The magnitude of common mental illness and associated factors among adult holy water users in Amhara regional state Orthodox Tewahido churches, Ethiopia, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Because they are prevalent, persistent, and have substantial negative effects on physical health, psychological well-being, and economic implications, common mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints are major public health problems. Patients with mental illness are devoted to religious therapy including holy water as a coping mechanism for their illnesses. The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude and associated factors of common mental illness among adult holy water users. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Amhara regional state orthodox Tewahido churches. A simple random sampling techinque was used to select participants. Data were collected by using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for mental illnesses symptoms and a structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Variables with a p-value of 0.25 in the bivariable logistic regression were entered into multivariable logistic regression. RESULT: Three hundred eighty-two participants were involved in the study. The magnitude of Common mental illnesses among holy water users was 58.9%. Unemployed, using more than one substance, having Poor and moderate social support, current daily alcohol drinker and past history of mental illness were significantly associated with common mental illness. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of common mental illness among adult holy water users was high. Giving special attention to decreasing unemployment, establishing social support services, and decreasing substance utilization are the keys to preventing common mental illnesses.

Prevalence of timely complementary feeding initiation and associated factors among mothers having children aged 6-24 months in rural north-central Ethiopia: Community based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Complementary foods are defined as any solid or liquid foods other than breast milk offered to children. Timely initiation of complementary foods during infancy is necessary for growth and development. The first two years of life are important period for rapid physical, cognitive and social development that requires optimal nutrition. Currently, there is no study done in this rural community about timely initiation of complementary feeding. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of timely initiation of complementary feeding among mothers having children aged 6-24 months in Farta district, rural Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed from December 2020 to February 2021 among 570 mothers by using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and entered into Epi Data 4.6 then transferred to Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval carried out to determine the association between explanatory and the outcome variables. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of timely initiation of complementary feeding among mothers having children aged 6-24 months was 51.9%. Institutionaldelivery [(AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: (1.31-3.32)],Keeping livestock [(AOR = 2.21, 95% CI: (1.35, 3.65)], Postnatal follow up [(AOR = 0.60, 95% CI:(0.36, 0.77)],merchants [(AOR = 4.58; 95% CI:1.99, 10.55)], and daily labourer [(AOR = 2.88, 95% CI:(1.50-5.51)] were statistically associated with timely initiation of complementary feeding. CONCLUSION: This finding revealed that the prevalence of timely initiation of complementary feeding is still low. Factors affecting timely initiations of complementary feeding were home delivery, unable to attend postnatal care follow-up, being housewife and farmers. All health professionals including health extension workers should give special attention to advising and counseling for mothers and their husbands about timely initiation of complementary feeding.

Willingness to Enroll for Community-Based Health Insurance and Associated Factors in Simada District, North-West, Ethiopia, 2020:A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Community-based health insurance is a not-for-profit type of health insurance that has been used by poor people to protect themselves against the high costs of seeking medical care and treatment for illness. This study aimed to assess communities' willingness to enroll for community-based health insurance (CBHI) and its associated factors in Simada district, Northwest, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based mixed cross-sectional study design was conducted. Multistage simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used for quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. Data were coded and entered into Epi info version 7.2.0.1 and exported to SPSS 20.0 for data analysis. Inferential statistics were done to determine an association between the outcome and independent variables. Statistically significant variables in binary logistic regression analysis with p-value <0.2 were entered for multivariable binary logistic regression analysis and P-value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Hosmer and Lemeshow's goodness of fitness test was fitted and qualitative data were analyzed by using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Among 510 study participants, 454 (89%) [CI: (86.5%-91.6%)] were willing to enroll for community-based health insurance. Members of social capital [AOR: 7.6 (3.78-15.5)], distance from health facilities [AOR: 10.8 (4.9-23.5)], the experience of chronic illness in the family [AOR: 4.6 (1.88-11.4)], medium family wealth status [AOR: 3.1 (1.3-7.5)], and the number of family members [AOR: 2.25 (1.11-4.6)] were significantly associated with willingness to enroll for community-based health insurance. CONCLUSION: Willingness to enroll in community-based health insurance in the study area is high. Members of social capital, the experience of chronic illness in the family, distance from a health facility, the number of family members, and medium family wealth status were factors found to be associated with willingness to enroll for the scheme. Therefore, emphasizing redesigning and planning strategies for better expanding the scheme accordingly.