Background Despite improving access to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) management, information on the quality of the service, as measured by timely recovery, is scare. This study is designed to assess treatment outcomes and factors affecting time-to-recovery from SAM in children 6–59 months admitted to a stabilizing center in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HU-CSH), Southern Ethiopia. Methods Institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted on 420 randomly selected children aged 6–59 months. The children were managed at the hospital from July, 2015 to June, 2017. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to extract data from medical records. Data were analyzed using Kaplan Meir (KM) curve, Log rank test and Cox-Proportional hazards model. The outputs of the bivariable and multivariable Cox model are presented using Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with the respective 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Results After a maximum of 59 days treatment 69.3% of the children recovered and 10.8% died. The mean (±SD) weight gain rates was 12.7 (±8.9) g/kg/days. The overall incidence density rate of recovery was 3.8 per 100 person-days. The overall median (IQR) time of recovery was 17(10, 24) days. F-100 intake (AHR = 0.502, 95%, CI: 0.29–0.86), Tuberculosis infection (AHR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.00–1.91) and provision of special medication (IV fluid, IV antibiotic and blood transfusion) (AHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.52–0.99) at admission were found to be significant predictors of time-to-recovery from SAM. Conclusion The overall recovery from complicated SAM children admitted at HU-CSH after a maximum of 59 days treatment was low (69.4%) and a very high proportion of children (10.8%) end up in death. Therefore, HU-CSH should give special focus for those children present with medical comorbidities during admission.

Background Despite it is easily preventable; malaria is still remains to be a major public health problem in globally as well as in Ethiopia. The disease can be easily prevented through individual and societal combined efforts by keeping the environment safe, effective utilization of long lasting Insecticide Nets and early treatment. However, the factors for poor knowledge and practices of malaria prevention is not well studied in Ethiopia; particularly, in the study area. Hence, this study aimed to provide concrete evidence towards malaria prevention practices and associated factors among Households of Hawassa City Administration, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a randomly selected 598 households at Hawassa City Administration from April 1–15, 2020. Multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit the study households. Data were collected by trained data collectors through a face-to-face interview with pretested structured questionnaire, which was adapted from previous peer reviewed articles. Then the data were checked for the completeness and consistencies, then, coded and entered into Epi data 3.1 and it was exported to SPSS IBM version 23 for analysis. Descriptive mean with standard deviation was used to summarize the continuous variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess factors affecting prevention and control of Malaria. Finally, adjusted odds ratio together with 95% CI and p-value <0.05 was used to declare the statistical significances. Results The overall 317 (54.3%) of households practiced good measure of malaria prevention and control measures. Urban residence [AOR = 1.95 (95%CI: 1.17–3.24)], Secondary school completed [AOR = 5.02(95%CI 2.24–12.03)], Tertiary school completed [AOR = 7.27(95%CI: 2.84–18.55)], Positive Attitude [AOR = 8.20(95%CI: 5.31–12.68)] and Good knowledge about malaria [AOR = 2.81(95%CI: 1.78–4.44)] were significantly associated with malaria prevention practices. Conclusions Nearly half of the households were still practiced poor measure of malaria prevention and control measures. Hence, health officials and stake holders need attention by providing continuous health education and follow up to control malaria.

Background Globally, at least 1 billion people have a vision impairment that could have been easily prevented or easily treated. Cataract is the leading preventable and most treatable causes of blindness and bilateral low vision among adults. Despite being the leading cause of preventable and most treatable blindness, the lack of knowledge about the disease and its option of treatment is still a major barrier in reducing the blindness owing to cataract in the developing countries particularly in Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the level of knowledge about cataract and associated factors among adults in Yirgalem Town, Sidama National Regional State, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among randomly selected 599 adult’s age 18 years and above from May 10–30, 2020. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured face-to-face interview questionnaires. The collected data were entered to Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associated factors of knowledge about cataract. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) together with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to declare the statistical association between dependent and independent variables. Results Of the total study participants, 379 (64.7%), [(95% CI: 60.7–68.6%)] of them had good knowledge about cataract. Age (≥40 years) [AOR = 2.29(95% CI 1.18–4.44)], Elementary school completed [AOR = 2.31(95% CI 1.30–4.10)], High school & above [AOR = 5.55(95% CI 2.81–10.89)], governmental and non-governmental employed [AOR = 5.62 (95% CI 2.78–11.38)], Merchant [AOR = 1.72(95% CI 1.03–2.88)], Positive Attitude [AOR = 3.85(95% CI 2.94–6.47)] were positively significantly associated with knowledge about cataract. Whereas, rural residence [AOR = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.12–0.31)] was negatively associated with knowledge about cataract. Conclusions More than one third of the participants still had poor knowledge about cataract. This implies that health facilities should be engaged and raises the awareness of the community and empowers people about eye care needs.

Background Despite high prevalence, food aversions are closely linked to the dietary intake of pregnant women. Thus, understanding this behavior is important in addressing the issue of maternal nutrition. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide information on the prevalence and associated factors of food aversion and its relationship with the nutritional status of pregnant women in Boricha Woreda, Sidama Regional state, Southern Ethiopia, 2019. Methods A community based mixed cross sectional study was conducted among 505 randomly selected pregnant mothers at Boricha Woreda, Southern Ethiopia from June 1–20, 2019. Pre-tested and structured face-to-face interview questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The quantitative data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epi Info version 7.1.4.0 and then exported to SPSS IBM version 20 for further analysis. The qualitative data were analyzed manually using a content analysis.The bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the possible factors of food aversion. AOR with the respective 95% CIs was used to declare statistical significance. Results Nearly, seven-in-ten (69.2%) of the pregnant women were averted of at least one food. Cereal (45.9%) and enset (44.2%) were averted by majority of the participants. The mean (± SD) MUAC measurement was 22.7 (± 2.4) cm. Pregnant women of age group of 24–28 [AOR = 3.04, 95% CI (1.72–5.35)] and 29–33 years [AOR = 2.00, 95% CI (1.02–3.92)], nausea during [AOR = 1.77, 95% CI (1.16–2.70)] and having additional meal [AOR = 1.68, 95% CI (1.02–2.75)] were significantly associated with food aversion. Maternal nutritional status and food aversion was sstatistically significant (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion High prevalence of food aversions (69.2%) and under nutrition (34.6%) among pregnant women is found. Therefore, the Woreda Health Office needs to intensify the integration of maternal nutrition into ANC services and training of health providers as well as critical appraisal of health extension workers should also be considered.

Background Regardless of its benefit in promoting maternal health, contributing to a healthy pregnancy, little is known concerning the prevalence of utilization of preconception care and its determinant in southern Ethiopia. Hence, this study designed to determine the prevalence of utilization of preconception care and contributing factors among pregnant women in West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2021. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 660 pregnant women in West Guji from June 15 to July 30, 2021. A pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data entry was done in Epidata version3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. To identify the factors associated with the utilization of preconception care binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% CI were estimated to assess the strength of associations and statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. Results One hundred-forty seven, 22.3% [95% CI (19.2, 25.4)] of mothers utilized preconception care. Being college and above [(AOR = 5.51 95%CI 91.43-21.19)] and secondary [(AOR = 4.46 95%CI (1.38-14.39)] in educational status, rich [(AOR = 4.23 95%CI (1.32-13.55)], having good knowledge about preconception care [AOR = 2.34 95%CI (1.05-5.28)], having a positive attitude towards preconception care [(AOR = 9.99 95%CI (4.25-23.48)] and deciding with her husband regarding maternal health services [(AOR = 4.71 95%CI (1.91-11.56)] were factors positively affecting utilization of preconception care. Conclusions The utilization of preconception care in the study area is low. Being college and above and secondary in educational status, rich, good knowledge, positive attitude towards preconception care, and deciding with her husband regarding maternal health services were independent factors promoting the utilization of preconception care. Information, education, and communication activities should be strengthened to increase awareness of mothers about preconception care.

There is little available evidence that quantifies the determinats of NNM in Ethiopia despite an increasing magnitude of neonatal mortality. Therefore, this study was designed to provide concrte evidence about the determinats of NNMS among neonates admitted to Guji and Borena Zones Public Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia, 2021. A facility based unmatched case control study design was conducted on 402 (134 cases and 268 controls) selected neonates admitted to Bule Hora, Adola and Yabelo General Hospitals from February 1-March 31, 2021. Cases were consecutively selected. Whereas for each case, two controls were selected by systematic random sampling technique. The data collection included a pretested and structured face-to-face interviewer administered questionnaire with a supplementation of maternal and neonatal medical records with checklists. Then the data were coded and entered in to Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science IBM version 25 for analysis. The descriptive statistics run and the results of the data were presented using frequencies, and tables. Bivariable and multi variable logistic regression was used for the analsysis of the data. Finally, Adjusted Odds Ratio together with 95% Confidence Intervals and p value <0.05 was used to declare the significance of all statistic. A total of 134 cases (neonatal near misses) and 268 controls (normal neonate) were participated in this study to make a response rate of 100% for both cases, and controls. In this study rural residence (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.96), previous history of neonatal death (AOR = 4.85, 95%CI: 2.24,10.49), birth interval ≤ 2 years (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.11) and history of abortion (both induced and miscarriage) (AOR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.17, 3.31) were found to be statistically significant at a p-value of <0.05. History of prior abortion history of prior neonatal death and short birth interval (≤ 2 years) were identified to be the determinats of NNMs. High quality antenatal and intrapartum continuum of care should be provided for women and neonates. Additionally, contraceptive utilization should be encouraged for a women to space the births of their children.

BackgroundUnrecognised transmission of tuberculosis is a main contributor of high epidemic of tuberculosis in low-income countries. Studies done in Ethiopia showed that delay in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment is one of the major challenges to tuberculosis control programmes in the country. This study assessed factors which predict health system diagnostic delay of new pulmonary tuberculosis in Gurage and Siltie zones, South Ethiopia.MethodsA health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 adult patients with new pulmonary tuberculosis in Gurage and Siltie zones. Consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Data were collected by using a structured and pretested Amharic questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-info V.7, processed and analysed by SPSS V.20. Health system diagnostic delay was dichotomised as either long or acceptable delay using median delay.ResultsMedian (IQR) patient and health system diagnostic delays are almost equal which are 20 (10–34.5) and 20.5 (8.2–56.2) days, respectively. Results from logistic regression show that presence of long patient delays (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.85, 95% CI: 1.44 to 5.62; p=0.003) in seeking care, presence of sputum smear examination (AOR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.75; p=0.005) at the first visit to a health facility and multiple heath facility visit before diagnosis of tuberculosis (AOR=4.95, 95% CI: 1.98 to 12.40; p=0.001) were factors significantly associated with long health system diagnostic delay.ConclusionsLong patient delay and multiple health facility visits are positively associated with long health system diagnostic delay; whereas sputum smear examination at the first contact with a health facility is negatively associated with long health system tuberculosis diagnostic delay.

Background Curtailing physical contact between individuals reduces transmission and spread of the disease. Social distancing is an accepted and effective strategy to delay the disease spread and reduce the magnitude of outbreaks of pandemic COVID-19. However, no study quantified social distancing practice and associated factors in the current study area. Therefore, the study aimed to assess social distancing practice and associated factors in response to COVID-19 pandemic in West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods and materials A Community based cross-sectional study design was conducted among randomly selected 410 household members of Bule Hora Town, West Guji Zone. Data were collected by pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire adapted from previous peer reviewed articles. The data were coded and entered in to Epi data version 3.5 and analyzed by SPSS version 23. The bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions analysis was done to identify factors associated with social distancing practice. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p value <0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. Result Out of 447 planned samples, 410 participants were successfully interviewed and included into final analysis; making the response rate of 91.7%. The median (±IQR) age of study participants was 28(±9) years. In this study, 38.3% [95% CI: 33.5%, 43.1%)] of the study participants have good social distancing practices for the prevention of COVID-19. Age group 26–30 years [AOR = 2.56(95% CI: 1.18–5.54)] and 31–35 years [AOR = 3.57(95%CI: 1.56–8.18)], employed [AOR = 6.10(95%CI: 3.46–10.74)],poor knowledge [AOR = 0.59 (95% CI:0.36–0.95)], negative attitude [AOR = 0.55 (95% CI:0.31–0.95)] and low perceived susceptibility [AOR = 0.33(95%CI: 0.20–0.54)] were significantly associated with good social distancing practice. Conclusion Social distancing practice is relatively poor in the study area. The knowledge and attitude level of participants were identified to be the major factors for the observed poor social distancing practice. Sustained efforts to improve awareness and attitudes towards COVID-19 prevention might improve adherence to social distancing practices.