Complementary feeding practice and its determinants among mothers with children 6 to 23 months of age in Finote Selam, Ethiopia

Introduction: the development of a child's full human potential requires adequate nourishment during infancy and early childhood. Under-nutrition is mostly caused by a lack of proper breastfeeding and supplemental feeding practices. After six months of age, when the incidence of growth faltering, micronutrient deficiencies and viral diseases is at its peak, children become stunted. This study aimed to assess complementary feeding practices and their determinants among mothers with children aged 6 to 23 months in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: a community-based cross-sectional study on 414 caregivers was conducted using a systematic random sampling technique. Pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were entered into Epi-Info version 3.5.1 and analyzed with SPSS version 21. Logistic regressions and frequency distribution were used. The strength of the association was measured using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. Results: out of 414 study participants, 201 (48.6%) practiced timely initiation of complementary feeding. Married women [AOR=2.87; 95% CI: (1.31-6.30)], radio owners [AOR=4.58; 95% CI:(2.48-8.46)], four or more ANC follow up times [AOR=1.99; 95% CI: (1.12-3.55)] and health institution delivery [AOR=2.56(1.21-5.42)] were all associated with timely initiation of complementary feeding. Conclusion: complementary feeding is not widely practiced in the study area. Complementary feeding should be promoted through institutional delivery, prenatal care follow-up, and mass media coverage. Through health information and communication, it is critical to improve the timing of the start of supplemental feeding

Intestinal parasitism among students in three localities in South Wello, Ethiopia

Abstract: A cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites has been conducted in 1996 in South Wello in the towns of Kembolcha, Bati, and Mekaneselam. A total of 698 students were selected randomly by using the master list of the school as a sampling frame. The students were interviewed using a questionnaire on the use of toilets, sources of water for drinking, and purpose of washing. From the study subjects stool samples were collected and, screened for intestinal parasites using the Ritchie formol-ether technique. Of the examined, 304 (43.6%) were positive for various intestinal parasites. Schistosoma mansoni (24.9%) was commonest followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (18.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (4.4%). Other less frequent parasites were Hookworm Spp. (2%), Hymenolepis nana (1.3%), Giardia lamblia (1.1%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.9%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%), and Trichostrongylus Sp. (0.1%). Prevalence of S.mansoni was significantly higher in males than in females (P<0.01); in the 10-14 year old than in the 15-19 and 20+ age groups (P<0.05), and among the Bati students than in those in Kembolcha and Mekaneselam (P<0.001). Markedly higher rates of Ascaris and Trichuris were observed in Kembolcha(P<0.01) than in Bati and Mekaneselam but showing no difference between males and females, and between the two age groups. The public health implications of intestinal parasites among school children and possible control measures are discussed. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998;12(3):231-235

Assessment of the infection rate of onchocerciasis in the resettled and indigenous communities of Asossa, Western Ethiopia

Abstract: An attempt was made to determine the infection rate of onchocerciasis in the resettled and indigenous communities of Asossa. A total of 931 persons consisting of 548 settlers and 383 indigenous population, aged five years and over were examined parasitologically for the presence of Onchocerca microfilaria in a skin snip, and 11.1% of the resettled population and 31.3% of the indigenous population were found infected with the parasite. The total mean number of microfilariae per mg of skin snip at the buttock was 15.3. The clinical manifestations recorded include skin atrophy, skin depigmentation, pruritus and presence of nodules at a rate of 15.5%, 20.4%,44.8%, and 1.7%, respectively, among the positives. No visual impairment difference between the positives and negatives was seen and blindness due to onchocerciasis was not detected. Blackfly collection and identification around the near-by rivers indicated the presence of the anthropophilic vector Simulium damnosum s.l. The results recorded for the resettled communities clearly indicated disease propagation in the resettled population who came from areas of the country non-endemic for onchocerciasis in 1984. [Ethiop. I. Health Dev. 1996;10(2):89-95

MASS TREATMENT OF ONCHOCERCIASIS WITH IVERMECT AT BEBEKA COFFEE PLANTATION IN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: A longitudinal study of mass treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin is going on at Bebeka Coffee Plantation in Ethiopia. In this paper we report findings of a pilot study conducted at the initial stage of the project to assess safety and feasibility of launching mass-therapy using this drug. Of 2083 persons examined between 23 and 30 April 1990, in two sub-localities, Berhane and Olme, in Bebeka Coffee Plantation, 826 (39.7%) persons were diagnosed as cases of onchocerciasis by clinical and skin snip examinations. Ivermectin was then administered to 640 persons eligible for treatment. Following treatment no severe adverse reactions were observed and only 51 cases, (8%), sought treatment for mild to moderate mazzoti type reactions and 7 of them (1%) had temporary incapacitation. In addition, 27 cases were systematically selected, among those treated on the first and second day, and examined daily for 4 days and pattern of adverse responses were noted. Over all therapy was well accepted

