Background Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in developing countries. Since cervical cancer is a preventable disease, screening is an important control and prevention strategy, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for all women aged 30 years and older, and even earlier for some high-risk women. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the uptake of cervical cancer screening among age-eligible women in Ethiopia. Method Review identification was performed through the search of online databases PubMed, Google Scholar, HINARI, EMBASE, Science Direct, Cochrane library, African Journals, and other gray and online repository accessed studies were searched using different search engines. For critical appraisal of studies, Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used. The analysis was conducted by using STATA 11 software. To test the heterogeneity of studies, the Cochran Q test and I2 test statistics were used. To detect publication bias of the studies, the funnel plot and Egger’s test were used. The pooled prevalence of cervical cancer screening and the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval were presented using forest plots. Result Twenty-four studies with a total of 14,582 age-eligible women were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled national level of cervical cancer screening among age-eligible women in Ethiopia was 13.46% (95%CI:11.06,15.86). Knowledge on cervical cancer and screening (OR = 4.01,95%CI:2.76,5.92), history of multiple sexual partners (OR = 5.01, 95%CI:2.61,9.61), women’s age (OR = 4.58, 95%CI:2.81,7.46), history of sexually transmitted disease (OR = 4.83,95%CI:3.02,7.73), Perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer (OR = 3.59, 95%CI:1.99,6.48), getting advice from health care providers (OR = 4.58, 95%CI:3.26, 6.43), women’s educational level (OR = 6.68,95%CI:4.61,9.68), women’s attitude towards cervical cancer and screening (OR = 3.42, 95%CI:2.88,4.06) were the determinant factors of cervical cancer screening uptake among age-eligible women in Ethiopia. Conclusion The pooled prevalence of cervical cancer screening was remarkably low among age-eligible women in Ethiopia. Thus, to increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening among age-eligible women regularly, it is better to create awareness programs for early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, and educational interventions that teach the step-by-step practice of cervical screening to increase women’s attitude for screening. Additionally, it is better to inform every woman is susceptible to cervical cancer, especially after starting sexual intercourse, and screening remains fundamental in the fight against cervical cancer before becoming invasive. Moreover, counseling and improving the confidence of women by health care providers to undergo screening is recommended.

Background Each year, millions of newborns die as a result of birth asphyxia, infections, and complications of preterm birth. This burden of death is disproportionately concentrated in low-income countries including Ethiopia. As a result, the care given immediately after birth is crucial for making a successful transition from intrauterine to extrauterine function and to reduce neonatal mortality. Methods Facility-based cross-sectional study design was carried out on a sample size of 208 obstetrical care providers. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The data were collected through Interview-administered questionnaires and observational checklists. The data were entered into Epi-info version 7 and exported to SPSS 23 for analysis. Results A total of 201 obstetric care providers participated in the study, making a response rate of (96.6%). This study revealed that 62.7% of obstetric care providers practiced essential newborn care properly. The factors significantly associated were received in-service training (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.35, 5.51), level of education (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.96), midwifery profession (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.35, 7.39), having good knowledge of essential newborn care (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.49), availability of drugs for essential newborn care (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.72), and availability of medical equipment to perform essential newborn care (AOR = 2, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.96). Conclusion The practice of essential newborn care was generally low. Having in-service training, midwifery profession, a good knowledge of essential newborn care, availability of drugs, level of education, and availability of medical equipment for essential newborn care were the determinant factors for essential newborn care practice. Improvement in essential newborn care practices could be attained through modifiable proven interventions like provision of in-service training, availed drugs, and medical equipment for essential newborn care.

Background Obstructed labor is a preventable obstetric complication. However, it is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity and of adverse outcomes for newborns in resource-limited countries in which undernutrition is common resulting in a small pelvis in which there is no easy access to functioning health facilities with a capacity to carry out operative deliveries. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the incidence, causes, and maternofetal outcomes of obstructed labor among mothers who gave birth in Ethiopia. Method for this review, we used the standard PRISMA checklist guideline. Different online databases were used for the review: PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, HINARI, AFRO Library Databases, and African Online Journals. Based on the adapted PICO principles, different search terms were applied to achieve and access the essential articles. The search included all published and unpublished observational studies written only in the English language and conducted in Ethiopia. Microsoft Excel 16 was used for data entrance, and Stata version 11.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) was used for data analysis. Results I included sixteen (16) primary studies with twenty-eight thousand five hundred ninety-one (28,591) mothers who gave birth in Ethiopia. The pooled incidence of obstructed labor in Ethiopia was 12.93% (95% CI: 10.44–15.42, I2 = 98.0%, p < 0.001). Out of these, 67.3% (95% CI: 33.32–101.28) did not have antenatal care follow-up, 77.86% (95% CI: 63.07–92.66) were from the rural area, and 58.52% (95% CI: 35.73– 82.31) were referred from health centers and visited hospitals after 12 h of labor. The major causes of obstructed labor were cephalo-pelvic disproportion 64.65% (95% CI: 57.15– 72.14), and malpresentation and malposition in 27.24% (95% CI: 22.05–32.42) of the cases. The commonest complications were sepsis in 38.59% (95% CI: 25.49–51.68), stillbirth in 38.08% (95% CI: 29.55–46.61), postpartum hemorrhage in 33.54% (95% CI:12.06– 55.02), uterine rupture in 29.84% (95% CI: 21.09–38.58), and maternal death in 17.27% (95% CI: 13.47–48.02) of mothers who gave birth in Ethiopia. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the incidence of obstructed labor was high in Ethiopia. Not having antenatal care follow-up, rural residency, and visiting hospitals after 12 h of labor increased the incidence of obstructed labor. The major causes of obstructed labor were cephalo-pelvic disproportion, and malpresentation and malpresentation. Additionally, the commonest complications were sepsis, stillbirth, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture, and maternal death. Thus, promoting antenatal care service utilization, a good referral system, and availing comprehensive obstetric care in nearby health institutions are recommended to prevent the incidence of obstructed labor and its complications.

