Food Insecurity and Mental Distress among Mothers in Rural Tigray and SNNP Regions, Ethiopia

Access to safe and adequate food is a basic human right under Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Globally, more than 870 million people consume less calories than they require, which can lead to disabling physical and mental health outcomes. This study was designed to investigate the association between household food insecurity and mental distress among mothers in the Tigray and SNNP regions of Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional survey was completed on a total of 2,992 households. A linear multiple regression model was used to study the association between food insecurity and mental distress. More than half of the study participants, 57.9%, were experiencing food insecurity. The prevalence of mental distress among the mothers was 39%. Food insecurity was significantly associated with mental distress after controlling for socioeconomic covariates. Integrating screening and management of mental distress would result in a better health status of the mothers and those under their care.

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Community knowledge of and attitudes to palliative care: A descriptive study

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216319888371 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 245-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anna Collins ◽

Sue-Anne McLachlan ◽

Jennifer Philip

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Quality Care ◽

Multiple Regression Model ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Community Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Engagement Strategies ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

English Speaking

Background: Palliative care is predominantly accessed late in the course of an illness, despite evidence to suggest the benefits of early engagement. Strategies are required to reduce the barriers to the delivery of palliative care. Aim: To describe community understandings of and attitudes to palliative care and explore characteristics significantly associated with favourable attitudes towards palliative care. Design: Cross-sectional survey data were collected including several sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of palliative care and attitudes to palliative care. Correlational analyses identified factors related to positive attitudes to palliative care. Those of significance ( p ⩽ 0.01) were examined using a multiple regression model to determine their predictive value. Setting/participants: A community-based sample of consecutive English-speaking adults who volunteered their participation in response to a study advertisement distributed online through established community groups. Results: A total of 421 participants (75% female, mean age: 51 ± 15.1) reported a median of at least three misperceptions of palliative care. Older age, previously undertaking a caregiving role, knowing someone who had received palliative care and reporting more accurate knowledge of palliative care significantly predicted favourable attitudes to palliative care (adjusted R2 = 0.24, F(8, 333) = 13.2, p < 0.001). Other factors typically associated with health literacy such as tertiary education, working at a medical facility and speaking a language other than English at home were not predictive. Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge about palliative care exist in community, which may limit citizen’s potential access to quality care in the event of serious illness. These results point to a role for public education programmes, which may, in turn, also shift attitudes to palliative care.

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Covid-19: come la pandemia ha aumentato la food insecurity e alterato il regime alimentare nelle famiglie italiane

Medico e Bambino ◽

10.53126/meb40315 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

pp. 315-320

Author(s):

Arianna Dondi ◽

Egidio Candela ◽

Francesca Morigi ◽

Jacopo Lenzi ◽

Marcello Lanari

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Social Protection ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Paediatric Population ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Containment Measures

Background - The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and subsequent containment measures are causing a worldwide increase in food insecurity (FI). Food insecurity has been related to a number of negative health implications, particularly for the most vulnerable population, including children and adolescents. Aim - To investigate the effects on FI during the lockdown in Italy and the changes in eating habits and body weight in the paediatric population 6 months after the beginning of the pandemic. Materials and Methods - An online anonymous cross-sectional survey was elaborated and proposed to the parents of children < 18 years old. Results - 8.3% reported that their families were at risk of FI before the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This percentage dramatically doubled after the pandemic began. Moreover, 27.3% of the parents reported that their children were eating more, with a concomitant increase in “junk food” consumption. About one third of respondents declared an increase in children’s weight, while weight loss were uncommon and prevailed among adolescents. It was observed that parents’ higher age, higher parents’ school grade and working parents were protective factors against FI. Conclusion - Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is requiring restrictions again, it is crucial that health care and social protection programmes take into account concepts of equity and sustainability to ensure adequate food and nutrition security for everyone.

