Background A growing body of evidence demonstrating that individuals with Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) are more likely to have severe forms of COVID-19 and subsequent mortality. Hence, our study aimed to assess the knowledge of vulnerability and preventive practices towards COVID-19 among patients with hypertension or diabetes in Southern Ethiopia. Objective To assess the knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19 among patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in three zones of Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was used with a multi-stage random sampling technique to select 682 patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus from 10th -17th July 2020 at the three zones of Southern Ethiopia. Logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval was fitted to identify independent predictors of knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to determine the magnitude of the association between the outcome and independent variables. P-value <0.05 is considered statistically significant. Results The Multi-dimensional knowledge (MDK) analysis of COVID-19 revealed that 63% of study subjects had good knowledge about COVID-19. The overall preventive practice towards COVID -19 was 26.4%. Monthly income (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.94) significantly predicted knowledge towards COVID-19. Ninety-five percent of the study subjects knew that the COVID-19 virus spreads via respiratory droplets of infected individuals. One hundred and ten (16.2%) of study subjects correctly responded to the questions that state whether people with the COVID-19 virus who do not have a fever can infect the other. Knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.1) became the independent predictor of preventive practice. Conclusions In this study, the knowledge of the respondents towards the COVID-19 pandemic was good. But the preventive practice was very low. There was a significant gap between knowledge and preventive practices towards the COVID-19 pandemic among the study subjects. Monthly income was significantly associated with knowledge of COVID-19. Knowledge of COVID-19 was found to be an independent predictor of preventive practice towards COVID-19. Community mobilization and improving COVID-19- related knowledge and practice are urgently recommended for those patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Birth preparedness and complication readiness is the big pillar in the process of planning for normal delivery and seeking interventions if there is an obstetric emergency. Since Maternal mortality is a public health challenge Globally, different effort were applied from government as well as nongovernmental organization. Methods:Institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted from September 15,2017 to October 15,2017 in Arba Minch town governmental Institutions. A total of 421 pregnant mothers were involved and study subjects were selected by systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 23 statistical soft ware package for cleaning, coding and analysis. Descriptive statistics was done to assess basic client characteristics. Factors that show association in Bivariable analysis was entered in to Multivariable logistic regression models. The strength of statistical association was measured by adjusted odds ratios, 95% confi dence intervals, and P-value <0.05 was considered as signifi cant. Result and Discussion:A total of 421 pregnant women were included in the study with a response rate of 100%. The study indicate that 53.4% of the respondents were knowledgeable on danger signs of pregnancy and 57.7% practice birth preparedness and complication readiness. Educational status of the mother(AOR:1.9; 95% CI: 3.14-13.76), Husbands educational status(AOR:1.1;95% CI: 1.4-5.4), Gravidity(AOR:2.9; 95% CI:0.025-0.121) and Knowledge on danger signs of pregnancy(AOR:2.9; 95% CI: 0.04-0.81) were the independent factors which affect the birth preparedness and complication readiness of pregnant mothers. Conclusion:Educational status of the respondent, Husbands educational status, gravidity and pregnant mother's knowledge on danger signs of pregnancy are signifi cant factors which affect birth preparedness and complication readiness of pregnant mothers.

BACKGROUND፡ Pregnancy induced hypertension represents a significant public health problem throughout the world, which may complicate 0.5%–10% of all pregnancies. It is the leading cause of maternal as well perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Pregnancy induced hypertension is a multisystem disorder unique to pregnancy and results in high perinatal mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the survival status, incidence and predictors of perinatal mortality among mothers with pregnancy induced hypertension at antenatal clinics of Gamo Zone public hospitals.METHODS: Facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among selected 576(192 exposed and 384 unexposed) antenatal care attendants' record at Gamo Zone public hospitals from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.02 and exported to SPSS V 25 for analysis. Kaplan Meier survival curve together with log rank test was fitted to test the survival time. Statistical significance was declared at Pvalue <0.05 using cox proportional hazard model.RESULT: The incidence of perinatal mortality was 124/1000 births. The cumulative proportion of surviving at the end of 4th , 8th, 12th and 16th weeks of follow-up among the exposed groups was 96.9%, 93.5%, 82.1% and 61.6% respectively whereas it was 99.5%, 98.9% and 98.5% at the end of 4th, 8th and 12th weeks of follow-up for the non-exposed groups respectively. Parity of >5(AHR: 6.3; 95%CI: 1.36,10.55), mothers who delivered at<34 weeks of gestation(AHR:7.8; 95%CI: 2.6,23.1), being preterm(AHR:6; 95%CI: 5.3,19.2), perinatal birth weight<2500gm(AHR:6.1; 95&CI: 1.01,37.9), vaginal deliveryn(AHR:2.7; 95%CI:1.13,6.84), maternal highest systolic blood pressure level >160mmHg (AHR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.02,5.55) and prepartum onset of pregnancy induced hypertension (AHR:6; 95%CI: 5.3,19.2) were statistically significant in multivariable analysis.CONCLUSION: The risk of perinatal mortality was high among the mothers with pregnancy induced hypertension compared to those of pregnancy induced hypertension free mother,s and the perinatal mortality rate was high. High parity, low gestational age, low number of antenatal care visits, low birth weight, vaginal delivery, antepartum onset of pregnancy induced hypertension and highest maternal systolic blood pressure level were the independent predictors of perinatal mortality.