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Background: Globally, stunting is a public health concern, more of in developing counties, including Ethiopia. Once occurred, in the first two years of life, it is irreversible and has long-lasting harmful consequences. Exploring the determinants has pivotal importance for evidence-based interventions. Therefore, the rationale of this study was to identify determinants of stunting among children aged 6-23 months in the pastoralist community, Afar region, Ethiopia. Method: A community-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 381 (cases=126, controls 255) study participants from February 15/2017 to March 30/2017. Cases and controls were identified consecutively using the world health organization growth monitoring chart. Data was collected by interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05 in the final multivariable logistic regression model. Result: Maternal education (AOR:0.34, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.77), maternal under-nutrition (AOR:2.91, 95% CI:1.51, 5.60), number of under-five children within the household (AOR:2.66, 95% CI: 1.38, 5.10), latrine ownership (AOR:0.28, 95% CI:0.15, 0.55), minimum Dietary Diversity score of children (AOR:0.41, 95% CI:0.22, 0.75), child age (AOR:1.76, 95% CI:1.01, 3.09), colostrum intake (AOR:3.03, 95%CI:1.62, 5.66), and exclusively breastfeed for the first six months (AOR:3.20, 95% CI:1.72,5.95) were found to be determinants of stunting. Conclusion: This study found that determinants of childhood stunting are multifactorial. Maternal, household and childrelated characteristics are associated with childhood stunting. Therefore, to improve childhood nutritional status, intersectoral collaboration and commitment are vital.

Background: Inappropriate practice of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is still a major problem worldwide.Objective: To identify exclusive breastfeeding practice and its associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Woldia Town.Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was carried out.Interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized to collect the data. The questionnaire was adapted from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. Hosmer-Lemeshowmodel was fitted at a P-value of 0.91. Finally, Variables having P-Value

Background. Glycemic control is the level of glucose in diabetes patient. Evidence regarding glycemic control is scarce in resource-limited settings, and this study was conducted to generate information regarding the prevalence and predictors of glycemic control among diabetes mellitus patients attending their care from the referral hospitals of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was implemented. A simple random sampling technique was used. Data were collected from March 2018 to January 2020. The data were collected using interviews, chart review, and blood samples. Hemoglobin A1c was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Data were entered into Epi-info software and analyzed by SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of glycemic control; linear regression was used to identify the predictors of HbA1c. Results. A total of 2554 diabetes patients were included giving for the response rate of 95.83%. The mean age of the study participants was 54.08 years [SD standard deviation±8.38 years]. The mean HbA1c of the study participants was 7.31% [SD±0.94%]. Glycemic control was poor in 55.32% [95% CI: 53.4%-57.25%] of diabetes patients. The glycemic control of diabetes patients was determined by BMI (β 0.1; [95% CI: 0.09-0.1]), type 2 diabetes (β -0.14; [95% CI: -0.11-0.16]), age (β 0.22; [95% CI: 0.02-0.024]), duration of the disease (β 0.04; [95% CI: 0.037-0.042]), the presence of hypertension (β 0.12; [95% CI:0.09–0.16]), regular physical exercise (β -0.06; [95% CI: -0.03-0.09]), medication adherence (β -0.16; [95% CI: -0.14-0.18]), and male (β 0.34; [95% CI: 0.31-.037]). Conclusion. The glycemic control of diabetes patients was poor, and it needs the attention of decision-makers.

Background While lactation is a physiological process requiring high energy demand to fulfill the nutrient requirements of the mother and the breastfeeding child, many factors affecting maternal nutrient intake can lead to nutritional deficits. Previous studies in Ethiopia have reported the prevalence of maternal and child undernutrition and related complications. However, qualitative studies exploring potential barriers to utilizing available nutrition interventions are limited. This study, therefore, sought to qualitatively explore barriers hindering the uptake of nutrition services among lactating mothers from rural communities in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Methods We conducted 6 in-depth interviews, 70 key informant interviews, and 13 focus group discussions among purposively selected community groups, experts, and lactating mothers between November- 2017 and January- 2018. Audio records of all interviews and focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim (word-to-word) and translated into English. Then, translated data were analyzed thematically using qualitative data analysis software Atlas ti-version 7.4. Results The participants in this study perceived that lactating mothers in their study area are not properly utilizing available and recommended nutrition interventions, and as a result, their nutrient intake was reported as inadequate. Participants identified inadequate accessibility and availability of foods, feeding practices, cultural and religious influences, focus on agricultural production and productivity, barriers related to health services and poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene as major barriers hindering the uptake of nutrition interventions by lactating women in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Conclusion The uptake of nutrition intervention services was low among lactating mothers and was hindered by multiple socio-cultural and health service related factors requiring problem-specific interventions at community, health facility, and administrative levels to improve the nutritional status of lactating mothers in the study area.

