Objective The aim of this study was to assess delivery place preference and its determinant factors in Simada District of Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia. Data was collected among 346 women who delivered in the last 12 months. Result Of the total 362 study participants, 346 were included in the analysis giving a response rate of 95.6%. More than half, 56.4% of the study participants reported home as their preferred delivery place. The odds of preferring home delivery was higher among women with low household income (AOR = 2.13, 95%, CI (1.06, 4.35)), and those who had < 4 antenatal care visits (AOR = 3.65, 95%, CI (1.58, 8.41)). Whereas, preference of home delivery was lower (AOR = 0.13, 95%, CI (0.05, 0.32)), (AOR = 0.40, 95%, CI (0.17, 0.98)), and (AOR = 0.31, 95%, CI (0.15, 0.67)) among women with facility delivery, within 5 km distance to health facility, and who had transport access respectively. Improving access of health facility to the nearest possible and improving transport access shall be emphasized to improve institutional delivery. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4158-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective This study was aimed to assess parental communication on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues and its associated factors among preparatory school students in Debre Tabor, Northcentral Ethiopia. Institution based cross sectional study was employed among 394 preparatory school students through self-administered questionnaire. Result A total of 394 students were participated in the study with a response rate of 100%. The magnitude of parental communication on SRH issues was found to be 68.5%, (95% CI (63.7, 72.8)). Low grade (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI (0.17, 0.58)), feel embraced to discuss about SRH issues (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI (0.17, 0.56)), and living with mother/father (AOR = 0.15, 95% CI (0.06, 0.36)) were associated with reduced parental communication on SRH. While, family size < 5 (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI (1.25, 4.84)), and believe on the importance of discussion on SRH (AOR = 10.83, 95% CI (5.07, 23.17) were found to be associated with increased communication about SRH issues. Health education shall be given to preparatory school students on importance of discussion on SRH issues and related consequences of risky sexual behaviors.

Background Survival of newborns and long term complications are highly correlated with birth weight. The low birth weight rate is an indicator of a public health problem that includes long-term maternal malnutrition, ill health, and poor health care at population level during pregnancy. On an individual basis, low birth weight is an important predictor of newborn health and survival. We aimed to assess the magnitude of low birth weight and its associated factors among women who delivered in Debre Tabor Hospital (DTH), Amhara, Ethiopia. Methods Facility based cross sectional study was employed on 282 mothers who delivered in DTH from December 2018 to March 2019. Single population proportion formula was used to calculate sample size. Data entry was completed in a template prepared in EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe the characteristics of the study participants. Crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were used to identify the significance of association. A p value of < 0.05 was used to decide the significance of the association. Result Of a total 282 interviewed mothers who delivered in DTH 12.0% (95%, CI: (8.5, 15.2%)) delivered low birth weight baby. Place of residence (AOR = 0.32, 95%, CI: (0.12, 0.85)), gravidity (AOR = 0.17, 95%, CI: (0.03, 0.97)), status of pregnancy (AOR = 0.29, 95%, CI: (0.09, 0.92)), and hemoglobin levels (AOR = 9.82, 95%, CI: (1.83, 52.73)) were found to be the significant predictors of low birth weight in this study. Conclusion and recommendation Place of residence, status of pregnancy, gravidity, and level of hemoglobin were found to be statistically significant with low birth weight. Women who lived in urban areas, who had planned pregnancy, and gravida of < 5 had lower risk of giving low birth weight baby. Whereas, women who had hemoglobin level of < 11 mg/dl were more likely to deliver low birth weight baby. Being a multi-factorial problem, integrated and holistic approach shall be followed to reduce the prevalence, morbidity and mortality related to low birth weight.

Background According to the World Health Organization, viral diseases continue to emerge and represent a serious issue for public health. The elderly and those with underlying chronic diseases are more likely to become severe cases. Our study sets out to present in-depth exploration and analyses of the community’s risk perception and barriers to the practice of COVID-19 prevention measures in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A qualitative study was done in three districts of South Gondar Zone. Community key informants and health extension workers were selected purposely for in-depth interviews and focus group discussion. The interviews were conducted by maintaining WHO recommendations for social distancing and use of appropriate personal protective equipment. The sample size for the study depended on the theoretical saturation of the data at the time of data collection. The qualitative data generated from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was transcribed verbatim and translated into English language and thematically analyzed using open code software version 4.02. Results Three main themes and five categories emerged from the narrations of the participants regarding the perceived barriers for the practice of COVID-19 prevention measures. A total of 9 community key informants (5 women development armies (HDA), 2 health extension workers (HEW), and 2 religious leaders participated in the in-depth interview, while two focus group discussions (7 participants in each round) were conducted among purposely selected community members. The age of the participants ranged from 24 to 70 years with the median age of 48 years. The major identified barriers for practicing COVID-19 prevention measures were the presence of strong cultural and religious practices, perceiving that the disease does not affect the young, misinformation about the disease, and lack of trust in the prevention measures. Conclusions Socio-cultural, religious, and economic related barriers were identified from the participant’s narratives for the practice of COVID-19 prevention measures in south Gondar Zone. Our findings suggest the need to strengthen community awareness and education programs about the prevention measures of COVID-19 and increase diagnostic facilities with strong community-based surveillance to control the transmission of the pandemic.

Background: Globally, preschool children are the most at-risk population groups for vitamin A deficiency (VAD). The 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) report stated that one-third (190 million) of preschool children worldwide are deficient in vitamin A. Both clinical and subclinical VAD have been a long-standing problem in developing countries. In Ethiopia, VAD was recognized as a public health problem 4-5 decades before. Since then, researches conducted in other parts of the country still showed varied and high prevalence, which is 2-8 times higher than WHO cutoff points. This community-based study was therefore conducted on preschool children of rural kebeles in Farta district to determine the prevalence of clinical VAD (Bitot's spot and night blindness) and associated factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional mixed quantitative and qualitative study was conducted. Randomly selected 588 preschool children participated in the study. The clinical aspect of the study investigated the presence of Bitot's spots on the children's eye with the aid of a magnifying loop and torch. Data on the history of night blindness were obtained from mothers/caregivers by using WHO standard questions. The qualitative study data were obtained via a key informant interview with the mothers/caregivers whose child has clinical VAD. Quantitative data were entered using Epi Data statistical software and analysed by using SPSS version 20 statistical software package. A bivariable logistic regression was employed, and variables that showed significant association with clinical VAD (P < 0.2) were entered a multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of clinical VAD. Results: The prevalence of Bitot's spot and night blindness was 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively. Preschool children who were from highland (AOR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.01-13.68), a mother having antenatal care (ANC) visit during pregnancy of a child (AOR: 8.63; 95% CI: 2.58-28.79), family monthly income (AOR: 8.63; 95% CI: 2.58-28.79) and handwashing frequency were found to be determinants of VAD (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Clinical vitamin A deficiency in the study area is of public health concern because the prevalence of Bitot's and night blindness was above the WHO threshold level. Accordingly, effective preventive measures should be designed to reduce VAD prevalence.