BackgroundFood insecurity has detrimental effects in protecting child undernutrition.This study sought to determine the level of child undernutrition and its association with food insecurity.MethodsA community based comparative cross-sectional study design involving multistage sampling technique was implemented from 24th of May to 20th of July 2013. Using two population proportion formula, a total of 4110 randomly selected households were included in the study. Availability of the productive safety net programme was used for grouping the study areas. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the association between food insecurity and child malnutrition. Clustering effects of localities were controlled during analysis.ResultsStunting (37.5%), underweight (22.0%) and wasting (17.1%) were observed in East Gojjam zone, while 38.3% stunting, 22.5% underweight, and 18.6% wasting for the West Gojjam zone. Food insecurity was significantly associated with wasting (β = - 0.108, P < 0.05).Food diversity and number of meals the child ate per day significantly associated with stunting (β = 0.039, P < 0.01) and underweight (β = 0.035, P < 0.05) respectively. Residential area was the significant predictor of all indices.ConclusionThe magnitude of child undernutrition was found to be very high in the study areas. Food insecurity was the significant determinant of wasting. Food diversity and number of meals the child ate per day were the significant determinants of stunting and underweight respectively. Child nutrition intervention strategies should take into account food security, dietary diversity, and carefully specified with regard to residential locations. Addressing food insecurity is of paramount importance.

PurposeHospital-acquired infection (HAI) is a major safety issue affecting the quality of care of hundreds of millions of patients every year, in both developed and developing countries, including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, there is no comprehensive research that presents the whole picture of HAIs in hospitals. The objective of this study was to examine the nature and extent of HAIs in Ethiopia.MethodsA repeated cross-sectional study was conducted in two teaching hospitals. All eligible inpatients admitted for at least 48 hours on the day of the survey were included. The survey was conducted in dry and wet seasons of Ethiopia, that is, in March to April and July 2015. Physicians and nurses collected the data according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of HAIs. Coded and cleaned data were transferred to SPSS 21 and STATA 13 for analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the prevalence of HAIs and relationship between explanatory and outcome variables.ResultsA total of 908 patients were included in this survey, the median age of the patients was 27 years (interquartile range: 16–40 years). A total of 650 (71.6%) patients received antimicrobials during the survey. There were 135 patients with HAI, with a mean prevalence of 14.9% (95% confidence interval 12.7–17.1). Culture results showed that Klebsiella spp. (22.44%) and Staphylococcus aureus (20.4%) were the most commonly isolated HAI-causing pathogens in these hospitals. The association of patient age and hospital type with the occurrence of HAI was statistically significant.ConclusionIt was observed that the prevalence of HAI was high in the teaching hospitals. Surgical site infections and pneumonia were the most common types of HAIs. Hospital management should give more attention to promoting infection prevention practice for better control of HAIs in teaching hospitals.

BackgroundCollection of household waste is a job which requires repeated heavy physical activities such as lifting, carrying, pulling, and pushing. Like many developing countries, in Ethiopia municipal solid waste is collected manually. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the extent of occupational injuries and associated factors among solid waste collectors in Addis Ababa City.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 876 respondents sampled from 92 unions. A pre-tested structured questionnaire and observation check list were used to collect data. Crude odds ratio with 95% CI was computed to see the presence of association between selected independent variables and occupational injury. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was made to see the relative effect of independent variable on the dependent variable by controlling the effect of other variables. To maintain stability, only variables that have a p-value less than 0.30 in the binary logistic regression analysis were kept in the subsequent model. Enter method was used hierarchically.ResultsThe response rate of this study was 97.9%. Female respondents accounted 71.2%. The median age of the study subjects was 33 year (with 52 inter quartile range). The overall occupational injury prevalence rate in the last 12 months was 383 (43.7%). Utilization of personal protective devices and family size in the household were statistically associated with injury. As compared to workers who used personal protective equipments while being on duty, odds of injury among workers not used personal protective equipments were 2.62 higher (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.48-4.63). As compared to those who had five and more children, odds of injuries among those who had 3-4 children was reduced by half (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.30-0.93).ConclusionThe extent of occupational injuries among Addis Ababa city solid waste collectors is present in a level that needs immediate public health action. Implementation of basic occupational health and safety services including training on occupational health and safety, ensuring the provision and use of personal protective devices are highly advisable.

Background: In developing countries including Ethiopia, the risk of having work-related injury is 10 to 20 times higher than that of developed countries. Objective: To asses the magnitude and factors affecting work-related injury among small and medium-scale industrial workers in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional comparative study was conducted from November to December, 2004 in Gondar Wereda. A total of 962 employed workers in small and medium-scale industries were selected randomly. Trained data collectors administered a pre-tested and standardized questionnaire. Physical examination and record review were done to ascertain self-reported injuries. Data were entered and cleaned using EPI INFO version 6.04 a statistical soft ware. SPSS window version 11.0 was also employed for descriptive and logistics regression analysis. Results: The annual and two weeks prevalence rate of work-related injury was respectively 335 and 120 per 1000 exposed workers. Out of the total work-related injuries, 114 (35.5%) and 208 (32.4%) occurred among small and medium-scale industrial workers, respectively. The prevalence and severity of annual rate of injury was not associated with the type of industry. The most significant contributing factors for work-related injuries in such small and medium industries were service duration of 5 years or less in the present job [AOR: 1.53, 95 %

Background: The construction of latrine is a relatively simple technology that is used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. While household access is important, community sanitation coverage is even more important to improve health through the regular use of well-maintained sanitation facilities. Objective: Assessing the impact of latrine utilization on diarrhoeal diseases in the rural community in the district of Hulet Ejju Enessie Woreda, East Gojam. Method: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a randomly selected 824 households that had 90% latrine coverage at the time data collection in 2006. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire complemented with observation was used to collect data. The study area is found in one of the districts of East Gojjam where the health services extension program was actively underway. Trained data collectors and supervisors were involved in the study. Data entry and cleaning was done using EPI INFO 6.04d, while SPSS version 11 was used for data analysis. Results: Most (61%) households with traditional pit latrines had latrine utilization. In a bivaraite analysis, the extent of latrine utilization was significantly associated with presence of primary or secondary school children in the house