BackgroundAnemia affects a significant part of the population in nearly every country in the globe. Iron requirements are greatest at ages 6–23 months when growth is extremely rapid and critically essential in critical times of life. Even though infants and toddlers are highly at risk, they are not considered as separate populations in the estimation of anemia. Despite this, the prevalence of anemia among under 24 months of age is still at its highest point of severity to be a public health problem in Ethiopia. There is no study that documented the magnitude of the problem and associated factors in the study area. The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and to identify associated factors among children 6–23 months of age.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 485 children of Damot Sore, South Ethiopia from March to April 2017. Data on socio-demographic, dietary, blood samples for hemoglobin level and malaria infection were collected. Both descriptive and bivariate analyses were done and all variables having a p-value of 0.25 were selected for multivariable analyses. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to isolate independent predictors of anemia at a p-value less than 0.05. A principal component analysis was used to generate household wealth score, dietary diversity score.ResultsOut of 522 sampled children, complete data were captured from 485 giving a response rate of 92.91%. For altitude and persons smoking in the house adjusted prevalence of anemia was 255(52.6%). The larger proportion, 128(26.4%) of children had moderate anemia. On multivariable logistic regression analyses, household food insecurity (AOR = 2.74(95% CI: 1.62–4.65)), poor dietary diversity (AOR = 2.86(95% CI: 1.73–4.7)), early or late initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 2.0(95% CI: 1.23–3.60)), poor breastfeeding practice (AOR = 2.6(95% CI: 1.41–4.62)), and poor utilization of folic acid by mothers (AOR = 2.75(95% CI: 1.42–5.36)) were significantly associated with anemia.ConclusionPrevalence of anemia among children (6–23 months) was a severe public health problem in the study area. Most important predictors are suboptimal child feeding practices, household food insecurity, and poor diet. Multi-sectoral efforts are needed to improve health and interventions targeting nutrition security are recommended.

BackgroundEthiopia is currently facing new challenges related to food insecurity among the urban poor. Pensioners are segments of the population with reduced income and working capacity because of advancement of age and other related problems. There is no empirical evidence on Jimma Town pensioner’s household food insecurity and coping strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among households in Jimma Town living on an income obtained from a pension from March 01–28, 2017. Data were collected from 399 randomly selected participants. Data were entered into EPi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0. Variables with p ≤ 0.25 in the bivariate analyses were entered into a multivariable regression model to control for confounding variables.ResultsNearly, 83.5% of households were food insecure. The odds of food insecurity among households with heads attending secondary school and above was 78% lower when compared to that of households with uneducated household heads (AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.97 to 0.49). The odds of food insecurity among households headed by merchants was 91% lower when compared to that of households headed by guards (AOR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.29). Food insecure households were using coping strategies such as changing consumption patterns (44%), eating inexpensive foods (72.4%), reducing meal frequency (62.4%) and selling household assets, such as household food utensils (30.8%). The odds of food insecurity among households having large family size (≥ 7) was 3.74 times higher when compared to that of households with family size less than three (AOR = 3.74(1.27, 10.99).ConclusionsHousehold food insecurity was associated with having households headed by uneducated, widowed and guard household heads and having large family size. Food insecure households used both consumption and asset-based coping strategies such as eating less preferred, lower quality or less expensive foods and receiving donation from relatives or friends. Government policies should consider revising the current social protection scheme for pensioners. Special attention should be given to widow pensioners and pensioners with low educational status and with large family sizes.

