Introduction: Young people in Ethiopia face greater reproductive health risks than adults. Despite efforts that were made on youth to utilize reproductive health service, studies show that there is little information about the extent to which youth utilize available health services. For the proper planning of appropriate health services for youth, it is crucial to have knowledge on the pattern of their use and its associated factors. So this study was conducted from June to September 2013 to assess utilization of youth reproductive health and its associated factors among high school students in Bahir Dar town, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2013. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among High school student from June to September 2013. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the total of 818 study participants. Data were collected by means of a pretested standardized questionnaire; analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16. Crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated using binary logistic regression; p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The study indicated that among 818 students, 480(58.7%) were females. The data indicates that, 32% of youth utilized youth reproductive health service. Barriers in utilizing reproductive health services, for 31% of the students were due to inconvenience hours and 28.5% were due to fear of being seen by parents or people whom they know. Among socio-demographic predictors, age and reproductive health problems showed a significant association with utilization of youth reproductive health services. Students with age 20-24 were 2.31 times more likely to utilize reproductive health ser-* Corresponding author. M. Abebe, W. Awoke 70 vice than age15-19 (AOR = 2.31, CI 95% (1.01, 5.28)). Similarly, students who had reproductive health problems were 1.54 times more likely to utilize reproductive health services than students who had no reproductive illness. Conclusions: The majority of youth were not utilizing reproductive health services. Age and reproductive health problems showed a significant association with utilization of youth reproductive health services.

Labor and delivery are unpredictable events, which if not monitored properly can result in a disabled or a fatal state. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the use of the partograph to monitor and improve the management of labor and to support decision-making regarding interventions. However, little is known about the status of knowledge and utilization of the partograph in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of the partograph and its utilization. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2012 among 292 health professionals working in public health institutions of the region, using a structured interviewer administered questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Utilization status of the partograph was assessed from 160 purposively selected delivery charts using structured checklists. More than half (53.4%) of the study participants had good knowledge of the partograph. Females were 2 times more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than males (AOR=2.0, 95% CI= (1.2, 3.6). Similarly, those who had previous obstetric training were 2 time more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than otherwise (AOR=2.1, 95% CI= (1.3, 3.7). However, participants' level of knowledge of components ofthe partograph was very poor. While only 26.6% of participants were able to mention 50%or more of componentsof the partograph; females, midwives, and those having prior obstetric training were found to have better knowledge of components of the partograph than their counter parts (AOR=3.3, 95% CI (1.9, 5.6), (AOR=4.9, 95% CI (2.4, 9.9)and (AOR=2.0, 95% CI (1.1, 3.6)) respectively. In this study, the level of knowledge of obstetric care was found to be poor. Although it wasrevealed that majority of the participants had favorable attitude towards the use of partograph, only 29% of the paragraph papers reviewed was properly filled to monitor the progress of labor. Despite significant number of study participants reported that the partograph is useful to monitor laborand make timely decision, their level of knowledge of the partograph and its components was generally poor. Presence of prior training, participants' sex and profession were the variables that had influenced the level of knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Favorable attitude by itself was inadequate to ensure use of the partograph. Periodic on-job training regarding to obstetric care and on the partograph should be provided to all obstetric care providersparticularly to males and nurses by profession in the region. Regular supportive supervision is also needed to motivate staffs to utilize the partograph and help them become dedicated to record and document their findings.

Introduction: Many women lose their lives in the process of giving life. Maternal mortality remains high in the developing world. This study was conducted to assess institutional delivery service utilization and associated factors in Banja District, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2013. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers who gave birth in the last two years prior to the study in Banja District from June to July 2013. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the total of 394 study participants. Data were collected by means of a pretested standardized questionnaire. Analysis was carried out by using SPSS version 16. Crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated by using binary logistic regression. p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The study indicated that only 15.7% of the respondents delivered in health institution. Age of mothers 15-24 years, educational status of the mothers with secondary and above, the existence of educated family members, mothers with previous experience with institutional delivery and mothers' Knowledge on the danger signs of labor were significantly associated with institutional delivery service utilization at p-value less than 0.05. Conclusions: Institutional delivery service utilization in the study area was low (15.7%). Therefore, policy makers, health planers and programmers should recognize determinants of institutional delivery service utilization. More efforts should be given to educate mothers and families. Previous experience sharing and knowledge transfer will be crucial to bring expected institutional delivery utilization.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common communicable diseases worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Worldwide, about 3.5 billion people are affected, and 450 million are ill as a result of these infections, among whom, the majority are children. The objective of this study was to assess prevalence of intestinal parasites infection and associated risk factors among school children in Dagi primary school, ANRS, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted by involving 399 school children from 24 September to 19 October, 2012. Structured questionnaires were used to identify environmental, socio-demographic and behavioral factors and stool specimens were collected and examined for parasites using direct smear and formal-ether concentration technique. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 15 statistical soft ware. Results: Eight species of intestinal parasites were identified with an overall prevalence of 77.9%. Students were infected with one or more intestinal parasites and the predominant parasite was hook worm, 94 (23.6%) followed by G. lamblia 91 (22.8%), E. histoltica 86 (21.6%) and Strongyloides 6 (1.5%). The presence of mixed parasitic infection was 106 (34.1%), double and triple infections were 97 (91.5%) and 9 (8.5%) respectively. Intestinal parasitic infection was higher in children whose fathers' occupational status were farmers, who had unclean finger nails and who did not have the habit of wearing shoes (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Intestinal parasites infection was an important public health problem among Dagi primary school children. Therefore, the local health office and other governmental and non-governmental organizations need to give attention to this serious problem of intestinal parasitic infection of school children.

BackgroundLack of sanitation facilities is a serious health risk and obliges people to practice open defecation, thereby increasing the risk of disease transmission. The aim of this study was to assess latrine coverage and the associated factors among the rural communities in district of Bahir Dar Zuria, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 608 households in district of Bahir Dar Zuria. First, the district was stratified based on the distance from Bahir Dar city. Then, ten kebeles (the smallest administrative units) were selected from the 32 rural kebeles in the district. After the kebeles had been identified, the households were selected by systematic sampling method using existing list of all households as a sampling frame. Intervals (Kth)) for selecting households were determined by dividing the number of households with the sample size allocated for each kebele. After determining the Kth interval, the first household was selected randomly. The next households were identified systematically onwards by adding cumulatively Kth intervals to the first selected household .Data were collected by means of a pretested, standardized questionnaire and observation checklist. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16.ResultsOf the 608 households, 355 (58.4%) had pit latrines and only 220 (62.0%) were functional (providing services during data collection). One hundred eighty seven (52.7%) had been constructed two or more years prior to the time of the study and 202 (56.9%) latrines required maintenance. The availability of latrines was twice higher in households with an income of 5000 or more Ethiopian Birr (1USD = 17.5 Ethiopian Birr) per year (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–2.27) than those who hand an income less than 5000 Birr per year; the availability of latrines was twofold higher in households visited by health professional at least three times a month (AOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.33–3.93) than those that received no visits. The latrine coverage was about two times higher in households that were less than 30 minutes walk from a health institution (AOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.11–2.22) than households that were over 30 minutes walk. The latrine coverage was lower in households located in distant areas (AOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36-0.77) than in households closer to the city.ConclusionsLatrine coverage in District of Bahir Dar Zuria was far from the national target of 100%. The availability of latrines was affected by income level, frequency of visits by health workers, walking time from local health institutions, and distance from Bahir Dar. Therefore, it is recommended that the frequency of supportive visits be increased and that special attention be given to households in inaccessible areas.