BackgroundMalaria is a febrile illness caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries and becomes a challenge to a highly endemic area of Africa including Ethiopia. The West Armachiho district is a malaria-endemic lowland area where communities are experiencing hyperendemic malaria transmission.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and the associated risk factors among asymptomatic migrant laborers in the West Armachiho district, Northwest Ethiopia.Materials and methodsCommunity-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2016 on 385 migrant laborers selected by proportionate two-stage sampling method in Agricultural camps of the West Armachiho district. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and risk factors. Capillary blood was collected for Giemsa-stained blood film examination to detect and identify Plasmodium parasites. Data were coded, entered, checked for completeness, and analyzed using SPSS version-20 statistical software. Multivariate logistic regression was used to asses significantly associated risk factors. A P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of malaria was found to be 18.4% (n=71). Education level, home area or origin of migrant laborers, number of visits, outdoor sleeping, and bed net utilization were associated with the risk of malaria (P<0.05).ConclusionMalaria was high in this study area and associated with outdoor sleeping, number of visits, home area, and bed net utilization.

Background. Low birth weight is defined as a live born infant weighs less than 2 500 g regardless of gestational age. Globally, the prevalence of low birth weight ranges from 3% to 15%. Birth weight plays an important role in infant mortality, morbidity, development, and future health. The prevalence of low birth weight in Ethiopia was estimated to be 14% which is one of the highest percentages in the world. So, the aim of this study is to assess magnitude and associated factors of low birth weight among newborns delivered at Dangla Primary Hospital, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Dangla Primary Hospital from September 27 to June 10, 2017. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the 232 study participants. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data quality was assured by pretesting, training, and frequent supervision. Descriptive statistics were performed for the descriptive part of the study. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of low birth weight. Those variables and p-value < 0.25 were included in the multivariable logistic regression for controlling the possible effect of confounders. Finally, variables which had significant association were identified on the basis of AOR, with 95%CI and with P-value <0.05. Results. Magnitude of low birth weight was 10.3 %. Previous history of low birth weight [AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: (1.13-9.9)], additional food intake during the last pregnancy [AOR = 5.0, 95% CI: (1.2-16.2)], and preterm delivery [AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: (3.1-19.2)] were independent predictors of low birth weight. Conclusion. Magnitude of low birth weight in Dangla Primary Hospital was high. So, strengthening counseling systems for women through quality antenatal care on advantage of additional food intake and previous bad obstetric outcome is necessary to alleviate the delivery of low birth weight neonates in the study area.

Background. Continuum care is a basic package approach for women to receive essential services throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, and it is critical for women and their infants’ survival and well-being. Although it is an effective strategy for improving maternal and child health, it has not been implemented adequately in less developed countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, where 55% of women have been dropped out from the continuum of care. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing maternity continuum care completion and its associated factors within northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Materials and Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study design was considered among 504 women from March 10 to March 30, 2020, using pretested and structured questionnaires administered via face-to-face interviews. To select study participants, a simple random sampling technique was used. Data were coded, checked, and entered into EpiData software (V. 4.2), then transferred to SPSS (V. 25) for further analysis. A bivariable analysis with 95% CI was performed, and variables with P 0.25 during binary logistic regression were entered into a multivariable analysis to assess predictors’ independent effect. Results. About 177 (37.6%) women completed maternal continuum care. Women with secondary education and above ( AOR = 2.75 , 95% CI 1.42-5.32), urban residence ( AOR = 2.45 , 95% CI 1.35-4.45), using ambulance transport ( AOR = 3.96 , 95% CI 2.19-7.19), mass media exposure ( AOR = 3.64 , 95% CI 2.02-6.56), and distance from health facilities ( AOR = 3.22 , 95% CI 1.84-5.63) showed significant positive associations with completion of maternity continuum care. Conclusion. However, a higher proportion of mothers completed the continuum of maternity care in the district than Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 (9.1%); further interventions are compulsory to reach the acceptable level. Hence, comprehensive awareness-raising, education, and promotion activities at the community and health facility levels and empowering women in health care and decision-making backing to expand the completion of maternity continuum of care are necessary.

BackgroundPostpartum maternal morbidity is maternal illness that occurs after one hour of expulsion of placenta up to six weeks of childbirth. Though the true burden of this problem is not well known estimates of WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA showed that 1.4 million women experience acute obstetric morbidity annually. Knowledge of magnitude and predicting factors postpartum morbidity is central to understand the extent of the problem and will help as a cornerstone in designing and implementing better preventive strategies.ObjectivesTo assess the magnitude and factors associated with postpartum morbidity in public health institutions in Debre Markos town.MethodInstitutional based cross sectional study was conducted in Debre Markos town public health institutions by reviewing delivery charts, delivery records and reporting log books. Total deliveries in each health institution in the previous year were identified and number of records to be included from each institution was determined by probability proportion to size. Systematic sampling technique was employed to select 308 charts for review. Data was collected by trained midwifes using structured checklist; entered by epi info and analyzed using SPSS 20. To present findings descriptive statistics using frequencies, charts and figures were used accordingly. Finally binary and multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify predicting factors.ResultsThe magnitude of postpartum morbidity was found to be 101(32.8%). Divorced/widowed women [AOR = 10.920, 95% CI: (2.168, 54.998)], women who didn’t have ANC follow up [AOR = 3.710, 95% CI: (1.749, 7.870)], abnormal labour [AOR =3.496, 95% CI: (1.69, 7.22)], women delivered by doctor [AOR =0.111, 95% CI: (0.027, 0.454)] and women who were not attended postpartum visit [AOR =0.088, 95% CI: (0.040, 0.194)] were the factors associated with postpartum maternal morbidity.ConclusionMaternal morbidity in Debre Markos health institution was found to be major maternal health issue. Being divorced/widowed, absence of ANC visit, intrapartum abnormalities, delivery attended by skilled professionals and no post-partum visit were important predictors of maternal postpartum morbidity.

Background Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly improves the survival status and quality of life among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children, loss to follow-up (LTFU) from HIV-care profoundly affecting the treatment outcomes of this vulnerable population. For better interventions, up-to-date information concerning LTFU among HIV-infected children on ART is vital. However, only a few studies have been conducted in Ethiopia to address this concern. Thus, this study aims to identify the predictors of LTFU among HIVinfected children receiving ART at Debre Markos Referral Hospital. Methods An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was done among 408 HIV-infected children receiving ART at Debre Markos Referral Hospital between 2005 and March 15, 2019. Data were abstracted from the medical records of HIV-infected children using a standardized data abstracted checklist. We used Epi-Data Version 3.1 for data entry and Stata Version 14 for statistical analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival time. A generalized log-rank test was used to compare the survival curves of different categorical variables. Finally, both bi-variable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify the predictors of LTFU. Results Of 408 HIV-infected children included in the final analysis, 70 (17.1%) children were LTFU at the end of the study. The overall incidence rate of LTFU among HIV-infected children was found to be 4.5 (95%CI: 3.5-5.7) per 100-child years of observation. HIV-infected children living in rural areas (AHR: 3.2, 95%CI: 2.0-5.3), having fair or poor ART drug adherence (AHR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.4-3.7), children started ART through test and treat approach (AHR: