Background: Effectiveness of prenatal iron supplementation program depends on utilization of the supplement by pregnant women. Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, regardless of increasing efforts, lower proportion of pregnant women use the supplementation for recommended 3 months and above but, the reason is not clear. This study aimed to identify the level and factors associated with utilization of prenatal iron supplementation. Methods: A community based cross-sectional quantitative study complemented with qualitative component was carried out in January, 2016. A total of 411 pregnant women who gave birth 6 months preceding data collection were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Qualitative data were collected by conducting four focus group discussions (FGDs) of local pregnant mothers and interviewing district maternal and child health (MCH) focal, 3MCH heads of health centers and four health extension workers. Factors associated with appropriate utilization of supplementation were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. The outputs of analyses were presented using Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Result: From the study participants, 11.5% (95% CI = 9.9-13.1%) took the supplement for the recommended duration of 3 months or above. Pregnant women who could not read and write had 77% reduced odds of using iron supplementation than their counterparts (AOR = 0.23(95% CI: 0.07-0.75)). As compared to women who had four or more antenatal care (ANC), women with 2 and 3 ANC visits had 78% (AOR = 0.22(0.07-0.63)) and 66% (AOR = 0.34(0.14-0.81)) reduced odds of using the supplementation, respectively. As compared to women who were aware of benefits of taking the supplement for maternal and child health, the counterparts had 90% (AOR = 0.10 (0.10-0.63)) reduced odds of using the supplement. Women who were not knowledgeable of anemia had 85% (AOR = 0.15(0.04-0.62) reduced odds of using the supplement than those who were knowledgeable. The qualitative study indicated that there was no problem in the supply and logistic system of iron supplement and leading reasons for not taking the supplement were late initiation of Antenatal Care, lack of awareness and occurrence of side effects; unpleasant taste, nausea, vomiting.

Background Hand washing is the simplest, most affordable, and most effective means of limiting the spread of infections. Despite increasing efforts to improve hand washing at critical times (after defecation, after handling child/adult feces or cleaning child's bottom, after cleaning the environment, before preparing food, and before eating food), mothers/caregivers of under-five children fail to conduct it; but the reason appears unclear. Thus, this study sought to identify hand washing at critical times and associated factors among mothers/caregivers of under-five children in Nefas Silk Lafto Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on April 1-15, 2019, and 312 mothers/caregivers participated. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from participants by interviewer-administered technique and the data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. The factors were determined by conducting logistic regression and the crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals. All statistical tests were conducted at a 5% level of significance. Results The study revealed that 232 (74.4%; 95% CI [69.6%-79.2%]) mothers/caregivers washed their hands at critical times. The illiterate mothers/caregivers and mothers/caregivers who lacked tap water inside the home or the backyard had 66% (AOR = 0.34; 95%CI [0.17-0.69]) and 62% (AOR = 0.38; 95%CI [0.18-0.80]) reduced odds of washing hands at critical times, respectively. Mothers/caregivers from middle had (AOR = 4.56; 95%CI [1.84-11.33]), richer had (AOR = 5.61; 95%CI [2.11-15.30]), and the richest had (AOR = 6.14; 95%CI [2.24-16.72]) times increased likelihood of washing hands at critical times than the poorest. Conclusion The majority of mothers/caregivers practiced hand washing at critical times, and improving maternal literacy, household economy, and availability of water sources in the backyard are needed to maintain and enhance the practice.

Background Hand washing is the simplest, most affordable and effective means of limiting spread of infections. It has especial importance for children because they are more susceptible to infections acquired from unwashed hands. Despite increasing efforts to improve hand washing at critical times, mothers/caregivers of under-five children fail to practice; but, the reason is unclear. Thus, this study was aimed to identify the magnitude and factors associated with hand washing at critical times among mothers/caregivers of under-five children. Methods An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in Nefas Silk Lafto Sub-City by April 2019, and 312 mothers/caregivers were participated. The data were collected by interviewing mothers, entered and analyzed with statistical package for social science 20 (SPSS-20). The findings were presented with crude odds ratios (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). A P-value less than 0.05 was used statistical significance level. Results 232 ( 74.4%; 95% CI [69.6%-79.2%]) mothers/caregivers washed their hands at critical times. Illiterate mothers had 66% reduced (AOR= 0.34; 95%CI [0.17-0.69]) odds of washing hands at critical times than literate mothers. Mothers who did not own tap water in their back yard had 62% (AOR= 0.38; 95%CI [0.18-0.80]) reduced odds of hand washing at critical times than their counterparts. As compared to the mothers from the poorest households, those from middle, richer and the richest households had 4.56 (AOR= 4.56; 95%CI [1.84-11.33]), 5.61 (AOR= 5.61; 95%CI [2.11-15.30]) and 6.14 (AOR= 6.14; 95%CI [2.24-16.72]) times increased likelihood of washing hands at critical times. Conclusion Three fourth of mothers practiced hand washing at critical times, and improving maternal literacy, household economy and availability of water source in backyard are needed to maintain and enhance the practice.

