Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are a public health concern in Ethiopia. However, the relationship between menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) factors to RTIs have not been well addressed. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2019 among 602 systematically selected reproductive-age women aged 15–49 years in Dessie City. Data were collected using a questionnaire and a direct observation checklist. RTIs were identified by the presence during one year before data collection of one or more signs of vaginal discharge, itching/irritation or ulcers/lesions around the vulva, pain during urination and sexual intercourse, and lower abdominal pain and lower back pain. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis with 95%CI (confidence interval). The self-reported prevalence of RTIs was 11.0%(95%CI:8.5–13.7%) during one year prior to the survey. The most commonly reported symptoms of RTI were burning micturition (9.1%) and vaginal discharge (6.1%). Three-fourths 443(75.0%) of households used traditional pit latrines and the majority of the study participants 527(89.2%) did not meet the basic access requirement of 20 liters of water per capita per day. The majority 562(95.1%) of the study participants did not have multiple sexual partners during the last year and 97.8% did not practiced sexual intercourse during menstruation. The most common type of blood-absorbent material used was a sanitary pad 497(84.8%) followed by cloth 89(15.2%). Factors significantly associated with RTIs were using unclean latrines (AOR: 4.20; 95%CI:2.00–8.80), not washing hands with soap before touching the genital area (AOR: 3.94; 95%CI:1.49–10.45), history of symptoms of RTIs in the past year (AOR: 5.88; 95%CI:2.30–14.98), having multiple sexual partners in the past year (AOR: 4.46; 95%CI:1.59–12.53), changing absorbent material only once per day (AOR: 8.99; 95%CI:4.51–17.92), and washing the genital area only once per day during menstruation (AOR: 5.76; 95%CI:2.07–16.05). The self-reported prevalence of RTI showed that one women experienced RTI among ten reproductive-age women. Designing a women’s health policy that focuses on ensuring availability of WASH facilities and improving MHM at the community level is key for sustainably preventing RTIs.

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) leads to morbidity and mortality among under-five children in developing countries, especially in rural setting. ARI ranks among top ten diseases in under-five children in Legambo district, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. This study aimed to evaluate determinant factors for ARI in Legambo District in 2019. A community-based matched case-control study was conducted among 139 cases and 278 controls under-five years from mid-January to mid-February 2019. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were done. From multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis, variables with a significance level of p < 0.05 were taken as significantly associated with ARI among under-five children. ARI among under-five children was significantly associated with age of mothers/caregivers being ≥35 years, occupation of mothers/caregivers being housewife, family being of medium wealth status, type of stove used in the house, carrying of child while preparing food, absence of windows in the house, and nutritional status of the child. The occurrence of ARI could be reduced by improving economic status, stove use and nutrition of children, and by increasing community awareness regarding indoor air pollution and ventilation.

Background: Stunting was a significant public health problem for under-five in developing countries including Ethiopia. Globally, it was estimated 21.9% or 149 million (81.7 million in Asia and 58.8 million in Africa) under-five children stunted in 2018. In East Africa, 24 million are stunted which is the highest-burden from African regions. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting and its association with Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in northwestern Ethiopia.Method: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 630 participants from December to mid-January 2019. From five kebeles, two were selected by a simple random sampling technique for the study. To reach study participants a systematic sampling technique was used. Data were collected by using an observational checklist, pretested questionnaire, and anthropometric measurement. Anthropometric indicator, height-for-age was determined using the current World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was computed to analyze the data. From the multivariable analysis the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) andP-value < 0.05 were used to declare statistical significance.Result: The prevalence of stunting among under-five children was 35.6% (95%CI; 31.9–39.5%). The result from this study showed that having illiterate father and mother, give birth before marriage (single), large family size, short maternal height, unimproved drinking water source, unimproved sanitation, poor hygienic practice, having diarrhea in the previous 2 weeks before the data collection, method of child feeding, age at which complementary feeding started, frequency of feeding, not deworming and mothers who had antenatal care visit of fewer than three times were statistically associated with stunting.Conclusion: In this study, stunting was an important public health problem among under-five children. It remains the same as the national average prevalence of Ethiopia. To alleviate this problem proper family planning utilization, good dietary intake, maternal and paternal education, and WASH interventions are critical.

