Background Self-medication is the use of drugs without a medical prescription to treat self-identified illnesses; it is also the continued use of drugs without a physician’s order for recurring symptoms, either by sharing or purchasing them from unlicensed vendors. It entails substantial risk to pregnant women and fetuses. Magnitude of the problem and its factors among rural pregnant women is not studied in Ethiopia. Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication practice and identify its associated factors among pregnant women in rural Southwest Shewa, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 585 randomly selected pregnant women in selected rural public health institutions from May to July 2021. Data was collected by using an interviewer-administered pretested structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with self-medication. Variables with p- value <0.05 for the 95% confidence interval of the adjusted odds ratio were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 585 pregnant women participated in the study with a response rate of 92.3%. The prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women was 19.8%. Primigravidity (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2–6.1), lower educational status of husbands (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.02–12.9), living close to health facilities (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.09–0.6) and knowing one’s own gestational age (AOR = 0.5,95% CI: 0.30–0.9) were significantly associated with self-medication practice. Conclusion and Recommendation One in five of the pregnant women practiced self-medication during the current pregnancy. Primigravidity and lower educational status of husbands were associated with a higher probability of self-medication. Knowing gestational age and living close to health facilities were associated with a lower likelihood of practicing self-medication. Rational drug use has to be promoted among pregnant women. Maternal and child health interventions should also target husbands. Health education has to be strengthened to help pregnant women have a safe pregnancy.

Background Wasting continued to threaten the lives of 52 million (7.7%) under-five children globally. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for one-third of all wasted children globally, and Ethiopia is among the countries with the highest magnitude of Wasting in the region. Despite, the little decrement in the prevalence of other forms of malnutrition (stunting and underweight), the burden of wasting remains the same in the country. Gedeo zone is among those with a high prevalence of under-five wasting. Objective To identify determinants of wasting among children aged 6–59 months in Wonago Woreda, 2018. Methods A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from May 11 to July 21/2018. A total of 356 (119 cases and 237 controls) mothers/caregivers of under-five children who visited the Wonago woreda public health facilities were included in the study using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement. Descriptive analysis was used to describe data. Binary logistic regression was used to identify determinants of wasting among children aged 6–59 months. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in bi-variate analysis entered to multivariate analysis. Those variables with a p-value less than 0.05 during the multivariate regression were considered significant. Results Determinants which found to have an association with wasting in this study were; maternal illiteracy [AOR = 2.48, 95% CI (1.11, 5.53)] family size <3 [AOR = 0.16, 95% CI (0.05, 0.50)] wealth index [AOR = 2.41, 95% CI (1.07, 5.46)] exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months [AOR = 2.71, 95% CI (1.15, 6.40)] dietary diversity [AOR = 5.52, 95% CI (2.06, 14.76)] and children been sick in the last 2 weeks [AOR = 4.36, 95% CI (2.21, 8.61)]. Conclusion and recommendations Determinants identified were maternal education, family size, wealth index, and exclusive breastfeeding, dietary diversity, and morbidity history of a child in the last 2 weeks. To reduce childhood wasting, due emphasis should be given to empowering women and improving the knowledge and practice of parents on appropriate infant and young child-caring practices.