The Association Between Employment Status and Timely Initiation of Infant Complementary Feeding Practice in Addis Zemen Town, Ethiopia, 2018.

Background Complementary feeding is giving other foods or fluids to infants in addition to breast milk at six months of age. For better health and development of children, it should be timely (at six months of age). Thus, this study aimed to assess timely initiation of complementary feeding and associated factors among mothers with children aged 6–23 months in Addis Zemen Town. Methods A Community based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 21 to April 10, 2018. Researchers recruited four hundred sixteen mothers whose child was aged from 6 to 23 months by systematic random sampling technique. We used interviewer-administrated questionnaire and then the data were coded and entered to EpiData version 4.2. It was exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Binary logistic regression model was fitted and variables p-values < 0.05 with multi-variable logistic regression analysis were considered as statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (CI). Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to measure the strength of association. Result Timely initiation of complementary feeding was 57.7% with 95% CI (52.9, 62.3). In this study Being employed (AOR 2.34(1.07–5.16), visit antenatal care clinic four times and above (AOR 2.36(1.44, 3.85)), having good knowledge on complementary feeding (AOR 3.47(2.20, 5.48)), and having favorable attitude towards complementary feeding practice (AOR 3.87(2.46, 6.11) were found to be statically significantly associated with timely initiation of complementary feeding practice. Conclusion Timely initiation of complementary feeding practice was lower than WHO cut of point. Educate women, enhance antenatal visits and work to increase mothers’ knowledge are recommended. Additionally, special focus is better to be given for unemployed mothers.

Prevalence of Malaria and Associated Factors Among Children Attending Health Institutions at South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Malaria is a fatal disease among children in malaria-prone locations such as Addis Zemen and Woreta because of their weak immune systems. Despite the severity of the disease in children, the majority of research conducted in Ethiopia has focused on adult populations rather than children. Furthermore, there is no data on malaria prevalence, risk factors, or parasite density among children in the Addis Zemen and Woreta catchment areas. Therefore, this study was aimed at filling the above gap in the study area. About 422 children were enrolled in the study by systematic sampling technique. A capillary blood sample was collected from each child to do blood film. The overall prevalence of malaria among children attending South Gonder health institutions was 14.7%. The majority of parasite density was moderate parasitemia followed by low parasitemia, giving 71.0% and 16.0%, respectively. Malaria parasite infection was linked to a history of malaria and the presence of stagnant water near a home, but utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets was found to be protective against the infection. Therefore, health education should be strengthened on proper utilization of bed nets, indoor residual spraying, removing stagnant water by discarding old tires that may collect rainwater, and removing debris from streams so streams flow more freely.

Knowledge of Complications of Diabetes Mellitus and its Associated Factors among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Visiting Addis Zemen District Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Objectives: To reduce Diabetes mellitus related morbidity and mortality, knowledge about its complications is necessary. However, there is no information about knowledge of diabetic patients on diabetes mellitus complications in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess knowledge on diabetes complications and its associated factors among Type 2 diabetic patients at Addis Zemen District Hospital, northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 402 type 2 adult diabetes patients at Addis Zemen District Hospital by using interviewer administered structured questionnaires. Results: In this study, less than half (48.5%) with 95%CI (43.3, 52.7) of participants had a good knowledge regarding diabetes complications. Being: male (AOR: 4.67, 95% CI (2.53, 8.61), in the age of 31-45years (AOR: 7.30, 95% CI (3.10, 17.17)) educational level of high school and above (AOR: 7.46, 95%CI (3.02, 18.44)), having monthly income of ≥ 2500 Ethiopian birr (AOR: 7.18, 95%CI (1.70, 30.28)) were significantly associated with good knowledge. This must get the attention of health institutions, the government, and all concerned stakeholders in the health sector to design strategies on increasing diabetes complications knowledge among diabetes patients to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with the complications.