Successful post-term pregnancy in scared bicornuate uterus: case report

Pregnancies in the bicornuate uterus are usually considered high-risk because of their association with poor reproductive outcomes such as recurrent pregnancy loss, cervical insufficiency, low birthweight, preterm birth, malpresentation, cesarean delivery, and uterine rupture. The objective of the report was to show that patients with a scared bicornuate uterus at post-term could have successful pregnancy outcomes. We are presenting a 28-year-old gravida III para II lady with a bicornuate scared uterus at post-term. She has a history of early third-trimester pregnancy loss, and her second pregnancy was delivered via cesarean section. In her first pregnancy, the patient's uterus was not identified as bicornuate. However, an ultrasound during her second pregnancy revealed that she had a bicornuate uterus, which led to the diagnosis. At term, the lady had a successful cesarean section. Lastly, for the current post-term pregnancy she had no prenatal check-up. Even though this, she was coming at the latent first stage of labor and an emergency cesarean section was done.Conclusion Successful outcomes could be achieved in patients with the bicornuate uterus at post-term gestation.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among health care professionals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Low vaccine acceptance remains a public health threat, which is still common among healthcare workers. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to determine the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia. This review was reported using the PRISMA checklist. Eleven articles were retrieved, then extracted on Excel, and exported to STATA version 11 software for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of vaccine acceptance and it is 95% CI were presented using forest plots. Tests to check heterogeneity and publication bias were done. The estimated pooled prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia with a random-effects model was 54.59% (95% CI: 42.49, 66.69) through a heterogeneity index (I²) of 99.1% (p < .001), which is relatively low. Therefore, it is important to identify and remove any myths or obstacles preventing healthcare professionals from accepting the COVID-19 vaccination.

HIV Serostatus Disclosure and Its Predictors Among Children Living With HIV in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

HIV disclosure among children refers to when the caregiver is having disclosed to the child that he or she has HIV specifically. Disclosure significantly improved adherence to treatment and quality of life among children living with HIV/AIDS. Even though, the benefits of disclosure are considerable, informing a child of his or her own HIV status is often delayed. There is a dearth of studies on HIV serostatus disclosure among children in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of HIV serostatus disclosure and associated factors among children living with HIV in Ethiopia.

Methods and Materials

Using a combination of search terms and Boolean operators, studies were retrieved from Pub Med/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochran library, and Google Scholar. Five authors independently assessed the quality of each study using the modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional studies. STATA Version 11 software was used for statistical analyses. The random-effects (Der Simonian and Laird) method was used for the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity test was carried out with the help of I-squared (I2) statistics. A leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was carried out.

Results

A total of 12 articles with 3,410 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HIV serostatus disclosure among children was 36.87% (95% CI: 29.30, 44.44; I2 = 95.8%). Children aged older than 10 years (p = 0.003) and caregivers with primary and above education (p < 0.001) were factors significantly associated with HIV serostatus disclosure among children.

Conclusions

The finding of this study showed that HIV serostatus disclosure among children is relatively low. Therefore, developing clear guideline on HIV serostatus disclosure among children, strengthening public health education or community awareness creation about HIV/AIDS to promote the benefits of disclosure and extensively provision of counseling by health care providers are essential to enhance HIV serostatus disclosure among children.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021239035.

Knowledge of preconception care among reproductive-age women in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia: a community-based, cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Preconception care can have a major public health impact by reducing maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity. Despite this importance, preconception care is still not implemented in majority of developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the proportion of knowledge of preconception care and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A community-based, cross-sectional study was employed from 1 March to 30 March 2019 among reproductive-age women. Data were collected via a face-to-face, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into EpiData V.4.6 and exported to SPSS V.25 for analysis. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables with p<0.05 were declared statistically significant. The strength of statistical association was measured using adjusted OR (AOR) and 95% CI.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study was conducted in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia. A total of 414 reproductive-age women were enrolled in the study.

OUTCOME

Knowledge of preconception (good or poor).

