ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the length of stay in health facilities after childbirth and associated maternal and neonatal factors in Ethiopia.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingEthiopia.Participants2260 mothers who participated in the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey were included in the study.OutcomeLength of stay in health facilities after childbirth was the outcome variable of the study.ResultIn Ethiopia, the mean duration of postpartum stay for mothers in health facilities was 21.96 (19.97–23.94) hours. Nine hundred and sixty-eight (34.80%) women remained in health institutions for ≥24 hours after delivery. Gestational age, birth weight and mode of delivery were significantly associated with length of stay. Gestational age was found to be inversely associated with length of stay. Mothers who had a vaginal delivery were 8.89% (adjusted HR (AHR) 8.89, 95% CI (4.28 to 18.46), p<0.001) more likely to discharge earlier from health facilities after delivery, compared with those who had a caesarian section. Women with larger size neonates during birth were 19% (AHR=0.81, 95% CI (0.67 to 0.96), p=0.019) more likely to stay longer in health facilities than women with average size neonates. Women with a smaller size neonate during birth were 16% (AHR=0.84, 95% CI (0.70 to 0.99), p=0.040) more likely to stay longer at a health facility, compared with those with an average size neonate.ConclusionA small percentage of Ethiopian mothers stayed in health facilities for 24 hours or more after delivery. Encouraging mothers to stay in health facilities for the recommended period after childbirth can play a significant role in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.

ImportanceA civil war that lasted for about 6 months in the North Wollo zone of Ethiopia destroyed numerous health care facilities. However, no studies have been conducted to determine the association of the war with vaccination dropout in the area.ObjectiveTo assess the association of war with vaccination dropout among children younger than 2 years in the North Wollo zone.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the North Wollo zone from April 1 to June 30, 2022. Participants included children younger than 2 years and their mothers. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the participants.Main Outcomes and MeasuresA vaccination dropout rate (yes or no) was assessed by interviewing mothers.ResultsThe study included 449 children younger than 2 years and their mothers, 291 (64.8%) of whom were 20 to 34 years of age. Almost all of the mothers (426 [94.9%]) were married. More than half of the mothers (271 [60.4%]) had a primary level education. Seventy-one children (15.8%) in the area received all basic vaccinations. One hundred ninety-eight children (44.1%) who started vaccination prior to the war dropped out of the immunization program. Additionally, 64 children (14.3%) born during the war did not receive any vaccination. Losing a family member (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.11 [95% CI, 1.63-5.93]; P = .001), not being informed about catch-up vaccination (AOR, 2.18 [95% CI, 1.39-3.43]; P &amp;lt; .001), being a rural resident (AOR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.37-3.58]; P &amp;lt; .001), home birth (AOR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.11-2.77]; P = .002), and length of war (AOR for 5 months, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.28-0.93; P = .04]) were associated with the outcome variable.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that nearly 60% of children in the North Wollo zone remained undervaccinated or unvaccinated. Stakeholders should make coordinated efforts to overcome the humanitarian crisis in the area and optimize the accessibility of health services.

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of harmful traditional practices during pregnancy and associated factors in Southwest Ethiopia.DesignA community-based cross-sectional study.SettingSouthwest Ethiopia.Participants667 women who were pregnant at the time of the study or gave birth 2 years prior to the study have participated.Outcome of the studyHarmful traditional practices during pregnancy (yes/no). Harmful traditional practices during pregnancy include abdominal massage, herbal intake or food taboos done on/by pregnant women without health professionals’ instruction.ResultsThe prevalence of harmful traditional practices in the study area was 37%, 95% CI (33.4% to 40.8%). The most commonly practised activities were abdominal massage (72.9%), intake of herbs (63.9%) and food taboos (48.6%). Monthly income (AOR=3.13, 95% CI (1.83 to 5.37), p<0.001), having had no history of child death (AOR=2.74, 95% CI (1.75 to 4.29), p<0.001), women with no formal education (AOR=4.81, 95% CI (2.50 to 9.23), p<0.001), women who had antenatal care (ANC) visits during their last pregnancy (AOR=0.24, 95% CI (0.10 to 0.59), p=0.002) and being multipara (AOR=0.47, 95% CI (0.27 to 0.80), p=0.003) were significantly associated with harmful traditional practices during pregnancy.ConclusionOur study showed that more than one-third of women in Southwest Ethiopia practised harmful traditional practices while they were pregnant. The practices were more common among primiparas, women who had lower educational and financial status, women with no ANC visits, and women with no history of child death. Health education should be given to the community about the complications of harmful traditional practices during pregnancy.

Background: Intrauterine growth and development are one of the most vulnerable periods in the human life cycle that contribute to appropriate fetal development. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of gestational weight on low birth weight (LBW). Methods: A case-control study was conducted from June 30, 2018, to January 1, 2019, in seven governmental hospitals in the northeast Amhara region on 451 participants(150 cases and 301 controls). Results: Inadequate gestational weight gain increases the risk of LBW by four times (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.4, 6.4). Anemic mothers were 3 times (AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: 2.5, 5.1) more likely to give birth to LBW newborns than non-anemic women. Mothers with a height of less than 150 cm were 2 times more likely to deliver low birth weight babies than their counterparts (AOR:2.1, 95% CI: 1.5,4.4). The odds of LBW delivery were 3.5 times (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.3, 5.3) higher for mothers with poor dietary diversity than for mothers with good dietary diversity. Conclusion: Inadequate gestational weight gain during pregnancy was found to be a risk factor for LBW. Additionally, anemia, short stature, and poor dietary diversity were also risk factors for LBW. Therefore, selectively targeted interventions such as improving maternal nutrition, anemia prevention, and proper maternal weight monitoring during pregnancy are needed.