debre Berhan University (DBU) students from December 1 to 15, 2020, when students had just gone back to school. The data was entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 statistical software for analysis. The perception and practice of the participants were assessed using a scoring system. Binary logistic regression was run to identify the significant (p ≤ 0.05) predictors of COVID-19 prevention practice.ResultThe overall high perception and good practice of prevention behaviors were 32%, 95% CI (28.8–35.2), and 37.5%, 95% CI (33.7–41.2), respectively. Being female [AOR (CI) = 1.67 (1.17–2.37)], have a rural residence [AOR (CI) = 1.56 (1.07–2.29)], fathers' education [AOR (CI) = 1.94 (1.06–3.56)], having respiratory disease [AOR (CI) = 2.81 (1.32–5.95)], and information sources from YouTube [AOR (CI) = 1.87 (1.19–2.91)] were significant factors for COVID-19 prevention practice. Besides, a high perception of national efforts at controlling COVID-19 [AOR (CI) = 2.94 (2.04–4.25)] was positively associated with the practice of prevention measures.ConclusionDuring school reopening, most students had a low perception of national efforts at controlling COVID-19 and poor prevention practices. Socio-demographics, having a chronic illness, information sources, and perception of national efforts were factors of COVID-19 prevention practice. Thus, raising the perception of the national efforts, promoting precautionary measures, managing chronic illnesses, and disseminating information through YouTube are critical to preventing and controlling COVID-19 during campus re-entry.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the general healthcare system and higher education worldwide. Adapting to the culture of “new normal,” an emerging response to COVID-19, is crucial for public health recovery and learning. This study investigated students' readiness and intention for adapting to the ‘‘new normal’’ COVID-19 prevention campaign during campus re-entry in Debre Berhan university in Ethiopia after the country eases lockdown restrictions.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 20th to 30th January 2021, among graduate students in Debre Berhan university, Ethiopia. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 423 participants. A structured and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data and bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to interpret the strength of association and the statistical significance level was declared at a p-value of ≤0.05.Result: In this study 423 participants were involved. The level of readiness and intention of adapting to the ‘‘new normal’’ prevention campaign were 49.4 and 54.8% respectively. Being a health science student (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.81), being married (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.05), having a smartphone (AOR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.12), and being knowledgeable towards COVID-19 (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.34) were found to be significant factors associated with intention towards adapting to the ‘‘new normal’’ prevention practice. Also, the main reason why participants had no intention to carry out the ‘‘new normal’’ prevention campaign were a shortage of quality required preventive supplies (60%) and those who perceived themselves personally not at risk of COVID-19 (31.3%).Conclusion: In this study, although information on the COVID-19 outbreak is continually evolving, readiness and intention for adapting to the ‘‘new normal’’ COVID-19 prevention campaign were insufficient. It is critical to improve readiness and intention through increasing knowledge and emphasizing the importance of new technologies and handy protective supplies that may encourage the sustainable practice of new norms post-pandemic.

BackgroundContinuum of care (CoC) is the continuity of care from the beginning of pregnancy to the postnatal period to improve maternal, neonatal, and child health. Dropout from the maternal CoC remains a public health challenge in Ethiopia. There are limited studies on women who dropped out of the CoC. The available studies have focused on the time dimension of the CoC, and there is a paucity of data on the place dimension of the CoC. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of dropout from the maternal CoC and its associated factors in Debre Berhan town, northeast Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 842 mothers from September to October 2020. A cluster sampling technique was applied, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Data were cleaned and entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to summarize the findings, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultThe overall prevalence of dropout from the maternity continuum of care was 69.1% [95% CI (66.0–72.3)]. The prevalence of dropout from ANC, skilled birth attendant, and PNC visits was 45.4, 0.5, and 48.7%, respectively. Rural residents, partners' level of education, monthly income, the timing of the first ANC visit, antenatal counseling about a continuum of care, and the level of satisfaction with the service delivery were significantly associated with ANC dropout. Maternal age and occupation, partners' age, media exposure, parity, the timing of the first ANC visit, the place of ANC visit, and the time spent for an ANC visit were significantly associated with dropout from PNC visits. Husbands' occupation, monthly income, number of alive children, the timing of the first ANC visit, and the time spent for an ANC visit had a statistically significant association with dropout from the maternity CoC.ConclusionDropout from the CoC in the study area was high. Socioeconomic development, partner involvement, antenatal counseling, efficient service delivery, and media exposure are vital to improving the high dropout rate from the maternal continuum of care.