Background: Developing countries in general and Ethiopia in particular are affected by a growing problem of food insecurity. Millions of individuals and households especially the rural poor are the main victims of the problem. The government of Ethiopia together with other development partners launched the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) in 2005 to help chronically food-insecure households. This study discusses the role of PSNP on the improvement in consumption needs and asset base of the households, effect on community development and determinants of food insecurity level of beneficiaries.Methodology: Three Woredas have been selected agro-ecologically. Both qualitative and quantitative data-generating techniques were employed. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and using narration. Frequency distribution table and t test were used. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the determinants of food insecurity. Results and conclusion:Results indicated that PSNP was helping beneficiaries for consumption smoothing, asset accumulation, and development of the local community. The effectiveness of PSNP was significantly determined by age and education level of the household head and occurrence of shocks on the last five consecutive years. The practice of PSNP was challenged by a lack of monitoring and evaluation of structures, low payment and limited awareness of beneficiaries. To assure the positive role of PSNP, culture of savings and accumulation of assets, engagement of beneficiary households in diversified asset building livelihood strategies, targeting and minimizing wrong inclusion and exclusion, and the management as well as monitoring practices of locally constructed community development infrastructures should be enhanced.

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Introduction: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are nonpsychotic mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, adjustment, and somatoform disorders that compromise daytoday functioning. Pregnancy and the transition to motherhood involve major physical and psychological changes in the expecting mothers. Objective To assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors among pregnant women in Abebech Gobena Hospital in 2022. Method Crosse sectional study was conducted from May to June 2022 at Abebech Gobena hospital. Systematic random sampling method was employed to select 421 study participants. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and face- to -face interview method. Data was entered in to Epi info 7.1 and export to (SPSS) version 20 for analysis. The association between dependent and independent variables was analyzed by using logistic regression. In bi-variable logistic regression (at p value < 0.25) was entered in to multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed. Statistical significance was declared at p value of < 0 .05. Results From the total of 415 participant 85(20.5%) had common mental disorder. As of this result, participants were unplanned 2.9 times [AOR = 2.9, CI95%( 1.3, 6.7)] developed common mental disorder than planed pregnant. Pregnant women who reported history of chronic medical illness have 2.8 CMD than who didn’t (AOR = 2.8; 95%CI: 1.08—7.1). The odds of having CMD among participants who were lifetime alcohol use was 5.3 times (AOR = 5.304, 95% CI = 3.1, 7.1) than participants who did not use. Participants who had no husband support continuity of pregnant were 1.97 times more develop CMD (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 0.96, 4.04) as compared with who had husband support. Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study the prevalence of Common Mental Disorder in pregnant women was high. Chronic illness, alcohol use in lifetime, husband support and status of pregnancy were found to be significantly associated with common mental disorder. Therefore all stake holders would involve in providing special psycho-social support during pregnancy than ever at the time of ANC follow up.

Background Providing food to the school children is an important means of compacting malnutrition especially in high food insecure areas. Our study was conducted to evaluate the association between school feeding and nutritional status among students in primary schools of Dubti district in Afar region. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was employed on 936 primary school students from March 15–31/2021. For data collection, structured questionnaire was administered by the interviewer. Descriptive statistics as well as logistic regression was conducted. WHO Anthro-plus software was used to compute anthropometric data. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was calculated to identify the level of association. Variables with p-value <0.05 were taken as statistical level of significance. Results A total of 936 primary school students, with 100% response rate, were included in the current study. The prevalence of stunting in school fed and non-school fed students was 13.7% 95% CI (11, 17) and 21.6% 95% CI (18, 25), respectively. The prevalence of thinness in school fed and non-school fed students was 4.9% 95% CI (3, 7) and 13.9% 95% CI (11, 17), respectively. Even though no record of overweight and obesity were found in non-school fed students, 5.4% 95% CI (3, 7) among school fed students was overweight/obese. Grade level, diet information source, media source availability, maternal age, the critical time for hand washing, and nutrition education were found to be predictors of malnutrition in both groups of students. Conclusion The magnitude of stunting and thinness in school fed students is found to be lower, but overnutrition is higher than non-school fed. Grade level of students and diet selection information were determinants that affected the nutritional status of students. Coordinated education regarding good feeding practice, and personal as well as environmental hygiene should be given to the students and their families.

Introduction: Worldwide, including in Ethiopia, there is an increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the survival status and predictors of mortality among COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: This study included 508 COVID-19 patients retrospectively who were under follow-up. The work has been reported in line with the STROCSS (strengthening the reporting of cohort, cross-sectional and case–control studies in surgery) criteria. The data were collected through a systematic sampling from patients’ charts. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and logrank test, and Cox’s regression analyses were conducted to check the difference among categories of covariates and to identify predictors of mortality, respectively. Results: All patient charts were reviewed and the information was recorded. The average age (mean+SD) of these patients was 62.1+13.6 years. Among study participants, 422 deaths occurred and the mortality rate was 64.1 per 1000 person-days. The median survival time was 13 days [interquartile range (IQR): 10–18]. The significant predictors for this survival were: Age>45 years [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=4.34, 95% CI: 2.46–7.86], Diabetes mellitus (AHR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.05–1.77), Hypertension (AHR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.09–1.79), Renal disease (AHR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.01–3.43), Hypotension (AHR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.28–2.27), Electrolyte treatment (AHR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.63–0.97). Conclusion: The median survival of COVID-19 patients after their admission was 13 days, and predictors for this time were advanced age, preexisting comorbidities (like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and renal disease), hypotension, and electrolyte therapy.