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Introduction. Timely initiation of breastfeeding is defined as putting the newborn baby to the breast within one hour of birth. Despite the World Health Organization and national recommendations on timely initiation of breastfeeding, delayed initiation of breastfeeding is still a common problem. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the timely initiation of breastfeeding and its associated factors at the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021. Methods. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was employed from February 1, 2021, to March 2, 2021, at the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city among 302 mother-child pairs. The data were collected by systematic random sampling technique, entered into Epi data 4.2, and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science 25.0 version. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95%, and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Frequency tables, figures, and descriptive summaries were used to describe the study variables. Results. In this study, timely initiation of breastfeeding was 70.9% (95% CI: 65.6-75.8%). In a multivariable analysis, maternal age group of 25-40 years ( AOR = 2.21 , 95% CI = 1.09 − 4.48 ), multiparty ( AOR = 2.58 , 95% CI = 1.24 − 5.40 ), counselling on timely initiation of breastfeeding during antenatal care visits ( AOR = 2.38 , 95% CI = 1.16 − 4.88 ), institutional delivery ( AOR = 3.29 , 95% CI = 1.27 − 8.52 ), vaginal delivery ( AOR = 3.06 , 95% CI = 1.20 − 7.81 ), counselling on breastfeeding immediately after delivery ( AOR = 2.89 , 95% CI = 1.29 − 6.45 ), not practicing pre lacteal feeding ( AOR = 6.76 , 95% CI = 2.35 − 19.44 ), and having good practice of colostrum feeding ( AOR = 4.03 , 95% CI = 1.95 − 8.36 ) were associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion and Recommendation. Mothers who had practiced timely initiation of breastfeeding were low compared to the national recommendation (92%). Age of the mother, multiparity, counseling on timely initiation of breastfeeding, institutional delivery, vaginal delivery, counseling after delivery, not practicing prelacteal feeding, and having a good practice of colostrum feeding were predictors of timely initiation of breastfeeding. It indicates a need to encourage mothers to have antenatal care visits and institutional delivery.

Background The extended postpartum period is the first twelve months following childbirth and is an important entry point for family planning service providers to reduce unintended and too closely spaced pregnancies. A modern postpartum family planning service is one of the recommended public health interventions for reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortalities in sitting where maternal mortality is high, like in Ethiopia. Objective This study was aimed to assess factors associated with the utilization of modern family planning methods during the extended postpartum period among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months at Injibara town, Northwest, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from March 1–15/2019 at Injibara town among 402 mothers. The data was collected by a simple random sampling technique and analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 version. Logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95% and a P-value of < 0.05 in multivariable analysis considered statistically significant. Frequency tables and descriptive summaries were used to describe the study variables. Results The total sample size of this study was 402 and among them, 400 postpartum mothers participated in the study with a response rate of 99.5%. The utilization of modern family planning methods during the extended postpartum period among postpartum mothers was 58.5% [95% CI: 53.5- 63%]. Of these, 38.9% and 32.9% of the mothers were using injectables and implants respectively. Secondary and above educational level, having ≥ 3 antenatal care visits, resumption of menstruation, discussing with the partner on utilization of family planning method, being counseled on family planning method utilization during antenatal care visits and immediately after delivery, linkage of the mothers to a family planning unit during child immunization, and having good knowledge of family planning methods were associated with utilization of modern family planning methods during the extended postpartum period. Conclusion The utilization of modern family planning methods during the extended postpartum period among postpartum women was low compared to the world health organization recommendation. Socio-demographic, health care service uptakes, and reproductive characteristics were associated with the utilization of modern family planning methods during the extended postpartum period. We suggest emphasizing the education and counseling of women on the utilization of family planning during maternal and child health care service utilization. Mothers should be encouraged to start using modern family planning methods before the resumption of menses.

Objective Macrosomia is associated with the risk of mortality and morbidity in neonates and their mothers. Despite the considerable public health effect of macrosomia, evidence on the determinants of macrosomia is limited in Northwest Ethiopia in general and in Amhara region in particular. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of macrosomia among newborns delivered in referral hospitals in 2020 in Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 279 mothers and their newborns in Amhara region referral hospitals. Newborns weighing 4000 g and above and between 2500 and 3999 g were considered cases and controls, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify the determinants of macrosomia. Results In total, 273 of 279 mothers and their newborns (97.8% response rate) were included. The mean birth weights of cases and controls were 4312.97 ± 357.53 g and 3161.92 ± 452.12 g, respectively. Weight gain over pregnancy, antenatal follow up, physical activity during pregnancy, and neonate sex were the main determinants of macrosomia. Conclusion The main determinants of macrosomia were determined in this study. Government should place special emphasis on reducing the modifiable factors of macrosomia.

Background Maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion have increased steadily in sub- Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, 25% of the pregnancy is unintended pregnancy. This contributes from 6–9% maternal deaths from unsafe abortion .Previously, many fragmented cross-sectional studies were conducted but there is no cumulative evidence on health care providers’ attitude and associated factors to safe abortion in Ethiopia. This study aimed to measure pooled health care Providers’ attitude and determinants of safe abortion in EthiopiaMethods In this review the databases used were Google Scholar, Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, HINARI and African Journals Online. The quality of articles that met the inclusion criteria was assessed. The studies were critically appraised by using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal tools and the preferred reporting item for systematic review was used for quality assessment. Data were extracted in an excel spreadsheet and imported to STATA version 17 software for meta-analysis. The random- effect model was used to pooled the health care Providers’ attitude to safe abortion. The I2 statistics were used to test heterogeneity and Egger’s tests were used to assess publication bias. Forest plot were used to present the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).Results A total of eight studies with a total sample size of 2,826 were included for this review and meta-analysis. The overall pooled health care providers’ favorable attitude towards safe abortion in Ethiopia was 65.49% (95%CI; 49.64, 81.34; I2 = 99.20%, P = 0.000). Familiarize with abortion law, OR = 2.25 (95% CI: 1.06, 3.43), being male provider, OR = 1.89 (95% CI: 1.23, 2.54), taking training on abortion, OR = 2.91 (95% CI: 1.17, 4.65), being midwives profession, OR = 3.029 (95% CI: 1.605, 4.453) and practicing abortion procedure, OR = 2.55 (95% CI: 1.32, 3.78) were positively associated with providers’ favorable attitude to safe abortion.Conclusion Health care provider who trained on abortion service and who were familiarized with abortion law were more likely to have favorable attitude to safe abortion services in Ethiopia. Therefore, all health institutions and other stakeholders should facilitate training on safe abortion services and enable providers familiarize with abortion law in Ethiopia.