Minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Jig-Jiga, Somali region, eastern Ethiopia, 2022.

BACKGROUND: The minimum acceptable diet is the proportion of children aged 6-23 months who consumed the minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity during the previous day or night. The minimum acceptable diet assesses both micronutrient adequacy and the quantity of food consumed during the previous day or night. Inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices during this period result in significant threats to child health through impaired cognitive development. Therefore, this study aims to assess the minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Jig-Jiga, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Jig-Jiga town. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 536 children aged 6-23 months with their mothers. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi-data 3.1. The data were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS v20. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done, and model fitness was checked and tested by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. The results of the adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals and P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULT: The overall prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was 47.2% (95% CI: 43.1-51.6). Occupation of fathers (AOR = 0.5, 95%CI: 0.3-0.8), child age of 6-11 months (AOR = 3.6, 95%CI: 1.7-7.7), age of the mother 15-24 years (AOR = 7.6, 95%CI: 1.5-38.146), 25-34 years (AOR = 5.56, 95%CI: 1.17-26.325), mothers who had only one under-five child (AOR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.298-3.471), and media as a source of information (AOR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.061-0.433) were associated with the minimum acceptable diet. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was low. Factors associated with a minimum acceptable diet included the father's occupation, the child's age, the mother's age, having one under-five child, and the media as a source of information. Therefore, interventional strategies that focus on family planning and advocacy for infant and young child feeding are required to improve the provision of a minimum acceptable diet.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and their associations with overweight/obesity and impaired blood glucose among diabetic patients in Eastern Ethiopia: Institutional-based study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its associations with overweight/obesity and impaired blood glucose among diabetic patients in Eastern Ethiopia. Method: A total of 644 diabetic individuals were included in the study through systematic random sampling techniques. The Michigan neuropathy screening instrument was used to evaluate the presence of diabetic neuropathy. Data were presented using narrative, figures, and tables from the results of statistical analysis. The descriptive result was reported using frequency (percentage) for categorical variables and mean ± SD for continuous measures, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was 47.8% (95% CI: 43.9%-51.7%). Low monthly income (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.73), history of khat chewing (AOR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.907), impaired blood glucose (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.63, 1.94), physical inactivity (AOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.36), and raised body mass index (AOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.99) were factors significantly associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the value of early diabetic peripheral neuropathy detection and the widespread presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy risk factors in diabetes patients. Any initiative intended to lessen the burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathy-related morbidity and high health care costs must be implemented as a strategy.

Iodine concentration level, availability of adequately iodised salt and proper utilisation, and its influencing factors among households in Eastern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The availability of iodine concentration in iodised salt at the household level does not guarantee the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders, but it can be significantly assured through proper utilisation. In eastern Ethiopia, there are no data on the use of iodised salt at the household level. The purpose of this study was to determine the iodine concentration, the coverage of adequately iodised salt and the factors that influencing the proper iodised salt utilisation in households. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and iodine concentration was determined using the WYD Checker iodine test. We used the logistic generalised estimating equation statistical analysis method to assess the factors that affect proper iodised salt utilisation at a household level. SETTING: The study was conducted in Dire Dawa City Administration, Eastern Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 473 households were selected using one-stage sampling technique. PRIMARY MEASURES: Iodine concentration, availability of adequately iodised salt and proper utilisation were primary outcomes of this study. RESULTS: Only 37% of households found sufficient iodine concentration in iodised salt, while only 25.2% of households used iodised salt properly. College or above education (adjusted OR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.2 to 21.6, p=0.024), good knowledge (adjusted OR=5.3, 95% CI: 4.3 to 13.4, p<0.0001), good attitude (adjusted OR=4.2, 95% CI: 2.5 to 7.0, p<0.0001) and household with family size >5 (adjusted OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.7) were significantly associated with proper utilisation of iodised salt. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate coverage and iodised salt utilisation were low. The proper use of iodised salt is associated with educational status, family size, knowledge and attitudes. Raising public awareness, health promotion and continuous regulation of iodine concentration at all levels by regulatory bodies are important strategies for addressing the public health problems of iodine deficiency and related diseases.

