Spatial exploration of non-resilience to food insecurity, its association with COVID-19 and household coping strategies in East Gojjam districts, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant multifaceted threat to the global community. Ethiopia, as a Sub-Saharan African country, is suffering from chronic food insecurity, and the emergence of such a pandemic will exacerbate the situation. As a result, this study investigated the spatial variation of non-resilience to food insecurity, its relationship with COVID-19, and household coping strategies to become resilient in the long run among households in the East Gojjam Zone of Northwest Ethiopia. From September 22 to December 24, 2020, an agro-ecological-based cross-sectional study of 3532 households was conducted to assess the spatial distribution and associated factors of non-resilience to household food insecurity. The enumeration areas (EAs) and households were chosen using a multistage sampling technique. Data were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire and checklist using an Android device loaded with an Open Data Kit (ODK) template. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the specific factors associated with household non-resilience to food insecurity. A thematic analysis was conducted to investigate the opportunities and challenges of resilience for household food insecurity. Nearly two-thirds (62.5%) of the households were farmers, 67.9% lived in rural areas, and nearly three-quarters (73.8%) earned less than or equal to ETB 2100 per month. Males headed more than four-fifths of the households (81.7%). We found that nearly two-thirds of the households (60.02%), 95% CI 58.40, 61.64) were food insecure. After bivariate logistic regression, we found that households who were divorced (AOR = 2.54 (1.65, 3.87)), daily laborers (AOR = 2.37 (1.15, 4.87)), government employees (AOR = 2.06 (1.05, 4.05)), residents of highland and hot areas (AOR = 11.5 (5.37, 16.77)) and lowland areas (AOR = 1.35 (1.02, 3.15)) were frustrated by COVID-19 (AOR = 1.23 (1.02, 1.50)) and price inflation (1.89 (AOR = 1.42, 2.56))) were at higher odds of being non-resilient to household food insecurity at a 95% confidence level. Geospatial hot spot analysis revealed that Kurar kebele (the lowest government administrative unit) in Dejen District and Debre Markos town were the red-hotspot areas of household non-resilience to food insecurity. Less than a quarter of the households attempted to cope with food insecurity by adjusting their food consumption, while more than 60% of the households chose none of the coping strategies tested. According to the thematic analysis, the degree of poverty (lack of asset ownership), the COVID-19 pandemic, farm decreased variety, and low crop productivity were identified as challenges to coping with the hardship of resilience to food insecurity. During the COVID-19 pandemic and public emergency, the proportion of households that were unprepared for food insecurity reached its peak. It was recognized that a segment of the population with low economic capacity was more vulnerable to food insecurity and less resilient. Tough developmental gains will be undermined in this case. As a result, each responsible body and stakeholder should develop and implement solid corrective plans for the local context.

Knowledge, attitude, practice, and factors associated with prevention practice towards COVID-19 among healthcare providers in Amhara region, northern Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Healthcare providers (HCPs) are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19 as a result of their front-line works. Health behaviors of HCPs can influence prevention and control actions implemented in response to the pandemic. Hence, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and factors associated with prevention practice towards COVID-19 among healthcare providers in Amhara region, northern Ethiopia. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 HCPs in selected public health facilities of Amhara region, between 20th September and 20th October 2020. Data related to HCP's KAP and socio-demographic characteristics were collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Bloom's cut-off ≥ 80%, ≥90%, and ≥75% was used to determine adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and good prevention practice, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSSS version 25.0. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors significantly associated with COVID-19 prevention practice. Statistical significance was determined at a p-value of < 0.05 and the presence of association was described using odds ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI). Overall, 368 (89.8%), 387 (94.4%), and 326 (79.5%) HCPs had adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and good prevention practice towards COVID-19, respectively. Factors significantly associated with good COVID-19 prevention practice were being a Nurse in profession (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.13-3.99), having < 5 years of working experience (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.24-0.86), using social media (AOR = 6.20, 95% CI = 2.33-16.51) and television and or radio (AOR = 4.03, 95% CI = 1.56-10.38) as sources of COVID-19 information. HCPs had adequate knowledge, positive attitude and good prevention practice towards COVID-19. Being a Nurse, having < 5 years of working experiences, using social media and television and or radio were factors associated with good prevention practice. Thus, developing HCP's professional carrier through training opportunities, sharing experiences and using verified information sources are crucial to better improve COVID-19 prevention practice.

Married Women's Decision-Making Power in Family Planning Use and its Determinants in Basoliben, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Women's decision-making power influences the use of family planning. It is one of the denied fundamental rights of women, particularly in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to assess married women's decision-making power in the use of family planning and its associated factors among married reproductive age women in Basoliben, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2018. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among married reproductive age women from March 1 to 30, 2018. A multistage simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting study participants. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through SPSS 20 software. The binary and multiple variable logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with women's decision-making power on family planning use. Statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 734 married women aged 18-49 years are making a 98% response rate included in this study. The level of married women's decision-making power in family planning among married women was 80%; 95% CI (76.9, 82.8). Monthly income (AOR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.2), husband's desired number of children of <3 (AOR=9.9; 95% CI: 3.6), husband's desired time for additional child after 3 years postbirth (AOR=4.0; 95% CI: 1.9, 8.5) and women's information on any contraceptive (AOR=9.6; 95% CI: 2.4, 39.0) were factors significantly associated with married women's decision-making power in family planning. CONCLUSION: Married women's decision-making power in family planning use was optimal. Household monthly income, husband's desired ideal number of children, husband's desired time when to have another child and information about any contraceptive methods were predictors of their decision-making power on family planning use. There should be awareness creation of family planning methods to increase its utilization.

Male Involvement in Family Planning Utilization and Associated Factors in Womberma District, Northern Ethiopia: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive health issues are an inclusive concern for both men and women. In order to improve maternal health, strengthening male participation in family planning is an important public health initiative. Yet, men are still the main decision-makers in the family in Ethiopia, especially in the rural community. There is little concrete evidence of the extent of male participation in family planning and its barriers in rural settings. PURPOSE: To assess the magnitude of male involvement in family planning utilization and its associated factors in the rural community of northern Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was carried out on 620 currently married men. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants of the study. Data were collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with male participation in family planning. RESULTS: In this study, only 12.5% of males were directly involved in the use of family planning using a male contraceptive method, and about 60.0% of males were involved in family planning through spousal communication and approval. Being educated [AOR=1.64; 95% CI: (1.12-2.62)], having an educated partner [AOR= 1.77; 95% CI: (1.17-2.94)], having a positive attitude towards family planning [AOR=2.27; 95% CI: (1.53-3.36)], discussing with wife [AOR= 2.51; 95% CI: (1.69-3.72)] and having adequate knowledge about family planning [AOR=1.92; 95% CI: (1.28-2.87)] were positively associated with male involvement in family planning utilization whereas having more than three children [AOR=0.32; 95% CI: (0.15-0.70)] was negatively associated with male involvement in family planning utilization. CONCLUSION: In general, as compared to the national recommendation, the level of male participation in family planning utilisation was low. In order to improve male participation in family planning, improving male knowledge and attitudes towards family planning is essential.