BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding infants only breast milk, be it directly from breast or expressed, with no addition of any liquid or solids apart from drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicine, and nothing else. Several studies have shown that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months plays a great role in preventing morbidity and mortality. In Ethiopia, for example, mortality rates of infant and children younger than five years are high. Understanding the prevalence and predictors that influence exclusive breastfeeding in this is crucial to promoting the practice.ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding with in the first six months of life among women in Halaby special woreda, SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region) Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross sectional study was conducted between November 2013 and January 2014 among women with infants aged less than 6 months and the sample size was 422 in Halaba special woreda, SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region) Ethiopia. A random sampling technique was used in sampling the study subjects. Structured questionnaire was developed and adopted from EDHS 2011 and WHO standard and that all the variables to be assessed were incorporated. Data was entered and analyzed through using Epi Info 7 for Dos version 3.5.1 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software for windows version 20 respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was (70.5 %) and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding was (92.4 %). Antenatal follow up (AOR/Adjusted odds ratio = 1.9; 95 % CI, 1.05–3.6), postnatal follow up (AOR/Adjusted odds ratio = 2.2; 95 % CI, 1.25–3.87), initiation of breast feeding immediately within one hour (AOR/Adjusted odds ratio =3.8; 95 % CI, 2.4–6.2), attended formal school (AOR Adjusted odds ratio/=1.9;95 % CI,1.1–3.4), advice about exclusive breastfeeding (AOR Adjusted odds ratio/=6.3;95 % CI,1.3–30.9); and awareness about exclusive breastfeeding (AOR Adjusted odds ratio/= 8.2; 95 % CI 3.34–20), have significant association with exclusive breastfeeding.ConclusionsStrategies that target improving awareness among women at health facility and community level help to improve exclusive breastfeeding. In addition, promotion of EBF for working mothers through working environment recommended.

Background: Good maternal nutrition is important for the health and reproductive performance of women and the health, survival, and development of their children. Malnutrition in women, including pregnant women, is not conspicuous and remains, to a large extent, uncounted and unreported; thus, insufficient attention has been given to the extent, causes, and consequences of malnutrition in women. As a result, inadequate resources and efforts have been allocated to improving women's nutrition compared with other nutritional and public health actions.The limited available data and the few experiences with programs that do exist come mostly from small-scale efforts to improve nutrition during pregnancy, often through nutritional supplementation to enhance fetal growth and birth weight. This study was implemented to assess the dietary practice and anthropometric status of pregnant women in Aleta Cuko Woreda, SNNPR, and Ethiopia.Objectives: To assess the prevalence of dietary practice and anthropometric status among pregnant women in Aleta Chuko woreda, SNNPR Ethiopia.Methods: A health center-based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted between May 2015 and June 2015 among pregnant women in Aleta Chuko woreda, SNNPR Ethiopia.Data was entered and analyzed through using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software for windows version 16.0. Results:The prevalence of MUAC measurement <19 cm 2.1%, 19 cm-23 cm were 69%, and ≥23 cm 28.1%. About 76.7% of Iron/float supplementation, 57.6% of advice about dietary practice during ANC, and 92.4% of sable diet in the study area were Enset.Conclusions: Individual counseling with any action points and reinforcement can bring about improvement in nutritional status during pregnancy.