Background: Measuring household food insecurity in specific geographic areas provides vital information that enables appropriate and effective intervention measures to be taken. To that end, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of food insecurity and associated factors among Urban Productive Safety Net Program (UPSNP) beneficiary households in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 624 UPSNP beneficiary households in nine districts of Addis Ababa from June to July 2019. A multi-stage sampling method was used; study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique after establishing the proportionally allocated sample size for 9 districts. Data were collected by trained personnel using a pretested, structured questionnaire. The outcome variable was food insecurity as measured by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), a tool developed by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Scale (FANTA) and validated for developing countries, including Ethiopia. A binary (crude odds ratio [COR]) and multivariable (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]) logistic regression analysis were employed at 95% CI (confidence interval). From the bivariate analysis, factors having ap-value<0.25 were included in the multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, any variable atp-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was declared significantly associated with household food insecurity. Model fitness was also checked using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test withp-value>0.05.Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was 77.1% [95%CI:73.8–80.7] during the month prior to the survey. Illiteracy of household head [AOR: 2.56; 95%CI:1.08–6.07], family size of 4 or more [AOR: 1.87, 95%CI:1.08–3.23], high dependency ratio [AOR: 3.95; 95%CI:1.31–11.90], household lack of access to credit [AOR:2.85; 95%CI:1.25–6.49], low household income [AOR: 4.72; 95%CI:2.32–9.60] and medium household income [AOR: 9.78; 95%CI:4.29–22.35] were significantly associated with household food insecurity.Conclusion: We found that three in four of Addis Ababa’s UPSNP beneficiary households were food-insecure. Implementation of measures to improve household income, minimize the dependency ratio of households, and arrange access to credit services are paramount ways to tackle food insecurity problems in Addis Ababa.

Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age in developing countries, including Ethiopia. However, data on this serious illness among highly susceptible and vulnerable children living in local peri-urban areas are limited. Establishing the prevalence of pneumonia and identifying the associated factors are important for proper planning and intervention. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 560 systematically selected children under the age of five years in peri-urban areas of Dessie City from January through March 2019. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, physical examination of children and direct observation of housing conditions. Pneumonia was examined using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines as the presence of the symptoms of fast breathing or indrawn chest with or without fast breathing during the two weeks prior to the study. A principal component analysis was used to construct a household wealth index. Data were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model at 95%CI (confidence interval). The analysis involved estimating the crude odds ratio (COR) using bivariate analysis, and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) using multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, variables at p-value of less than 0.05 were declared statistically significant. The prevalence of pneumonia among children under five was 17.1% (95%CI: 13.9%-19.9%). Of the participating children, 113 (21.0%) had a cough, 92 (17.1%) had fast breathing, 76 (14.1%) had fever, and 40 (7.4%) of the children had chest indrawn. Domestic fuel was the most common source of cooking fuel 383 (71.1%). Majority 445 (82.6%) of children were fully vaccinated and 94 (17.4%) were not fully vaccinated. Most (481, 89.2%) of the children were got exclusive breastfeeding. Slightly more than half (284, 52.7%) of the under-five children had acute malnutrition and 27.1% of the children had a childhood history of ARI. The multivariable analysis showed using domestic fuel as the energy source for cooking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.95, 95%CI: 1.47–10.62), cooking in the living room (AOR = 6.23; 95%CI: 1.80–21.68), overcrowding (AOR = 3.37, 95%CI: 1.56–7.27), child history of acute respiratory infection (ARI) (AOR = 6.12 95%CI: 2.77–13.53), family history of ARI (AOR = 4.69, 95%CI: 1.67–13.12) and acute malnutrition (AOR = 2.43, 95%CI: 1.18–5.04) were significantly associated with childhood pneumonia. In this study, pneumonia remains a leading public health problem among under five children in the study area and higher than national averages. Domestic fuel as the energy source for cooking, cooking in the living room, overcrowding, child history of ARI, family history of ARI and acute malnutrition were predictors of pneumonia. Community-based interventions focusing on improving housing conditions, reduced use of domestic biofuels, adequate and balanced food intake, including exclusive breastfeeding of infants, and early treatment of ARIs.

Objective: More than half of the 700 million people worldwide who lack access to a safe water supply live in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Globally, approximately 2 billion people use drinking water sources that are contaminated with fecal matter. However, little is known about the relationship between fecal coliforms and determinants in drinking water. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential for contamination of drinking water and its associated factors in households with children under 5 years of age in Dessie Zuria district in northeastern Ethiopia.Methods: The water laboratory was conducted based on the American Public Health Association guidelines for water and wastewater assessment using a membrane filtration technique. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to identify factors associated with the potential for contamination of drinking water in 412 selected households. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with the presence or absence of fecal coliforms in drinking water, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a value ofp ≤ 0.05. The overall goodness of the model was tested using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and the model was fit.Results: A total of 241 (58.5%) households relied on unimproved water supply sources. In addition, approximately two-thirds 272 (66.0%) of the household water samples were positive for fecal coliform bacteria. Water storage duration ≥3 days (AOR = 4.632; 95% CI: 1.529–14.034), dipping method of water withdrawal from a water storage tank (AOR = 4.377; 95% CI: 1.382–7.171), uncovered water storage tank at control (AOR = 5.700; 95% CI: 2.017–31.189), lack of home-based water treatment (AOR = 4.822; 95% CI: 1.730–13.442), and unsafe household liquid waste disposal methods (AOR = 3.066; 95% CI: 1.706–8.735) were factors significantly associated with the presence of fecal contamination in drinking water.Conclusion: Fecal contamination of water was high. The duration of water storage, the method of water withdrawal from the storage container, covering of the water storage container, the presence of home-based water treatment, and the method of liquid waste disposal were factors for fecal contamination in drinking water. Therefore, health professionals should continuously educate the public on proper water use and water quality assessment.