BackgroundLonger intervals between consecutive births decrease the number of children a woman can have. This results in beneficial effects on population size and on the health status of mothers and children. Therefore, understanding the practice of birth interval and its determinants is helpful to design evidence based strategies for interventions. The objective of this study was to determine duration and determinants of birth interval among women of child bearing age in Lemo district, southern Ethiopia in March 2010.MethodsA community based cross sectional study design with stratified multistage sampling technique was employed. A sample of 844 women of child bearing age were selected by using simple random sampling technique after complete census was conducted in selected kebeles prior to data collection. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Actual birth interval was measured with the respondents' memory since majority of the women or their children in the area had no birth certificate.ResultsMajority (57%) of women were practicing short birth interval length with the median birth interval length of 33 months. Actual birth interval length is significantly shorter than preferred birth interval length. Birth interval showed significant variation by contraceptive use, residence, wealth index, breast feeding and occupation of husbands.Conclusionlow proportion of optimal birth spacing practices with short actual birth interval length and longer preferred birth interval lengths were evident among the study subjects. Hence interventions to enhance contraceptive utilization behaviors among women in Lemo district would be helpful to narrow the gap between optimal and actual birth spacing.

Background: Insertion of an Intra Uterine device (IUD) immediately after delivery have a proven record of very high effectiveness, protection against unintended pregnancy, cost effectiveness, suitability and high user satisfaction. Despite these benefits, information on Post-Partum Intra Uterine device (PPIUD) acceptance and utilization was limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess postpartum intra uterine contraceptive device utilization and its associated factors among mothers delivered in selected facilities found in South Ethiopia.

Background: In a setting with high HIV prevalence and high fertility rates, addressing fertility issues of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is crucial. However, understanding of the factors associated with fertility decisions of PLWHA in Ethiopia is remarkably low. Objective: The study was conducted to assess factors associated with fertility decisions of PLWHA in South Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: The study was conducted from February 1 to March 30, 2008 using cross-sectional design. Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 458 men and 458 women using structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were also collected from six health care providers. During in-depth interview the health care providers indicated the fertility related counseling service to be low. Conclusion:In spite of the fact that significant proportion of married PLWHA had decided to have a child, the fertility related counseling service is low. Improving fertility related counseling services to enable clients make informed fertility decision is mandatory. The factors identified to be associated with fertility decision could be of major importance and as such should be investigated further. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev.2010;24(3):214-220]

Back ground: Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is one of the best interventions to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV. Despite the proven benefits of VCT, many women are not willing to have HIV testing. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify factors that determine the acceptance of voluntary HIV testing among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Dil Chora Hospital in Dire Dawa. Method: The study employed unmatched case control study which was conducted from August 20 to September 10, 2006. The study population consisted of 234 antenatal care followers. Cases were antenatal care followers who were counseled and tested for HIV in the current pregnancy. Controls were antenatal care followers who were counseled but not tested for HIV in the current pregnancy. Data were collected by trained enumerators using structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out using SPSS version 12.0.1 software. Results: The majority (79.5%) of respondents (97.4% of cases and 60.5% of controls) had good knowledge on HIV, mother to child transmission and VCT. Marital status; knowledge about HIV, mother to child transmission and VCT; attitude towards VCT; antenatal care follow up and perceived benefits of VCT were independent predictors of acceptance of voluntary HIV testing. Conclusion: Knowledge on MTCT and VCT, positive attitude towards VCT, antenatal care follow-up were predictors of acceptance of VCT. During the VCT session, health professionals should focus on knowledge, attitude, and benefits of VCT. [Ethiop.

Background: Adverse pregnancy outcomes lead to serious health consequences to the mother and/or the baby. These Adverse birth outcomes; prematurity, low birth weight and still birth represent significant problems in both developing and developed countries. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are still major public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia where most pregnancies are unplanned, complications are many and outcomes are generally Unfavorable for both mother and infant.Objective: To identify determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes among deliveries takes place in Jimma University specialized hospital from January1 -December 31 / 2015. Methods:The study was a facility based unmatched casecontrol study design conducted by reviewing mothers and newborn cards and registration log book who delivered in Jimma university specialized hospital from January 1 / 2015 to December 31/2015, southwest Ethiopia. The study was done on randomly selected 86 cases and 258 controls using structured data collection checklist. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 20 and multiple logistic regression statistical methods were used to identify the predictors. Result:In this study 344 mothers and newborns cards were included yielding 100% response rate. From this 86 mothers and newborn cards were selected for case group and 258 mothers and newborn cards were selected for control group. Most of the cases 80.2% and controls 82.9% were between the age group of 20-34 years. Mothers who are referred for delivery service from other area are more than five times to have adverse pregnancy outcomes than mothers who are not referred, AOR=5.49 95% CI [2.80-10.76]. And mothers who had illness during