Colostrum avoidance and associated factors among mothers of less than 6-month-old children in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Colostrum, often referred to as "golden milk," is the initial milk produced after birth, crucial for preventing childhood malnutrition and boosting natural immunity. Neglecting colostrum intake heightens vulnerability to infections and mortality, particularly in developing regions of the world. Colostrum avoidance is prevalent in Ethiopia. This research aims to investigate the frequency and factors that contribute to colostrum avoidance in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia. Method: A community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in late 2023. Data were gathered from 350 participants, selected through multistage sampling, using structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Data entry was conducted using Epi Data version 4.2.0 and transferred to Stata version 18 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the factors associated with colostrum avoidance, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Result: The rate of prevalence of colostrum avoidance was 28.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 18.4%-38.2%]. Late initiation of breastfeeding [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 4.15, 95% CI: 2.51-6.84] prelacteal feeding, non-use of postnatal care (PNC) (AOR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.05-3.04), and lack of information about colostrum (AOR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.14-3.08) were the factors significantly associated with colostrum avoidance. Conclusions and recommendations: A high prevalence of colostrum avoidance was observed, with prelacteal feeding, delayed initiation of breastfeeding, lack of PNC, and inadequate maternal knowledge about colostrum identified as contributing factors. Consequently, interventions aimed at reducing colostrum avoidance should prioritize improving access to and promotion of PNC, promoting timely initiation of breastfeeding, and intensifying awareness campaigns highlighting the advantages of colostrum, while emphasizing the risks associated with prelacteal feeding.

The time to initiate trophic feeding and its predictors among preterm neonate admitted to neonatal intensive care unit, Multicenter study, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Trophic feeding is a small volume, hypo-caloric feeding, gut priming or minimal enteral feeding acclimate the immature gut of enteral fasting preterm neonates. Delayed starting of trophic feeding had resulted in short and long-term physical and neurological sequels. The current study aimed to estimate the time to initiate trophic feeding and its predictors among preterm neonates admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit of Debre Markos, Felege Hiwot, and Tibebe Ghion comprehensive specialized hospitals. METHODS: An institutional-based prospective follow-up study was conducted among 210 neonates. The data were collected with interview and chart review, entered into Epi data 3.1 and exported to Stata 14.1 for analysis. Multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to identify predictors of time to initiate trophic feeding. RESULT: A total of 210 neonates were followed for 10136 person-hours of risk time and 191 (90.95%) of neonates were started trophic feeding. The overall incidence of starting trophic feeding was 2 per 100 (95% CI: 2, 2.2) person-hours observations. The median survival time was 42 hours (95% CI: 36, 48). APGAR- score at first minute <7 (AHR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.82), gestational age of <34 weeks (AHR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.5, 0.94), presence of respiratory distress syndrome (AHR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.68), presence of hemodynamic instability (AHR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.57), presence of perinatal asphyxia (AHR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.89), cesarean section delivery (AHR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44, 89) and being delivered within the study hospitals (AHR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.74) were found to be statistically significant predictors of time to initiate trophic feeding. CONCLUSION: There was a significant delay to initiate trophic feeding in the studied hospitals. Gestational age of below 34 weeks, APGAR-score of less than seven, out-born delivery, cesarean delivery, presence of respiratory distress syndrome; perinatal asphyxia, and hemodynamic instability were predictors of delay in starting of trophic feeding. Standardized feeding guideline has to be implemented to overcome delays in enteral feeding initiation.

