title: Knowledge, acceptability, and use of misoprostol for preventing postpartum hemorrhage following home births in rural Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge of, and intentions to use misoprostol to preventing postpartum hemorrhage by women in a pastoralist community of the Somali Region of Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study enrolled women aged 15-49years living in Adadle district, Ethiopia, between April 26 and May 3, 2012. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' knowledge of misoprostol and if they had any intention to use it in the future. Participants also detailed their preferred healthcare provider for administering misoprostol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 829 women were enrolled in the study. Among the participants, 42 (5.1%) had knowledge of misoprostol and 302 (36.4%) described themselves as being willing to use misoprostol in the future. Among respondents who were willing to use misoprostol in the future, traditional birth attendants were the preferred healthcare practitioners to administer it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of misoprostol was low in the study sample but willingness to use the drug was somewhat higher. Raising awareness and knowledge among communities and traditional birth attendants regarding the advantages of misoprostol is crucial to enhance uptake and reduce the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: International Medical Corps, Country Office, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Betemariam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gebre
authors.affiliation: ZAAT Health and Development Research PLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Zinaw
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Taddese
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom; School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kebede
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deribe
authors.affiliation: ZAAT Health and Development Research PLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tsigereda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Legesse
authors.affiliation: Save the children, Juba, South Sudan.
authors.forename: Meftuh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Independent Public Health Research Consultants, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Electronic address: sibhatu2005@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sibhatu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biadgilign
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063046:Patient Medication Knowledge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol
keywords: Acceptability; Ethiopia; Home; Knowledge; Misoprostol; PPH; Rural; Use