Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem in worldwide and the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Globally, 350 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis virus and more than 68,600 people die of HBV infection. Pregnant mother infected with Hepatitis B virus has a high rate of vertical transmission, causing adverse fetal and neonatal outcome. Understanding the epidemiology of Hepatitis virus could have paramount importance to take appropriate preventive measures. The world health organization recommends screening of all pregnant mothers. However, this practice is poor currently in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aims to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in selected governmental health facilities of Harar city from March to April 2017. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 326 study participants. Data were collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. Serum was withdrawn from each study participants and used to detect hepatitis B Antigen surface using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test kit. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify independent predictors of hepatitis B virus infection after controlling for confounding variables. Result: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus among pregnant mothers was found to be 6.3%. In multivariate analysis; blood transfusion [AOR=9.7, 95% CI (1.6, 57.5)], history of surgical procedure [AOR=4.1, 95% CI (1.1, 16.8)], history of sexually transmitted infection [AOR=10.1, 95% CI (2.9, 34.7)], being HIV positive [AOR=13.1, 95% CI (1.8, 95.6)] and history of tooth extraction [AOR=5.5, 95% CI (1.4, 22.1)] were independent predictors of HBV infection. Conclusion: HBV infection is intermediate endemicity in the study area. Higher prevalence of HBV infection was identified among mothers with history of blood transfusion, history of surgical procedure, history of STI, HIV positive and history of tooth extraction.

Background: Premature rupture of the membrane is a serious public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite its substantial contributions to feto-maternal complications, the burden of premature rupture of the membrane was not systematically analyzed in Ethiopia. Hence, this review aimed to identify the burden of premature rupture of the membrane and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods: PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and African journal online databases and Google Scholar were searched for articles published in the English language. Independent review authors selected and screened studies. Appraisal for methodological quality of studies was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute assessment checklist. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. The I2 statistical significance and Egger’s test were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Results: The pooled prevalence of premature rupture of the membrane among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 9.2% (95% confidence interval = 5.0, 16.4). Factors significantly associated with premature rupture of the membrane were no antenatal care visit (odds ratio = 2.87, confidence interval = 1.34, 6.14), history of premature rupture of the membrane (odds ratio = 4.09, 95% confidence interval = 2.82, 5.91), history of abortion (odds ratio = 3.13, confidence interval = 1.63, 6.01), abnormal vaginal discharge (odds ratio = 6.78, confidence interval = 4.11, 11.16), and urinary tract infection (odds ratio = 3.04, confidence interval = 1.21, 7.63). Conclusion: Nearly one in ten pregnancies in Ethiopia encounters premature rupture of the membrane complications. The finding highlights improving antenatal care utilization, thus preventing or treating urinary and reproductive tract infections, and tailored interventions for pregnant women with a history of premature rupture of the membrane or abortion contribute to reduced premature rupture of the membrane.

Objectives: Promoting respectful maternity care is a fundamental strategy for enhancing facility birth, which significantly reduces maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. Despite these effects, disrespect and abusive childbirth care remain a challenge in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of respectful maternity care and its associated factors among laboring women in public hospitals of Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed, and trained external assessors observed the care provided to 404 laboring women in public hospitals using structured observation checklists. A focus group discussion and two key informant interviews were also conducted. A structured pre-tested questionnaire and a semi-structured guide were used to generate quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Seven verification criteria were employed, and the mean value and above for each criterion were used to measure respectful maternity care. Results: Of the 404 client–provider interaction observations during childbirth, only 12.6% ( n = 51) participants received respectful maternity care. Being from an urban area (adjusted odds ratio = 3.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 8.08), giving childbirth at daytime (adjusted odds ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.26, 5.33), receiving the service from compassionate and respectful care trained provider (adjusted odds ratio = 4.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.63, 12.66), giving childbirth at general hospital (adjusted odds ratio = 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 6.65) were positively associated with respectful maternity care. Staff workload, shortage of supply and equipment, partiality in providing timely care, yelling and insulting at clients and birth companions were also barriers to respectful maternity care. Conclusion: The observed respectful maternity care practices were low in the study area. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that addressing respectful maternity care would require increased compassionate and respectful care trained providers, and sustained efforts to improve access to basic equipment and supply for maternity care with an emphasis on primary hospitals. Tailored interventions aimed at improving respectful maternity care should also target rural residents and nighttime parturients.

Background: Although it is a public health problem of pregnant women in low, middle and high-income countries, the highest prevalence rate of anemia is found among pregnant women of low-income countries, particularly in Africa. Therefore, this study has aimed to determine the magnitude of the anemia and its associated factors among pregnant women admitted to labor wards of public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 pregnant women admitted to labor wards in four public hospitals of Harar town and Dire Dawa City Administration. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through an interview using a structured questionnaire. The hemoglobin level was measured for each study participant. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted and statistical significance was declared at P<0.05. Results: The magnitude of anemia was 33.1% (95% CI: 28.4%, 37.8%). Being from rural areas (AOR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.81, 7.94), no antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.34, 8.79), a habit of drinking milk with tea after meals (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.48, 5.61), taking a meal only 1-2 times per day (AOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.69, 8.97), experiencing no blood loss in the current pregnancy (AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.96) and a habit of eating leafy vegetables (AOR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.24) were significantly associated with anemia. Conclusion: About one in three pregnant women were anemic and anemia was a moderate public health problem in the study settings. Interventions targeting reducing or preventing anemia should focus on pregnant women in rural areas, promoting the benefits of ANC follow-up, reducing the habit of drinking milk with tea after meals, enhancing the consumption of leafy vegetables and increasing meal frequency per day to minimize or prevent anemia and its consequences during pregnancy.

Background Sub-Saharan African countries, especially the Eastern region, present the dismal picture of neonatal mortality (NM) in the globe. The majority of these deaths could be avoided if effective health measures are provided throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Although antenatal care (ANC) is assumed as one of the viable interventions that contribute to neonatal survival, the effect of ANC on NM was not systematically analyzed in Eastern Africa. Thus, the study aimed to determine the pooled effect of ANC on NM in Eastern Africa. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and HINARI databases were searched using appropriate keywords from January 1, 1990 to February 12, 2021. Independent authors selected eligible articles and extracted data. The risk of a bias assessment tool for nonrandomized studies was used to assess the quality of the study. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 2 was used for meta-analysis. The random-effect model was employed, and the outcome is expressed as a risk ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results In total, 1149 studies were identified through database search, and only 27 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Having at least 1 ANC visit during pregnancy reduced the risk of neonatal death by 42% compared to their counterparts (RR = 0.58, 95% CI [0.47, 0.71]). The pooled prevalence of NM was 8.5% (95% CI [7.3, 9.6]), with NM rate of 46.3/1000 live births. Conclusion The study indicated that NM might be decreased even with a single ANC visit when compared to no visits. Scaling up ANC services through ANC promotion and tackling service-related barriers could potentially reduce NM in Eastern Africa.