Overweight and obesity and associated factors among adult ART patients at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity complicates the care and treatment of ART patients and predispose them to chronic non-communicable diseases. However, there is a shortage of research evidence on overweight and obesity and its associated factors among adult ART patients in our setting. Therefore, this study aimed to asses overweight and obesity and associated factors among adult ART patients at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted by using systematic sampling technique. Primary and secondary data were collected from 369 adult ART patients from February to May 2017. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and laboratory outputs were used as primary data. The patient's baseline medical records were used as secondary data. Ethiopian Ministry of Health ART patient's follow-up tool was used to collect the required information. The standard laboratory and well-calibrated digital Seca Scale and portable Stadio-meter were used to collect medical and anthropometric data. Data were entered into Epi- data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and presented by tables, graphs and texts. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed and the level of statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) was 43.4% (95% CI = 43.35, 43.45). The difference in the overweight and obesity between the study period and initial commencement of ART was 35%. The course of HIV chronic care since the commencement of ART and during the study was 35%. Higher recent CD4 counts (200-499cells/mm3) (AOR = 3.15, 95%CI = 1.04-9.49) and (≥ 500 cells/mm3) (AOR = 7.58, 95%CI = 2.49-23.08), hypertension (AOR = 2.57, 95%CI = 1.24-5.35), higher baseline BMI status (AOR = 5.93, 95%CI = 2.62-13.40) and abdominal obesity (AOR = 1.82, 95%CI = 1.07-3.10) were significantly associated with overweight and obesity. CONCLUSION: In this study, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult ART patients was reported compared to general adult population in Ethiopia. Overweight and obesity were significantly higher among hypertensive, with higher recent CD4 counts and abdominal obese ART patients. Thus, screening of overweight and obesity, incorporating nutritionist/dietician into the routine chronic care, and regular monitoring of the nutritional status of ART patients is recommended.

Prevalence of diarrheal diseases and associated factors among under-five children in Dale District, Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Globally childhood diarrhoeal diseases continue to be the second leading cause of death, while in Ethiopia it kills half-million under-five children each year. Sanitation, unsafe water and personal hygiene are responsible for 90% of the occurrence. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of diarrheal diseases among under-five children in Dale District, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A face to face interview using a structured questionnaire and observation checklist was used. A total of 546 households with at least one under-five children were selected using simple random sampling techniques. The data entry and cleaning were performed using Epidemiological information software (EPI Info) 3.5.1 and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0 for analysis. Frequencies and proportions were computed as descriptive analysis. Initially using bivariate analysis a crude association between the independent and dependent variables was investigated. Then, those variables with p-value ≤0.25 were included in multivariable analysis to determine the predictor variables for the outcome variables. Finally, further analyses were carried out using multivariable analysis at a significance level of p-value ≤0.05. RESULTS: A total of 537 children under the age of 5 years were included. The 2 weeks prevalence of diarrhea among children under the age of 5 years was 13.6, 95% CI (10.7, 16.5%). Educational level [AOR: 3.97, 95% CI (1.60, 8.916)], age of indexed child [AOR: 12.18, 95% CI (1.78, 83.30)], nutritional status [AOR: 6.41, 95% CI (2.47, 16.77.)], hand washing method [AOR, 3.10, 95% CI (1.10, 8.67)], hand washing after latrine [AOR: 2.73, 95% CI (1.05, 6.56)], refuse disposal method [AOR, 3.23, 95% CI (1.37, 7.60)] and housing floor material [AOR: 3.22, 95% CI (1.16, 8.91] were significantly associated with the occurrence of childhood diarrheal diseases. CONCLUSION: Childhood diarrhea remains the commonest health problem in the study area. The findings have important policy implications for childhood diarrhoeal disease intervention programs. Thus, activities focusing on proper handwashing techniques at all appropriate times, proper refuse disposal, improving nutrition and better childcare also highly recommended.

Insecticide-Treated Nets Utilization and Associated Factors among under-5 Years Old Children in Mirab-Abaya District, Gamo-Gofa Zone, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Malaria can be prevented using cost-effective interventions. It can be prevented at large via the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs). The use of ITNs decreases malaria mortality rates by 55% in under-5 years old children in Africa, Ethiopia, realizing the effectiveness, scaling up distribution and utilization of ITNs to cover 100% of children less than 5 years of age. However, little is known about ITNs utilization and factors associated with the utilization in under-5 years old children in the study area yet. The purpose of this study was to assess the level and associated factors of ITNs utilization in under-5 years old children among households with under-5 years old children of Mirab Abaya District, Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted during August-September, 2016. Six study Kebeles were identified by simple random sampling technique and 398 households with at least one under-5 years old children were selected by random sampling technique using computer generated random numbers from health post family folders. Structured, interviewer questionnaire was administered to mothers or care givers of the children. Data were entered to Epi Info Version 3.5 and analyzed in SPSS version 21 statistical software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done. P-value <0.05 and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were used for the determination of associations between dependent and predictor variables. Results were presented in narrations, tables, and graph. RESULT: Among 398 under-5 years old children assessed, the majority, 362 (91.0%) of them had access to ITN, but only 137 (37.2%) of the child had ITNs utilization during the previous night prior to the survey. Households with age of mothers or caretakers 31-44 years, AOR = 0.03, 95% CI (0.01-0.07) and ≥45 years of age; AOR = 0.05, 95% CI (0.01-0.58); households with family size ≤5 members, AOR = 11.23, 95% CI (4.31-29.24); and households with sleeping space ≥2, AOR = 13.59, 95% CI (4.40-41.93) were found to be significantly associated with under-5 years old children ITNs utilization. CONCLUSION: Even though, a significant proportions of under-5 years old children had access to ITN, only one-third of the participant child utilized it properly.

Knowledge and Perception of Consumption of Iodized Salt Among Food Handlers in Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency is the world's single most important cause of preventable mental retardation. In Ethiopia, the knowledge and perception of food handlers toward the iodized salt consumption (ISC) was very low. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge and perception of food handlers toward consumption of iodized salt in Wolaita Sodo town and Sodo Zuria woreda, 2014. METHODS: The community-based cross-sectional study design was done from May 10 to May 30, 2014 in Sodo town and Sodo Zuria woreda (district), Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Systematic sampling techniques were used to identify study participants. Data entered into the software Epi Info version 3.5.3 and analyzed using the software SPSS version 16. To assess an association, odds ratio was used at 95% confidence interval, whereas confounding was controlled by employing multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Lower knowledge and perception on iodine deficiency was observed. About 239 (44.7%) of the respondents had good knowledge and 228 (42.6%) had positive attitude toward consumption of iodized salt. Most (346, 64.7%) of the participants had heard about goiter, whereas only 170 (31.8%) of them associated it with iodine deficiency. About 46.4% of respondents heard about iodized salt. Respondents' age, education, family income, place of residence, and occupation had significant association with good knowledge and positive attitude toward consumption of iodized salt. CONCLUSION: The study revealed the existence of knowledge and perception gap in iodine deficiency disorder and ISC. Household income, education of respondents, and place of residence were determinant factors for poor knowledge and perception of iodized salt. Therefore, efforts to scale-up the knowledge and perception toward ISC should focus on households with low income, educational level, and rural residence.