Modeling on number of children ever born and its determinants among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia: A Poisson regression analysis.

Background: One of the main components of population dynamics that determine the size, structure, and composition of a country's population is the number of ever-born children. Psychological, economic, social, and demographic factors all have a strong influence on and predict it. However, there is little information on its current status in Ethiopia. As a result, modeling the number of children ever born and its determinants is critical for the Ethiopian government to develop appropriate policies and programs. Methods: A total of 3260 eligible women were used as a study sample in this study to assess the number of children ever born and determinants among married reproductive age women in Ethiopia. Secondary data were culled from the 2019 Ethiopian Demography and Health Survey datasets. The factors associated with the number of children born were identified using a Poisson regression model (CEB). Results: The average number of children per mother was 6.09, with a standard deviation of 8.74. There were 2432 (74.6%) rural residents among the total respondents, 2402 (73.7%) have no formal education, and three out of five women are not currently working. The participants' average age was 41.66, with a standard deviation of 3.88. When compared to urban residents, the number of CEB for rural residents is 1.37 times higher. When compared to women with no education, the number of CEB for women with higher education was reduced by 48%. For every unit increase in respondents' current age, the percent change in the number of children ever born increases by 2.4%. For every unit increase in the family's wealth index status, the percent change in the number of children ever born decreases by 1.7%. Conclusion: When compared to the target of Ethiopia's health transformation plan, the average number of children born is higher. Improving the household wealth index, women's education, and employment status all contribute to a reduction in the number of CEB, which is important in balancing population growth with natural capacity and the country's economic development.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and vulnerability to COVID-19: The case of adult patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in Gamo, Gofa, and South Omo zones in Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence demonstrating that individuals with Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) are more likely to have severe forms of COVID-19 and subsequent mortality. Hence, our study aimed to assess the knowledge of vulnerability and preventive practices towards COVID-19 among patients with hypertension or diabetes in Southern Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19 among patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in three zones of Southern Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used with a multi-stage random sampling technique to select 682 patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus from 10th -17th July 2020 at the three zones of Southern Ethiopia. Logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval was fitted to identify independent predictors of knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to determine the magnitude of the association between the outcome and independent variables. P-value <0.05 is considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The Multi-dimensional knowledge (MDK) analysis of COVID-19 revealed that 63% of study subjects had good knowledge about COVID-19. The overall preventive practice towards COVID -19 was 26.4%. Monthly income (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.94) significantly predicted knowledge towards COVID-19. Ninety-five percent of the study subjects knew that the COVID-19 virus spreads via respiratory droplets of infected individuals. One hundred and ten (16.2%) of study subjects correctly responded to the questions that state whether people with the COVID-19 virus who do not have a fever can infect the other. Knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.1) became the independent predictor of preventive practice. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the knowledge of the respondents towards the COVID-19 pandemic was good. But the preventive practice was very low. There was a significant gap between knowledge and preventive practices towards the COVID-19 pandemic among the study subjects. Monthly income was significantly associated with knowledge of COVID-19. Knowledge of COVID-19 was found to be an independent predictor of preventive practice towards COVID-19. Community mobilization and improving COVID-19- related knowledge and practice are urgently recommended for those patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus.

Pregnant women have inadequate fiber intake while consuming fiber-rich diets in low-income rural setting: Evidences from Analysis of common "ready-to-eat" stable foods.

The intake of fiber-rich foods during pregnancy has several health benefits to the pregnant woman including lowering the risks of diabetes, preeclampsia, and constipation. However, little is known about the content, daily intake levels, and adequacy of fiber among pregnant women in many low-income settings. We aimed to identify common food items and determine adequacy of dietary fiber intake levels among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia. Dietary data were collected from a subsample (n = 55) of pregnant women enrolled to a larger prospective cohort study (n = 414). Dietary intake level was measured using repeated 24-hr dietary recall method and weighing the total amount of daily food. Fiber content was determined using the Weende method supplemented by other sources.The mean [±SD] dietary fiber intake level was 25.89 [±5.09 mg/g] per day, which declined across pregnancy trimester from 26.01 [±9.18 mg/g] to 22.67 [±9.01 mg/g] and 24.56 [±9.98 mg/g] during the first, to second and third pregnancy trimesters, respectively. Boiled cereals and coffee contributed to nearly two-thirds (63.2%) of the daily fiber intake, while the major bulk of daily food, enjera, contributed to less than a quarter (24.3%) of the fiber intake. Though dietary patterns favor diversified intake for fiber, the mean intake levels below the recommended levels and proportion of women getting adequate to the physiologic stages of pregnancy were inadequate compared to the standard. Mothers, in such community, could benefit from increasing overall intake of existing food to satisfy their fiber needs during pregnancy.