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Mass Media Influence on Changing Healthy Lifestyle of Community People During COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/10105395211011030 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101053952110110

Author(s):

Md. Nazrul Islam ◽

Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam ◽

Md. Sajjat Hossain ◽

Md. Tabiur Rahman Prodhan ◽

Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Media ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Principal Component ◽

Multiple Regression Model ◽

Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽

Media Influence ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mass Media Influence ◽

Stepwise Multiple Regression Model

We aimed to assess mass media influence on changing the healthy lifestyle behavior of people during the early phase of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Principal component analysis and stepwise multiple regression model showed that knowledge level, media credibility, and media check-in had the most considerable contribution to influencing community people’s healthy lifestyle.

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Low prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among children aged 1–9 years in rural communities of Metema District, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Italian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s13052-021-01064-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kessete Ayelgn ◽

Tadesse Guadu ◽

Atalay Getachew

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Northwest Ethiopia ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Community Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Active Trachoma ◽

Study Participants

Abstract Background Trachoma is an infectious disease of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and transmitted via contact with eye discharge from infected persons and leading to blindness worldwide. Children less than 9 years of age affected more seriously. The disease is common where access to water and sanitation are limited. Objective To determine the prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among children aged 1–9 years in rural communities of Metema District, West Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Method A community based cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 792 children aged 1–9 years old in Metema district from April to May 2018. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and eye examination using binocular loupe to differentiate trachoma cases was the data collection methods and tools. The bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression model was employed for analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance. Results A total of 752 children aged l-9 years were enrolled in this study with response rate of 94.9%. The overall prevalence of active trachoma among the study participants was 11.8% (95% CI, 9.5–13.9). Unprotected source of water (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI: 2.5–8.9), lower household water consumption (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.3–6.0), improper latrine utilization (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5–6.7), and frequency of face washing once per day (AOR = 5.3; 95% CI: 1.2–26.6) were the factors significantly associated with active trachoma. Conclusion The current study revealed a lower overall prevalence of active trachoma (11.8%) than the WHO threshold prevalence (20%) used to declare it as a severe public health problem. All residents and health professional should collaborate on trachoma prevention by implementing the WHO SAFE strategy- surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement for further trachoma elimination.

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Acute food insecurity and short-term coping strategies of urban and rural households of Bangladesh during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic of 2020: report of a cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043365 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e043365

Author(s):

Subhasish Das ◽

Md. Golam Rasul ◽

Md Shabab Hossain ◽

Ar-Rafi Khan ◽

Md Ashraful Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Rural Households ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food Insecure Households

IntroductionWe conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the extent and to identify the determinants of food insecurity and coping strategies in urban and rural households of Bangladesh during the month-long, COVID-19 lockdown period.SettingSelected urban and rural areas of Bangladesh.Participants106 urban and 106 rural households.Outcome variables and methodHousehold food insecurity status and the types of coping strategies were the outcome variables for the analyses. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were done to identify the determinants.ResultsWe found that around 90% of the households were suffering from different grades of food insecurity. Severe food insecurity was higher in urban (42%) than rural (15%) households. The rural households with mild/moderate food insecurity adopted either financial (27%) or both financial and food compromised (32%) coping strategies, but 61% of urban mild/moderate food insecure households applied both forms of coping strategies. Similarly, nearly 90% of severely food insecure households implemented both types of coping strategies. Living in poorest households was significantly associated (p value <0.05) with mild/moderate (regression coefficient, β: 15.13, 95% CI 14.43 to 15.82), and severe food insecurity (β: 16.28, 95% CI 15.58 to 16.97). The statistically significant (p <0.05) determinants of both food compromised and financial coping strategies were living in urban areas (β: 1.8, 95% CI 0.44 to 3.09), living in poorest (β: 2.7, 95% CI 1 to 4.45), poorer (β: 2.6, 95% CI 0.75 to 4.4) and even in the richer (β: 1.6, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.9) households and age of the respondent (β: 0.1, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.21).ConclusionBoth urban and rural households suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity during the month-long lockdown period in Bangladesh. But, poorest, poorer and even the richer households adopted different coping strategies that might result in long-term economic and nutritional consequences.

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