Overweight and Its Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Overweight in women of reproductive age is a major public health concern in developing countries because of overconsumption of low-quality food. Currently, being overweight is a major health concern worldwide. It exposes humans to various health problems. In Ethiopia, despite the trend indicated increasing in overweight, priority is given for undernutrition. In Dire Dawa, there is scarce evidence regarding reproductive age overweight. Therefore, this study is designed to assess the prevalence of overweight and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 15 to June 15, 2021, in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia; a multi-stage systematic sampling technique was used to select 559 women aged 15-49 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured pretested questionnaire. Ninety-five percent CI was used to identify the factors associated with overweight while controlling for all possible confounders using multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at a P-value of 0.05. Results: The results of this study revealed that the prevalence of overweight was 63.1% (95% CI: 59.0, 67.2). Overweight was significantly associated with weekly discretionary calories (AOR = 3.964, 95% CI (1.131, 13.894)), contraceptive use (AOR = 2.838, 95% CI (1.443, 5.580)), and monthly family income (AOR = 3.916, 95% CI (1.352, 11.340)). Conclusion: Overweight among women of reproductive age was high in Dire Dawa city. Discretionary calories per week, family monthly income, and contraceptive use were significantly associated with overweight. Developing and implementing community-based culturally sensitive, feasible, and potentially high-impact intervention to address the modifiable risk factors among women of reproductive age is critical.

Prevalence and associated factors of overweight/obesity among severely ill psychiatric patients in Eastern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the burden of overweight and obesity is a major cardiovascular disease risk factor and is even higher among patients with psychiatric disorders compared to the general population. This is mainly due to the deleterious lifestyles characterized by physical inactivity, excessive substance use, and unhealthy diets common among patients with psychiatric disorders, as well as the negative metabolic effects of psychotropic medications. Despite these conditions being a high burden among patients with psychiatric illness, little attention is given to them during routine reviews in psychiatric clinics in most African nations, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate and compare the prevalence of and associated risk factors for overweight and obesity among patients with psychiatric illnesses. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between severely ill psychiatric patients and non-psychiatric patients in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. The study included 192 study participants (96 psychiatric patients and 96 non-psychiatric controls). Weight and height were measured for 192 study participants. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients were described. The data were cleaned and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 21. The intergroup comparisons were performed using an independent sample t-test and Chi-square tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between overweight/obesity and the associated variables. RESULTS: The magnitude of overweight/obesity was significantly higher in the severely ill psychiatric groups (43.8%) than in the non-exposed controls (20.80%). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was highest in major depressive disorders (40%), followed by schizophrenia (32%), and bipolar disorder (28%). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of obesity/overweight among psychiatric patients. Educational status, unemployment, and late stages of the disease were significant predictors of overweight/ obesity. Clinicians should be aware of the health consequences of overweight/obesity, and considering screening strategies as a part of routine psychiatric care is strongly recommended.

Nutritional status and associated factors among lactating women in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Lactating women's nutritional status is critical since it influences the health of their infants. However, there was a scarcity of data on maternal nutrition in low-income countries such as Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. METHODS: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 401 lactating women in Dire Dawa town health facilities from February 10, 2019 to March 30, 2019. The sum of the number of food categories consumed by each respondent over the 24-h recall period is the women's diet diversity score. To identify factors linked to undernutrition, all variables with a p-value of less than 0.25 were included into multivariate logistic regression. RESULT: Prevalence of undernutrition was 22%. Women who age 15-25 years were four times more likely undernourished than older (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 4.04; confidence interval [CI]: [1.74, 9.40]). Unable to read and write women were almost five times more likely to be undernourished than formal education (AOR = 4.76; CI: [2.31, 9.81]). Women who have family size >7 were six times more likely to be undernourished than family size <3 (AOR = 5.53; CI: [1.15, 26.53]). Women not take additional food during lactating were 4.5 times more likely undernourished than take additional food (AOR = 4.56; CI [1.50, 13.9]). DD score <5 were four times more likely to be undernourished than (≥5) DD (AOR = 4; CI: [2.02, 7.90]). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of undernutrition in the study area was high. Factors associated with undernutrion were: age of lactating women, education status, family size, additional food during lactation and DD score. Thus, multisectoral collaboration targeted at improving women's educational status and increasing food during lactation need to be emphasized.

