Background Obstetric fistula occurs in all developing countries but it is confined to the “fistula belt” across the northern half of Sub-Saharan Africa from Mauritania to Eritrea and in the developing countries of the Middle East and Asia. Ending obstetric fistula is critical to achieving Sustainable Development by 2030. So creating awareness on obstetrics fistula among women in the reproductive age group have a crucial role in reducing morbidity, mortality, and social stigma. Objective To assess awareness on obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive-age women attending governmental hospitals in southwest Ethiopia, 2021. Methods An Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 413 women. The sample size was estimated by using a single population proportion formula. The collected data were coded and entered into EPI-data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 24 for descriptive and inferential analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) along with 95% confidence level was estimated to assess the strength of the association and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered to declare the statistical significance in the multivariable analysis in this study. Results In this study, a total of 400 clients have participated in the study. The mean ages of participants were 30.26 (SD ± 8.525) years old. Education of women who cannot read and write are 85% less likely to have good awareness than women who are above the secondary level of education [AOR = 0.162; 95% CI (0.081–0.364)]. While Women who have primary education level are 83% less likely to have good awareness than women who are above the secondary level of education [AOR = 0.170; 95% CI (0.085–0.446)]. In addition, This study shows women who have not heard about obstetric complications are 54% less likely to have awareness of obstetric fistula than those who heard about obstetric complications [AOR = 0.458; 95% CI (0.368–0.643)]. Conclusion This study identifies that the educational level of women, history of pregnancy, distance to the nearby health institution, and awareness of obstetrics complications were the factors associated with awareness of reproductive age women on obstetrics fistula. Hence, increasing awareness on obstetric fistula plays a key role in averting this problem.

Background: Obstetric fistula occurs in all developing countries but it is confined to the “fistula belt” across the northern half of Sub-Saharan Africa from Mauritania to Eritrea and in the developing countries of the Middle East and Asia. Ending obstetric fistula is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development by 2030. So creating awareness on obstetrics fistula among women in reproductive age group have crucial role in reducing morbidity, mortality and social stigma.Objective: To assess awareness on obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive age women attending governmental hospitals in Ilubabor zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2021.Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted. The sample size was estimated by using a single population proportion formula. The collected data was coded and entered to Epi data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 24 for descriptive and inferential analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) along with 95% confidence level was estimated to assess the strength of the association and a p value <0.05 was considered to declare the statistical significance in the multivariable analysis in this study.Result: In this study a total of 400 clients were participated in the study. The mean ages of participants were 30.26 (SD±8.525) years old. Education of women’s who cannot read and write are 85% less likely to have good awareness than women who are above secondary level of education (AOR=0.162:95% CI (0.081-0.364)). While Women’s who have primary education level are 83% less likely to have good awareness than women who are above secondary level of education (AOR=0.170:95% CI (0.085-0.446)).In addition, my study shows women’s who haven’t heard about obstetric complication are 54% less likely to have awareness on obstetric fistula than those who heard about obstetric complication (AOR=0.458:95% CI (0.368-0.643). Conclusion: This study identifies that, educational level of women, history of pregnancy, distance to the nearby health institution and awareness on obstetrics complications were the factors associated with awareness of reproductive age women on obstetrics fistula. Hence, increasing awareness on obstetric fistula plays a key role to avert this problem.

