Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) and undernutrition are common health problems in developing countries. Several reports showed that STH and undernutrition are often associated. The main aim of this study was to determine the association of STH and undernutrition among schoolchildren in Mettu town, Southwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed. To collect socio-demographic data, semi-structured questionnaire and physical observation were used. Kato-Katz technique and Anthropometric measurements were also considered to see STH infection and determine the nutritional statuses of the study participants respectively. Then, the data generated from the study was managed using Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to determine the association of demographic variables with infections of helminthes and assess the risk factors for nutritional status of the study participants respectively. As a result, among the 392 study schoolchildren, 331 (84.4%) children were positive for different species of STH and undernutrition accounted 32.6%. Ascaris lumbricoides (39.0%), Trichuris trichiura (32.9%) and hookworm (28.1%) are the predominant STH identified from the study participants. Age, maternal educational and occupation status, and fingernail status of children were found significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the risk of getting STH. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, age (AOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.53, 6.59), maternal illiteracy (AOR 0.13, 95% CI 0.91, 0.34) and maternal occupation (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08, 5.91) were major co-founding factors for the prevalence of STH among study participants. In addition, children with T. trichiura infection were more likely (P < 0.01) to suffer from undernutrition (AOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31, 0.83). Thus, the findings revealed the high prevalence of STH and it has significant association with undernutrition among school age children in the study area. Anti-helminthic mass drug administration and maternal health education should be anticipated to curve the tragedy.

Background Globally, under-five mortality rates have dropped, but in Ethiopia, the under-five mortality rate is still high. In Amhara region, the death of children under the age of five is still a public health problem. This study assessed the risk factors of mortality among children under age five in Awi Zone. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2020, up to April 30, 2021. Data entry and analysis were conducted using SPSS version 26 and Stata version 16, respectively. A zero-inflated Poisson regression model was fitted to identify the risk factors of under-five mortality. Result Out of the 1,340 mothers in the Awi zone, 11.9% of women lost at least one child. Single births (IRR = 0.598, 95% CI: 0.395, 0.906), fathers whose level of education is secondary or above(IRR = 0.223, 95% CI: 0.064, 0.782), mothers who completed their secondary and above education level(IRR = 0.116, 95% CI: 0.014, 0.971), mothers who have birth interval greater than 24 months (IRR = 0.619,95% CI: 0.417, 0.917), 8 and above family size the households (IRR = 0.543, 95% CI: 0.302, 0.976), 31 and above mother age groups (IRR = 0.296, 95% CI: 0.093, 0.943), medium households of mothers (IRR = 0.540, 95% CI: 0.316, 0.920), working mothers (IRR = 1.691, 95% CI: 1.040, 2.748) and mothers who had not antenatal visits during pregnancy (IRR = 2.060, 95% CI: 1.259, 3.371) were significant factors of under-five mortality. Conclusion Mother’s age group, preceding birth interval, family size, wealth index, duration of pregnancy, antenatal visits during pregnancy, types of birth, mother’s education level, husband’s education level, and place of delivery were significant factors of under-five mortality in Awi zone. So, Awi zone public health institute, Awi zone children’s and youth office, and other relevant bodies should work to reduce under-five mortality by focusing on child mortality issues.

This study aimed to assess the determinants of diarrhea among children under-five in Jabitehnan district, Northwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was done using a cluster sampling technique. The study was done in the Jabitehnan district from April to July 2019.  The study was done among women who had children under five during the survey who settled in Jabitehnan district. The main outcome measure was the occurrence of diarrhea. A binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with diarrhea. The prevalence of diarrhea was found to be 19.8%. The child lived with whose non-biological mothers were 32.44 times more likely to be exposed to diarrhea compared to the child who lived with whose biological mothers. The odds of being diarrheal for a child whose mother does not wash her hand after latrine was 7.91 times higher than its counterpart. A child whose mother pregnant was 5.66 times higher risk of developing diarrhea than whose mother do not pregnant. The likelihood of diarrhea for children drinking unprotected water were14.1times higher than its counterpart. The magnitude of reported diarrhea was high. Child age, residence, drinking water, pregnant mother, toilet facility, washing hand after latrine, and child live with whom were the main determinates of diarrhea. Addressing these factors will help to prevent future morbidity and mortality of children and will assist in alleviating hygiene and refining their quality of life. Moreover, a trend-based sampling design might be considered for a better understanding.

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Introduction: Women’s decision-making autonomy is extremely important for the development of maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare utilization. However, there's no evidence on the association of women’s decision-making autonomy with neonatal mortality rate at a national level in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of women's autonomy on neonatal mortality rate and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 5,128 neonates born 5 years before the survey from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 were reviewed. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to assess the effect of women's autonomy and identify the determinate predictors of neonate death risk. Results: The rate of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia was 20.7 per 1000 live births). Women's hadn't autonomy in health care increase neonatal death by 2.72 times compared with those that had autonomy. Hadn’t postnatal care was caused to grown neonatal death by 5.48 times (AOR 5.48, 95%CI: 1.29, 23.26). Delivering at a health institution had 0.61 times lowered neonatal death risk compared with delivering at of health institution without a health facility(AOR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38,0.97). Breastfeeding immediately within 1hr after birth had 0.17 times reduce neonatal death risk compared with not initiation of breastfeeding(AOR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.12,0.26). Women's gave birth single had 0.09 times reduced neonatal death risk than those that gave birth multiple (AOR 0.09, 95% CI: 0.05,0.18). Unknowingly, male neonates had a 1.84 times higher risk of death than females (AOR 1.84, 95%CI: 1.20,2.81). Conclusion: Neonatal mortality rate was significantly related to women's hadn't deciding power on health care, hadn’t postnatal care, delivered out of health institution, breastfed not immediately, and gave birth multiple. It is important to encourage mothers autonomy, use postnatal care service, and deliver in health institutions.