ObjectivesWomen’s autonomy is valued in a range of healthcare settings, from seeking and receiving care to deciding between treatment options. This study aimed to assess the level of decision-making autonomy women have and associated factors when it comes to using maternal healthcare services.DesignA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted.SettingThe study was conducted in Mettu Rural District, Iluababor Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.MethodsData were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire from 541 women selected by a multistage sampling technique. The collected data were entered into EpiData V.3.1 and exported to SPSS V.22 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with women’s decision-making autonomy on maternal health service use. Variables with a p value less than 0.05 at 95% CI were declared significant, and the strength of the association was measured by an adjusted OR (AOR).Primary outcomeLevel of women’s decision-making autonomy on maternal health service use.ResultsIt was found that 60.5% of women were autonomous in maternal health service use (95% CI 56.2% to 64.7%). The older age group (AOR=4.27, 95% CI 1.6 to 11.4, p=0.034), higher educational level (AOR=3.8, 95% CI 2.2 to 6.7, p=0.042), small family size (AOR=2.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.1, p=0.01) and proximity to health facilities (AOR=5.3, 95% CI 2.5 to 11.3, p=0.004) were all associated factors with healthcare decision-making autonomy.ConclusionTwo-fifths of women have diminished autonomy in decision making on healthcare service use. Age, level of education, family size and accessibility of health services were found to influence women’s autonomy. Special attention should be given to education and access to health services to improve women’s autonomy.

Background: Autonomy of women in health care decision-making is tremendously crucial for improved maternal health outcomes and women’s empowerment. Women with greater freedom of movement are more likely to receive maternal health services. However, little has been investigated about women’s autonomy in maternal health care decision-making and contributing factors in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess decision-making autonomy on maternal health care services utilization and associated factors among women.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mettu rural Woreda, Ilu Aba Bor zone, southwest Ethiopia from June 19 to August 20, 2021. Data was collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire from 541 randomly selected women. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with women's decision-making autonomy on maternal health service utilization. The significance of association was declared by using the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable model.Results: Out of 522 women included in the analysis, 322 (60.5%) (95% CI: 56.2%-64.7%) were found to be autonomous on maternal health service utilization. Age category from 30-39 years, AOR=4.27 (95%CI: 1.59-11.43), attending primary education and above, AOR=3.87 (95%CI: 2.15-6.99), greater than five family size, AOR=0.25 (95%CI: 0.15-0.41), and distance from the health facility, AOR=5.33 (95%CI: 2.50-11.33) were significantly associated with women's decision-making autonomy on maternal health care services utilization.Conclusion: Even though every woman has the right to participate in her own health care decision-making, around two fifths of them have no role in making health care decisions about their own health. Socio-demographic factors like age and education were found to influence women’s autonomy. Special attention has to be given to women living in rural areas in order to reduce their dependency through education.

Purpose Stunting, which refers to low height-for-age, is one of the most important public health problems in Ethiopia, and it more accurately reflects nutritional deficiencies and illness that occur during the most critical periods for growth and development in early life. Given this, this paper aims at determining the magnitude and factors associated with stunting among 6–59 month old children in Ilubabor Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach This paper opted for a descriptive study using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of 617 children aged 6–59 months. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro software. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of stunting. Findings About 33.7% of children aged 6–59 months included in this study were stunted. The proportion of moderate and severe stunting among the stunted children was 26.4% and 7.3%, respectively. Large family size (AOR = 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5, 6.4), low dietary diversity score (AOR = 7.8; 95% CI: 4.6, 13.0) and household food insecurity (AOR = 16.4; 95% CI: 10.0, 26.7) were independent predictors of stunting. Research limitations/implications Reporting and recall bias related to food groups consumed over the past seven days and seasonal variation may affect the findings related to factors associated with stunting. Practical implications Globally, it is estimated that nearly 165 million children under the age of five are stunted. Outcomes associated with stunting include increased risk of mortality, increased disease risk, developmental delays, diminished ability to learn and lower school achievement and reduced lifelong productivity. So, determining the level of stunting in a particular community is important to design strategies for curbing the contributing factors. Originality/value This study’s community-based design yields a representative sample of study subjects in the Hurumu district, which is valuable for intervention methods and actions. Standardized tools that are validated for use by the World Health Organization are used. Besides, anthropometric data were analyzed using the updated WHO Anthro software.

ObjectivesA lack of safe healthcare waste management (HCWM) practice poses a risk to healthcare staff, patients and communities. In low-income countries like Ethiopia, studies on the level of safe HCWM practices in private healthcare facilities are limited. This study was designed to assess the level of good HCWM practice and associated factors among health workers in private health facilities.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ilu Aba Bor zone, South West Ethiopia. A random sample of 282 health workers from 143 private health facilities was included in the study. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare factors, knowledge assessment and an observation checklist adapted from WHO guidelines. The collected data were entered into EpiData V.3.1 and analysed with SPSS V.25.0. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HCWM practice. Variables with a p value of <0.05 at 95% CI were declared significant.ResultsMore than half (58.7%) of private-sector health workers had good HCWM practice. The presence of the HCWM committee (adjusted OR (AOR)=9.6, 95% CI 4.5 to 20.6), designated healthcare waste storage site (AOR=3.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 6.5), reading the HCWM manual (AOR=4.4, 95% CI 2.2 to 9.0) and having good knowledge of HCWM (AOR=2.6, 95% CI 1.06 to 6.15) were factors associated with good HCWM practice.ConclusionAbout three out of five health workers in private healthcare facilities were practising good HCWM. The presence of an HCWM committee, waste management utilities, reading HCWM guidelines and knowledge of health workers were the identified factors. Health workers should read guidelines to improve their knowledge, and the presence of committees and waste management utilities in private clinics should be followed to ensure compliance with safe HCWM practice.