BackgroundMaternal morbidity and mortality have been one of the most challenging health problems that concern the globe over the years. Uterine rupture is one of the peripartum complications, which cause nearly about one out of thirteen maternal deaths. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of uterine rupture among obstetric case in referral hospitals of Amhara Regional State, Northern Ethiopia.MethodsInstitution based cross sectional study was conducted from Dec 5-2017-Jan 5–2018 on uterine rupture. During the study randomly selected 750 charts were included by using simple random sampling method. Data were checked, coded and entered into Epi info version 7.2 and then exported to SPSS Version 20 for Analysis. Binary Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of uterine rupture and 95% Confidence Interval of odds ratio at p-value less than 0.05 was taken as a significance level.ResultThe overall prevalence of uterine rupture was 16.68% (95% CI: 14%, 19.2%). Distance from health facility >10km (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.44; 95%CI:1.13,5.28), parity between II and IV (AOR = 7.26;95% (3.06,17.22)) and ≥V (AOR = 12.55;95% CI 3.64,43.20), laboring for >24hours(AO = 3.44; 95% CI:1.49,7.92), with referral paper(AOR = 2.94;95%CI:1.28,6.55) diagnosed with obstructed labor (AOR = 4.88;95%CI: 2.22,10.70), precipitated labor (AOR = 3.59;95%CI:1.10,11.77), destructive delivery (AOR = 5.18;95%: 1.22,20.08), No partograph (AOR = 5.21; 95% CI: 2.72,9.97), CPD(AOR = 4.08;95%CI:1.99,8.33), morbidly adherent placenta (AOR = 9.00;95%:2.46,27.11), gestational diabetic militias (AOR = 5.78; 95%CI:1. 12,20 .00 ), history of myomectomy(AOR = 5.00;95%CI:1.33,18.73), induction and augmentation of labor (AOR = 2.34;95%:1.15,4.72) obstetric procedure (AOR = 2.54;95%: 1.09,5.91), previous caesarian deliveries 4.90 (2.13,11.26) were found to be significantly associated with uterine rupture.ConclusionThis finding showed that the prevalence of uterine rupture is higher. A more vigilant approach to prevent prolonged and obstructed labor, use of partograph, quick referral to a well-equipped center and prevention of other obstetrics complications need to be focused on.

Background The majority of maternal deaths occur during delivery and the immediate postnatal period as a result of delays in seeking care, failure to reach health institutions, and receiving inappropriate health care. In developing countries, delayed access to timely healthcare contributes to high maternal mortality and morbidity. Objective This study aimed to assess the delays during emergency obstetric care and associated factors with delays during emergency obstetric care. Method A cross-sectional study design was conducted. We chose five hospitals at random in the South Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Face-to-face Interviews were conducted with 459 participants using a systematic sampling technique. For this analysis, bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were used. The Adjusted Odds Ratio was used to determine the statistical association with delays during emergency obstetric care at p-value <0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. Results The proportion of delays during emergency obstetric care were found to be 59.7% in this study. The respondents’ mean age was 27.23 years old, with a standard error of 5.67. Pregnant mothers living in the rural areas (AOR: 4.1, 95%, CI: 2.36 to 6.25), no ANC visit (AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.32 to 3.18), uneducated women (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.45 to 8.59) and referral to a higher level of care (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.60 to 4.44), were all significantly associated with delay. Conclusion Delay during emergency obstetric care was found to be 59.7 percent. Rural residency, absence of ANC visit, uneducated mothers, and referred mothers from one level to the next level of care were factors that contributed to delays in emergency obstetric care in the study area.

