Anemia is defined as a condition in which there is less than the normal hemoglobin (Hb) level in the body. During pregnancy; iron deficiency is associated with multiple adverse outcomes for both mother and infant. Most of the studies conducted in Ethiopia on anemia during pregnancy were conducted at institution level and associated factors are not well studied and documented. Independent factors like, food security status, dietary diversity and intestinal parasites infection were considered by only a few of them. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women in Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia. Community based cross- sectional study was conducted from May-June 2015. Multistage sampling was used to include 507 study participants. Anaemia was diagnosed using HemoCue HB 301 and haemoglobin concentration <11 g/dl was classified as anaemic. Stool examinations were also done. Structured questionnaire was used as a tool to collect sociodemographic characteristics, individual dietary diversity and level of household food security data. Multivariate logistic regression model was employed to determine the effect of explanatory variables like level of education, level of household food security, dietary diversity, trimester of pregnancy, family planning before pregnancy, deworming, gravidity, iron intake in current pregnancy and soil transmitted helminthes on dependent variable anemia. The prevalence of anemia was 23.2% (95% CI: 19.5%-26.9%). Factors associated with anemia were: low socio-economic status (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.11–3.69), trimester second (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI: 1.41–6.79) and third (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.67–8.08), gravidity three to five (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.03–3.07) and six and above (AOR = 2.59, 95%CI: 1.37–4.92), not supplemented with iron (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.02–2.91), low dietary diversity score (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.37–7.37) and hookworm infection (AOR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.34–5.39). Anemia has moderate public health significance in the area. Community-based interventions should be enhanced considering the identified associated factors.

Child undernutrition is widespread in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) and is associated with health and economic losses. Undernutrition is estimated to contribute to 3.1 million deaths per year in children less than 5 years of age. A complex causal and contextual factors contributing to child undernutrition have been assessed, but maternal depression, which could contribute to child undernutrition by interfering with the mother's child caring practice and ability, has been received little attention. The objective of this study was to assess the association between maternal postpartum depression symptoms and infant (5–10 months of age) stunting in northern Ethiopia. A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among mother–infant pairs (n= 232) between March and April 2018. Through interviewer‐administrated questionnaire, information on sociodemographic variables were collected, and maternal depression symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS≥13). Infants' length and weight were measured and converted to length and weight for age Z scores using the WHO growth standards. Breastfeeding was a norm, but the adequacy of complementary feeding practice was sub‐optimal. Only 25% of the infants met the minimum meal frequency (MMF), less than 10% met the minimum dietary diversity (MMD; 9%) or minimum acceptable diet (7%). Maternal depression was prevalent (22.8%) and was significantly associated with inappropriate complementary feeding and stunting (P< .05). Improving complementary feeding practices is central to preventing stunting in this and other settings. However, such efforts should integrate interventions that address maternal depression to improve child feeding and caring practices to effectively prevent stunting.

Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is a prevention activity comprised of growth monitoring (GM) linked with promotion that serves as the core activity in an integrated child health and nutrition program. However, different methods of institutional studies have shown that utilization of GM services has remained to be inadequate. There is scarcity of studies conducted about GMP in quantitative method. Therefore, this study was conducted to address the proportion of GMP services and associated factors among children under two years of age in rural communities of Mareka district, Southern Ethiopia. Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to September 2015. Single population proportion formula was used to determine the sample size with multi stage sampling technique. A total of 819 children under two years of age were included. Pretest was done on 10% of the total sample size. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions used to analyze data. The response rate was 95%. Utilization of GMP services was 16.9%. Institutional delivery AOR (95% CI): 3.01(1.65–5.50), index child age 12–17 months AOR (95% CI): 4.03(2.16–7.51) and 18–23 months AOR (95% CI): 3.08(1.70–5.57), family size 4–5 AOR(95% CI): 0.14(0.06–0.33), family size >5 AOR(95% CI): 0.34(0.14–0.82), regular GMP attendance AOR (95% CI): 4.37(2.45–7.80), medium wealth index AOR(95% CI): 3.14(1.51–6.52) and high wealth index AOR(95% CI): 3.24(1.59–6.62) were factors associated with utilization of GMP services. Utilization of GMP services was low. Thus, efforts should be made to improve utilization of GMP services through promotion of institutional delivery, different family planning methods, and regular GMP attendance.