Dietary diversity and associated factors among children (6-23 months) in Gedeo zone, Ethiopia: cross - sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Different foods and food groups are good sources for various macro- and micronutrients. Diversified diet play an important role in both physical and mental growth and development of children. However, meeting minimum standards of dietary diversity for children is a challenge in many developing countries including Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess dietary diversity and associated factors among children (6-23 months) in Gedieo Zone, Ethiopia. METHOD: Community based cross-sectional study was carried out at Gedieo Zone, Ethiopia, from January to March 15, 2019. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to get a total of 665 children with the age of between 6 and 23 months from their kebeles. Data was collected by using face-to-face interview with structured questionnaire. Data was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 for analyses. Variables having p < 0.25 at bivariate analysis were fitted to multivariable analysis. Multivariable logistic regression model was used at 95% confidence interval and with P-Value < 0.05. Bivariate. RESULT: A total of 665 children were participated with response rate of 96.2%. Only 199(29.9%) of children were met the minimum requirements for dietary diversity. Age of children [AOR 4.237(1.743-10.295))], Educational status [AOR 2.864(1.156-7.094)], Number of families [AOR 2.865(1.776-4.619))] and household wealth index [AOR4.390(2.300-8.380)] were significantly associated with Dietary Diversity of children. CONCLUSION: Only, one out of four children aged of 6-23 months attained the minimum dietary diversity score. Children from low socioeconomic status and mothers with no formal educational attainment need special attention to improve the practice of appropriate feeding of children.

Fetoplacental Weight Relationship in Normal Pregnancy and Pregnancy Complicated by Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Abruption of Placenta among Mothers Who Gave Birth in Southern Ethiopia, 2018.

INTRODUCTION: Placenta is a complex multifunctional organ that maintains pregnancy and promotes normal fetal development. The fetal outcome is adversely influenced by pathological changes in the placenta because it is a mirror that reflects the intrauterine status of the fetus. Placental abnormalities are considered a leading cause of maternal and prenatal mortality. This study aimed to assess the fetoplacental weight relationship in pregnancy-induced hypertension and abruption placenta and compare with the normal one. OBJECTIVE: This study designed to assess fetoplacental weight relationships in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension and abruption of placenta among mothers who gave birth in Dilla University Referral Hospital, southern Ethiopia, 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was used on 50 placentas from mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension, 50 placentas from mothers with abruption of placenta, and 50 placentas from mothers with normal pregnancy (control) with an age range of 19-34 years. The weight of the placenta and newborn were taken and the fetoplacental ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Placental index as well as the weight of the newborn shows statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference in pregnancy-induced hypertension and abruption placenta group compared with the normal group. The mean of the fetoplacental ratio in the normal group was 5.52 ± 0.07, in pregnancy-induced hypertension was 5.15 ± 0.11, whereas the abruption placenta was 4.99 ± 0.82. CONCLUSION: Both PIH and abruption placenta were associated with remarkable changes in the placenta index such as small placental weight and diameter and results in different kinds of congenital anomalies and low birth weight of the baby. Hence, fetoplacental ratio was altered. The lowest fetoplacental ratio was 4.99 for abruption placenta, and the highest was for a normal group of the placenta which was 5.52. Therefore, an examination of the placenta before and after birth guarantees for feto-maternal health.

Burden of malaria during pregnancy in areas of stable and unstable transmission in Ethiopia during a nonepidemic year.

Little is known about the epidemiology of malaria during pregnancy in areas of unstable (epidemic-prone) transmission (UT) in sub-Saharan Africa. In cross-sectional studies, peripheral malaria parasitemia was identified in 10.4% of women attending antenatal care clinics at 1 stable transmission (ST) site and in 1.8% of women at 3 UT sites; parasitemia was associated with anemia in both ST (relative risk [RR], 2.0; P<.001) and UT (RR, 4.4; P<.001) sites. Placental parasitemia was identified more frequently during deliveries at ST sites (12/185; 6.5%) than at UT sites (21/833; 2.5%; P=.006). Placental parasitemia was associated with low birth weight at the ST site (RR, 3.2; P=.01) and prematurity at ST (RR, 2.7; P=.04) and UT (RR, 3.9; P=.01) sites and with a 7-fold increased risk of stillbirths at UT sites. The effectiveness and efficiency in Ethiopia of standard preventive strategies used in high-transmission regions (such as intermittent preventive treatment) may require further evaluation; approaches such as insecticide-treated bednets and epidemic preparedness may be needed to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes.