http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/13 2026-06-18T00:51:05Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8663 MAGNITUDE OF CULTURAL MALPRACTICES AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS ATTENDING POSTNATAL CARE WITHIN SIX WEEKS AFTER DELIVERY AT GELEMSO GENERAL HOSPITAL, GELEMSO TOWN, WEST HARARGE ZONE, OROMIA, EASTERN ETHIOPIA JEMALUDIN SADIK (BSC); Dureti Abdurahman (Ph.D.); Adera Debella (MSc) Background: Cultural malpractices are socially shared perspectives and traditionally accepted behaviors experienced in a certain society that harm maternal health.In Ethiopia, about 18% of infant deaths occur due to cultural malpractice. However, evidence of cultural malpractice during the postnatal period is not well understood in Ethiopia, particularly in West Hararghe. Moreover, there is no study conducted on cultural practice during the postnatal period in this study area. Objective: To assess the magnitude and factors associated with cultural malpractice among mothers attending postnatal care within six weeks after delivery at Gelemso General Hospital, WestHararge, Eastern Ethiopia, from December 30-January 30, 2023/2024. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 407 mothers attending postnatal care at Gelemso General Hospital. The study participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested and structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 27 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed to describe the characteristics of the participants. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were fitted to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Adjusted odds ratios along a 95% confidence interval were used to report the result and show the strength of the association. A p-value <0.05 was used to declare a significant association. The results were presented using figures, tables, graphs, and text. Results: The study revealed that the magnitude of cultural malpractice during the postnatal period was 70.0% (95% CI: 65%, 74%). Lack of ANC visit (AOR= 3.3; 95% CI: 1.03, 10.27), partner’s being a farmer (AOR= 7.4; 95% CI: 2.11, 26.48), distance to health facility (AOR=3.6; 95% CI: 1.68, 7.65), having greater than 5 alive children (AOR=3.5; 95% CI: 1.25, 9.84) were factors significantly associated with cultural malpractice during the postnatal period. Conclusions and Recommendation: This study noted that more than two-thirds of participants committed cultural malpractice during the postnatal period. Therefore, emphasizing the importance of ANC follow-up, and encouraging home visits of postnatal mothers by professionals especially for those rural residents and remoter to health facilities may contribute to reducing the cultural malpractice. 66 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8662 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: COMPARISION OF CHILD UNDERNUTRITION AGED 6-59 MONTHS AND ITS PERCIEVED CONTRIBUTON IN CHIRO TOWN, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA: A MIXED STUDY METHOD ELSABET TESHAGER; Dr. Anteneh Berhane ((MPH, Ph.D); Mr. Jemal Yusuf (MPH) Background: Women's empowerment is a recognized determinant of child nutrition, yet the specific pathways through which it influences nutritional outcomes remain unclear. Cultural and religious factors influence empowerment levels, making finding from other locations difficult to generalize. Objective: This study aimed to assess women Empowerment and Child undernutrition aged 6 59 Months and its perceived contribution in Chiro Town, Oromia region Ethiopia: Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional with Quantitative and a Phenomenological with qualitative study, was conducted. A total of 400 mother-child pairs (132 empowered and 268 non-empowered women) were selected. Using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were collected via structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and dietary assessments. Qualitative data were gathered through FGD and KII. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression using SPSS, with qualitative data analyzed thematically. Results: Result: Study revealed that there was a high burden of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 31.25% 24.75% and 16% respectively. Children of non-empowered women had higher rates of stunting (33.96% vs 25.76%) underweight (25.76% vs 16.67%) and wasting (17.16 vs 13.64). Empowered women had higher rate of health facility delivery (84.85% vs 64.18%) and better latrine availability (59.8% vs 40.9). Empowered household exhibited significantly higher dilatory diversity (90.91% vs 51.49%) and consumption of ASF (59.85% vs 24.25%). Finding demonstrate that women’s empowerment is significantly associated with improved nutritional outcome of children. Conclusion and Recommendation: While optimal nutrition is predominant, children of non empowered mothers face a slightly higher risk of under-nutrition. Maternal empowerment through decision-making, economic agency and education is pivotal for improving child nutrition. 92 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8661 INTENTION TO DO PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANC IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF HARAR TOWN, EASTERN ETHIOPIA USING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR TARIKU GIRMAY (BSc); MR.ASSEFA TOLA (MPH, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR); MR.ADERA, DEBELLA (MSC, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR) Background: Physical exercise is a key preventive measure for chronic diseases across the lifespan, including during pregnancy, where it promotes maternal and fetal health. Despite its benefits, evidence on the intention to perform physical exercise during pregnancy and its predictors remains limited in low-income settings, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia. Objective: This study aimed to assess the intention to do physical exercise and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in public hospitals of Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, from February 1 to March 30, 2024. Methods: An Institution-based cross-sectional study among 405 pregnant women attending Antenatal Care follow-up at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital and Jugel General Hospital. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires, entered using Epi Data version 4.6, and analyzed with STATA version 17. The results of the descriptive statistics were summarized using mean, standard deviation, percentages, frequency tables and graphs. Standardized β and R2 values were used to interpret outcome variable.Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. In multiple linear regression analysis, Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Results: Of the 411 women approached, 405 completed the study (98.5% response rate). The mean intention score was 16.15 (SD ± 5.82), with 58.3% (n = 236) scoring above the mean. The TPB model explained 36% of the variance in exercise intention. Significant predictors included: direct attitude [β = 0.230, p < 0.001, 95% CI (0.187, 0.458)], direct perceived behavioral control [β = 0.259, p < 0.001, 95% CI (1.920, 5.855)], knowledge of exercise benefits [β = 0.248, p = 0.001, 95% CI (0.194, 0.786)], high school education [β = 0.169, p = 0.005, 95% CI (0.297, 1.621)], college or university education [β = 0.192, p = 0.004, 95% CI (0.413, 2.135)], and being in the second trimester of pregnancy [β = 0.190, p = 0.017, 95% CI (0.247, 2.504)] Conclusion: More than half of the pregnant women reported a high intention to engage in physical exercise. Intention was significantly influenced by perceived behavioral control, positive direct attitude, higher educational attainment, knowledge of exercise benefits, and second-trimester pregnancy, were significant associated factors.Therefore, study aimed at promoting physical exercise during pregnancy should strengthen perceived control and positive attitudes, particularly among less-educated women and those in earlier stages of pregnancy. 94 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8660 PREVALENCE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN 0-6 MONTHS ATTENDING HOSPITALS IN HARGEISA CITY, SOMALILAND. FATHIA MOHAMOUD H.HASSAN; Dr. Kasiye Shiferaw (PhD, Assistant Professor); Ms. Abiyot Asfaw (Assistance professor) Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding breast milk only, for the first six months, only 40% of children worldwide exclusively breastfed which is far from the recommendation, while in Africa only 37% of infants were exclusively breastfed. In Somaliland the Demographic health survey showed that only 30% exclusively breastfed among infants aged 0–6 months. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, however, exclusive breastfeeding practice in Somaliland is not well practiced and previous studies had omitted some of the determinant factors such as mothers' attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding, so the aim of this study is to assess the extent of exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among mothers attending a selected hospitals in Hargeisa city, Somaliland from January 2025 to March 2025. Objective: To assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors among mothers attending a selected hospitals in Hargeisa city, Somaliland from January 2025 to March 2025. Method: A facility -based cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 randomly selected mothers with children who are less than 6 months attending in a selected Hospitals in Hargeisa City, Somaliland. Data was collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariable analysis identified variables for multivariable analysis, which controlled for potential confounding factors. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the association between predictors and outcome variable. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and results are presented in tables. The level of statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05 and the result was presented as tables. Result: The overall prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in this study was 54%, Having ANC visit (AOR=2, 95% CI: 1.37-3.29), normal delivery (AOR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.05-2.52), frequency of breastfeeding (AOR =6.6, 95% CI: 4.24 – 10.18) family support (AOR= 1.62(1.07-2.44), good knowledge (AOR= 2.46, 95% CI 1.58-3.83) , positive attitude ( AOR= 3.0 (2.13, 4.21) were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. initiation of breastfeeding, after hours (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.27-0.69), after days: (AOR: 0.30, 95% CI: (0.16-0.54), were less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding Conclusion: The prevalence of this study of exclusive breastfeeding was 54%, The prevalence of this area is moderate according to the World Health Organization guideline. initiation of breastfeeding, frequency of breastfeeding, ANC Visit, mode of delivery, family support, good knowledge and positive attitude was statistically significant with exclusive breastfeeding in the multivariable analysis. It recommended to the health institutions, healthcare workers and other concerned parties to enhance Antenatal and postnatal care by developing and implementing programs that educate mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. 80 2025-04-01T00:00:00Z