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Background: The maternal morbidity and mortality related to preeclampsia are increasing in developing countries; figures have been estimated to be between 1.8% and 16.7%, including in Ethiopia. However, there is limited research regarding the determinants of preeclampsia in Gedeo Zone. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of preeclampsia among pregnant mothers attending ANC and delivery services in southern Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted in Gedeo Zone. Pregnant mothers attending ANC and delivery service were selected consecutively until the allotted 243 (162 controls and 81 cases) sample size was fulfilled. The collected data were checked for completeness and entered into Epi-data software version 3.1, and exported to statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was employed and a P-value of less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was used to declare the significant association of the independent variables and the outcome variable. Results: A total of 240 mothers, 80 (33.3%) of cases and 160 (66.70%) of controls, responded, with a response rate of 98.76%. The mean age of the participants among both groups was 27.40 with a standard deviation of ± 5.02. Attending education [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 0.49; 95% CI (0.006, 0.398)], being a house wife [AOR = 13; 95% CI (1.260, 140.15)], an age range of 20– 34 years [AOR = 0.071; 95% CI (0.015, 0.32)], a family history of diabetes mellitus [AOR = 0.28.2; 95% CI (0.081, 0.985)], a family history of hypertension [AOR = 0.124; 95% CI (0.047, 0.325)], did not eat fruit during pregnancy [AOR = 3.355; 95% CI (1.112, 10.126)], and a maternal history of preeclampsia [AOR = 0.162; 95% CI (0.041, 0.640)] were found to be variables significantly associated among mothers with preeclampsia. Conclusion: The determinant factors for preeclampsia were being a housewife, having a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and preeclampsia among family members. Strengthening early detection and prevention of predictors, improvement of protective factors, and further follow-up study were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite a decade-long armed conflict in Nepal, the country made progress in reducing maternal mortality and is on its way to achieve the Millennium Development Goal Five. This study aimed to assess the degree of the utilization of maternal health care services during and after the armed conflict in Nepal. Methods: This study is based on Nepal Demographic and Health Survey data 2006 and 2011. The units of analysis were women who had given birth to at least one child in the past 5 years preceding the survey. First, we compared the utilization of maternal health care services of 2006 with that of 2011. Second, we merged the two data sets and applied logistic regression to distinguish whether the utilization of maternal health care services had improved after the peace process 2006 was underway. Results: In 2011, 85% of the women sought antenatal care at least once. Skilled health workers for delivery care assisted 36.1% of the women, and 46% of the women attended postnatal care visit at least once. These figures were 70%, 18.7%, and 16%, respectively, in 2006. Similarly, women were more likely to utilize antenatal care at least once (odds ratio [OR] =2.18, confidence interval [CI] =1.95-2.43), skilled care at birth (OR =2.58, CI =2.36-2.81), and postnatal care at least once (OR =4.13, CI =3.75-4.50) in 2011. Conclusion: The utilization of maternal health care services tended to increase continuously during both the armed conflict and the post-conflict period in Nepal. However, the increasing proportion of the utilization was higher after the Comprehensive Peace Process Agreement 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]