Background/aims In Ethiopia, a country with low rates of delivery in institutions, managing labour pain can help as an incentive to enhance institutional delivery. This study aimed to assess labour pain management practice, attitudes towards these practices and associated sociodemographic characteristics among obstetric care providers. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among obstetric care providers from 15–30 May, 2018. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the labour pain management practices of participants and attitudes towards these practices. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between sociodemographic characteristics and labour pain management practices and attitudes. Results Only 13.8% of providers routinely practiced labour pain management. Participants who were a physician (adjusted odds ratio=0.18, P=0.001) or had 5 years or more experience (adjusted odds ratio=0.41, P=0.001) were less likely to practice labour pain management. Participants with a BSc or higher degree (adjusted odds ratio=3.58, P=0.003) or a favourable attitude (adjusted odds ratio=2.97, P=0.001) were more likely to practice labour pain management. Conclusions: The overall practicing of labour pain management among obstetric care providers in Hawassa city was low. A national protocol on labour pain management practice for obstetric care providers should be developed to address this.

BackgroundHome-based neonatal care is associated with a reduction in neonatal mortality in settings with poor access to health facility-based care. The first day of a child’s life is a day of unparalleled opportunity to spare lives and sets the level for a sound future. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and timing of home-based neonatal care by health extension workers (HEWs) in the rural Sidama Zone of southern Ethiopia.Subjects and methodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted, and a total of 2,040 mothers who had a live birth in the last 6 months were studied from 1 to 31 January 2017. Interviewer-administered data were collected using a standard questionnaire developed by the Saving Newborn Lives Program. A descriptive analysis and logistic regression analyses were done.ResultsIt was found that 252/2,040 (12.4%) mothers and their neonates were visited by the HEWs during the first month of birth. Out of all households who had a history of visits, 139 (55.2%) had a single visit. Of these, only 66/252 (26.2%) of the first visit were within the first 24 hours. Mothers who received postnatal home visit by the HEWs were at 1.35 times greater odds to have good postnatal practice compared to unvisited mothers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.35, 95% CI [1, 1.71]). Mothers who gave their last birth at home were 36% less likely to have good postnatal practice compared to those who gave birth in a health institution (AOR 0.64, 95% CI [0.53, 0.79]).ConclusionMajority of the neonates did not get the recommended number and frequency of home visits. Postnatal home visit by HEWs had a great role in mothers having good postnatal practice. Therefore, all stakeholders should give attention on strengthening supportive supervision, proper implementation of community-based maternal and neonatal care is very crucial.

Background. People with disabilities are vulnerable group to be infected with HIV/AIDS and are challenged to utilize HIV/AIDS services. Hence, this study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practice about HIV/AIDS among disabled people in Hawassa city. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 disabled people. All disabled people residing in Hawassa city during the study period were included. Pretested and structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the associated factors. Results. A high percentage (197 (79.8%)) of disabled people were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. Similarly, 190 (76%) of the respondents had a favorable attitude towards HIV/AIDS. In addition, being married (AOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.14, 4.27) and being employed (AOR = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.19, 6.81) were positively associated with knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Moreover, being a male (AOR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.61, 2.90) and being married (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI: 2.25, 3.26) were also positively associated with having a favorable attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Conclusions. Significant numbers of disabled people were knowledgeable and had a favorable attitude towards HIV/AIDS.

Background: Globally, there has been progress in reducing maternal and under-5 child deaths in the past 2 decades; however, the progress in reducing newborn mortality has been slower with estimated 3 million neonatal deaths per year. In Ethiopia, unhealthy newborn care is common at home deliveries compared with institutional births that might be associated with neonatal deaths. The purpose of the current study was to assess the practices of immediate newborn care at home and institutional deliveries in rural Sidama Zone, 2017. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was used. The study was conducted in 5 districts of Sidama Zone, from January 21 to February 4, 2017. A total of 2300 mothers who gave live births in the past 6 months were selected using a 2-stage cluster sampling methods. Data were entered, cleaned, and recoded using Epi Data and SPSS for analysis. Accordingly, descriptive and bivariate analyses were done, and the results are presented using P values. Results: The response rate was 99% (2279/2300). About one-third of the mothers are in the age group of 20 to 24 years, and 94.6% of them had at least 1 antenatal care follow-up. Most (72%) mothers delivered at health facilities. The practices of skin to skin care of the babies was 52% (61% at health facilities, 28% at home; P < .002). Baby bathing delay for at least 24 hours was 78% and clean cord care was 73% overall (home 21% vs health institution 93.6%). The cord was not tied in 11.6% of cases all of whom were home births (P < .001). As to immediate breastfeeding of the child, most (78%) of the babies were put to the breast within an hour of birth with no significant difference between the 2 places of births (P = .75). Conclusion: In this study, giving birth at health facilities did not make immediate newborn care practices universal, but unhealthy practices were more common among home births. Therefore, more efforts to promote community-based immediate newborn care are needed with great emphasis to proper thermal care.

Background: Health extension workers (HEWs) are primarily been assigned in rural areas of Ethiopia to provide maternal and child health services. Few studies have been done to investigate HEWs’ contributions towards maternal health services. This study describes HEWs involvement in the utilization of focused antenatal care (FANC). Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between January 21 and February 4, 2017. Mothers (2300) who gave birth in the last 6 months (0-6 months) in randomly selected 30 kebeles in the rural Sidama zone, participated in the study. A face-to-face interview was done using a structured questionnaire adapted from the Saving Newborn Lives Program. The main outcome variable was FANC utilization. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used using SPSS statistical software. Results: The FANC was used by 525 (24.36%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.5%-26.2%) women. Health extension workers accounted for 244 (46.47%; 95% CI: 43.5-47.7%) of mothers. The FANC utilization was less likely among those who were illiterate (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: .32; 95% CI: .18-.57) and those who attended first cycle (AOR: .41; 95% CI: .23-.74), those who attended secondary cycle (AOR: .47; 95% CI: .27-.82), primipara (AOR: 0.53; 95% CI: .35-.83), and those who gave birth at home (AOR: .66; 95% CI: .51-.84). Mothers who had knowledge of pregnancy danger signs (AOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.2-1.7) and exposure to mass media (AOR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.1-1.66) were more likely to utilize FANC. Conclusions: FANC utilization in this study was low compared to other studies. The HEWs had a major contribution to the services. However, it is low when compared to the plan set by the state ministry of health. The existing health extension program could be strengthened by increasing the number of HEWs. Empowering rural mothers through continuous education program to enhance the utilization of maternal health services.