Determinants of neural tube defects among women who gave birth in hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia: evidence from a matched case control study.

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe birth defects caused by nutritional, genetic or environmental factors. Because NTDs continue to have a significant health and economic impact on children and community at large, it is crucial to investigate potential risk factors in order to develop novel approaches to NTDs prevention. Determinants for the development of NTDs differ by country, region as well as within the country.

Identification of anthropometric surrogate measurements and their cut-off points for the detection of low birth weight and premature newborn babies using ROC Analysis.

Despite the fact that health facilities in Ethiopia are being built closer to communities in all regions, the proportion of home deliveries remains high, and there are no studies being conducted to identify low birth weight (LBW) and premature newborn babies using simple, best, alternative, and appropriate anthropometric measurement in the study area. The objective of the present study was to find the simple, best, and alternative anthropometric measurement and identified its cut-off points for detecting LBW and premature newborn babies. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Dire Dawa city administration, Eastern Ethiopia.

Iodine concentration level, availability of adequately iodised salt and proper utilisation, and its influencing factors among households in Eastern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: The availability of iodine concentration in iodised salt at the household level does not guarantee the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders, but it can be significantly assured through proper utilisation. In eastern Ethiopia, there are no data on the use of iodised salt at the household level. The purpose of this study was to determine the iodine concentration, the coverage of adequately iodised salt and the factors that influencing the proper iodised salt utilisation in households.

Determinants of nutritional status among old age population in eastern Ethiopia: a general linear model approach.

As the world's aging population grows, nutrition and health issues are becoming a major concern. The aim of the present study was to identify the factors associated with nutritional status among old age population. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among randomly selected 739 elders over the age of 60 in Dire Dawa City administration, eastern Ethiopia.

Effect of Picture-based health education and counselling on knowledge and adherence to preconception Iron-folic acid supplementation among women planning to be pregnant in Eastern Ethiopia: a randomized controlled trial.

The present study examined the effect of picture-based nutrition education on knowledge and adherence to pre-conception iron-folic acid supplement (IFAS) in Ethiopia, a country where there is a high burden of neural tube defects (NTDs) and anaemia. In eastern Ethiopia, a parallel randomised controlled trial design was employed among women planning to get pregnant. The interventional arm ( 122) received a preconception picture-based nutrition education and counselling along with an IFAS and the control arm ( 122) received only a preconception IFAS.

Preconception of folic acid supplementation knowledge among Ethiopian women reproductive age group in areas with high burden of neural tube defects: a community based cross-sectional study.

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation is effective in the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). The aim of the present study was to determine the level of knowledge about the benefits of preconceptional folic acid supplementation in a sample of women of childbearing age and its associated factors. A cross-sectional community-based study design was carried out on a total of 441 women of childbearing age.

Dietary practice among cohort pregnant women who gave birth to neonates with and without neural tube defect: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Despite the high burden of neural tube defects (NTD) in eastern Ethiopia, there is no evidence that it is related to maternal dietary practice. The aim of the present study was to compare dietary practice between women who gave birth to newborns with and without NTDs. A comparative cross-sectional study was performed on a total of 276 (138 in each group) mothers who delivered neonates with or without NTD.

Trend and burden of neural tube defects among cohort of pregnant women in Ethiopia: Where are we in the prevention and what is the way forward?

Introduction: Neural tube defect is one of the top five most serious birth defects in the world. In Ethiopia an accurate estimate of the trend and burden of neural tube defects is still unknown. There hasn't been much research done on the prevalence and trend of neural tube defects in Eastern Ethiopia.