Minimum Acceptable Diet and its Predictors among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Mareka District, Southern Ethiopia: Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are essential for normal growth, better health, and mental and physical development. Even though there are a lot of nutrition intervention programs in Ethiopia, still suboptimal feeding practices are prevalent. This study was devised to assess a level of minimum acceptable diet (MAD) and predictors among children aged 6-23 months in Mareka District, south Ethiopia. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed on 662 study participants from August 15 to September 15/ 2015. They were selected by a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected by interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05 at multivariable logistic regression. Result: The study showed that 35.5 % of the children aged 6-23 months met the recommended MAD. Maternal primary and secondary education (AOR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.15-3.16 and AOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.12-3.77), Media exposure (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.46-3.29), health facility delivery (AOR:2.52; 95% CI: 1.54-4.13), child age of 9-11 and 12-23 months (AOR:2.73; 95% CI: 1.41-5.49 and AOR:2.55; 95% CI: 1.39-4.69) and GMP service utilization (AOR: 4.09; 95% CI: 2.51-6.65) were associated with MAD of children. Conclusion: The level of MAD among children was low. Maternal educational status, media exposure, institutional delivery, child age, and GMP service utilization were associated with MAD. Increasing utilization of GMP service, health facility delivery, maternal education, and media promotion was recommended to increase the level of MAD

Iron folic acid supplementation adherence level and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a multilevel complex data analysis of 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey data

BackgroundIron and folic acid deficiency is a worldwide public health concern, particularly in low and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, adherence to iron and folic acid supplements is still very low. Despite the fact that a number of studies on IFA supplementation have been conducted in Ethiopia, they do not indicate a nationwide problem and do not use advanced models to demonstrate clustering effects. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of non-adherence to iron folic acid supplementation and predictors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.ObjectiveTo assess iron folic acid supplementation adherence level and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia using data from the 2019 Mini-Ethiopian demographic health survey.MethodsThe Mini Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2019 data were obtained from the official database website of the Demographic and Health Survey program (http://dhsprogram.com). The analysis included a sample of 2,356 weighted study participants. A multivariable multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model was used Variables with p-values less than 5%) was reported as statistically significant variables in the multivariable analysis.ResultsThe proportion of mothers who did not adhere to iron and folic acid supplements was 81.03% (95 %CI, 79.39, and 82.56). Birth interval less than 2 years [AOR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.66], women ever born less than six children [AOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.64], starting ANC visit during first trimester [AOR: 2.74; 95 %CI: 1.03, 7.30], region [AOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.10], and having a high no ANC visit in the community [AOR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.88] were statistically significant factors. There was Intra-Custer Correlation (ICC = 17.72%), indicating that 17.72% variability in non-adherence levels was due to clusters.Conclusion and recommendationIn Ethiopia, nearly four out of every five pregnant women did not receive iron folic acid supplementation for the recommended periods. Birth intervals, number of children, timing of ANC visits, region, and community level no ANC service were significant factors for non-adherence IFAS. As a result, the community, govern metal and non-governmental sectors enacting on health should focus on reducing non-adherence through tailored interventions on factors that influence it

Magnitude of undernutrition and its association with dietary diversity among older persons in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2023

Undernutrition in elders remains under-detected, under-treated, and under-resourced and leads to further weight loss, increased infections, and delay in recovery from illness as well as increased hospital admissions and length of stay. The reports of the findings were fragmented and inconsistent in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of undernutrition and its association with dietary diversity among older persons in Ethiopia. Online databases (Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct), Google, Google Scholar, and other grey literature were used to search articles until the date of publication. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline was followed. The random effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence; whereas subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to identify the probable source of heterogeneity using Stata version 14.0 software. Out of 522 studies accessed, 14 met our criteria and were included in the study. A total of 7218 older people (aged above 60 years old) were included in the study. The pooled proportion of undernutrition among older persons in Ethiopia was 20⋅6 % (95 % CI 17⋅3, 23⋅8). Elders who consumed low dietary diversity scores were strongly associated with undernutrition among older persons. Therefore, promoting appropriate intervention strategies for elders to improve dietary diversity practices and nutritional status is crucial

Diagnostic Concordance between Random Upper Arm Circumference and Mid Upper Arm Circumference Measurements among Children Aged 6–59 Months in South Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Random upper arm circumference (RUAC) is frequently used for malnutrition screening among children aged 6–59 months. However, inadequate evidence exists regarding its agreement with mid upper arm circumference (MUAC). This study examined diagnostic concordance between RUAC and standard MUAC measurements and tested RUAC’s ability for screening malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 30 to May 30/2015 in Ethiopia. Data were taken from a sample of 819 children aged 6–59 months with a simple random sampling technique. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. The kappa agreement level, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. The receiver operating curve was prepared to determine the optimal cutoff RUAC for the sensitivity and specificity. With National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) cutoff (12 cm), the performance of RUAC measurements in terms of sensitivity was low (44%). The kappa agreement level between the two measurements was 0.551 (p value < 0.001). With the new WHO cutoff (12.5 cm), however, RUAC was improved in validity (sensitivity 81%), specificity 96.9%, and kappa agreement level (K = 0.807; p<0.001)

Utilization of growth monitoring and promotion services and associated factors among under two years of age children in Southern Ethiopia.

Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is a prevention activity comprised of growth monitoring (GM) linked with promotion that serves as the core activity in an integrated child health and nutrition program. However, different methods of institutional studies have shown that utilization of GM services has remained to be inadequate. There is scarcity of studies conducted about GMP in quantitative method. Therefore, this study was conducted to address the proportion of GMP services and associated factors among children under two years of age in rural communities of Mareka district, Southern Ethiopia. Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to September 2015. Single population proportion formula was used to determine the sample size with multi stage sampling technique. A total of 819 children under two years of age were included. Pretest was done on 10% of the total sample size. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions used to analyze data. The response rate was 95%. Utilization of GMP services was 16.9%. Institutional delivery AOR (95% CI): 3.01(1.65-5.50), index child age 12-17 months AOR (95% CI): 4.03(2.16-7.51) and 18-23 months AOR (95% CI): 3.08(1.70-5.57), family size 4-5 AOR(95% CI): 0.14(0.06-0.33), family size >5 AOR(95% CI): 0.34(0.14-0.82), regular GMP attendance AOR (95% CI): 4.37(2.45-7.80), medium wealth index AOR(95% CI): 3.14(1.51-6.52) and high wealth index AOR(95% CI): 3.24(1.59-6.62) were factors associated with utilization of GMP services. Utilization of GMP services was low. Thus, efforts should be made to improve utilization of GMP services through promotion of institutional delivery, different family planning methods, and regular GMP attendance

Willingness to Pay for Social Health Insurance and Its Predictors among Government Employees in Mujja Town, Ethiopia

Background. Social health insurance is one of the possible organizational mechanisms for raising and pooling funds to finance health services, private health insurance, community insurance, and others. Objective. The study was aimed to assess willingness to pay for social health insurance and associated factors among government employees in Mujja town, Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on the total sample size of 375 study respondents. A simple random sampling technique was employed. Data were entered into EPI info 7 and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors by controlling confounding variables. Statistical significance was declared at p<0.05. Results. This study revealed that 37.6% (95% CI: 33.1%, 42.61%) respondents were willing to pay for social health insurance. In the final model, respondents who ever heard about health insurance schemes were seven times (AOR = 7.205; 95% CI: 1.385, 37.475) more likely willing to pay for social health insurance. Thos who had history of difficulty and having other source to cover medical bills were 92.6% (AOR = 0.074; 95% CI: 0.009, 0.612) and 94.6% (AOR = 0.054; 95% CI: 0.011, 0.257) less likely to pay, respectively. Conclusions. Willingness to pay for social health insurance was low. Being heard about health insurance, history of difficulty, and having other sources to cover medical bills were associated factors. Thus, it is recommended that media promotion and these factors should be considered for the successful implementation of the scheme

Nearly one-in-five households utilized inadequate iodized salt in Nifas Silk Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Background There is no country in the developing world where iodine deficiency is not a public health problem including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess inadequate utilization of iodized salt and associated factors at household level in woreda 11 Nifas Silk Sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with multistage sampling technique on 348 household respondents. The data were collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and an iodine rapid test kit. The data were edited, cleaned, and entered using Epi-data version 4.6.2 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify associated factors for inadequate utilization of iodized salt. The statistical significance was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Results A total of 348 household respondents were participated. The amount of iodine content in salt 0 ppm,  15ppm were 11.8%, 7.2% and 81.0% respectively. Total inadequate utilization of iodized salt was 19%. Using unpacked salt [AOR; 0.50 (95%CI: 0.27, 0.93)], using a container without a lid [AOR; 0.29 (95%CI: 013, 0.63)], and having insufficient knowledge [AOR; 2.10 (95%CI: 1.14, 3.86)] were all significantly connected with using inadequate iodized salt. Conclusions Iodized salt utilization was inadequate. Using containers without a lid, unpacked salt, and poor knowledge were associated factors. There should be a provision of adequate knowledge about iodized salt, a proper storage and handling

Sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics of study participants in rural areas of Mareka district, Southern Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 782).

<p>Sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics of study participants in rural areas of Mareka district, Southern Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 782).</p

Community conversation for mothers/caregivers with children 0–23 months in rural areas of Mareka district, Southern Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 782).

<p>Community conversation for mothers/caregivers with children 0–23 months in rural areas of Mareka district, Southern Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 782).</p

Main source of messages for utilization of GMP services in rural area of Mareka District, Southern Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 782).

<p>Main source of messages for utilization of GMP services in rural area of Mareka District, Southern Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 782).</p