Short birth interval and its associated factors among multiparous women in Mieso agro-pastoralist district, Eastern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Recently, the concern with birth interval has acquired importance in public health and family planning because of its implication for fertility, maternal, and child health. A short birth interval is associated with adverse perinatal, maternal, and infant outcomes. Moreover, too short birth interval lead to high fertility, which in turn contributes to accelerated population growth and undermines development efforts. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of short birth interval and its associated factors among multiparous women in the Mieso agro-pastoralist district, Oromia region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 30 March 2020. The multistage sampling technique was used to select 490 multiparous women. Data were collected by face-to-face interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were executed. Model fitness and multicollinearity were checked. Statistically significant associations of outcome and independent variables were declared at a P-value of < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of short birth interval was 56% (95% CI: 51.4-60.5) in the study area. Being married under 18 years (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.97-7.25), having formal education (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11-0.47), having a husband with formal education (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22-0.99), having awareness about optimum birth interval (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24-0.91), having female index child (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.07-3.84), death of the index child (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12-0.92), breastfeeding of the index child <24 months (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.53-4.41), use of modern contraceptive (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.12-3.89), and decision-making by a husband alone when to have a child (AOR = 3.86, 95% CI: 2.06-7.21) were significantly associated with short birth interval at a P-value <0.05. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of short birth interval among the study participants was high, as more than half of the women had practiced short birth interval, indicating that the majority of the mother and children in the study area are still at high risk of mortality and morbidity associated with short birth interval. Thus, the current findings suggest that interventions that involve the provision of contraceptives and information on its benefit at points need to be adopted to reach the national and global target of maternal and child mortality reduction attributed to short birth interval.

Time to Recovery From Moderate Acute Malnutrition and Its Predictors Among Children 6-59 Months of Age Enrolled in Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program in Darolebu District, Eastern Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Acute malnutrition is a major global public health problem, particularly in low and middle-income countries. A targeted supplementary feeding program is an approach recommended to address moderate acute malnutrition in food insecure settings. Preventing and treating moderate acute malnutrition requires identifying factors shown to affect the treatment outcome and duration of stay on treatment. This study aimed to determine the treatment outcome and predictors of recovery time from moderate acute malnutrition among children 6-59 months of age in Darolebu district, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted on 540 children with moderate acute malnutrition. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the recovery time. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine the association between the independent and the outcome variables. The proportional hazard assumption of the model was checked graphically and statistically. Any violation of the proportional hazard assumption of the model was also considered and adjusted in the analysis. Finally, a variable with a P-value <0.05 in the multivariate cox regression model was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall recovery rate was 73% (95% CI 69.4-76.4%) with the median time to recovery of 16 weeks. Being between the ages of 24 and 59 months (AHR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01-1.54), having a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) at admission between 11.5 and 11.9 cm (AHR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.34-2.61), walking for an hour or less to receive services (AHR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.02-1.89), using ready-to-use supplementary food (AHR= 1.8, 95%CI: 1.38-2.39) were significant predictors of recovery time. Conclusion: The recovery rate was slightly below the accepted minimum international standard, suggesting that further work is needed to improve the treatment outcomes and mortality and morbidity associated with moderate acute malnutrition.

Community risk perception and health-seeking behavior in the era of COVID-19 among adult residents of Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 brought significant challenges to public health. It changed the view of global health and safety, trust in the healthcare system, and clients' willingness to seek healthcare. To contain the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and its detrimental effects, understanding peoples' health behavior, especially healthcare-seeking, and determining the community risk perception is very important. Thus, this study aimed to determine the health-seeking behavior, community's risk perception to COVID-19 pandemics, and factors influencing the community risk perception in Harari regional state, Ethiopia. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 5 to 30 February 2021. A total of 1320 adult (>18 years) participants were selected using systematic random sampling. The data were collected using an online kobo collect toolbox and analyzed using descriptive statistical tests. Chi-square test and multiple binary logistic regression were applied to examine the difference between variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to be of statistical significance. RESULTS: The study included 1296 respondents >18 years old. The overall prevalence of willingness to seek healthcare in the study area was 35.6% (95% CI: 33%-38.3.0%). The mean cumulative score of risk perception was 30.5 (SD ± 7.25) with the minimum and maximum score of 13 and 63, respectively. A total of 656 (50.6%) of the participants had low-risk perceptions concerning COVID-19. The study found a statistically significant association between risk perception and sociodemographic characteristics (age, educational status, and income), and knowledge of the respondents. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of willingness to seek healthcare was 35.6%. Healthcare intervention aimed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic should consider the factors associated with the study area. Similarly, the study found a low-risk perception among the community that needs critical action to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the community as a whole. Thus, it is necessary to improve community risk perception through health education.

Lifetime Prevalence of Sexual Violence and Its Associated Factors among High School Female Students in Jarso District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Sexual violence is a serious public health problem affecting millions of young girls and women across the world. Recently, the issue of sexual violence against schoolgirls has garnered global and national attention with implications for health and education outcomes. Sexual violence is driven by a multitude of risk factors that occur at different levels. Understanding the magnitude, risk factors, and conceptuality of sexual violence is crucial for setting priorities and elimination efforts at different levels. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the lifetime prevalence of sexual violence and associated factors among high school female students in Jarso district, Oromia region, eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public high schools of Jarso district, eastern Ethiopia, from 1st March to 5th April 2019. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 559 eligible study participants. Data were collected by a structured self-administered questionnaire. The outcome measure of interest was lifetime sexual violence. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Statistically significant association of variables had been declared based on the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its 95% CI and p value < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall magnitude of sexual violence among female students was 28.6% (95% CI: 25%-32.2%) in the study area. Forty (7.2%) participants have experienced coercive sex against their consent. Participant's level of education ((AOR = 1.5, 95% CI (1.03-2.30)), being unmarried ((AOR = 2.80, 95% CI (1.40-5.81)), consumption of alcohol ((AOR = 3.41, 95% CI (1.11-10.40)), using substances (hashish and/or shisha) ((AOR = 2.6, 95% CI (1.02-6.50)), and ever initiated sexual intercourse ((AOR = 5.9, 95% CI (3.3-10.7)) were positively and statistically associated with sexual violence at p value < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The overall magnitude of sexual violence was relatively high (28.6%). Thus, any intervention aimed to address sexual violence should consider the identified associated risk factors in the study area.