Magnitude and determinant factors of traditional uvulectomy practices among children under the age of five in Lemo District, Central Ethiopia.

Traditional uvulectomy, a widely practiced procedure in many parts of the world including Ethiopia, poses significant health risks to children under five. Efforts to combat its practice have been insufficient, with poor coordination among stakeholders exacerbating its impact. Current data on its public health significance is lacking. This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of traditional uvulectomy among children under five in Lemo District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia from February to May 2023. A community-based cross-sectional household survey was conducted from February to May 2023 across twelve kebeles in the Lemo District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia. The survey included 842 household respondents with at least one child under the age of five, as determined by sample size calculation. A multi-stage sampling technique was used. Data were collected via a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using Epi-Info 7.2 and SPSS 24. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied to identify predictors of traditional uvulectomy. The prevalence of traditional uvulectomy in Lemo District was 61%. Key reasons included lack of knowledge about modern medicine (40.8%), cultural beliefs (33.4%), fear of recurrence of uvulitis (10.51%), cost (4.47%), and access issues (1.56%). Significant predictors were maternal/caregiver education (AOR: 6.668, 95% CI: 2.116, 21.013), recent PNC (AOR = 1.669, 95% CI: 1.025, 2.716), counseling on adverse effects (AOR = 2.730, 95% CI: 1.618, 4.606), knowledge of adverse effects (AOR = 6.864, 95% CI: 4.104, 11.481), and cultural beliefs against modern medicine (AOR: 8.566, 95% CI: 5.594, 13.118). The practice of traditional uvulectomy remains high in Lemo District. Targeted awareness campaigns, engaging traditional healers, fostering community dialogue, and developing regional policies are essential to mitigating its prevalence.