Although human rabies encephalitis is 100% fatal, it is also 100% preventable if post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is taken timely and effectively by the exposed victims 3, 4. Exposure to rabid animal can be eliminated at source through sustained mass vaccination of reservoir populations 3, 4. Furthermore, this significant lack of awareness calls for further study on the health burden of rabies in the region. Originally, the questionnaire was written in English and translated into local language (Tigrigna) and retranslated into English to test for any differences or inconsistencies in the meaning of words and concepts.
In case, a selected household’s head was not found at home, a second visit was made by appointment. Pregnant women who traveled the least amount of time (ie, less than 30 minutes and 30–60 minutes) to reach a health facility were more likely to have good knowledge and a favorable attitude regarding optimal nutrition and health than those who traveled more than 60 minutes. The study’s pregnant women were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The entire kebele in the Ambo district was divided into rural and urban sectors. Out of the 39 kebeles (6 urban and 33 rural) that were already in existence, 12 were selected through simple random sampling (SRS) using the lottery technique, with two being urban and 10 being rural. A computer-generated random number that was proportional to the size allocation of each kebele was used to select the eligible households using simple random sampling from among the chosen kebele.
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In public health knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies have been widely used based on the principle that increasing knowledge will result in changing attitude and practice to minimize disease burden 13. In Tigray region, like the other areas of Ethiopia, there are a number of home and street dogs. Many households owned dogs mainly for a security purpose particularly in the rural areas but also in the urban areas of the region. Despite this, regular vaccination and follow-up to the dogs are not being given 14. In addition to this, there is no study conducted on KAP of rabies prevention and control in Mekelle city.
The number of pregnant women required was then selected using a computer-generated simple random sampling technique from among the identified eligible pregnant women in each kebele. The odds of having good knowledge about optimal nutrition and health were higher among pregnant women who had nutrition and health information as compared to those who had no nutrition and health information. This significant association can be explained by the fact that nutrition and health information have a direct contribution to enhancing women’s optimal nutrition and health knowledge.
Factors associated with nutritional practice during pregnancy
The authors would acknowledge Tigray regional health bureau, Mekelle Zone, Kedamay weyane and Ayder sub cities for allowing us to conduct this study. In addition, we would like to appreciate Gondar University for the support it provides us during our study and our deeply appreciation goes to the study participants for being willing to participate in this study. Respondents who score greater than or equal to the mean value for knowledge, attitude, and practice were grouped to have good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice respectively. Whereas, respondents who score less than the mean value for knowledge, attitude, and practice were grouped to have poor knowledge, negative attitude and poor practice respectively.
- Nearly half of the participants (198, 52.3%) had good nutritional habits.
- The West Shoa zone and Ambo district staff, as well as the supervisor and data collectors who worked diligently during the study period, are also acknowledged by the authors for allowing the study to take place.
- The results of the study could be used as input for health and nutrition policymakers in order to build evidence-based and effective intervention strategies to improve nutrition and health behaviors and, therefore, nutritional status and birth outcomes.
- The variables were summarized using descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.
- A better understanding and perspective of health and nutrition may result from this, empowering them to fend off outside influences and interference.
Data Sharing Statement
To maintain consistency, language experts translated the questionnaire into two regional languages (Afan Oromo and Amharic) before returning it to English. Before the actual data collection, the questionnaire was pretested on 39 (5%) of the overall sample size that were excluded from the final main sample in order to detect any ambiguity, length, completeness, consistency, or acceptability. Prior to data collection, some alterations and skip patterns were addressed.
A 95% confidence level (CI) and a 5% margin of error were used as assumptions. We are extremely grateful coinsmart review to Jimma University for arranging transportation for the researchers and data collectors. The West Shoa zone and Ambo district staff, as well as the supervisor and data collectors who worked diligently during the study period, are also acknowledged by the authors for allowing the study to take place.
