Cervical cancer screening utilization and associated factors among women attending antenatal care at Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital, Arsi zone, South Central Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a major public health problem affecting women worldwide. It is the second cause of mortality among women in Ethiopia. Early Cervical cancer screening has a tremendous impact on reducing morbidity and mortality related to cervical cancer infection. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening utilization and associated factors among women attending Antenatal Care at Asella referral and teaching hospital, Arsi Zone, south-central Ethiopia. METHOD: This study employed a facility-based cross-sectional study among 457 Antenatal Care mothers from December 2020 to February 2021. Data collection was performed using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Data were entered into EpiInfo Version 7 and transferred to SPSS V.21 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening utilization and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval at p-value < 0.05 was computed to determine the level of statistical significance. RESULT: The magnitude of cervical cancer screening utilization was found to be 7.2%(95% CI: 5.2, 10.6). Educational status of secondary and above (AOR = 2.92; 95%CI = 1.078-7.94), getting screened for any reproductive healthcare services(AOR = 4.95; 95%CI = 2.24-10.94), having multiple sexual partners(AOR = 4.55; 95%CI = 1.83-11.35), and satisfactory knowledge of cervical cancer screening(AOR = 3.89; 95%CI = 1.74-8.56) were significantly associated factors with cervical cancer screening utilization. CONCLUSION: Utilization of cervical cancer screening was low among women attending Antenatal care at Asella Referral and Teaching hospital, Southcentral Ethiopia. Educational status, history of multiple sexual partners, getting screened for any reproductive healthcare services, and knowledge of cervical cancer screening were significant factors associated with the utilization of cervical cancer screening. Hence, to improve the utilization of Cervical cancer screening, there should be the implementation of programmed health education and awareness creation on the benefits of screening as well as the promotion of reproductive healthcare services at health facilities.

Effectiveness of long-lasting insecticidal nets in prevention of malaria among individuals visiting health centres in Ziway-Dugda District, Ethiopia: matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major health problem in Ethiopia. Sleeping under long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) is its major control strategy. Despite high LLINs use (84%) in Ziway-Dugda District, malaria remained a public health problem, raising concern on its effectiveness. Understanding the effectiveness of malaria control interventions is vital. This study evaluated the effectiveness of LLINs and determinants of malaria in Ziway-Dugda District, Arsi Zone Ethiopia. METHODS: A matched case-control study was conducted among 284 study participants (71 cases and 213 controls) in Ziway-Dugda District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia from March to May, 2017. Three health centers were selected randomly, and enrolled individuals newly diagnosed for malaria proportionally. Cases and controls were individuals testing positive and negative for malaria using rapid diagnostic tests. Each case was matched to three controls using the age of (5 years), gender and village of residence. The information was collected using pre-tested structured questionnaires through face to face interviews and observation. Data were entered into Epi-Info version 3.5, and analysed using Stata version-12. Conditional logistic regression was performed, and odds of LLINs use were compared using matched Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value of < 0.05. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three (61.2%) of the controls and 22 (32.8%) of cases had regularly slept under LLINs in the past two weeks. Using multivariate analysis, sleeping under LLINs for the past two weeks (AOR = 0.23, 95%CI = 0.11-0.45); living in houses sprayed with indoor residual spray (IRS) (AOR = 0.23, 95%CI: 0.10-0.52); and staying late outdoors at night in the past two-weeks (AOR = 2.99, 95%CI = 1.44-6.19) were determinant factors. CONCLUSIONS: Sleeping under LLINs is effective for malaria prevention in the district. IRS and staying late outdoors at night were determinants of malaria. It is recommended to increase attention on strengthening LLINs use and IRS in the area.

The prevalence of malnutrition and its associated risk factors among women of reproductive age in Ziway Dugda district, Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVES: Adequate nutrition is an important factor to determine the health and well-being of women, children and society as a whole. Although various nutritional policies were formulated and aimed at reducing malnutrition at the global level, the magnitude of malnutrition (body mass index [BMI] <18.5 kg/m2) among women remained between 10% and 40% in most low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and to identify the associated risk factors among women of reproductive age. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ziway Dugda district in Ethiopia among 430 women of reproductive age between September 20 and November 21, 2015. METHODS: A systematic sampling method was used to select the study participants. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and to identify associated independent risk factors such as women's age, housing conditions, drinking water sources, habits of hand washing, dietary intake and food insecurity. RESULTS: The mean values of weight, height and BMI of the study participants were 51 kg, 157 cm and 18.1 kg/m2, respectively. Prevalence of malnutrition (BMI <18.5 kg/m2) among women of reproductive age was found to be 48.6%. Being in the age group of 26-35 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26-0.84), thatched housing conditions (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.16-2.89), unprotected sources of drinking water (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.06-2.57), lack of habit of hand wash after using the toilet (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.06-2.47), consumption of fish (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.12-3.99), consumption of dairy products (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.42-4.03) and food insecurity (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.50-3.95) were considered as independent predictors of risk for having malnutrition among women of the same age group compared to women from food secured households. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of malnutrition (48.6%) was observed among women of reproductive age. Although nutrient-rich foods were available, their consumption appears insufficient. Hence, it is strongly recommended to have behavioural change communication for enhancing adequate intake of a diversified diet and to promote environmental and hygienic conditions of women through improving their socio-economic status.