Background : Low Birth Weight is a public health problem in Ethiopian. This study aimed to identify its determinant factors in Mekelle Zone, northern Ethiopia. Methods : Case control study design was employed on randomly selected 464 newborn. Baby measuring scale was used to weighing the newborn. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the determinants factors, P < 0.05 and 95 % confidence level by using SPSS version 20 statistical software. Results : Maternal age

Background. Psychiatric illnesses involve alterations in the brain or nervous system function and result in altered perception, responses to the environment, and daily functioning, which ultimately diminish the capacity to cope with the regular demands of life, including nutritional intake. Little is known about nutritional status in psychiatric patients in our setup, particularly in northeast Ethiopia. Thus, this study is aimed at assessing the nutritional status and associated factors among adult psychiatric patients in Dessie referral hospital, northeast Ethiopia. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among 530 psychiatric patients using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements were taken from April 10 to June 20, 2018. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify the associated factors with the nutritional status of adult psychiatric patients. Results. The study revealed that the proportion of undernutrition and overnutrition was 20.0% (95% CI: 16.80-23.60) and 23.4% (95% CI: 19.80-27.00), respectively. Being male (AOR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.28-4.47), private employed (AOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.31), and not consuming alcohol (AOR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.56-0.74) were factors associated with undernutrition. Whereas not involved in physical activity (AOR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.37-6.49), being newly diagnosed patient (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.01-3.42), and not chewing Khat (AOR: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.63-9.42) were factors associated with overnutrition of adult psychiatric patients. Conclusion. The proportion of both undernutrition and overnutrition was above the national average. Notably, nutrition significantly affects the production and use of neurotransmitters, and this may result in significant effects on physical, mental, or emotional processes. This undoubtedly affects the stabilization processes of neuropsychiatric patients. Therefore, healthcare managers, supervisors, and policymakers identify those vulnerable groups early and thereby design effective nutritional strategies to intervene in malnutrition among adult patients with a psychiatric disorder.

IntroductionIn 2014, 159 million under 5 year-old children were stunted (suffered chronic undernutrition) worldwide. Identifying risk factors for stunting among 6 to 24 month-age children in Mekelle City is important for evidence-based interventions.MethodCase-Control study design was undertaken in 330 children, from January to February 2016. World Health Organization (WHO) anthropometric software and statistical package for social sciences version 20 were used for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was applied.ResultThe following were identified as risk factors for stunting: mother's lack of formal education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 6.4)), mother height less than 150cm (AOR = 4.2), mother with a body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2 (AOR = 3.8), childbirth weight less than 2.5kg (AOR = 5.3), household with two and above under-five children (AOR = 2.9), a WHO diet diversity score < 4 (AOR = 3.2) and repeated diarrheal episodes (AOR = 5.3).ConclusionThe factors associated with stunting among children aged 6 to 24 months are no formal education in mother, mother height less than 150cm, low BMI of the mother, low birth weight, low WHO DDS, number of under 5 children in the household and repeated diarrheal episodes. Nutritional interventions should give emphasis to maternal education, maternal nutrition, childbirth weight, family size, diet diversity, and diarrheal diseases.

