Search

Fekadu Yadassa,1 Gurmesa Tura Debelew,2 Zewdie Birhanu3 1Department of Population and Family Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2Department of Population and Family, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 3Department of Health Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Fekadu Yadassa, Jimma University, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, Jimma, Ethiopia, Tel +251 912050454, Email fekadutesso@gmail.com; fekadu.yadassa@ju.edu.etBackground: Individuals with accurate knowledge that goes beyond knowing a few contraceptive methods, such as knowledge of fertility, benefits, and contraceptive side effects, are more likely to use and less likely to discontinue using family planning.Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of family planning education on knowledge, attitude, and practice towards family planning among married couples in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was done on 766 married couples sampled using a random sampling technique and analyzed using SPSS 23.0. The significance of differences in mean knowledge and attitude between control and experimental couples was measured using the non-parametric 2-independent sample analysis (P < 0.05).Results: The comparison of knowledge score means and significance of their differences between control and experimental women was found to be significant at the posttest (P = 0.001; r = 0.045). Similarly, the experimental men’s knowledge score means and their difference was significant at posttest (P = 0.001, r = 0.26). With respect to a comparison of mean score of attitude and the significance of their difference between control and experimental women at posttest was significant with (P < 0.001; r = 0.13). Similarly, the comparison of the male partners in the control and experimental groups was significant at posttest (P = 0.001; r = 0.12). At the posttest, the proportion of experimental couples using each contraceptive method relatively increased, with a shift to relatively effective ones. Two hundred and ninety five (77.6%) of the control and 318 (83.5%) of the experimental men reported supporting their wives in the use of contraceptives, showing more improvement among the experimental men than the control group.Conclusion: Along with routine counseling, a well-structured behavioral model-based family planning education is required for effective and continuous use of contraceptives.Keywords: knowledge, attitude, education, contraceptives, couples, IMB model

Zeritu Dewana Derbo,1 Gurmesa Tura Debelew2 1Department of Midwifery, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 2Department of Population and Family Health, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Zeritu Dewana Derbo, Email dewanazeritu@gmail.comPurpose: Anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy, significantly impacts maternal health, fetal growth, and development. Moringa leaf is an iron-rich food that can overcome anemia, but there is a lack of evidence on the association between fresh moringa leaf consumption and maternal hemoglobin level during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to test the effect of fresh moringa leaf consumption during pregnancy on maternal hemoglobin levels in southern Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2022 among 230 fresh moringa leaf consumers and 230 non-consumers pregnant women. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and hemoglobin level was determined by HemoCue Hb 301. Multivariate multilevel linear regression models were fitted using Statistical Software for Data Science (STATA) version 14.Results: The overall mean hemoglobin level among pregnant women was 11.76 g/dl ± 1.47 [12.06 g/dl ± 1.22 among fresh moringa leaf consumers and 11.45 g/dl ± 1.64 among non-consumers] with a significant coefficient of association (β) of 0.90 g/dl [β = 0.90 g/dl, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.27]. A number of under-five children, bleeding during the current pregnancy, male-headed household, and current antenatal care visit were the individual-level factors. Distance from the nearest health facility and urban dweller was identified as the community-level factor associated with maternal hemoglobin level during pregnancy.Conclusion: This study showed that the consumption of fresh moringa leaf during pregnancy increases the level of hemoglobin. So policymakers and maternal and child health program managers need to target moringa tree scale-up and encourage fresh moringa leaf consumption during pregnancy, but its use needs additional rigorous clinical trials. In addition to this, mark the above factors in their efforts to increase maternal hemoglobin levels during pregnancy.Keywords: fresh moringa leaf consumption, hemoglobin level, pregnant women, Southern Ethiopia

Dawit Alemu, Tujuba Diribsa, Gurmesa Tura Debelew Department of Population and Family Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tujuba Diribsa, Department of Population and Family Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia, Tel +251 925270679, Email tujubadiribsa@gmail.com; tujuba.benti@ju.edu.etBackground: Currently, COVID-19 disease is a major public health issue that affects a large number of people worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the best preventative measures. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 pandemic cannot be stopped if people are reluctant to use this vaccine. However, the extent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and related variables among adolescents are not well understood.Objectives: To assess the magnitude of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among adolescents in Seka Chekorsa town, Jimma, Ethiopia.Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questions. Data collected was checked for completeness and entered into EPI data version 3.1. Finally, data were exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. The bivariate analysis was used to identify variables eligible for multivariate logistic regressions. In a multivariable analysis to identify factors that have statistically significant association, a p value less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used. The qualitative data were triangulated with quantitative data.Results: In this study, 379 adolescents were participated, yielding a response rate of 95.2%. The magnitude of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents was 29% (95% CI: 24.3– 33.5%). Being female (AOR = 1.89, 95%, 1.81– 3.56), primary education (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.26– 3.56), source information from social media (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.06– 5.57), poor knowledge about COVID-19 disease (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.66– 6.12), unfavorable attitude (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 2.76– 9.79) and poor knowledge towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 5.66, 95% CI, 2.91– 11.0) were associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents.Conclusion: This study shows that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents is very high. Being female, poor knowledge towards COVID-19 disease and the vaccine, an unfavorable attitude and social media were factors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.Keywords: COVID-19 disease, adolescent, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

