Berhanu Senbeta Deriba holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Hawassa University and a Master’s in Public Health from Ambo University. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Salale University and a PhD student specializing in Public Health Nutrition at Addis Ababa University, where he has completed his first year of study.
With six years of experience in various health care roles—including first-line health care provider, supervisor, and director of primary health care units—Berhanu has worked in different zones of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. His academic experience includes teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students in courses such as Introduction to Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Education, and Research Methods.
Berhanu has conducted diverse research, including quantitative, qualitative, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, addressing community health issues. He has authored 33 publications and has 10 ongoing papers in reputable international journals. As a research advisor and supervisor, he has guided students in their research endeavors.
In addition to his academic and research roles, Berhanu is a reviewer for several international journals and has received certificates of recognition for his contributions. He is well-versed in various statistical and qualitative software, including SPSS, Stata, Epi Data, Epi Info, NVivo, Atlas.ti, and R.
Berhanu is committed to community service and enjoys working in collaborative environments. His areas of expertise include public health, reproductive health, nutrition, environmental health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health education, research methods, and grant writing.
Nutritional Related Predictors of Preterm Birth in North Shewa Hospitals, Central Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study
Abstract
Background- Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of newborn death and the second cause of mortality among under-fives children. Globally, about 15 million infants are born preterm every year. However, there is a lack of data on the nutritional related predictors of preterm birth among Ethiopian women. The objective of the study was to identify nutritional related predictors of preterm birth among women who gave birth at North Shewa public Hospitals in central Ethiopia.
Methods: A case-control study was undertaken in public Hospitals in the North Shewa zone central Ethiopia. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to gather data, which was then entered into EPI INFO version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Data was presented using texts, tables, and proportions. To find predictors of preterm birth, researcher used binary and multiple logistic regression models. The presence of a relationship between PTB and predictor factors was determined using the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and p-value < 0.05.
Result: A total of 161 cases and 322 controls participated in the study making a response rate of 97.6%. Unable to get Iron Folic Acid (IFA)(AOR=2.26, 95% CI: 1.22, 4.18), not eating additional meals (AOR=2.63, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.62), restriction of foods (AOR=2.85, 95% CI:1.58,5.12), not taking dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV), (AOR=4.46, 95% CI:1.72, 11.61), and Mid Upper Arm Circumference of mother (MUAC) < 23 centimeters (AOR=3.7, 95% CI: 2.25, 6.11) had statistically significant association with premature birth.
Conclusion: IFA supplementation, additional meals, food taboo, frequency of DGLV, and MUAC were identified predictors of preterm birth. Encouraging such women to eat additional meals, varieties of diets like vegetables, and fruits during pregnancy, and adhering to culturally appropriate nutrition education to reverse food taboo is compulsory.
Keywords: Nutrition, Predictors, preterm birth, Hospitals, women