Background Despite increasing efforts to improve access to diagnosis and treatment services, women with pelvic organ prolapse tend to stay at home for years before getting treatment. A large number of women, particularly in rural areas do not get early diagnosis and treatment, and they come with an advanced stage; but the reason for this appears unclear. Thus, this study aimed to determine the proportion and associated factors of delay in seeking treatment among women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in the Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study mixed with qualitative method was conducted in the Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia, from September to October 2021. A total of 422 women with pelvic organ prolapse were selected by systematic random sampling for quantitative data. The women recruited for in-depth interviews were purposefully selected until data saturation reaches via phenomenological study design. The quantitative data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire and reviewing clients’ medical records via an open data kit and then exported to and analyzed with a statistical package for social science version 25. The associated variables were determined by conducting a logistic regression model and are presented with the crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). All statistical tests were conducted at a 5% level of significance. The interview was first transcribed, coded, and categories and themes were generated by applying thematic analysis. Results The study showed that 82.0% (95% CI: [74.8-89.3%]) of women with POP delayed seeking treatment. The delay to seek treatment was associated with a lack of support (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI [1.8–13.2]), low-income (AOR = 6.4; 95% CI [2.2–19.2]), fear of disclosure (AOR = 5.0; 95% CI [1.3–19.2]) and fear of social stigma (AOR = 4.6; 95% CI [1.5–14.2]). The reasons for the delay were feeling shameful to disclose, fear of stigma and cultural and spiritual beliefs. Conclusions More than three-fourths of women with POP delayed seeking treatment, and improving support, improving the economy, raising awareness, and involving influential people in interventions are all necessary to avert it.

Background: Globally, wasting threatens the lives of 50 million children under-five. In Ethiopia, wasting is not decreasing at the intended rate, but the reason remains unclear. Moreover, Bakadawula Ari district lacks scientific information regarding wasting among children. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of wasting and its predictors among under-five children in the district. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 421 children. The data were entered and analyzed by SPSS 26 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26). Logistic regression analyses were used and presented with crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The prevalence of wasting among children in the study area was 22.6% (95% CI: 18.5-26.8). Fathers with primary education (AOR= 4.48; 95% CI: 1.93-10.39), households with improper solid waste- disposal (AOR= 2.54; 95% CI: 1.11-5.82), not usually sleeping under insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) (AOR=1.79; 95% CI: 1.01-3.19), unacceptable children dietary diversity score (DDS) (AOR= 2.56; 95% CI: 1.28-5.14) and unacceptable household DDS (AOR= 2.26; 95% CI: 1.02-5.00) were predictors of wasting. Conclusions: The prevalence of wasting among children was critically high. Upgrading educational status of fathers, encouraging safe solid waste disposal, ensuring consistent use of ITN, and improving both children and household DDS should be given a due emphasis to reduce wasting in the study area.

Background: Risky sexual behavior (RSB) among youth can lead to serious social, economic, and health problems, such as unwanted pregnancy and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite a high burden of AIDS in the South Omo zone, little is known about RSB among secondary school students, and numerous studies in Ethiopia have discordant RSB findings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of risky sexual behavior and its determinants among secondary school students in the South Omo zone. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2023. A multistage sampling method was used to select 538 students. A validated and structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data after pretesting. The results of descriptive analysis were presented by texts, tables and figures. Variables found to be p<0.20 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were candidates for multivariate analysis. The level of statistical significance was declared at a p value less than 0.05 in multivariate analysis. Odds ratios along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to present the results of the logistic regressions. Results: The prevalence of RSB among the study participants was 25.9% (95% CI= 22.3%-29.9%). It was significantly associated with having sexually active close friends [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.90-5.02], attending night clubs (AOR=2.56; 95% CI: 1.35-4.86), drinking alcohol (AOR=1.90; 95% CI: 1.10-3.29), parental neglect (AOR=2.10; 95% CI: 1.35-3.29) and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge (AOR=1.76; 95% CI: 1.12-2.77). Conclusions: Risky sexual behavior among secondary school students was very high. Having sexually active friends, attending night clubs, drinking alcohol, parental neglect and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge were determinants of RSB. Strengthening reproductive and sexual health services, close communication with youth in the family, measures to lessen alcohol consumption and night club attendance, and enhancing HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among secondary school students are needed.

Background Chronic undernutrition (stunting) among children is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The global community is committed to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030. Regardless of this, children are suffering from some form of malnutrition but the reason is unclear. This study thus was intended to identify stunting and associated factors among children aged 6 to 59 months in the South Ari Woreda of South Omo Zone. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in South Ari Woreda from 1, January 2022 to 30, February 2022, and 409 children participated. A simple random sampling technique was used to identify study participants, and mothers/caregivers were interviewed. Data on sociodemographic, economic, and environmental determinants were collected by trained professional nurses using interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric data were collected via weighting and measuring the height/length of the child. Emergency Nutrition Assessment for Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions 2020 software was used to generate an anthropometric index, and a child with a height for age index below −2standard deviations of the standard population was considered stunted. Factors of stunting were assessed using multivariate binary logistic regression at a 5% significance level. Results The study revealed that 44.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 39.19%-48.81%) of children were stunted in the study area. Household's wealth status (the poorest; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.14 [95% CI = 2.08-8.22] and poor; AOR = 3.31 [95% CI = 1.60-6.82]), improper solid waste management practice of the household (AOR = 2.67 [95% CI = 1.56-4.55]), and the children sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets (ITN) (AOR = 0.37 [95%CI = 0.22-0.60]) were statistically significantly associated with stunting status of the children. Conclusion Stunting among the children in the study area was very high. Improving household's (HH) economy, safe management of domestic solid waste, and ensuring that the children are sleeping under ITNs are expected to reduce stunting.