Determinants of individual dietary diversity score of children less than five years old in the southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Dietary diversity is a measure of food consumption that reflects household access to a variety of foods and is also a proxy for  nutrient adequacy of the diet of  individuals. Dietary diversity is useful because it is correlated with nutrient intake as well as  various anthropometric measures in children. This study was carried out to assess the status of individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) of children under five years old (6-59 months) and its determinants in the Southern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. A survey of 320 households having children 6-59 months old was  conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive study with both qualitative and quantitative study designs following the FAO guidelines for the dietary diversity and a semi-structured questionnaire for  demographic and socio-economic factors. Data for the individual dietary diversity (IDDS) indicator were collected by asking the respondent (mother or caregiver) to recall the foods provided during the previous 24 hour period. Data analysis was conducted by using STATA 12 software. The mean IDDS in the study areas was found to be below four, which is the acceptable minimum level.  The traditional diet of children was cereal dominated and low in micronutrient rich food groups in all the assessed Kebeles1. Being a model2 farmer, household’s farmland endowment, female headship of the household, and experience in special meals preparation and participation in nutrition related training of household members were positively associated with dietary diversity of children in the study areas.In order to overcome the low IDDS of children in the areas and to improve their nutritional status through   consumption of diverse foods, it is important to make agricultural production more nutrition sensitive especially on diversification of nutrient dense agricultural products.Key words: Agriculture-Nutrition linkage, dietary diversity, food group, micronutrients, 24-hour recal

Report on Training of Trainers (TOT) in Tigray Region on Africa RISING Project Validated Technologies/Innovations in the Ethiopian Highland

United States Agency for International Developmen

Association of husbands' education status with unintended pregnancy in their wives in southern Ethiopia : a cross-sectional study

Background: Unintended pregnancy rates are substantially higher in developing regions, have significant health consequences, and disproportionately affect subgroups with socio-economic disadvantage. We aimed to examine whether there is an association between husbands’ education status and their wives unintended pregnancy in southern Ethiopia. Methods: The data source for this study was from a cross-sectional study on iron-folate supplementation and compliance in Wolaita, South Ethiopia. Data were collected from October to November 2015 in 627 married pregnant women regarding their husbands’ education status, socio-demographic characteristics, and if they wanted to become pregnant at the time of survey using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate Odds Ratios (ORs) with associated z-tests and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) for variables associated with unintended pregnancy. Results: The proportion of unintended pregnancy in this sample was 20.6%. Husbands’ education status, age, residence, and using family planning methods were associated with unintended pregnancy (all P-values < 0.05). Multivariable models consistently showed that being married to a husband with at least some college or university education was associated with a decreased OR for unintended pregnancy after controlling for age and use of family planning at conception period (OR 0.36 [95%CI: 0.17, 0.82]) and age and rural residence (OR 0.40 [95%CI: 0.18, 0.90]). Conclusion: Unintended pregnancy among Ethiopian woman was consistently associated with being married to least educated husbands in southern Ethiopia. Increasing age and living in a rural vs urban area were also independently associated with unintended pregnancy. Strategies for addressing family planning needs of women with poorly educated husbands should be the subject of future research

Prevalence, Reasons, and Perceived Effects of Khat Chewing Among Students of a College in Gondar Town, Northwestern Ethiopia: A Cross‑sectional Study

Background: The estimate of the number of people chewing Khat globally ranges from 5 to 10 million people. Its use may result in a variety of effects due to the different compounds in it with effects on the gastro‑intestinal system and nervous system being the principal ones. Aim: To assess the prevalence, factors, and effects of Khat chewing among students of a college in Gondar town, northwestern Ethiopia. Subjects and Methods: An institution‑based cross‑sectional study was conducted from 15th to 20th of April 2009 on a total sample of 424 students who were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected by three of the principal investigators using a structured pretested data collection instrument and analyzed by Epi Info version 3.5.2. Results: The lifetime and current prevalence of Khat chewing among the respondents were 42% (168/400) and 32.5% (130/400), respectively. Sex (P &lt; 0.01), religion (P &lt; 0.001), and income (P &lt; 0.01) showed statistically significant variation in Khat chewing. The commonest frequency of Khat chewing was once a day 33.1% (43/130) while alcohol (40.8% [53/130]) and cigarette (40.0% [52/130]) were the mostly used substances with Khat. More than half of the chewers (53.85% [70/130]) reported spending 1–4 h for one Khat chewing ceremony. Financially majority of the chewers reported spending up to 10 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) (1.13 United States Dollar) on Khat ( 54.6% [71/130]) and other substances (64.6% [84/130]). Nearly two‑thirds (62.3% [81/130]) of the chewers mentioned seeking concentration during study as their main reason for chewing. Among chewers, 83.1% (108/130) reported they faced problem associated to sleep disturbance, 82.3% (107/130) loss of appetite, and 80.8% (105/130) constipation. Conclusion: The prevalence of Khat chewing was fairly high among the students and the majority among them used other substances together with Khat. Spending of a significant amount of money and facing health problems were reported to be consequences of the habit. The college should take steps to make students aware of the ills of Khat chewing and associated habits.Keywords: College, Effects, Gondar, Khat, Prevalence, Reason