Introduction Anemia affects around 38.2% and 22% of pregnant women at a global and national level respectively. In developing countries, women start pregnancy with already depleted body stores of iron and other vitamins with significant variation of anemia within and between regions. Objective To identify the determinants of anemia among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Dessie town health facilities, northern central Ethiopia. Methods A health facility based unmatched case control study was conducted among 112 cases and 336 controls from January to March 2016 G.C. The sample size was determined by using Epi Info version 7.1.5.2. Study subjects were selected using consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, entered using Epi Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used to see the determinants of anemia. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value

Background: Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in adolescent girls from the developing world. One of the recommended interventions to improve iron status in adolescent girls is iron supplementation. Yet the provision of iron supplements to adolescent girls proved to be a challenging task for the health systems across the developing world. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine means of reaching adolescent girls for iron supplementation in Northern Ethiopia. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study consisting of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis was used in this study. Stratified multi-stage systematic random sampling technique was adopted and primary quantitative data were collected from 828 (578 school attending and 250 non school attending) adolescent girls recruited from nine districts of Tigray. The primary quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. The qualitative data collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim and qualitatively analyzed. Results: The mean (SD) age of the girls was 16.7 (1.4) years. Four hundred forty seven (54%), 355 (42.9%) and 26 (3.1%) of the adolescent girls had low, medium and high diet diversity scores, respectively. More than half, 467 (56%), of the adolescent girls believed that adolescent girls were overloaded with household jobs everyday compared to boys from their respective communities. Key informants said that, there is no adolescent nutrition message promoted in the study area. Low community awareness, perceiving iron tablet as a contraceptive, religious and cultural influences, and lack of confidence in supplementation value of iron tablets, are some of the potential barriers mentioned by the key informant and focus group discussion participants. Schools (45%), health centers (27%) and health posts (26%) were the preferred public facilities for provision of iron supplements to student adolescent girls whereas schools (11%), health centers (47%) and health posts (41%) were the preferred public facilities for provision of iron supplements to adolescent girls who were not attending schools from the study communities. Conclusion: The health posts and health centers were the preferred health facilities for iron supplementation to adolescent girls who were not attending schools while the school was the preferred facility for iron supplementation of student adolescent girls.

Introduction: Night blindness is significant public health problem among pregnant women in Ethiopia and estimated to be more severe in rural areas. However; there is insufficient information about the magnitude of night blindness among pregnant women’s of rural Ethiopia. The same is true in the study region. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of night blindness among pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was employed in February 2013 among selected 323 pregnant women’s. Two stage cluster sampling was employed; in the first stage seven kebeles were selected randomly, in the second stage study subjects were selected with considering probability proportional to population size (PPS). A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection based on the objective of the study. The data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. Bivariate & multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with night blindness at confidence limits of 95% and P-value less than 5% significant. Frequencies, proportion, summary statistics were used for presenting the result of the study. Results: out of 323 pregnant women 56 (17%) were suffered from night blindness. Pregnant women’s age beyond 35 years were 4.9 times more likely to be night blinded than those with age less than 25 years [AOR=4.9; 95% CI: (1.6-14.9)]. Pregnant women’s income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month were 2 times more likely to be night blinded than those who can earn more than that [AOR=2.0; 95% CI:(1.02-3.9)]. Pregnant women’s didn’t have own cattle were 5.6 times more likely to be night blinded than those who have cattle [AOR=5.6; 95% CI: (2.9, 11.0)]. Pregnant women’s with no hand washing practice after toilet were 3 times more likely to be night blinded than having hand washing practice after toilet [AOR=3.0; 95% CI:(1.3 -7.1)]. Conclusion: Night blindness is a serious public health problem of pregnant women’s. Pregnant Women’s age greater than 35 years, not having cattle, no hand washing practice after toilet and income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month, were significantly affected by night blindness.

The aim of this study was to Assess and compare nutritional status and associated factors of 6 to 59 months old children from food secure and food insecure households in rural Kebeles of Saesie Tsaeda Emba district, Tigray, North Ethiopia. As a result, a comparative, cross sectional study was conducted on 841 children (421 from food secure and 420 from food insecure households) from February to March, 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select Children from each kebele. Anthropometric measurements were entered and calculated using ENA for SMART 2007software then transferred to SPSS version 20 to be processed and analyzed. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors of under nutrition at significance level p-value < 0.05. About (46.1%, 52.1%), (18.1%, 20.5%), and 7.1%, 12.6%) of the children from the food secure and food insecure kebelles were stunted, underweight and wasted respectively. Occupation of father, head of family, and duration of continued breast feeding were the factors associated with stunting in food secure households. Whereas age of the child, head of family, and duration of continued breast feeding were determinant factors for stunting in children from the food insecure households. Similarly, educational status of father, sex of the child, and current breast feeding status of the child were the factors associated with underweight for children from food secure households and age of mother, occupational status of father, sex of child, 1st complementary food given to the child, and main source of water to the household were the main predictors of underweight in the food insecure households. The factors associated with child wasting in the food secure households were age of the father and number of cattle owned by the household and age of child and main source of water to the household were the factors associated with child wasting from the food insecure households. Finally, under nutrition among under-five years of age children was very high in the population. Therefore, addressing food security and then nutrition security using the productive safety net program in harmony with participation of all responsible bodies is crucial; as children of the food secure households were at better nutritional outcomes when compared to those of food insecure households.

