Background: Anemia is a significant public health concern in many developing countries, particularly during pregnancy, and it has adverse effects on mother and fetus/baby. Objective: To determine the factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Jigjiga public health facilities, Somali Region, East Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based unmatched case-control study was conducted. The sample size was 228 pregnant women; comprising 114 presenting with anemia and 114 controls. Hemoglobin levels were measured using a portable heme analyzer. Socio-demographic, dietary, medical history, and nutrition-related data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epidata 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 for cleaning and analyses. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed and statistical significance was considered at a level of p<0.05. Results: Three predictors of anemia among pregnant women were identified in this study. An inadequate intake of red meat (i.e. those who consumed red meat 1-2 times a month [AOR=7.245; 95% CI=(2.007-26.151)] or not at all [AOR=8.690; 95% CI=(1.795-42.072)]), and insufficient consumption of green vegetables (i.e. 1-2 times a week [AOR=2.970; 95% CI= (1.012-8.716)] or 1-2 times a month [AOR=8.057; 95% CI=(2.358-27.526)]) were associated with anemia. Also, having a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of less than 23 cm was strongly associated [AOR=16.432; 95% CI= (5.240-51.526)] with anemia. Conclusion: This study revealed three key factors to be associated with anemia among pregnant women in Jigjiga Town, namely reduced intake of red meat and green vegetables, and low MUAC. Interventions including nutrition counselling and enrolling pregnant women with low nutritional status in nutritional programs should be the core components of anemia control strategies, needed to address the high prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in developing countries.

Introduction: Globally, the major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity is neonatal sepsis, which is defined as a clinical course marked by systemic inflammation in the presence of infection in a newborn. There are limited data concerning neonatal sepsis in eastern Ethiopia. As a result, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of neonatal sepsis and associated factors among neonates admitted to intensive care units at general hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study with retrospective document review was conducted among newborns hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. Using simple random sampling, the charts of 356 newborns who were hospitalized between January and December 2019 were included, and data were collected using a pretested checklist. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed with SPSS version 22. Results: The overall prevalence of neonatal sepsis was 45.8% (95% CI 40.7, 51.4). Prolonged rupture of the membrane (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI: [1.27-4.45]), vaginal delivery (AOR = 1.78, 95%, CI: [1.09, 2.96]) APGAR score <7 (AOR = 4.55, 95% CI: [2.49-8.29]), prelacteal feeding (AOR = 3.54, 95% CI: [1.68-8.23]), and mechanical ventilation (AOR = 4.97,95%CI: [2.78-8.89]) were predictors associated with neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of neonatal sepsis was high, and factors associated with neonatal sepsis included prolonged rupture of membrane, mode of delivery, low APGAR score, prelacteal feeding and mechanical ventilation. As a result, maternal and neonatal care should be enhanced to lower the risk of neonatal sepsis.

Background Neonatal mortality remains a public health problem in the developing world. Globally, around 2.5 million neonatal deaths are reported annually with the highest mortality concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In comparison with countries demonstrating the lowest neonatal mortality, the risk of mortality is over 30 times higher in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia is among the countries with a high neonatal mortality rate, and the burden of this mortality remains unreported in many pastoralist areas such as Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. We aimed to investigate factors associated with neonatal mortality in public Hospitals of the Somali Regional State in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1st to 30th, 2020 in three public Hospitals of Somali Regional State in Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 510 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units from January 2018 to December 2019 were enrolled in the study. The charts of neonates were randomly selected and retrieved. Data were collected using a pretested and validated structured questionnaire. The collected were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22 (IBM SPSS Statistics, 2013) for further analysis. Descriptive statistics were carried out using frequency tables, proportions, and summary measures. Predictors were assessed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis model and reported using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Statistical significance was considered at a p-value <0.05. Results Overall, the neonatal mortality was 18.6% [95%CI (15.31, 22.30)], equating to a rate of 186 per 1000 live births. The most common causes of mortality were prematurity (44.6%), low birth weight (33.5%), and birth asphyxia (27.6%). In the final model of multivariable analysis, predictors such as: lack of antenatal care follow-up[AOR = 3.71, 95%CI (2.13, 6.44)], neonatal sepsis [AOR = 1.84, 95%CI (1.07, 3.19], preterm birth [AOR = 2.20, 95%CI (1.02, 4.29], and birth asphyxia [AOR = 2.40, 95%CI(1.26,4.43)], and birth weight of less than 2500gms[AOR = 3.40, 95%CI(1.92, 6.01)] were statistically associated with neonatal mortality. Conclusion In this study, the neonatal mortality rate was high compared to national and global targets because one in five neonates dies due to preventable causes. Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors were identified as predictors. This result calls for all stakeholders to provide due attention to low birth weight and premature babies. Early identification and management of birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis are also very crucial to reduce the risks of neonatal deaths.

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Objectives: A short birth interval is a universal public health problem resulting in adverse maternal, neonatal, and child outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify determinants of short birth interval among ever married reproductive age mothers who live in Jigjiga city administration, Eastern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: A community-based unmatched case–control study was used among 194 cases and 194 controls in Jigjiga city administration from September to December 2020. Cases were women with short birth interval (less than 3 years) and controls were women with optimum birth interval (3–5 years). Simple random sampling technique was employed to select cases and controls. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.2 and analysis with SPSS version 22. Binary logistic regression with 95% confidence interval at p < 0.05 is used to declare significantly associated predictors of short birth interval. Result: This study reported that women who have not attended formal education (adjusted odds ratio = 5.28, 95% confidence interval: (2.25–12.36)), attended primary education (adjusted odds ratio = 2.79, 95% confidence interval: (1.46–5.34)), women who married to a polygamous husband (adjusted odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval: (1.80–7.58)), having a history of neonatal death (adjusted odds ratio = 2.15, 95% confidence interval: (1.07–4.32)), preceding child being female (adjusted odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval: (2.02–6.72)), and never used contraceptive methods (adjusted odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval: (2.02–6.72)) were identified as determinants of the short birth interval. Conclusion: Short birth intervals were associated with educational level of the women, sex of the baby, husband marriage types, history of neonatal death, and contraceptive utilization. Strategy should be engaged to enhance women education, contraceptive uses, and to decrease neonatal death.