BackgroundPoor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in the first 2 years of age are among major causes of childhood malnutrition, in developing countries including Ethiopia. It results in irreversible outcomes of stunting, poor cognitive development, and significantly increases risks of many chronic and infectious diseases. This study was intended to assess factors associated with minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity practice among children aged 6–23 months in the predominantly agrarian society of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross sectional study was employed from January to June 2016. An interviewer administered, pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Multi-stage sampling followed by a systematic random sampling technique was used to include study subjects. Data was entered using Epi info version 3.5.3 and analyzed by SPSS version 20. In the logistic regression, both bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity scores. All variables with P-values of <0.2 in the bivariate were earmarked for the multivariate analysis. Both Crude Odds Ratio (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) were computed at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) to determine the strength of associations. In the multivariate analysis, variables at P–Values of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant with minimum meal frequency and dietary diversity practice.ResultA total of 801 infants and young children aged 6–23 months and their mothers participated in the study. The overall prevalence of minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity practice was 68.4% [95% CI: 0.652, 0.716] and 28.5% [95% CI: 0.254, 0.316], respectively. Child age (AOR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.94) and parity of mother (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.11, 7.50) were independently associated with minimal meal frequency. On the other hand, mothers educational level (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.94), child illness in the past 1 week (AOR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.73) and maternal counselling on IYCF practice during postnatal care (PNC) visits (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.59, 4.45) were factors statistically associated with dietary diversity practice in the study area.Conclusion and recommendationsCompliance to recommended minimum meal frequency and diversified diets was low in this study community. Minimum meal frequency was associated with the age of child and parity of mother. But, mothers’ education, child illness in the past 1 week, and maternal counseling on IYCF during PNC visits were factors associated with minimum dietary diversity practice. Improving the level of maternal and child health care utilization, increasing the educational level of mothers and providing health and nutrition counseling on IYCF during maternal PNC service visits are vital interventions to improve IYCF practices in the predominantly agrarian society of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia.

Introduction Foodborne diseases are a major public health problem which predominantly affects infants and young children. Appropriate complementary food hygiene practice is very important to reduce the prevalence of foodborne illnesses. However, the information regarding this practice is not available and assessed before. Thus, the study was aimed to assess complementary food hygiene practices among mothers of children aged 6-23 months. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Robe town on a samples of 517 mother-child pairs, which were selected by using systematic sampling technique. Data was collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaire, and each variable was described in the frequency and percentage. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with complementary food hygiene practice. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were used to assess levels of significance. Result The result indicated that 55% of participated mothers scored above the mean score of food hygiene practices. Mothers of children aged 12-23 months had higher odds to practice good food hygiene measures than those of aged 6-11 months (AOR, 1.82 95% CI (1.21, 2.73)). Mothers whose children attended growth monitoring session practice good food hygiene than their counterpart (AOR, 2.74 95% CI (1.49, 5.06)). Mothers having media exposure, and having knowledge on critical times of hand washing had relatively good food hygiene measures (AOR, 0.73 95 CI (1.14, 2.62)). Among food hygiene measures; handwashing with water and soap were low before eating food (17%), before feeding children (21%) and before preparing food (32%) when compared with after visiting the toilet (81%) and touching dirt (68%). Conclusion and Recommendation The study identified that food hygiene practices in the current study were mainly associated with child age, growth monitoring follow-up, maternal awareness about critical times of hand washing, and media exposure. So, improving knowledge of mothers on critical times of handwashing, strengthening growth monitoring follow-up and media promotion are important measures to improve food hygiene practices among mothers of infants and young children.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are the most common infections in the developing world. Globally, out of the 1.5 billion annual cases of diarrhea, about 70% or 1.05 billion cases are thought to be caused by biological contamination of food. In Ethiopia, due to poor environmental sanitation, low awareness about personal hygiene, lack of pure potable water, and improper faecal disposal, intestinal parasitic infections are highly prevalent. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers working in food and drinking establishments in Ginnir town, southeast, Ethiopia.Methods: Cross-sectional study design was employed from May 1 to May 29, 2014 in food and drinking establishments in Ginnir town. A total of 348 food handlers were enrolled and stool specimens were collected, and examined using direct saline and formol-ether concentration methods. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. A P-value <0.05 was considered as an indicator of statistical significance.Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers was 48/348 (13.8%) [95%, CI=6.8-20.6]. Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 23/348 (6.6%) followed by Giardia lamblia 16/348 (4.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides 7/348 (2.0%) and Strongyloides stercolaris 2/348 (0.6%) were the detected parasites. Moreover, amongst positives for intestinal parasites, comparable proportions of parasites were detected in males (52%) and females (48%). Habit of eating raw/under cooked vegetables (p=0.00; aOR=2.60; 95%, CI=1.94-8.67), hand washing habit before eating (p=0.03; aOR=1.22; 95%, CI=1.01-3.89), hand washing habit after visiting toilet (p=0.01; aOR=2.85; 95%, CI=2.06-8.31), hand washing habit before food preparation (p=0.02; aOR=1.85; 95%, CI=1.27-4.34) and poor personal hygiene (p=0.00; aOR=3.39; 95%, CI=1.51-10.23) were factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections.Conclusions: The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers was relatively low. Though the prevalence was low; regular medical check-up, training and health education on safe food handling and processing should be given to all food handlers.

