Determinants of Rural Women’s Nutrition Security Status in Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Nutrition security of women is one of the most vital foundations for overall development and wellbeing of society. Since understanding the factors that influence the nutrition security of women is very important for implementing appropriate interventions, this study was conducted to determine the determinants of the nutrition security status of rural women in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Survey data were collected from 197 rural women randomly selected using a two-stage sampling method (Cluster sampling in the first stage and Stratified random sampling in the second stage). Data in the two outcomes (nutritionally secured whose BMI ≥ 18.5, and nutritionally insecure whose BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) were analyzed using Binary Logit regression model to determine the significance of the determinants on women’s nutrition security status. Results: The study showed that 72.6% of the women in the study area were nutritionally insecure. Results of the statistical analysis revealed that family size (negative effect), and women’s daily feed frequency, the consumption of milk, fruits and vegetables, and animal products, and women empowerment (all positive effect) were the significant determinants of the nutrition security status of rural women. The weight, the height, and the BMI of nutritionally insecure women (44 kg, 1.45 m, and 15.8 kg/m2, respectively) were significantly lower than those of nutritionally secured women (50.8 kg, 1.55 m, and 21.1 kg/m2, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first study on the determinants of rural women’s nutrition security status using social and demographic data collected at the grass root level and analyzed using an advanced econometric model. The findings of the study show the need for government and other stakeholders’ interventions to increase access to nutritious food products and to provide trainings on feeding culture and dietary diversity to women. The findings of this study can help the Government of Ethiopia to achieve its National Development Priorities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UN, particularly Goals 2, 3 and 5.

Patients’ satisfaction with outpatient pharmacy services and associated factors in Debre Tabor comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Introduction By measuring patients’ satisfaction, providers can gain insight into several elements of health care services, including the effectiveness of their care and the level of empathy they exhibit. The aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services and associated factors in public hospitals located in Northwestern Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study was used. The study was carried out in an outpatient pharmacy from January 1–June 30, 2021. Participants were selected by a systematic sampling technique. The IBM SPSS statistical package (version 23) was used to enter and analyze the collected data. The findings were presented using descriptive statistical methods. To find factors linked to satisfaction, binary logistic regression was used. Results The final analysis included a total of 401 samples. More than half of the participants (229, or 55.1%) were female. The overall mean score of satisfaction was 30.6 out of a maximum of 100 scores. By taking this mean score as a cut-off point, 204 (50.9%) of the study participants had satisfaction with the outpatient pharmacists’ service. Participants’ responses scored on the uncomfortable and inconvenient waiting areas [AOR = 0.31; 95%CI, (0.13, 0.49)] were found to be negatively associated with the level of patients’ satisfaction. Also, the unavailability of medications [AOR = 0.12; 95%CI, (0.02, 0.37)] was negatively associated with the respondent satisfaction. Uncomfortable and inconvenient private counseling areas [AOR = 1.37; 95%CI, (0.79, 4.42)] showed a negative association with their satisfaction. Conclusion Patients’ satisfaction levels with pharmacy service were found to be greater than 50%. The socio-demographic characteristics of patients have no association with their level of satisfaction, but their perception of uncomfortable private counseling areas and waiting areas was negatively associated with their satisfaction.

Magnitude of optimal adherence and predictors for a low level of adherence among HIV/AIDS-infected adults in South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a multifacility cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aims to identify levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs and factors associated with them in Northwest Ethiopia. We hypothesise that in the era of COVID-19, there would be suboptimal adherence to ART drugs.DesignAn observational cross-sectional study was conducted. Factors associated with the level of adherence were selected for multiple logistic regressions at a p value of less than 0.2 in the analysis. Statistically significant associated factors were identified at a p value less than 0.05 and adjusted OR with a 95% CI.SettingThe study was conducted in one specialised hospital and three district hospitals found in the South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia.ParticipantsAbout 432 people living with HIV/AIDS receiving highly active ART in South Gondar zone public hospitals and who have been on treatment for more than a 3-month period participated in the study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresLevels of adherence to ART drugs and their associated factors.ResultsAmong 432 study participants, 81.5% (95% CI: 78% to 85.2%) of participants were optimally adherent to ART drugs. Determinants of a low level of adherence: stigma or discrimination (OR=0.4, p=0.016), missed scheduled clinical visit (OR=0.45, p=0.034), being on tuberculosis treatment (OR=0.45, p=0.01), recent CD4 cell count less than 500 cells/mm3 (OR=0.3, p=0.023) and patients who had been on WHO clinical stage III at the time of ART initiation (OR=0.24, p=0.027) were factors significantly associated with adherence to ART drugs.ConclusionsLevel of adherence was relatively low compared with some local studies. The intervention targeted to reduce discrimination, counselling before initiation of treatment and awareness regarding compliance is advised to improve adherence to antiretroviral regimens.

Determinants of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in West Belessa District, Northwest Ethiopia

Background: The world is now suffering from malnutrition and remains one of the leading causes of death for under 5 children. Children from developing countries, including Ethiopia also suffer from undernutrition due to suboptimal breastfeeding practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the EIBF practices and determinants among children aged less than 24 months in West Belessa district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2 to February 28, 2019 in the West Belessa district. A total of 569 mother-children pairs were participated in the study. Study particnapants were selected by using simple random sampling technique. The data were collected by an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed by using Epi-Info version 7 and SPPS version 20, respectively. Bi-variable and Multivariable logistic regression analysis were done. Odds ratio with 95% confidence was done to determine the level of significance value less than .05 considered as significant with the outcome variable. Result: The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) was found to be 77.7 % (95%CI, 74.3-81.0). Age of the mother (AOR = 2.76, 95%CI [1.21, 6.27]), antenatal care (ANC) (AOR = 3.79, 95%CI [2.58, 9.94]), and number of antenatal care visit (AOR = 1.85, 95%CI [1.03, 3.85]) were significantly associated with early initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study, more than three fourth of children were received early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour after delivery. Age of the mother, antenatal, and number of antenatal care were associated with EIBF. Therefore, during this contact period, improve antenatal services by increasing accessibility and providing counseling is important to improve EIBF utilization.