Objective: The health belief model specifies that individuals’ perceptions about particular behavior can predict the performance of respective behavior. So far, the model has been used to explain why people did not follow COVID-19 preventive behavior. Although we are using it, to our best knowledge, its predictive ability in COVID-19 preventive behavior is unexplored. So, this review aimed to assess the model’s predictive ability and identify the most frequently related construct. Method: A systematic review was conducted to examine the predictive ability of health belief model in COVID-19 preventive behavior using research done all over the world. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines were used. Comprehensive literature was searched using databases such as PubMed, Google scholar, and African Online Journal to retrieve related articles. Descriptive analyses such as the proportion of studies that better explained COVID-19 prevention behavior and the significance ratio of each construct of the model were made. Result: Overall, 1552 articles were retrieved using a search strategy and finally 32 articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria undergo the review. We found that in the majority (87.5%) of the studies health belief model has a good predictive ability of COVID-19-related behavior. Overall the explained variance for health belief model ranged from 6.5% to 90.1%. The perceived benefit was the most frequently significant predictor; highest significance ratio (96.7%) followed by self-efficacy, cues to action perceived barrier, susceptibility, and severity in decreasing order. Conclusion: Health belief model has a good predictive ability of COVID-19-related behavior in the majority of reviewed studies. The perceived benefit was the most frequently significant predictor of COVID-19-related behavior. Professionals who are in need can effectively use health belief model in planning and designing interventions to prevent and control the pandemic.

Introduction The health and growth of children less than two years of age can be affected by the poor quality of complementary foods and poor feeding practices even with optimal breastfeeding. In Ethiopia, empirical evidence on the minimum acceptable diet and its associated factors is limited. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the level of minimum acceptable diet and its associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based Cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 575 mother-child pairs. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit participants. For infant and young child feeding practices, the data collection tools were adapted from world health organizations’ standardized questionnaire which is developed in 2007. Data entry and analysis were performed using EPI data version 3.1 and SPSS version 20 respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictor variables. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. Result In this study, the level of minimum acceptable diet was found to be 74.6%.. About 90.6 and 80.2% of the children received minimum meal frequency and dietary diversity respectively. Having a husband secondary and above educational level [AOR = 4.789(95%CI:1.917–11.967)], being a housewife [AOR = 0.351(95% CI: 0.150–0.819)], having a history of more than three postnatal follow-ups [AOR = 2.616(95%CI:1.120–6.111], Having mothers age between 25 and 34 years [AOR = 2.051(95%CI:1.267–3.320)], being male child [AOR = 1.585(95%CI:1.052–2.388)] and having children age between 18 and 23 months [AOR = 3.026(95%CI:1.786–5.128)] were some of the factors significantly associated with a minimum acceptable diet. Conclusion In this study, the minimum acceptable diet among children aged 6–23 months was significantly associated with the educational status of the husband, mother’s occupation, history of postnatal follow-up, age of the mother, sex of the child, and age of the child. Thus, attention should be given to educating the father, empowering mothers to have a job, promoting gender equality of feeding, and counseling on the benefit of postnatal care visits. In addition, the ministry of health should work on educating and advocating the benefit of feeding the recommended minimum acceptable diet to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

Introduction: It is highly economical and commendable to identify the determinants of neonatal near miss which will be utilized as proxy determinants of neonatal mortality rate. However, neither determinants of neonatal mortality rate nor a determinant of a neonatal near miss are adequately investigated specifically within the study area. Therefore, this study is aimed to identify the determinants of neonatal near-miss among neonates admitted in hospitals of the Gurage zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: Unmatched case-control study was conducted to identify factors associated with neonatal near-miss among neonates admitted in Gurage zone hospitals. A pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Besides, data related to the clinical diagnosis of neonates and managements given were extracted from patient records. In this study, a total of 105 cases and 209 controls have participated. To recruit cases and controls consecutive sampling methods and simple random sampling techniques were used respectively. Data were entered using Epi Data software and exported to SPPS for analysis. To identify the determinate factors of the outcome variable binary and multivariable logistic regression were employed. Results: The determinate factors of the outcome variable include a history of abortion with AOR 3.9 [95%C1 3.53-10.15], referred from other health care institution AOR 7.53[95% CI 3.99-14.22], severe maternal morbidity during pregnancy AOR 4.57[95% CI 1.77-11.79], cesarean section mode of delivery 4.45[95% CI 1.76-11.25], and good essential newborn care knowledge AOR 3.33[95% CI 1.54-7.19]. Conclusion: In this study, easily modifiable/preventable maternal and health service utilization-related factors are increasing the menace of a neonatal near-miss in the Gurage zone. It is the signal that shows the primary health care program needs to be further enhanced to bring more desirable health outcomes and/or effectiveness of health policies needs to be examined to introduce more impactful strategies.

Background Internally displaced populations are susceptible to food deprivation. Specifically, children aged 6–23 are commonly vulnerable to poor complementary feeding. Proper complementary feeding is of paramount importance to the healthy growth and survival of a children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of appropriate complementary feeding practices and associated factors among internally displaced children aged 6–23 months in northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2020 among 264 internally displaced mothers of children 6–23 months in northwest Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used to reach the study subjects and data were collected using a structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into the Epi Data version 4.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Binary and multivariable analyses with a 95% confidence level were performed. In the final model, variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The overall level of appropriate complementary feeding practice was 26.8%. Only 14% of the mothers provided a diversified diet for their 6–23 months children. Child aged 6–11 months (AOR = 0.11, 95%; CI: 0.04–0.27), 12–17 months (AOR = 0.35, 95%; 95% CI: 0.17–0.70) and not having harmful culture on complementary feeding (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.06–3.96) were independent predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practices. Conclusion The level of appropriate complementary feeding practice was found to be low, which would have negative implications on the health and nutritional status of infants and young children. Additional rations for breastfeeding mothers and children aged 6–23 months at refugee camps and nutritional counseling on child feeding practices are recommended.

Background: Adolescence is the last chance for breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and poor health, despite it is a neglected age groups. Therefore, this study is designed to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with under nutrition among school adolescents in Hageremariam district, central Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 381 adolescent living in Hageremariam district, from June 10-26/2019 using multistage sampling technique and structured pretested questionnaire. Anthropometric indices (height-for-Age and BMI-for-Age) were generated by using WHO Anthro plus software. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression were carried out to compute OR with 95%CI. Statistical significance was declared at p <0.05. Results: The prevalence of stunting and underweight were 18.6% and 18.9% respectively. Factors identified for stunting were family size > 5, having no latrine in the compound and adolescent food insecurity. Having illness in the last 2weeks preceding the study, having no latrine in the house-hold and hand washing practice after toilet were the predictors identified for underweight. Conclusion and recommendation: The study revealed that nearly one in five school adolescents are undernourished. Family size, adolescent food insecurity, hygienic practice /sanitation, and having illness in the last two weeks preceding the study were found to be an important factor of under nutrition. Thus, nutritional intervention program would better to consider these factors in the study area.