Magnitude of Overweight and Obesity and Associated Factors Among Public and Private Secondary School Adolescent Students in Mekelle City, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, 2019: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity emerged as one of the most serious public health concerns in adolescents. Overweight and obesity are problems of not only high income but also low-middle income countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of overweight and obesity among public and private secondary school adolescents in Mekelle city, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Mekelle city, from April to May 2019. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 858 participants. Chi-square test was checked before bivariate logistic regression analyses. All variables at a p-value <0.25 in bivariate logistic regression were entered into a multivariable logistic regression to determine the association between a set of independent variables with the dependent variable. Finally, statistical significance was declared at a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: The magnitude of overweight and obesity in private and public schools were 11.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Consuming dinner not daily [AOR=5.3:95% CI=1.93-14.6] and working moderate-intensity sports at least 10 minutes/day continuously [AOR=0.19:95% CI=0.04-0.9] were associated factors of overweight and obesity in public school adolescent students. Being female [AOR=2.03:95% CI=1.08-3.8], time taken from home to public physical activities ≤15 minutes [AOR=3.6:95% CI=1.13-11.51], using transport from school to home [AOR=2.2:95% CI=1.06-4.18] and good knowledgeable adolescents [AOR=0.5:95% CI=0.27-0.9] were associated factors of overweight and obesity in private schools. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of overweight and obesity was higher among private schools. Consuming dinner not daily and working moderate-intensity sports at least 10 minutes/day continuously were the associated factors for the occurrence of overweight and obesity in public school adolescent students. Being female, time taken from home to public physical activity facilities ≤15 minutes, using transport from school to home, and nutritional knowledge status of adolescents were associated factors for overweight and obesity in private school adolescent students.

Reducing Undernutrition through Counseling on Diversified Food Intake among Adult People Living with HIV on HAART, Northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS and malnutrition are interrelated and exacerbate one another in a vicious cycle. As HIV infection progresses it causes catabolic state and increases susceptibility to other infections, leading to progressive aggravation of undernutrition. However, data are lacking in Ethiopia on determinants of undernutrition among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, this study aimed to assess determinants of undernutrition among adult HIV/AIDS patients in Northern Ethiopia. METHOD: Facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 324 randomly selected people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART). A structured and pretested interviewer questionnaire was used to collect data, while digital Seca weight and Seca measuring rod were used to measure weight and height, respectively. Logistic regression was used to identify independent factors of undernutrition, and p value <0.05 was declared for statistical significance. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21™. RESULT: This study revealed that people of younger age and those on ART (AOR = 0.29 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.84)) had low risk of being undernourished. However, average individual monthly income (AOR = 2.61 (95% CI: 1.48, 4.61)), not receiving nutritional counseling during visits (AOR = 2.5 (95% CI: 1.52-3.89)), and low diet diversity (AOR = 10.55 (95% CI: 4.17, 26.73)) had higher odds of undernutrition among people living with HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSION: Age of patients, average monthly income, nutritional counseling during visits, and diet diversity were the independent factors of undernutrition. Counseling on well-timed and sufficient consumption of nutritious foods, economic strengthening, and livelihood activities is important. Future longitudinal study is necessary to elucidate the problem of undernutrition among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Nutritional status significantly affects hospital length of stay among surgical patients in public hospitals of Northern Ethiopia: single cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of nutritional status on length of hospital stay in Northern Ethiopia. RESULT: Institutional based prospective cohort study was conducted among 324 admitted surgical patients. Length of hospital stay were significantly associated with duration of disease (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) = 3.7,95% Confidence interval (CI):2.35-5.82), history of surgery (AHR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.40, 95% CI 1.17-1.86), nutritional status (Body Mass Index (AHR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.28-1.51), Mid Upper Arm Circumference (AHR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.62)) and individual diet diversity score (AHR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.14-6.14). Screening of patients for malnutrition at admission and provision of dietary supplements based on their nutritional status is recommended.

Prevalence and associated factors of female genital cutting among young adult females in Jigjiga district, eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional mixed study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of female genital cutting (FGC) among young adult (10-24 years of age) females in Jigjiga district, eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional mixed method combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed among 679 randomly selected young adult female students from Jigjiga district, Somali regional state, eastern Ethiopia, from February to March 2014 to assess the prevalence and associated factors with FGC. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The qualitative data were collected using focus group discussion. RESULTS: This study depicted that the prevalence of FGC among the respondents was found to be 82.6%. The dominant form of FGC in this study was type I FGC, 265 (49.3%). The majority of the respondents, 575 (88.3%), had good knowledge toward the bad effects of FGC. Four hundred and seven (62.7%) study participants had positive attitude toward FGC discontinuation. Religion, residence, respondents' educational level, maternal education, attitude, and belief in religious requirement were the most significant predictors of FGC. The possible reasons for FGC practice were to keep virginity, improve social acceptance, have better marriage prospects, religious approval, and have hygiene. CONCLUSION: Despite girls' knowledge and attitude toward the bad effects of FGC, the prevalence of FGC was still high. There should be a concerted effort among women, men, religious leaders, and other concerned bodies in understanding and clarifying the wrong attachment between the practice and religion through behavioral change communication and advocacy at all levels.