Introduction Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the safest and healthiest option of feeding among infants in the first 6 months throughout the world. Thus, the promotion of EBF is essential to prevent complex infant health problems even at the adulthood level. But the majority of previous studies focused on individual- level determinants of EBF by using basic regression models in localized areas. This study aimed to identify the determinants of EBF at the individual and community level which would be helpful to design appropriate strategies for improving the practice of EBF. Methods It is a secondary data analysis using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data. A total of 1185 infants under 6 months of age were included in the analysis. A Multilevel logistic regression model was employed to investigate factors significantly associated with EBF among under-six infants in Ethiopia. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the association of variables whereas Intracluster correlation (ICC), median odds ratio (MOR), and proportional change in variance (PCV) were used to measure random effects (variation). Result In multilevel logistic regression; 4–5 months age infant (AOR = 0.04, 95%CI:0.02–0.07), female infants (AOR = 2.51, 95%CI:1.61–3.91), infant comorbidities (AOR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.21–0.57), richest household wealth index (AOR = 10.34, 95%CI: 3.14–34.03) and antenatal care (AOR = 2.25, 95%CI:1.32–3.82) were individual- level determinants significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Whereas, contextual region (AOR = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.10–0.87), community- level of postnatal visit (AOR = 2.77, 95%CI: 1.26–6.58) and community -level of maternal employment (AOR = 2.8, 95%CI: 1.21–6.47) were community level determinants significantly associated with EBF. The full model showed that46.8% of the variation of exclusive breastfeeding was explained by the combined factors at the individual and community levels. Similarly, it showed that the variation in exclusive breastfeeding across communities remained statistically significant (ICC = 8.77% and variance = 0.32 with P<0.001). Conclusion and recommendation Our study showed that both individual and community level determinants were significantly associated with EBF practice among under 6 infants. Based on our findings, it is recommended to promote and enhance antenatal and postnatal care services utilization of mothers to improve exclusive breastfeeding practice and more emphasis should be given to infants with comorbid conditions and those who were living in the pastoralist regions.

Objective The study aimed to investigate the role of nutrition‐sensitive and specific interventions along with nutrition education on child stunting during the first 1000 days in Ethiopia. Methods An adequacy evaluation study was used to see changes between the baseline and end‐line data after following for 1 year. A sample of 170 mother‐child pairs who had a 1‐year followed up was used to detect differences. We performed structural equation modeling to elucidate changes in feeding behaviors, socioeconomic status, water, sanitation and hygiene on child linear growth. Furthermore, the independent effect of covariates on child linear growth was handled using a general linear model. Results A total of 170 and 270 mother‐child dyads were interviewed at baseline and end‐line surveys, respectively. After about 1 year of intervention, the annual rate of stunting prevalence declined from 29.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 18.6, 42.7) to 16.4% (95% CI = 10.7, 24.2). There was a significant change in the mean of length‐for‐age Z ‐score which changed from −1.18 to −0.45 ( P < .034). Adjusting for the different constructs of the health belief model, child sex, age, feeding behaviors, and dietary diversity, one egg consumption per day was responsible for the most significant variability explained (36%) for stunting reduction. Conclusions Sustainable access to egg consumption for children below 2 years experienced a substantial reduction in childhood stunting. A combination of nutrition‐sensitive agricultural and direct nutrition interventions along with behavioral‐based education is a sustainable strategy in reducing and preventing child growth from faltering in the early life stages.

