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Background. Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high due to pregnancy complications and remains the major health problems in many developing countries such as Ethiopia. Having poor knowledge of obstetric danger signs contributes to delays in seeking and receiving skilled care which in turn increases maternal mortality. However, in Ethiopia, studies are lacking regarding the knowledge level of mothers about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, child birth, and postnatal periods. In Ethiopia, the proportion of those who have full knowledge of these obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, child birth, and postnatal period is not known. Despite few studies are conducted at health facility level focusing on danger signs during pregnancy, the issue of health-seeking action after identifying danger signs and attitude of mothers towards obstetric danger sign was not addressed. Objectives. To determine knowledge, attitude, health-seeking action towards obstetric danger signs, and associated factors among postpartum women. Methods.A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Nekemte Town from October 1 to November 30, 2017. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select the total sample size of 621. Ethical clearance was obtained from Wollega University research and ethical committee. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. Data were entered to EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. To assess the associations between dependent and independent variables, binary and multivariate logistic regressions were employed, and the strength of association was presented using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Result. Only 197 (32.3%) of respondents were able to spontaneously mention at least five key obstetric danger signs during antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum (in the three phases) with at least one obstetric danger sign in each phase and thus were considered as having good knowledge of key obstetric danger signs. Government employee (AOR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.98–5.42), able to read and write (AOR = 4.92, 95% CI: 2.14–11.3), primary school (AOR = 4.90, 95% CI: 2.11–11.4), ANC follow-up (AOR = 6.2, 95% CI: 1.82–21.21), and ANC visit (AOR = 4.07, 95% CI: 2.35–7.06) were significantly associated with knowledge of obstetric danger sign. From 150 (24.6%) participants who faced obstetric danger signs during their last pregnancy, the majority of them, 137 (91.3%), had a good practice which is seeking a health facility for care. Conclusion and Recommendation. Despite their low knowledge level and attitude, the practice of mothers in response to obstetric danger signs was encouraging. Occupation, educational status, ANC follow-up, and number of ANC visits were variables significantly associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Health care providers should provide health education and counseling to increase awareness, and appropriate counseling during antenatal care at each visit is of paramount importance.

Background Early neonatal death caused by preterm birth contributes the most for perinatal death. The prevalence of preterm birth continues to rise and is a significant public health problem. The exact cause of preterm birth is yet unanswered, as mostly preterm birth happens spontaneously. Predictors of preterm birth in developing countries like Ethiopia were not well investigated, and no study was conducted before this in the study area. Objectives To identify predictors of preterm birth in Western Ethiopia, 2017/2018. Methods Health facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from October 20/2017-march 20/2018 in 4 Hospitals. A total sample size of 358 women was recruited. From this 72 were cases and 286 were controls. Cases were mothers who gave Preterm birth, and controls were mothers who gave birth at term. Ethical clearance was obtained from Wollega University ethical review committee. A pre tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi Data 3.1 and SPSS version 21, respectively. Logistic regression was done to identify predictors of preterm birth. Result Three hundred fifty-eight women participated in this study of which 72 were cases and 286 were controls; making the overall response rate of 100%. Lack of antenatal care visit [AOR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.37–7.38]),(Having 1–2 antenatal care visit [AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.18–4.35]),history of previous preterm)[AOR = 5.19, 95% CI1.29–20.88],Short Interpregnancy Interval [AOR = 4.41.95% CI 2.05–9.47],Having Reproductive tract infections [AOR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.02–6.32] and having Obstetric complications [AOR = 2.48,95% CI 1.31–4.71] were found to be predictors of preterm birth. Conclusion and recommendation Risk factors of preterm delivery are multifactorial and depend on geographical and demographic features of the population studied. Hence results of studies from one area might not be applicable to another area. Antenatal care visits are unique opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment of problems. Therefore, antenatal care should be strengthened, and appropriate counseling should be given at each antenatal care follow up. Maintainning optimum birth interval through family planning, and early identification and treatment of reproductive tract infections are mandatory.

