This study was designed to determine risk perception and precautionary health behavior toward coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among health professionals working in selected public university hospitals of Ethiopia. A web-based cross-sectional survey was used with health professionals working in selected public university hospitals of Ethiopia. A structured survey questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic, risk perception, and behavioral response items were used. The survey questions were designed on Google form. All academic and clinical staff invited to participate in the online survey, which was carried out from May 1–14, 2020. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24. Descriptive statistics computed and the result is presented by tables and figures. A total of 273 health professionals participated in this study. The mean (± SD) age of participants was 31.03 ± 5.11. Study participants’ overall mean score of perceived risk was 23.59 ± 4.75. The study participants’ mean score of perceived vulnerability (4.01 ± 1.17) was higher than the human immunodeficiency virus, common cold, malaria, and tuberculosis. Regarding precautionary health behavior, the lowest mean score is for wearing gloves 1.82 ± 1.15. Participants mean score of perceived vulnerability of coronavirus disease was higher than some of the prevalent infectious disease in the area. Almost all participants applied recommended protective measures to the acceptable level, except for wearing mask and gloves. Therefore, there is a need to further intensification of more effective ways to support health professionals’ adherence to major precautionary measure is important.

Background: Maternal anemia, miscarriage, low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), prenatal and infant mortality, morbidity, and the risk of chronic disease later in life are all increased by a lack of dietary diversity during pregnancy. However, evidence for the effect of nutrition education on the dietary diversity score (DDS) among pregnant women was sparse in Ethiopia, particularly in the study areas. This study aimed to assess the effect of nutrition education on dietary diversity among pregnant women in urban settings in Southeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based two-arm parallel cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among 447 randomly selected pregnant women attending antenatal care (224 intervention group and 223 control group) at health facilities from February to December 2021. A multistage cluster sampling technique, followed by systematic sampling, was used to select the pregnant women. Pregnant women who participated in the interventions were given nutrition education starting at 16 weeks of gestation and continuing for 6 months. We used a pre-tested, interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire to collect the data. A 24-hour qualitative dietary recall was used to calculate the dietary diversity score (DDS). A multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was conducted to evaluate the intervention effect. Results: After the intervention, the proportion of adequate dietary diversity was 14.15% higher in the intervention arm compared to the control group (45.09% versus 30.94%, P = 0.002). The overall difference in adequate dietary diversity between the two groups was 8.5%. After adjusting for background characteristics, the multivariable GEE binary logistic model revealed that having received intervention [(AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.79)], being literate [(AOR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.13, 10.23)], and having high wealth [(AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.35)] significantly improved adequate dietary diversity. Conclusion: The findings indicated that having received the intervention, being literate, and having a high level of wealth significantly improved maternal dietary diversity. Efforts should be made to increase nutrition education using the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Moreover, there is a need to improve literacy and economic empowerment through income-generating activities to enhance adequate dietary diversification during pregnancy. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (PACTR202201731802989, Retrospectively registered on 24 January 2022).

Objective Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is becoming a public health concern in low/middle-income countries, and is known to cause severe morbidity and mortality for mothers and newborns. However, evidence reported for the incidence and risk factors of GDM is scant in Ethiopia. We aimed to assess the incidence of, and risk factors for, GDM in Goba town, Southeast Ethiopia. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Goba town, Southeast Ethiopia. Participants Four hundred eighty pregnant women on antenatal care follow-up from 30 April to 30 September 2021. Primary and secondary outcomes Incidence and risk factors of GDM using fasting capillary blood glucose. Log-binomial model was used to identify the risk factors of GDM. Adjusted relative risk (aRR), along with 95% CIs, were calculated to estimate the strength of associations. Results The cumulative incidence rate of GDM in this study was 15.7% (95% CI: 12.3% to 19.2%). Being unemployed (aRR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.36 to 5.47), having a family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (3.01; 2.09 to 4.35), low physical activity (2.43; 1.11 to 5.32), inadequate dietary diversity (1.48; 1.29 to 1.92), anaemia (2.51; 1.32 to 3.54) and antenatal depression (4.95; 3.35 to 7.31) were significantly associated with GDM. Conclusion The cumulative incidence of GDM was relatively high among the study participants. Having antenatal depression symptoms, low physical activity, inadequate dietary diversity, being unemployed, anaemia and a family history of DM were significant risk factors for GDM.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a stressful and overwhelming situation for health care professionals (HCP), especially, who are caring for patients in the resource-limited health care settings of low-income countries. Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia, HCPs are at risk for COVID-19-related anxiety and associated inadequate nutrition. However, the magnitude of COVID-19-related anxiety and its association with dietary diversity among HCPs is not well studied. Objective: To assess the magnitude of COVID-19-related anxiety and its association with dietary diversity score among health care professionals in Ethiopia. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCPs working in university hospitals, primary hospitals, and health centers in south and southwest Ethiopia. A structured online survey questionnaire was designed on Google forms and carried out from May 15 to June 14, 2020. COVID-19-related anxiety was assessed using the coronavirus anxiety scale. Dietary diversity was measured using 9 items individual dietary diversity score. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24. Multiple logistic regression was computed to identify independent factors associated with COVID-19-related anxiety. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of COVID-19-related anxiety among health care professionals was found to be 20.2%. COVID-19-related anxiety is significantly associated with a low dietary diversity score [AOR=5.93 (1.67, 21.07)]. The other factors which are independently associated with COVID-19-related anxiety are the presence of depression [AOR=6.98 (2.91-16.73)] and diploma educational status [AOR=0.16 (0.04-0.55)]. Conclusion: One-fifth of the study participants were found to have probable COVID-19-related anxiety. Designing a screening and intervention strategy for COVID-19-related anxiety among HCPs, particularly to those with low dietary diversity scores and depression, is recommended.

