Introduction COVID-19 is a current health concern in the world. People applying the prevention methods of COVID-19 are vital determinants of curbing the spread of the coronavirus. This study aimed to assess the practices and associated factors of the COVID-19 preventive measures among Dire Dawa residents. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional mixed method was used. We conducted the study between June 15th and July 15th, 2020. The subjects of the study were selected by using systematic random sampling. We collected data through face-to-face and in-depth interviews. Both bivariate and multiple logistic regression were employed to determine the predictor variables with the practice of COVID-19 prevention measures. Thematic content analysis analyzed qualitative data. Results The practice of COVID-19 preventive measures was 40.7% (95% CI: 37–44.4%). Being female [AOR= 1.8; 95% CI: 1.17–2.72], married [AOR=2.75; 95% CI: 1.68–4.48], family income >10,000 Ethiopia birr [AOR=7.3; 95% CI: 3.8–13.9], having history of a chronic disease [AOR=3.46 (1.69, 7.08)], not chewing khat [AOR= 2.15; 95% CI: 1.1–4.2], had a good knowledge about COVID-19 [AOR=5.23; 95% CI: 3–9], and had a favorable attitude about COVID-19 [AOR=3.87; 95% CI: 2.4–6.14] were significantly associated with practice of COVID-19 preventive measures. The qualitative result revealed the communities are not willingly practicing prevention measures because of carelessness and ignorant of the consequences of COVID-19, and some communities believed that COVID-19 is not a real pandemic rather government uses it merely to gain political profit. Conclusion The proportion of practice of COVID-19 preventive measures was low. Sex, marital status, income, history of chronic disease, history of khat chewing, knowledge, and attitude about COVID-19 were associated factors with COVID-19 preventive practices. The communities were not practicing the COVID-19 prevention method because of poor knowledge and a negative attitude.

Objectives: Promoting respectful maternity care is a fundamental strategy for enhancing facility birth, which significantly reduces maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. Despite these effects, disrespect and abusive childbirth care remain a challenge in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of respectful maternity care and its associated factors among laboring women in public hospitals of Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed, and trained external assessors observed the care provided to 404 laboring women in public hospitals using structured observation checklists. A focus group discussion and two key informant interviews were also conducted. A structured pre-tested questionnaire and a semi-structured guide were used to generate quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Seven verification criteria were employed, and the mean value and above for each criterion were used to measure respectful maternity care. Results: Of the 404 client–provider interaction observations during childbirth, only 12.6% ( n = 51) participants received respectful maternity care. Being from an urban area (adjusted odds ratio = 3.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 8.08), giving childbirth at daytime (adjusted odds ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.26, 5.33), receiving the service from compassionate and respectful care trained provider (adjusted odds ratio = 4.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.63, 12.66), giving childbirth at general hospital (adjusted odds ratio = 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 6.65) were positively associated with respectful maternity care. Staff workload, shortage of supply and equipment, partiality in providing timely care, yelling and insulting at clients and birth companions were also barriers to respectful maternity care. Conclusion: The observed respectful maternity care practices were low in the study area. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that addressing respectful maternity care would require increased compassionate and respectful care trained providers, and sustained efforts to improve access to basic equipment and supply for maternity care with an emphasis on primary hospitals. Tailored interventions aimed at improving respectful maternity care should also target rural residents and nighttime parturients.

Objective: Malnutrition because of poor dietary diversity contributing to child morbidity and mortality. Two-thirds of child mortality occurs within the first 2 years. However, there is limited data related to dietary diversity among children aged 6 to 23 months in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess dietary diversity and factors among children aged 6 to 23 months in the study setting. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study conducted on 438 children aged 6 to 23 months in Dire Dawa, 1-30/02/2019. Simple random sampling was used to select study subjects. Data collected using a structured and pretested interview administered questionnaire. Data entered using EpiData 4.2 and analyzed with SPSS Version 22. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associated factors. Adjusted odd-ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) used, and P-value <.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The overall minimum dietary diversity practice was 24.4% (95% CI: 20.3, 28.5). Maternal education [AOR 2.20; 95% CI: 1.08, 4.52], decision-making [AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.19, 5.29], antenatal care [AOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.99], postnatal care [AOR = 6.4; 95% CI: 2.78, 14.94] and facility delivery [AOR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.35, 5.25] were maternal factors. Moreover, child’s age [AOR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.39, 5.83], and child’s sex [AOR = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.64, 4.94] were infant factors. Conclusion: One-fourth of children practiced minimum dietary diversity. Child’s age, birth interval, postnatal care, antenatal care, child’s sex, mothers’ decision-making, mothers’ education, and place of delivery were significant predictors. Therefore, maternal education, empowering women, and improve maternal service utilization are crucial to improving dietary diversity.

Introduction: Neonatal mortality is one of the challenging issues in current global health. Globally, about 2.5 million children die in the first month of life, out of which Sub-Saharan Africa accounts >40% per annual. Currently, the neonatal mortality rate in Ethiopia is 30/1000 live births. In the study area, there was a limitation of data on mothers' knowledge towards neonatal danger signs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess mothers' knowledge of neonatal danger signs and associated factors. Patients and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional design study was conducted in Dire Dawa from March 01/2019 to April 30/2019. Data were collected from 699 randomly selected mothers through a face-to-face interview. Bivariate logistic regression with p-value <0.25 was entered into the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, AOR with 95% confidence intervals at P-value <0.05 was considered a significant association with the outcome variable. Results: About 285 (40.8%) (95% CI: 37.3-44.3) of mothers had good knowledge of neonatal danger signs, and 97.1% (95% CI: 94.1, 99.3) of mothers sought medical care at a health facility. Mothers who were governmental employed (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.17-3.9), whose fathers' educational level is secondary or above (AOR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.18-4.49), four/more antenatal care visit (AOR=4.3, 95% CI: 1.5-12.3), whose baby developed danger signs (AOR=3.5, 95% CI: 2.13-5.73), and those mothers received education on neonatal danger sign (AOR=7, 95% CI: 4.2-11.5), had a significant association with knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Conclusion: Maternal knowledge toward neonatal danger signs was low and a high number of mothers sought medical care at a health facility. Mother's occupation, fathers' education, development of neonatal danger signs, frequency of antenatal care visit, and received health education on neonatal danger signs were factors associated with mothers' knowledge towards neonatal danger signs.

Introduction Pregnant women who disclose their HIV-positive status to their sexual partners have played an important role in reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission to the baby during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postnatal periods. Studies are limited in the current study area in a similar arena. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the proportion of HIV-positive status disclosure and its associated factors among pregnant women. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 156 HIV-positive pregnant women in Dire Dawa administrative from March 12th to May 10th, 2020. Data were generated using a pretested structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the predictor variables associated with the disclosure of HIV-positive status among pregnant women to their sexual partners. Finally, the adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals at P-value< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of the total, 135 (86.5%) of HIV-positive pregnant women disclosed their HIV status to their sexual partner. Christian followers (both Orthodox and Protestant) [AOR = 8.8, 95% CI: 2.3. 34] more likely to disclose HIV status to their sexual partner than those Muslims. Those participants who started practicing safer sex [AOR = 17.6, 95% CI: 4–77] and those women who had a smooth relationship before the HIV disclosure were [AOR = 14.7, 95% CI: 3–68.6] more likely to disclose HIV status to their sexual partner than their counterparts, respectively. Conclusions The proportion of HIV serostatus disclosure by HIV-positive pregnant women attending antenatal care services to their sexual partners was encouraging. However, this does not mean that there is no need for further awareness and intervention. Hence, interventions to boost and support women in safely disclosing their HIV-positive status are needed.