Background: Cervical cancer is currently the second-leading cause of cancer death among women in Ethiopia. Vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) is an effective primary prevention strategy for HPV-related illnesses. The knowledge and willingness of parents toward the HPV vaccine are crucial to increasing the uptake of the vaccine. The vaccine's acceptance by children and young adolescents is dependent on parental consent. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge, willingness, and associated factors of the human papillomavirus vaccine among parents of girls aged 9–14 years at Debre Tabor Town.Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among participants from December 10, 2020, to January 15, 2021. A simple random sample technique was used to include 638 participants. A structured face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were entered and analyzed using Epi-Data and SPSS software, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the association. The Odds Ratio (OR), 95% CI, and p-values less than 0.05 were used to determine the statistical association.Results: Thirty-five percent (35.4%, 95% CI = 31.4%, 38.8%) and 44.8% (95% CI = 40.40%, 48.67%) of participants were knowledgeable about HPV vaccination and willing to get it, respectively. Being government employees (AOR = 5.46, 95% CI = 2.42, 9.34), and having a family history of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.14, 2.72) were significantly associated with knowledge of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. Participants’ age (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.16, 2.87), secondary education and above (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.05, 2.74), fear of HPV infection (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.21, 4.32), and having good knowledge of the HPV vaccine (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI = 2.21, 4.93) were significantly associated with willingness to receive the HPV vaccine.Conclusion and recommendation: The knowledge and willingness of parents toward the HPV vaccine were low. Then, health officials should boost HPV vaccination promotion through public media. In schools, churches, mosques, and health facilities, health extension workers and health professionals provide information about the HPV vaccine for the parents. Mixed quantitative and qualitative studies are preferable for future research to address “why” issues.

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.

Purpose: Although its fetal outcomes and practicality are unclear time interval between decision-to-delivery ≤ 30 minutes in emergency caesarean section (CS) is the internationally accepted standard of practice. This study aimed to determine whether a decision to delivery interval (DDI) of approximately 30 minutes was achieved in daily practice, its fetal outcomes, and associated factors among emergency caesarean section delivery at South Gondar Zone Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out from August 1– 30/2020 among emergency caesarean sections. Information was collected from the birth register book and individual files of standardized facility booking forms. The data was encoded and entered into Epi-Data version 4.2 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted and a significant association was recorded at p< 0.05. Results: Only 17.5% of parturients attained a decision-to-delivery interval ≤ 30 minutes. The average median of decision to delivery interval was 54 minutes with interquartile range (IQR) of 48– 80 minutes. Time taken to collect material with Adjusted odds ratio (AOR=10.3, 95% CI 5.87– 45.7), time of decision (AOR=0.32, 95% CI, 0.15– 0.67), and time taken from decision to delivery to delivery of anesthesia (AOR=4.74, 95% CI, 1.30– 17.3) were the predictors of prolonged delivery time interval. Significant fetal adverse outcomes were not observed in a decision to delivery interval higher than 30 minutes. Conclusion: In most cases, delivery was not completed within the prescribed ≤ 30-minutes interval, particularly in developing countries with infrastructural challenges, however, fetal outcomes were not directly correlated. Despite lack of substantial linkage between the delivery time declaration and fetal events, an unreasonable gap from the decision-making to birth of the child is not appropriate and should be discouraged.

Introduction: Transactional sex is casual sex between two people to receive material incentives in exchange for sexual favors. Transactional sex is associated with negative consequences, which increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and physiological trauma. In Sub-Saharan Africa, several primary studies have been conducted in various countries to examine the prevalence and associated factors of transactional sex among women. These studies had great discrepancies and inconsistent results. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the pooled prevalence of the practice of transactional sex among women and its associated factors in Sub-Saharan Africa. Method: Data source: PubMed, Google Scholar, HINARI, the Cochrane Library, and grey literature were searched from March 6 to April 24, 2022, and included studies conducted from 2000 to 2022. The pooled prevalence of transactional sex and associated factors was estimated using Random Effect Model. Stata (version 16.0) was used to analyze the data. The I-squared statistic, a funnel plot, and Egger’s test were used to check for heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. A subgroup analysis was done based on the study years, source of data, sample sizes, and geographical location. Results: The pooled prevalence of transactional sex among women in Sub-Saharan Africa was 12.55% (9.59%–15.52%). Early sexual debut (OR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.56, 4.27), substance abuse (OR = 4.62, 95% CI: 2.62, 8.08), history of sexual experience (OR = 4.87, 95% CI: 2.37, 10.02), physical violence abuse (OR = 6.70, 95% CI: 3.32, 13.53), orphanhood (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.47), and sexual violence abuse (OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.08, 13.05) were significantly associated with transactional sex. Conclusion: The prevalence of transactional sex among women in sub-Saharan Africa was high. Alcohol consumption, substance abuse, early sex debuts, having a history of sexual experiences, physical violence, and sexual violence increased the practice of transactional sex.

