BackgroundPreterm birth is the second leading cause of death next to pneumonia in children aged <5 years and the single-most important cause of death in the first month of life. Research examining determinants of preterm birth in Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine risk factors associated with preterm births at Jimma University Medical Center in southwest Ethiopia.MethodsThis unmatched case–control study was conducted from March 15 to April 1, 2017 from medical records of mothers and newborns delivered at Jimma University Medical Center from January 1 to December 30, 2016. Data were extracted using a structured checklist for cases (preterm) and controls (term) by reviewing maternal and newborn medical records using a simple random-sampling technique. Risk factors for preterm delivery were determined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Statistically significant associations were declared at P<0.05.ResultsThe present study evaluated 218 maternal and newborn cases and 438 controls. Risk factors identified were history of previous preterm birth (AOR 6.4, 95% CI 2.9–13.9), preeclampsia (AOR 6.6, 95% CI 3.3–13.4), premature membrane rupture (AOR 11.7, 95% CI 6.2–21.9), antenatal care of fewer than four visits (AOR 4.8, 95% CI 1.2–19), birth interval <2 years (AOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.7–4.5), and multiple pregnancies (AOR 4.5, 95% CI 2.4–8.5).ConclusionHistory of previous preterm births, preeclampsia, premature membrane rapture, antenatal care of fewer than four visits, birth interval <2 years, and multiple pregnancies were found to have a possible causal relationship with preterm births. Therefore, similar further studies should be conducted to generate more population-based evidence on determinants of preterm births.

Background: The neonatal period is the most susceptible phase of life. In Ethiopia changes in neonatal mortality are not as significant as changes in post-neonatal and child mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the causes and factors associated with neonatal mortality at Jimma Medical Center. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 11 days from February 12, 2018 at the Neonatal ICU of Jimma Medical Center. Data were extracted from the medical records of neonates admitted during a three year period from September 07, 2014 to August 31, 2017, using pretested checklists. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine factors associated with neonatal mortality and P -values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Of 3,276 neonates admitted during the study period, 412 (13.3%) died, equating to a rate of 30 deaths per 1,000 institutional live births. The majority (249, 60.4%) of deceased neonates had low birth weight, while 230 (55.8%) were premature and 169(41%) had Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Residency being outside Jimma city (AOR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.51) and the length of stay <7Days (AOR 3.93, 95% CI: 2.82, 5.50), low birth weight (AOR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.25), prematurity (AOR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.41, 3.42), RDS (AOR 4.15, 95% CI: 2.9, 5.66), perinatal asphyxia (AOR 4.95, 95% CI: 3.6, 7.34), and congenital malformations (AOR 4, 95% CI: 2.55, 2.68) were significantly associated with neonatal mortality. Conclusions: A significant proportion of neonates attending the neonatal ICU died. Parental residency, the length of stay, low birth weight, prematurity, RDS, perinatal asphyxia, and congenital malformations were factors associated with neonatal mortality, which could be avoidable. Therefore, preventive measures such as enhancing the utilization of antenatal care services and, early identification and referral of high risk pregnancy and neonates could reduce the neonatal deaths

Background: Prolonged emergency department stays can adversely affect patient outcomes leading to an increased length of hospital admission and higher mortality. Despite this fact, there are few data describing emergency department length of stay and associated factors in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess length of stay in the emergency department and its associated factors among patients visited adult emergency department of Jimma Medical Center, Jimma town, southwest of Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 9, 2018 to May 11, 2018. Overall, 422 patients presented during study period were sequentially included in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data through interview, observation and medical record review. The collected data were cleaned, entered to Epi-data 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 21 for binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis. To identify factors associated with outcome variable, candidate variables were fitted to multivariable analysis, and those with P-values <0.05 were considered as significantly associated. Results: More than one-third, 162 (38.4%), experienced prolonged length of stay in the emergency department. The odds of prolonged stay were higher among rural area residency (AOR, 3.0; CI, 1.279-7.042), evening presentation (AOR, 4.25; CI, 1.742-10.417), and night-time presentation (AOR, 14.93; CI, 4.22-52.63), and having at least one diagnostic investigation (AOR, 4.48; CI, 1.69-11.88). However, participants who did not experience shift changes of nurses during their stay (AOR, 0.003; CI, 0.001-0.010) had a less prolonged stay. Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients experienced a prolonged stay at the emergency department. Age, rural residency, evening and night-time presentation, shift change and having a diagnostic investigation were predictors of prolonged stay. Thus, establishing time-targeted service for patients can reduce the length of stay.

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, one in 17 children dies before 1 year of age and one in 11 children dies before 5 years. Research that examines the factors influencing the implementation of the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) strategy in Ethiopia is limited. This study aimed to identify the factors compelling the execution of IMNCI by nurses in four districts of West Arsi zone of Ethiopia.MethodsA mixed-method cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2016 in West Arsi zone of Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. A total of 185 Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)-trained registered nurses working at Under-Five Clinic were purposively chosen for the study among 291 registered nurses based at health centers and hospitals in the Arsi zone. The study was complemented by a qualitative method.ResultsMore than half (57.8%) of the nurses interviewed had been trained (51.35% of them attended in-service training). The most common issues encountered in the implementation of IMCI were: lack of trained staff (56.2%), lack of essential drugs and supplies (37.3%), and irregular supportive supervision (89.2%). The qualitative data supplemented the factors that influence IMNCI implementation, including drug unavailability, lack of human resources, and lack of effective supportive supervision and follow-up visits. Therefore, interventions aiming at training nurses, with emphasis on performing supportive consistent supervision and supporting the system of health care by enhancing admittance to indispensable drugs and supplies, are recommended to help IMCI implementation.

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