Ayele Sahile Abdo

Objectives: The evidence revealed that underweight is a major public health concern affecting school-aged children in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Underweight affects children aged 6-10 years, growth and development, which leads to poor physical, cognitive, and social performance. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of underweight among children aged 6-10 years old in urban and rural areas of Central Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 541 children from January 2 to May 2, 2023. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Children’s nutritional status was assessed using weight-for-age z-scores calculated with WHO AnthroPlus software. Factors associated with underweight were identified using binary logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05, and associations were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: In this study, 501 children were enrolled, yielding a response rate of 92.6%. Underweight was more common in rural areas than in urban areas, with prevalence rates of 24.9% (95% CI: 21.2, 26.3) and 17.5% (95% CI: 14.0, 19.0), respectively. Among urban children, maternal age at first birth (AOR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.63, 12.2), handwashing after latrine use (AOR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.46), use of treated drinking water (AOR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.51), and family planning use (AOR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.47) were determinants of underweight. In contrast, among rural children, maternal age at first birth (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.34, 8.91), no antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.27, 6.53), diarrhea in the previous month (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.63, 9.35), dietary diversity (AOR = 6.0; 95% CI: 2.79, 13.2), and a history of illness in the preceding two weeks (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.91, 7.23) were identified as determinants of underweight. Conclusion: Underweight was more prevalent among rural children (24.9%) than among urban children (17.5%), highlighting the need for context-specific nutritional interventions. Interventions addressing the identified factors should be strengthened to improve the nutritional status of school-age children in both rural and urban settings.

Background and Aims: Puerperal sepsis persists as an important global public health concern. It contributes substantially to death among mothers, notably in resource‐constrained countries like Ethiopia, posing a significant challenge to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite advances in the accessibility of healthcare, a significant gap exists between knowledge, attitude, and practices, and these issues have received limited literature evidence in Ethiopia, particularly in study settings. Hence, this research focuses on assessing knowledge, attitudes, and self‐care practices toward the prevention of puerperal sepsis and factors of self‐care practices. Methods: A community‐based survey was conducted among 419 postpartum women residing in peri‐urban areas of Dessie from May 1 to June 30, 2025. Participants were recruited through a systematic random sampling technique that was employed. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 26. The magnitude of the association was estimated using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) at a 95% confidence interval. Results: In the present study, the overall prevalence of good knowledge was 198 (47.4%) (95% CI: 44.2, 50.5), favorable attitudes were 183 (43.7%) (95% CI: 42.1, 45.1), and good self‐care practice was 179 (42.7%) (95% CI: 38.0, 47.0). Secondary education (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.10, 3.40), diploma and above (AOR= 2.32; 95% CI: 1.19, 4.49), antenatal contact (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.38), women's knowledge (AOR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.36), and women's attitudes (AOR=2.30; 95% CI: 1.32, 5.25) were significant factors of the self‐care practice. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of good knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good self‐care practices for puerperal sepsis prevention was low. Maternal educational status, antenatal care contact, women's knowledge, and women's attitudes were significant factors of the self‐care practice. Improving women's education, enhancing antenatal care contact coverage, and fostering knowledge on puerperal sepsis are recommended.

Background: Antenatal ultrasound scanning is a fundamental component of antenatal care across the globe. It is of significant public health importance because it enables early detection of fetal abnormalities, monitors fetal growth and maternal health, informs timely medical interventions, and supports strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical importance, there are limited studies on the use of antenatal ultrasound in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Objective: This study is aimed at assessing the antenatal ultrasound utilization and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Durame Town public health institutions, Central Ethiopia, 2025. Methods: A facility‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted on 379 postpartum mothers attending postpartum care from September 10 to November 10, 2025, in Durame Town public health institutions. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected using structured and pretested questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS Version 26. Factors associated with antenatal ultrasound utilization among postpartum mothers were assessed using binary logistic regressions. The strength of the association of dependent and independent variables was presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) at a 95% confidence interval. The level of significance was declared at a p value of less than 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression. Results: Based on the present study, the proportion of antenatal ultrasound utilization was 249 (65.7%) (95% CI: 60.9–70.5); 46.2% of mothers had early antenatal ultrasound utilization, done before they were 24 weeks. Factors associated with antenatal ultrasound utilization were living in urban residence (AOR = 3.25; 95% CI: 1.55–5.65), previous delivery with a congenital malformation (AOR = 2.906; 95% CI: 1.222–6.91), and mothers′ knowledge on antenatal ultrasound utilization (AOR = 3.132; 95% CI: 1.425–6.88). Conclusion and Recommendation: Based on the present study, the proportion of antenatal ultrasound utilization was lower than the WHO and FIGO recommendations. Significant factors of antenatal ultrasound utilization were residence, women′s knowledge, and congenital malformation. Therefore, healthcare providers better to enhance awareness and education among pregnant women regarding the benefits of antenatal ultrasound services, whereas policymakers and health facility administrators better to improve service accessibility and availability to increase antenatal ultrasound utilization, especially in rural and underserved areas, and pay special attention to mothers with prior adverse pregnancy outcomes or congenital malformations.

Background: Immediate postabortion family planning uptake refers to the initiation and use of contraceptive methods immediately after an abortion treatment to prevent subsequent unintended pregnancy. Women should wait at least 6 months after having an abortion before becoming pregnant again, according to WHO recommendations, even if they are eager to have a child immediately. Despite this evidence, many postabortion clients leave healthcare institutions without receiving family planning advice or services. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the immediate postabortion family planning uptake and associated factors among women seeking abortion services. Method: An institution‐based, multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted among 402 women seeking abortion services in East Shewa Zone healthcare facilities from March 20 to May 25, 2022. A systematic sampling technique was employed to get a representative sample. Data were entered into EpiData Version 4.1 and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science Version 26 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were done to identify variables associated with the level of immediate postabortion family planning uptake in the binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05. Finally, tables, graphs, and narration were used to present the findings. Result: In this study, the overall immediate postabortion contraceptive uptake was 70.1% (95% CI: 65.4, 74.6). Being single (AOR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.8, 8.0), educational status (AOR = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.4, 9.7), service received at public facility (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.1), previous information about family planning (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.9), previous use of contraceptive method (AOR = 5.4; 95% CI: 2.9, 9.9), and postabortion family planning counseling (AOR = 5.7; 95% CI: 3.1, 10.4) were significantly associated with immediate postabortion family planning uptake. Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study, 29.9% lacked postabortion family planning uptake. Being single, educational status, service received at a public facility, previous information about family planning, previous use of a contraceptive method, and postabortion family planning counseling showed significant associations with immediate postabortion contraceptive uptake. Therefore, it is necessary to establish effective educational awareness and counseling aimed at promoting postabortion modern family planning uptake among the abortion service‐seeking women.

“Factors Associated with Contraceptive Use among Migrant Female Head Porters in the Kumasi Metropolis” THE TITLE: Smart and area of concern as evidenced from your introductory part of your work, it says 17% of pregnancies in Ghana were unwanted. I...