Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is attention given to a pregnant mother from the time of conception until the beginning of labor. It has an impact on the development of the fetus as well as the health of the mother. It can be achieved through early booking and regular attendance of antenatal clinic. Objective: This study assessed the magnitude and associated factors for late booking for antenatal care in Adigrat town. Methodology: A facility based cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from 415 pregnant women using face-to-face interview. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify associated factors with late booking for ANC. Result: Two hundred fifteen (51.8%) pregnant women booked their first ANC late. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who had parity one and above, unplanned pregnancy and those who had a perception time to book ANC is after four months of gestational age were increased but having no history on abortion decreased the likelihood of late booking than the reference category. Conclusion: The prevalence of late booking for ANC was found high in Adigrat and the possible factors for this were parity one and above, had no history of abortion, unplanned pregnancy and perception the time to book ANC. To improve this addressing the identified factors by community mobilization and promoting the importance of early booking for ANC are mandatory.

Background: The burden of malnutrition in Ethiopia is the second highest in sub Saharan Africa. According to the recently released Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey report of 2011, the prevalence of child stunting, underweight and wasting were 44% stunted, 10% wasted and 29% underweight respectively. Objectives: To determine the magnitude and risk factors of malnutrition among 6-59 months children from Community Based Nutrition Program implementing and nonimplementing districts from south east Amhara. Methodology: Descriptive community based, cross sectional study in which a total of 987 children (620 from Community Based Nutrition implementing and 367 from nonimplementing districts) were sampled. A structured questionnaire was administered to mothers or caregivers of the children. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard procedures. Nutritional status of the children was determined based on Z scores of < −2 or >= −2 Standard Deviation. Logistic regression was used to test significant associations between outcome and factor variables. Setting: Rural communities from Artuma Fursi and Kemissie districts. Results: A total of 987 children of 6-59 months of age and 987 mothers/caregivers had participated in the study, giving a response rate of 99%. The percentage of male and female children in CBNP district was 330 (53.2%) and 290 (46.8%) and that of non Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP) district was 192 (52.3%) & 175 (47.7%) respectively. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 60.6%, 31.1%, 12.6% and 39.0%, 27.5%, 14.7% in CBNP and nonCBNP implementing districts, respectively. The possible risk factors for child B. Tariku et al. 2 malnutrition were area specific and different for the two districts. Conclusion: Child under nutrition is a serious public health problem in both districts, so that holistic programs need to be designed and implemented according to the guidelines.

Background: Despite presence of clinical management protocols for treating severe acute malnutrition, its case fatality rate remains high in health facilities from developing countries. Objectives: To assess treatment outcomes and associated risk factors for death of children aged 6 -59 months with complicated severe acute malnutrition. Methods: A cohort of 469 children aged 6 -59 months with complicated severe acute malnutrition admitted to nutritional rehabilitation units of Mekelle City were followed retrospectively. Data on nutritional status, socio-demographic factors, admission medical conditions and management characteristics were collected. Median test, Chi-square test and Cox's proportional hazard regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Overall case fatality rate was 12.8%. The median length of stay and median weight gain was 17 days and 12.1 g/kg/day, respectively. Two third of the deaths occurred during the first week of admission. Diarrhea (HR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.23 -4.89), IV antibiotic (HR: 5.87, 95% CI: 1.73 -19.87), blood transfusion (HR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.51 -6.17) and IV infusion (HR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.25 -5.07) were found to be associated with time to death. Conclusion: Unacceptably high case fatality rate was observed at the therapeutic feeding units of Mekelle City. Diarrhea, IV antibiotic, blood transfusion and IV infusion were the risk factors for death of severely malnourished under five children. Appropriate clinical management of severe acute malnutrition in the first week of inpatient stay with frequent monitoring for signs associated with clinical deterioration of children hospitalized with complicated SAM is most critical to the survival of the children.

IntroductionRisk sexual practice among students from public universities/colleges is common in Ethiopia. However, little has been known about risk sexual behavior of students in private colleges where more students are potentially enrolled. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of risky sexual behaviors and predictors among students of Private Colleges in Mekelle City.MethodsA mixed design of both quantitative and qualitative methods was used among 627 randomly selected students of private colleges from February to march 2013. Self administered questionnaire and focus group discussion was used to collect data. A thematic content analysis was used for the qualitative part. For the quantitative study, Univariate, Bivariate and multivariable analysis was made using SPSS version 16 statistical package and p value less than 0.05 was used as cut off point for a statistical significance.ResultsAmong the total 590 respondents, 151 (29.1%) have ever had sex. Among the sexually active students, 30.5% reported having had multiple sexual partners and consistent condom use was nearly 39%. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables such as sex, age group, sex last twelve months and condom use last twelve months was found significantly associated with risky sexual behavior. The findings of qualitative and quantitative study showed consistency in presence of risk factors.ConclusionFinding of this study showed sexual risk behaviors is high among private colleges such as multiple sexual partners and substance use. So that colleges should emphasis on promoting healthy sexual and reproductive health programs.

