Background: The frequency of antenatal care utilization enhances the effectiveness of the maternal health programs to maternal and child health. The aim of the study was to determine the number of antenatal care and associated factors in Ethiopia by using 2019 intermediate EDHS.Methods: Secondary data analysis was done on 2019 intermediate EDHS. A total of 3916.6 weighted pregnant women were included in the analysis. Zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis was done by Stata version 14.0. Incident rate ratio and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were used to show the strength and direction of the association.Result: About one thousand six hundred eighty eight (43.11%) women were attending four and more antenatal care during current pregnancy. Attending primary education (IRR = 1.115, 95% CI: 1.061, 1.172), secondary education (IRR = 1.211, 95% CI: 1.131, 1.297) and higher education (IRR = 1.274, 95% CI: 1.177, 1.378), reside in poorer household wealth index (IRR = 1.074, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.152), middle household wealth index (IRR = 1.095, 95% CI: 1.018, 1.178), rich household wealth index (IRR = 1.129, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.212) and richer household wealth index (IRR = 1.186, 95% CI: 1.089, 1.29) increases the number of antenatal care utilization. The frequency of antenatal care was less likely become zero among women attending primary (AOR = 0.434, 95% CI: 0.346, 0.545), secondary (AOR = 0.113, 95% CI: 0.053, 0.24), higher educational level (AOR = 0.052, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.367) in the inflated part.Conclusion: The number of antenatal care utilization is low in Ethiopia. Being rural, poorest household index, uneducated and single were factors associated with low number of antenatal care and not attending antenatal care at all. Improving educational coverage and wealth status of women is important to increase the coverage and frequency of antenatal care.

Background: There is limited evidence on the unmet need for contraceptives among married reproductive-age women especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess individual and community-level factors associated with unmet need for contraception among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. Method: A secondary analysis was done on the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) dataset which were collected cross-sectional. A total of 9056 women who were fecund, married and/or sexually active were included in the analysis. Multi-level mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was done by STATA version 14.0 to identify individual and community-level factors. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to show the strength and direction of the association and statistical significance was declared at P value less than 0.05. Result: Factors significantly associated with unmet need were; ages of women between 45 and 49 years [AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: (1.34, 3.79)], greater than or equal to three living children [AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: (1.40, 2.49)], belong to richer household [AOR = 0.73, 95% CI: (0.54, 0.97)], Muslim followers [AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: (1.02, 1.83)], married more than once [AOR = 1.31, 95% CI: (1.06, 1.62)]. From community level variables: belong to the Somali region [AOR = 0.34, 95% CI: (0.19, 0.61)] were significantly associated with unmet need. Conclusion: Both individual and community-level factors were significant determinants of unmet need. From individual-level factors: advanced ages of women, many total numbers of living children, live in the richer wealth quintile, being Muslim follower and married more than once and from community-level variables: belong to the Somali region were significantly associated with unmet need for contraception. The findings suggested that health care providers should mainly focus on women nearly on menopauses, who live in the poorest household and who had many numbers of living children and married more than once to decrease the unmet need for contraceptives.

Background: Needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) are a common problem among healthcare workers (HCWs). Although the factors related to NSSIs for HCWs are well documented by several studies in Ethiopia, no evidence has been reported about the magnitude of and factors related to NSSIs in hospitals in northwestern Ethiopia.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from January to March 2019 among 318 HCWs in three randomly-selected hospitals of the eight hospitals found in South Gondar Zone. Sample sizes were proportionally allocated to professional categories. Study participants were selected by systematic random sampling methods using the monthly salary payroll for each profession as the sampling frame. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The outcome of this study was the presence (injured) or absence of NSSIs during the 12 months prior to data collection. A binary logistic regression model with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for data analysis. Variables from the bi-variable analysis with ap-value ≤ 0.25 were retained into the multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, variables with ap-value less than 0.05 was declared as factors significantly associated with NSSIs.Main findings: The prevalence of NSSIs was 29.5% (95% CI: 24.2–35.5%) during the 12 months prior to the survey. Of these, 46.0% reported that their injuries were moderate, superficial (33.3%) or severe (20.7%). About 41.4% of the injuries were caused by a suture needle. Factors significantly associated with NSSIs were occupation as a nurse (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.18–4.26), disposal of sharp materials in places other than in safety boxes (AOR = 3.93, 95% CI: 2.10–5.35), recapping of needles (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.13–4.56), and feeling sleepy at work (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.14–4.41).Conclusion: This study showed that almost one-third of HCWs had sustained NSSIs, a proportion that is high. Factors significantly associated with NSSIs were occupation as a nurse, habit of needle recapping, disposal of sharp materials in places other than in safety boxes and feeling sleepy at work. Observing proper and regular universal precautions for nurses during daily clinical activities and providing safety boxes for the disposal of sharp materials, practicing mechanical needle recapping and preventing sleepiness by reducing work overload among HCWs may reduce the incidence of NSSIs.