Background: The use of herbal medicine is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries including Ethiopia, yet little is known regarding its effect and safety during pregnancy. Pregnant women prefer herbal medicine due to easy accessibility, traditional and cultural beliefs, and comparatively low cost. This study aimed to assess women's knowledge and attitude towards the effects of herbal medicine usage during pregnancy and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last twelve months in Dega Damot district. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1st to February 30th, 2021. A total of 872 women were selected using a stratified cluster sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured, pretested, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into EPI data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was done and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to declare the level of significance. Results: Women's knowledge and positive attitude towards the effects of herbal medicine usage during pregnancy was 49.1% (95% CI: 46-52) and 57.3% (95% CI: 54-61), respectively. Access to media, had antenatal care visit, being urban dweller, history of herbal medicine usage, and a short distance to reach the nearby health facility were significantly associated with women's knowledge about effects of herbal medicine usage. Besides, being primiparous and short traveling time to reach the nearby health facility was significantly associated with women's attitude towards the effects of herbal medicine usage during pregnancy. Conclusion: Women's knowledge and positive attitude towards the effects of herbal medicine usage during pregnancy was low. It is important to design strategies to improve the accessibilities of maternal health services, and expand access to media will have a great role in improving women's knowledge and attitude towards herbal medicine usage during pregnancy.

Objective: cesarean section is the delivery of the fetus, placenta, and membranes through an incision on the abdominal and uterine walls after the fetus has reached viability. The world health organization (WHO) suggests the cesarean section (CS) rate between 5%-15%. Evidence suggested that the rate of CS is high in developing countries including Ethiopia. So the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of cesarean section in the University of Gondar comprehensive referral hospital, North West Ethiopia, 2019 Result: The overall prevalence of cesarean section in Gondar university hospital was 29.7%. The most common indications of CS were non-reassurance fetal heart rate pattern (NRFHP) (17.8%) which was followed by previous CS scar (15.9%) and severe preeclampsia (12.1 %). Factors such as maternal educational status (AOR 2.89, CI (1.278-6.56), gravidity (AOR 3.259 CI (1.484-7.160), Ante Natal care (ANC) follow up (AOR 0.248, CI (0.083-0.739) and number of ANC follow up (AOR 5.17 CI (1.48-18.03) were associated with CS. Keywords: prevalence, Caesarean section, University of Gondar Referral Hospital, laboring mothers, Ethiopia.

Introduction. Pregnancy at an advanced maternal age is defined as pregnancy at 35 years or older. Today, women postpone pregnancy due to different socioeconomic and personal reasons. However, there was limited evidence on fetal adverse outcomes’ association with pregnancy at an advanced maternal age in Ethiopia and particularly in the study area. This study was aimed at assessing the effect of pregnancy at an advanced age on selected neonatal adverse pregnancy outcomes in Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. Institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted on 303 exposed (35 years and older) and 604 nonexposed (20–34 years old) immediate postpartum women who delivered at Debre Markos Referral Hospital after 28 weeks of gestation. All exposed women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were sampled, and systematic random sampling was employed for those in the nonexposed group. The data were collected from 1st of July to 30th of December, 2019, by face-to-face interview and extraction from maternal chart using a structured questionnaire and data extraction checklist, respectively. Binary logistic regression (bivariate and multivariable) model was fitted, and wealth index was analyzed by principal component analysis. Adjusted relative risk with respect to 95% confidence interval was employed for the strength and directions of association between advanced maternal age and selected adverse pregnancy outcomes, respectively. P -value of <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results. The incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes including stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight in the advanced maternal age group was 13.2%, 19.8%, and 16.5%, respectively. The incidence of stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight in the nonexposed group was 3.1%, 8.4%, and 12.4%, respectively. The advanced maternal age group had three times the risk of stillbirth compared with the nonexposed group (ARR = 3.14 95% CI (1.30–7.00)). The advanced maternal age group had 2.66 times the risk of delivering preterm fetus (ARR = 2.66 95% CI (1.81–3.77)) compared with the younger counterparts. Low birth weight was not significantly associated with pregnancy at an advanced maternal age. Conclusion. Fetal adverse outcomes including stillbirth and preterm birth were significantly associated with pregnancy at an advanced maternal age.