Birth preparedness and pregnancy complication readiness and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis

Maternal and child deaths occur during pregnancy and delivery. Timely information on signs of pregnancy complications and ways to plan for normal birth is a strategy to reduce maternal and child deaths. The purpose of this study was to assess birth preparedness, and pregnancy complications readiness and identify associated factors in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 1635 weighted samples of pregnant women were included for analysis from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data set. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of potential variables on birth preparedness and complication readiness. STATA version 15 software was used for data processing and analysis. A variable with a p-value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered a significant factor. Pregnant women were informed about convulsions (8.02%), fever (35.95%), abdominal pain (28.92%), leaking fluid from the vagina (28.21%), and blurred vision (17.98%). Pregnant women prepared for supplies needed for birth (38.70%), transportation (20.04%), money (18.97%), people's support for birth (5.03%), and blood donors (3.11%). Only 56% and 44.91% of pregnant women had good birth preparedness and were informed about pregnancy complications respectively. Educational status, antenatal care visits, and region were significant factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness. Distance to health facility and residency were significantly associated with birth and complication readiness, respectively. Birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women were low in Ethiopia. Empowering women with education, installing safe roads, building accessible health facilities, and emphasizing pregnancy complications and birth preparedness plans during antenatal care visits are important interventions to enhance birth preparedness and pregnancy complication readiness.

Determinants of adolescents' depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in Northwest Ethiopia: A non-recursive structural equation modeling

INTRODUCTION

In low and middle-income countries, adolescent mental health is not only a major public health challenge but also a development concern. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders and somatic symptoms often co-exist with them. Adolescents with common mental health problems are associated with an increased risk of suicide, future unemployment, and poor quality of life. However, little is known about the mental health of adolescents in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the determinants of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms among adolescents in Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 8 to 24, 2022. Two-stage stratified random sampling was used to select 1407 adolescents in Northwest Ethiopia. Structured and standardized self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Non-recursive structural equation modeling was employed to assess the direct, indirect, and total effects of predictors. Adjusted regression coefficients and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to interpret the strength of the association.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms were 28.21% (95% CI: 25.8, 31%), 25.05% (95%CI: 22.8, 27.5), and 25.24(95% CI: 23, 27.6%) respectively. Alcohol use had a significant positive effect on depression [β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.201], anxiety [β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.041, 0.188], and somatic symptoms [β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.062, 0.211]. Stress had a significant positive effect on depression [β = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.642, 0.900], anxiety [β = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.955, 1.264], and somatic symptoms [β = 086, 95% C: 0.700, 1.025]. Depression had a direct positive effect on anxiety [β = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.508, 1.010].

CONCLUSION

In this study, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms was moderate. Alcohol use and stress were significantly related to depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. The bidirectional relationship between anxiety and depression was significant. Therefore, public health interventions should focus on the bidirectional relationship between depression and anxiety, as well as on identified factors to reduce the burden of mental illness in adolescents.

Quality of childbirth care and its determinants along the continuum of care among pregnant women who gave birth vaginally in Gondar town public health facility, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: generalised structural equation modelling

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality of childbirth care and its determinants along the continuum of care in Gondar town public health facility in Ethiopia.

DESIGN

An institution-based, cross-sectional study was employed. Completed data were imported to Stata V.16 for cleaning and analysis. A generalised structural equation model was employed to examine the relationships along the continuum of childbirth care and to determine the factors affecting the quality of childbirth care.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted among a total of 865 women who delivered in the public health facility of Gondar, Ethiopia, from 19 May to 30 June 2022.

RESULTS

The study revealed the proportion of good-quality childbirth care during admission, intrapartum and immediate postpartum period was 59% (95% CI 55.7, 62.4), 76.8% (95% CI 73.8, 79.5) and 45% (95% CI 41.7, 48.5), respectively. Postsecondary educational status of mothers (β=0.60, 95% CI 0.16, 1.04) and maternal age of 25-35 (β=0.68, 95% CI 0.33, 1.02) were predictors of quality of care at admission. Referral hospital (β=0.43, 95% CI 0.10, 0.76), presence of guidelines (β=1.36, 95% CI 0.72, 1.99) and provider age of 25-35 (β=0.61, 95% CI 0.12, 1.10) affected the quality of care during the intrapartum period. Urban residence (β=0.52, 95% CI 0.12, 0.93), skilled birth attendant experience (β=0.19, 95% CI 0.11, 0.28) and number of delivery couches (β=-0.29, 95% CI -0.44, -0.13) had significant associations with the quality of childbirth care during the immediate postpartum period.

CONCLUSIONS

Although our study found improvements in the quality of childbirth care along the continuum compared with previous studies, more workers are needed to alleviate the problem of poor-quality service. Different maternal, provider and facility factors were found to be predictors of the quality of childbirth care.

Cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Kenya: further analysis of Kenyan demographic and health survey 2022

INTRODUCTION

Although cervical cancer screening is one of the most effective strategies to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, the percentage of cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income counties is low. In Kenya, the current nationwide prevalence and associated factors for the detection of cervical cancer is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors for the detection of cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Kenya using the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey 2022.

METHODS

This study used the most recent Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey data (2022) with a total weighted sample of 16,901 women. A mixed effects logistic regression analysis was performed and in the multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The strength of the association was evaluated using adjusted odds ratios along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The prevalence of cervical cancer screening in Kenya was 16.81%(95% CI: 16.24, 17.38%). Having a history of abortion (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.171.50, 1.43), using modern contraceptive methods (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.95), media exposure (AOR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.65), primary education (AOR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.09, 2.22), secondary education (AOR = 21.99, 95% CI: 1.1.38, 2.87), higher education (AOR = 2..50, 95% CI: 1.71, 3.65), visiting health facility within the past 12 months (AOR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.46, 1.79), positive HIV status (AOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 2.69, 4.57), being from a community with a higher proportion of educated individuals (AOR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.13, 1.65) and being from a community with high proportion of poor individuals (AOR = 0.72, 9 5%CI: 0.60-0.87)) were significantly associated with cervical cancer screening.

CONCLUSION

In Kenya, the prevalence of cervical cancer screening was found to be low. A history of abortion, use of modern contraceptives, exposure to the media, visits to health facilities in the past 12 months, HIV status, level of education, community educational level, and community wealth were identified as significant associated factors for cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is recommended to implement targeted public health interventions that focus on these identified factors to improve the adoption of cervical cancer screening in Kenya.

Double burden of malnutrition and associated factors among mother-child pairs at household level in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study design

Introduction

The double burden of malnutrition refers to the simultaneous presence of under nutrition and overweight, obesity, or diet-related non-communicable diseases which might occur at the population, household, and individual level. The simultaneous presence of overweight/obese mothers with undernourished children in the same household, as well as overweight children with underweight mothers, holds particular significance. This phenomenon primarily impacts low-income and middle-income countries. The prevalence of double-burden malnutrition at the household level has increased significantly in sub-Saharan African countries. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the extent and factors associated with the double burden of malnutrition among mother-child pairs in Ethiopia. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of the double burden of malnutrition among mother-child pairs at the household level in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia.

Method

In the year 2021, a community-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 702 mother-child pairs in Bahir Dar City from February 28 to March 23. A multistage sampling technique was used to identify study participants who were interviewed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The nutritional status of children was evaluated using WHO Anthro Software. To determine the strength of the association, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, and adjusted odds ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals were computed.

Results

The prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition among mother-child pairs was 14.5% (95% CI: 12.8, 15.7%}. Participants who were in the richest wealth index were 2.72 {AOR = 2.72, 95% CI 2.01, 5.63} times more odds of double burden of malnutrition than the poorest. The odds of the double burden of malnutrition among children who had high dietary diversity decreased by 63% {AOR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.22, 0.61} than low dietary diversity. Food secure households were 1.96 {AOR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.13, 3.39} times more likely to have the double burden of malnutrition than food insecure households. The odds of the double burden of malnutrition among mothers who completed college and above decreased by 74% {AOR = 0.26 95% CI 0.121, 0.549} than those unable to read and write.

Conclusions and recommendation

The magnitude of the double burden of malnutrition was lower than the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. Wealth index, dietary diversity, food security, and educational status were significantly associated with the double burden of malnutrition. Therefore, it is recommended to implement public health interventions that target the identified associated factors in order to reduce the burden of double malnutrition.

Perioperative Adverse Outcome and Its Predictors After Emergency Laparotomy Among Sigmoid Volvulus Patients: Retrospective Follow-Up Study

Background

Acute sigmoid volvulus is a surgical emergency with closed-loop obstruction of the colon that often requires emergency laparotomy, which is associated with a multitude of post-operative complications. Although sigmoid volvulus is the main cause of intestinal obstruction in Ethiopia, local studies of its management outcomes are limited.

Objective

To assess the magnitude and predictors of adverse perioperative outcomes of emergency laparotomy for acute sigmoid volvulus in the Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (DMCSH), Amhara region, Ethiopia in 2023.

Methods

This was a retrospective follow-up study. Descriptive statistics were used to measure perioperative outcomes and other study variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of adverse surgical outcomes. Associations were considered significant at p < 0.05 (95% confidence interval).