Background: Obesity and overweight are known public health problems that affect populations across the world. These conditions have been associated with a wide range of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. In Ethiopia, the literature regarding the burden of central (abdominal) obesity is scarce. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing the prevalence and risk factors associated with central obesity among adults in Ethiopia. Methods: From May to July 2021, a community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 694 adults aged ≥18 years in administrative towns of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling followed by systematic random sampling was employed to identify study participants. Waist and hip circumferences were measured using standard protocols. The World Health Organization STEPS wise tool was used to assess risk factors associated with central obesity. Bi-variable and multi-variable binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with central obesity. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) have been reported to estimate the strength of associations. Results: The overall prevalence of central obesity using waist circumference was 39.01% [(95% CI: 35.36–42.76; 15.44% for men and 53.12% for women)]. Multi-variable binary logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (AOR = 12.93, 95% CI: 6.74–24.79), Age groups: 30–39 years old (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.59–4.94), 40–49 years (AOR = 7.66, 95% CI: 3.87–15.15), 50–59 years (AOR = 4.65, 95% CI: 2.19–9.89), ≥60 years (AOR = 12.67, 95% CI: 5.46–29.39), occupational status like: housewives (AOR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.85–14.62), self-employed workers (AOR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.62–13.24), government/private/non-government employees (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 1.47–14.88), and skipping breakfast (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23–0.9) were significantly associated with central obesity. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity has become an epidemic in Bale Zone’s towns in Southeastern Ethiopia. Female sex, age, being employed were positively associated with central obesity, while skipping breakfast was a protective factor.

Anemia is predicted to affect 38% (32 million) of pregnant women worldwide. However, evidence for utilization and compliance with iron supplementation and predictors during pregnancy in low-income countries, including Ethiopia, is sparse and inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to assess utilization and compliance with iron supplementation and predictors among pregnant women in Robe Town, Southeast Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among randomly selected 445 pregnant women attending antenatal care at health facilities from May to July 2015. A systematic random sampling was used to select respondents. Data were collected using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of compliance with iron supplementation. An odds ratio, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was used to estimate the strength of the association. In this study, 54% [95% CI (49.4, 58.4%)], 45.2% [95% CI (40.9, 49.4%)], 4.3% [95% CI (2.5, 6.3%)], and 2.2% [95% CI (1.1, 3.6%)] of women received iron supplements during their first, second, third, and fourth antenatal care visits, respectively. The level of compliance with iron supplementation was 92.4% [95% CI (89.9, 94.6%)]. Having a formal education (AOR = 4.45, 95% CI 1.41, 13.99), being in the high wealth quintile (AOR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.05, 0.68), medium wealth quintile [(AOR = 0.33, 95% CI (0.11, 0.98)], receiving iron supplements for free (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI 1.33, 10.69), not experiencing discomfort related to iron supplements intake (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI 1.17, 7.39), having comprehensive knowledge about anemia (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.02, 6.70), being knowledgeable about iron supplements (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI 1.12, 9.76), having information about importance of iron supplementation during pregnancy (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI 1.04, 7.87), and ever being visited by urban health extension workers (AOR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.12, 0.83) was significantly associated with compliance with iron supplementation during pregnancy. The utilization of iron supplementation during pregnancy was low, with relatively high compliance with the supplements. Thus, comprehensive nutrition education and free provision of iron supplementation are crucial tools to increase utilization and compliance with iron supplementation during pregnancy. Further research with a strong study design using golden standard methods is warranted.