Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. High parity has long been suspected with an increased risk of cervical cancer. Evidence from the existing epidemiological studies regarding the association between parity and cervical cancer is variable and inconsistent. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the best available evidence on the epidemiological association between parity and cervical cancer. Methods: Case–control studies reporting the association between parity and cervical cancer were systematically searched in databases like MEDLINE/PubMed, HINARI, Google scholar, Science direct, and Cochrane Libraries. All studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria and published between 2000 and 7 March 2020 were included in this meta-analysis. This study reported according to PRISMA guideline. Cochran’s Q-statistics and I2 tests were performed to assess heterogeneity among included studies. Egger’s regression analysis was performed to assess publication bias. A random-effect meta-analysis model was used to compute pooled odds ratio of the association between parity and cervical cancer. Results: A total of 6685 participants (3227 patients and 3458 controls) were incorporated in the 12 studies included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that women with high parity had 2.65 times higher odds of developing cervical cancer compared to their counterparts (odds ratio = 2.65, 95% confidence interval = 2.08–3.38). Conclusion: High parity is positively associated with cervical cancer. Strong epidemiological studies are recommended to further explore the mechanisms and role of parity in the causation of cervical cancer.

Objective Adverse birth outcomes, which include stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, congenital abnormalities, and stillbirth, are the leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality worldwide. We assessed adverse birth outcomes and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in Bale zone hospitals, Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia. Methods We used systematic random sampling in this cross-sectional study. We identified factors associated with adverse birth outcomes using bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results The proportion of adverse birth outcomes among participants was 21%. Of 576 births, 70 (12.2%) were low birthweight, 49 (8.5%) were preterm birth, 45 (7.8%) were stillbirth, and 18 (3.1%) infants had congenital anomalies. Inadequate antenatal care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.25–13.32), multiple pregnancy (AOR  =  4.74, 95% CI 1.55–14.45), premature rupture of membranes in the current pregnancy (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.26–4.21), hemoglobin level  < 11 g/dL (AOR = 3.22, 95% CI 1.85–5.58), and mid-upper arm circumference less than 23 cm (AOR = 5.93, 95% CI 3.49–10.08) were all significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes. Conclusions Approximately one in five study participants had adverse birth outcomes. Increasing antenatal care uptake, ferrous supplementation during pregnancy, and improving the quality of maternal health services are recommended.

Background: The foramen magnum (FM) is the largest opening and is outlet through which medulla oblongata and spinal cord along with meninges, vertebral arteries, anterior and posterior spinal arteries, tectorial membrane, alar ligaments, and spinal branch of the accessory nerve. Occipital condyle (OC) is an important part of craniovertebral or craniocervical junction located anterolaterally on either side of the FM. The objective of the study was to assess variations of FM and OC in Ethiopian dried adult skulls. Methods: Observation-based descriptive study design was employed. The study was undertaken in 54 FM and 108 OC of 54 adult Ethiopian skulls. The morphometry of FM and OC were determined using a sliding vernier caliper. Results: The mean values of anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the FM were 35.19 and 30.17 mm, respectively, and the mean area of the FM was 853.36 mm2. The shapes of FM were determined as round in 22.2%, oval in 18.5%, egg like in 20.4%, triangular in 3.7%, pentagonal in 11.1%, hexagonal in 7.4%, irregular in 13%, and rectangular in 3.7% of the cases. The mean length of right and left OC was 25.69 and 26.96 mm, respectively, and the mean widths of the right and left OC were 12.76 and 13.04 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Our study identified various shapes of FM and diameter. The anteroposterior diameter is greater than the transverse diameter. The morphometric study of OC confirmed the length of left side is significantly greater than the right side.

Purpose Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer among women. An estimated 570,000 cases of cervical cancer representing 6.6% of all female cancers were reported in the year 2018. Approximately, 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Screening cervical cancer at an early stage and providing access to effective treatment can significantly improve the likelihood of survival. Hence, this study aimed to assess the determinants of visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid (VIA) positivity among women screened in public hospitals of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based un-matched case-control study was conducted in Oromia region, Ethiopia. Cases were women who have a positive result for the VIA test, and controls were women with a negative result. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Multiple binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess the determinants of VIA positivity. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported to describe the strength of associations. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value <0.05. Results A total of 74 cases and 148 controls were included in this study. The mean age of cases and controls was 40.5 ± 13.3 years and 37.1 ± 11.9 years, respectively. Women with parity of four or more children had two times higher odds being positive for VIA test compared to their counterparts (AOR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–4.0). Women with a history of post-coital bleeding had three times higher odds of VIA positivity compared to their counterparts (AOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2–8.0). History of sexually transmitted infection (AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.5), having multiple sexual partners (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.2–8.0), and history of smoking (AOR: 8.9, 95% CI: 1.6–48.0) were also found to be determinants of VIA positivity. Conclusion This study found that women with parity greater than four children, post-coital bleeding, history of sexually transmitted infections, having multiple sexual partners, and history of smoking were significantly associated with VIA positivity. Women with the mentioned characteristics should be encouraged to have a close follow-up for the screening. Additionally, awareness creation activities on the identified risk factors are strongly recommended for all women.

Background Provider-initiated HIV testing, and counseling (PITC) is a service in which health professionals provide HIV testing to all patients in health facilities. Provider-initiated HIV testing, and counseling is an important opportunity for early screening of individuals, and it is fundamental for both HIV treatment and prevention. Although there are studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia, their findings are variable. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the pooled utilization of PITC in Ethiopia. Method All studies conducted on utilization of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling at outpatient departments (OPD), inpatient departments (IPD), antenatal clinic care (ANC), and tuberculosis (TB) clinics in Ethiopia are eligible for these meta-analyses. A systematic search of the literature was conducted by the authors to identify all relevant primary studies. The databases used to search for studies were PubMed, Science Direct, POPLINE, HENARI, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The extracted data were imported into STATA version 14 software for statistical analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joana Briggs Institute (JBI) criteria for prevalence studies. The heterogeneity among all included studies was assessed by I2 statistics and the Cochran’s Q test. Pooled utilization along with its corresponding 95% CI was presented using a forest plot. Result About 1738 studies were retrieved from initial electronic searches using international databases and Google, and a total of 10,676 individual clients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled utilization of PITC in Ethiopia using the random effects model was estimated to be 78.9% (95% CI 73.87–83.85) with a significant level of heterogeneity (I2 = 98.5%; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis conducted on PITC showed the highest percentage among studies conducted in Addis Ababa (93.5%), while lower utilization was identified from a study conducted in the Tigray Region (35%). Limitation of the study The drawbacks of this review and meta-analysis were being reported with significant heterogeneity, and the protocol was not registered. Conclusion About 21% of health facility clients missed opportunities for PITC in Ethiopia.