Teenage Pregnancy and Its Associated Factors among School Adolescents of Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Teenage pregnancy has long been a worldwide social, economic and educational concern for the developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Studies on adolescent sexuality and pregnancy are very limited in our country. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its associated factors among school adolescents of Arba Minch Town. METHODS: Institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from 20-30 March 2014. Systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 578 students from four schools of the town. Data were collected by trained data collectors using a pre-tested, self-administered structured questionnaire. Analysis was made using SPSS version 20.0 statistical packages. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of teenage pregnancy. RESULTS: The prevalence of teenage pregnancy among school adolescents of Arba Minch Town was 7.7%. Being grade 11 student (AOR=4.6;95%CI:1.4,9.3), grade 12 students (AOR=5.8;95% CI:1.3,14.4), not knowing the exact time to take emergency contraceptives (AOR=3.3;95%CI:1.4,7.4), substance use (AOR=3.1;95%CI:1.1,8.8), living with either of biological parents (AOR=3.3;95%CI:1.1,8.7) and poor parent-daughter interaction (AOR=3.1;95%CI:1.1,8.7) were found to be significant predictors of teenage pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed high level of teenage pregnancy among school adolescents of Arba Minch Town. A significant number of adolescent female students were at risk of facing the challenges of teenage pregnancy in the study area. School-based reproductive health education and strong parent-daughter relationships are recommended.

Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Health Institutions of Arba Minch Town, Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background. Anemia during pregnancy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of pregnant women in developing countries and has both maternal and fetal consequences. Despite its known serious effect on health, there is very little research based evidence on this vital public health problem in Gamo Gofa zone in general and in Arba Minch town of Southern Ethiopia in particular. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care in health institutions of Arba Minch town, Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia. Method. Institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from February 16 to April 8, 2015, among 332 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at government health institutions of Arba Minch town. Interviewer-administered questionnaire supplemented by laboratory tests was used to obtain the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of anemia. Result. The prevalence of anemia among antenatal care attendant pregnant women of Arba Minch town was 32.8%. Low average monthly income of the family (AOR = 4.0; 95% CI: 5.62-11.01), having birth interval less than two years (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 6.01, 10.23), iron supplementation (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 7.21, 9.31), and family size >2 (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.17, 6.81) were found to be independent predictors of anemia in pregnancy. Conclusion. Anemia is found to be a moderate public health problem in the study area. Low average monthly income, birth interval less than two years, iron supplementation, and large family size were found to be risk factors for anemia in pregnancy. Awareness creation towards birth spacing, nutritional counselling on consumption of iron-rich foods, and iron supplementation are recommended to prevent anemia among pregnant women with special emphasis on those having low income and large family size.

Childhood sexual abuse experiences and its associated factors among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town, Gammo Goffa zone, Southern Ethiopia: a mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood sexual abuse is a major social problem in Africa including Ethiopia. Moreover, little has been explored about the pattern of childhood sexual abuse in the context of high school students in Ethiopia in general and in Arbaminch town in particular. Thus, the present study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of childhood sexual abuse among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town. METHODS: A school- based, cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town from 3(rd) to 8(th) March 2014. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were used. For the quantitative data, a simple random sampling technique was used to select 369 female students from grade ten of the six high schools. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data and then analysis was made using SPSS version 20 statistical packages. For the qualitative component, fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed based on the thematic areas. RESULT: The prevalence of life time rape among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town was 11 %. The odds of experiencing life time rape was higher among students who lived alone (AOR = 4.30; 95 % CI: 1.81, 10.24) and among students who lived with their friends (AOR = 3.31; 95 % CI: 1.23, 8.89) than those lived with their parents. The chance of experiencing rape among students who have had no open discussions with their parents about sexuality and reproductive health was higher (AOR = 2.93; 95 % CI: 1.33, 6.45) than those who have had discussions. CONCLUSION: This study revealed high levels of childhood sexual abuse among the adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town. Ever having a discussion about sexuality and reproductive health with parents, living arrangement of the student, and father's educational status had statistically significant association with childhood sexual abuse. Unwanted pregnancy and abortion were the most common reproductive outcomes of rape. Comprehensive school based reproductive health education, community based awareness creation, open discussions about sexuality and reproductive health matters with students at family level are recommended.