Background: Anemia is accountable for 20% of maternal death globally, and it is associated with premature birth, low birth weight, and infant death. According to the WHO report of 2008, 57.1% of pregnant women were anemic in Africa. In Ethiopia, anemia among pregnant women is 62.7%. There were no data in the study area that identified the determinants of anemia. Objective: To identify the determinants of anemia among pregnant mothers attending ANC clinic in public health facilities in Kacha Birra District, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in public health facilities in Kacha Birra District, Southern Ethiopia, from February 1/2019-May 30/2019. An aggregate of 117 cases and 227 controls were involved in the study. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Controls were pregnant ladies whose blood hemoglobin level was 11 g/dl and above at their first antenatal care clinic, and cases were pregnant ladies whose hemoglobin level less than 11 g/dl. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to isolate independent predictors of anemia. Results: An overall of 344 respondents (117 cases and 227controls) were included in this study with a response rate of 100%. On multivariable logistic regression models, significant predictors of anemia were: rural residence [AOR= 2.9,95% CI:1.18-5.84], previous history of heavy menstrual blood flow [AOR=2.75, 95% CI: 2.66-28.53], age of mother [AOR=4.013, 95% CI: 1.08-14.90], parasitic infection [AOR=6.39, 95% CI: 1.226-33.362], food taboo (aversion) [AOR= 3.92, CI: 95% 2.08-7.35], drinking tea/coffee instantly after meal [AOR=18.49, 95% CI:6.89-40.64]. Conclusion: Residence, previous heavy menstrual flow, age, parasitic infection, food taboo, and tea/coffee consumption immediately after meals were significant predictors of anemia among pregnant women. So, anemia prevention and control policy should include the promotion of counseling on the consumption of diversified and iron-enriched foods during pregnancy, prevention of parasitic infection as well as mass deworming, awareness creation on cultural norms that makes food aversion during pregnancy.

Background: The development of antiretroviral drugs and subsequent access to combined antiretroviral therapy contributed to the decline in morbidity and mortality rates associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, resulting in an increased life expectancy and improved quality of life for people living with human immunodeficiency virus. However, a cluster of metabolic derangements such as dyslipidemia is increasing, especially for those on antiretroviral therapy. Limited studies were done on the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its associated factors among adult patients on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia which demand the conduct of the present investigation entitled on the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its associated factors among adult patients on antiretroviral therapy in Armed Force Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2018. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed between March and April 2018. Systematic sampling method was used to select 353 study participants. Pretested stepwise approach of the World Health Organization questionnaire (WHO Stepwise), document review, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory analysis were used to collect data on different variables under the study. Collected data were entered in Epidata version 3 and analyzed by SPSS version 21. Results: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among study participants was 74.8%. Female participants were twice and half at risk of developing dyslipidemia compared to males (AOR= 2.38; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.66). Similarly, compared to those attended college level of education, not attended formal education (AOR=0.19; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.66), and having primary/secondary educational level (AOR= 0.33; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.66) showed lower odds to develop dyslipidemia. Furthermore, WHO clinical stage II (AOR= 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14,0.92), stage III (AOR=0.25; 95% CI:0.10,0.64), duration on ART (AOR= 1.01; 95% CI: 1.001,1.02), and BMI (AOR =1.13; 95% CI: 1.06,1.23) were significantly associated with dyslipidemia. Conclusion: There exists a high prevalence of dyslipidemia among study participants. Sex, educational status, WHO clinical stage, duration on ART, and BMI were significantly associated factors for dyslipidemia. Intervention strategies including the identified factors are demanded in the setting.

Maternal nutrition plays a major role in influencing fetal growth and birth outcomes. It is a modifiable risk factor which drags a significant public health consideration to avert adverse birth outcomes, specially, in low and middle income countries. Suboptimal dietary and nutritional characteristics and low birth weight are prevalent in the present study setting. This study was conducted to assess the association of maternal dietary and nutritional characteristics and newborn birth weight among pregnant mother who delivered in health institutions. Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 541 pregnant mothers who delivered in Health Institutions of Jimma Town from March 1st, 2017 to April 30th, 2017. Data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS for windows, version 20.0; SPSS. Bivariate analysis was used to assess the association between birth weight and list of independent variables and to test significance of the association at p-value <0.25 for multivariable linear regression. Multivariable linear regression model was used to recognize the important predictors by controlling for possible confounding variables and statistical significance was measured at p-value <0.05. Majority of newborns had normal birth weight (91.0%). The mean birth weight of the newborns was 3224.6 ± 438.5 grams while low birth weight was 2%. In Multivariable linear regression analyses, birth weight was found to have increased by 13.5 grams (β=13.5, P=0.04), for every centimeter increment in maternal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Similarly, with each increase in parity of the mother an increase in birth weight increased by 96.81 grams (β=96.81, P=0.01) was observed. Wealth index was also found to have a positive association with birth weight (β=49.04, P=0.01). Maternal MUAC, parity and wealth index were found to have a positive association with birth weight. Intervention directed on nutrition of pregnant mothers through nutrition counseling should be the major priority in addition to economic measure.