Underweight and Predictors Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in South Ethiopia.

Objectives: Underweight remains the primary public health concern among under-five-year-old children in Ethiopia, despite numerous government-implemented nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess underweight and associated factors among children in South Ethiopia. Methods: Between March and April 2021, 717 children in the South Ari district who were between the ages of 6 and 59 months participated in a cross-sectional study. To choose a sample of households containing a minimum of one child between the ages of 6 and 59 months, a multi-stage sampling procedure was used. Data were collected by interviewer-administered structured questionnaires from the mothers of the children. To determine the factors associated with being underweight, a binary logistic regression analysis was built. All variables with a p-value <0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis. To assess the strength of the association, an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used. With a p-value below 0.05, statistical significance was declared. Results: The prevalence of underweight was determined to be 29.7% (95% CI: 26.5%, 33.2%). Child age 6-23 months [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 0.44], food insecurity (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.10), sub-optimal child dietary diversity (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.03), birth interval <24 months (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.75, 3.54), and common childhood illness (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.52, 3.21) were associated with being underweight. Conclusion: Underweight among children is predicted by household food insecurity, suboptimal dietary diversity, and common childhood illnesses, necessitating further efforts to improve food security and manage common illnesses.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in Central Ethiopia: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Diabetes, one of the major global health emergencies of the 21st century, can affect a patient's quality of life. A compromised quality of life has adverse effects on self-care practices, resulting in inadequate glycemic control and an increased susceptibility to complications. In Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information regarding the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study aimed to assess health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending diabetes follow-up clinics in selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa using short form- 36 (SF-36) health survey measures. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the study participants. Simple and multiple linear regressions were done to identify significantly associated factors with health-related quality of life. Result: A total of 309 patients participated in this study. The mean scores of the physical and mental component summaries were 40.15 (SD = 7.27) and 48.11 (SD = 8.87), respectively. Being old, being overweight or obese, living with type 2 diabetes mellitus for more than fifteen years, taking combined medication, having diabetes-related complications, and having comorbidities were factors that reduced the mean score of the physical component summary (p-value<0.05). Being obese and diabetes related complication were factors that negatively affect mental component summary (p-value <0.05). On the other hand, being married was factors that positively affect mental component summary (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: Older age, being married, obesity, overweight, longer duration of diabetes, using combined medications, diabetic-related complications, and co-morbidities were factors associated with health-related quality of life. Healthcare providers should strengthen counseling patients on lifestyle modifications such as diet modifications, and weight reduction.

Membership dropout rates and associated factors in a community-based health insurance scheme in southern Ethiopia: a mixed method study.

Background: Dropout from community-based health insurance (CBHI) membership is a common problem in low-income countries, even if its implementation leads to substantial improvement in the utilization of essential health services. Few studies have addressed the factors contributing to dropout rates in southern Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the rate of CBHI dropout in southern Ethiopia as well as any contributing factors. Methods: This mixed-method cross-sectional study was conducted among 460 randomly selected CBHI-enrolled households at the Arba Minch Health and Demography Surveillance System site from November 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. The quantitative data were collected by an open data kit (ODK). using an interviewer-based structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify significant variables. The qualitative data were used to support the quantitative findings and were gathered through in-depth interviews (by the CBHI coordinator and three purposively selected health extension workers) and focus group discussions (in two randomly selected villages). The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Finally, triangulation was used to present both the quantitative and qualitative findings. Results: This study found that 92 (21.5%) people stopped their community-based health insurance membership. The presence of sick adults [AOR = 0.281, 95% CI (0.136-0.581)], trust of participants in the contracted health facilities [AOR = 0.227, 95% CI (0.121-0.436)], and poor knowledge of the participants [AOR = 5.518, 95% CI (1.526-19.950)] were significant predictors. Conclusion: The magnitude of the dropout rate was high in this study when compared with the national target. The absence of a sick adult, the absence of trust among participants, and the poor knowledge status of the participants were significant predictors. We suggest that the health facility managers, the CBHI coordinating office, and the district health office give priority to implementing a wide range of knowledge improvement activities and a transparent system in public health facilities. Studies with longitudinal research designs are called for at a wide range of national levels to address the limitations of this study.

Proportion of Attrition and Associated Factors Among Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Public Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia.

