Background: Disrespectful and abusive treatment of women by health care providers during the process of childbirth at health facility is an international problem. There is a lack of data on disrespect and abuse of women during the process of childbirth at health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of disrespect and abuse of women during the process of childbirth at health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: The PRISMA guideline protocol was followed to write the systematic review and meta-analysis. Published studies were searched from Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Maternal and infant care, science direct, and PsycINFO. Articles were accessed by three reviewers (ZY, BT and AA) using the following key terms, “attitude of health personnel” AND “delivery obstetrics*/nursing” OR “maternity care” AND “disrespect” OR “abuse” OR “professional misconduct” AND “parturition” AND “prevalence” AND “professional-patient relations” AND “Sub-Saharan Africa”. Additional articles were retrieved by cross referencing of reference. The heterogeneity of studies were weighed using Cochran’s Q test and I²test statistics. Publication bias was assessed by Egger’s test.Results: Thirty three studies met the inclusion and included in this systematic review and meta–analysis of disrespect and abuse of women during the process of childbirth at health facilities. The pooled prevalence of disrespect and abuse women during the process of childbirth at health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa was 44.09% (95% CI: 29.94–58.24).Particularly physical abuse was 15.77% (95% CI: 13.38–18.15), non-confidential care was 16.87% (95% CI: 14.49–19.24), abandonment was 16.86% (95% CI: 13.88–19.84) and detention was 4.81% (95% CI: 3.96–5.67).Conclusion: In this study disrespect and abuse of women during the process of childbirth at health facilities are high compared with other studies, particularly non-confidential care and abandonment his high compared with other studies. This study points out that the ministry of health, health care providers, maternal health experts shall due attention to women’s right during the process of childbirth at health facilities.

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecologic disorders and a frequently observed cause of anxiety and discomfort among female adolescents. Its prevalence varies between 16% and 91% in women of reproductive age. Its population statistics are too scant in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of dysmenorrhea among secondary and preparatory school students in Debremarkos town, 2016. Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from Sept.26 to Oct.17, 2016 among secondary and preparatory school students in Debremarkos town. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 539 individuals selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were checked, coded and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Univariate, bivariate and multivariable analysis were carried out. Binary logistic regression model was computed and P value < 0.05 was considered as significant. All ethical procedures were considered. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 69.3%. Age, AOR (95% CI) =1.38(1.15, 1.65), family history of dysmenorrhea, AOR (95% CI) = 9.79(4.99, 19.20), physical activity, AOR (95% CI) =0.39(0.13, 0.82), sugar intake, AOR (95% CI) =2.94 (1.54, 5.61), early menarche AOR (95% CI) =4.10(1.21,13.09), late menarche AOR (95% CI) =0.50 (0.27, 0.91), heavy menstrual periods AOR (95% CI) =2.91(1.59, 5.35) and sexual intercourse AOR (95% CI) =0.24 (0.10.0.55) had statistically significant association with the occurrence of dysmenorrhea. Age, positive family history of dysmenorrhea, physical activity, excessive sugar intake, early menarche, late menarche, sexual intercourse and heavy menstrual periods had a statistically significant association with the occurrence of dysmenorrhea.

The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude of premenstrual syndrome and its associated factors among secondary school students in Debremarkos, North west Ethiopia. Premenstrual syndrome was reported by 81.3% of the participants. Statistically significant association was observed between the occurrence of PMS and age, AOR (CI) 1.20 (1.01, 1.44), involving in heavy non-academic duties, AOR 95% (CI) 2.13 (1.17, 3.89), early menarche (< 12 years), AOR (95% CI) 2.68 (1.32, 5.47) and long menstrual cycles (> 35 days), AOR (95% CI) 0.13 (0.02, 0.75).

Background: Birth spacing is key in ensuring the health of mothers and their children as well as determining population growth. Most of the mothers in developing nations including Ethiopia have been practicing short inter-birth intervals. There is a paucity of studies concerned with suboptimal birth spacing among women in reproductive age in the study area. Purpose: This study aims to identify the determinants of sub-optimal birth spacing among reproductive-age women in Gedeo zone, South Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A community-based unmatched case–control study was undertaken among 814 reproductive-age women in Gedeo zone, South Ethiopia from October 1 to November 30, 2018. Cases were women practiced suboptimal/short birth intervals (< 33 months), whereas controls were women practiced inter-birth intervals of 33 months and more. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. A stratified, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used. EpiData version 3.1 and SPSS version 22 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. All ethical procedures were considered. Results: Women’s educational status, AOR (95% CI) =0.6 (0.43, 0.96), age at first marriage, AOR (95% CI) = 0.9 (0.85, 0.99), distance from the nearest health facility, AOR (95% CI) = 1.4 (1.04, 1.94), wealth index, AOR (95% CI) = 4.1 (2.66, 6.19), and postnatal care utilization after the previous birth, AOR (95% CI) = 0.4 (0.25, 0.53) were statistically significant with suboptimal birth spacing. Conclusion: Women’s educational status age at first marriage, distance from the nearest health facility, wealth index and postnatal care utilization after the previous birth were the determinants of suboptimal birth spacing.

Globally, unmet need for postpartum family planning is high. However, immunization services are among the most widely utilized health services. Establishing systematic screening, counseling, and referral systems from different contact points, particularly from EPI units may improve postpartum family planning uptake. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effect of counseling for family planning at EPI units on contraceptive uptake during the extended post-partum period. A before-and-after type of quasi-experimental study was conducted in 8 purposively selected primary health care units in Sidama region, Ethiopia. All mothers visiting the selected health facilities for infant immunization services from February 06 to August 30, 2020, were screened, counseled, and referred for family planning. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 1421 randomly selected mothers (717 for pre-intervention and 704 post-intervention phases). EpiData version 3.1 and SPSS version 22 were used for data entry and analysis. The effect of the intervention was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for the effects of potential confounders. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The contraceptive utilization rate before intervention was 72.7% with 95% CI (69.5, 75.9). It was 91.9%, 95% CI (89.8%, 93.9%) after the intervention. Utilization of contraceptive pills increased from 4.3% to 6.9%, injectables from 52.4% to 57.5%, implants from 12.8% to 22.9%, and IUCD from 3.2% to 5.0% after the intervention. After adjusting for the effect of possible confounding variables, screening, counseling, and referring mothers for family planning at infant immunization units significantly increases the contraceptive utilization rate among mothers presented for infant immunization services(AOR = 5.83, 95% CI: 4.02, 8.46). Screening, counseling, and referring mothers for family planning services at infant immunization units significantly increases postpartum contraceptive uptake. Integrating family planning messages with infant immunization services is recommended. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04767139 (Registered on 23/02/2021).

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where access to laboratory-based screening is limited. Point-of-care (POC) HPV testing enables rapid, near-patient diagnostics that support same-day screen- and treat strategies; however, the evidence base across SSA remains fragmented. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the Arksey and O’ Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework. Ten electronic databases and grey literature sources (2000–2025) were searched for studies evaluating POC HPV tests in SSA. Data on platform characteristics, diagnostic performance, feasibility, acceptability, barriers, facilitators, and sustainability were extracted and synthesized. Results: Thirty-one unique studies from 15 SSA countries evaluated seven POC HPV platforms (Xpert HPV, careHPV™, AmpFire HPV, LAMP (DARQ), ScreenFire, 8-HPV OncoE6/E7, OncoE6™). Xpert HPV consistently demonstrated high sensitivity for CIN2 + lesions (71–97%) and CIN3 + lesions (68–99%) based on histology-confirmed lesions, with moderate specificity (59–71%) when using biopsy-confirmed histopathology as the reference standard. OncoE6™ exhibited high specificity (98–99%) but lower sensitivity (31–57%). CareHPV performance varied widely (sensitivity 54–97%, specificity 54–94%) and, as with other POC HPV platforms, was influenced by HIV status, sample type, and clinical setting. Acceptability among women was high, especially for self-sampling and rapid results; provider acceptability was supported by minimal training requirement. Evidences from implementation studies suggest that POC HPV testing is operationally feasible in SSA, though key barriers include test costs, supply chain interruptions, and challenges in patient follow-up. Facilitators for feasibility and scale-up include integration with HIV/TB services, community-based outreach, and streamlined workflows. However, data on large-scale implementation, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability remain limited. Conclusion: POC HPV testing in SSA demonstrates adequate diagnostic performance and high acceptability, and feasibility under programmatic conditions. In settings with healthcare infrastructure similar to that of Ethiopia, successful scale-up of POC HPV testing will require integration with the existing health services, strengthened quality assurance, providers training, and robust patient follow-up mechanisms. Future research should focus on implementation trials, cost-effectiveness, effective triage strategies, and long-term sustainability.