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The European Union (EU) launched an EU-RESET Plus Innovation Fund in Ethiopia, with a goal of building the resilience and improving the livelihood of targeted vulnerable communities in five regions. The respective social innovation projects (SIPs) introduced social innovations that part with the ‘business-as-usual’ model. Though difficult to study impact due to the limitations of cross-sectional survey design adopted, the study aimed to investigate the level of subjective resilience exhibited by women and youth clients and the predictors of resilience. We collected quantitative data from 910 client households. We also conducted over a dozen case story interviews with project clients. We employed World Food Program (WFP) (2022) subjective resilience score to compute clients’ level of subjective resilience. An ordered logistic regression with subjective resilience as an outcome variable was conducted to determine predictors. The unique contribution of this study is the computation of the subjective resilience of project beneficiaries in objective terms, having three categories. The findings revealed that the SIPs contributed to boosting the resilience of women and youth, with significant predictors including active involvement, empowerment, gender, savings, and livestock ownership. Gender differentials are also found to be for future development projects to consider in their design and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunizations represent a successful and cost-effective public health strategy in preventing common childhood diseases. Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in increasing its full immunization coverage, but significant gaps remain. This study aims to measure the preference in the use of full immunizations for children aged 12–23 months in Ethiopia and examine the role of key maternal health services. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and uses data from a nationally generalizable survey, the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2016. It includes a representative sample of 2,168 children aged 12–23 months. The main outcome was full immunization, measured based on the WHO guidelines (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin [BCG], diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis [DPT], polio, and measles vaccines). The main exposure variables were provision of three key maternal health services (antenatal care, delivery services, and tetanus vaccine) as well as other sociodemographic factors. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: This study found the overall full immunization coverage in Ethiopia to be much lower (39%) than the WHO-recommended rate (≥90%). There were distinctive differences in the preference in the use of full immunization coverage for various vaccines (BCG 70.0%, polio 56.5%, measles 55.3%, and DPT 53.9%). The maternal health service variables (antenatal care, delivery services, and tetanus vaccine) were significantly associated with the full immunization of children aged 12–23 months (P<0.001). In the full model, the maternal health service variables remained significant, along with other socioeconomic predictors of full immunization, including sex of the household head (P<0.001), maternal education (P<0.05), wealth index (P<0.01), and religion (P<0.001). Conclusion: Full immunization coverage has been identified as a critical factor in the prevention of morbidity and mortality from childhood diseases. Future progress in the provision of key maternal health services can have a positive impact in narrowing the gap in immunization coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo examine household food insecurity and hunger in Sidama Zone, one of the most populous zones in southern Ethiopia.DesignCross-sectional survey administered individually by trained interviewers. Food insecurity was calculated with both the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and the Household Hunger Scale (HHS), developed by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project.SettingRural households from ten kebeles (the smallest administrative district) selected from two agro-climatic zones in Sidama, southern Ethiopia, from December 2010 to January 2011.SubjectsMen and women respondents from 1094 rural households were selected using multistage sampling techniques.ResultsUsing the HFIAS, 17·7 % of households were food secure. The percentage of households that were mildly, moderately and severely food insecure was 6·8 %, 27·7 % and 47·8 %, respectively. Using the HHS, 29·0 % and 5·6 % of households fell into the moderate and severe household hunger categories. Using multivariate statistical techniques, five variables were significant predictors of both food insecurity and hunger. These variables were migration of a household member, agro-climatic zone, and younger age, less education and lower radio access for the woman. Being eligible for safety-net credit programmes also was a predictor of hunger, while limited animal ownership and household wealth as well as alcohol use by the household head added to the prediction of food insecurity.ConclusionsThe study documented that food insecurity is a major concern of smallholder farming households in the study area. A substantial majority of the households were facing mild to severe food insecurity and hunger for an extended period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates the socio-economic determinants of high marital fertility in low contraceptive communities in southern Ethiopia. The study highlights the role of child preference in sustaining high birth rate levels and the positive relationship between the number of children born and nutritional status of mothers. It reveals a correlation between child loss experience and fertility. Socio-economic factors cited in this study include religion, poverty, educational background and marital status. A multivariate analysis was employed to determine the correlates of natural fertility.

The main objective of this cross-sectional study is to assess higher education students' attitudes, their practice on preventive measures against HIV/AIDS; and examined factors affecting attitude and practice of the students related to HIV/AIDS prevention. The 606 study participants were drawn from Addis Ababa University, which is the oldest and biggest public university in Ethiopia, through multistage sampling. Data were collected using survey quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (FGDs), and subsequently, analysis of the data was made through the use of descriptive statistics (Frequency and logistic regression model). The findings of the study revealed that 207 (34.2%) of respondents were sexually active during the survey. Of these, 144 (23.8%) of them had sexual intercourse with their partner or someone in the last 6 months. The mean and median age at first sex debut was computed as 17.8 and 18.0 years respectively. About 489 (80.7%) did not perceive being at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. But 65.5% of the respondent had favorable attitude on HIV prevention. 359 (59.2%) of the respondents had experienced at least one of the three HIV prevention practice. Of which, more than half (52.4%) adopted abstinence as top preventive measure. The result also showed that out of the total respondents 47.2% had been tested for HIV/AIDS and more than 80% have willingness to take VCT service for HIV/AIDS. As to the multivariate analysis result; sex, previous residence, religious participation, pornographic viewing, currently alcohol intake, chewing khat and cigarette smoking were found to be determinant of AAU students' attitude on HIV prevention. Similarly, age, having pocket money, pornographic film show and currently khat chewing were determinants of practices on HIV prevention. Finally, based on the findings, the study has forwarded some workable recommendations.