Background: Decision making power of women is one of the essential factors which have influence on maternal health service utilizations. Women’s lack of decision over reproductive health service utilization affects their protection from unwanted child bearing, unsafe sex and their consequences. Objective፡ Assess decision-making power on RH-service utilization and its associated factors among married women in Illubabor zone, South West Ethiopia, 2018.Methods: Community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018 among 584(urban 292 and rural 292) married women of reproductive age group. The data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 computer software for analysis. Both Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. Level of significance was declared at a p value of <0.05Results: A total of 288 in urban and 288 in rural married women were interviewed and yields a response rate of 98.6% both in urban and rural. Decision-making power in urban and rural was 55.2% [95% CI (52.7-64.6)] and 40.3% [95% CI (39.9-52.5)] respectively. In urban, being wives of government employed spouses [AOR 2.102 95% CI (1.16, 3.81)], knowledge on RH [AOR 3.33, 95% CI (1.20, 12.49)], above five years in marriage [AOR 1.91, 95% CI (1.19, 7.70)], were found to be predictors of women’s decision-making power.Conclusion and recommendation: Urban women had better power to make decisions than rural on reproductive health service utilization. The study revealed that in urban settings those women who had marriage duration five and more than five years, being wives of government employed spouses had more likely decision making power on reproductive health utilization but not in rural settings. Reproductive health interventions in the area should be promoted by considering empowering of married women on reproductive health service utilization.Article summary:Strength: the study was representative for urban and rural women on reproductive health service utilization.Limitation: the study is not without limitation.it has all limitation of cross-sectional studyIntroduction

Background Decision making power of women is one of the essential factors which have influence on maternal health service utilizations. Women’s lack of decision over reproductive health service utilization affects their protection from unwanted child bearing, unsafe sex and their consequences. Objective The main objective of this study was to assess decision-making power on RH-service utilization and its associated factors among married women in Illuababor zone, Dupa town and surrounding rural kebeles, South West Ethiopia, 2018. Methods Community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018 among 584(urban 292 and rural 292) married women of reproductive age group. Women meet the inclusion criteria were interviewed by using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 computer software for analysis. Both Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. Level of significance was declared at a p value of < 0.05 Results A total of 288 in urban and 288 in rural married women were interviewed and yields a response rate of 98.6% both in urban and rural. Decision-making power in urban and rural was 55.2% [95% CI (52.7–64.6)] and 40.3% [95% CI (39.9–52.5)] respectively. In urban, being wives of government employed spouses [AOR 2.102 95% CI (1.16, 3.81)], knowledge on RH [AOR 3.33, 95% CI (1.20, 12.49)], above five years in marriage [AOR 1.91, 95% CI (1.19, 7.70)], were found to be predictors of women’s decision-making power. Interpretations &Conclusion: Urban women had better power to make decisions than rural on reproductive health service utilization. Reproductive health interventions in the area should be promoted by considering empowering of married women on reproductive health service utilization.

Background Perinatal mental illnesses are predominant during gestation and continue for a year after delivery. According to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), suicide is classified as a direct cause of death among the maternal population. The occurrence of suicidal behavior among perinatal women was considered the main contributor to the burden of the disorder. Hence, the current study will develop a protocol for a systematic review as well as a meta-analysis on estimating the prevalence and determinants of perinatal suicidal behavior in Sub-Saharan African countries. Methods PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science electronic databases will be searched for studies reporting primary data. The second search strategy will be done with Google Scholar, using a combination of the medical subject headings and keywords as the search terms. The studies will be classified into included, excluded, and undecided categories. The studies will be judged based on the eligibility criteria. Heterogeneity will be checked by using the I2 test (Cochran Q test) at a p-value of 0.05 and assuming that the I2 value is > 50%. Publication bias will be checked using a funnel plot, Beg’s rank, and Eggers linear statistical tests. A subgroup analysis and sensitivity test will be carried out. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), and the quantitative analysis will determine whether or not to proceed based on the results. Discussion This protocol’s comprehensive review is expected to generate sufficient evidence on the prevalence of suicidal behavior and its determinants among women during the perinatal period in Sub-Saharan African countries over the last two decades. Hence, this protocol will be imperative to collect and combine empirical data on suicidal behavior during the perinatal period, and doing so will help to provide essential implications or better evidence to plan different kinds of interventions considering determinants expected to impact the burden of suicidal behavior during the perinatal period. Systematic review registration PROSPERO (CRD42022331544).