RESULTS

Of the total 414 participants, 71 (17.1%) had good knowledge about preconception care. Women's occupation (AOR: 8.68, 95% CI 1.25 to 60.3), monthly income (AOR: 9.89, 95% CI 1.93 to 50.76), gravidity (AOR: 0.28, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.58), contraceptive use (AOR: 4.95, 95% CI 1.09 to 22.39), history of congenital abnormality (AOR: 7.53, 95% CI 2.03 to 27.96), history of neonatal death (AOR: 6.51, 95% CI 1.62 to 26.18) and time to reach a health facility (AOR: 0.37, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.79) were statistically associated with knowledge about preconception care.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study area, only less than one-fifth of reproductive-age women had good knowledge of preconception care. Therefore, to improve women's knowledge about preconception care, a strong collaborative effort including several sectors should be made.

Utilisation of immediate postpartum family planning among postpartum women at public hospitals of North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of immediate postpartum family planning utilisation and the associated factors among postpartum women at public hospitals of North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 1-30 May 2020. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, p<0.05 and adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI were used to declare statistically significant factors.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study was conducted at public hospitals of North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia. A total of 394 postpartum women within 48 hours after giving birth before discharge from the selected hospitals were enrolled in the study.

OUTCOME

Immediate postpartum family planning utilisation (used or not used).

RESULTS

Of the total 394 participants, 84 (21.3%) used immediate postpartum family planning. The factors associated with immediate postpartum family planning utilisation were women's age (30-34 years) (AOR: 0.118; 95% CI 0.023 to 0.616), planning status of pregnancy (AOR: 3.175; 95% CI 1.063 to 9.484), reproductive intention (AOR: 5.046; 95% CI 1.545 to 16.479), partner support (AOR: 4.293; 95% CI 1.181 to 15.61), attitude towards family planning (AOR: 2.908; 95% CI 1.081 to 7.824) and maternal satisfaction with intrapartum care (AOR: 6.243; 95% CI 2.166 to 17.994).

CONCLUSION

In the study area, only less than a quarter of postpartum women used immediate postpartum family planning. Therefore, enhancing immediate postpartum family planning utilisation, strengthening community awareness to develop a favourable attitude towards family planning, promoting partner involvement in family planning and ensuring maternal satisfaction during intrapartum care are essential.

Maternal satisfaction with intrapartum care and associated factors among postpartum women at public hospitals of North Shoa Zone Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Maternal satisfaction is an essential indicator of the quality and the efficiency of the health care systems. At a time when efforts are being made globally to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, assessing maternal satisfaction is essential. There is a dearth of studies on maternal satisfaction with intrapartum care, particularly in the study area. This study aimed to assess maternal satisfaction with intrapartum care and associated factors among postpartum women at public hospitals of North Shoa Zone Ethiopia.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study with a systematic random sampling technique was conducted from May1-30/ 2020. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using a statistical package for the social sciences version 25. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were employed. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, level of statistical significance was declared at variables with p < 0.05 and the strength of the association was measured by an adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.

RESULT

Of the total 394 participants, 111 (28.2%) [95% CI: 23.9, 32.5] of postpartum women were satisfied with the intrapartum care. Place of residence [AOR: 1.934; 95% CI (1.183, 3.162)], planned status of the pregnancy [AOR: 2.245; 95% CI, (1.212, 4.158)], number of antenatal care visit [AOR: 2.389; 95% (1.437, 3.974)] and duration of labour [AOR: 2.463; 95% (1.378, 4.402)] were factors significantly associated with maternal satisfaction with intrapartum care.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of maternal satisfaction with intrapartum care was low. Therefore, designing strategies to enhance maternal satisfaction by strengthening adherence to antenatal care visits, provision of family planning to prevent unplanned pregnancy, and strict utilization of partograph to prevent prolonged labour and childbirth-related complications are crucial.

Mothers' utilization and associated factors of preconception care in Africa, a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

As the studies show, in every minute in the world, 380 women become pregnant and 190 face unplanned or unwanted pregnancies; 110 experience pregnancy-related complications, and one woman dies from a pregnancy-related cause. Preconception care is one of the proven strategies for the reduction in mortality and decreases the risk of adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, and neonate by optimizing maternal health services and improves woman's health. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of utilization of preconception of care and associated factors in Africa.

METHODS

Systematic search of published studies done on PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science CINAHL, and manually on Google Scholar. This meta-analysis follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of studies was assessed by the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects method using the STATA™ Version 14 software.

