Assessment of Violence during COVID-19 among Reproductive Age Women in Arsi Zone, South East Ethiopia.

Background: Preventive measures, like staying at home during lockdown, are mandatory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly as a result of staying at home, violence against women is beginning to increase in correlation with these measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of violence against women of reproductive age during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arsi Zone. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from February 15 to March 30, 2021. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 1458 women aged 15-49 years old. Data entry was performed using Epi info-7 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. A logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with violence against women at p value <0.05 and AOR values with 95% CI. Results: The prevalence of violence against women during COVID-19 was 51.1% (95% CI 48.5-53.7%). Psychological violence (31.8%) and controlling behavior violence (29.3%) were the leading types of violence followed by economic (20.2%) and sexual violence (15.6%). Respondents who had monthly income of <1000 birr (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.18, 2.51), 1001-2000 birr (AOR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.51, 3.27), 2001-3000 birr (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.26, 2.91), and 3001-4000 birr (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.31, 3.14), quarreled with their partner's family (AOR = 3.36; 95% CI: 2.14-5.30), witnessed chilhood family violence (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.81-3.02), and decisions made on the household issue by husband only (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 2.01-3.41) or wife only (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.33-2.98) were significantly associated with violence against women. In addition, we found that participants whose partners cannot read and write (AOR = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.19- 5.81), drink alcohol (AOR = 2.78; 95% CI: 2.10-3.76), chew chat (AOR = 3.27; 95% CI: 2.21-4.85), ever fighting or aggressive with other men (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.51-4.95), and partners' families taking part in the decision making (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.49-3.62) were also associated with violence against women. Conclusions: One in every two women was the victim of any form of violence in the study area. Hence, empowering women's economic status and enhancing community-based health education for males on behavioral lifestyle modification were required to prevent violence against women.

Post COVID-19 vaccination side effects and associated factors among vaccinated health care providers in Oromia region, Ethiopia in 2021.

BACKGROUND: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS COV-2) known as COVID-19 since its outbreak in 2019, more than 375 and 5.6 million were infected and dead, respectively. Its influence in all disciplines stimulated different industries to work day to night relentlessly to develop safe and effective vaccines to reduce the catastrophic effect of the disease. With the increasing number of people globally who have been vaccinated, the reports on possible adverse events have grown and gained great public attention. This study aims to determine post-COVID-19 vaccination adverse effects and associated factors among vaccinated Health care providers in the Oromia region, Ethiopia in 2021. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 912 health care workers working in government hospitals in the central Oromia region from November 20 to December 15/2021. Respondents absent from work due to different reasons were excluded during the interview. The outcome variable was COVID-19 side effects (response as Yes/No). A descriptive analysis displayed findings in the form of the frequencies and percentages, and logistic regression was employed to see the association of different variables with side effects experienced. RESULT: Overall, 92.1% of the participants experienced side effects either in 1st or 2nd doses of post-COVID-19 vaccination; 84.0% and (71.5%) of participants experienced at least one side effect in the 1st and 2nd dose of the vaccines, respectively. COVID-19 infection preventive protocols like keeping distance, hand wash using soap, wearing mask and using sanitizer were decreased post vaccination. About 74.3% of the respondents were worried about the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine they received. The majority (80.2%) of the respondent felt fear while receiving the vaccine and 22.5% of the respondents suspect the effectiveness of the vaccine they took. About 14.8% of the vaccinated Health workers were infected by COVID-19 post-vaccination. Engaging in moderate physical activity and feeling fear when vaccinated were the independent factors associated with reported side effects of post-COVID-19 vaccination using multiple logistic regression. Respondents who did not engage in physical activity were 7.54 fold more likely to develop post-COVID-19 vaccination side effects compared to those who involved at least moderate-intensity physical activity[AOR = 7.54, 95% CI;2.46,23.12]. The odds of experiencing side effects among the respondents who felt fear when vaccinated were 10.73 times compared not felt fear (AOR = 10.73, 95% CI; 2.47,46.64), and similarly, those who felt little fear were 4.28 times more likely to experience side effects(AOR = 4.28, 95% CI; 1.28, 14.39). CONCLUSION: Significant numbers of the respondents experienced side effects post COVID-19 vaccination. It is recommended to provide pre-awareness about the side effects to reduce observed anxiety related to the vaccine. It is also important to plan monitoring and evaluation of the post-vaccine effect using standard longitudinal study designs to measure the effects directly.

Sexual initiation and associated factors among young women in West Shoa, Ambo Town, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: For physiological as well as behavioral reasons, sexual debut increases young individuals' risk for infection with sexually transmitted infection including HIV. It is fundamental to recognize the factors related to sexual debut in a broader context for designing and implementing effective interventions targeting youth. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was employed from January to May, 2013 among females of Ambo town. A multistage sampling technique was applied. The participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Face to face interview using structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect thedata from the study participants. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of sexual initiation. RESULTS: Three hundred seventeen (49.9%) of the respondents have ever had sex. The mean age at first sexual initiation was 16.6 (SD ±2.3) years. Being in age group 20-24 [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) & (95% CI) = 2.75 (1.74, 4.34)], Educational level [AOR& (95% CI) = 0.20 (0.08, 0.48)], being in school [AOR& (95% CI) = 0.19 (0.11, 0.33)], having paid job [AOR& (95% CI) = 2.20 (1.19, 4.07)], peer pressure [AOR& (95% CI) = 3.20 (2.08, 4.94)], alcohol consumption [AOR& (95% CI) = 2.17 (1.43, 3.28)], and pornographic materials [AOR& (95% CI) = 2.27 (1.43, 3.61)] had significant association with sexual initiation. CONCLUSION: Substantial numbers of females had started sexual activity that might expose them to different reproductive health problems. In general age group, peer pressure, alcohol consumption and watching pornographic materials were found to be predictors for the sexual debut. Therefore, building life skills, establishing youth friendly clubs should be intensified.