Despite the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, a wide number of mothers practice non-exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify prevalence and factors associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding in rural area of Sorro District in Southern Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken. The study population consisted of all mothers with infants aged of 0–5 months living in the randomly selected kebeles (lowest administrative unit) in the rural area of Sorro District. The study was conducted on 602 mothers with infants selected by using systematic sampling method from 12 August to 23 August 2015. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between the study variables and to control possible confounding. The prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding in infants under 6 months was 49.4 %. Being currently unmarried [AOR (95 % CI) = 3.85 (1.44, 10.27)], index infant’s age being within 2–3 months [AOR (95 % CI) = 3.63 (2.06, 6.36)] and 4–5 months [AOR (95 % CI) =10.29 (5.60, 18.92)] compared to infant age 0–1 month, initiation of breastfeeding after 1 h of birth [AOR (95 % CI) = 2.11 (1.37, 3.24)], no antenatal care visit during their last pregnancy [AOR (95 % CI) =2.60 (1.64, 4.10)] and no postnatal care visit after delivery [AOR (95 % CI) = 1.90 (1.19, 3.04)] were significantly associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding. In this study a large proportion of mothers with infants under 6 months of age were practicing non-exclusive breastfeeding which is one of the major risks for infant and child morbidity and mortality. Taking measures on identified associated factors with non-exclusive breastfeeding was recommended to improve the status of exclusive breastfeeding in the study area.

Despite the advantages of iron and folic acid supplementation, the compliance status among pregnant women for the supplements is very low in Ethiopia. However, the factors found to be associated with the compliance of iron and folic acid supplementation varies depending on geographical locations and socio-cultural characteristics within the country. Therefore, this study assessed the compliance to iron and folic acid supplements and its associated factors among pregnant women in the rural Soro district, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Cross-sectional study design was applied to conduct the study. The total sample size was 274. This study was conducted from June 10 up to 20, 2018. Women who live in rural Soro district at least for 6months and gave live birth 12 months prior to the survey were included in the study. The study subjects were selected by applying the simple random sampling method. Independent variables with p-value less than or equal to 0.25 during bivariate analysis were candidate for multivariable analysis. Finally, during multivariable analysis the independent variables with P-value less than 0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with compliance to iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Of the whole study participants only 51(18.8%) women had taken iron folic acid supplements for at least 90 days during their last pregnancy. Women who had frequent visits to health facilities for ante natal care were more likely to be compliant with iron-folic acid supplements than their counterparts [AOR(95%CI) = 4.50(1.18, 17.14)]. In this study, the higher proportion of pregnant women did not take adequate dose of iron and folic acid tablets during their last pregnancy. Women who had a frequent visit to health facilities for antenatal care were more likely to be compliant for iron folic acid supplements than their counterparts. Every effort should be made in the community and health facilities by concerned bodies working in the maternal health area to mobilize pregnant women to take the antenatal care for at least four times to achieve the minimum dose of iron and folic acid supplements.

Background: Dietary diversity is a good proxy indicator for micronutrient adequacy in pregnant women. Despite some improvements in dietary intake among pregnant mothers, achieving the minimum dietary diversity among them is still a great challenge in Ethiopia. There are no enough studies done on minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women and factors identified were more of local based. Therefore this study determined the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in government health facilities of Soro district, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia.Methods: This is the facility based study conducted in government health facilities of Soro district, Hadiya Zone from Oct. 2020-Jan 2021. Cross sectional study design was undertaken by using systematic sampling on 422 pregnant women attending antenatal care. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association of independent variables with outcome variable.Result: From the total of the 422 study subjects, 416 pregnant women attending antenatal care were participated in the study and making the response rate 98.6 percent. The overall prevalence of pregnant mothers who have met the minimum dietary diversity was only 7.9%. Maternal educational status being grade nine above, eating meal more than three times per day and women being currently not married were factors found to be significantly associated with minimum dietary diversity among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in government health facilities.Conclusion: The prevalence of the minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women attending ANC in public health facilities of Soro district was very low and far from national and international recommendations to enhance the maternal food diversity. Inter sectoral collaboration is very important to enhance the minimum dietary diversity during pregnancy and should be worked intensively and in an integrated manner.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a wide spread public health problem around the globe which accounts 20% of maternal death worldwide. World health organization recommends every pregnant woman to take a daily dose of 30-60mg of iron and 400μg of folic acid tablets starting from early months of pregnancy. Despite the advantages of iron and folic acid supplementation the proportion of pregnant women who took iron supplements for 90 days or more during their last pregnancy was very low. Therefore this study assessed the adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in rural Soro district, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: Cross sectional study was employed to assess the compliance and factors associated with compliance of iron folic acid among women who gave birth one year prior to the date of survey. Simple random sampling method was applied to select the study subjects. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between the study variables and to control the possible confounding. Results: From the whole study participants only 51(18.8%) women had taken iron folic acid supplements for at least 90 days during their last pregnancy. On multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders women who had ANC of 4 and above times were 6.8 times more likely to take the minimum optimum dose of iron folic acid. Women who were frequently visiting health facilities for ante natal care were more likely to adhere for iron folic acid supplements than their counterparts. Conclusion: In this study high proportion of pregnant women did not take adequate dose of iron folic acid tablets during their last pregnancy. Every effort should be done to mobilize pregnant women to take the minimum acceptable dose of IFA during their pregnancy. Additional channels to provide IFA supplements for pregnant women should be considered in addition to providing free IFA tablets ANC contact with mothers.

Background Despite the importance of dietary practice on self care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, poor dietary practice results in long term complications. Therefore this study was conducted to identify the level of poor dietary practice among type 2 diabetic patients on follow up in Nigist Elleni Mohammed Memorial comprehensive specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Methods Facility based cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the level of poor dietary practice among type II diabetes mellitus adult patients. The study was conducted from March to April 2020 G.C. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the study respondent. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were carried out to assess independent predictors of poor practice to diet. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals together with value ≤ 0.05 were used to identify independent predictors of poor dietary practice. Result The overall proportion of poor dietary adherence among type diabetes patients was 53.7% (n = 168). Having large family size, occupations, being low wealth status, lack of family support and not being member of diabetic association were the factors associated with poor adherence of dietary practice among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Conclusion The overall magnitude of the poor adherence to dietary practice among type 2 diabetes mellitus adult patients was 53.7% which is not going in line with international recommendations of diabetic self care. Every concerned body should strive to address those factors associated with poor dietary practice among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.