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Background: Postnatal care (PNC) is essential for early identification and management of life-threatening obstetric complications. Despite efforts by the Ethiopian government to improve maternal and child health service use, PNC service has remained low, and disparity across geographic locations is a major public health problem. This study aimed to investigate the change and contributing factors in PNC service use across geographical locations (rural-urban) and over time (2016 to 2019) in Ethiopia. Methods: We analyzed data on women who gave birth from the 2016 and 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys. A total of 6,413 weighted samples (4,308 in 2016 and 2,105 in 2019) were included in the analysis. A multivariate decomposition analysis technique was used to determine the change and identify factors that contributed to the change across geographical locations and over time. Statistical significance was defined at a 95% confidence interval with a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: The prevalence of PNC use was higher among urban residents, and the urban-rural disparity reduced from 32.59% in 2016 to 19.08% in 2019. The difference in the composition of explanatory variables was the only statistically significant for the urban-rural disparity in PNC use in both surveys. Specifically, female household heads (4.51%), delivery at a health facility (83.45%), and birth order of two to three (5.53%) and four or more (-12.24%) in 2016 significantly contributed to the urban-rural gap. However, in 2019, middle wealth index (-14.66%), Muslim religion (3.84%), four or more antennal care contacts (18.29%), and delivery at a health facility (80.66%) significantly contributed to the urban-rural gap. PNC use increased from 16.61% in 2016 to 33.86% in 2019. About 60% of the explained change was due to the difference in the composition of explanatory variables. Particularly, urban residence (-5.79%), a rich wealth index (2.31%), Muslim (3.42%), and other (-2.76%) religions, having radio or television (1.49%), 1–3 (-1.13%), and 4 or more (11.09%) antenatal care contacts, and delivery at a health facility (47.98%) were statistically significant contributors to the observed change. The remaining 40% of the overall change was due to the difference in unknown behaviors (coefficient) of the population towards PNC. Conclusions: There was a significant change in PNC service use by residence location and over time in Ethiopia, with urban women in both surveys being more likely to use PNC service. The urban-rural disparity in PNC uptake was due to the difference in the composition of explanatory variables, whereas the change over time was due to the change in both the composition of explanatory variables and population behavior towards PNC. Increased antenatal care contacts and delivery at a health facility played a major role in explaining the gap in PNC services across residences and over time in Ethiopia, highlighting the importance of stepping up efforts to enhance their uptake in rural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The community-based health insurance (CBHI) scheme is a growing initiative aimed at enhancing healthcare access for the most impoverished members of the community. The Ethiopian CBHI scheme aims to enhance access to essential healthcare services, including medical laboratory services, for the poorest members of the community, but there is limited evidence on satisfaction levels. The aim of this study was to assess the satisfaction level of CBHI beneficiaries with laboratory services and their associated factors among selected public hospitals in Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on selected public hospitals in the Jimma Zone from September to October 2023. A total of 421 CBHI beneficiaries were enrolled in the study using a convenient sampling technique, and interviewers administered structured questionnaires to collect data. Data were entered into Epi-data and analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 25. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize independent variables; bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to test the association between independent and dependent variables; and statistical significance was declared at P<0.05. Results: More than half (55.8%) of the 419 study participants were female. Above half, 57.5% of the respondents were satisfied by the clinical laboratory services at public hospitals in Jimma Zone. Components with a higher satisfaction rate were providers' professional appearances (98.3%), procedures for specimen collection (87.6%), and availability of entertainment facilities at the waiting area (67.8%). On the contrary, longer waiting times to receive the test results (76.6%), inefficiency of the reception area (74.7%), and the inability of professionals to explain diagnostic procedures (58.0%) were associated with higher rates of dissatisfaction. Educational status and the number of hospital visits were found to have a statistically significant association with level of satisfaction with laboratory services. Conclusions: CBHI beneficiaries' satisfaction with laboratory service was at a moderate level in Jimma Zone public hospitals. Therefore, attention should be given to continuous monitoring of patients' satisfaction with services, improving reception areas, and practicing routine explanations about the purposes and procedures during specimen collection to improve the beneficiaries' satisfaction level with clinical laboratory services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Underweight, overweight, and obesity are major public health challenges among reproductive-age women of lower- and middle-income countries (including Tanzania). In those settings, obesogenic factors (attributes that promote excessive body weight gain) are increasing in the context of an existing high burden of undernutrition. The present study investigated factors associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity among reproductive age women in Tanzania. Methods: This study used 2015–16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey data (n = 11735). To account for the hierarchical nature of the data (i.e., reproductive age women nested within clusters), multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between individual-level (socioeconomic, demographic and behavioural) and community-level factors with underweight, overweight, and obesity. Results: Reproductive age women who were informally employed (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64, 0.96), those who were currently married (RRR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.82) and those who used contraceptives (RRR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.90) were less likely to be underweight. Reproductive age women who attained secondary or higher education (RRR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.96), those who resided in wealthier households (RRR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.78, 3.03) and those who watched the television (RRR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.50) were more likely to be overweight. The risk of experiencing obesity was higher among reproductive age women who attained secondary or higher education (RRR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.61), those who were formally employed (RRR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.98), those who resided in wealthier households (RRR = 4.77; 95% CI: 3.03, 7.50), those who used alcohol (RRR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.82) and/or watched the television (RRR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.35, 2.13). Conclusion: Our study suggests that relevant government jurisdictions need to identify, promote, and implement evidence-based interventions that can simultaneously address underweight and overweight/obesity among reproductive age women in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) and diarrhoea are the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia. Understanding the associations between infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and ARI and diarrhoea can inform IYCF policy interventions and advocacy in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between IYCF practices and ARI and diarrhoea in Ethiopian children. Methods: This study used the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data for the years 2000 (n = 3680), 2005 (n = 3528), 2011 (n = 4037), and 2016 (n = 3861). The association between IYCF practices and (i) ARI and (ii) diarrhoea were investigated using propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression models. The IYCF practices include early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), predominant breastfeeding, introduction of complementary foods, continued breastfeeding at two years and bottle feeding. Results: Infants and young children who were breastfed within 1-hour of birth and those who were exclusively breastfed had a lower prevalence of ARI. Infants who were exclusively and predominantly breastfed had a lower prevalence of diarrhoea. Early initiation of breastfeeding (Odds ratio [OR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72, 0.92) and EBF (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.83) were associated with lower risk of ARI. Bottle-fed children had higher odds of ARI (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.68). Early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF were associated with lower odds of diarrhoea (OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.94 for Early initiation of breastfeeding and OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.65 for EBF). Infants who were predominantly breastfed were less likely to experience diarrhoea (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.89). Conclusion: The recommended best practices for preventing ARI and diarrhoeal diseases in infants and young children namely: the early initiation of breastfeeding, EBF and avoidance of bottle feeding should be institutionalized and scale-up in Ethiopia as part of implementation science approach to cover the know-do-gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]