Assessment of risky sexual behaviours and associated factors among adolescents in Shewa Robit Town, Northeast, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: adolescents are at high risk of engaging in risky sexual behaviours that could predispose them to several health problems. Cognizant of these facts, studies addressing the root causes for risky sexual behaviours in risk areas like Shewa Robit are mandatory. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess risky sexual behaviours and its determinants in Shewa Robit town, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: an institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 349 students using quantitative and qualitative approaches. For the quantitative study, data entry and analysis was done by using Epidata-3.1 and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS)-20, respectively. Binary and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with risky sexual practices. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for measuring the strength of association. Variables with P-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Collected data from the qualitative study was debriefed, categorized, coded and common themes were generated manually. Finally, the findings were triangulated with quantitative findings. Results: a total of 338 respondents involved in the study. Overall, 168 (49.7%) of respondents have had risky sexual behaviour. Alcohol consumption (Adjusted odd ration (AOR)=5.01, 95%CI; 2.12-11.79), peer pressure (AOR=5.82, 95%CI; 2.97-11.41), grade level (AOR=5.82, 95%CI; 2.06-16.45), and family size (AOR=5.19, 95%CI; 2.24-12.01) were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour. Conclusion: risky sexual behaviour in the study area was high. Several families and school-level factors were found to be major determinants of risky sexual behaviours. Public health interventions focusing on adolescent sexual health should be targeted to save those risky adolescents.

Formula feeding practice and associated factors among mothers with infants 0-6 months of age in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first half-year of life is an important risk factor for childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite this, less than 40% of infants below 6 months are exclusively breastfed worldwide. This is because breastfeeding is declining and being replaced by formula feeding. Nowaday, formula feeding has become a more common practice in urban communities of developing countries. However, relatively little information is available regarding formula feeding practice and its associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of formula feeding practice and its associated factors among mothers of an infant aged 0-6 months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April-1 to May 30/2020 among 494 mothers with infants 0-6 months of age. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were entered and cleaned by using Epi data version 3.1 and analysed by SPSS software version 25. Then data were processed by using descriptive analysis, including frequency distribution, and summary measures. The degree of association was assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT: The prevalence of formula feeding and pre-lacteal feeding practice was 46.2 and 34.4%, respectively. Educational status with a diploma and above (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI: 1.56-6.14), delivery by cesarean section (AOR = 6.13, 95%CI: 4.01-9.37), pre-lacteal feeding practice (AOR = 7.61, 95%CI: 4.11-11.06), and delayed initiation of breastfeeding (after 1 h to 1 day (AOR = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.59-7.40), after 1 day to 3 days (AOR = 3.71, 95% CI: 1.51-9.41), and after 3 days (AOR = 5.41, 95% CI: 2.15-13.60)) were significantly associated with formula feeding practice. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the participants were practiced formula-feeding for their infant. Educational status of mothers, the timing of initiation of breastfeeding, delivery by cesarean section, and pre-lacteal feeding practice were significantly associated with formula feeding practice. Therefore, early initiation of breastfeeding, educating mothers about the risks associated with pre-lacteal feeding, and supporting mothers who gave birth by cesarean section for exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged at the community and institutional levels.