Fentahun Tamene Zeleke

Background: Intimate partner violence severely affects women's health, especially during pregnancy, causing problems like miscarriage, maternal depression, and suicidal attempts. Victims also face challenges like substance abuse and inadequate prenatal care. Thus, it needs crucial support from healthcare providers. Objective: This study aimed to assess the readiness of healthcare providers to manage intimate partner violence at public hospitals in the Gurage zone, Ethiopia, 2023. Method: A cross-sectional study involving all 610 healthcare providers from selected hospitals was conducted. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25. Readiness scores were reported using mean and standard deviation, while regression analyses identified factors influencing providers' readiness to manage intimate partner violence. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically. Result: A 99.2% response rate was achieved, with 605 healthcare providers participating. The mean perceived readiness score for managing intimate partner violence was 26.4 ± 7.5 (95% CI: 25.8, 27.0). Significant factors included receiving training (P<0.001, 95% CI β =4.23, 7.21), knowledge (P<0.001, 95% CI β =0.13, 0.25), availability of protocols (P<0.001, 95% CI β =0.86, 5.49), presence of private room (P<0.001, 95% CI β = 1.88, 4.98), and attitude towards intimate partner violence management (P<0.001, 95% CI β =0.10, 0.38). Conclusion and Recommendation: Healthcare providers demonstrated limited perceived readiness in managing intimate partner violence. Training, protocol development, and improving perceived knowledge are crucial for enhancing providers' readiness to manage intimate partner violence. Keywords: Perceived readiness, Knowledge, Protocols

Background: Antepartum hemorrhage continues to be a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Ethiopia and it complicates 2–5% of all pregnancies with an increased rate of maternal and perinatal morbidity and even mortality. Despite many activities, still, poor fetomaternal outcomes of antepartum hemorrhage are still there. Moreover, studies around the current study area emphasize the magnitude and associated factors for antepartum hemorrhage rather than its feto-maternal outcomes. Thus, there is a need to identify the determinants associated with the fetomaternal outcomes of antepartum hemorrhage to guide midwives and obstetricians in the early diagnosis and treatment.Method: An institution-based case-control study was conducted in four-year delivery charts diagnosed with antepartum hemorrhage from April 2, 2022, to May 12, 2022, at Awi Zone public hospitals. To see the association between dependent and independent variables logistic regression model along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p-value of 12 hours (AOR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.57–4.23) and advanced maternal age (AOR: 3.43, 95% CI 1.784–6.59) were significant factors associated with feto-maternal outcomes of antepartum Hemorrhage.Conclusion: This study revealed that rural residence, delay in seeking the care of more than 12 hours, not having antenatal care follow up and advanced maternal age were significant factors associated with feto-maternal outcomes of Antepartum hemorrhage.Recommendation: The findings of our study suggest the need for health education about the importance of antenatal care follow-up which is the ideal entry point for health promotion and early detection of complications, especially for rural residents.

Background: Food insecurity is a state in which people do not have both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs. Food insecurity affects all nations despite that it is high in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. There is limited information on the magnitude of food insecurity and its associated factors among lactating mothers in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of food insecurity and associated factors among lactating mothers in Yirgalem Town, South Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on five randomly selected Kebeles and 557 lactating mothers who were selected using a simple random sampling technique from January 10 to April 30, 2022. The data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used in the analysis. Family folder documentation was used to know the number of lactating mothers found in each Kebeles. Food insecurity was measured by household food insecurity access scale (version 3). Dietary diversity was assessed by the 24-hour dietary recall method. Results: The magnitude of food insecurity among lactating mothers was 58.2%. Low minimum dietary diversity score, mothers with two and below antenatal care, mothers who had more than two children under 5 years, no home gardening practice, and having meals two and below were significantly associated with food insecurity. Conclusion: The magnitude of food insecurity was 58.2% in the study area. Therefore, the agricultural and health sectors should work collaboratively to improve home gardening practices, dietary diversity practices and maternal health services are highly recommended to reduce food insecurity.

