INTRODUCTIONCigarette smoking is an important health hazard and major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Tabor secondary and preparatory school students in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, 2018.METHODSA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 564 students aged 15–22 years using simple random sampling techniques, in the period 5–19 March 2018. Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) was used to assess smoking behaviours. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with cigarette smoking.RESULTSThe student prevalence of cigarette smoking was found to be 11% (95% CI: 8.5–13.9) of which 9.4% were current smokers. The proportion of cigarette smoking among male and female students was 8.2% and 2.8%, respectively. An age ≥18 years (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.29–7.00), students having friends who smoke (AOR= 4.04, 95% CI: 2.04–7.45), khat chewing (AOR=5.57, 95% CI: 2.44–12.76), alcohol consumption (AOR=4.14, 95% CI: 1.84–9.70) and illegal or illicit drug use (AOR=5.84, 95% CI: 1.96–17.36) were found to be significantly associated with cigarette smoking.CONCLUSIONSCost-effective programs that involve the participation of families, teachers and other stakeholders to deliver health education and which restrict accessibility, advertising and use of substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and other illicit drugs, are highly recommended.

Background Malaria is the leading vector borne parasitic disease causing enormously high morbidity and mortality worldwide. There have been huge efforts so far to control and eliminate malaria in the world. However, high prevalence of asymptomatic carriage poses a threat on malaria control and elimination programs. Since asymptomatic infections present no overt sign and symptoms, they do not get clinical attention. Moreover, asymptomatic cases are a potential source of infection in high and low transmission settings. Despite the presence of some pocket data, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage has not yet been known nationally and the current study area as well. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria cases and associated factors in households and neighbors of laboratory confirmed cases in Raya Kobo district, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April, 2019 among 270 study participants selected by convenient sampling technique at the community where laboratory confirmed cases were found. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, individual and household level factors. The data were entered in Epi Data 3.1 version and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Variables with P<0.25 in the bivariable analysis were taken to the multivariable analysis to control potential confounders, and p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 7.0%, with 3.0%, 5.2% and 12.0%, respectively by Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), Microscopy and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Majority of the infections (73.7%) were identified from index households. PCR detected asymptomatic infections about 2.7 and 2.3 folds higher than RDT and microscope, respectively. Previous malaria history (AOR: 4.030, 95% CI: 1.021-15.903), living with index cases (AOR: 3.880, 95% CI: 1.275-11.806) and family size > 6 members (AOR: 4.820, 95% CI: 1.260-18.437) were significant predictors of Plasmodium spp infection.Conclusion: Reactive case detection had identified considerably higher asymptomatic malaria cases at the community. Therefore, active case investigation should be established in the community by tracking the symptomatic cases at the health facilities. Diagnostic tests involving the PCR should be implemented in the surveillance of asymptomatic malaria. Active malaria cases should also be treated.

Background:-Ethiopia is currently ranked 169 out of 177 countries on the [2007][2008] Human Development Index and is chronically suffers from food insecurity.Food shortages in Ethiopia aggravate the already poor health of children and adults.Millions of households in rural areas of Ethiopia suffer from chronic food insecurity and receive food aid on an annual basis.Objective:-This study was conducted to determine prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors in rural communities of Gondar City Administration, North West Ethiopia.Methods:-Community based cross-sectional study design was employed. Data were collected through house to house interview using household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) which is structured and universally applicable household food insecurity 9 item measurement tools. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to determine prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors.Result: -60.8% of the rural households were found to be food insecure in the study area. Out of the total eleven variables included in the logistic regression analysis model only 6 variables namely; livestock ownership (AOR= 2.05, 95%CI = 1.039-4.022), use of fertilizer (AOR = 4.23, 95% CI = 1.741-10.275), source of potable water (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI = 2.060-7.764), off-farm income (A0R = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.249-6.712), annual farm income (AOR = 3.98, 95% CI = 2.514-6.303) and total annual income (AOR = 3.93, 95% CI = 2.471-6.258) were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion and recommendation:-The majority (60.8%) of households in rural communities of Gondar City Administration is food insecure and factors like livestock ownership, use of fertilizers, source of potable water, off-farm income, farm income and total annual income are found to be significantly associated with household food insecurity in the study area. Thus, Government bodies, NGOs and the community at IX large should work cooperatively in areas that enable rural households to minimize the problem of food insecurity by overcoming factors associated with it.

Ethiopia is currently ranked 169 out of 177 countries on the 2007- 2008 Human Development Index and is chronically suffers from food insecurity. Food shortages in Ethiopia aggravate the already poor health of children and adults. Millions of households in rural areas of Ethiopia suffer from chronic food insecurity and receive food aid on an annual basis. Objective:-This study was conducted to determine prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors in rural communities of Gondar City Administration, North West Ethiopia. Methods:-Community based cross-sectional study design was employed. Data were collected through house to house interview using household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) which is structured and universally applicable household food insecurity 9 item measurement tools. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to determine prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors. Result: - 60.8% of the rural households were found to be food insecure in the study area. Out of the total eleven variables included in the logistic regression analysis model only 6 variables namely; livestock ownership (AOR= 2.05, 95%CI = 1.039- 4.022), use of fertilizer (AOR = 4.23, 95% CI = 1.741-10.275), source of potable water (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI = 2.060-7.764), off-farm income (A0R = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.249-6.712), annual farm income (AOR = 3.98, 95% CI = 2.514-6.303) and total annual income (AOR = 3.93, 95% CI = 2.471-6.258) were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion and recommendation: - The majority (60.8%) of households in rural communities of Gondar City Administration is food insecure and factors like livestock ownership, use of fertilizers, source of potable water, off-farm income, farm income and total annual income are found to be significantly associated with household food insecurity in the study area. Thus, Government bodies, NGOs and the community at large should work cooperatively in areas that enable rural households to minimize the problem of food insecurity by overcoming factors associated with it.