Background Despite the supplementation of iron-folic acid is the recommended strategy during the antenatal period; iron deficiency anemia is the commonest hematologic complication during pregnancy. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the level of adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods Systematic review and meta-analysis guideline was followed for this study. Different online databases were used for the review: PubMed, HINARI, EMBASE, Google Scholar and African Journals Online. Different searching terms were applied based on the adapted PICO principles to achieve and access all the essential articles. The data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Stata 11 software respectively. Results Fifteen studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis with a total of 5808 pregnant women. The overall pooled prevalence of adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 41.38% (95% CI: 33.09, 49.67). Having secondary and above educational status of the women (AOR:2.68,95%CI:1.25, 5.74), having an early registration of antenatal care follow-up (≤16 weeks) (AOR:2.54,95%CI:1.99, 3.24), having anemia complication during current pregnancy (AOR:3.01,95%CI:1.88, 4.81), having good knowledge of iron-folic acid supplementation (AOR: 2.96, 95%CI:1.76, 4.99), having four times or more antenatal care follow up (AOR:3.66, 95%CI:2.81, 4.77), getting health education about benefit of iron and folic acid (AOR:2.62,95%CI:1.46,4.72), and having good knowledge about anemia (AOR:2.99,95%CI:2.32, 3.85) were associated risk factors for adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation. Conclusion The overall pooled prevalence adherence of IFAS among pregnant women was lower than the WHO recommendations. Educational status, early registration of ANC, anemia in the current pregnancy, good knowledge of IFAS, number of ANC visits, good knowledge of anemia and receiving health education about the benefit of IFAS were factors associated with the adherence of IFAS among pregnant women in Ethiopia. This finding is important to design strategic policies and to prevent anemia and congenital anomaly resulted from inadequate intake of iron and folic acid.

Background Cervical cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women, particularly in low-resource countries like Ethiopia. Early screening for pre-cervical cancer is a key intervention in reduction of maternal deaths. We assessed uptake of pre-cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Debre Markos town in northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 517 women of reproductive age. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Kebeles (sub-districts) were selected by a simple random sampling technique.Data was entered using Epi Info and analyzed by SPSS. Variables in binary logistic regression with a P value < 0.2 were fitted to multivariable logistic regression. Significant variables were declared at 95% CI and an AOR of P value < 0.05. Results A total of 517 women were interviewed with100% response rate. Results revealed only 108 women (20.9%) [95% CI =17.6–24.6] had been screened for pre-cervical cancer. Participants ages 35–49 [AOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.40, 7.39] informed by health professionals about cervical cancer [AOR = 6.65, 95% CI: 3.64, 12.15], positive attitude to screening [AOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.92, 7.61], visited health institution once or more in a year [AOR = 6.72, 95% CI: 2.40, 18.79], visited health institution once or more in two years [AOR = 3.76, 95% CI = 1.39, 10.19], history of sexually transmitted infections [AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.11, 5.07] and family history of cervical cancer [AOR = 4.95, 95%CI: 1.62,15.15] were significantly associated with pre-cervical cancer screening. Conclusion Uptake of pre-cervical cancer screening was found to be low among women of reproductive age. Age, attitude, informed by health provider, visiting health institution, history of sexually transmitted infections and family history of cervical cancer were found to be significantly associated with higher uptake of screening. To scale up currently limited uptake of pre-cervical cancer screening, community health education should be undertaken, leading to attitude change for young women.

