Magnitude and determinants of improved household latrine utilization in Ethiopia: Multilevel analysis of the mini Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) 2019

INTRODUCTION

Lack of sanitation is a major global problem mainly for the poor and disadvantaged. According to the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) report, one out of every three households lack a toilet in Ethiopia and about 56% of rural households use unimproved toilet facilities. We aimed to determine the magnitude of improved household latrine utilization and its determinants in Ethiopia using the mini-Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) 2019 data set.

METHOD

A secondary data analysis was conducted based on the mini 2019 EDHS data set. A total weighted sample of 8663 households were involved in analysis. After selecting the relevant variables for the outcome variable, we have fitted four different models. The null (empty) model with no independent variables and the second model contained the effects of the individual-level factors on the outcome variable. The third model included the influence of the community-level factors on the response variable, and the final multilevel multivariable logistic regression model examined the effects of individual-level and community-level variables on the outcome variable. The measure of variation was quantified using Intra-Class Correlation (ICC), Median Odds Ratio, and Proportional Change in Variance (PCV). The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to show the strength of association and statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05.

RESULTS

The magnitude of improved latrine utilization in Ethiopia was 19.5% with 95% CI (18.6%, 20.3%). The factors: educational status (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI: (1.10, 2.55), highest wealth index (AOR = 3.73; 95% CI: (2.73, 5.12), urban residence (AOR = 3.09; 95% CI: (1.68, 5.67), living in Addis Ababa (AOR = 4.08; 95% CI: (1.03, 16.2) and Dire Dawa (AOR = 8.22; 95% CI: (2.46, 27.42) and Somali regions (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI: (1.15, 8.42) were significantly associated to improved latrine utilization in Ethiopia.

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of improved latrine utilization was quite low in Ethiopia. Higher wealth index, living in more urbanized areas, and the household head's educational status were all significant predictors of improved latrine utilization. The finding implies a need to increase household's access to latrine facilities and improve latrine utilization, particularly for rural households in the country.

Home based postpartum care and determinants in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis

Introduction

Neonatal mortality remains a persisting public health challenge in Ethiopia. Timely intervention to neonatal morbidity and early neonatal care visit could reduce the burden of mortality. Studies related to home based postnatal care is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess home based postnatal care visits and determinants in Ethiopia.

Methods

A secondary data analysis using 2016 EDHS data was conducted among 7590 women who had live births two years preceding the survey. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis model was used and those variables with a P-value ≤ of 0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as predictors. Results: Home based postpartum care by health care providers was 6.3% and 67.9% of women gave birth at home. Women perceived that distance is not big problem [AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.68], richer wealth index [AOR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.48], attending antenatal care visit [AOR = 2.17; 95% CI:1.57, 2.99], giving birth in health institution [AOR = 2.07; 95% CI:1.53, 2.80], giving birth by cesarean section [AOR = 3.41; 95% CI: 2.33, 4.99], and having awareness about neonatal danger sign [AOR = 3.68; 95% CI: 2.90,4.70] were factors associated with home based postpartum care.

Conclusion

Home based care by health care providers was low. Therefore, measures should be taken in increasing the number of nearby health care facility, strengthen the continuum of care on antenatal care follow-up, institutional delivery and improve mother’s knowledge about neonatal danger sign.

Cognitive functioning and its associated factors among breast cancer patients on chemotherapy at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa Ethiopia: an institution-based comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in the world. It is the commonest type of cancer in Ethiopia. Cognitive problems are common among breast cancer patients. The study aimed to assess cognitive functioning and its associated factors among breast cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2020.

METHODS

Institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. Study subjects were 117 breast cancer patients on chemotherapy and 117 women without breast cancer who volunteered for the study. Data was collected from May-June 2020. The Mini-mental status exam (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive functioning. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6.0.2 and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. Univariable and multivariable linear regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with cognitive functioning. A two-tailed p-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

RESULTS

Among the total breast cancer patients 41.9% were diagnosed with earlier sage of the diseases (stage I and II), while the rest 58.1% were diagnosed with stage III and stage IV breast cancer. A significant difference in the MMSE score was observed among breast cancer patients and controls (19.76 ± 5.29, 25.18 ± 4.68 p <  0.0001) respectively. In multivariable linear regression analysis being non-breast cancer (Adjusted beta coefficient (Adj.β.coff). = 3.34, 95% CI (1.92-4.76) p <  0.001), hemoglobin gm/dl (Adj.β.coff =0.34, 95% CI (0.04-0.63) p = 0.02), and primary education (Adj.β.coff =2.98 95%CI (1.16-4.96) p = 0.001) secondary level and more education (Adj.β.coff = 5.47, 95%CI (3.51-7.28) p < 0.001) were significantly associated with MMSE cognitive score.

CONCLUSION

Breast cancer patients had lower mean MMSE scores when compared to non-breast cancer women. Higher hemoglobin level and higher level of education increase the MMSE cognitive score. Clinicians should incorporate routine screening of cognitive functioning for breast cancer patients and further study is required to evaluate cognitive impairment among breast cancer patients in Ethiopia.

Effects of Vitamin D on COVID-19 Infection and Prognosis: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin D status is related to risks of influenza and respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D has direct antiviral effects primarily against enveloped viruses, and coronavirus is an enveloped virus. The 2019 coronavirus disease had a high mortality rate and impacted the whole population of the planet, with severe acute respiratory syndrome the principal cause of death. Vitamin D can adequately modulate and regulate the immune and oxidative response to infection with COVID-19. The goal of this systematic review was thus to summarize and decide if there were a link between vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection and prognosis.

METHODS

The protocol of this study is documented in the Prospero database and can be accessed with the protocol number CRD42020201283. PubMed and Google Scholar were used for a literature search from August 2020 to September 2020. We restricted the year of publication of reviewed articles to 2019-2020, and the selected language was English. Studies that used secondary data, feedback, or analysis of reviews were removed. To assess the standard of studies included, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method was used.

RESULTS

Of the nine studies reviewed, seven (77.8%) showed that COVID-19 infection, prognosis, and mortality were correlated with vitamin D status.

CONCLUSION

Most of the articles reviewed showed that blood vitamin D status can determine the risk of being infected with COVID-19, seriousness of COVID-19, and mortality from COVID-19. Therefore, maintaining appropriate levels of Vitamin D through supplementation or natural methods, eg, sunlight on the skin, is recommended for the public to be able to cope with the pandemic.