Maternal and perinatal mortality: Geospatial analysis of inequality in pregnancy and perinatal mortality in Ethiopia.

While there is ample evidence of the overall reduction in perinatal and pregnancy-related mortality in Ethiopia, it remains uncertain if geographic disparities have diminished. This study aimed to investigate perinatal and pregnancy-related mortality spatial distributions, trends over time, and factors associated with the distribution in Ethiopia. We used data from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Ethiopia in 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016.

Factors associated with maternal mortality in eastern Ethiopia: A multicenter case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with maternal mortality in 13 public hospitals with maternity units in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A nested case-control study embedded within the Ethiopian Obstetric Surveillance System (EthOSS) cohort. EthOSS was established in April 2021 to monitor women admitted with severe obstetric complications (e.

Perception, practice and associated factors of labour pain management among obstetric care providers in public health facilities in Harari Region, Ethiopia: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Background: Although providing relief from labour pain can improve the mother's satisfaction with the birthing process and lead to better reproductive outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the perceptions, practices and related aspects of labour pain management among obstetric care providers in public health institutions in the Harari Region of Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the labour and delivery wards of public health facilities in the Harari Region.

The complications of traditional uvulectomy and concurrent occurrences of cultural malpractices in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Despite the establishment of a national strategy and plan to eliminate all harmful traditional practices, traditional uvulectomy remains widely practiced in Ethiopia, and there is a lack of comprehensive summary of national data on uvulectomy complications and associated malpractices. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled complications of uvulectomy and concurrent occurrences of traditional malpractices in Ethiopia.

Methods: The following databases were used to retrieve studies: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and Google Search.

Incidence, Causes and Outcomes of Postpartum Hemorrhage in Eastern Ethiopia: A Multicenter Surveillance Study.

Objectives: Maternal mortality remains an unfinished global agenda and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains one of the leading causes. The aims of this study were to describe the incidence, underlying causes, and case fatality rate of PPH in public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: This study was part of a larger Ethiopian Obstetric Surveillance System (EthOSS) project - a multicenter surveillance of women admitted to 13 public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia due to any of the five major obstetric conditions: obstetric hemorrhage, eclampsia, uterine rupture, sepsis, and severe anemia - conducted from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Determinants of preeclampsia among women who gave birth at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study.

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are the second leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. It also results in high perinatal mortality and morbidity. Since eclampsia is preceded by preeclampsia and shows the progression of the disease, they share the same pathogenesis and determining factors.

Predictors of neonatal near-misses in Worabe Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Neonatal deaths are still a major leading cause of social and economic crises. Identifying neonatal near-miss events and identifying their predictors is crucial to developing comprehensive and pertinent strategies to alleviate neonatal morbidity and death. However, neither neonatal near-miss events nor their predictors were analyzed in the study area.

Time to Death and Its Predictors among Neonates Hospitalized with Sepsis in Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Although neonatal sepsis is a major public health problem contributing to 30-50% of neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries, data on predictors of time to death are limited in Eastern Ethiopia. This study is aimed at determining predictors of time to death among neonates with sepsis admitted in public hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: An institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 415 neonates admitted to referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia with sepsis from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021.

Barriers to proper maternal referral system in selected health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

Background: Appropriate maternal referral system plays an essential role in curbing maternal mortality. Although the occurrence of obstetric complications is often unpredictable, addressing bottlenecks of the referral system is crucial to facilitate the women to have access to timely lifesaving interventions. Nonetheless, little is known about the barriers to maternal referral system in the eastern Ethiopia.

Characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women hospitalized with severe maternal outcomes in eastern Ethiopia: Results from the Ethiopian Obstetric Surveillance System study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify facility-based incidence of severe obstetric complications through a newly established obstetric surveillance system in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: Monthly registration of obstetric hemorrhage, eclampsia, uterine rupture, severe anemia and sepsis was introduced in 13 maternity units in eastern Ethiopia. At each hospital, a designated clinician reported details of women admitted during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy from April 01, 2021 to March 31, 2022 developing any of these conditions.

Predictors of time to death among preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units at public hospitals in southern Ethiopia: A cohort study.