Background: Despite different preventive strategies that have been implemented in different health institutions in the country, neonatal mortality and morbidity are still significantly increasing in Ethiopia. Perinatal asphyxia is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a result, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of perinatal asphyxia in Ethiopia. Methods: Online databases (PubMed, HINARI, EMBASE, Google Scholar and African Journals), other gray and online repository accessed studies were searched using different search engines. Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used for critical appraisal of studies. The analysis was done using STATA 11 software. The Cochran Q test and I 2 test statistics were used to test the heterogeneity of studies. The funnel plot and Egger's test were used to detect publication bias of the studies. The pooled prevalence of perinatal asphyxia and the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval was presented using forest plots. Result: Nine studies were included in this review, with a total of 12,249 live births in Ethiopia. The overall pooled prevalence of perinatal asphyxia in Ethiopia was 24.06% (95 95%CI: 18.11-30.01). Associated factors of perinatal asphyxia included prolonged labor (OR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.98, 3.93), low birth weight (OR = 6.52, 95% CI: 4.40, 9.65), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (OR = 5.91, 95% CI: 3.95, 8.83) and instrumental delivery (OR = 4.04, 95% CI: 2.48, 6.60) were the determinant factors of perinatal asphyxia in Ethiopia. Conclusions: The overall pooled prevalence of perinatal asphyxia was remarkably high. Duration of labor, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, instrumental deliveries, and birth weight were the associated factors of perinatal asphyxia in Ethiopia. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the quality of intrapartum care service to prevent prolonged labor and fetal complications and to identify and make a strict follow up of mothers with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. This finding is important to early recognition and management of its contributing factors, might modify hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and may improve the implementation of the standard guideline effectively and consistently.

Background: Long-acting reversible contraceptive discontinuation is the removal or switch to other methods before completion of duration due to any issue. Discontinuation of these methods exposes a woman to unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and unplanned births that affect millions of women worldwide. Despite the improvement in the availability and utilization of these methods, discontinuation is becoming high. There is no study conducted on discontinuation and associated factors of long-acting reversible contraceptives in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia.Objective: This study aimed to assess the proportion and associated factors of discontinuation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives among women in health facilities of Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia from April 1 to May 30/ 2021. Methods: health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 415 participants from April 1 to May 30/ 2021. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview-guided questionnaire by using a systematic random sampling technique. Epi Data version 3.1 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed; a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered a statistically significant factor for discontinuation Results: The overall proportion of discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptives was 66.3% (95% CI: 61.42-69.13). No formal education (AOR=.49; 95% CI:0.30-0.82), primary school education (AOR=.39; 95% CI:0.18-0.81), desire to be pregnant in the near future (AOR=2.57; 95% CI:1.64-4.02), no past history of modern contraceptive utilization (AOR=2.01; 95% CI:1.19-3.38), lack of counseling about benefits (AOR=1.68; 95% CI:1.08-2.62) and side effects (AOR=1.95; 95 CI:1.21-3.16) were the associated factors for discontinuation.Conclusion: The overall discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptives among women was low compared to Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016. Education, the desire of pregnancy shortly, no history of contraceptive utilization, lack of counseling about the benefits, and side effects were factors for discontinuation. Therefore, health professionals better give counseling, implement early management of side effects and reassure clients of any concerns.

Inadequately diversified food consumption during pregnancy can lead to micronutrient deficiencies, which can affect maternal and newborn health outcomes. Previous studies on maternal dietary diversity have either been limited to a specific geographical region or consist entirely of systematic reviews, without meta‐analyses. Thus, this study aimed to determine the pooled estimate of the association between inadequate dietary diversity during pregnancy, maternal anemia, and low birth weight in Africa. A systematic review of observational studies published between January 2000 and April 2022 was undertaken using the Google Scholar, PubMed, and CINAHL databases. The PRISMA checklist was followed to present the results. Microsoft Excel was used to abstract the data. STATA version 17 was used to analyze the data, and a random‐effects meta‐analysis model was applied to compute the pooled estimates. The study was registered in PROSPERO with protocol number CRD42022320873. A total of 22 publications with 9,696 participants were included in the final meta‐analysis. The pooled adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for inadequate dietary diversity and maternal anemia was 2.15 (95% CI, 1.66–2.65), while that for low birth weight was 2.04 (95% CI, 1.46–2.63). The highest pooled estimate of maternal anemia was reported in Cameroon (AOR = 9.8, 95% CI: 1.68–17.92), followed by Ethiopia (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.95–3.25). Similarly, the pooled estimates of low birth weight were highest in Cameroon (AOR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.19–4.88) and Ethiopia (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.29–2.39). In Africa, pregnant mothers with inadequate dietary diversity are two times more likely to develop anemia and low birth weight. Social protection policies that prioritize pregnant women, maternal nutrition promotion in the community, and dietary counseling during antenatal care visits, using national food‐based dietary guidelines, should be strengthened.