Background. Obstetric fistula is abnormal passageway between the vagina and bladder or rectum, and it has the most devastating effects on physical, social, and economic levels and represents a major public health issue of thousands of women, which failed to provide accessible and appropriate intrapartum care for women within a developing country, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, we tried to assess the awareness and its associated factors of obstetrics fistula among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care clinics. Methods. A health institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed from March 4 to 29/2019 among 413 pregnant women. Data was collected by a systematic random sampling technique and entered into a computer using Epi data 3.5, edited and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences 23.0 version. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95% and p value of less than 0.05 considered statically significant. Result. This study identified that 39.5% with 95% confidence interval (34.6-44.6%) of pregnant women had good awareness about obstetrics fistula. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that living in urban [AOR=1.98, 95% CI=1.07−3.69], attending formal education [AOR=2.11, 95% CI=1.06−4.12], having history antenatal care [AOR=3.87, 95% CI=1.60−9.68], and childbirth at health institution [AOR=7.10, 95% CI=2.52−2.02] were significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula. Conclusion and recommendation. This study showed that awareness of obstetrics fistula was low. Residency, education, and occupation of the women, having history of antenatal care and childbirth at health institution was significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula. Still, there is a gap on awareness of obstetrics fistula; therefore, it is good to emphasize on providing information on maternal health care issues, particularly about obstetrics fistula.

Background. Birth asphyxia is a serious clinical problem of newborn babies, which occurs due to impaired blood-gas exchange and results in hypoxemia. Despite improvements in the diagnosis and management of perinatal asphyxia, it has become the leading cause of admission and neonatal mortality, especially in developing countries. Objective. This study was aimed at assessing factors associated with perinatal asphyxia among live births in the public health facilities of Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. Method. Health facility-based cross-sectional study was employed from April 1-30/2021 in the public health facilities of Bahir Dar city among 517 mother-newborn pairs. The data were collected by systematic random sampling technique, entered by using Epi data 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 version. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95% and a P value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Frequency tables, figures, and descriptive summaries were used to describe the study variables. Result. In this study, 21.7% (95% CI: 18.2%–25.5%) of the newborns had perinatal asphyxia. Malpresentation ( AOR = 4.06 , 95 % CI = 2.08 -7.94), uterotonic drug administration ( AOR = 2.78 , 95 % CI = 1.67 -4.62), meconium-stained amniotic fluid ( AOR = 4.55 , 95 % CI = 2.66 , 7.80), night time delivery ( AOR = 1.91 , 95 % CI = 1.17 , 3.13), and preterm delivery ( AOR = 3.96 , 95 % CI = 1.98 , 7.89) were significantly associated with perinatal asphyxia. Conclusion and Recommendation. In the present study, the proportion of perinatal asphyxia was high. To mitigate this problem, there is a need to focus on early identification of the risk factors like fetal malpresentation, preterm labor/delivery, and managing them appropriately. Administering uterotonic drugs should be based on indication with close supervision.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess factors associated with institutional delivery among mothers who had delivered within 1 year prior to the study at Gilgelbelles town, Northwest, Ethiopia.DesignA community-based mixed-methods study was conducted from 1 February 2020 to 2 March 2020.SettingThis study was conducted at Gilgelbelles town, Northwest Ethiopia.ParticipantsIncluded 422 mothers who delivered 1 year prior to the study at Gilgelbelles town.Outcome measuresUtilisation of institutional delivery and factors associated with institutional delivery.MethodsThe quantitative data were collected by the simple random sampling technique, entered into Epi data V.3.1, and analysed using SPSS V.23.0. The qualitative data were collected by using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis was done manually to supplement the quantitative result.ResultsIn this study, 39.6% (95% CI=34.8 to 44.3) of mothers were given childbirth at the health facility. In multivariable analysis maternal age group of 15–20 years, secondary and above educational level, good knowledge on danger signs of obstetric, antenatal care visits, good awareness of birth preparedness and complications readiness plan, getting married after the age of 18 years, faced at least one complication during pregnancy, less than two children, travelled <30 min to reach a nearby health facility, having decision making power and not practised traditional malpractice during labour were significantly associated with institutional delivery. The qualitative result shows that cultural factors of the society and the lack of adequate delivery material in the health facility were identified as the major reason for the low utilisation of institutional delivery services.ConclusionThis study showed that the proportion of institutional delivery was low. Sociodemographic, reproductive and knowledge-related factors were associated with institutional delivery. This indicates a need of taking appropriate interventions by integrating other stakeholders to increase the utilisation of institutional delivery services.

