Food Safety and hygiene practices and the Determinants among street vendors during the Chain of Food Production in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: There is mounting evidence that Ethiopia is becoming a more street-food-consuming nation. The hygienic and safety procedures, however, are not adequately evaluated. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of food safety and hygiene practices and associated factors among street food vendors of Bahir Dar City. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 10 to April 10, 2019. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire with an observational checklist. The collected data were entered into EPI Data and analyzed by R software. Descriptive statistics were computed. A Binary logistic regression model was fit to identify the association and strength of exploratory variables and food safety and hygiene practices at a 95 % confidence interval and p-value <0.05. Results: A total of 421 participants participated. The level of good food safety and hygiene practices was 36 % (95%CI: 31, 41). Monthly income of >2500 Birr (AOR = 4.99; 95%CI: 2.42, 10.3), work experience of >2 years (AOR = 2.05; 95%CI: 1.15, 3.65), having supervision by health professionals (AOR = 2.45; 95%CI: 1.25, 4.85), having good knowledge about food safety and hygiene (AOR = 3.84; 95%CI: 1.42, 10.36), and having a favorable attitude towards food safety and hygiene (AOR = 2.71; 95%CI: 1.12, 6.57) were determinants of food safety and hygiene practice. Conclusions: The level of good food safety and hygiene practices was low. Monthly income, work experience, supervision by health professionals, knowledge, and attitude toward food safety and hygiene were identified as the determinants of good food safety and hygiene practice.

The risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a predominant route of infection for children in Ethiopia. No study has so far reported a nationwide estimate of the risk of MTCT of HBV. We conducted a meta-analysis of surveys and estimated the pooled risk of MTCT of HBV in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODOLOGY: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Africa Index Medicus, and Google Scholar databases for peer-reviewed articles. The pooled risk of MTCT of HBV was estimated using the DerSimonian-Laird technique with logit transformed proportions and statistical heterogeneity was estimated using I2 statistic, which was explored by subgroup and meta-regression analyses. RESULTS: The overall pooled risk of MTCT of HBV in Ethiopia was 25.5% (95% CI, 13.4%-42.9%). In women without HIV infection, the risk of MTCT of HBV was 20.7% (95% CI 2.8%-70.4%), and 32.2% (95% CI 28.1%-36.7%) in women with HIV infection. After excluding the outlier study, the risk of MTCT of HBV in studies that included only HIV negative women was 9.4% (95% CI, 5.1%-16.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of MTCT of HBV in Ethiopia widely varied by HBV/HIV coinfection. A sustainable control and elimination of HBV in Ethiopia requires improved access to birth-dose HBV vaccine and implement immunoglobulin prophylaxis for exposed infants. Given the limited health resources in Ethiopia, prenatal antiviral prophylaxis integrated with antenatal care may be a cost-effective approach to significantly reduce the risk of MTCT of HBV.

Inadequate dietary diversity practices and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Gambella town, Southwest Ethiopia.

The shortage of diversified diets in lactating postpartum mothers is a severe problem in developing countries. The promotion of diverse diets is important to improving micronutrient nourishment and adequate energy intake for lactating mothers. To date, there is limited evidence regarding inadequate dietary diversity practices among lactating postpartum mothers in Gambella region. The study is aimed to determine inadequate dietary diversity practice and associated factors among lactating postpartum mothers in Gambella city, southwest Ethiopia. Mixed methods were employed on 407 randomly selected lactating postpartum mothers and 15 purposively selected key informants from February 28 to March 24, 2021. A pre-tested questionnaire and interview guide were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 software. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine the associated factors of dietary diversity. Qualitative data were analyzed manually through a thematic approach. The prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity practice was 60.2%. Having no education (AOR = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.18, 11.88), employed women(AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.75), meal frequency < 3 meals (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.04, 8.71), time taken to market > 30 min (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.01, 8.76), not received nutrition education (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI:1.09, 3.68), having home gardening (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.57) and having big animals (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.29) were significant factors of inadequate dietary diversity practice. Diet habits, food taboos, low social status of women in ownership of household assets, low family support, order of feeding, child preference for resource distribution in a polygamous family, and health care provider's advice were the main mentioned reasons for inadequate dietary diversity practices. The prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity practices were high compared to previous studies. Having no education, employed women, meal frequency < 3 meals, time taken to market > 30 min, not receiving nutrition education, having a home garden, and having big animals were significant factors of inadequate dietary diversity practice. Nutrition intervention focused on nutrition education to increase meal frequency should be provided for lactating postpartum mothers to improve inadequate dietary diversity practices.

