Factors influencing exclusive breast feeding among children born to HIV positive mothers attending public health facilities in western Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study.

Only about 39% of infants in low- and middle-income countries are exclusively breast-fed for the first six months. In particular, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive women report confusion about the best feeding methods. Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) practices in HIV positive mothers are sub-optimal in Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify the main factors influencing EBF among HIV positive breast-feeding mothers. A facility based cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2017 to June 30 2018 among HIV positive mothers with infants aged 6-23 months. Thirteen public health facilities (7 health centers and 6 hospitals) that provided anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, found in three districts of West, East and Kellem Wollega Zones, were randomly selected. Respondents were recruited by systematic random sampling techniques from these facilities using client registers as a sampling frame. Data were collected using face to face interviews with a pre-tested questionnaire. Data were entered into EPI info Version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 20 for windows. Candidate variables for the final multi-variable model were selected considering P≤ 0.05 at bivariable analysis. Associations were declared at P≤ 0.05 by assuming Confidence Intervals did not cross '1'with corresponding 95%. A total of 218 HIV positive mothers were included in this study. Of these, only 122 (56.0%) practiced EBF in the first six months. The proportion of study participants who initiated EBF within the first hour of delivery was 134 (61.8%). Mean age of study participants was 28.6years with SD ± 4. Mothers' having received advice on EBF [AOR 3, 95% CI (1.2-6.7)], disclosure of HIV status to someone close to them including their husband [AOR 6, 95% CI (1.2-29.6)] and believing HIV can be transmitted during delivery [AOR 5.2, 95% CI (1.1-24.0)] were found to increase the likelihood of EBF practices among the study participants (P-value ≤ 0.05). In this study, only just over half of the mothers practiced EBF for the first six months. Care providers should continue to encourage mothers to practice EBF in the first six months and to disclosure of HIV status to someone close to them including their partner. Efforts should be in place to curb the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission during delivery. Continues advise for mothers to practice EBF in the first 6 months is still needed.

Chronic undernutrition (stunting) is detrimental to academic performance among primary schools of adolescent children: a randomized cross sectional survey in Southern Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: Despite several decades of work in improving childhood nutrition in Ethiopia, stunting remains a major public health concern with lack of evidence on its effect on school performance. Therefore, this study aimed at determining prevalence of stunting and the impact on academic performance among schoolchildren attending primary schools in Meskan District of Southern Ethiopia. RESULTS: During October 2016, we interviewed primary school children and their parents, collected anthropometric measurements of children, and conducted school record reviews among 408 randomly selected children attending ten primary schools. Univariate and multivariable linear regression were performed to assess stunting associated with academic performance among schoolchildren. A total of 378 primary schoolchildren were involved in the study giving a response rate of 93%. The prevalence of stunting was 16.9%. Grade repetition, place of residence, class rank of students and absenteeism from the class was negatively associated with the academic performance. In general, the present study children had relatively high prevalence of chronic undernutrition. We found that school underperformance was significantly high in the study area. The study underlines the need for nutrition interventions targeting rural areas to improve children's academic performance.