Background World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life. EBF has sustainable long-term health benefits for both infants and mothers. Despite its benefits, the practice of EBF in Ethiopia is lower than the internationally recommended one. This study aimed at identifying factors influencing EBF practice among under-6 month infants in Ethiopia. Methods This study used data drawn from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey (2019 EMDHS) data. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to investigate factors significantly associated with EBF practice among under-6 month infants in Ethiopia. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the association of factors with EBF practice. Results A total of 566 infants under the age of 6 months were included in the study. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice was 83% (95% CI: 79.70–86%). Urban residences (AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22–0.73), mothers having secondary education (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.29–1.84) and higher education (AOR: 3.18, 95% CI: 0.68–15.02), mothers having ANC visits of 1 to 3 times (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.24–1.88) and ANC visits of 4 and more times (AOR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.06–17.25), family size of more than 5 (AOR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26–0.88), caesarean births (AOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42–0.95), and deliveries at health facilities (AOR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.12–5.63) were factors significantly associated with EBF practice among under-6 month infants. Conclusion In this study, EBF practice among under-6 month infants was significantly associated with place of residence, maternal educational level, ANC visits, family size, mode of delivery, and place of delivery. Therefore, encouraging ANC visit and promotion of institutional (health facility) delivery are recommended. Furthermore, special attention has to be given to mothers with no or less education to make them better aware of the EBF and its benefits to enhance exclusive breastfeeding practice.

Background: Children face the highest risk of dying in their first month of life. Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries with highest newborn deaths. Afar and Somalia regions in Ethiopia are among the regions with high death rates of newborn children. This study aimed to analyse and identify determinants of neonatal mortality in Afar and Somalia regions, Ethiopia.  Methods: This study used 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data for the analysis. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the significant determinants of neonatal mortality. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model was reported to declare the statistical significance and strength of association between neonatal mortality and determinants. Results: A total of 2567 newborn children were included in this study. Mortality rate among newborns in the first month was 41 per 1000 live births in Afar and Somalia regions. Health facility delivery (AOR: 0.634; 95% CI: 0.409–0.982), being female (AOR: 0.206; 95% CI: 0.073–0.528), multiple births (AOR: 3.958; 95% CI: 2.293–11.208), small size at birth (AOR: 1.208; 95% CI: 1.003–1.728), secondary and above educational level of mothers (AOR: 0.484; 95% CI: 0.294–0.797) were statistically significant determinants neonatal mortality. Conclusions: In this study, sex of child, place of delivery, birth type, size at birth, mother’s educational level were found to be statistically significant determinants of neonatal death in Afar and Somalia regions, Ethiopia. Mothers with no education should be given health education and institutional delivery should be encouraged to improve the survival of the neonates in Afar and Somalia regions, Ethiopia.

Background Stunting increases morbidity and mortality, hindering mental development and influencing cognitive capacity of children. This study aimed to examine the trends and determinants of stunting from infancy to middle adolescence in four countries: Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Methods A 15-year longitudinal data on the trends of stunting were obtained from the Young Lives cohort study. The study includes 38,361 observations from 4 countries. A generalized mixed-effects model was adopted to estimate the determinant of stunting. Results The patterns of stunting in children from aged 1 to 15 years have declined from an estimated 30% in 2002 to 20% in 2016. Stunting prevalence varied among four low- and middle-income countries with children in Ethiopia, India, and Peru being more stunted compared to children in Vietnam. The highest stunted was recorded in India and the lowest was recorded in Vietnam. In all four countries, the highest prevalence of severe stunting was observed in 2002 and moderate stunting was observed in 2006. Parents’ education level played a significance role in determining a child stunting. Children of uneducated parents were shown to be at a higher risk of stunting. Conclusion Disparities of stunting were observed between- and within-country of four low- and middle-income with the highest prevalence recorded in low-income country. Child stunting is caused by factors related to child’s age, household wealth, household size, the mother’s and father’s education level, residence area and access to save drinking water.

Anaemia in reproductive-aged women is a worldwide health problem. This study was aimed to assess prevalence and determinants of anaemia among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia. Data for the study were obtained from 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data, which is a national representative cross-sectional data. A Multivariable logistic regression model was applied to identify determinants of anaemia among reproductive-aged women. A total of 14460 women who aged 15 to 49 years were included in the study. Prevalence of anaemia of among reproductive-aged women was 27.08% (95% CI: 22.88, 31.08%). Women living in Afar (AOR=2.439; 95% CI: 2.006, 2.968), Amhara (AOR=1.269; 95% CI: 1.035, 1.556), Somalia (AOR=2.592; 95% CI: 2.142, 3.133), Benshangul-Gumuz (AOR=2.019; 95% CI: 1.666, 2.447), Gambela (AOR=2.465; 95% CI: 2.026, 2.998) were associated with high risk of anaemia. Women with 1 or 2 children (AOR=1.272; 95% CI: 1.103, 1.466), 3 or 4 children (AOR=1.277; 95% CI: 1.059, 1.539) and 5 or more (AOR=1.420; 95% CI: 1.213, 1.662) were associated with high risk of anaemia. Further, pregnant women (AOR=1.408; 95% CI: 1.263, 1.570) were associated with high risk of anaemia. Hence, concerned bodies need to pay special attention to women regarding anaemia based on place of residence and the region.