Magnitude of common mental disorders and associated factors among patients with Epilepsy in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Common mental disorders are severe and frequent co-morbid psychiatric illnesses with epilepsy. Different study findings across the world showed that patients with epilepsy have a higher burden of mental disorders than the general population. However, these issues in patients with epilepsy have been consistently undiagnosed. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to screen common mental disorders and the determinants among patients with epilepsy attending at Fenote Selam hospital. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with Epilepsy from March 10 to May 15, 2019. Patients were assessed for the risk of common mental disorders using a pretested, structured, self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 software and analyzed using R version 4.0 software. Descriptive statistics were computed using frequency, percent, mean, and standard deviations. A simple logistic regression model was fit to identify the association and strength of exploratory variables and common mental disorders at a 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 202 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and yielded a response of 91.4%. About 53% of the patients were males. The magnitude of common mental disorders among patients with epilepsy was 57.9% (95% CI: 44.56, 71.24). Being more than one substance user (AOR = 5.7; 95%CI: 1.6, 20.7) and Not having social support (AOR = 4.3; 95%CI: 1.5, 11.9) were the identified determinants of common mental disorders. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of common mental disorders among patients with epilepsy were high. Not having social support and khat chewing were the identified risk factors significantly associated with common mental disorders. Early screening and treatments are the key interventions to prevent complications and deaths from common mental disorders.

Community and individual level determinants of infant mortality in rural Ethiopia using data from 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey.

The infant mortality rate remains unacceptably high in sub-Saharan African countries. Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of infant death. This study aimed to identify individual-and community-level factors associated with infant death in the rural part of Ethiopia. The data for the study was obtained from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 8667 newborn children were included in the analysis. The multilevel logistic regression model was considered to identify the individual and community-level factors associated with new born mortality. The random effect model found that 87.68% of the variation in infant mortality was accounted for by individual and community level variables. Multiple births (AOR = 4.35; 95%CI: 2.18, 8.69), small birth size (AOR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.52), unvaccinated infants (AOR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.75, 2.37), unprotected source of water (AOR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.80), and non-latrine facilities (AOR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.20) were associated with a higher risk of infant mortality. While delivery in a health facility (AOR = 0.25; 95%CI: 0.19, 0.32), maternal age 35-49 years (AOR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.49, 0.86), mothers receiving four or more TT injections during pregnancy (AOR = 0.043, 95% CI: 0.026, 0.071), and current breast feeders (AOR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.42) were associated with a lower risk of infant mortality. Furthermore, Infant mortality rates were also higher in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somalia, and Harari than in Tigray. Infant mortality in rural Ethiopia is higher than the national average. The government and other concerned bodies should mainly focus on multiple births, unimproved breastfeeding culture, and the spacing between the orders of birth to reduce infant mortality. Furthermore, community-based outreach activities and public health interventions focused on improving the latrine facility and source of drinking water as well as the importance of health facility delivery and received TT injections during the pregnancy.

Cancers preventive practice and the determinants in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In Ethiopia, 5.8% of deaths are attributed to cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the cancers preventive practice and associated factors in North West Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Bahir Dar city residents. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 845 study participants. Data were collected through a validated interviewer administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was adapted from the American cancer association cancer prevention toolkit. Descriptive statistics were computed and presented in charts and texts. The model fitness was checked using Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit (P > 0.05). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with cancer preventive practice. A p-value < 0.2 at bivariate analysis was candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, p-value of < 0.05 was considered as a statistically significant predictor for cancer preventive practice at the 95% confidence interval. RESULT: A total of 845 study participants took part in the study. Nearly 63% of the respondents were females. About 28% (95%CI: 24, 30) of the study participants had good preventive practice. Age ≥ 45 years (AOR = 0.31; 95%CI: 0.15, 0.62), female (AOR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.71) family member with cancer (AOR = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.07, 2.62) and had good knowledge (AOR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.14, 2.42) were the identified determinants of cancer preventive practices. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the level of cancer preventive practices was low. Family member with cancer, knowledge about cancer, older age, and being female were significantly associated with cancer preventive practices. This finding underscores the importance of interventions to enhance cancer preventive practices.