Introduction: Female sexual dysfunction is commonly neglected, under-investigated, and under-treated in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and its associated factors of female sexual dysfunction among reproductive-aged women at Gurage zone hospitals, in southern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 reproductive-age group women. A systematic random sampling method was employed and structured questionnaires were used to collect the data through a face-to-face interview. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed by SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics, and bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression were conducted. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05. Result: Four hundred two participants completed the interview with a response rate of 94.8%. Arousal dysfunction 91.0% and pain during sexual intercourse 39.3% were the most and the least prevalent domains of female sexual dysfunction respectively. Overall 32.1% of the respondents had female sexual dysfunction. Body mass index (AOR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 10.8), history of pelvic surgery (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.3, 9.2), marriage satisfaction (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 1o.6), a satisfaction of spouses’ sex ability (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.2, 8.5), breastfeeding (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.6, 7.0), and mode of delivery [vaginal delivery with tear and episiotomy (AOR = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.6, 8.8), instrument assisted vaginal delivery (AOR = 7.0; 95% CI: 1.2, 39.8)], were statistically associated with female sexual dysfunction. All-encompassing professional counseling addressing psychological and interpersonal acts and weight management interventions are needed for couples to maintain sexual functioning.

Background. Pregnancy risk perception affects a pregnant woman’s decision about health care services such as prenatal care, place of birth, choices about medical interventions, adherence to medical procedures, and recommendations. Therefore, the study is aimed at assessing pregnancy risk perception and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at health centers in Jabi Tehnan District. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 mothers attending ANC at health centers in the Jabi Tehnan District from April 1 to 30, 2021. Data was collected through a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire which was developed according to the health belief model. The logistic regression model was used using an adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and to declare significance and associations. Result. Four hundred twenty four (424) pregnant women were interviewed of which nearly half of the respondents 48% (43.2%, 52.7%) had good pregnancy risk perception. Women who had a history of obstetric complications (AOR: 95% ), those who knew at least one pregnancy danger sign (AOR: 95% ), pregnant women who had a bad obstetric history (AOR: 95% ), and knowing women who died due to pregnancy-related complications (AOR: 95% ) were more likely to have good perception towards pregnancy risk compared to their counterparts. Conclusion. Obstetric complications, awareness of pregnancy danger signs, bad obstetric history, and known women who died due to pregnancy-related complications were found to be significantly associated with pregnancy risk perception.

Background: Antepartum depression is a form of clinical depression that can be caused by the stress and worry that pregnancy can bring a more severe level. It can be triggered by an unplanned pregnancy, a history of substance abuse, and low economic status. Antepartum depression is critical and has an intergenerational impact on children in the developing world and it can have negative effects on fetal development. Therefore, this study aimed to assess its magnitude and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Gurage zone public health institutions, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: Intuition-based cross-sectional study was employed in Gurage zone public health institutions from February 14 to April 14/2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used. The data were collected and then entered into EpiData and processed by SPSS version 24.0 for analysis. P values < 0.05 with 95% confidence level were used to declare statistical significance. Results: In this study, a total of 343 pregnant mothers were participated by making a response rate of 96%. The magnitude of antepartum depression among pregnant women was 27.6% (95% CI: 22.4– 33.2). The multivariable analysis showed that respondents who had unplanned pregnancy [AOR=2.11 (95% CI: 1.05– 4.44)], having complications during their previous labor and delivery [AOR=4.42 (95% CI: 2.06– 9.48)], previous history of child hospitalization [AOR=3.34 (95% CI: 1.48– 7.51)], and satisfaction in their marriage [AOR=3.9 (95% CI: 1.15– 13.21)] were associated with antepartum depression. Conclusion: In this study, about one in four women during pregnancy develop antepartum depression. Unplanned pregnancy, complications during labor and delivery of the last baby, women having a history of child hospitalization, and maternal satisfaction with marriage were statistically associated factors with APD. To prevent further consequences, all concerned bodies need to take action by making targeted intervention and early screening of all pregnant mothers for depression.