Background:Intestinal parasitic infections are the most common infections in the developing world.Globally, out of the 1.5 billion annual cases of diarrhea, about 70% or 1.05 billion cases are thought to be caused by biological contamination of food. In Ethiopia, due to poor environmental sanitation, low awareness about personal hygiene, lack of pure potable water, and improper faecal disposal, intestinal parasitic infections are highly prevalent. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers working in food and drinking establishments in Ginnir town, southeast, Ethiopia.Method: Cross-sectional study design was employed from May 1 to May 29, 2014 in food and drinking establishments in Ginnir town. A total of 348 food handlers were selected using simple random sampling method. Stool specimens were collected and examined using direct saline and formol-ether concentration methods. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. A P-value <0.05 was considered as an indicator of statistical significance. Result:The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers was 48/348(13.8%).Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 23/348(6.6%) followed by Giardia lamblia 16/348(4.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides 7/348(2.0%) and Strongyloides stercolaris 2/348(0.6%) were the most prevalent parasites. Moreover, comparable proportions of parasites were detected in males (52%) and females (48%). Habit of eating raw/under cooked vegetables (AOR=2.6, 95% CI=2.94-8.67) and poor personal hygiene (AOR=3.39, 95% CI=1.51-10.23) were factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion:The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers is relatively low. Though the prevalence rate is low; regular medical check-up, training and health education on safe food handling and processing should be given for all food handlers.

Introduction: Foodborne diseases are a major public health problem which predominantly affects infants and young children. Appropriate complementary food hygiene practice is very important to reduce the prevalence of foodborne illnesses. However, the information regarding this practice is not available and assessed before. Thus, the study was aimed to assess complementary food hygiene practices among mothers of children aged 6-23 months.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Robe town on a samples of 517 mother-child pairs, which were selected by using systematic sampling technique. Data was collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaire, and each variable was described in the frequency and percentage. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with complementary food hygiene practice. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were used to assess levels of significance. Result: The result indicated that 55% of participated mothers scored above the mean score of food hygiene practices. Mothers of children aged 12-23 months had higher odds to practice good food hygiene measures than those of aged 6-11 months [AOR, 1.82 95% CI (1.21, 2.73)]. Mothers whose children attended growth monitoring session practice good food hygiene than their counterpart [AOR, 2.74 95% CI (1.49, 5.06)]. Mothers having media exposure, and having knowledge on critical times of hand washing had relatively good food hygiene measures [AOR, 0.73 95 CI (1.14, 2.62)]. Among food hygiene measures; handwashing with water and soap were low before eating food (17%), before feeding children (21%) and before preparing food (32%) when compared with after visiting the toilet (81%) and touching dirt (68%). Conclusion and recommendation: The study identified that food hygiene practices in the current study were mainly associated with child age, growth monitoring follow-up, maternal awareness about critical times of hand washing, and media exposure. So, improving knowledge of mothers on critical times of handwashing, strengthening growth monitoring follow-up and media promotion are important measures to improve food hygiene practices among mothers of infants and young children.