Metabolic syndrome and associated factors among severely ill psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients: a comparative cross-sectional study in Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a major public health challenge in both developed and developing countries. The burden of this disease is high, even in patients with psychiatric disorders. However, very little is known about the association between metabolic syndrome and psychiatric illness in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude of metabolic syndrome and its components among psychiatric clients. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was undertaken between psychiatric patients and age-and sex-matched non-psychiatric controls at the Dilchora referral hospital. The study included 192 study participants (96 psychiatric patients and 96 non- psychiatric controls from general medical and surgical patients). The National Cholesterol Education Program: Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndromes. The data were cleaned and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 21. All intergroup comparisons for continuous data were performed using an independent sample t-test, whereas categorical data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between metabolic syndrome and the associated variables. RESULTS: The magnitude of metabolic syndrome among psychiatric patients was 36.5% (95%CI: 27.6, 47.4) compared to non-psychiatric control patients, 21.9% (95%CI: 13.5, 30.3), p = 0.02. The prevalence of MetS components, such as waist circumference (25.0% vs. 14.3%), lower-high density lipoprotein level (35.4% vs. 20.8%), higher systolic blood pressure (41.7% vs. 29.2%) and higher fasting blood glucose (40.6% vs. 18.8%) showed statistically significant differences between the exposed and non-exposed groups. Age greater than 50 years (AOR: 2.8, CI: 1.14, 20.0, p < 0.05); being female (AOR: 7.4, CI: 2.0, 27.6, p < 0.05), being urban residence (AOR: 6.4, CI: 2.2, 20.6, p < 0.05), ever alcohol intake (AOR: 5.3, CI: 1.3, 21.2), being physically inactive (AOR: 3.52, CI: 1.1, 12.9, p < 0.05) and family history of hypertension (AOR: 2.52, CI: 1.1, 12.2, p < 0.05) were independent predictors of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high burden of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with severe psychiatric disorders. Therefore, screening and mitigation strategies for metabolic syndrome and their components should be implemented in the management of psychiatric disorders.

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that has public health issues, which places social, economic, and disease conditions in the community within the geographical region of sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Patients with psychiatric illness have a 2­threefold risk of morbidity and mortality from metabolic syndrome compared to the general population. Here, we look at range of the possible reasons psychiatric patients have less physical activity due to functional disorders or psychotropic medication, psychological stress, excessive alcohol intake, and inadequate medical care. We assessed the burden of metabolic syndrome and its components among psychiatric patients as compared to non-psychiatric individuals in Eastern Ethiopia for a period of 6 months. There has been an alarming increase in the burden of metabolic syndrome and its components among patients with psychiatric illness. Hence, our results allow readers to aware of the burden of metabolic syndrome and factors involved in the development of the syndrome among psychiatric clients.

Treatment outcome and associated factors of severe acute malnutrition among 6-59 months old children in Debre Markos and Finote Selam hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, the health sector has increased its efforts to enhance good nutritional practices through health education, treatment of extremely malnourished children and provision of micronutrients for mothers and children. But, the poor nutritional status of women and children continues to be still a major public health problem. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the treatment outcome and associated factors of severe acute malnutrition among a total of 253 children age 6-59 months old. Severe acute malnutrition registration logbook and patient charts were used as a source of data. Data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. To identify associated factors, Cox proportional hazard analysis was computed and p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The recovery rate was 77.9% and the overall median recovery time was 11 days. Those children age from 24 to 35 months had 34% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6-11 months old children (AHR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.35-0.89). Children whose ages from 36 to 59 months had 47% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6-11 months old children (AHR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-0.91). HIV negative children had 2.48 times higher probability of getting recovered from SAM compared to HIV positive children (AHR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23-5.01). Children who didn't take folic acid supplement had 65% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to children who took folic acid supplement (AHR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that recovery rate of 6-59 months old children treated for severe acute malnutrition in therapeutics units was in acceptable range based on the WHO recommendation. Folic acid supplementation and screening for HIV status should be promoted at all levels of health facilities during early age.