Study area
For a participant with a response of “no opinion”, we exclude the question from the summing of the overall score for the participant. Obstetric characteristics of pregnant mothers in public hospitals of Kaffa zone, Southern Ethiopia, from 10 August to 10 September 2021. The sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant mothers in public hospitals of Kaffa zone, Southern Ethiopia, from 10 August to 10 September 2021.
Source Population and Study Population
Data were entered and cleaned in EPI-info version 3.5.4 and exported in to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive analyses were used to see the frequency distribution of the socio-demographic and economic factors. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between dependent and independent variables. Variables with p-value of 0.20 and less in the bivariate logistic regression were taken to multivariate logistic model for multivariable analysis. In the multivariate analysis, variables with p-value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
Assuming the proportion of knowledge level 83%, attitude level 52.3%, and practice level 67% 8 with 5% margin of error, 95% confidence level, and 1.5 design effect, the calculated sample size for knowledge, attitude and practice were 217, 383 and 340 respectively. The attitude towards nutrition among pregnant mothers in public hospitals of Kaffa zone, Southern Ethiopia, from 10 August to 10 September 2021. Suboptimal dietary and health practices among pregnant women in Ethiopia have been documented.33–36 This might be because there are difficulties putting nutritional and health advice into reality because of the knowledge, attitude, and cultural norms that exist in a given society. In spite of the study limitation, the study is still significant in showing the level of knowledge, attitude and practice in Mekelle city. The finding of this study elicits further awareness creation program through different mechanism for effective prevention of rabies in the community. The multivariable analysis result of this study declared that sex, occupation, dog ownership, training and monthly income had statistically significant association with knowledge about rabies at 5% level of significance.
A structured questionnaire was pretested on 5% sample size outside of the study area, in Enderta District, for consistent understanding of the survey. Questionnaire was checked for completeness and consistency before data entry by the principal investigator. This study showed that more than half of the respondents had good knowledge, attitude and practice about the prevention and control of rabies.
- The reason for verbal consent is that, participants were required for interview only and the individual participants were not subjected to any harm as much as their privacy is kept confidential.
- The authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work, and have read and approved the manuscript.
- The selected kebelles were Harya and Walita from Kedamay weyane sub city and Gunibet 20 and Seritse from Ayder sub city.
- Official permission was obtained from Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle Zone, Kedamay weyane and Ayder sub cities.
- In order to improve the nutritional and health practices and nutritional status of pregnant women, it can be important to inform policymakers, planners, researchers, programmers, and health professionals in Ethiopia to pay due attention in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Computed practice variables of study participants toward rabies in Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. Computed attitudes of study participants toward rabies in Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. Computed knowledge variables of study participants to ward rabies in Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. The extent of influence of perceived severity of malnutrition on good dietary practices. The extent of the influence of nutrition information on good dietary practices. First and foremost, we would like to thank Mettu University for giving us the opportunity to conduct this research.
Among the seven sub cities, two were selected using the simple random sampling technique (lottery method), namely Kedamay weyane (with four kebelles) and Ayder (with five kebelles). Two kebelles for each sub city (total four kebelles) were selected for the study by lottery method (Fig. 1). A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 3, 2016 to November 29, 2016. Nearly half of the participants (198, 52.3%) had good nutritional habits. One day before admission, about 200 (52.9 %) of the participants consumed dark green leafy vegetables.
The reason for verbal consent is that, participants were required for interview only and the individual participants were not subjected to any harm as much as their privacy is kept confidential. Ethical approval for all the procedures in this study was obtained from the Ethical Review Board of Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar. Official permission was obtained from Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle Zone, Kedamay weyane and Ayder sub cities. Confidentiality of data and the scientific honesty during write up was considered. The authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work, and have read and approved the manuscript.
A structured questionnaire was developed to gather data, which was adapted after reviewing the similar literature15,16,18,20,25,26 and modified to our circumstances. To preserve data quality, a pre-test was performed on 5% of the total sample at one hospital in our study area. The questionnaire was translated into Kaffa (the local language) and then back into English two weeks before data collection. The maximum sample size for this study was calculated using a single population proportion formula.