Background: The burden of malnutrition in Ethiopia is the second highest in sub Saharan Africa. According to the recently released Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey report of 2011, the prevalence of child stunting, underweight and wasting were 44% stunted, 10% wasted and 29% underweight respectively. Objectives: To determine the magnitude and risk factors of malnutrition among 6-59 months children from Community Based Nutrition Program implementing and nonimplementing districts from south east Amhara. Methodology: Descriptive community based, cross sectional study in which a total of 987 children (620 from Community Based Nutrition implementing and 367 from nonimplementing districts) were sampled. A structured questionnaire was administered to mothers or caregivers of the children. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard procedures. Nutritional status of the children was determined based on Z scores of < −2 or >= −2 Standard Deviation. Logistic regression was used to test significant associations between outcome and factor variables. Setting: Rural communities from Artuma Fursi and Kemissie districts. Results: A total of 987 children of 6-59 months of age and 987 mothers/caregivers had participated in the study, giving a response rate of 99%. The percentage of male and female children in CBNP district was 330 (53.2%) and 290 (46.8%) and that of non Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP) district was 192 (52.3%) & 175 (47.7%) respectively. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 60.6%, 31.1%, 12.6% and 39.0%, 27.5%, 14.7% in CBNP and nonCBNP implementing districts, respectively. The possible risk factors for child B. Tariku et al. 2 malnutrition were area specific and different for the two districts. Conclusion: Child under nutrition is a serious public health problem in both districts, so that holistic programs need to be designed and implemented according to the guidelines.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is attention given to a pregnant mother from the time of conception until the beginning of labor. It has an impact on the development of the fetus as well as the health of the mother. It can be achieved through early booking and regular attendance of antenatal clinic. Objective: This study assessed the magnitude and associated factors for late booking for antenatal care in Adigrat town. Methodology: A facility based cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from 415 pregnant women using face-to-face interview. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify associated factors with late booking for ANC. Result: Two hundred fifteen (51.8%) pregnant women booked their first ANC late. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who had parity one and above, unplanned pregnancy and those who had a perception time to book ANC is after four months of gestational age were increased but having no history on abortion decreased the likelihood of late booking than the reference category. Conclusion: The prevalence of late booking for ANC was found high in Adigrat and the possible factors for this were parity one and above, had no history of abortion, unplanned pregnancy and perception the time to book ANC. To improve this addressing the identified factors by community mobilization and promoting the importance of early booking for ANC are mandatory.

Background: Despite presence of clinical management protocols for treating severe acute malnutrition, its case fatality rate remains high in health facilities from developing countries. Objectives: To assess treatment outcomes and associated risk factors for death of children aged 6 -59 months with complicated severe acute malnutrition. Methods: A cohort of 469 children aged 6 -59 months with complicated severe acute malnutrition admitted to nutritional rehabilitation units of Mekelle City were followed retrospectively. Data on nutritional status, socio-demographic factors, admission medical conditions and management characteristics were collected. Median test, Chi-square test and Cox's proportional hazard regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Overall case fatality rate was 12.8%. The median length of stay and median weight gain was 17 days and 12.1 g/kg/day, respectively. Two third of the deaths occurred during the first week of admission. Diarrhea (HR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.23 -4.89), IV antibiotic (HR: 5.87, 95% CI: 1.73 -19.87), blood transfusion (HR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.51 -6.17) and IV infusion (HR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.25 -5.07) were found to be associated with time to death. Conclusion: Unacceptably high case fatality rate was observed at the therapeutic feeding units of Mekelle City. Diarrhea, IV antibiotic, blood transfusion and IV infusion were the risk factors for death of severely malnourished under five children. Appropriate clinical management of severe acute malnutrition in the first week of inpatient stay with frequent monitoring for signs associated with clinical deterioration of children hospitalized with complicated SAM is most critical to the survival of the children.

IntroductionRisk sexual practice among students from public universities/colleges is common in Ethiopia. However, little has been known about risk sexual behavior of students in private colleges where more students are potentially enrolled. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of risky sexual behaviors and predictors among students of Private Colleges in Mekelle City.MethodsA mixed design of both quantitative and qualitative methods was used among 627 randomly selected students of private colleges from February to march 2013. Self administered questionnaire and focus group discussion was used to collect data. A thematic content analysis was used for the qualitative part. For the quantitative study, Univariate, Bivariate and multivariable analysis was made using SPSS version 16 statistical package and p value less than 0.05 was used as cut off point for a statistical significance.ResultsAmong the total 590 respondents, 151 (29.1%) have ever had sex. Among the sexually active students, 30.5% reported having had multiple sexual partners and consistent condom use was nearly 39%. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables such as sex, age group, sex last twelve months and condom use last twelve months was found significantly associated with risky sexual behavior. The findings of qualitative and quantitative study showed consistency in presence of risk factors.ConclusionFinding of this study showed sexual risk behaviors is high among private colleges such as multiple sexual partners and substance use. So that colleges should emphasis on promoting healthy sexual and reproductive health programs.

Background Delayed health care seeking is one of the major impediments to successfully prevent and control sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Gambella is one of the HIV hot spot areas and the most HIV prevalent region in the country. Considering the empirical knowledge of the link between STIs and HIV, gathering information on health-seeking behavior and the associated factors among STI patients is helpful to design interventions that enhance early seeking and treatment adherence. Methodology A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from 424 STI patients from February 15 to April 15, 2017, using a face-to-face interview. A consecutive sampling method was used until the allocated sample for each facility was fulfilled. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with health-seeking behavior. Results The proportion of delayed health care seeking among patients treated for STIs was 56.8%. Knowledge, number of sexual partners, and perception variables were found significantly associated with early seeking behavior in multivariate logistic regression: patients who had better knowledge of STIs (AOR =1.74, 95% CI =1.10, 2.73), had single sexual partner (AOR =1.83, 95% CI =1.19, 2.78), those who perceived stigma for STIs (AOR =0.52, 95% CI =0.34, 0.79), and perceived severity of STIs (AOR =1.97, 95% CI =1.18, 3.29). Conclusion This study reported a high proportion of delayed health care seeking. This may challenge the prevention and control effort and alarms the potential threat to the spread of STI/HIV in the region. Provision of intensive health education is crucial to improve awareness and to avoid risk behaviors and negative perceptions.