Introduction. Timely initiation of breastfeeding is defined as putting the newborn baby to the breast within one hour of birth. Despite the World Health Organization and national recommendations on timely initiation of breastfeeding, delayed initiation of breastfeeding is still a common problem. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the timely initiation of breastfeeding and its associated factors at the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021. Methods. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was employed from February 1, 2021, to March 2, 2021, at the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city among 302 mother-child pairs. The data were collected by systematic random sampling technique, entered into Epi data 4.2, and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science 25.0 version. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95%, and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Frequency tables, figures, and descriptive summaries were used to describe the study variables. Results. In this study, timely initiation of breastfeeding was 70.9% (95% CI: 65.6-75.8%). In a multivariable analysis, maternal age group of 25-40 years ( AOR = 2.21 , 95% CI = 1.09 − 4.48 ), multiparty ( AOR = 2.58 , 95% CI = 1.24 − 5.40 ), counselling on timely initiation of breastfeeding during antenatal care visits ( AOR = 2.38 , 95% CI = 1.16 − 4.88 ), institutional delivery ( AOR = 3.29 , 95% CI = 1.27 − 8.52 ), vaginal delivery ( AOR = 3.06 , 95% CI = 1.20 − 7.81 ), counselling on breastfeeding immediately after delivery ( AOR = 2.89 , 95% CI = 1.29 − 6.45 ), not practicing pre lacteal feeding ( AOR = 6.76 , 95% CI = 2.35 − 19.44 ), and having good practice of colostrum feeding ( AOR = 4.03 , 95% CI = 1.95 − 8.36 ) were associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion and Recommendation. Mothers who had practiced timely initiation of breastfeeding were low compared to the national recommendation (92%). Age of the mother, multiparity, counseling on timely initiation of breastfeeding, institutional delivery, vaginal delivery, counseling after delivery, not practicing prelacteal feeding, and having a good practice of colostrum feeding were predictors of timely initiation of breastfeeding. It indicates a need to encourage mothers to have antenatal care visits and institutional delivery.

Background Obstetric fistula is abnormal passage way between the vagina and bladder or rectum and it has the most devastating effects on physical, social and economic levels and represents a major public health issue of thousands of women, which failed to provide accessible and appropriate intrapartum care for women within developing country, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, we tried to assess the awareness and its associated factors of obstetrics fistula among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care clinics.Method A health institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from March 4–29/2019 among 413 pregnant women. The data was collected by systematic random sampling technique and entered into a computer using Epi data 3.5, edited and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences 23.0 version. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses was employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with confidence interval of 95% and p value of less than 0.05 considered statically significant.Results The study identified that 39.5% with 95% confidence interval (34.6-44.6%) of pregnant women were had good awareness about obstetrics fistula. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, living in urban AOR=1.98, 95% CI=1.07-3.69], attending formal education [AOR=2.11, 95%CI=1.06-4.12], having history antenatal care [AOR=3.87, 95%CI, =1.60-9.68] and childbirth at health institution [AOR=7.10, 95%CI=2.52-2.02] were have a positive association with awareness of obstetrics fistula. On the other hand, occupation of the respondents: house wife [AOR=0.30, 95% CI=016-0.57] and merchants [AOR= 0.41, 95% CI=0.20-0.91] were have a negative association with awareness of obstetrics fistula.Conclusion This study showed that awareness of obstetrics fistula was low. Residency, education and occupation of the women, having history of antenatal care and childbirth at health institution was significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula. Still there is a gap on awareness of obstetrics fistula; therefore, it is good to emphasis on providing information on maternal health care issues, particularly about obstetrics fistula.