Stunting and thinness in school-attending adolescents in Addis Ababa.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent population Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) is uncommon in low-income settings. Though Global Diet Quality Score is a good measure of dietary diversity, it has not been used in assessing nutritional outcomes among adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess school-attending adolescents stunting and thinness status and associations with global diet quality scores in Addis Ababa. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among school-attending adolescents in the age group of 10-14 years in urban settings in Ethiopia. A multi-stage stratified random sampling procedure was used to select schools and students. A total of 1200 adolescents were included in the study. Binary and Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of stunting and thinness respectively. RESULTS: The proportion of school-attending adolescents stunting was 8.17% (95% CI: 6.74%,9.85%) and their thinness status 12.66% (95% CI: 10.89%, 14.67%). The overall mean GDQS food groups for Seven days period consumed were 19.99 + 2.81 SD. Male adolescents were 1.95 times more likely to be stunted compared to female adolescents (1.95; 95%CI: 1.11,3.39). Frequent consumption of low-fat dairy increased the risk of thinness, while frequent consumption of citrus fruits and white root tubers decreased the risk of school-attending adolescents' thinness. CONCLUSION: The proportion of thin or stunted adolescents attending school was high still, about 1 in 10. Stunting and thinness have no association with the overall GDQS. Nutritional interventions need to consider frequent consumption of citrus fruits, low-fat dairy, and white roots and tubers in school adolescents' nutritional programs. Further studies should validate the GDQS for stunting and thinness of school adolescents

Prevalence of hypertension among adult outpatient clients in hospitals and its associated factors In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a hospital based cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective The objective of the research is to measure prevalence of hypertension and associated factors adult outpatient clients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Results A total of 487 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of hypertension was (34.7%), 95% CI (30.6–38.8), of them 53.8 were Male and 46.2% were female. Among 169 participants identified as having high blood pressure, 131 (66.5%) were aware of their blood pressure, from those 96 (48.7%) of them were receiving antihypertensive medication. Mean elevated systolic blood pressure was 124.7 ± 20 (SD) and diastolic blood pressure was 81.5 ± 9.8 (SD). The multivariable regression analysis showed that having ever been told hypertension (AOR = 15.47, 7.74–30.89); using animal product butter (AOR = 2.66, 1.25–5.67); physical inactivity (AOR = 2.83, 1.34–6.01) and BMI 25.0 to 29.9 and greater than 30 (AOR = 5.02, 1.58–15.94 and AOR = 3.98, 1.04–16.01, respectively) were statistically significant predictors of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was considerably high. The health system needs to develop strategies to increase the reach of relevant screening and diagnostic services

Maternal Anthropometric Measurements Do Not Have Effect on Birth Weight of Term, Single, and Live Births in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia

Low birth weight is a global public health problem for mortality and morbidity in any age group. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of maternal anthropometric measurements on birth weight. A cross-sectional study was conducted from Nov 25, 2012, to Feb 25, 2013, in maternity public hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia. The effect is investigated using correlation, linear regression, independent sample T-test, one-way ANOVA, and finally multivariate linear regression analysis. A total of 605 women and their newborns took part in this study and prevalence of low birth weight is 8.3%. On adjusted multivariate linear regression analysis, maternal anthropometric measurements did not have an effect on birth weight. Since maternal mid-upper arm circumference ≤ 20 cm and body mass index ≤18.5kg/m2 are almost nil in this study, generalization is difficult to general population where undernourished women are common in the rural Ethiopia and similar study is recommended in those areas. Antenatal care visits, gestational age, and female sex of newborn had statistically significant effect in determining the risk of low birth weight. Women who were living with large family members had a heavier newborn than counterparts. This might be due to the fact that pregnant women have better care and social support in Ethiopian context, so advising pregnant women to live with family members should be considered to enhance social support during pregnancy in Ethiopia. Maternal anthropometric measurements have no significant effect in determining birth weight in the city and we recommend similar studies where undernourished women are common