Purpose: The current emerging respiratory disease known as the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is now an international concern and a pandemic with non-availability of treatment. Due to altered physiology, weakened mechanical and immunological features pregnant mothers constitute a particularly suspectable segment of population in any infection pandemic. The goal of this study was to assess level of knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 and determinants among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care (ANC) in Debre Tabor General Hospital Northwest Ethiopia. Patient and Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was performed from June 05 to 26, 2020. A total of 403 pregnant mothers participated and were selected by systematic random sampling. Data were collected via face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered using Epi-Data version 4.2 and analyzed by SPSS version 23. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed and p-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was considered as statistically significant. Results: Overall, 52.1% and 52.6% of participants had a good level of knowledge and positive attitude towardCOVID-19, respectively. Level of knowledge was significantly associated with participants’ age (15– 24 years) (AOR: 4.58; 95% CI: 1.721– 12.201), educational status (AOR:7.78; 95% CI: 2.31– 15.65) occupation (AOR:2.26; 95% CI: 1.23– 4.15), and condition of pregnancy (AOR:4.55; 95% CI: 1.84– 11.25). Whereas age (25– 34 years) (AOR:2.61; 95% CI: 1.23– 5.55), participants husband completed secondary education (AOR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.13– 6.70) and college and above (AOR:3.77; 95% CI: 1.1.62– 8.76), wanted pregnancy (AOR:2.70; 95% CI: 1.22– 5.97) and knowledge (AOR:1.65; 95% CI: 1.06– 2.572) were the significant predictors for attitude. Conclusion: Findings show that almost half of the participants had a good level of knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19. Age, educational status, occupational status, condition of current pregnancy was positively associated with women level of awareness of COVID-19. Additional research is needed to see the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and feto-maternal effect.

Background: The effect of short birth interval on socio-economic, negative maternal and child health outcomes remains common in developing countries. This study aimed to assess determinants of short birth interval among reproductive age women, who gave birth in health institution for last six-month in South Gondar, Ethiopia 2019. Methods: Community-based unmatched case control study design was conducted from February 1 to March 30, 2019. Sample size of 150 was included by simple random sampling technique. The data was collected by semi-structured and pre-tested face to face interviewer-administered questionnaire from selected respondent. The collected data was entered with Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 23 software. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the association. Odds ratio, 95% CI and P-value < 0.05 were used to determine the statistical association. Result: The mean age of the respondents was 32.42 (SD ± 5.14) and 35.12 (SD ± 5.86) for cases and controls, respectively. Mothers not used contraceptives (AOR = 6.29, 95% CI (1.95, 20.24)), participants who had ≤2 alive children (AOR = 5.57, 95% CI (1.47, 21.13)), mothers who breast fed less than 24 months (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI (1.38, 8.46)), husband decision on contraceptives utilization (AOR = 2.69,95% CI (1.05,6.88)) and mothers who did not have history of antenatal care follow up (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI (1.27, 9.75)) were associated with short birth interval. Conclusion: The optimum birth spacing plays a vital role in decreasing fertility and the morbidity and mortality of mothers and children. Thus, providing health information on the benefit of breast feeding, follow-up of antenatal care during pregnancy, use of contraceptives after delivery and encouraging mothers to make decisions about their own health and use of contraceptives to optimize birth spacing for rural communities.