Background Mortality from preventable pregnancy-related complications remains high in Ethiopia. Antenatal care remains a major public health intervention that prevents maternal and neonatal mortality. Thus, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of adequate antenatal care utilization in Southern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 670 women. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire administered with a digital survey tool (open data kit) and directly exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Descriptive statistics followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results The magnitude of adequate antenatal care utilization was 23.13%. Tertiary and above education (AOR,4.15;95%CI: 1.95, 8.83), having the best friend who used maternal care (AOR,2.01;95%CI: 1.18,3.41), husband support (AOR,3.84; 95%CI: 1.05, 14.08), high wealth index (AOR,3.61; 95%CI: 1.86, 6.99), follow-up in private health facilities (AOR, 2.27;95% CI:1.33, 3.88), having a history of risky pregnancy (AOR,2.59; 95%CI: 1.55, 4.35), and planned pregnancy (AOR,2.60;95% CI: 1.35, 4.99) were significant determinants of overall adequate ANC service utilization. Conclusion The utilization of adequate antenatal care services is quite low. The study findings suggest that interventions should be in place to improve husband’s support, social networks, and women’s education. There is also a need to counsel women to utilize family planning.

Background Blood transfusion is one of the routine therapeutic interventions in hospitals that can be lifesaving. However, this intervention is related to several transfusion-related infections. Hepatitis C viral infection is one of the most common causes of transfusion-related hepatitis. Subsequently, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Ethiopia. Methods PubMed, Google Scholar, Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and Cochrane library, the web of science, African journal of online (AJOL), and Google Scholar was searched. The data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using STATA version 14. Publication bias was checked by funnel plot, contour-enhanced funnel plots, trim and fill analysis and more objectively through Egger’s regression test, with P <  0.05 considered to indicate potential publication bias. The heterogeneity of studies was checked using I2 statistics. Pooled analysis was conducted using a weighted inverse variance random-effects model. Subgroup analysis was done by region and study period. A sensitivity analysis was employed. Result A total of 25 studies with 197,172 study participants were used to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis c virus among blood donors. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus was 0.819% (95% CI: 0.67–0.969; I2 = 92.3%). Regional sub-group analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection among blood donors found to be 0.563% in Somali, 1.08% in Oromia, 0.847% in Amhara, and 0.908% in south nations nationalities and peoples region. Conclusion The pooled seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Ethiopia found to be low. Moreover, there should be systematic strategies that enhance donor screening and retention of safe regular donors.

Background Cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus prevention are public health priorities in Ethiopia. Despite cervical cancer being preventable with the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine and cervical cancer screening, HIV-infected women still have a low rate of screening, and data are scarce in this country. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among HIV-positive women in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia, 2018. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was performed from March 1st to May 15th, 2018. We recruited 465 HIV-positive women using a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, followed by multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Crude odds ratios, adjusted odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results In this study, only 8% of HIV-positive women were screened for cervical cancer. The most frequently cited barrier by participants to getting screened was feeling healthy 282 (65.9%). Multiparity {AOR = 4.12, 95% CI = (1.70, 9.95)}, provider recommendation to get screened {AOR = 3.20, 95%CI = (1.34, 7.65)}, having good knowledge {AOR = 4.33, 95%CI = (1.66-11.29)}, and high perceived susceptibility for cervical cancer {AOR = 3.10, 95% CI = (1.31-7.33)} were the factors significantly associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization. Conclusions The prevalence of cervical cancer screening service utilization was quite low. Provider’s recommendation to get screened, multiparity, knowledge, and perceived susceptibility were factors strongly associated with the service utilization. There is a need of routine counseling of health care providers for all HIV-positive women to get screened. Women’s lack of knowledge also needs to be addressed by informing every HIV-positive woman that they are more susceptible to cervical cancer, and that screening is critical to fighting against the disease.

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Background The burden of hypertension is more devastating in low-and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa than in high-income countries. Among the modifiable risk factors, dyslipidemia and khat chewing were expanding at an alarming rate in Ethiopia but were still underestimated. Thus, this study aimed to assess heavy khat (Catha edulis) chewing and dyslipidemia as modifiable hypertensive risk factors among patients in the southwest, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based case-control study was conducted among 136 cases and 270 controls from May 15 to July 30, 2017. A consecutive sampling technique was used in this study. Epi data version 3.1.1 and SPSS version 21 were used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results The majority of the cases had a total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio of >5 (72.1%). The odds of hypertension increased among participants who had attended no formal education [AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: (1.05–4.82)], history of alcohol consumption [AOR = 5.93,95% CI:(3.11–11.30)], moderate khat chewing [AOR = 3.68, 95% CI:(1.69,8.01)], heavy khat chewing [AOR = 18.18, 95% CI: (3.56–92.89)], mild intensity physical activity [AOR = 3.01, 95% CI: (1.66–5.47)], type of oil used for food preparation [AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: (1.49–5.28)], and dyslipidemia [AOR = 6.68, 95% CI: (2.93–15.23)]. Conclusion The study showed that modifiable risk factors were the major factors associated with the development of hypertension. The findings of this study highlighted that health education is needed to focus on physical exercise, quitting excess alcohol consumption, quitting khat chewing by giving special emphasis to those who had no formal education. In addition, consideration should be given to a healthy diet free of cholesterol and unhealthy behavior.