Background: Although the survival of preterm neonates has improved, thanks to advanced and specialized neonatal intensive care, it remains the main reason for neonatal admission, death, and risk of lifelong complication. In this study, we assessed time to death and its predictors among preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) at public hospitals in southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A hospital based retrospective cohort was conducted among preterm neonates admitted to NICU at public hospitals in west Guji and Borena zones, Oromia National Regional State, southern Ethiopia.

The prevalence of infertility and factors associated with infertility in Ethiopia: Analysis of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS).

Background: Despite having a high fertility rate, low-resource countries are also home to couples with infertility problems. Although many couples are suffering from the psychological impacts of infertility, its level and determinants are not adequately known. The main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with infertility among couples in Ethiopia using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data.

Determinants of behaviors influencing implementation of maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Background: Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Review (MPDSR) can reduce mortality but its implementation is often suboptimal, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Objectives: To understand the determinants of behaviors influencing implementation of MPDSR in LMICs (through a systematic review of qualitative studies), in order to plan an intervention to improve its implementation.

Search Strategy: Terms for maternal or perinatal death reviews and qualitative studies.

Approaches to improve and adapt maternal mortality estimations in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Background: In the absence of robust vital registration systems, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) rely on national surveys or routine surveillance systems to estimate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). Although the importance of MMR estimates in ending preventable maternal deaths is acknowledged, there is limited research on how different approaches are used and adapted, and how these adaptations function.

Objectives: To assess methods for estimating maternal mortality in LMICs and the rationale for these modifications.

The Cost of Maternal Complications and Its Associated Factors Among Mothers Attending Public Hospitals in Harari Region and Dire Dawa City Administration, Eastern Ethiopia: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Pregnant women face high costs for health-care services despite being advertised as free. These costs include non-medical expenses, lost productivity, difficulties caring for family members, and long-term financial impact from complications. Limited research has been done on the cost burden of maternal services and complications, despite numerous studies on maternal health service provision.

Effectiveness of Lactational Amenorrhea Method in Ethiopia: A Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Although the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) is one of the most commonly used contraception methods during the first six months of a woman's postpartum period, there has been little research on its effectiveness in general and particularly in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of LAM and the experiences of Ethiopian women who used it.

Methods: This was a multi-center prospective cohort study of postpartum women from five Ethiopian regions and one city administration.

Co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency among pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia: a community-based study.

Background: It is well known that the magnitude of undernutrition in Ethiopia is unacceptably high. The burden of co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency, on the other hand, has received less attention. Thus, in this study, we looked at the prevalence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia.

The association between HIV diagnosis disclosure and adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among adolescents living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Nine in ten of the world's 1.74 million adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (ALHIV) live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and poor viral suppression are important problems among adolescents.

Establishing the Ethiopian Obstetric Surveillance System for Monitoring Maternal Outcomes in Eastern Ethiopia: A Pilot Study.

Background: Although the majority of maternal deaths and complications occur in low-resource settings, almost all existing strong registration and confidential enquiry systems are found in high-resource settings. We developed and piloted the Ethiopian Obstetric Surveillance System (EthOSS), based on the successful United Kingdom Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) methodology, in 3 regions in Ethiopia to improve ongoing surveillance and tracking of maternal morbidities and deaths, as well as confidential enquiry, compared to the currently used maternal death surveillance and response program in Ethiopia.

Methods: We launched the EthOSS monthly case notification system in 13 hospitals in eastern Ethiopia in April 2021.

Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Haramaya district, Eastern Ethiopia: A community-based study.

Introduction: Although undernutrition in pregnancy has continued to get global attention as pregnancy is considered a critical period in the life cycle owed to increase the metabolic and physiological demands, evidence is scarce on undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in Haramaya district, Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected pregnant women in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia.

Food taboos among pregnant women and associated factors in eastern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess food taboos and associated factors among pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 422 pregnant women at Haramaya Demographic Surveillance System from Haramaya District, eastern Ethiopia. Data on sociodemographic conditions, the presence of food taboos, and perceived reasons were collected using the face-to-face interview method by trained data collectors through arranged home visits.

Fear of childbirth among pregnant women in Eastern Ethiopia: A community-based study.

Introduction: Fear of childbirth refers to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety before, during, or after childbirth by thinking about future labor and birth or experience of others. Evidence on burden of fear of childbirth and its associated factors is limited in Ethiopia. In this study, we assessed magnitude of fear of childbirth and its associated factors among pregnant women in Eastern Ethiopia.