Burden and determinants of anemia among lactating women in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic health survey.

Globally one-third of global population are victims of anemia, significantly impacting maternal and infant health and linked to poor cognition, productivity, and mortality risks. We used randomly selected 4040 lactating mothers' record from nationally representative survey. Descriptive statistics were weighted, and the standard hemoglobin cutoff point (below 12 g/dl) was used. Bivariable and multivariable multilevel binary logistic regression model considering the individual and community-level factors associated with anemia was employed. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were reported. In Ethiopia, 32.3% (95% CI 30.9-33.7%) of lactating women were anemic, with 23.4% having mild, 7.3% moderate, and 1.2% severe anemia. Pastoral regions (Afar, Somalia, and Oromia region) had higher burden of anemia than the others. The advanced age of the mother above 45 years (AOR = 1.43 (1.11-1.82), unemployment (AOR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.08-1.32), household wealth index (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.50-0.63), extended family size (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.04-1.46), and not using family planning (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.49-1.93) were significant factors associated with anemia. Anemia is a moderate public health problem and associated with location and other factors to be addressed via effective interventions.

Undernutrition and determinants among adolescent street children in DireDawa City, eastern Ethiopia: Vulnerability assessment.

OBJECTIVES: Adolescents go through rapid development and increased nutritional requirements that can put them at higher risk of undernutrition--a problem that can be highest among orphaned or street children. Evidence on nutritional risk and its contributing factors among this segment is lacking in the city of Dire Dawa, where many children are on the streets with limited access to proper care. The aim of this study was to identify determinants of undernutrition among street adolescents in Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 358 street adolescents 12 to 19 y of age in Dire Dawa from January to February 2022. After conducting a preliminary survey and registering all available street children, a complete enumeration was made. For data collection, an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used along with anthropometric measurements using standard procedures. Height-for-age (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI) for age z scores were computed using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthroplus and statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 26. Independent variables with P < 0.25 in bivariable analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression, and variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. RESULTS: Among 358 street adolescents, 44% (38.9-49.5) and 56% (50.8-61.4) were thin and stunted, respectively. Thinness among street children could be associated with a longer stay on the street (AOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.40-1.90), infrequent meal frequency (AOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.19-1.45), unprotected drinking water sources (AOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.40-1.71), alcohol drinking (AOR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.51-4.32), inadequately diversified diet (AOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.36), and illness history (AOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.21-1.47). Moreover, odds of stunting were significantly associated with staying on the street (AOR, 1.32; 1.10-1.54), unsafe drinking water (AOR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.13-2.66), smoking cigarettes (AOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.21-2.52), dietary diversity (AOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.43-3.82), and acute illness (AOR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.31-5.23). CONCLUSION: Thinness and stunting were prevalent among street children and are associated with infrequent meals, poor dietary diversity, substance abuse, unsafe water sources, and illness histories that could be targeted for multisectoral interventions.

Overnutrition and Associated Factors Among High School Adolescents in Mid COVID-19 Pandemic in Ethiopia: Neglected Public Health Concern.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent overnutrition is becoming a global public health problem, increasing at an alarming rate in developing countries. Overnutrition increases the risks of serious diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. However, there is limited evidence on the magnitude and risk factors of overnutrition in the study area. OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of overnutrition and associated factors among school adolescents in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2021 among 498 adolescent students selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. A systematic random sampling technique was employed. Self-administered questionnaires, including food frequency and anthropometric measurement, were used to collect the data. The BMI-for-age Z score was calculated using the WHO Anthro-Plus. A binary logistic regression model was fitted with an odds ratio, and 95% confidence levels. Statistical significance is declared at a p-value below 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 498 (98.4%) were included with the overall prevalence of overnutrition of 26.1% (95% CI: 22.3-29.9), where 23.7% and 2.4% had overweight and obesity, respectively. Being female (AOR = 3.32; 95% CI: 1.65-6.63), attending at private school (AOR = 4.97; 95% CI: 1.72-14.35), having sweet food preferences (AOR = 6.26; 95% CI: 3.14-12.5), snacking (AOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.11-8.36), sedentary behavior (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.67-6.09), and eating while watching TV (AOR= 2.95; 95% CI: 1.47-5.95) were significantly associated with overnutrition. CONCLUSION: Overnutrition is a major emerging public health problem in eastern Ethiopia. School type, sex, sweet food preferences, habits of snacking, sedentary behaviors, and eating while watching TV were significantly associated with overnutrition. Therefore, public health strategies to curb overweight and obesity among high school adolescents are urgently needed in order to reduce the prevalence and its adverse complications.