The lactating mothers in developing countries like Ethiopia are the first targeted and nutritionally vulnerable groups to under nutrition due to different socio demographic factors which influence the health and well being of mothers and children. During lactation periods, mothers need more nutritious food than the rests of the household members. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status, associated factors and dietary diversity of lactating mothers 15-49 years old in Offa woreda. A crosssectional community based study was carried out to determine the Chronic Energy deficiency of lactating mothers in the studied woreda. The lactating mothers were randomly selected from four rural and two urban kebeles. A total of 422 households were visited and the required data were collected as scheduled in all selected kebeles. The prevalence of under nutrition among the lactating mothers in the studied area was determined using BMI by Anthropometric measurements and the blood sample test for hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was done using Haemocue methods. The collected data were analyzed using Stata version 14.2 software. Among the participated lactating mothers the values 15.8%, 74.2%, 8.3% and 1.7% were obtained for under weight, normal, over weight and obese in their BMI (kg/m2), respectively. The studied participants of 15.8% were in chronic energy deficiency according to WHO guidelines. The lactating mothers' percentage value 36.4%, 59.3%, 4.3% were in age group of 15-24, 25-34 and 35-49 years, respectively. The blood test showed that among the lactating mothers 11.4% were found anemic which had got hemoglobin level less than normal level (12g/dl). The daily dietary diversity intake per day of lactating mothers was classified as high (>5 DDS) 1.2%, medium (4-5 DDS) 50.7% and low (<3 DDS) 47.4% among the nine food groups recommended for women dietary diversity score (WDDS). The independent variables: education, family size, marital status and occupation were significantly associated with nutritional status of the lactating mothers at P<0.05. In conclusion the majority of the lactating women in the study area had normal BMI. The researchers would like to recommend that the government and development agencies should focus on the risk factors identified, to ensure better health and nutrition for lactating mothers in this woreda.

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Research Article pregnancy and lactation. Women are typically the main caretakers of children after birth, and in order to provide quality care they need continued adequate food consumption and health care, rest, and measures to protect their mental health, such as protection from abuse. The third underlying determinant, health environment and services, conditions children's exposure to pathogens and the use of preventative and curative health care. Elements of a health environment include access to safe water, to sanitary facilities for disposing of human waste, to health services, and to shelter [1].Information from the 2016 EDHS results revealed that in Ethiopia there was a very high prevalence of chronic child malnutrition in that more than one out of two under-five children (or 38 percent) was stunted. These figures are very high even compared to the developing countries which are severely affected by the problem of child stunting. Regional difference are prominent in Ethiopia, more than two in five children are stunted [with Amhara region (46.3%) leading to Benishangul (42.7%) and Afar regions (41.1%)]. EDHS conducted from 2000 to 2016 (for children under-five years of age), the prevalence of stunting has decreased fromThe study was aimed to assess the prevalence and examine determinant factors of children's nutritional status in non-administrative two small towns (Awash Bello and Boneya) located Sebeta Hawas district, Oromia region. Cross-sectional design was employed in the existing two small towns selected randomly. The sample size was determined by using single population proportion formula then adjusted by finite population correction factor to draw the final 230 sample children and then allocated proportionally to each small town. Then the households were selected using systematic random sampling. If there is more than one child in the selected household only one child was considered randomly. Structured questionnaire was used to gather information on the demographic, socio-economic, and maternal and child caring practice, as well as environmental factors. While anthropometric measurement was used to collect height, weight and MUAC following the standard measurement tools and procedures. Information was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and anthropometric measurements were converted into Z-scores by WHO Anthro version 3.2.2., 2011 software. Then exported to STATA 13 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The result revealed that the prevalence of overall malnutrition was 46%. Specifically, stunting was (22.6%), underweight (16.1%) and wasting (7.4%), respectively. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze determinants child malnutrition. Multivariate model revealed that age of child, number of under-five children in the household, no formal fathers and no formal maternal education, less than1500ETB monthly income, Antenatal care visit less than four times during pregnancy, not exclusive breast feeding and no fully vaccination were found...

Climate change is predicted to adversely affect agricultural yields, particularly in African countries such as Ethiopia, where crop production relies heavily on environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. However, there have only been a limited number of studies on the effects of climate change dynamics on food security in Africa, particularly at the household level. We therefore analyzed local climatic changes, the status of household food security, climate‐related causes of food insecurity, food security determinants, and the adaptation strategies of local farmers. Three decades meteorological data were analyzed. A total of 185 farmers were selected using simple random sampling and interviewed, together with focus groups. Data were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics together with the logit regression model. Climate change over the last three decades was found to have a negative impact on the food security status of households. Crop production was constrained by poor rainfall, severe erosion, and increases in temperature. The unpredictability of rainfall, pests, and diseases were also contributing factors. Using the calorie intake approach, 60.5% of sampled respondents were found to be food insecure. Analysis using the logistic regression model showed that age and family size, as well as the amount of cultivated land and rainfall, were the significant (p < .05) factors influencing household food security status. A large proportion (69.8%) of farmers were incorporating adapting strategies into farm management including improved use of crop varieties and livestock production, in addition to income diversification. Taken together, these findings show that improving climate change awareness, facilitating the participation of female‐led households in income generation, and strengthening existing adaptation measures have positive impacts on food security.

Sweetpotato plays an important role in ensuring food security and household income sources for local communities in Ethiopia. It is dominantly grown in southern parts of Ethiopia. However, its production and productivity over the last few years has declined due to the limited access of quality planting materials at the onset of the rainy season, disease, and severe pest infestation. Therefore, it was imperative to carry out this study to identify the main constraints related to the recent decline in sweet in Misrak Badawacho District. The survey result revealed that many varieties of sweetpotato were grown in the district; mainly, Awassa‐83, Ogan‐Sagan, and Wolaita‐local were the most preferred variety by producers. The main sweetpotato production and storage constraints in the study district are as follows: rodents, disease and insect pests, heat and drought, shortage of quality planting materials, and absence of best methods for long‐term storage. Ogan‐Sagan and Wolaita‐local were evaluated under different storage types (straw, soil, ash, sawdust, and sand storage). The combination of Awassa‐83 variety and sand storage was performed better in percentage of decay, weight loss, and weevil damage, whereas length and number of vine per storage roots were performed better in the separate treatment. Thus, Awassa‐83 variety and sand storage can be recommended for maintaining the storage roots during dry periods and access of quality vines at the onset of the rainy season. More importantly, sand storage provides an opportunity to maintain the quality of sweetpotato storage roots for a long period of time and producers can easily and timely access quality vines at the onset of rainy season.