RESULT

From 249,301 obtained studies, 28 studies from 3 African regions involving 13067 women included in this Meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of utilization of preconception care among pregnant women in Africa was found to be 18.72% (95% CI: 14.44, 23.00). Knowledge of preconception care (P = <0.001), preexisting medical condition (P = 0.045), and pregnancy intention (P = 0.016) were significantly associated with the utilization of preconception care.

CONCLUSION

The results of this meta-analysis indicated, as one of best approaches to improve birth outcomes, the utilization of preconception care is significantly low among mothers in Africa. Therefore, health care organizations should work on strategies to improve preconception care utilization.

Prevalence and Trends of Congenital Anomalies Among Neonates at Jimma Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia: A Three-Year Retrospective Study

Introduction

Congenital anomalies are a major public health problem which is defined as structural or functional anomalies that occur during intrauterine life which can be detected prenatally, at birth, or sometimes may only be detected later in infancy. The impact of congenital anomalies is severe in middle- and low-income countries than in other developed and developing countries.

Objective

To assess the prevalence and trends of congenital anomalies among neonates admitted at Jimma Medical Center from 2017 to 2019.

Methods

A facility-based retrospective, descriptive crossectional study was conducted among neonates admitted at Jimma Medical Center from 2017–2019. Descriptive analysis (frequency and percentage) was calculated for the variables. The result was present in the table, text, and figure.

Results

From a total of 3346 admitted neonates, 199 (5.95%) neonates were diagnosed with congenital anomalies; of which 120 (60.3%), 146 (73.4%), 144 (72.4%) and 30 (15.1%) of neonates were males, urban dwellers, delivered with normal birth weight and had multiple congenital anomalies, respectively. Central nervous system was the most commonly affected body system 56 (28.1%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract 41 (20.1%) and musculoskeletal system 32 (16.1%). The proportion of congenital anomalies was significantly increasing over time.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of congenital anomalies was high and increased from year to year. The proportions observed in the study indicated that a significant number of neonates were affected and suffered from the impacts of congenital anomalies which need immediate preventive actions such as iron folate supplementation during preconception and early pregnancy. Therefore, design strategies to create community awareness and prevention mechanism of congenital anomalies, and strengthening the care and rehabilitation services for affected patients are crucial.

Predictors of optimal breastfeeding practices in Worabe town, Silte zone, South Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Studies in sub-Saharan Africa indicated the overall prevalence of optimal breast feeding ranged between a lowest of 17.63% in East Africa and a highest of 46.37% in West Africa. It's estimated that 823,000 deaths of children could be prevented every year through optimal breastfeeding practices. However optimal breastfeeding practices is low in most setting of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess optimal breastfeeding practices and associated factors in Worabe town.

METHOD

A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from April 15th-25th, 2018. A systematic sampling technique was applied on 347 sampled mothers who had children greater than or equal to 2 years old. The data was entered into EpiData (version 3.1) and subsequently exported to SPSS Statistics (version 22) for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for presenting summary data using tables and graph. Bivariate and multi variable logistic regression analysis to identify were used to identify associated factors. The statistical significance was declared at P<0.05.

RESULT

Optimal breastfeeding was exhibited by 42.1% of mothers. Government employees (AOR = 8.0; 95% CI: 1.7, 36.4), families with a household income of 1,500-3,000 Ethiopian birr (AOR = 4.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 20.1), individuals knowledgeable about optimal breastfeeding practices (AOR: 5.5 95% CI: 1.6, 18.1), individuals counselled about breastfeeding practices during postnatal follow-ups (AOR = 4.940, 95% CI: 1.313, 10.195), and individuals that had a caesarean section delivery (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 14.1) had a higher chance of practicing optimal breastfeeding. However, mothers who did not attend or have access to antenatal care follow-ups (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.5) were less likely to practice optimal breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Less than half of mothers breastfed their children optimally. Factors that influenced this included knowledge of optimal breastfeeding practices, total household income, the woman's occupation, access to breastfeeding counselling during postnatal care follow-ups, access to antenatal care follow-ups, and mode of delivery. It is strongly recommended that optimal breastfeeding awareness programs through health education be done in collaboration with health extension workers, and zonal health offices.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering, natural bond orbitals and Mulliken atomic charge distribution in the normal modes of diethyldithiocarbamate cadmium (II) complex, [Cd(DDTC)₂]