Background: Exercise during pregnancy is among the cost-effective options that can significantly reduce the burden of chronic metabolic diseases leading to an adverse birth outcome. Despite the negative consequences of sedentary life among pregnant women, little is known about the pregnant mothers’ knowledge, attitude, and associated factors toward exercise during pregnancy in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and associated factors toward exercise during pregnancy among women attending antenatal care at Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methodology: A health facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 475 pregnant women from March 12 to May 12, 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from pregnant women attending the antenatal care unit. Data were coded and entered using Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25. Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify possible determinants and an odds ratio was used to measure the strength of associations at a p-value of <0.05 Result: The study showed that 55.8% (95% CI: 48.45–59.12) of pregnant women were knowledgeable about benefits and contraindication of exercise during pregnancy; 53.3% (95% CI: 49.05–57.62) of them had positive attitudes toward exercise during pregnancy. Educational status adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 3.95 (95% CI: 1.712–9.108), practicing physical exercise before becoming pregnant AOR = 3.64 (95% CI: 1.091–12.118), and women who heard about exercise during pregnancy AOR = 4.74 (95% CI: 2.563–8.756) were found to have statistically significant association with knowledge of women about exercise during pregnancy. Women who were knowledgeable about exercise during pregnancy AOR = 4.45 (95% CI: 2.39–8.29) and women who heard about exercise during pregnancy AOR = 4.2 (95% CI: 2.19–8.08) were more likely to have a positive attitude toward benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Conclusion: The level of mothers’ knowledge and attitude toward exercise during pregnancy in the study area was low. Educational status, physical exercise before pregnancy, ever heard about exercise during pregnancy were independent determinants of women’s knowledge, while ever heard and knowledgeable about exercise during pregnancy were determinants of favorable attitude toward exercise during pregnancy. Empowering women through health education about physical exercise during pregnancy should get due attention.

Background Unintended pregnancy is a global concern affecting both developed and developing countries. Some young women who had unintended pregnancies obtain an abortion while others carry their pregnancies to term, incurring the risk of morbidity and mortality higher than those for adult women. Despite the availability of highly effective methods of contraception, different studies in Ethiopia revealed that there is a high level of unintended pregnancy. Objective To assess the magnitude of unintended pregnancy and associated factors among currently pregnant married youths in Kiremu district. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among currently pregnant married 15–24 years women. Multi-stage stratified sampling technique was used to select 434 study units. Ten kebeles were randomly selected and samples were selected from each of ten kebeles by simple random sampling using kebeles household identification numbers as the sampling frame. Quantitative data was entered with SPSS version 20 and crude and adjusted odds ratio together with their 95%CI were computed and interpreted accordingly. A p-value<0.05 was considered to declare a result as statistically significant in this study. In-depth interviews and transcripts of the recorded discussions were coded and analyzed thematically. The results were finally presented in texts, tables, and graphs. Result Unintended pregnancies among currently pregnant married young women in the study area were 31.1%. Educational status (AOR = 3.195,95%CI = 1.757,5.811),being Gov’t employee (AOR = 0.039, 95% CI = 0.002,0.988), ever heard contraceptives(AOR = 0.260, 95%CI = 0.077, 0.876), ever used contraceptives (AOR = 0.348,95%CI = 0.168,0.717),discussion about contraceptives with husband(AOR = 0.027,95%CI = 0.015, 0.050),fear of side effect of contraceptives (AOR = 5.819,95% CI = 1.438,23.422), autonomy on health (AOR = 0.122,95%CI = 0.035,0.431), age at first marriage (AOR = 3.195, 95%CI = 1.757,5.811), age first pregnancy(AOR = 23.660,95%CI = 12.573,44.522), being visited by health care providers (AOR = 0.202,95%CI = 0.073,0.566) and average birth interval (AOR = 3.472,95%CI = 1.392,8.61) were the factors associated with unintended pregnancy. Conclusion and recommendation Significant proportion of women had an unintended pregnancy in the study area. Therefore, emphasis should be given to married youths especially on women empowerment, encouraging partner discussions, and providing appropriate counseling on contraceptive side effects by giving due attention to those marred at younger ages (<18 years).