Search

Background: Utilizing antenatal care (ANC) is vital for maternal and neonatal well-being, especially in low-resource settings with healthcare challenges. Identifying factors impacting antenatal care this context, t of current situation in Sudan is crucial for developing strategies to improve maternal care. This study explores ANC utilization amidst COVID-19, security issues, and healthcare instability in primary health care centers in a resource-constrained environment, aiming to enhance maternal care access and quality. Methods: This is a mixed-methods study. Quantitative data were collected through a retrospective analysis of ANC attendance records before and during the pandemic. Demographic variables were analyzed for their association with ANC utilization. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from pregnant women and healthcare providers. These interviews focused on capturing the experiences, perceptions, and obstacles associated with antenatal care services during the pandemic and within the healthcare system challenges. Results: Preliminary quantitative analysis revealed a significant decline in ANC utilization during the pandemic. Fear of COVID-19 infection, disrupted transportation, and resource constraints have emerged as significant barriers to ANC attendance. The qualitative findings highlighted the impact of security challenges on healthcare access and the adaptation strategies employed, including mobile ANC clinics and telehealth consultations. Conclusion: This study illuminates the intricate landscape of ANC utilization in the face of a pandemic, security instability, and healthcare system vulnerability. Policymakers and stakeholders should collaborate to strengthen healthcare systems and ensure the continued provision of essential maternal health services during challenging times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimanot Abebe,2 Shegaw Tesfa,2 Seblework Abeje31Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia; 2Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia; 3Department of Biomedical, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Shegaw Geze Tenaw, Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia, Email [email protected] Background: COVID-19 pandemic directly or indirectly increases the burden of unintended pregnancy by limiting women's access to family planning and other reproductive health services. COVID-19 results in extra 15 million unintended pregnancies over a year. Almost all previous studies conducted about unintended pregnancy were before COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of unintended pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic among women attending antenatal care in public hospitals of southwest Ethiopia. Methods: This study was cross-sectional and conducted among women attending antenatal care at public hospitals of southwest Ethiopia from June 14 to July 14, 2021. Data were collected using a face-to-face interview. Factors associated with unintended pregnancy were analyzed using binary and multiple logistic regressions with an adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Finally, the p-value was used as a graded measure of evidence to quantify the degree of significance. Results: A total of 405 women participated in this study. The overall prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 19.5% (95% CI: 1.44– 6.92) among women attending antenatal care during COVID-19 pandemic. Of which, 50.6% were mistimed and 49.4% unwanted. Urban residence (AOR: 3.1 95% CI: 1.44– 6.92) and not being primary decision-maker (AOR: 2.85 95CI: 1.18– 6.88) had high significance with unintended pregnancy. Not having ANC in a previous pregnancy (AOR: 3.40; 95% CI: 1.02– 11.94) and not being exposed to community education about maternal health care (AOR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.06– 5.27) had medium significance with unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: One-fifth of women attending antenatal care had unintended pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to scale up women's decision-making power on family planning services and access to community education are needed to prevent unintended pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regular monitoring and evaluation improves the quality of health services. Client satisfaction is an indicator of the quality of a health service. Poor maternal satisfaction with antenatal care services has negative outcomes. Currently, women's satisfaction with antenatal care services is below standard in low-income countries such as Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women's satisfaction and its associated factors with antenatal care services. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 23 to October 23, 2019. A total of 405 women were involved in the study. A systematic random sampling technique was used. The data were coded manually and checked visually for completeness. The data were entered using Epi Info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistic was computed. Thechi-squared test was performed and factors associated with women's satisfaction with antenatal care services were selected for multiple logistic regression at a probability value (p-value) of < 0.2 in the chi-squared analysis. Statistically significant associated factors were identified at a p-value of ≤ 0.05, and with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Among 405 participants, 53.8% (95% CI=48.7– 59%) of women were satisfied with the antenatal care services. Age of mothers (AOR=6.04, 95% CI=2.3– 15.9), advice on danger signs in pregnancy (AOR=4.53, 95% CI=2.7– 7.52), previous antenatal care visits (AOR=3.8, 95% CI=2.0– 7.52), respectful maternity care (AOR=8.2, 95% CI=3.3– 20.4), and planned pregnancy (AOR=2.8, 95% CI=1.6– 4.8) were statistically significantly associated with women's satisfaction with antenatal care services. Conclusion: About half of the participants were satisfied with the antenatal care services. Age of participants, respectful maternity care, advice on danger signs in pregnancy, previous antenatal care visits, and planned pregnancy were found to be predictors of women's satisfaction with antenatal care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the most cost-effective and crucial components of maternal health care services. In developing countries where access to care, empowerment, and decision making power of women is low, ANC service is vital. The time at which first ANC visit was done has the utmost importance to ensure optimal health effects for both women and children. This study aimed to assess the proportion and factors associated with early antenatal care booking among pregnant women who were attending public health institutions in a remote area of Bule Hora district, Southern Ethiopia, from May to July, 2019. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted at Bule Hora district public health facilities. Data were collected on systematically selected 377 pregnant women from 1st May to 30th July 2019. The sample size was determined by single population proportion formula and data were collected by using a standardized and pretested questionnaire and entered into Epidata 3.1 version, and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. The strength of association was measured by odds ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI) at a p-value of < 0.05 and finally obtained results were presented by using simple frequency tables, bar graph, and texts. Results: The proportion of early antenatal care booking among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the study area was 57.8%. Factors contributing to early antenatal care booking were husband's education (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.9), knowledge on antenatal care service (AOR,1.99; 95% CI:1.2,3.3), means of approving current pregnancy (AOR,1.8; 95% CI:1.1,2.8), and being advised before starting antenatal care visit (AOR,2.1; 95% CI:1.2,3.6). Conclusion: Generally, the timely initiation of ANC among pregnant mothers is not ideal. Modifiable factors like husband's education, knowledge on antenatal care service, means of recognizing current pregnancy, and access to pre-ANC advice were found determinants for the timely initiation of ANC. Thus, it is advisable to provide proper information about antenatal care services by health care providers and enhancement of health extension program to increase community awareness before and during pregnancy at all levels of health care provision is very important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal mortality rates are unacceptably high in Ethiopia. Institutional delivery with skilled care of the mother is one of the interventions proven to reduce the risk of complications that can cause maternal and neonatal mortality. Quality of service given during antenatal visits and childbirth are important measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of skilled institutional delivery and its repeat use during a subsequent pregnancy and to identify any reasons why women avoid institutional delivery. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2012 in Chilga Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected from women who gave birth during the year preceding the survey. Information was entered and cleaned using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Multivariate and binary logistic regression was used to identify the relative effect of each explanatory variable on the outcome. Results: A total of 402 (84.2%) women gave birth at home. Previous experience of skilled institutional delivery had a limited role in subsequent acceptance or use of institutional delivery. Most mothers who had previously had institutional delivery gave birth at home. Although 111 (40.8%) women visited the health facility during their pregnancy only because of illness, 184 (38.8%) did not know when to visit for antenatal care. In multivariate analysis, lower maternal education, being a rural resident, previous use of institutional delivery, remoteness of the health facility, and multiparity were factors significantly associated with less likelihood of institutional delivery. Number of months pregnant at the time of the first antenatal visit had no role in increasing the likelihood of institutional delivery. Conclusion: The quality of the obstetric services presently available for women living in Ethiopia needs review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]