Effect of school feeding program on dietary folate intake among school adolescent girls in Sidama region, southern Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia recently initiated a school feeding program (SFP) that provides nutritious meals to vulnerable students during school to combat malnutrition and improve their nutrition. However, there is limited evidence regarding the program's impact on dietary folate intake among adolescent girls. Improving folate status in adolescent girls is important to prevent neural tube defect and anemia This study was aimed at assessing the effect of the SFP on dietary folate intake among school adolescent girls in the Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia.

Microbiological safety assessment of ready-to-eat cooked foods in the Addis Ababa School Feeding Program, Ethiopia.

This investigation assessed microbial contamination indicators in RTE school meals and drinking water in the Addis Ababa SFP, Ethiopia. Samples were collected from 18 primary school kitchens in March and April 2024. Microbiological analysis was performed on 37 cooked food samples and 18 drinking water samples using ISO and NMKL guidelines.

Characterisation of complementary feeding practice and locally available climate-resilient crops for complementary food among agro-pastoralists of Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

The current study aims to characterise the complementary feeding practice and identify locally available climate-resilient crops that can be used for complementary feeding among agro-pastoralists in Ethiopia. A phenomenological study in Benna-Tsemay district, comprising focused group discussions, key informant interviews, and household observations, was conducted. A pretested guide was used to capture information regarding types of complementary food, lists of food items, and ingredients included in their complementary formulation.

Perceived benefits and challenges of school feeding program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

Addis Ababa initiated a universal Home-Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP) in February 2019 to address hunger and improve the educational outcomes of schoolchildren. This study aimed to document the perceived benefits and challenges of the HGSFP in Addis Ababa, where such information was lacking. In May 2023, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to collect data from 20 schools participating in the HGSFP.

Is MIStreatment of women during facility-based childbirth an independent risk factor for POstpartum Depression in Ethiopia and Guinea? A mixed methods prospective study protocol-MISPOD study.

Background: Worldwide, 10% of postpartum women experience postpartum depression, which can lead to diverse sequalae at individual, family, and societal levels. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 17% of women experience depression in the postpartum period, which could be an underestimate as 48% of women in the region do not receive postnatal care (81% in Ethiopia and 51% in Guinea) and a large share of postpartum depression remains undiagnosed and untreated as a result. Globally, despite a critical evidence gap, there are growing reports of postpartum depression among women mistreated (disrespected and abused) during childbirth in health facilities, making a strong case to examine the association between mistreatment and postpartum depression.

Understanding Socioeconomic Inequalities in Zero-Dose Children for Vaccination in Underserved Settings of Ethiopia: Decomposition Analysis Approach.

Despite considerable global efforts to enhance vaccine distribution in low-income countries, a significant number of children remain unvaccinated, particularly in Ethiopia. The underlying socioeconomic challenges in these regions are recognized as primary contributors to the low vaccination rates. However, the reasons for this persistent disparity in Ethiopia's remote and underserved regions need further analysis.

Fruits and vegetables dietary intake and its estimated consumption among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in health facilities in Northcentral Ethiopia: a multi-facility cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the significant role of fruit and vegetables (FAVs) in preventing a variety of chronic diseases and their potential to bolster immune responses and slow the progression of HIV infection to AIDS, there is a lack of studies on the dietary intake of FAVs among HIV-infected adults in Africa, including Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the magnitude of FAV intake and estimated consumption among HIV-infected adults receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in northcentral Ethiopia.

Methods: A multifacility cross-sectional study was conducted on the FAV intake among 865 HIV-infected adults receiving ART.

Decomposition Analysis of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Vaccination Dropout in Remote and Underserved Settings in Ethiopia.

Despite increments in immunization coverage over the past decades, substantial inequality due to wealth status has persisted in Ethiopia. This study aimed to decompose the concentration index into the contributions of individual factors to socioeconomic inequalities of childhood vaccination dropout in remote and underserved settings in Ethiopia by using a decomposition approach. A wealth index was developed by reducing 41 variables related to women's household living standards into nine factors by using principal component analysis.

Dietary diversity and other predictors of low birth weight in Gurage Zone, Ethiopia: Prospective study.

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Dietary diversity is a key indicator of maternal dietary adequacy that may affect birth weight but little is known about their relationship. Hence, this study aimed to assess the association of suboptimal maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy and low birth weight in Gurage Zone, Ethiopia.

Spatial distribution of zero-dose children in Ethiopia: evidence for a targeted intervention from a large-scale cross-sectional evaluation survey.

Background: Ethiopia is the fourth leading contributor to the global total of zero-dose children (those who lack the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccine) and has substantial regional variations in zero-dose children. This study explored the spatial pattern of zero-dose children aged 12-35 months in Ethiopia.

