Purpose This study assessed the community’s level of risk perception of COVID-19, their compliance with recommended precautionary measures, and factors that influence compliance behavior. Methods This study is a cross-sectional online survey administered using google forms. Data were collected from 521 respondents using various social media channels, including e-mail, Facebook, messenger, telegram, and IMO. Results About 9 in 10 respondents (90.4%) perceived that they are susceptible to COVID-19. Nearly 9 in 10 participants (87.5%) perceived that COVID-19 is a serious disease. The majority of respondents (81%) got information about COVID-19 from television and social networking sites. The regression analyses revealed that compliance with preventive behaviors is differed by respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics. Being female (β: 0.094, P<0.05), higher perceived effectiveness of recommended preventive measures (β: 0.367, P<0.001), and higher perceived reliability of media (β: 0.189, P<0.001) facilitated compliance with preventive measures. On the other hand, increasing age (β: −0.096, P<0.05), being single (β: −0.127, P<0.01), lower education level (β: −0.168, P<0.01), and living at a lower administrative level were barriers to be compliant with preventive measures. Conclusion The majority of the respondents exercised one or more of the recommended preventive measures to avoid COVID-19 infection. Most of the respondents got information about COVID-19 from television and social networking sites. Given that about 80% of the Ethiopian population is living in rural areas without television and higher illiteracy rate to use social networking sites, concerned bodies should introduce tailored interventions to impart knowledge about COVID-19 infection and mitigating measures. Limitations Although the sampling procedure was random through the online system, it might not be representative to study the perception and compliance of people towards COVID-19 prevention practices at a country level due to its small size. Thus, the interpretation of the study findings needs to consider this limitation.

BackgroundBehaviors established during adolescence such as risky sexual behaviors have negative effects on future health and well-being. Extant literature indicated that individual attributes such as peer pressure and substance use have impacts on healthy development of young peoples’ sexual behavior. The patterns of relationships (social network structure) and the social network content (members’ norm regarding sexual practice) established by adolescents’ network on adolescents’ risky sexual behaviors are not well investigated.MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed the roles of social networks on sexual behavior of high school adolescents in Bahir Dar and Mecha district, North West Ethiopia. Data were collected from 806 high school adolescents using a pretested anonymously self administered questionnaire. Hierarchical logistic regression model was used for analysis.ResultsThe results indicated that more than 13% had risky sexual behavior. Taking social networks into account improved the explanation of risky sexual behavior over individual attributes. Adolescents embedded within increasing sexual practice approving norm (AOR 1.61; 95%CI: 1.04 – 2.50), increasing network tie strength (AOR 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06 – 1.19), and homogeneous networks (AOR 1.58; 95% CI: .98 – 2.55) were more likely to had risky sexual behavior. Engaging within increasing number of sexuality discussion networks was found protective of risky sexual behavior (AOR .84; 95% CI: .72 – .97).ConclusionSocial networks better predict adolescent’s risky sexual behavior than individual attributes. The findings indicated the circumstances or contexts that social networks exert risks or protective effects on adolescents’ sexual behavior. Programs designed to reduce school adolescents’ sexual risk behavior should consider their patterns of social relationships.

Early marriage has profound physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts and reduces educational opportunities and the chance for personal growth for both boys and girls. This study investigated the prevalence of early marriage in South Wollo and East Gojjam zones of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia. Data were collected from 769 respondents (476 females and 293 males) who were randomly selected from two zones. Structured questionnaires, focus groups and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Percentages and Chi-square were used for analysis. The results revealed that early marriage is prevalent in the study areas. Its incidence was higher in East Gojjam(87%) than South Wollo(80%) and much higher for females (83%) than males (17%). Early marriage experience across age cohorts shows a revival of the practice. Hence, legal campaigns against early marriage that allow full community participation are recommended.

Background: Despite progress recently, Ethiopia remains one of the largest contributors to the global burden of maternal deaths. As facility-based childbirth and skilled-birth attendant at birth reduces maternal morbidity and mortality, the country has been implementing expansions in infrastructure during the past decades. Whether this phenomenal expansion in infrastructure and improvement in coverage of healthcare services matched with quality of maternal health service is not well investigated. This study assessed the quality of intrapartum care experienced by mothers at health centers in Jabi Tehinan district, North West Ethiopia. Method: An institution-linked community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from August to September 2018 to assess the quality of intrapartum care experienced by mothers during facility deliveries. Quantitative data were collected from 378 women who had uncomplicated births at health centers within 6 months preceding the survey and interviews were held with 25 women. The quantitative data were entered into SPSS for Windows versions 23 for analyses. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim and data were used to substantiate the quantitative data. Result: The results indicated that 13% of mothers experienced good quality of intrapartum care services. About 49, 45, 31, and 25% of mothers respectively experienced good quality of human and physical resources; respect, dignity, and equity; emotional support; and cognition. Only 2% of mothers experienced good quality of services on the four dimensions and 15% did not experience good quality of services on neither of the dimensions. Mothers from rural areas and mothers who did not use ANC services for recent born children were found more likely to experience good quality of intrapartum care. Informants discussed poor quality of labor environment, lack of privacy, and poor client-provider communications at health facilities. Conclusion: The results indicated that the quality of intrapartum care experienced by mothers were minimal. The findings highlighted that efforts exerted to increase infrastructure and improve maternal health service coverage did not ensure quality maternal health services. Therefore, to increase the uptake of facility births and improved maternal health outcomes, stakeholders should make the health system humane, respectful, equitable, and responsive to mothers' concerns.

Abstract:Background: Begging is a last resort of coping mechanisms of poverty, disability and various political, social and environmental crises. It is practiced to obtain from others. Objective: This study is attempted to investigate the demographic and socio-economic determinants of begging at Bahir Dar. Methods: case-control study design was used with a total population of 204 (102 cases [ beggars] and 102 controls[ non-beggars] ). Semi-structured questionnaire were used and entered in to SPSS for Windows version 15.0 for analysis. Result: reasons for beggar's engagement in begging were, Poverty (98%) unemployment (78%) and physical handicap (54%) were identified. As to the background characteristics of respondents, the result of the binary logistic regression indicates that there was significant relation between begging and literacy status. The odds of begging decreases by 25% for literate respondents than their illiterate counterparts. In this study, beggaring was found increasing as age level increases. The logistic regression results also indicate that the odds of begging is 10.76 times higher for cases in the age group 25-34 years than younger cohorts (15-24 years). Annual household income also showed an association to be beggars between the groups. Conclusion and Recommendation: illiteracy, migration, old age and low annual household income were significantly associated with being beggar. Reducing rural urban migration and establishing an old age security system may solve the problem.