Background Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the safest and healthiest option of feeding among infants in the first 6 months throughout the world. Thus, promotion of EBF is essential to prevent complex infant health problems even at the adulthood level. But majority of previous studies focused on individual level determinants of EBF by using basic regression models in localized areas. This study aims to identify individual level and community level determinants of EBF which would be helpful to design appropriate strategies in reducing infant mortality and morbidity. Methods It is a secondary data analysis using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data. A total of 1185 infants under 6 months of age were included in the analysis. Multilevel logistic regression model was employed to investigate factors significantly associated with EBF among under-six month’s infants in Ethiopia. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the association of variables whereas Intra cluster correlation (ICC), median odds ratio (MOR), and proportional change in variance (PCV) were used to measure random effects (variation). Result In multilevel logistic regression; 4–5 months age infant (AOR = 0.04, 95%CI:0.02–0.07), female infants (AOR = 2.51, 95%CI:1.61–3.91), infant comorbidities (AOR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.21–0.57), household wealth index (AOR = 10.34, 95%CI: 3.14–34.03) and antenatal care (AOR = 2.25, 95%CI:1.32–3.82) were determinants of EBF at individual level. Whereas, contextual region (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10–0.87), community level of postnatal visit (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.26–6.58) and community level of maternal employment (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.21–6.47) were determinants of EBF at community level. The full model showed up with higher PCV; that is, 46.8% of variation of exclusive breastfeeding was explained by the combined factors at the individual and community levels. Similarly, it showed that the variation in EBF across communities remained statistically significant (ICC = 8.77% and variance = 0.32 with P < 0.001). The MOR at final model indicates there was significant cluster difference for EBF indicating the heterogeneity was explained by both individual and community level factors. Conclusion and recommendation Our study showed that both individual and community level determinants were significantly associated with EBF practice. Based on our findings it is strongly recommended to promote and enhance antenatal and postnatal care services utilization of mothers and more emphasis should be given for infants with comorbid conditions and those who live in the pastoralist regions.

In recent years, morbidity and mortality due to cancer has been increasing in Ethiopia, putting it among the most important public health issues. Cancer and associated complications can be prevented provided that effective interventions are put in place to control risk factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practice of preventable behavioural risk factors of cancer. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 200 college students in Northeast Ethiopia utilising quantitative methods of data collection. Data on socioeconomic characteristics, health belief variables, knowledge and behavioural risk factors (alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, physical activity and dietary practice) were collected. The level of knowledge and practice was summarised using descriptive statistics. To investigate the variation in knowledge and practice across sociodemographic characteristics, we performed Pearson Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. The majority (81.0%) of participants was male and 82.0% were in the age group of 18-24 years. More than half (61.0%) of them had poor knowledge about the behavioural risk factors of cancer. Nearly one-third (30.5%) consume alcohol, whereas 16.0%, 18.0% and 20.0%, respectively, smoke tobacco, consume street food and packedfried snacks daily. Alcohol consumption (p = 0.02) and level of vigorous physical activity (p = 0.001) were significantly higher among males than females. Alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and unhealthy dietary practice were remarkably high, whereas knowledge towards the behavioural risk factors was low. Therefore, health education and collaborative action between different sectors are needed to counter the emerging problem.The trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (https://register.clinicaltrials.gov) NCT04269018.

Background Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is one of the health care priorities to assess and follow the growth pattern of children under 2 years old. Appropriate GMP services enable health care workers to control growth faltering early and child mortality. However, there is limited information showing the practice and associated factors of GMP service among health care workers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the practice and identify associated factors of GMP service among health care workers at public health facilities of the South Wollo Zone, northeast Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 397 randomly selected health care workers in the South Wollo Zone, northeast Ethiopia, from May 25 to July 7, 2020. A pretested self-administered questionnaire and in-depth interview were used to collect the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Quantitative data were entered using Epi data Version 3.1 and exported to statistical software for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software for further analysis. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with GMP practice. Statistical tests at a P value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval were taken as a cutoff point to determine the statistical significance. Qualitative data were analyzed by using thematic analysis. Results In this study, the proportion of GMP practice among health care workers was 58.4% (95% CI: 54.0–63.0). Being a holder of first degree (AOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.01, 5.05), being a holder of a diploma (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI: 2.04, 6.09), work experience with GMP (AOR = 3.13; 95% CI: 1.58, 6.20), receiving GMP training (AOR = 4.83; 95% CI: 2.89, 8.06), availability of GMP equipment (AOR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.64, 4.58) and having a positive attitude toward GMP (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI: 2.23, 6.17) were factors significantly associated with GMP practice. Conclusions and recommendations The proportion of GMP practice among health care workers was still low. Educational level, work experience with GMP, GMP training, GMP equipment and attitude toward GMP were positively associated with GMP practice. Availability of GMP equipment brings positive attitudes toward GMP, and GMP training for health care workers with less experience should be strengthened to improve GMP practice.