Introduction. Timely initiation of breastfeeding is defined as putting the newborn baby to the breast within one hour of birth. Despite the World Health Organization and national recommendations on timely initiation of breastfeeding, delayed initiation of breastfeeding is still a common problem. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the timely initiation of breastfeeding and its associated factors at the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021. Methods. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was employed from February 1, 2021, to March 2, 2021, at the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city among 302 mother-child pairs. The data were collected by systematic random sampling technique, entered into Epi data 4.2, and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science 25.0 version. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95%, and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Frequency tables, figures, and descriptive summaries were used to describe the study variables. Results. In this study, timely initiation of breastfeeding was 70.9% (95% CI: 65.6-75.8%). In a multivariable analysis, maternal age group of 25-40 years ( AOR = 2.21 , 95% CI = 1.09 − 4.48 ), multiparty ( AOR = 2.58 , 95% CI = 1.24 − 5.40 ), counselling on timely initiation of breastfeeding during antenatal care visits ( AOR = 2.38 , 95% CI = 1.16 − 4.88 ), institutional delivery ( AOR = 3.29 , 95% CI = 1.27 − 8.52 ), vaginal delivery ( AOR = 3.06 , 95% CI = 1.20 − 7.81 ), counselling on breastfeeding immediately after delivery ( AOR = 2.89 , 95% CI = 1.29 − 6.45 ), not practicing pre lacteal feeding ( AOR = 6.76 , 95% CI = 2.35 − 19.44 ), and having good practice of colostrum feeding ( AOR = 4.03 , 95% CI = 1.95 − 8.36 ) were associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion and Recommendation. Mothers who had practiced timely initiation of breastfeeding were low compared to the national recommendation (92%). Age of the mother, multiparity, counseling on timely initiation of breastfeeding, institutional delivery, vaginal delivery, counseling after delivery, not practicing prelacteal feeding, and having a good practice of colostrum feeding were predictors of timely initiation of breastfeeding. It indicates a need to encourage mothers to have antenatal care visits and institutional delivery.

Introduction: Anemia is characterized by a decline in the number or size of red blood cells and Hb concentration, which results in impairment capacity to transport oxygen. It is a major cause of indirect maternal mortality. Anemia is largely preventable and easily treatable, if detected in time; however, it remains one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to assess factors associated with anemia among pregnant women who attended antenatal care. Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 February 2020 to 2 March 2020 among 420 pregnant women. The data were collected by systematic random sampling technique, entered into a computer using EpiData 3.5, and analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences 23.0 version. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a CI of 95% and a P-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Frequency tables, figures, and descriptive summaries were used to describe the study variables. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 32.9% (95% CI: 28.6–37.4), and it was higher in rural than urban pregnant women (45 vs. 23%), respectively. In multivariable analysis women who are found in the age group of greater than or equal to 30 years (AOR=3.45, 95% CI=1.22–9.78), rural residency (AOR=3.51, 95% CI=1.92–6.42), low family income (AOR=3.10, 95% CI=1.19–8.08), multiparty (AOR=2.91, 95% CI=1.33–6.38), a short interpregnancy gap (AOR 3.32, 95% CI=1.69–6.53), not taking iron and folate (AOR=4.83, 95% CI=2.62–9.90), third trimester of pregnancy (AOR=3.21, 95% CI=1.25–8.25), poor minimum dietary diversity score (AOR=3.54, 95% CI=1.58–7.95), undernourished (AOR=4.9, 95% CI=2.19–7.64), poor knowledge of anemia (AOR=3.19, 95% CI=1.72–5.93), consumption of coffee always after meal per day (AOR=3.24, 95% CI=1.42–7.42), having a history of irregular menstruation, and antepartum hemorrhage were significantly associated with anemia in pregnant women. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women in this study area was a moderate public health problem. The author suggest emphasizing the education and counseling of women on the advantage of taking the supplemented iron and folic acid. Health care providers should have to advise women to stay for at least 2 years before the next pregnancy to reduce the risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Awareness creation in the community on the utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets is also needed.

Objective Transmission of the Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) from mother to child remains a significant problem in developing countries. Male partners’ involvement in HIV testing and counseling is a major entry point for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. This study aimed to assess male partners’ involvement in HIV testing and counseling during prenatal care visits in Bichena town, Westcentral Ethiopia. Results A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from October 1/2018 to June 15/2019 among 406 male partners. Less than half (41.38%) [95% CI: 36.20–46.10%] of the male partners were involved in HIV testing and counseling. In multivariable analysis male partners who are found in the age group of 20–29 years, secondary, and diploma and above educational level, good knowledge of the services provided in the prenatal care visits, male partners whose wife had ≥ 4 prenatal care visits, good knowledge of mother to child transmission (MTCT) and PMTCT of HIV, entering the prenatal care room together with his wife, discussing maternal health issue with health care providers, and travel < 15 min to reach a nearby health facility were associated with male partners involvement in HIV testing and counseling.

Objective Transmission of HIV from mother to child remains a significant problem in developing countries. Male partner involvement in HIV testing and counseling is a major entry point for the PMTCT. This study aimed to assess male partner involvement in HIV testing and counseling. A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 1–15/2019 among 406 male partners. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 version. Logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95% and a P-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results In this study, 41.4% [95% CI: 36.2–46.1%] of male partner was involved in HIV testing and counseling. In multivariable analysis male partners who are found in the age group of 20–29 years, secondary, and diploma and above educational level, good knowledge of the services provided in the ANC visits, male partners whose wife had ≥ 4 ANC visits, knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT, entered the ANC room together with his wife, discussed maternal health issue with health care providers, and traveled < 15 minutes to reach a nearby health facility were associated with male partner involvement in HIV testing and counseling.