Background: A significant number of girls in Ethiopia begin childbearing at an early age. Teenage pregnancy is the main contributor to maternal and child morbidity and mortality, and the vicious cycle of ill-health and poverty. However limited evidence exists about individual- and community-level factors affecting teenage pregnancy in Ethiopia. Methods: This study used data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). A total of 3381 (weighted) teenagers aged 15– 19 years were included in the study. A two-stage stratified cluster was used. Data were analyzed using Stata version 14. Multilevel mixed effect logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting teenage pregnancy. Results: Being 17 (AOR=9.26, 95% CI=2.67– 32.04), 18 (AOR=9.53, 95% CI=2.97– 30.04) and 19 years old (AOR=20.01, 95% CI=5.94– 67.39), uneducated (AOR=3.83, 95% CI=1.05– 14.00), primary educated (AOR=3.34, 95% CI=1.01– 11.08), being married (AOR=70.12, 95% CI=27.55– 178.4), and communities with a higher proportion of poor (AOR=3.86, 95% CI=1.80– 8.26) were predictors of teenage pregnancy. Conclusion: Age, educational status, and marital status from individual-level factors, and community wealth status from community-level factors were predictors of teenage pregnancy. The government should strive to improve female education, and fight against early marriage and sexual initiation.

Background: Most postpartum women and newborns do not utilize postnatal care due to less emphasis given especially in developing countries. Understanding individual and community-level factors associated with postnatal care will help to design appropriate strategies and policies for improving service utilization. Therefore, this study aimed to assess individual and community-level factors associated with postnatal care utilization in Ethiopia. Method: This study used the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data of 2016. A total of 4489 women who gave birth 2 years before the survey were included. Two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique was used. The analysis was done using Stata version 14.0 after checking for basic assumptions of multilevel logistic regression. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to identify determinants of postnatal care utilization. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to show the strength and direction of the association. Results: Husband with secondary education [AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = (0.04, 0.68)], four or more antenatal care visit [AOR = 10.77, 95% CI = (2.65, 43.70)], middle wealth quintile [AOR = 3.10, 95% CI = (1.12, 8.58)] were individual level factors. Community level education [AOR = 2.53, 95% CI = (1.06, 6.06)] and community level of health service utilization [AOR = 2.32, 95% CI = (1.14, 4.73)] were the predictors at community level. Conclusion: Wealth index, number of antenatal care visits, husband education, community level of education and health service utilization were significantly associated with PNC service utilization. Provision of quality antenatal care, improvement of the educational status of women and husband involvement in PNC are important strategies to increase PNC service utilization.

Background: Previous studies on menstrual hygiene practice were largely inconsistent and single national evidence is required. Thus, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of menstrual hygiene and its association with knowledge about menstrual hygiene among female adolescents in Ethiopia.Methods: The study was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-2015 Guidelines). This systematic review included studies conducted on female adolescents in Ethiopia irrespective of their publication and study period until the end of July 1, 2020. The data extracted in the Microsoft Excel sheet format was exported into the STATA/SE14 version statistical software for further analysis. I²test was used to test heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed by using Egger’s weighted regression test.Results: Thirteen full-text articles including 6907 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Using the random effect model, the pooled prevalence of poor menstrual hygiene practice was 48.98% [95% CI: (36.42, 61.53)]. Those female adolescents who had poor knowledge were 2.6 times more likely to have poor menstrual hygiene practice as compared to counterparts [AOR = 2.61, 95% CI: (1.45, 4.72)].Conclusions: The prevalence of poor menstrual hygiene practice was high and knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene was significantly associated with poor menstrual hygiene practice. Information education communication and behavioral change communication at all levels of education should be the primary focus area of the government.