Intestinal parasitic infections in Western Abaya with special reference to Schistosomiasis mansoni

Abstract: A cross sectional investigation on the distribution and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was undertaken in Western Abaya, North Omo, in January 1995. As the area is potentially irrigable for modern agriculture, emphasis was placed to explore on the endemicity of schistosomiasis, including malacological assessments. Five percent of the whole population on 1473 people, in 16 villages of the area, were parasitologically examined for intestinal parasites. Among the intestinal parasitic infections, hookworm was demonstrated in all of the villages with prevalences ranging from 4.1% (Algie) to 75% (Wajifo). The majority of the villages (10/16=62.5%) had hookworm prevalences of over 50%. Schistosoma mansoni infections were found in 11 villages with prevalences of up to 53% with more males than females being affected (P<0.001). Infected Biomphalaria sudanica snails with infection rates of up to 2.1% at two sites of Lake Abaya were also found. The importance of the dominant, S. mansoni and hookworm infections in the potentially irrigable area of Western Abaya and feasible measures of their control are discussed. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(1):21-26

SOME ASPECTS OF MALARIA PREVALENCE, VECTOR INFECTIVITY AND D DT RESIST AN CE STUDIES IN GAMBELIA REGION, SOUTHERN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in thehuman population, infectivity and DDT resistance of Anopheles mosquitoes were studied on samples collected during the peak malaria season of 1990 from Gambella, South West Ethiopia. Mosquito vectors collected were assorted into species and their infectivity with malaria parasites was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the human population out of a total of 821 individuals examined from nine villages, 4.1% (34) were found to be positive for malaria parasites. Of the 34 positive individuals 5.9% (2) were positive for Plasmodium vivax and 94.1 (32) for Plasmodium falciparum. Although relatively high positivity rates for malaria were observed in 1-4 and 5-14 age groups, the difference in the rates of positivity was not statistically significant for the whole population (P = 0.5077). However, a significant difference in parasite prevalence was detected between the nine localities (P < 0.05). Compared to that of 1989, the overall malaria prevalence rate in the human population significantly decreased in 1990 (P < 0.05). Insecticide susceptibility studies revealed the presence of DDT resistant Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitos in Itang. Furthermore, a strong evidence would suspect the vectorial status of A. pharoensis was obtained by detecting salivary gland sporozoite antigens of P. vivax in the head region of two mosquitos. Sporozoite rates of 0.76% (P. falciparum) for A. gambiae s.l. and 0.47% (P. vivax) for A. pharoensis were determined. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1994;8(1):1-8

Discussion with representative participants from Meket district on SI-MFS initiative activities implementation

Sixteen participants (M=15; F=1) have represented the community in this discussion. The objective of the discussion was to introduce the concepts of Si-MFS initiative to the participants and discuss on possible areas of intervention under this initiative. Furthermore, the role of WTL to link crowdsourcing winner varieties of durum wheat and faba bean to the surrounding farmers. Besides, the project team has discussed with Meket woreda administration and office of Agriculture about the initiative, main agricultural sector problems and designed possible alleviation solutions

Practice and Associated Factors of Health Professionals towards Citizens’ Charter at Jimma University Medical Center

BACKGROUND: Citizens’ Charter is a public promise between citizens and service providing organizations which visibly specifies expectations and standards in the service delivery. Citizens’ charter standard has been implemented in Jimma University Medical Center since 2016/17. However, the practice and associated factor of citizens’ charter among health professionals have not been studied yet. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the practice of citizens’ charter and associated factors among health professionals.METHODS: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted on 389 health care providers, selected through stratified sampling, from April 1 to April 26. Data was collected using a pretested structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into EPI-data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done. P-values less than 0.05 were used to declare significant association between dependent and independent variables. In the process of multivariable logistic regression analysis, knowledge and attitude variables were not tested due to low number of respondents to those specific variables’ measuring items. Hence, it was difficult to declare as a predictor at bivariate analysis.RESULT: For this study, the response rate was 92%. Out of all, 237(60.9%) professionals were properly practicing citizens’ charter standard while 152(39.1%) were not properly practicing it. The factors affecting the practice were job satisfaction [AOR =7.4, 95%CI (4.4, 12.5)], perceived workload [AOR =1.8, 95%CI (1.05, 3.0)] and type of profession [AOR=5.4, 95%CI ((1.98, 14.8)].CONCLUSION: This study revealed that more than half of the respondents properly practiced citizens’ charter. However, few health professionals only knew the existence of citizens’ charter. Job satisfaction, perceived workload, and type of profession were the factors affecting the practice of citizens’ charter.