Methods: A survey was conducted in pastoralist regions, developing regions, newly-established regions, conflict-affected areas, underserved urban populations, hard-to-reach areas, internally displaced populations, and refugees.

Perspectives on the Performance of the Ethiopian Vaccine Supply Chain and Logistics System after the Last Mile Delivery Initiative: A Phenomenological Study.

Uninterrupted availability of vaccines requires a robust vaccine supply chain and logistics system (VSCLS). With special focus on remote and underserved settings, we assessed the reach and bottlenecks of the Ethiopian VSCLS after the initiation of the last mile transition. We explored the perspectives of key stakeholders using a qualitative phenomenological study.

Low Measles Vaccination Coverage and Spatial Analysis of High Measles Vaccination Dropout in Ethiopia's Underprivileged Areas.

(1) Background: Measles remains a major cause of disease and death worldwide, especially in the World Health Organization African Region. This study aimed to estimate the coverage of measles vaccinations and map the spatial distribution of measles vaccination dropout in Ethiopia; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ethiopia's underprivileged areas. The study included 3646 mothers/caregivers of children.

High prevalence of zero-dose children in underserved and special setting populations in Ethiopia using a generalize estimating equation and concentration index analysis.

Background: Globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2023 report, more than 14.3 million children in low- and middle-income countries, primarily in Africa and South-East Asia, are not receiving any vaccinations. Ethiopia is one of the top ten countries contributing to the global number of zero-dose children.

In-depth reasons for the high proportion of zero-dose children in underserved populations of Ethiopia: Results from a qualitative study.

Increasing attention is being given to reach children who fail to receive routine vaccinations, commonly designated as zero-dose children. A comprehensive understanding of the supply- and demand-side barriers is essential to inform zero-dose strategies in high-burden countries and achieve global immunization goals. This qualitative study aimed to identify the barriers for reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children and what and explore gender affects access to vaccination services for children in Ethiopia.

Evaluating the performance of a novel anthropometric index: weight adjusted for waist-to-height ratio (W-WHR) - for predicting cardiometabolic risk among adults in Addis Ababa.

Objective: Various anthropometric indices had been proposed to predict cardiometabolic risk, yet few were validated in the African population. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a novel anthropometric index-weight adjusted for waist-to-height ratio (W-WHR)-as a predictor of cardiometabolic risk among adults 18-64 years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and compared its performance with other indices commonly used in the literature.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Association between normal-weight obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors among adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The relationship between normal-weight obesity (NWO)-high percent body fat (%BF) in individuals with normal body mass index (BMI)-and cardiometabolic abnormalities has not been explored in Africa. We determined the prevalence of the NWO and evaluated its association with hypertension, elevated blood sugar and dyslipidaemia among adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults 18-64 years (n = 600).

Vaccination dropout and wealth related inequality among children aged 12-35 months in remote and underserved settings of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional evaluation survey.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions that prevents millions of deaths. Although immunization coverage is increasing globally, many children in low- and middle-income countries drop out of the vaccination continuum. This study aimed at determining vaccination dropout rates and predictors in children aged 12-35 months in remote and underserved areas of Ethiopia.

Wealth-based inequality in the continuum of maternal health service utilisation in 16 sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Persistent inequalities in coverage of maternal health services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region home to two-thirds of global maternal deaths in 2017, poses a challenge for countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. This study assesses wealth-based inequalities in coverage of maternal continuum of care in 16 SSA countries with the objective of informing targeted policies to ensure maternal health equity in the region.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 16 SSA countries (Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia).

Association of fruit and vegetable intake with predicted 10-year cardiovascular disease risk among hypertensive patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: In low-income countries, such as Ethiopia, few studies have evaluated the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among hypertensive patients. We assessed the 10-year CVD risk of hypertensive patients.

Design: This cross-sectional study was part of a larger survey conducted in Addis Ababa.

Nutritional status and quality of life among breast Cancer patients undergoing treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: The prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients ranges from 30 to 60%. While it is known that malnutrition is prevalent among cancer patients, the relationship between undernutrition and quality of life among breast cancer patients has not been adequately explored. Therefore, the present study was aimed at assessing the association between undernutrition and quality of life among Breast Cancer patients under treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Epidemiology of hypertension among adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The public health significance of hypertension is increasing in low- and middle-income countries. However, there is limited epidemiological evidence in Ethiopia. We assessed the prevalence of hypertension and explored its predictors among adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Successes and challenges of the Home-grown School Feeding Program in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

The Home-grown School Feeding Program (HG-SFP) is a model designed to provide school meals to students using foods sourced from local markets. HG-SFP recently has been incorporated as one of the strategies of educational development in Ethiopia aiming to address hunger and food insecurity problems of school children. Yet, evaluation of the successes and challenges of the program has been limited evaluated.