Food Safety Practice and Associated Factors among Meat Handlers in Gondar Town: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction. Animal sources of foods (ASF), including meat, are a source of high-quality nutrients. However, meat composition makes it an ideal medium for the growth of a good number of microorganisms. Around 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420000 deaths occur each year due to poor food handling practice. Thus, probing into meat handling practice will be an insatiable input for the intervention. This study aims to investigate the level of meat handling practice and associated factors among meat handlers in butcheries in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Method. The study was a community-based cross-sectional study among butcher shops in Gondar town from April 20 to 30, 2019. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire by trained data collectors among 214 meat handlers from butcher shops. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify the factors significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. Result. More than half of the meat handlers 66.4% (95% CI: (59.8, 72.4)) in butcher shops had a good level of meat handling practice. Level of attitude (AOR = 4.45; 95% CI, 2.09–9.43) and knowledge (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.09–3.82) were significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. The majority of respondents wash their hands after disposing garbage (91.6%) with less vigilance after smoking, sneezing, or coughing (64.0%). Conclusion. The study revealed that the level of food handling practice was unsatisfactory among meat handlers. This result is a testimony to the prevailing potential risk faced by consumers due to the disregarding of hygienic behaviors by food handlers. Considering attitude and knowledge are associated with the outcome variable, investing time on behavioral change activities that will contribute to the improvement of meat handler’s attitude & practice, primarily focusing on reducing working while ill is essential. Therefore, much supervisory and coaching work will be expected from local health departments & regulatory bodies

Knowledge and practice of iodized salt utilization among reproductive women in Addis Ababa City

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and practice of iodized salt utilization among reproductive women in Addis Ababa city. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 549 households. A sample district was designated by using the simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected by a face-to-face interview and household salt was tested to check whether its practice was good. p < 0.2 in the bivariate logistic regression was entered into the multivariable logistic regression, and p < 0.05 was considered as significantly associated. Results Mothers who had good knowledge and practice of iodized salt were 78% (95% CI 74.9, 81.2) and 76.3% (95% CI 72.7, 79.8), respectively. Monthly household income (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI 1.20, 7.37) was associated with knowledge of iodized salt of respondents. Similarly, educational status (AOR = 2.45; 95% CL 2.10, 6.43) of respondents was significantly associated with the practice of iodized salt. This study indicated that increasing the level of knowledge and practice of iodized salt was good. Monthly household income and educational status were associated with knowledge and practices of iodized salt of respondents. Hence, improving mothers’ education is a highly recommended strategy for addressing public health problems of iodine deficiency

Risk factors for hospital-acquired infections in teaching hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia: A matched-case control study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Hospital-acquired infection affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It is a major global issue for patient safety. Understanding the potential risk factors is important to appreciate the local context. A matched case control study design, which is the first of its kind in the study region, was undertaken to identify risk factors in teaching hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia.</p><p>Method</p><p>A matched case control study design matched with age and hospital type was used. The study was conducted in University of Gondar and Felege-Hiwot medical teaching hospital. Cases were patients who fulfilled the criteria based on CDC definition of hospital-acquired infection and controls were patients admitted to the hospital that stayed for more than 48 hours in the ward in the study period, but who did not develop infection. For one case, four controls were selected. Of 545 patients, 109 were cases and 436 were controls. Conditional logistic regression using STATA 13 was used for data analysis.</p><p>Result</p><p>The median length of stay for cases and controls was 7 and 8 days, respectively. Patients admitted in wards with the presence of medical waste container in the room had 82% less chance of developing hospital-acquired infection (AOR 0.18; 95% CI, 0.03–0.98). The odds of developing hospital-acquired infection among immune deficient patients were 2.34 times higher than their counterparts (95% CI; 1.17–4.69). Patients received antimicrobials, central vascular catheter and surgery since admission had 8.63, 6.91 and 2.35 higher odds of developing hospital-acquired infection, respectively.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Health providers and mangers should consider the provision and availability of healthcare materials and facilities in all of the ward rooms, follow appropriate safe medical procedures for use of external devices on patients, and give attention to the immunocompromised patients for the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections.</p></div

Risk factors for HAI in teaching hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia 2015.

<p>Risk factors for HAI in teaching hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia 2015.</p

Background characteristics of cases and controls, in teaching hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2015.

<p>Background characteristics of cases and controls, in teaching hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2015.</p