RESUMO
Background and Aim: Leka Dullecha District, situated in East Wollega, Ethiopia, represents a region where infant and young child feeding practices play a crucial role in the health and well-being of the population. Understanding the prevailing feeding practices among children under 2 years old is essential for devising effective interventions to improve child nutrition and reduce mortality rates. The context of this study involves examining various factors influencing infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, including socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental determinants. The main aim of the study was conducted to investigate the infant and young child feeding practice and associated factors among mothers of children 0-23 months in Leka Dullecha District, East Wollega, and Ethiopia. Method: A community-based, cross-sectional study design was carried out using 590 sample sizes. A stratified sampling method was used with simple random sampling technique. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with infant and young child feeding practices. Results: The overall prevalence of appropriate infant and young child feeding practice was estimated to 62.3%. According to this finding, age of child, place of delivery, and knowledge of mother were positively associated factors for inappropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices. Conclusion: The overall infant and young child feeding practices in this study is not meeting the WHO guidelines for appropriate feeding practices. To achieve better feeding practices among 0-23 months aged children, intervention should focus on encouraging institution delivery and capacitating all health workers providing health education focusing on infant and young child feeding practices.
RESUMO
Background: Malaria is one of the biggest public health challenges in Ethiopia that has hampered the country's economic growth and development, and the government is on track to reduce malaria prevalence by 80% by 2025. Objective: As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the trends in malaria prevalence in Wayu Tuqa District, Gute Health Center, over the last 10 years (2013-2022). Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken to identify the patterns of malaria cases in Wayu Tuqa District, Gute Health Center, from 2013 to 2022 by evaluating the malaria registration laboratory logbook. All socio-demographic data, as well as the year, month, and malaria prevalence, were obtained using a predesigned data collection form from previous years. Results: In this study, 3402 (22.50%) of the total 15,040 probable patients had malaria. P. falciparum was the most common species, accounting for 82.84% (2818) of the total, followed by P. vivax (16.00%) (547). Males and people over the age of 15 were the most affected demographics. Conclusion: In this study, the highest number of malaria cases were observed in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, the autumn season had the highest incidence of malaria cases, 40% (1339), while the spring season had the lowest prevalence, 16% (546). The general trend of plasmodium species at Gute Health Center over the previous 10 years (2013-2022) has not shown inconsistent trends. As a result, proper malaria prevention and control planning, implementation, and monitoring should be strengthened at all levels.
RESUMO
Background: In underdeveloped nations like Ethiopia, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is one of the most pressing public health issues. Despite efforts to pinpoint the causes of SAM, the impact of parents' drug usage on their children's nutritional status remains unclear and unresolved. Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the risk factors for SAM in children under five who were attending medical facilities in the Leqa Dulacha district. Materials and Methods: A health facility-based case-control study was carried out from March 1 to July 30, 2022, with 256 children under the age of five. Random sampling was used to identify study participants in a methodical manner. Mothers and other child caretakers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were performed using standardized, calibrated equipment. Epi-data version 3.1 was used to code and enter the data, and it was then exported to IBM SPSS for analysis. An analysis of multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted, and the measure of association employed was the adjusted odds ratio (AOR), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 96.5% of respondents responded. SAM in children was significantly correlated with the following factors: parent alcohol consumption [AOR = 3.142; 95% CI = (1.104, 8.945)]; child illness in the previous 15 days [AOR = 4.122; 95% CI = (1.686, 10.07)]; poor dietary diversity [AOR = 3.044; 95% CI = (1.189, 7.788)]; household food insecurity [AOR = 4.024; 95% CI = (1.544, 10.490)]; and parent chewing chat [AOR = 3.484; 95% CI = (1.329, 9.134)]. Conclusions: A number of factors have been linked to SAM in children, including the use of health services, the child's illness within the previous 15 days, food security, child feeding practices, and parent substance use. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the value of health education programs on child feeding habits, particularly the significance of dietary diversity, and to work together to modify the way that parents raise their children.