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and maturation in human development, and that extra nutrients are needed to support their growth spurt. Adolescence is commonly regarded as a relatively healthy period of the life cycle. Indeed, adolescents are possibly less vulnerable to infection than they were at a younger age. This may contribute to their being neglected, And the reason for focusing on adolescents’ nutritional status is this period of life is a unique opportunity to break a range of vicious cycles of problems caused by malnutrition can be passed from one generation to the next. So this study aims to assess adolescent nutritional status and associated factors in secondary and preparatory school students of Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted in February 2013. Six schools were selected randomly from the total 23 and then 572 adolescents were selected using systematic random sampling. Data related socio-demographic and other determinants of adolescent nutritional status were collected using self administered questionnaire but, anthropometric measurements were conducted by trained data collectors. WHO Anthro-plus software was used to analyze Anthropometric measurements and Nutritional statuses of adolescents were determined using the CDC cut of point body mass index for age. Finally Biavriate and multivariate analyses were done to determine factors affecting the nutritional statues of adolescents. A total of 555 adolescents were participated with a response rate of 97%. The overall prevalence of wasting (thinness), overweight and obesity were 37.8%, 2%, and 0.4% respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done, being male at AOR 2.322 and 95% CI 1.58-3.39, adolescent’s father education AOR 2.43 and 95% CI 1.23-4.78, adolescents who works besides education at AOR 1.94 and 95% CI 1.071-2.371, respondents who consumed food contain pulse, legumes and lentils at AOR.635 and 95% CI .435-.925 were significantly associated with thinness. In general more than one third of schools going adolescents are thinner but, the prevalence of over nutrition is very low. Being male, father education, work beside education and consuming food containing pulse, legumes and Lentils are factors determine adolescent thinness. Based on the finding; there must be intersectoral collaboration among health sectors and education sectors to address adolescent nutrition problems, intervening nutrition related education and assessments targeting male adolescents in schools and community.

Introduction: Anemia among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia is moderate public health problem. However, the prevalence of anemia among school going adolescent girls is not well documented yet. Objective: To determine the magnitude of anemia and associated factors among school going adolescent girls in Berahle district, Afar, northeast Ethiopia. Methodology: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed. Multi-stage sampling technique was used: In first stage schools were selected randomly, in the second stage in the selected schools, 338 school going adolescent girls (age 14-19 years old) were selected systematically. Structured questionnaires was used to collect Socio-demographic, socio-economic, dietary pattern and frequency of study participants. After collecting the Blood sample, Hemocue haemoglobin spectrophotometer (Hemocue HB 301 analyzer) was used to analysis hemoglobin concentration. SPSS version16.1 statistical software was used to enter and analysis the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to test association among dependant and independent variables. For all statistical tests, significance level was set at p-value of 0.05 and confidence interval of 95%. Result: Around one-fourth (22.8%) of school going adolescent girls were anemic. Low Scio Economic States, AOR 2.8 (CI: 1.1, 3.7), not consuming egg AOR 2.4 (CI: 1.3, 4.3), milk consumption AOR 7.2(CI: 2.9, 17.6), not consumption of vegetables AOR 2.5 (CI: 1.3, 4.9) and meat AOR 2.4 (CI: 1.24, 4.67) were the significant causes for aneamia. Conclusion: Anemia among school going adolescent girls was moderate public health problem and Low Scio-economic States, low consumption of egg, meat and other vegetables and high consumption of milk were the significant causes for anemia.