Background Childhood stunting is the most widely prevalent among under-five children in Ethiopia. Despite the individual-level factors of childhood stunting are well documented, community-level factors have not been given much attention in the country. This study aimed to identify individual- and community-level factors associated with stunting among under-five children in Ethiopia. Methods Cross-sectional data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey was used. A total of 8855 under-five children and 640 community clusters were included in the current analysis. A multilevel logistic regression model was used at 5% level of significance to determine the individual- and community-level factors associated with childhood stunting. Results The prevalence of stunting was found to be 38.39% in Ethiopian under-five children. The study showed that the percentage change in variance of the full model accounted for about 53.6% in odds of childhood stunting across the communities. At individual-level, ages of the child above 12 months, male gender, small size of the child at birth, children from poor households, low maternal education, and being multiple birth had significantly increased the odds of childhood stunting. At community-level, children from communities of Amhara, Tigray, and Benishangul more suffer from childhood stunting as compared to Addis Ababa’s community children. Similarly, children from Muslim, Orthodox and other traditional religion followers had higher log odds of stunting relative to children of the protestant community. Conclusions This study showed individual- and community-level factors determined childhood stunting in Ethiopian children. Promotion of girl education, improving the economic status of households, improving maternal nutrition, improving age-specific child feeding practices, nutritional care of low birth weight babies, promotion of context-specific child feeding practices and narrowing rural-urban disparities are recommended.

Background In low income countries, acute malnutrition continues to be the most important risk factor for illnesses and deaths. The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months. Methods A facility based unmatched case control study was employed on 420 (140 cases and 280 controls) children aged 6–59 months with their caregivers between January 20 and February 20, 2014. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Children aged 12–23 months [AOR = 10.51, 95% CI = 4.93, 22.34], rural residence [AOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.22, 4.79], illiterate father [AOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.32, 4.61], Monthly income of less than 1000 birr [AOR = 3.98, 95% CI 2.05, 7.69], and food served together with family [AOR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.10, 4.30] were associated with acute malnutrition. Conclusion Rural residence, illiterate father, monthly income of less than 1000 birr, and food served together with family are statistically associated with acute malnutrition. Improving practices of parents on appropriate child feeding and creating awareness related to key risk factors of acute malnutrition should be further strengthened.

Background. Minimum meal frequency, a proxy indicator for a child’s energy requirements, examines the number of times children received foods other than breast milk. Without adequate diversity and meal frequency, infants and young children are vulnerable to malnutrition, especially stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, and increased morbidity and mortality. In Ethiopia, only 45% of children had fed with an age-appropriate minimum meal frequency. Objective. The study was aimed to assess the minimal meal frequency practice, and its associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Amibara district, North East Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 07–May 23, 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was applied to select 367 children aged 6–23 months. The univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses model was used to identify potential predictors of meeting minimum meal frequency. All variables with P values <0.25 in the univariable analysis were taken to multivariable analysis, and variables at P values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results. The study revealed a prevalence of minimum meal frequency 69.2% (95% CI: 0.64–0.74). Timely initiation of breastfeeding (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI (1.17, 4.18)), current breastfeeding status (AOR = 7.5, 95% CI (3.95, 14.4)), meeting minimum dietary diversity (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI (1.85, 7.44)), and household hunger scale (AOR = 5.3, 95% CI (1.5, 12.5)) were some of the significant predictors to achieve minimum meal frequency. Conclusion. The prevalence of minimum meal frequency practice is low in the study area. Current breastfeeding status, timely initiation of breastfeeding, no/little household hunger scale, and meeting minimum dietary diversity were found as significant predictors for minimum meal frequency practice. Mothers having children aged 6–23 months should be aware and practice appropriate infant and young child feeding practices including timely initiation of breastfeeding, breastfeeding till the child celebrate his/her second birthday, recommended meal frequency, and dietary diversity practice. In addition, households should be assessed and strengthened for food security.

Globally hypertension is a major public health problem and leading cause of mortality in developing countries. Self-care practice encourage hypertensive patients to have better quality of life by preventing complication and decrease health care expenditure. The aim of this study is to assess Self-care practice and associated factors among hypertension patients in Jimma university specialized hospital, south west Ethiopia. An institution based Cross sectional study was employed on 322 adult hypertensive patients using simple random sampling procedure between March to May, 2016. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Adjusted odds ratio at 95% CI was considered to declare the independent effect of independents variables on the outcome. In this study, the overall participants with the recommended level of self-care practice were found to be 44.7%. Being employed [AOR = 2.032, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: (1.162, 3.552), educational attainment (AOR = 3.730, 95% CI: (1.837, 7.576) and Presence of co morbidity diseases (AOR = 0.502, 95% CI: 0.2886, 0.8850) were factors significantly associated with self-care practice. This study revealed level of self-care practice were low among hypertensive patients. Occupation, educational status and comorbidity were factors significantly associated with Self-care practice. Hypertensive patients with low socioeconomic status, no formal educational attainment and with co-morbidity needs special attention to improve their self-care practice.

Background: Worldwide, hypertension is common and now regarded as a major public health problem. Health related quality of life has gained increased attention as an outcome measure of interventions and treatments in patients with established cardiovascular diseases.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess quality of life and factors associated among hypertensive patients following hypertension clinic of Jimma University specialized hospital.Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was employed on 322 adult hypertensive patients using simple random sampling procedure between March to May, 2014. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result: Health related quality of life mean score were a little above average that showed physical functioning (58.58 ± 29.8), role physical (54.7 ± 43.7), role emotional (57.45 ± 44.82), vitality (57.01 ± 13.65), mental health (61.42 ± 13.19), social functioning (74.61 ± 24.12), bodily pain (74.67 ± 25.46) and general health (51.66 ± 15.12). Being female, farmer and presence of comorbid were related to lower physical, mental component summary and total quality of life score while better hypertension self-care practice were positively associated with physical, mental component summary and total quality of life score. Respondents encountered drug side effect had lower physical component summary whereas presence of complication had related to lower mental component summary and total quality of life score. Conclusion and recommendation:This study identified that socio-demographic and clinical as well as self-care practices were strongly associated with health related quality of life. Healthcare provider should measure health related quality of life and introduce people to life style modification.