Preconception care is the provision of biomedical, behavioural and social health interventions to women and couples before the occurrence of conception to improve their health status. There is poor maternal and child health and lack of knowledge in developing countries about preconception care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women’s knowledge and associated factors in preconception care in Adet Town, Gojjam, Northwestern Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 systematically selected reproductive age group women who are living in the Adet town from March 1 to 30, 2016. The data were collected using pre tested and structured questionnaires through face-to-face interviews. The data were entered into Epi-Info version 3.5, and cleaned and analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive summary of the data and logistic regression were used to identify possible predictors using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and P-value of 0.05. The study revealed that the overall knowledge of preconception care was 27.5% (95% CI: 23.2, 32.0). Women who attended secondary educational and whose age is from 25 to 34 years were more likely to have better knowledge on preconception care than their counterparts were; (AOR 6.52, CI 2.55, 16.69) and (AOR 4.10, CI 1.78, 9.44) respectively. However, Women who had no history of family planning use were 85% less knowledgeable than those who had a history of family planning use (AOR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.44). In this finding level of women’s knowledge of preconception care is relatively low. Having a history of family planning use, having high levels of educational status, and being older age were associated with good knowledge. This finding suggests that there is a need to give emphasis and deliver health education about preconception care for women in order to increase their knowledge.

Background: Preconception care is the provision of biomedical, behavioural, and social health interventions provided to women and couples before conception. However, in Ethiopia, little is known and practised to support preconception care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women’s knowledge and utilisation of preconception care and its associated factors in Ethiopia using systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: In the current meta-analysis, variables were searched from different electronic database systems, which included PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, HINAR, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Grey literature. Data were extracted using a standardised data collection measurement tool. The data were analysed by using STATA 14 statistical software. I² tests assessed heterogeneity between the studies. A random-effect model was used to forecast the pooled knowledge and utilisation of preconception care. Results: Thirteen full-text studies were included. The pooled prevalence of knowledge and utilisation of preconception care among women in Ethiopia was 30.95% and 16.27% respectivelly. Secondary education (OR = 2.78, 95% CI,2.01–3.85), college and above (OR = 5.05, 95% CI,2.70–9.44), and antenatal care (OR = 3.89, 95% CI, 1.69–8.98) were significantly associated with knowledge level whereas; age (OR = 2.43, 95% CI, 1.30–4.53) and knowledge on preconception care (OR = 3.95, 95% CI,2.35–6.62) were positively associated with utilisation of preconception. Conclusions: Women’s level of knowledge and utilisation of preconception care was significantly low. Educational status and antenatal care follow-up were factors shown to affect knowledge of preconception care. Age and having a sound knowledge of preconception care indicated a significant association towards utilisation of preconception care. Thus, integrating preconception care strategies and policies that can address all the components of preconception care services with other maternal and child health services will be essential when designing effective implementation strategies to improve preconception care uptake. Besides this, advocating for better education for women, awareness creation, and increasing antenatal care services are essential. Prospero registration: CRD42020218062

Objectives: This study was aimed to assess the magnitude of maternal near misses and the role of delays including other risk factors. A Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at three referral hospitals of Amhara region on 572 mothers who came to obtain obstetrics care services from February 01 to July 30, 2018. Results: The magnitude of maternal near miss was 26.6% (95% CI 23, 30). With regards to delays, 83 (14.5%), 226 (39.5%), and 154 (26.9%) of women delayed in the decision to seek care, in reaching care, and in receiving care respectively. Women who had no antenatal care [AOR = 3.16; CI (1.96, 5.10)], who stayed in hospital 7 days or more [AOR = 2.20; CI (1.33, 3.63)] and those who had delay in reaching health facility [AOR = 1.99; CI (1.10, 3.61)] were more likely to be near miss. While, women whose husband was able to read and write [AOR = 0.29; CI (0.09, 0.96)] and those with monthly household income between 2001 and 3000 ETB [AOR = 0.35; CI (0.18, 0.70)] were 71% and 65% less likely to be near misses respectively. Promoting antenatal care and increasing maternal health care access could have significant impact in reducing maternal near misses.

Youth continue to fall victim to sexual and reproductive health problems. Despite, reproductive health needs of youth had been supported by different organizations, utilization of those services is low. All efforts have not been felt across the Ethiopian learning institutions as is evidenced by persistent reproductive health problems. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of youth friendly sexual and reproductive health service utilization and associated factors among high and preparatory school youths in Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia. An institution based cross- sectional study was conducted from March 1 to 28, 2016. The data were collected using a pre-tested and structured self-administered questionnaire. Multistage cluster sampling method was used to select the study participants. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2.0.0 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary logistics regression was used for analysis. Odds ratio along with 95%CI was estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value ≤0.05. Overall utilization of reproductive health service was 28.8%. Being male (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.25), prior discussion on reproductive health issues (AOR = 6.33, 95% CI: 4.22, 9.51), and previous sexual intercourse within the past one year (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.44) were significantly associated with youth friendly health service utilization. Youth friendly health service utilization among high school and preparatory students in Debre Tabor town was low. Ensuring gender empowerment and advocating sexual and reproductive service discussion among themselves and with others might be important in improving reproductive health utilization and health. Future researcher should address segment of population who does not enter school.

Background: The intrauterine contraceptive device, a type of long-acting reversible contraception, is one of the most effective and safe contraceptive methods. In Ethiopia, intrauterine contraceptive device is little known and practised to delay pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to assess post-partum intrauterine contraceptive device utilisation and its associated factors among women in Ethiopia. Method: In the current meta-analysis, variables were searched from different electronic database systems, including PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, HINAR, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Grey literature. Data were extracted using a standardised data collection measurement tool. The data were also analysed by using STATA 16 statistical software. I² tests assessed heterogeneity between the studies. A random-effect model was used to forecast the pooled utilisation of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device. Results: Twelve full-article studies were included. The pooled prevalence of post-partum intrauterine contraceptive device among women in Ethiopia was 21.63%. Occupation (OR = 4.44, 95% CI, 2.24–8.81), educational level of college and above (OR = 5.93, 95% CI, 2.55–13.8), antenatal care (OR = 2.09, 95% CI, 1.4–3.12), age (OR = 4.8, 95% CI, 2.3–10.04), good knowledge (OR = 4.16, 95% CI, 1.65–10.49), counseling (OR = 3.05, 95%CI, 1.41–6.63), husband support (OR = 11.48, 95% CI, 6.05–21.79) and awareness about IUCD (OR = 3.86, 95% CI, 1.46–10.2) were positively associated with utilization of postpartum intrauterine contraception device. Conclusions: Utilisation of post-partum intrauterine contraceptive device was significantly low. Scaling up women’s educational status and ANC use has paramount importance in increasing post-partum IUD use, which further improves maternal and child health in general. This finding may be useful in both reproductive health promotion at an individual level and policy-making regarding this issue.

Precancerous lesions of cervix among women infected with HIV in Referral Hospitals of Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study