Introduction Diarrhea is responsible for the death of more than 90% of under-five children in low and lower-middle income countries. Regionally, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 88% of deaths with the same age group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of diarrhea among children under-five years in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods The appended, most recent demographic and health survey datasets of 34 sub-Saharan African countries were used to determine the prevalence and associated factors of diarrhea among under-five children in the region. A total weighted sample of 330,866 under-five children were included in the study. Both bivariable and multivariable multilevel logistic regression were done to determine the associated factors of diarrhea among under five children in sub-Saharan Africa. The Odds Ratio (OR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was calculated for those potential factors included in the final model. Result The overall prevalence of diarrhea in this study was 15.3% (95% CI: 15.1–15.4). Those children of mothers aged 15–24 (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.30) and 25–34 years (AOR = 1.15; 95%CI: 1.12, 1.18), those children of mothers with no education (AOR = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.57–1.82), primary education (AOR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.61–1.86) and secondary education (AOR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.38–1.59) had higher odds of having diarrhea. Those children from poorest (AOR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.19), poorer (AOR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.08–1.17), middle (AOR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.02, 1.10), and richer (AOR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.04–1.12) households had higher chance of having diarrhea compared to their counterparts. Conclusion This study found that the prevalence of childhood diarrhea morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa was high. Maternal age, wealth index, maternal education, maternal occupation, age of child, time of initiation of breast feeding and time to get water source were significantly associated with diarrhea. Therefore, intervention through health education and health promotion for mothers/caretakers who are poor, less educated, and young should be designed to prevent diarrhea in the region.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of obstetric fistula (OF) awareness among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.MethodsThis community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 15 683 reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia. Following the presentation of a case vignette, women’s OF awareness was measured by asking if they had ever heard of OF. A multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed. A 95% CI and p<0.05 were used to declare statistical significance.ResultThe magnitude of women’s awareness of OF was 38% (95% CI 0.37 to 0.39). Individual level variables including being in the age group of 20–25 (adjusted OR, AOR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.35), 26–30 (AOR 1.50; 95% CI 1.27 to 1.76) and >30 (AOR 1.76; 95% CI 1.50 to 2.07), being Muslim (AOR 0.83; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.94), having primary (AOR 1.70; 95% CI 1.53 to 1.89), secondary (AOR 3.43; 95% CI 2.95 to 3.99) and tertiary education (AOR 5.88; 95% CI 4.66 to 7.42), history of pregnancy termination (AOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.51), media exposure (AOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.49), internet use (AOR 2.25; 95% CI 1.84 to 2.75), medium (AOR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.34) and rich house hold wealth (AOR 1.50; 95% CI 1.31 to 1.72) and community level factors including high community media exposure (AOR 1.30; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.61), high community antenatal care rate (AOR 1.66; 95% CI 1.37 to 2.02) and low health facility distance problem (AOR 1.49; 95% CI 1.23 to 1.81) were significantly associated with women’s awareness of OF.Conclusions and recommendationsThe magnitude of women’s awareness of OF was very low in Ethiopia. Awareness of OF was influenced by sociodemographic, economic, obstetric and community-related factors. Thus, tailored public health education is required at the national level to enhance women’s awareness of OF.

Background Happiness is the most indicator of good quality of life particularly for pregnant women. Reduced happiness of pregnant women can result in reduced maternal health services utilization and can result in adverse newborn and maternal outcomes. Assessing the level of happiness and its factors are important for pregnant women and the next generation. Hence, the current research paper aimed to assess the level of happiness and its associated factors among pregnant women who attended antenatal care follow-up in South Gondar Zone Hospitals. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2018 to February 2019 among 1606 expectant pregnant women in the last 6 months. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was used as a measure of the degree of happiness and used four as average person score. Besides, bivariate, multivariable logistic analyses were deployed to identify associations. Results A total of 1606 pregnant women were participating in this study. The prevalence of low level of pregnancy happiness in this study was 24% (95% CI: 20.7 −26.6). Mothers who exposed to unintended pregnancy (AOR; 1.94, CI 95% 1.86–4.52), reported intimate partner violence (AOR; 2.42, 95% CI 1.67–3.54) and being in the third trimester (AOR; 1.89 95% CI 1.19–3.01) were the most predictor variables with the low level of happiness. Conclusion Approximately one-fourth of the pregnant women had a low level of pregnancy happiness. Mothers who were exposed to unintended pregnancy encountered intimate partner violence, who were in the third trimester were the most significant variables associated with a low level of happiness. Governmental and non-governmental organizations work on women’s reproduction rights and the zonal health department with local health offices should educate on the prevention of intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy and its consequences and also empower women to cope with changes and challenges of pregnancy and childbirth.

Background. Smoking invariably has health, social, economic, and environmental consequences in Ethiopia. Reducing and quitting cigarette smoking improves individual health and increases available household funds for food, education, and better economic productivity. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing cigarette smoking intensity and associated factors among male smokers in Ethiopia. Methods. The data were extracted from the 2016 national cross-sectional Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. Our study used data from the standardized and adapted men’s questionnaire. The study included a total of 391 (weighted) smokers who at least smoked one manufactured cigarette per day. The data were collected using a two-stage cluster design which includes selection of enumeration areas and then selection of households. The number of manufactured cigarettes smokers smoked per day was used to measure smoking intensity. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the study findings. Bivariable and multivariable truncated negative binomial Poisson regression models were employed to determine smoking intensity. Results. The finding showed that on average men smoked weighted nine cigarettes per day. One in every five of the smokers (21.2%) smoked 10 cigarettes per day. Smokers living in rural areas (IRR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.244, 0.756), currently married (IRR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.91), formerly married (IRR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.96), richer men (IRR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.90), and richest men (IRR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.87) were associated with lower smoking intensity. Smokers in the Somali (IRR=2.80, 95% CI: 1.29, 6.11), Harari (IRR=3.46, 95% CI: 1.14, 10.51), and Dire Dawa (IRR=3.09, 95% CI: 1.23, 7.80) regions; older age (IRR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.40); affiliated with Protestant religion (IRR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.92); poorer men (IRR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.27); watched television (IRR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.35); drunk alcohol (IRR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.82); and completed primary (IRR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.01, 0.317) and higher education (IRR=2.96, 95% CI: 1.88, 4.67) were positively associated with smoking intensity. Conclusion. Male smokers in Ethiopia smoked intensively with an average of nine manufactured cigarettes per day. Tobacco control interventions should target the following: Eastern Ethiopia regions, older aged, affiliated with Protestant religion, poorer men, watched television, drunk alcohol, and primary and higher educational level.