To assess the level of health system responsiveness (HSR) and its associated factors among outpatients attending primary healthcare units (PHCU) in Arba Minch, South Ethiopia.

Facility-based cross-sectional study.

Three PHCUs (one primary hospital and two health centres) in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia.

A total of 379 outpatients aged 18 years and above were selected using a systematic random sampling.

Primary outcome: level of HSR, measured across seven domains (communication, confidentiality, basic amenities, dignity, choice, prompt attention and autonomy) using a 28-item tool adapted from the WHO HSR framework. Secondary outcome: factors associated with HSR, identified via bivariate and multivariable linear regression.

The overall HSR was 59.4%. The highest-performing domains were confidentiality (73.9%) and dignity (70.7%), while the choice of healthcare provider was rated lowest (34.6%). In multivariable linear regression analysis, factors significantly associated with HSR score were travel time to reach the health facility on foot (β = –0.26, 95% CI –0.37 to –0.14); out-of-pocket payment for transport (β = –6.51, 95% CI –8.33 to –4.70); patient satisfaction score (β=1.57, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.88) and perceived quality of healthcare score (β=0.32, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.49).

HSR among outpatients in PHCU was moderate, with several individual and service-related factors associated with patient experiences. These findings suggest the need for focused interventions to improve responsiveness domains, although more research is required to demonstrate causal relationships.

The aim of this study was to prioritise a set of indicators to measure World Health Organization (WHO) quality-of-care standards for small and/or sick newborns (SSNB) in health facilities. The hypothesis is that monitoring prioritised indicators can support accountability mechanisms, assess and drive progress, and compare performance in quality-of-care (QoC) at subnational levels.

Prospective, iterative, deductive, stepwise process to prioritise a list of QoC indicators organised around the WHO Standards for improving the QoC for small and sick newborns in health facilities. A technical working group (TWG) used an iterative four-step deductive process: (1) articulation of conceptual framework and method for indicator development; (2) comprehensive review of existing global SSNB-relevant indicators; (3) development of indicator selection criteria; and (4) selection of indicators through consultations with a wide range of stakeholders at country, regional and global levels.

The indicators are prioritised for inpatient newborn care (typically called level 2 and 3 care) in high mortality/morbidity settings, where most preventable poor neonatal outcomes occur.

The TWG included 24 technical experts and leaders in SSNB QoC programming selected by WHO. Global perspectives were synthesised from an online survey of 172 respondents who represented different countries and levels of the health system, and a wide range of perspectives, including ministries of health, research institutions, technical and implementing partners, health workers and independent experts.

The 30 prioritised SSNB QoC indicators include 27 with metadata and 3 requiring further development; together, they cover all eight standard domains of the WHO quality framework. Among the established indicators, 10 were adopted from existing indicators and 17 adapted. The list contains a balance of indicators measuring inputs (n=6), processes (n=12) and outcome/impact (n=9).

The prioritised SSNB QoC indicators can be used at health facility, subnational and national levels, depending on the maturity of a country’s health information system. Their use in implementation, research and evaluation across diverse contexts has the potential to help drive action to improve quality of SSNB care. WHO and others could use this list for further prioritisation of a core set.

This study aims to assess parents’ knowledge and attitude towards the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of their daughters and the associated factors in Debre Tabor town, northwest Ethiopia.

A community-based cross-sectional study.

Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia.

A total of 702 participants were included in the study, with a response rate of 98.2%. Three out of the six kebeles in the town were randomly selected, and participants within the selected kebeles were recruited through a cluster sampling technique. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 15 December 2021 to 15 February 2022.

Parents’ level of knowledge and attitude towards the HPV vaccination of their daughters, and the associated factors.

In the study, parents’ knowledge and attitude towards HPV vaccination were found to be 46.4% (95% CI 42.7% to 50.1%) and 61.5% (95% CI 58.0% to 65.2%), respectively. Parents with a higher level of education (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.27; 95% CI 1.39 to 3.69), media exposure (AOR=3.36; 95% CI 1.21 to 9.33) and a good attitude towards the HPV vaccine (AOR=8.81; 95% CI 5.78 to 13.44) were significantly associated factors that affect parents’ level of knowledge. Positive subjective norms (AOR=1.53; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.31) and perceived behavioural control towards the HPV vaccine (AOR=3.48; 95% CI 2.37 to 5.10) had statistically significant associations with parents’ attitude.

In this study, more than half of parents had poor knowledge of the HPV and its vaccination, while the majority of the participants showed a favourable attitude to the vaccine. Educational attainment, media exposure and a positive attitude were significantly associated with parental knowledge, and parents’ attitude was positively influenced by subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. This suggests a need to increase the parents’ level of awareness through educational interventions, particularly via media and community engagement. To improve the acceptance and uptake of the HPV vaccination, it is important to address negative attitudes and common misconceptions among parents on the safety, efficacy and necessity of the vaccine for their daughters.