BackgroundConsuming unsafe water results in infections that lead to illness or death from water borne diseases. Though there is an increasing effort from Ethiopian government to access safe water still there are households with limited access of safe water as a result, they depend on rain, well and spring water source for domestic use. However, the water treatment practice with the available technology is not studied before in the study area. This study was conducted in rural area where there was no improved water source for domestic consumption. Households’ access water from rain, spring, river and well water which need some ways of action to make water safe for the intended utilization termed as treatment. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess magnitude of small scale water treatment practices and associated factors at household level in Burie zuria woreda, North West Ethiopia, 2015.MethodsCommunity based cross-sectional study design with multi-stage sampling technique was used to evaluate water treatment practice and associated factors among rural households in Burie Zuria Woreda. A total of 797 households included in the study. Completeness of questionnaires were checked daily and data were coded and entered into Epi-Data and transported to SPSS version 16 software package for further analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models fit to identify associated factors at 95 % CI and P-value <0.05.ResultA total of 797 out of 846 participants responded to a questionnaire with a response rate of 94.2 %. The mean age of respondents was 44.9(SD ±10.7) years. Among the total study participants, 357(44.8 %) of them were practicing small scale water treatment at household level. Methods of water treatment at household level were; chlorine, boiling and let stand and settle. Associated factors were female headed households practice water treatment than male headed households (AOR = 1.80, 95 % CI = 1.24–2.62), educational status of being literate was associated with water treatment than illiterates (AOR = 2.07, 95 % CI = 1.51–2.83), dipping of water was associated with water treatment practice than pouring from the water collection jar (AOR = 4.11, 95 % CI = 2.89–5.85) and those households more frequently fetch water were practicing water treatment than those fetch less frequently (AOR = 4.90, 95 % CI = 2.92–8.22) and (AOR = 3.76, 95 % CI = 1.97–7.18) respectively were found to be significantly associated with small scale water treatment practice at household level.ConclusionsSmall scale water treatment at household level is still low in the study area. Females headed households, educated people, dipping from the jar and those who fetch water more than twice a day were significant factors for water treatment. Therefore females’ practice should be maintained and scale up for male headed households. Those with no primary education need special emphasis to educate them on the importance of water treatment. Encourage education through non formal mechanisms for rural people are also recommended.

Background Trachoma is the leading infectious disease that leads to blindness worldwide, especially in developing countries. Though Ethiopia had targeted a trachoma elimination program by 2020, the problem worsens, particularly in the Amhara Region. Even though sustained intervention measures are undertaken across the region, it is unclear why trachoma is still a significant public health problem. So, this study assessed the prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among 1–9 years of age children from model and non-model kebeles in Dangila district Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from 20th September 2019 to 29th October 2019. A multistage stratified random sampling technique was used to reach 704 children from model and non-model kebeles. Samples were allocated proportionally to model and non-model kebeles. A structured and pretested data collection tool and observational checklist was used to manage the necessary data. Data were coded and entered in Epidata version 4.6, and further analysis was done using SPSS version 20 software. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with active trachoma. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR), p-value, and respected Confidence Interval (CI) were used to report the findings. Results Seven hundred four children were included in this study, with a response rate of 97.8%. The overall prevalence of active trachoma was 6% (95% CI: 4.5, 8.1). The prevalence of active trachoma among non-model and model Kebele was not significantly different. Still, the prevalence of active trachoma among children from model Kebele were [4.5%, (95% CI: 2.4%, 7.1%)] relatively lower compared with non-model kebeles, [7.6%, 95% CI: (4.9%, 10.9%)]. Moreover, not using latrine (AOR = 4.29, 95% CI: 1.96, 9.34), fly-eye contact (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.11, 6.03), presence of sleep in eyes (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.10, 5.47), presence of ocular discharge (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.30, 6.00), presence of nasal discharges (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.21, 5.90) and washing faces with soap (AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.69) were found significantly associated with the prevalence of active trachoma among children 1–9 years old. Conclusions The prevalence of active trachoma in the model and non-model kebeles was high and did not show a statistical difference. Attention to be given to latrine utilization, washing face with soap, and other personal hygiene activities.

Background. Traditional biomass has been the major source of cooking energy for major segment of Ethiopian population for thousands of years. Cognizant of this energy poverty, the Government of Ethiopia has been spending huge sum of money to increase hydroelectric power generating stations. Objective. To assess current levels and correlates of traditional cooking energy sources utilization. Methods. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches on systematically selected 423 households for quantitative and purposively selected 20 people for qualitative parts. SPSS version 16 for windows was used to analyze the quantitative data. Logistic regression was fitted to assess possible associations and its strength was measured using odds ratio at 95% CI. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Result. The study indicated that 95% of households still use traditional biomass for cooking. Those who were less knowledgeable about negative health and environmental effects of traditional cooking energy sources were seven and six times more likely to utilize them compared with those who were knowledgeable (AOR (95% CI) = 7.56 (1.635, 34.926), AOR (95% CI) = 6.68 (1.80, 24.385), resp.). The most outstanding finding of this study was that people use traditional energy for cooking mainly due to lack of the knowledge and their beliefs about food prepared using traditional energy. That means “…people still believe that food cooked with charcoal is believed to taste delicious than cooked with other means.”  Conclusion. The majority of households use traditional biomass for cooking due to lack of knowledge and belief. Therefore, mechanisms should be designed to promote electric energy and to teach the public about health effects of traditional cooking energy source.

Introduction: Food insecurity and human immunodeficiency virus are highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and it associated with Human Immuno Virus (HIV). Some people discontinue ART drug due to inadequate food. The success of Anti-Retroviral Therapy associated with lack access to sufficient quantities of foods due to food insecurity.

Background: Utilization of long-lasting insecticide treated net (LLITN) is one of the main vector control activities. It has a killing, repellent and physical barrier effects against mosquito. Even if priority is given for pregnant women, not all nets owned by household have been utilized by pregnant women. The objective of the study was to assess utilization of Long-lasting insecticidal net and associated factors among pregnant women in malarious kebeles, Awabel woreda, North-West Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2017. A systematic random sampling was used to select 422 households. Two days training was given for data collectors and supervisors. Collected data were coded and entered using epi-data version 3.1, then it was exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. After bivariate logistic regression analysis, all variables with a p-value less than or equal to 0.25was entered into multivariable logistic regression and p value < 0.05 considered as significantly associated with the outcome variable. Results: Utilization of LLITN was 33.6%. Factors such as attending antenatal care [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) =1.89; 95% CI; 1.04-3.44], traveling <1 hour to reach health facility AOR=4.41; 95% CI; 2.06-9.43], age [AOR= 3.67; 95% CI; 1.36-9.95], knowledge[AOR=11.68; 95% CI; 5.96-22.89] and having positive attitude [AOR=3.12; 95 CI; 1.66-5.88] were significantly associated with utilization of LLITN. Conclusion: This study showed that low utilization of LLITN. Attending antenatal care (ANC), traveling <1 hour to reach health facility, age , knowledge and attitude had positive association with LLITN utilization. Every concerned body should focus on reducing distance barrier by giving outreach services and increasing ANC, the attitude and knowledge of pregnant women toward malaria and LLITN which increase utilization of LLITN. Key words : LLITN utilization, pregnant women, malarious kebeles, Awable, Ethiopia