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Mulualem Mihret Gelaw,1 Ejigu Gebeye Zeleke,2 Mezgebu Silamsaw Asres,3 Mebratu Mitiku Reta3 1Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Bahirdar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institution of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Mebratu Mitiku Reta Email mebretann16@gmail.comBackground: Depression is the most common co-morbidity among perinatal women living with HIV. It affects client’s adherence to care and treatment, which results in increased viral load; further exposing women to opportunistic infections that reduce quality-of-life. A cumulative effect of these may increase mother-to-child transmission of HIV.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among perinatal women living with HIV in Gondar town health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia from October 1– 30, 2018. A single population proportion formula was used to calculate the sample size. The sample was stratified and proportionally allocated to each health facility. Participants were chosen from each stratum independently using a simple random sampling technique. A total of 422 study participants were selected. The World Health Organization (WHO) 20-item self-reported questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to measure perinatal depression among women living with HIV. Perceived stigma was measured using HIV stigma scale. Women were interviewed at the PMTCT clinic during follow-up care, and clinical variables were extracted from client chart. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with perinatal depression. Variables having an odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and a P-value less than 0.05 were taken as significant variables associated with perinatal depression.Results: The prevalence of perinatal depression among women living with HIV was found to be 38.4% (95% CI=34.1– 43.1%). Fair and poor ART drug adherence (AOR=5.44; 95% CI= 2.81– 10.56%), the presence of comorbid illness (AOR=3.24; 95% CI: 1.83– 5.75), being on second line ART (AOR=2.97; 95% CI=1.08– 8.17), perceived stigma (AOR=3.61; 95% CI=2.11– 6.17), and suicidal ideation (AOR=3.89; 95% CI=1.28– 11.81) were factors associated with perinatal depression.Conclusion: The prevalence of perinatal depression among women living with HIV was found to be high. Adherence counseling needs to be strengthened; preventing first line treatment failure has to be encouraged; greater emphasis has to be given for those women on second line ART. Early identification and management of co-morbidity has to be considered. HIV positive perinatal women need counseling to reduce HIV-related perceived stigma.Keywords: perinatal women, HIV/AIDS, depression, Ethiopia

Temesgen Worku Gudayu,1 Ejigu Gebeye Zeleke,2 Ayenew Molla Lakew2 1Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Temesgen Worku GudayuCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Midwifery, University of Gondar, PO.Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaTel +2510911755087Email teme.worku@gmail.comIntroduction: Neonatal mortality is among the leading concerns globally and its burden is highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite all the efforts made, neonatal mortality remains high in Ethiopia in general and in the Amhara region in particular. In this study, we assessed the time to death and its predictors among neonates admitted to the intensive care unit of the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.Patients and Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 504 randomly selected neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between January 1 and December 31, 2017. The extracted data were entered into epi-info version 7.2, exported to and analyzed using STATA version 14. Failure probability table and Kaplan–Meier failure function were computed. Gompertz proportional hazard regression model was used to identify predictors of time to neonatal death. The hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported and statistical significance was declared at a p-value of ≤ 0.05.Results: The proportion of neonatal mortality in this study was 17.3 (95% CI: 14.2, 20.9). Out of 504 studied neonates, 87 (173 per 1000 live births) died. Neonates who did not cry at birth and those who were born before 34 weeks had a higher risk of death in both births-to-death and admission-to-death analysis. Whereas, in admission-to-death analysis, neonates who were born at home had a higher risk of death.Conclusion: In this study, neonatal mortality is far higher than the national and sustainable development goal targets. Strengthening access to health facilities, improving the community’s awareness of giving birth at health facilities and strengthening facilities and providers’ capacity for caring for high-risk neonates prior to the referral is recommended.Keywords: neonate, neonatal mortality, neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit, Ethiopia