Background Maternal mortality remains a major challenge to health systems worldwide. Although most pregnancies and births are uneventful, approximately 15% of all pregnant women develop potentially life-threatening complications. Childbirth at home in this context can be acutely threatening, particularly in developing countries where emergency care and transportation are less available. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of home childbirth and its associated factors among women in Ethiopia at their last childbirth. Method For this review, we used the standard PRISMA checklist guideline. This search included all published and unpublished observational studies written only in English language and conducted in Ethiopia. PubMed/Medline, Hinari, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), ProQuest, Cochrane Library, African Journals Online, Ethiopian’s university research repository online library were used. Based on the adapted PICO principles, different search terms were applied to achieve and access the essential articles from February 1–30, 2020. The overall selected search results were 40 studies. Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction and Stata version 11.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) for data analysis. The quality of individual studies was appraised by using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality appraisal checklist. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed by the Cochrane Q and I2 test. With the evidence of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were computed. The pooled prevalence of childbirth at home and the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval was presented using forest plots. Result Seventy-one thousand seven hundred twenty-four (71, 724) mothers who gave at least one birth were recruited in this study. The estimated prevalence of childbirth at home in Ethiopia was 66.7% (95%CI: 61.56–71.92, I2 = 98.8%, p-value < 0.001). Being from a rural area (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.48–12.07), being uneducated (AOR = 5.90, 95% CI: 4.42–7.88), not pursuing antenatal (ANC) visits at all (AOR = 4.57(95% CI: 2.42–8.64), having 1–3 ANC visits only (AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 3.8–8.26), no birth preparedness and complication readiness plan (AOR = 5.60, 95% CI: 6.68–8.25), no media access (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI: 2.27–5.27), having poor knowledge of obstetric complications (AOR = 4.16: 95% CI: 2.84–6.09), and walking distance more than 2 hours to reach the nearest health facility (AOR = 5.12, 95% CI: 2.94–8.93) were the factors associated with giving childbirth at home. Conclusion The pooled prevalence of childbirth at home was high in Ethiopia. Being from a rural area, being uneducated, not pursuing ANC visits at all, having 1–3 ANC visits only, no media access, having poor knowledge of obstetric complications, not having a birth preparedness and complication readiness plan, and walking time greater than 2 hours to reach the nearest health facility increased the probability of childbirth at home in Ethiopia.

Background Transplacental or fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) may occur during pregnancy or at delivery and lead to immunization to the D antigen if the mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive. This can result in hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in subsequent D-positive pregnancies. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate distribution of ABO and Rh (D) blood groups among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Method We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, HINARI, AFRO Library Databases, and African Online Journal databases for all available studies using the following keywords: “High rhesus (Rh(D)) negative frequency”, “ABO blood group distribution”, “haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)”, “rh isoimmunization”, “anti-RhD immunoglobulin”, “D-negative pregnancies”, “Frequency”, “ABO and Rh blood group distribution”, “feto-maternal hemorrhage”, “rhesus D negative pregnant mothers”, “kleihauer-betke test (KBT)”, “Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia”, “non-sensitized RhD-negative pregnant women”, “antenatal anti-D immunoglobulin prophylaxis”, “Hemolytic disease of the newborn (alloimmunization), Ethiopia. The search string was developed using “AND” and “OR” Boolean operators. All published and unpublished observational studies reporting the distribution of ABO and Rh (D) blood groups among pregnant women in Ethiopia were included. The study participants were all pregnant women in Ethiopia, and the main outcome measure of this systematic review and meta-analysis was Rhesus D-negative blood type and ABO blood group distribution among pregnant women in Ethiopia. The data was extracted by the author (AAA) by using a standardized JBI data extraction format. Microsoft Excel (2016), and Stata version 11.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) software were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. The random effect model was used for estimating the pooled effects, and the publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plots and objectively by using the Egger’s test (i.e. p < 0.05). Results One hundred thirty-two articles were identified through electronic database searching. Of which, 34 were excluded due to duplication, 65 through review of titles and abstracts, and 22 full-text articles were excluded for not reporting the outcome variable and other reasons. Finally, 7 were included to estimate the distribution of ABO and Rh (D) blood groups among pregnant women in Ethiopia. The pooled distribution of Rh-negative blood group among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 10.8% (95%CI: 7.53–14.07, I2 = 85%, p < 0.001). In the ABO system, type O was the most prevalent 39.9% (37.51–42.38), followed by A (30.59% (26.00–35.18)), B (23.04% (20.03–26.05)), and AB the least (4.82%(3.17–6.47)), in the pattern O > A > B > AB. Conclusion The pooled distribution of Rh-negative blood group among pregnant women in Ethiopia was high. Rh alloimmunization remains a major factor responsible for perinatal morbidity in Ethiopia and may result in the compromise of the woman’s obstetric care due to the unaffordability of anti-D immunoglobulin. There is the urgent need for the implementation of universal access to anti-D immunoglobulin for the Rh-negative pregnant population in Ethiopia.