Underweight and Predictors Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in South Ethiopia.

Objectives: Underweight remains the primary public health concern among under-five-year-old children in Ethiopia, despite numerous government-implemented nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess underweight and associated factors among children in South Ethiopia. Methods: Between March and April 2021, 717 children in the South Ari district who were between the ages of 6 and 59 months participated in a cross-sectional study. To choose a sample of households containing a minimum of one child between the ages of 6 and 59 months, a multi-stage sampling procedure was used. Data were collected by interviewer-administered structured questionnaires from the mothers of the children. To determine the factors associated with being underweight, a binary logistic regression analysis was built. All variables with a p-value <0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis. To assess the strength of the association, an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used. With a p-value below 0.05, statistical significance was declared. Results: The prevalence of underweight was determined to be 29.7% (95% CI: 26.5%, 33.2%). Child age 6-23 months [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 0.44], food insecurity (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.10), sub-optimal child dietary diversity (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.03), birth interval <24 months (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.75, 3.54), and common childhood illness (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.52, 3.21) were associated with being underweight. Conclusion: Underweight among children is predicted by household food insecurity, suboptimal dietary diversity, and common childhood illnesses, necessitating further efforts to improve food security and manage common illnesses.

Intimate partner violence and associated factors among married adolescent girls and young women in the pastoralist community of South Ethiopia: is intimate partner violence associated with cultural phenomena?

Background: Violence against women is a major public health problem that affects the physical, sexual, mental, and social wellbeing of more than one-third of all women worldwide. Hence the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated factors among married adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) belonging to the pastoralist community of Dassenech district, South Omo Zone, South Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among married AGYW in the Dassenech district from March 1, 2022, to April 1, 2022. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select 545 participants. The data were collected using pre-tested and standardized WHO multi-country study tools. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the independent predictors of physical and sexual intimate partner violence. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the effect size, and finally, a p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of physical IPV among AGYW belonging to the pastoralist community of Dassenech district was 44.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 40%, 48%) and that of sexual IPV was 39.3% (95% CI: 35%, 43%). The husband only deciding for the household (AOR = 11.36; 95% CI: 6.97, 18.53), the father performing the Dimi cultural ceremony (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI: 2.22, 6.14), and frequent quarrels (AOR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.99) are significantly associated with physical IPV. Both partners drinking alcohol (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI: 1.94, 6.20), the husband only deciding for the household (AOR = 11.23; 95% CI: 6.91, 18.27), and frequent quarrels (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.15, 4.56) were factors significantly associated with sexual IPV. Conclusion: Physical and sexual intimate partner violence is a significant public health problem in the study area. Therefore, interventional measures to change the attitude of cultural leaders, providing education to married men and women on risky sexual behavior, and empowering women need to be prioritized to prevent the occurrence of this problem.

Sick child's feeding practices and associated factors among mothers with sick children aged less than 2 years in Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia. Does the participation of fathers contribute to improving nutrition? A facility-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Children's nutritional status can decline rapidly during or after a common childhood illness unless additional nutritional requirements associated with the illness are considered. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing a sick child's feeding practices and associated factors among mothers who have sick children under 2 years of age in southern Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed from 1 April 2022 to 30 April 2022. Data were collected through the questionnaire, entered into an open data kit (ODK), and exported into Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for analysis. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with sick child feeding practices. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to determine the strength of the association. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05. Results: The overall magnitude of mothers' good sick child feeding practices was determined to be 45.0% (95% CI: 41.03, 48.97%). Being urban residents, being employed, having antenatal care (ANC) visits, having postnatal care (PNC) visits, counseling about child feeding, and fathers' involvement in sick child feeding increased the likelihood of sick child feeding practices by 4.4, 2.10, 2.31, 3.54, 2.11, and 2.54 times, respectively. Conclusion: Sick child feeding practices were associated with having antenatal or postnatal visits, counseling about child feeding, and fathers' involvement in sick child feeding practices. Therefore, strengthening infant and young child feeding practices by showing special concern for the father's involvement is important to improve mothers' sick child feeding practices.

Predictors of Suboptimal Adherence Among Children on Antiretroviral Therapy in Southern Ethiopia: A Multicenter Retrospective Follow-Up Study.

Objectives: Despite increased access to and availability of antiretroviral therapy, the program's effectiveness is primarily affected by treatment adherence. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude and predictors of suboptimal adherence among children on ART in Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children in Gamo and South Omo zone public health facilities. To identify factors associated with suboptimal adherence, a binary logistic regression model was fitted. Variables with a p-value ≤0.25 in bivariable logistic regression analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis. p-value <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: The suboptimal adherence was determined to be 30.3% (95% CI: 25.5%, 35.6%). Advanced clinical stage, hemoglobin level <10 mg/dL, unchanged initial regimen, and non-disclosure of HIV sero-status were significant predictors of suboptimal adherence. Conclusion: Suboptimal adherence is a significant public health problem in the study setting. Therefore, designing interventions towards improving adherence is needed especially for children with poor clinical characteristics.

Proportion of Attrition and Associated Factors Among Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Public Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia.

Purpose: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major global public health concern. Despite the improved access and utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART), attrition from care among children continues to be a major obstacle to the effectiveness of ART programs. Hence, this study aimed to assess the proportion of attrition and associated factors among children receiving ART in public health facilities of Gamo and South Omo Zones, Southern Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted in public health facilities of Gamo and South Omo Zones in Southern Ethiopia from April 12, 2022, to May 10, 2022. The proportion of attrition was determined by dividing the number of attrition by the total number of participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with attrition. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: The median age of the participants was 5.5 (IQR: 2-9) years. The proportion of attrition from ART care was 32.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.57% to 37.69%). Death of either of the parents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.19; 95% CI:1.14, 4.18), or both parents (AOR = 3.19; 95% CI: 1.20, 8.52), hemoglobin level <10mg/dL (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.70), a cluster of differentiation (CD)4 count ≤200 cells/mm3 (AOR = 6.78, 95% CI: 3.16, 14.53), CD4 count 200-350 cells/mm3 (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.16, 6.03), suboptimal adherence (AOR = 6.38; 95% CI: 3.36, 12.19), and unchanged initial regimen (AOR = 6.88; 95% CI: 3.58, 13.19) were factors associated with attrition. Conclusion: Attrition from care is identified to be a substantial public health problem. Therefore, designing interventions to improve the timely tracing of missed follow-up schedules and adherence support is needed, especially for children with either/both parents died, unchanged initial regimen, low CD4, and/or low hemoglobin level.