Results

In total, 170 study participants were enrolled, with a response rate of 91.4%. Forty-nine patients (28.8%) developed perioperative adverse outcomes. Pneumonia (29 patients, 28.1%), surgical site infection (19 patients, 18.4%), and wound dehiscence (10 patients, 9.7%) were the most common complications. Pre-operative shock [AOR: 3.87 (95% CI: (1.22, 12.28))], pus or fecal matter contamination of the peritoneum [AOR: 4.43 (95% CI: (1.35, 14.47)], and a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score [AOR: 2.37 (95% CI: (1.05, 5.34))] were identified as predictors of perioperative adverse events.

Conclusion

The perioperative adverse outcomes in this study were higher than those reported in Ethiopian national and global reports following emergency laparotomies. Hypotension at presentation, pus and/or fecal matter contamination of the peritoneum, and higher ASA scores are strong predictors of increased perioperative adverse outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers and institutions involved in the delivery of emergency surgical care should emphasize the importance of early surgical intervention, adequate resuscitation, and patient monitoring to improve perioperative outcomes.

Magnitude, relationship and determinants of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression among University of Gondar undergraduate students, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: Non-recursive structural equation modeling

BACKGROUND

Up to 80% of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a concomitant psychiatric disorder. ADHD and depression, combined with the demands of University life, can pose serious challenges for students. However, there are limited studies conducted on this topic in our country. Therefore, the current study assessed the magnitude, relationship, and determinants of ADHD and depressive symptoms among students at the University of Gondar.

METHOD

An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed among 1514 undergraduate students at the University of Gondar from June 1-20, 2022. A stratified, simple random sampling technique was applied. Structural equation modeling was employed. The degree of relationship was interpreted based on the adjusted regression coefficient with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value (<0.05).

RESULT

In our study, 37.6% [CI: 35.2-40.1%] and 20.01% [CI: 18.1-22.1%] of the participants had depressive and ADHD symptoms, respectively. Chronic illness [β = 0.19, CI; 0.09, 0.30], alcohol use [β = 0.10, CI; 0.03, 0.17], social support [β = -0.23, CI; -0.29, -0.17], problematic internet use (PIU) [β = 0.23, CI; 0.18, 0.27], and insomnia [β = 0.24, CI; 0.17, 0.30] had a direct relationship with depressive symptoms. Mother education level [β = -0.09, CI; -0.13, -0.06], birth order [β = -0.09, CI; -0.11, -0.07], chat chewing [β = 0.18, CI; 0.06, 0.30], and depressive symptoms [β = 0.73, CI; 0.62, 0.86] had a direct relationship with ADHD. Chronic illness [β = 0.14, CI; 0.06, 0.22], PIU [β = 0.16, CI; 0.13, 0.21], social support [β = -0.16, CI; -0.22, -0.12], and insomnia [β = 0.17, CI; 0.13, 0.23] had an indirect effect on ADHD.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The prevalence of ADHD and depressive symptoms was high. Chronic disease, alcohol use, social support, PIU, and insomnia had a direct effect on depressive symptoms and an indirect effect on ADHD. Mother education, birth order, chat chewing, and depressive symptoms had a direct effect on ADHD. Our study provided useful clues for clinical treatment and school-based interventions that aim to improve college students' mental well-being. It is better to design school-based intervention and prevention programs to achieve timely diagnosis and treatment of these disorders among university students.

Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis

BACKGROUND

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Also, iron deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, this study aimed to assess iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Sierra Leone.

METHOD

This study is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey dataset with a total weighted sample of 2622 children aged 6-23 months. Data cleaning, coding, and labeling were done using STATA version 14 software. A multilevel logistic regression model was employed to identify associated factors.

RESULT

Almost half (53.38%) of children aged between 6-23 months consumed iron-rich foods. The odds of iron rich food consumption were high among children in the age group of 12-17 months (AOR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.67, 6.31) and 18-23 months (AOR = 9.3, 95% CI: 6.55, 13.2), and who fed minimum acceptable diet (AOR = 22.5, 95% CI: 11.65, 43.46). Moreover, a child from a mother who had work (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.06), and with a mother who had more than four ANC visits during her pregnancy of the most recent live birth (AOR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.36-2.55) had higher odds of iron-rich food consumption compared to their counterparts. On the other hand, children who were breastfeeding (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.97), and mothers aged 15-19 (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.85) decreased the odds of iron rich food consumption.

CONCLUSION

Consumption of iron-rich food is low among children aged 6-23 months in Sierra Leone. Iron-rich food consumption among children was significantly associated with maternal occupation, child's age, child's breastfeeding status, taking drugs for intestinal parasites, minimum acceptable diet, frequency, and timing of ANC, and region. Thus, special emphasis should be given to those children aged between 6-11 months, currently breastfeeding, children who did not get the minimum acceptable diet, and children from women who did not have work.