Background. Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a serious public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, 20 million, an estimated 15% to 20% of babies were born with LBW, and, of these, 13% were in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the World Health Assembly targeted to reduce LBW by 30% by the end of 2025, little has been done on and known about LBW. To meet the goal successfully and efficiently, more research studies on the problem are vital. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of LBW in Dire Dawa city, eastern Ethiopia. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of low birth weight in Dire Dawa City, eastern Ethiopia, 2017. Method. A cross-sectional study designed was conducted, and using a systematic sampling technique, 431 mothers who gave birth in the public hospitals in Dire Dawa city from July 01 to August 30, 2018, were selected. Stillbirth and infants with birth defects were excluded from the study. Well-trained data collectors collected the data using a structured questionnaire which was pretested. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied in multivariate logistic regression models, and p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significant. Result. The prevalence of low birth weight was 21%. Not received nutritional counseling during antenatal care (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.06), preterm birth (AOR = 18.48, 95% CI: 6.51, 52.42), maternal smoking (AOR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.59, 9.88), and height of the mother less than 150 cm (AOR = 3.54, 95% CI: 1.07, 11.76) were significantly associated with Low birth weight. Conclusion. There was a high prevalence of low birth weight in the study area. Effective dietary counseling and additional diet, implementing proven strategies to prevent preterm birth and avoid smoking during pregnancy might decrease the low birth weight and then enhance child survival.

BackgroundThe continuing emergence, development and spread of pathogenic organisms that are resistant to antimicrobials are a cause of increasing concern. The control of antimicrobial resistance requires knowledge of factors causing antimicrobial resistance, good attitudes towards the intervention strategies as well as changes in antibiotic prescribing behavior of health workers. Hence, this study was aimed to assess paramedical staffs’ knowledge and attitudes towards antimicrobial resistance and their antibiotics prescription practices in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among paramedical staffs working in hospitals and health centers. A total of 218 paramedical staffs were participated and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi square/Fisher’s exact tests were used for comparison of data and a p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOut of the total, 137 (62.8%) of paramedical staffs had good knowledge on the factors causing antimicrobial resistance. The most common causes of antimicrobial resistance reported were patients’ poor adherence (96.5%), self prescription (95%), and empiric choice of antibiotics (94.5%). In general, more than 80% of the respondents had positive attitudes towards the antimicrobials resistance intervention strategies. Relatively less proportion of participants recognized that antimicrobial resistance as a problem in their local institutions. The most perceived driving forces for unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions were treatment failure (67.7%) and patient push (53.3%). The majority, 76.9% of the prescribers mentioned that standard treatment guidelines were available in their institutions though only 15.7% of them reported referring the guidelines on the daily basis. Among the prescribers, 85.8% never attended formal trainings on antibiotics prescriptions.ConclusionsAs this study generated important information on knowledge and attitudes of paramedical staffs about antimicrobial resistance, it identified areas of misconceptions and specific groups to be targeted for educational interventions regarding antimicrobial resistance. It is, therefore, suggested that a well-planned, organized and structured training programs should be undertaken to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics.

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Background: Diarrhea is a major leading cause of under-five morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Although the health extension program has been implemented for decades, diarrhea continues to be a major public health problem. Objective: To determine determinants of diarrhea among under-five-year-old children in the health extension model and non-model families of Wama Hagelo District 2019. Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 512 under-five children among 257 model and 255 non-model health extension families. A multi-stage sampling technique was used. Households with at least one under-five child were selected using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariate analysis was done to select candidate variables at p ≤ 0.2. Determinants of childhood diarrhea were determined by a multivariable logistic regression model at p-value less than 0.05. Results:The two-week prevalence of diarrhea among under-five children in model and non-model families was 7.8% (95% CI=4.5-11.1%) and 27.8% (95% CI 22.3-33.3%), respectively. Unimproved water sources (AOR [95% CI] =5.5[2.2, 97.7]) and no vaccination against Rotavirus (AOR [95% CI] = 49.8 [4.2-94.8]) were associated with diarrhea among under-five children in model families. Family size > 5 (AOR [95% CI] = 5.2 [1.7-17.6]), using unimproved water sources (AOR [95% CI] = 7.2 [1.6-13.2]), not using latrine (AOR [95% CI] = 6 [1.8-20.6]), child not vaccinated against Rotavirus (AOR [95% CI] = 10.9 [2.9-41.1]), child not supplemented with vitamin A (AOR [95% CI] = 3.2 [1.4-7.2]), and not being health extension model families (AOR [95% CI] = 2.4 [1.15-4.99]) predict diarrhea among under-five children in non-model families. Conclusion: Diarrhea was more frequent among non-model than model families. Family size, type of water source, using a latrine, place of childbirth, child vaccination against Rotavirus, and vitamin A supplementation were independently associated with the occurrence of diarrhea in under-five children. Encouraging all non-model families to become models in implementing all health extension packages by strengthening community participation is important to decrease childhood diarrhea in under-five children.

BackgroundDepression is common among people with schizophrenia and associated with severe positive and negative symptoms, higher rates of disability, treatment resistance and mortality related to suicide, physical and drug-related causes. However, to our knowledge, no study has been conducted to report the magnitude of depression among people with schizophrenia in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression among people with schizophrenia.MethodA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 418 patients with schizophrenia selected by systematic sampling technique. Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression among the study participants. To identify the potential contributing factors, we performed binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting the model for the potential confounding factors. Odds ratios (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI)) was determined to evaluate the strength of association.ResultThe prevalence estimate of depression among people with schizophrenia was found to be 18.0% [95% confidence interval: 14.50–22.30]. Our multivariable analysis revealed that current substance use (AOR 2.28, 95%CI (1.27, 4.09), suicide attempt (AOR 5.24, 95%CI (2.56, 10.72), duration of illness between 6 and 10 years (AOR 2.09, 95%CI (1.08, 4.04) and poor quality of life (AOR 3.13, 95%CI (1.79, 5.76) were found to be the factors associated with depression among people with schizophrenia.ConclusionThe current study revealed that comorbid depression was high among people with schizophrenia and associated with current substance use, suicide attempt, and long duration of the illness as well as poor quality of life. Attention needs to be given to address comorbid depression among people with schizophrenia.