Purpose: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major global public health concern. Despite the improved access and utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART), attrition from care among children continues to be a major obstacle to the effectiveness of ART programs. Hence, this study aimed to assess the proportion of attrition and associated factors among children receiving ART in public health facilities of Gamo and South Omo Zones, Southern Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted in public health facilities of Gamo and South Omo Zones in Southern Ethiopia from April 12, 2022, to May 10, 2022. The proportion of attrition was determined by dividing the number of attrition by the total number of participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with attrition. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: The median age of the participants was 5.5 (IQR: 2-9) years. The proportion of attrition from ART care was 32.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.57% to 37.69%). Death of either of the parents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.19; 95% CI:1.14, 4.18), or both parents (AOR = 3.19; 95% CI: 1.20, 8.52), hemoglobin level <10mg/dL (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.70), a cluster of differentiation (CD)4 count ≤200 cells/mm3 (AOR = 6.78, 95% CI: 3.16, 14.53), CD4 count 200-350 cells/mm3 (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.16, 6.03), suboptimal adherence (AOR = 6.38; 95% CI: 3.36, 12.19), and unchanged initial regimen (AOR = 6.88; 95% CI: 3.58, 13.19) were factors associated with attrition. Conclusion: Attrition from care is identified to be a substantial public health problem. Therefore, designing interventions to improve the timely tracing of missed follow-up schedules and adherence support is needed, especially for children with either/both parents died, unchanged initial regimen, low CD4, and/or low hemoglobin level.

Acceptability and feasibility of video-based health education for maternal and infant health in Dirashe District, South Ethiopia: A qualitative study.

Evidence about innovative methods to facilitate nutrition education counseling and promote the intended behavior change at scale is limited. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of a video-based health education intervention aiming to promote community care for pregnant women, mothers, and infants in the Dirashe District, Ethiopia. Using a phenomenological study design, the experiences of study participants in a trial testing the effectiveness of video-based health education on birth outcomes and nutritional status of mothers and their infants six months postpartum were assessed. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) were used to collect the data. The study was conducted in the Dirashe District, South Ethiopia. Five FGDs and 41 KII were conducted among video implementers, mothers, nurses, and health extension workers (HEWs) in eight intervention villages. All data were collected with a tape recorder. The tape-recorded data were transcribed and then translated into English. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The videos delivered messages about nine themes on health, nutrition, and hygiene related to mothers and infants. Overall, the video-based health education interventions was acceptable and feasible. Messages delivered were found to be clear, easily understandable, culturally acceptable, and relevant to the needs of the mothers. Feasibility was affected by the nature of the work, lack of help, and overlapping duties of the HEWs. The video-based health education intervention was acceptable and feasible. It was suggested that determining a common location/venue to show the videos, involving husbands, and involving HEWs could improve the intervention. Trial registration: The effectiveness "parent" study was registered as a clinical trial with the U.S. National Institute of Health (www.ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04414527). The qualitative study included recipients from the same cohort (participating mothers from the intervention group), in addition to video implementers, health extension workers the Health Development Army, and nurses from the intervention communities.

Early cessation of breastfeeding and the associated factors among mothers with children aged 2 to 3 years in rural Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Breast milk is the first natural food for babies. It has nutritional, immunological, developmental, psychological, societal and environmental advantages. Failing to feed children for twenty-four months has so many negative consequences to children. Though studies have well documented the duration of breast feeding in the first six months, the proportion of women completing the recommended duration and factors associated with it has not been well investigated in rural places of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap in evidence among mothers with children aged 2 to 3 years in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in 2021 E.C. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in all kebeles of the surveillance site by employing multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics was done to summarize findings and binary logistics regression model was used to identify factors significantly associated with early breast-feeding cessation respectively. OR with its 95% CI was obtained to quantify the degree of association between explanatory variables and early breastfeeding cessation. RESULT: The proportion of early cessations of breast feeding was 29.30% (25.02, 33.64%). Being from a household with no fathers 'education or primary education [AOR=0.22; 95%CI (0.07, 0.74)] and [AOR=0.30; 95%CI (0.12, 0.76)], farmer mothers [AOR=6.40; 95%CI: (1.38, 29.74)], birth interval of less than 2 years [AOR=2.07; 95%CI: (1.03, 4.16)], and with mothers' one or two to three antenatal care visits [AOR = 2.73; 95%CI: (1.27,5.88)] were factors significantly associated with early cessations of breast feeding. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The proportion of early cessations of breast feeding was high. Father's education, being farmer, birth interval and ante natal care visit were significant factors. Health education about proper breast feeding practice and improving ante natal care attendance might improve premature cessation of breast feeding among women.