Background: Stunting is defined as a child with a height for-age Z-score less than minus two standard deviations. Globally, 162 million less than 5 years were stunted. In Ethiopia, Nationally the prevalence of stunting among under five children was 38.4% and in Afar it is above the national average (41.1%). This study was aimed to identify determinants of stunting among children aged 6 to 59 months in rural Dubti district, Afar region, North East Ethiopia, 2017. Methods: Community based unmatched case-control study design was conducted among 322 (161 cases and 161 controls) children aged 6 to 59 months from March 2-30/ 2017. Simple random method was used to select 5 kebelles from 13 kebelles. Training was given for data collectors and supervisors. Data were entered to EPI data version 3.02 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used and variables with p-value < 0.25 on univariable binary logistic regression analysis were further analyzed on multivariable binary logistic regression analysis and statistical significance was declared at 95% CI. Results: Being from a mother with no education (AOR = 4.92, 95%CI (1.94, 12.4), preceding birth interval less than 24 months (AOR = 4.94, 95% (2.17, 11.2), no ANC follow-up (AOR = 2.81, 95% (1.1.46, 5.38), no access to latrine (AOR =3.26, 95% CI (1.54-6.94), children born from short mother < 150 cm (AOR = 3.75, 95%CI (1.54, 9.18), not fed colostrum (AOR = 4.45, 95% CI (1.68, 11.8), breast fed for less than 24 months (AOR = 3.14, 95% CI (1.7, 5.79) and non-exclusive breast feeding (AOR = 6.68, 95% (3.1, 14.52) were determinants of stunting at 95% CI. Conclusion: No maternal education, preceding birth interval less than 24 months, no ANC follow-up, no access to latrine, short maternal height, not feeding colostrum, duration of breast feed less than 24 months and nonexclusive breast feeding were determinants of stunting at 95% CI.

Achieving optimum Infant and young child feeding practices is the major challenge in developed and developing countries. Globally, about 40% of under two years age deaths are attributed to inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices. In Ethiopia, a wide range of inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices were documented. The study was aimed to assess infant and young child feeding practice and its associated factors among children aged 0-23 months in Assayita districts, Afar region, Ethiopia, 2018. A Community based cross-sectional study was applied from January1-30/2018 among 620 study participants. A pre tested structured questioner was used to collect data. After data get collected it was cleaned and entered using EPI-Data version-3.02 and exported to SPSS version-20 for further analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to measure the strength of association between explanatory variables and outcome variable. Variables with p<0.25 on univariable logistic regression analysis were candidates for multivariable logistic regression analysis and statistical significance was declared at P-value <0.05 and 95% CI. In this study the prevalence of appropriate infant and young child feeding practice was 9.2% (95% CI. 7.1-11.6), children from mothers with secondary education (AOR=4.44, 95% CI (1.84, 10.7), delivered at health facilities (AOR=2.55, 95% CI (1.32, 4.93), had Ante Natal Care follow-up (AOR=4.2, 95% CI (2.2, 8.7), and heard information about Infant and young child feeding (AOR=4.38, 95% CI (1.97, 9.5) were predictors of appropriate Infant and young child feeding practice at 95% CI. Promoting institutional delivery, promoting Ante Natal Care service, maternal education and increasing awareness on infant and young child feeding practice should be implemented.

BackgroundThe desire of human immune deficiency virus infected person to have children in the future has significant implication for the transmission of human immune deficiency virus to sexual partner and new born. However, fertility desire has given little attention and the uptake of PMTCT services is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess fertility desire and associated factors among HIV positive women attending ART clinics, Afar region, northeast EthiopiaMethodologyInstitution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 402 HIV positive women attending ART clinic in selected Hospitals in Afar region. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to identify and enroll women. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors associated with fertility desire. Statistical association was measured and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultIn this study a total of 391 HIV positive were participated with a response rate of 97.3%.The prevalence of fertility desire was 63.9 % (95 % CI, 59.1 %, 68.8 %). Young age between 15–24 (AOR = 11.98, 95% CI (4.04, 35.5) and 25–34 years (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI (1.46, 5.86), women who were not had live children (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI (1.31, 20.2) and women that had 1 or 2 live children (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI (1.39, 5.27), disclose sero status to their partner (AOR = 5.89, 95% CI (2.33, 14.9) were associated with increased odds of fertility desire. However, women who use contraceptive were associated with decreased odd of fertility desire (AOR = 0.11, 95%, CI (0.05, 0.22).ConclusionThis study showed that six in ten HIV positive women attending ART clinic were had fertility desire. Young age, not having live child, and having 1 or 2 live number of children, disclosing sero status to partner, and contraceptive use were predictors of fertility desire. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase fertility desire among young HIV positive women attending ART clinic. Moreover, awareness creation on the importance of disclosing sero status to partner is mandatory as it helps to increase fertility desire.