Trends and Determinants of Small Birth Weight in Ethiopia: Further Analysis of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys

BACKGROUND፡ Globally, Low Birth Weight (LBW) prevalence is estimated to be 14.6%. It is a major cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries including Ethiopia. Despite extensive institution-based studies in Ethiopia, there is no comprehensive study using countrywide data. Thus, this study aimed to investigate trends and determinants of Small Birth Weight (SBW) among under-five children in Ethiopia.METHODS: Under-five children data from 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) were used. However, only 2787 children were weighed at birth and used for analysis in this study. Descriptive statistics and the logistic regression model were used to determine trends and determinants of SBW respectively.RESULTS: The prevalence of SBW increased from 7.0% (95% CI; 3.1-10.0) to 13.2% (95% CI; 11.4-15.0) between 2000 and 2016. The odds of SBW increased by being a female child (AOR 1.50; 95% CI [1.07-2.09]), mother’s with partner occupation of agriculture (AOR 1.54; 95% CI [1.05-2.26]) and mothers who did not know their partner’s occupation (AOR 7.35; 95% CI [1.96-27.48]). However, infants born to mothers with primary (AOR 0.43;95% CI [0.29-0.65]), secondary (AOR 0.30; 95% CI [0.16-0.55]) and higher (AOR 0.55; 95% CI [0.31-0.97]) educational status versus no education and grandmultiparous mothers (OR 0.39; 95% CI [0.19-0.78]) versus primiparous had lower odds of SBW.CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, during the survey period, there was an increment in prevalence of SBW, and maternal related factors were significant determinants. Therefore, empowering mothers through education and improving the socioeconomic status of the household can be one strategy to reduce SBW

Determinants of Incomplete Childhood Vaccination among Children Aged 12-23 Months in Gambela Region, Southwest Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND፡ Childhood vaccination is considered as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. With an increasing dropout rate from vaccination, the factors for incomplete vaccination are not well explored. The objective of this study was to identify determinants of incomplete childhood vaccination.METHOD: Community based case-control study was conducted from March 1-30,2018. Cases were children who missed at least one dose of routine vaccine while controls were children who completed all recommended doses. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regression was performed in order to identify determinants with 95% CI and a pvalue of <0.05.RESULT: A total of 93 cases and 185 controls were participated in the study. Not attending postnatal care [AOR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.08-4.28], household not visited by health workers [AOR=3.99,95% CI: 2.13-7.48], postponing vaccination schedules [AOR =6.15, 95% CI: 3.08 -12.27], caretakers who had misconception of vaccination [AOR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.53-5.52], unsatisfied care takers [AOR=1.970, 95% CI:1.04-3.74] and poor knowledge about vaccines [AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.19-4.59] were determinants of incomplete childhood vaccination.CONCLUSION: Failure to attend postnatal care, postponing vaccination schedules, having misconception for vaccine contraindication, households not visited by health workers, caretakers who had poor knowledge about vaccines and unsatisfied caretakers were determinantsof incomplete childhood vaccination. Based on the finding, it is recommended that health education should be improved to decrease caretakers’ misconception, poor knowledge and postponement of the vaccine schedule. It is also recommended to increase health workers household visit

Isolation and characterization of bioethanol producing wild yeasts from bio-wastes and co-products of sugar factories

Yeasts are widely used for the production of bioethanol from biomasses rich in sugar. The present study was aimed at isolating, screening, and characterizing fermentative wild yeast recovered from bio-waste and co-products of Ethiopian sugar factories for bioethanol production using sugarcane molasses as a substrate