Theoretical and experimental bands have been assigned to the Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman spectra of the bis(diethyldithiocarbamate)Cd(II) complex, abbreviated as ([Cd(DDTC)2]). The calculations and spectral interpretation have been based on the DFT/B3LYP method, infrared and Raman second derivative spectra, and band deconvolution analysis to assist in the assignment of observed fundamentals. This study validated the unusual pseudo tetrahedral molecular structure formed around the Cd(II) cation. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was used to determine the interactions of the normal-modes of the diethyldithiocarbamate cadmium (II) complex on nano-structured silver surfaces. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was also carried out to study the Cd(II) hybridization causing the pseudo tetrahedral geometry of the framework of the [Cd(DDTC)2] complex, and to confirm the charge transfer mechanisms through second order perturbation theory analysis of the Fox Matrix. In order to find out the electronic dispersion of the Mulliken atomic charges (MAC) in the normal modes, we calculated the MAC for each normal mode and correlated these values with the SERS effect. Experimental UV-Vis spectra were obtained and charge transfer bands were assigned. Good agreement between the calculated and experimental values for the vibrational and UV-Vis spectra was obtained.

The role of CSA in the response to oxidative DNA damage in human cells

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare genetic disease characterized by severe growth, mental retardation and pronounced cachexia. CS is most frequently due to mutations in either of two genes, CSB and CSA. Evidence for a role of CSB protein in the repair of oxidative DNA damage has been provided recently. Here, we show that CSA is also involved in the response to oxidative stress. CS-A human primary fibroblasts and keratinocytes showed hypersensitivity to potassium bromate, a specific inducer of oxidative damage. This was associated with inefficient repair of oxidatively induced DNA lesions, namely 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-Gua) and (5'S)-8,5'-cyclo 2'-deoxyadenosine. Expression of the wild-type CSA in the CS-A cell line CS3BE significantly decreased the steady-state level of 8-OH-Gua and increased its repair rate following oxidant treatment. CS-A cell extracts showed normal 8-OH-Gua cleavage activity in an in vitro assay, whereas CS-B cell extracts were confirmed to be defective. Our data provide the first in vivo evidence that CSA protein contributes to prevent accumulation of various oxidized DNA bases and underline specific functions of CSB not shared with CSA. These findings support the hypothesis that defective repair of oxidative DNA damage is involved in the clinical features of CS patients.

Single molecular detection of a perylene dye dispersed in a Langmuir-Blodgett fatty acid monolayer using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer technique was used to fabricate single molecule LB monolayer containing bis(phenethylimido)perylene (PhPTCD), a red dye dispersed in arachidic acid (AA) with an average doping of 1 molecule per microm2. The monolayer was transferred onto Ag island films to obtain spatially resolved surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectra. The mixed LB monolayers were fabricated with a concentration, on average, of 1, 6, 19 and 118 PhPTCD molecules per microm2 in AA. The AA provides a two-dimensional host matrix whose background signal does not interfere with the detection of the probe molecule's SERRS signal. The properties of the single molecule detection were investigated using micro-Raman with a 514.5-nm laser line. The Ag island surfaces coated with the LB monolayer were mapped with spatial steps of 3 microm and global chemical imaging of the most intense SERRS band in the spectrum was also recorded. The SERRS and surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) of the neat and single molecule LB monolayer were recorded in a temperature range from liquid nitrogen to + 200 degrees C. Neat PhPTCD LB monolayer spectra served as reference for the identification of characteristic signatures of the single molecule behavior. The spatial resolution of Raman-microscopy experiments, the multiplicative effect of resonance Raman and SERRS, and the high sensitivity of the new dispersive Raman instruments, allow SERRS to be part of the family of single molecular spectroscopies.

Single-molecule detection using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique has been used to obtain spatially resolved surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectra of single dye molecules dispersed in the matrix of a fatty acid. The experimental results presented here mimic the original electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) work where the background bulk water did not interfere with the detection of the SERS signal of molecules adsorbed onto the rough silver electrode. LB monolayers of the dye in fatty acid have been fabricated on silver island films with a concentration, in average, of one probe molecule per micrometer square. The properties of single-molecule spectroscopy were investigated using micro-Raman including mapping and global images. Blinking of the SERRS signal was also observed.