PREVALENCE OF COMMON HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER FIVE YEAR CHILDREN IN ALLE SPECIAL WOREDA SNNPR, ETHIOPIA ,2021

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ABSTRACT Introduction:Harmful Traditional Practices are practices which are common to all or some ethnic cultures with deep rooted existence and adversely affecting the health of people.They have numerous long term devastating effects almost in all continents of the world regardless of socio- economic and cultural aspects of the communities particularly among women and children. This study was aimed to assess common HTPs and their contributing factors and the finding may have major role in reduction of child mortality.The objective of this study was to assess prevalence and associated factors of harmful traditional practices among less than five years children in Alle special woreda. Methods: - A community-based cross-sectional mixed method study design was conducted in Alle special wereda from March 18,2021 to May 18,2021. For quantitative 363 mothers who have under -five year children were selected and for qualitative seven in-depth interview six key informant and four focused group discussions were conducted . Multi-stage stratified sampling and purposive sampling was used for quantitative and qualitative approach respectively. Semi- structured questionniares were used for data collection. Bivariate and Multivariable logistic regression model was used. Epi-data version4.4.3.1 was used for data entry and STATA version 14.0 was used for data management and analysis for quantitative data and opencode for entery and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The goodness of fit of the final model was checked using Hosmer and Lemeshow test. Variables with p-value of <0.05 in multivariable logistic regression analysis was declare statistically significance. Result: - The overall prevalence of harmful traditional practice was 81.5%.The common harmful traditional practices in the study area were milk teeth extraction 58.68%, throat preiecing 50%, and son preference 25%, cauterization 24.24% prelacteal feeding. Age of the child less than12monthsAOR:1.27(95%CI:1.02,1.6),maternaloccupation(housewife)AOR:1.3(95%CI:1.04, 65),paternaleducational,level(illiterate)AOR:1.4(95%CI:1.2,1.9),residence(rural)AOR:3.6(95%C I:1.08,12.4),positiveattitudeAOR:1.65(95%CI:1.01,2.8),andintentionsAOR:1.82(95%CI:1.1,3.3)t owards MTE practice showed statistically significant association with MTE practice. From qualitative findings, KAP related, health facility related, peer and social pressure related factors were reported as barriers for harmful traditional practices in under-five children. Conclusion and recommendation It was found that the common practices in the study area milk teeth extraction, throat preiecing, son preference and cauterization and prelacteal feeding. Age of the child, maternal occupation, paternal educational level, residence, having positive attitude and intentions towards MTE practice showed statistically significant association (P value <0.05) with MTE practice while residence and positive attitude showed statistically significant association with throat pricing. The societal barriers such as KAP related, health facility related and peer and social pressure related factors were addressed. All stakeholders should provide great emphasize for elimination of harmful traditional practices.