Selamawit Getachew,1 Gurmesa Tura Debelew,2 Misra Abdullahi2 1Department of Public Health, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia; 2Department of Population and Family Health, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Selamawit Getachew, Department of Public Health, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia, Email selamgetachew900@gmail.comBackground: Globally, women with disabilities have two times higher chance of suffering from violence compared to their non-disabled peers due to double discrimination. However, there is little evidence that quantifies the situation in this segment of the population by considering disability-related factors which make this group more vulnerable to gender-based violence in Ethiopia.Objective: To assess the prevalence of gender-based violence and its associated factors among women with disabilities in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia, 2020.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 308 women with disabilities. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with gender-based violence. The significance of the association was decided by using the 95% confidence interval of AOR at a p-value of < 0.05 in the multivariable analysis.Results: The lifetime prevalence of gender-based violence among women with disabilities was found to be 73.1, while 46.1% had experienced it during the last 12 months. Gender-based violence in the past 12 months was significantly associated with non-schooling (AOR=5.10; 95% CI, 1.51, 17.14), being in age group of 20– 34 (AOR=3.5; 95% CI, 1.74, 7.30), having visual impairment (AOR=3.1; 95% CI, 1.27, 7.54), having hearing impairment (AOR=3.0; 95% CI, 1.36, 6.89), alcohol use behavior (AOR=4.1; 95% CI, 1.74, 9.55), and perceived stigma and discrimination (AOR=4.2; 95% CI, 2.44, 7.39).Conclusion: Prevalence of gender-based violence among women with disabilities was found to be high in the study area. Educational status, age, type of disability, alcohol use behavior, and perceived stigma and discrimination were independent predictors of gender-based violence. Measures have to be taken to curb the problem by taking integrated interventions like enrolling girls in school and targeted health education towards identified factors by considering the heterogeneity of disabilities.Keywords: gender-based violence, violence against women, disability, southwest Ethiopia

Amanu Aragaw Emiru,1 Getu Degu Alene,2 Gurmesa Tura Debelew3 1Department of Reproductive Health and Population Studies, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir, Ethiopia; 3Department of Population and Family Health, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Amanu Aragaw EmiruDepartment of Reproductive Health and Population Studies, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box: 79, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaTel +251 918780295Email amanuaragaw@yahoo.comBackground: Early antenatal visit is critical for the health and well-being of mothers and babies. However, various individual, family level, and contextual factors influence the timely initiation of antenatal care.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine individual, household, and community-level factors associated with the timing of first ANC visit among mothers who gave birth in the last twelve months before the survey.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2018. A multistage cluster sampling technique was applied, and a sample of 898 women was considered. Data were collected using a questionnaire and checklist. The analysis was made using SPSS. A multilevel logistic regression with random effects at the kebele level was developed to assess the predictors of late initiation of antenatal care. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was used to measure association while the intra-class correlation coefficient and the median odds ratio were used to measure variations.Results: Overall, 78.4% (95% CI: 75.6, 80.9) of women started their first ANC in 4 months of gestation or later and significant heterogeneity was observed between clusters. At level 1, women with intended pregnancy (aOR=0.31; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.79), and being knowledgeable about the timing (aOR=0.43; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.75) and pregnancy-related complications (aOR=0.16; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.26) were less likely to delay their first ANC visit. Conversely, the odds of late ANC visit was higher among women with no formal education (aOR=4.08, 95% CI: 2.20, 7.55). Distance to the health facility (aOR=1.04; 95% CI, 1.01– 1.08) was the only level-2 significant predictor.Conclusion: The study revealed that late ANC initiation was rampant. Several factors operating at different levels were associated with late ANC visits; yet, the role of individual-level factors was relatively stronger. Hence, awareness creation is essential to the underprivileged community using the available communication networks.Keywords: antenatal care, timing, delay, late, multilevel