Despite consistent efforts to reduce child undernutrition, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) continues to be a serious obstacle to child survival and development in Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify severe acute malnutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 384 under-five children from February to March, 2020 in Ethiopia. A mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape, weight scale, height board (standing) and recumbent length measurements (for children <24 months) were measured. To determine the variables associated with SAM, adjusted odds ratio was computed using multivariable analysis and p < 0.05 was declared as significant. The prevalence of acute undernutrition was 26%; 18% and 8% of the children were moderately and severely undernourished, respectively. Family size (≥5 members) (AOR: 3.71, 95% CI: 1.55–8.89), younger age group (6–11 months) (AOR: 4.80, 95% CI: 1.61–14.31) and history of diarrhea in the two weeks prior to the survey (AOR: 5.36, 95% CI: 1.97–14.61) were independently associated with SAM in the study population. Large family size, child age, diarrheal and household insecurity were important determinants of SAM among children. Therefore, aligning social protection programmes and improving health related interventions along with improving optimal breastfeeding, prevention and control of child morbidity, and strengthening family planning services are recommended to reduce child SAM.

Child undernutrition is widespread in low- and middle-income countries and is linked with weakened immunity and increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Ethiopia has made a marked reduction in stunting, but there has, however, been little progress in wasting reduction and limited evidence in food insecure areas may hamper the design of effective interventions. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the contributing factors to persistent high prevalence of wasting among 6–59-month-old children. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed in February to March 2020, and included 384 mother–child pairs. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. The overall prevalence of wasting was 12⋅8 % (95 % CI 9⋅1, 16⋅1); with 5⋅8 % severely wasted. Factors significantly associated with wasting were child age 6–23 (v. 24–59 months), delayed initiation of breast-feeding, diarrhoeal illness in the last 2 weeks, poor dietary diversity and low socioeconomic status. The present findings support that aligning poverty reduction interventions and healthcare services is important to accelerate wasting reduction more equitably and achieve the World Health Assembly's target and SDG goal #2 in the coming years. Improving accessibility and affordability of nutritious foods and early diagnosis and treatment of childhood morbidity are critical to address childhood wasting in the context of food insecure areas.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nutrition education and counseling using health belief health model constructs along with iron-folic acid supplementation on hemoglobin level and adherence to IFAs during pregnancy. The study was a three-month quasi-experimental study design in Butajira town, Ethiopia. Community-based nutrition education and counseling sessions using the Health belief model, and IFAS for six weeks were given to the pregnant women. Compliance with iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) was assessed using pill counts based on the number of remaining pills in the retained prescribed bottles or strips. End-line data were collected from 97 interventions and 96 control groups of pregnant women after 6 weeks of nutrition education interventions. The analysis of the effect of the intervention was done using difference-in-difference and a generalized estimation equation (GEE) approach. At the end of the nutrition education intervention, there was a significant drop in the proportion of anemia in the intervention group compared to the control group. The prevalence of anemia among the intervention group declined from 27.8% at baseline to 7.2% after intervention. The change in the knowledge score regarding IFAS and maternal adherence to IFAS were significantly higher in the intervention group as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In this study, the odds of adherence to IFA supplementation were 2.26 (95% CI 1.55 to 3.29) times higher among those who received nutrition education interventions as compared to the control group. Implementation of community-based nutrition education and counseling along with IFAS improved the hemoglobin level and adherence to IFAS among pregnant women. Therefore, there is need to integrate community-based nutrition education approach by using HBM constructs with antenatal IFAS distribution to improve supplementation and hemoglobin level of pregnant women.