Background Delayed health care seeking is one of the major impediments to successfully prevent and control sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Gambella is one of the HIV hot spot areas and the most HIV prevalent region in the country. Considering the empirical knowledge of the link between STIs and HIV, gathering information on health-seeking behavior and the associated factors among STI patients is helpful to design interventions that enhance early seeking and treatment adherence. Methodology A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from 424 STI patients from February 15 to April 15, 2017, using a face-to-face interview. A consecutive sampling method was used until the allocated sample for each facility was fulfilled. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with health-seeking behavior. Results The proportion of delayed health care seeking among patients treated for STIs was 56.8%. Knowledge, number of sexual partners, and perception variables were found significantly associated with early seeking behavior in multivariate logistic regression: patients who had better knowledge of STIs (AOR =1.74, 95% CI =1.10, 2.73), had single sexual partner (AOR =1.83, 95% CI =1.19, 2.78), those who perceived stigma for STIs (AOR =0.52, 95% CI =0.34, 0.79), and perceived severity of STIs (AOR =1.97, 95% CI =1.18, 3.29). Conclusion This study reported a high proportion of delayed health care seeking. This may challenge the prevention and control effort and alarms the potential threat to the spread of STI/HIV in the region. Provision of intensive health education is crucial to improve awareness and to avoid risk behaviors and negative perceptions.

ObjectivesThe loss to follow-up (LTFU) among patients attending care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Sub-Saharan Africa is a major barrier to achieving the goals of the STI prevention and control programme. The objective of this study was to investigate individual- and facility-level factors associated with LTFU among patients treated for STIs in Ethiopia.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted among patients attending care for STIs in selected facilities from January to June 2015 in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. LTFU was ascertained if a patient did not present in person to the same facility within 7 days of the initial contact. Multilevel logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with LTFU.ResultsOut of 1082 patients, 59.80% (647) were LTFU. The individual-level factors associated with LTFU included having multiple partners (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.89, 95% CI 1.74 to 4.80), being male (AOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.63 to 3.04), having poor knowledge about the means of STI transmission (AOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.82), having college level education (AOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.65), and low perceived stigma (AOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.82). High patient flow (AOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.30 to 7.18) and medium health index score (AOR 2.80, 95% CI 1.28 to 6.13) were facility-level factors associated with LTFU.ConclusionsImproving patient retention in STI follow-up care requires focused interventions targeting those who are more likely to be LTFU, particularly patients with multiple partners, male index cases and patients attending facilities with high patient flow.

In spite of the well proven benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in prolonging life expectancy, being lost to ART follow-up is a problem to the success of antiretroviral therapy programs in resource limited countries including Ethiopia. Thus the aim of the study was to assess the magnitude and predictors of loss to follow-up among adult ART clients. A case-control study design was employed using patients' chart review. For each case three controls were selected based on the closest day of enrollment. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to test association. A total of 727 adult patients were started on antiretroviral therapy during the study period. Among these, 80 (11%) were found to be lost from follow up for a period of ≥ 3 months and 240 controls were randomly selected for 80 cases in a ratio of 1:3. Presence of bereavement concern, not being provided with isoniazide (INH) prophylaxis, the presence of side effects and earlier periods after ART initiating were found to be associated with increased odds for being lost to follow up. The proportion of lost to follow up in this study was lower than those figures reported for resource poor countries. Thus, more targeted health education, counseling and follow-up is needed for patients with identified risk factors.

Abstract:Introduction: Night blindness is significant public health problem among pregnant women in Ethiopia and estimated to be more severe in rural areas. However; there is insufficient information about the magnitude of night blindness among pregnant women's of rural Ethiopia. The same is true in the study region. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of night blindness among pregnant Women's in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was employed in February 2013 among selected 323 pregnant women's. Two stage cluster sampling was employed; in the first stage seven kebeles were selected randomly, in the second stage study subjects were selected with considering probability proportional to population size (PPS). A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection based on the objective of the study. The data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. Bivariate & multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with night blindness at confidence limits of 95% and P-value less than 5% significant. Frequencies, proportion, summary statistics were used for presenting the result of the study. Results: out of 323 pregnant women 56 (17%) were suffered from night blindness. Pregnant women's age beyond 35 years were 4.9 times more likely to be night blinded than those with age less than 25 years [AOR=4.9; 95% CI: (1.6-14.9)]. Pregnant women's income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month were 2 times more likely to be night blinded than those who can earn more than that [AOR=2.0; 95% CI:(1.02-3.9)]. Pregnant women's didn't have own cattle were 5.6 times more likely to be night blinded than those who have cattle [AOR=5.6; 95% CI: (2.9, 11.0)]. Pregnant women's with no hand washing practice after toilet were 3 times more likely to be night blinded than having hand washing practice after toilet [AOR=3.0; 95% CI:(1.3 -7.1)]. Conclusion: Night blindness is a serious public health problem of pregnant women's. Pregnant Women's age greater than 35 years, not having cattle, no hand washing practice after toilet and income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month, were significantly affected by night blindness.