Determinants of household food security and maternal dietary diversity in rural Gedeo zone, southern Ethiopia: results from a cross-sectional study.

Background: In Ethiopia, food insecurity and poor dietary diversity continue to affect maternal and child health, particularly in rural regions.

Objective: We examined the status and determinants of household food security and maternal dietary diversity in rural Gedeo zone, southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 422 households, and household food insecurity and women's dietary diversity was measured.

Physicians' degree of awareness regarding the risks, clinical practices, and management challenges of nosocomial legionnaires' disease: A cross-sectional study from two Ethiopian hospitals.

Objectives: is a waterborne bacterium known to cause Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia particularly affecting older and immune compromised individuals. This study evaluates the level of risk awareness, clinical practices, and barriers to optimal management of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease in Ethiopia's two largest hospitals.

Methods: We employed a cross-sectional survey design, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 374 practicing physicians at two specialized hospitals in Addis Ababa.

Double burden of malnutrition among under-five children in Eastern and Southern African countries.

There is limited evidence on the burden and drivers of the co-occurrence of overweight/obesity and undernutrition at the individual level in low- and middle-income countries. This gap hinders the design of double-duty actions (DDAs) that can effectively address all forms of malnutrition. This multi-country study aimed to determine the magnitude of double burden of malnutrition (DBM) among under five children and identify household and individual level determinants in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) countries.

Association between dietary Intake, eating behavior, and childhood obesity among children and adolescents in Ethiopia.

Introduction: The upsurge of overweight/obesity (OW/OB) among children and adolescents is as a result of complex interactions between lifestyle behaviours and socioeconomic factors. The objective of this study was to determine socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, dietary intake and eating behaviours of children and adolescents in Ethiopia and their association with OW/OB.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 632 children and adolescents-parent dyads.

Challenges and experience of the Ethiopian rural health extension program: implications for reform and revitalization.

Background: Despite remarkable gains over the past decade, mounting evidence suggests that Ethiopia's rural health extension program (HEP) is facing serious implementation challenges. We investigated the current and potential future program design and implementation challenges of Ethiopia's rural HEP based on the lived experiences of health extension workers (HEW) implementing the program at the grassroots level.

Methods: We employed a longitudinal qualitative exploration linked to a larger cluster-randomized trial (RCT) which was implemented in 282 villages randomly selected from 18 Kebeles of the Gedeo zone, southern Ethiopia.

A circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreak in a chronic conflict setting: a descriptive epidemiological study in South Sudan - 2020 to 2021.

Background: In this study, we describe the epidemiological profile of an outbreak of the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 in South Sudan from 2020 to 2021.

Method: We conducted a retrospective descriptive epidemiological study using data from the national polio/AFP surveillance database, the outbreak investigation reports, and the vaccination coverage survey databases stored at the national level.

Results: Between September 2020 and April 2021, 59 cases of the circulating virus were confirmed in the country, with 50 cases in 2020 and 9 cases in 2021.

Coping Strategies to Mitigate Food Insecurity at Household Level: Evidence From Urban Setting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain ability of households to acquire nutritionally adequate and safe foods in socially acceptable ways. There is paucity of empirical evidence on household food insecurity, level of expenditure, and coping strategies in urban setting of Ethiopia. The objective of this paper is to examine the coping strategies of food insecure households in an urban area setting of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The role of universal health coverage and global health security nexus and interplay on SARS-CoV-2 infection and case-fatality rates in Africa : a structural equation modeling approach.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections remains a significant health challenge worldwide. There is paucity of evidence on the influence of the universal health coverage (UHC) and global health security (GHS) nexus on SARS-CoV-2 infection risk and outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UHC and GHS nexus and interplay on SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and case-fatality rates (CFR) in Africa.

Impact of good governance, economic growth and universal health coverage on COVID-19 infection and case fatality rates in Africa.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted lives across all countries and communities. It significantly reduced the global economic output and dealt health systems across the world a serious blow. There is growing evidence showing the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has on health systems, which should help to draw lessons for further consolidating and realizing universal health coverage (UHC) in all countries, complemented by more substantial government commitment and good governance, and continued full implementation of crucial policies and plans to avert COVID-19 and similar pandemic threats in the future.

The role of multi-dimensional women's empowerment in agriculture to improve the nutritional status of under-five children in rural cash crop producing, resource-limited settings of Ethiopia.

