The Association of Sleep Duration with Grade Point Averages and Absences Among 9th Graders in Georgia, USA.

This study aimed to examine the association between sleep measures (self-reported sleep duration and weekend catch-up sleep) and grade point average (GPA) and absences among 9th grade students from two racially and economically diverse high schools in a semi-rural county of north-central Georgia. Linear and Poisson regression models estimated the association between sleep measures and GPA and absences (separately), respectively. Analyses adjusted for gender, race/ethnicity, free/reduced-price school lunch status, and parental education. Sleep duration was significantly associated with both GPA and absences, such that for every one additional hour of sleep, GPA increased by 0.8 percentage points (b=0.8, 95% CI:0.1,1.5) while the number of absences was lower by 6% (b=-0.05; OR=0.94, 95% CI:0.91,0.98). Weekend catch-up sleep was also significantly and positively associated with absences (b=0.04; OR=1.04, 95% CI; 1.02, 1.07). Increasing sleep may be a strategy to improve GPA and reduce absences among teenagers. Future research should identify effective measures to lengthen sleep.

Contributing factors for urban-rural inequalities in unmet need for family planning among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia: a Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis.

BACKGROUND: Unmet need for family planning (FP) is a global public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, although several studies have assessed unmet needs for FP, there have only been few empirical investigations into regional inequalities and their contributory factors. This study assessed urban-rural inequalities in unmet FP needs among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia and particularly examined the contribution of material, cultural-behavioral, and psychosocial factors therein. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among 8811 reproductive-aged women derived from the nationally representative 2019 Ethiopian Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) data. The outcome variable was unmet need for FP. The exposure variable was place of residence (urban or rural). Contributing factors were categorized into material, psychosocial and cultural-behavioral factors. Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis was used to assess urban-rural inequalities in unmet need for FP as well as to disentangle the contributory factors in percentage points. RESULT: In our study, 13.8% of reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia reported unmet FP needs. Urban-rural inequalities therein accounted for 6.8% points. Disparities in FP needs between urban and rural areas were mostly explained by psychosocial factors (81.0%) followed by material (21.0%), and cultural-behavioral (3.2%) factors. While women who were living with a partner (39.1%, p < 0.01) and multiparas (51%, p < 0.01) contributed to increasing inequalities, attending family planning counseling services with a healthcare provider (-1.7%, p = 0.03) reduced the gap in unmet need for FP between urban and rural areas. Women from the poorest and poor category contributed 14.1% (p = 0.02) and 11.1% (p = 0.04), respectively. Being from a Muslim religion also contributed to the disparity by 7.3% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study showed that among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia, inequalities in unmet FP needs show distinct urban-rural patterning. Most inequalities could be attributed to psychosocial factors, mainly parity and marital status, followed by material and cultural-behavioral factors. Policymakers should target these modifiable psychosocial factors to reduce urban-rural inequalities in unmet need for FP in Ethiopia.

Harmful Alcohol Use Among Patients with Tuberculosis in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Introduction: Alcohol consumption among patients with tuberculosis is on the rise. There is evidence that alcohol consumption negatively affects treatment outcomes for these populations. Due to this, a substantial number of people relapse, withdraw from treatment, or even die as a result of their alcohol addiction. Despite this, little research has been conducted on the factors associated with the harmful use of alcohol by this group of people in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of harmful alcohol use among patients with tuberculosis in the Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at healthcare facilities. Four hundred and fifteen participants aged 18 and older were recruited using a systematic random sampling method. Data on sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, social support, perceptions of the stigma associated with tuberculosis, and depression were collected using structured and validated instruments. Measurement of harmful alcohol consumption was conducted using the AUDIT. Results:  The prevalence of harmful alcohol use among tuberculosis patients was 20% (95% CI; 16.1-24.2%). There is a significant correlation between medical comorbidity (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.29-4.62), disease duration (≥12 months) (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.03-3.04), and being male (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.17-3.77) with harmful alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Our study revealed that alcohol consumption was high among tuberculosis patients. The presence of comorbidities, being male, and having a long-term illness were significant predictors of harmful alcohol consumption. It is imperative to screen patients who have suffered from chronic tuberculosis for an extended period of time. It is also pertinent to screen patients with comorbid medical conditions for alcohol abuse. Screening for alcohol abuse at an early stage can prevent poor treatment outcomes as well as the effects of comorbid medical conditions and harmful use of alcohol.

Factors associated with home delivery preference among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Home delivery is associated with a high risk of maternal and neonatal mortality. The prevalence and factors associated with home delivery have been studied retrospectively among women in Ethiopia. However, no national studies have assessed pregnant women's preferences for home delivery. OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated with preferences for home delivery among pregnant women in Ethiopia. METHODS: We analysed a sample of 678 pregnant women derived from the 2019 performance monitoring for action cross-sectional survey. The association between pregnant women's preferences for home delivery and several individual, household, healthcare, and community factors were explored through log-Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of pregnant women's preferences for home delivery in Ethiopia was 33%. Pregnant women between the ages of 15-19 years (PR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.43-4.00) had a higher preference for home delivery compared to those above 34 years. Those who had no Antenatal care (ANC) visit in the current pregnancy (PR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.11-2.11), multipara women (PR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.19-2.92) those who did not discuss place of delivery with their partners (PR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.18-2.10), did not participate in a community-based program called '1 to 5' network meetings (PR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.09-18.95), and those who perceived low community support for facility delivery (PR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.53-3.20) had a higher prevalence of home delivery preference compared to their references. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of pregnant women preferred home deliveries in Ethiopia. Household and community supporting factors such as not discussing place of delivery with a partner, not participating in women developmental army meetings, and perceived low community support were associated with preference for home delivery. Interventions should address these factors to increase facility deliveries in Ethiopia.