Purpose: Studies addressing determinants of home delivery in pastoralist areas are scarce in Ethiopia. In this study, we aimed to assess determinants of home delivery in rural pastoralist communities of Hamar District, Southern Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: In April 2018, we conducted a community-based case-control study. Of 35 rural kebeles (lowest level of administration) in the district, 8 were randomly selected. Ninety-nine randomly selected cases (mothers who gave birth at home) and 193 controls (mothers who gave birth at health facility) were included in the study. We used structured questionnaires to collect data. Through face-to-face interview, data on place of delivery, sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history knowledge and attitude of mothers were collected. We used logistic regression model to measure association between variables. Results: Late initiation of antenatal care (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.2, 17.1), husbands only decision-making (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =7.2, 95% CI = 2.1, 24.5), women's preference for traditional birth attendants (TBAs) (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.2, 12.5), and not involving in women's development army (WDA), (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.0, 10.5) increased the risk of home delivery. Moreover, low maternal knowledge on danger signs of pregnancy (AOR = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.5, 29.0) and negative maternal attitudes towards institutional delivery (AOR = 4.4, 95% CI = 1.4, 14.1) were other factors that increased the risk of home delivery. Conclusion: Among our study participants, a number of factors increased the risk of home delivery. Improving women's awareness on the importance of institutional delivery, establishing systems for integration between TBAs and health facilities, empowering women and promoting them to participation in WDA were recommended.

Over 60% (60 million) of Ethiopian populations live in areas at risk for malaria. On June 17 /2017, surveillance data from BenaTsemay district showed that the district was experiencing an unusual high number of malaria cases in three kebeles (lowest administrative unit). We investigated the outbreak to describe malaria epidemiology in the district, identify population risk factors, and guide intervention measures for the community. Malaria case records from the District Health Office were reviewed to describe the outbreak. Unmatched case-control study was conducted with 60 randomly selected cases and 119 controls using a semi-structured questionnaire. Malaria cases were confirmed by either microscopy or malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) from June 5 to July 23/2017. Controls were persons with no diagnosis of malaria, and lives in similar kebele. Environmental assessment, observation of ownership and utilization of insecticide treated bed-nets (ITNs) were carried out. Multivariable regression model analysis was conducted to identify independent malaria risk factors. There were 648 malaria cases (50.3%-males) from three kebeles with no deaths recorded. The overall attack rate (AR) was 114/1000 populations, and it was highest in Sille kebele (167/1000 populations) and among 5-14 years old (179/1000 populations). Age <5 years (AOR=8.5; 95%CI: 1.2-59), living near mosquito breeding sites (AOR=6.5; 95%CI: 1.15-36.5), irregular use of ITNs (AOR=8.7; 95%CI: 1.5-49.6), inadequate ITNs per family size (AOR=13.4; 95%CI: 1.9-93) predicted having of malaria. Wearing long sleeved clothes was a protective factor (AOR=0.6; 95%C.I: 0.004-0.96). Several unmanaged stagnated water sources with Anopheles mosquito larvae, and the use of ITNs for other purposes were observed. The outbreak was associated with presence of nearby vector-breeding sites, and poor access and utilization of ITNs. Adequate information should be given along ITNs for the community in addition to early management of nearby vectorbreeding sites to prevent similar outbreak in future.