Micronutrient intake inadequacy and its associated factors among lactating women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate intake of micronutrients in lactating women was prevalent worldwide. In particular, to our knowledge, there has been little report concerning Ethiopian lactating women regarding their micronutrient intake. Our objective was to assess micronutrient intake inadequacy and its associated factors among lactating women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 15 to March 05, 2021. Four hundred thirteen respondents were selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected by interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire and a single multiphasic 24 hours dietary recall was used to assess dietary assessment. Data entry and analysis were carried out using EpiData and SPSS respectively. The ESHA food processor, Ethiopian food composition table, and world food composition table have used the calculation of nutrient values of the selected micronutrient. The nutrient intakes were assessed by Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR). Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify the factors of overall micronutrient intake inadequacy. RESULT: The overall prevalence of micronutrient intake inadequacy across 12 nutrients was 39.9% [95% CI (34.9, 45.0)]. The inadequate intake of vitamin A was 98.2%. Similarly, the inadequate intake of B vitamins ranges from 13.4% to 68.5%. The insufficient intakes of calcium, iron, and zinc were 70.9%, 0%, and 4.7%, respectively. Around 36 and 91.6% of the respondents had inadequate intake of selenium and sodium, respectively. On multivariable logistic regression analysis; Being divorced was 2.7 times more likely to have overall micronutrient intake inadequacy than being married [AOR = 2.71, 95% CI (1.01, 7.33)]. The odds of overall micronutrient intake inadequacy were 2.6 higher in merchants than in housewives [AOR = 2.63, 95% CI (1.40, 4.93)]. Lactating women who had poor nutritional knowledge were 2.7 times more likely to have overall micronutrient intake inadequacy than those who had good nutritional knowledge [AOR = 2.71, 95% CI (1.47, 4.99)]. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Overall, the micronutrient intake in lactating women was lower than the recommended levels. Therefore; educating lactating women about appropriate dietary intake is essential.

Prevalence of postpartum family planning utilization and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Arba Minch town, South Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Contraception allows women to realize their human right to decide if and when to have children and helps people to attain their desired family size. Yet 214 million women of a reproductive age in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy are not using a modern contraceptive method. Women who have recently given birth are among the group with the highest unmet need for contraception. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of postpartum family planning use and associated factors among postpartum women in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted. A structured and pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from study participants. Study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique by allocating proportionally to each health facility. The data was entered using EPI data version 3.1statistical software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0 for further analysis. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors. P values < 0.05 with 95% confidence level was used to declare statistica significance. RESULT: Overall, 44% of postpartum women utilize postpartum family planning. Having an antenatal care visit [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =1.89(95%CI, 2.42-7.90), having planned pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.17(95%CI, 1.60-2.28)], being married (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =2.86(1.94-8.73), and having a college and above level educational status (AOR) =1.66(1.28-3.55) were significantly associated with utilization of postpartum family planning. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the prevalence of postpartum family planning was 44%. Marital status, educational status of mothers, the status of pregnancy, and having an antenatal care follow-up during pregnancy were some factors associated with postpartum family planning utilization. Therefore, strengthening family planning counselling during antenatal and postnatal care visits, improving utilization of postnatal care services and improving women's educational status are crucial steps to enhance contraceptive use among postpartum women.

Household waste disposal in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia.

In many cities of developing countries, such as Mekelle (Ethiopia), waste management is poor and solid wastes are dumped along roadsides and into open areas, endangering health and attracting vermin. The effects of demographic factors, economic and social status, waste and environmental attributes on household solid waste disposal are investigated using data from household survey. Household level data are then analyzed using multinomial logit estimation to determine the factors that affect household waste disposal decision making. Results show that demographic features such as age, education and household size have an insignificant impact over the choice of alternative waste disposal means, whereas the supply of waste facilities significantly affects waste disposal choice. Inadequate supply of waste containers and longer distance to these containers increase the probability of waste dumping in open areas and roadsides relative to the use of communal containers. Higher household income decreases the probability of using open areas and roadsides as waste destinations relative to communal containers. Measures to make the process of waste disposal less costly and ensuring well functioning institutional waste management would improve proper waste disposal.