Maternal social support and health facility delivery in Southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Maternal mortality continues to decrease in the world but remain the most important health problems in low-income countries. Although evidence indicates that social support is an important factor influencing health facility delivery, it has not been extensively studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of maternal social support and related factors on health facility delivery in southwest Ethiopia.

Characterizing 'health equity' as a national health sector priority for maternal, newborn, and child health in Ethiopia.

: The pursuit of health equity is a priority in Ethiopia, especially with regards to maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). To date, there has been little characterization of the 'problem' of health inequity, and the normative assumptions implicit in the representation of the problem. Yet, such insights have implications for shaping the framing, incentivization, and implementation of health policies and their wider impact.

Effectiveness of upgraded maternity waiting homes and local leader training on improving institutional births: a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Jimma, Ethiopia.

Background: Maternity waiting homes (MWHs), residential spaces for pregnant women close to obstetric care facilities, are being used to tackle physical barriers to access. However, their effectiveness has not been rigorously assessed. The objective of this cluster randomized trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of functional MWHs combined with community mobilization by trained local leaders in improving institutional births in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Formula-feeding practice and associated factors among urban and rural mothers with infants 0-6 months of age: a comparative study in Jimma zone Western Ethiopia.

Background: Infants are in a state of rapid development and maturation; the growth rate is most rapid during the first 4 to 6 months of life. Few studies indicated that in developing countries including Ethiopia the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding is declining and being replaced by formula milk. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the formula-feeding practice and its associated factors among urban and rural mothers with infants 0-6 months of age in the Jimma Zone, Western Ethiopia.

Promoting and delivering antenatal care in rural Jimma Zone, Ethiopia: a qualitative analysis of midwives' perceptions.

Background: Despite improvements in recent years, Ethiopia faces a high burden of maternal morbidity and mortality. Antenatal care (ANC) may reduce maternal morbidity and mortality through the detection of pregnancy-related complications, and increased health facility-based deliveries. Midwives and community-based Health Extension Workers (HEWs) collaborate to promote and deliver ANC to women in these communities, but little research has been conducted on the professional working relationships between these two health providers.

How do community health actors explain their roles? Exploring the roles of community health actors in promoting maternal health services in rural Ethiopia.

Background: Maternal and child morbidity and mortality remains one of the most important public health challenges in developing countries. In rural settings, the promotion of household and community health practices through health extension workers in collaboration with other community members is among the key strategies to improve maternal and child health. Little has been studied on the actual roles and contributions of various individuals and groups to date, especially in the rural areas of Ethiopia.

Factors associated with maternity waiting home use among women in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia: a multilevel cross-sectional analysis.

Objective: To identify individual-, household- and community-level factors associated with maternity waiting home (MWH) use in Ethiopia.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of baseline household survey data from an ongoing cluster-randomised controlled trial using multilevel analyses.

Setting: Twenty-four rural primary care facility catchment areas in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Maternity waiting areas - serving all women? Barriers and enablers of an equity-oriented maternal health intervention in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, maternal waiting areas (MWAs) - residential areas near health facilities where women can stay while waiting to give birth - are community-based, equity-oriented interventions to improve maternal outcomes among rural populations. In this qualitative study we sought to explore the barriers and enablers that Health Extension Workers (HEWs) encounter when engaging with communities about MWAs. We conducted semi-structured interviews with HEWs across rural sites in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Talking health: trusted health messengers and effective ways of delivering health messages for rural mothers in Southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Access to trusted health information has contribution to improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, limited research to date has explored the perceptions of communities regarding credible messenger and messaging in rural Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore sources of trusted maternal health information and preferences for the mode of delivery of health information in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia; to inform safe motherhood implementation research project interventions.

"The sun keeps rising but darkness surrounds us": a qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia.

Background: Obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and bladder, and/or between the vagina and rectum, triggered by prolonged obstructed labor. The World Health Organization has estimated that at least 50,000 to 100,000 cases of obstetric fistula occur every year, and that over two million women with obstetric fistula in developing countries remain untreated. Research on women's lived experiences of obstetric fistula is limited.

Perceptions and experiences related to health and health inequality among rural communities in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia: a rapid qualitative assessment.

Background: The Safe Motherhood Research Project studies the implementation and scale-up of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) initiatives in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. This qualitative rapid assessment study was undertaken to explore community perceptions and experiences related to health, health inequality and other MNCH themes.

Methods: We conducted 12 focus group discussions and 24 in-depth interviews with community stakeholder groups (female and male community members, Health Extension Workers, members of the Women Development Army and Male Development Army, and religious leaders) across six rural sites in Jimma Zone.

Barriers and facilitators of child-feeding practice in a small sample of individuals from Gozamin District, Northwest of Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

Background: The first 1000 days is "window of opportunity" for nutrition and vital for physical growth, brain development and the immune system. None of previous studies explored qualitatively child-feeding practices in the developing countries like Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to explore barriers and facilitators of child-feeding practices in Gozamin District, Northwest Ethiopia.

Predictors of breast self - examination among female teachers in Ethiopia using health belief model.

Background: Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer of women. It is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide. Approximately one out of eight women develops breast cancer all over the world.

Sexual behaviors and associated factors among antiretroviral treatment attendees in Ethiopia.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome is one of the major public health problems throughout the world. Nowadays, antiretroviral treatment (ART) is available in health institutions and HIV-positive individuals who are eligible for ART are taking it. But studies show reinfection of HIV is occurring in them for unknown reasons.