Little is known about the relation between the women empowerment in agriculture index, and health and nutrition outcomes among under-five children in Ethiopia. The study's objective was to examine women's empowerment in agriculture and its association with the nutritional status of children (6-59 months) in rural, cash crop producing, and resource-limited settings of Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted employing 422 households; having women of reproductive age group and children under-five.

Association of maternal psychological distress with children with overweight/obesity in Ethiopia.

Background: Poor maternal mental health is a major risk factor for adverse offspring health outcomes, including overweight/obesity status. Maternal mental distress is highly prevalent and associated with parenting practices influencing child weight. To date, there is little information documented in Ethiopia on maternal mental distress and children with overweight/obesity status.

Correlates of Sedentary Time Among Children and Adolescents in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To assess the correlates of sedentary time among children and adolescents in Ethiopia.

Methods: The study was conducted in representative samples of children and adolescents in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations of sedentary time and predictor variables.

Population vitamin D status might be related to COVID-19 mortality but not with infection rate in Africa: evidence from ecological analysis.

Introduction: there is a large body of literature that has linked vitamin D status in the population with COVID-19 infection risk and disease severity. However, there is paucity of evidence in African context. Hence, this study aimed to conduct an ecological analysis to explore correlation between population level vitamin D status, COVID-19 infection, and mortality in Africa.

Gender Difference and Correlates of Physical Activity Among Urban Children and Adolescents in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Studies indicate that children and adolescent populations in most countries show a low level of physical activity (PA) and an increasing prevalence of obesity. Addressing gender disparity in PA is the main element of public health programs. There is currently a paucity of studies, particularly, in developing countries that investigate gender differences and correlates of PA among children and adolescents.

Allostatic Load, Single, and Dual Chronic Conditions: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Allostatic load (AL) is defined as a cumulative burden of chronic stress and life events, which involves the interaction of different physiological systems at varying degrees of activity. AL is suspected of contributing to health disparities among different populations. Suppressed or overactive physiological systems can interrupt AL affecting proper tissue and organ function leading to disease.

Household Decision-Making: Implications for Production, Consumption, and Sale of Nutrient-Rich Foods.

Household decision-making influences choices related to the production, sale, purchase, and consumption of nutrient-rich foods. The present study assessed the effect of household decision-making in 2 regions of Ethiopia within 2 groups of households, most vulnerable households and model farmer households. The study focused on identifying barriers and facilitators relating to decisions about nutrient-rich foods-in this case fruits, vegetables, and animal source foods.

Hypertension and Associated Inflammatory Markers Among HIV-Infected Patients in Tanzania.

There remains a dearth of data regarding the association between chronic inflammation and hypertension (HTN) in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that accounts for >70% of the global burden of HIV infection. Therefore, we assessed the levels of biomarkers among HIV+ individuals and its associations with HTN in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted at one of the largest clinics in Tanzania and data from 261 HIV+ patients were analyzed.

Magnitude of urban household food insecurity in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and determinants of urban household food insecurity in East Africa.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Studies conducted in East Africa.

The association of household and child food insecurity with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents in an urban setting of Ethiopia.

Background: Existing evidence on the association between food insecurity and childhood obesity is mixed. In addition, literature from developing countries in general and Ethiopia in particular on the nexus and impact of household and child food insecurity on childhood obesity in the context of urbanization remains limited. The objective of this study was to explore the association between household and child food insecurity and childhood obesity in an urban setting of Ethiopia.

Social and behaviour change communication to improve child feeding practices in Ethiopia.

Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) interventions can positively affect optimal nutritional practices. This study evaluated the added value of a virtual facilitator tool to an enhanced community conversation (ECC) programme to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practice among children under the Growth through Nutrition Activity programme in Ethiopia. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a control group.

Drought, hunger and coping mechanisms among rural household in Southeast Ethiopia.

Protracted and prolonged droughts lead to famine and substantial decline in agricultural productivity that contribute to food insecurity and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa which needs to explore the risk coping strategies to better target risk mitigation. The main research question of this paper was to analyze ex-post coping strategies and their determinants in rural Ethiopia. We use a cross-section data collected in 2013 from vulnerable rural households in Rayitu district, Bale Zone of Oromia Regional State.

COVID-19 in Ethiopia: current situation, missed opportunities, and the risk of health system disruptions.

COVID-19 started in Wuhan province of china and spread in a faster rate covering all continents in the world. The pandemic has affected the socio-economic, political fabric of all countries, and exacerbated undernutrition and food insecurity problems of Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). COVID-19 has also disrupted the health system, resulted in low level utilization of essential services, such as childhood immunization, labor and childbirth, and treatment for children with serious illness.