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Introduction. Ethiopia has made significant efforts to enhance family planning services despite variations in the community's use of modern contraception in different parts of the country. Various studies have reported the proportion and determinant factors of adolescents' contraceptive uptake in Ethiopia. These studies are not consistent in terms of size, scope, and geographic coverage, and the results need to be systematically collated to inform policies. Therefore, this review was aimed at analyzing the findings of those primary studies to obtain more representative evidence of adolescents' contraceptive uptake in Ethiopia. Methods. Five databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL) were searched for papers published from January 2000 up to June 2022 in English. Of thirty eligible studies, eight papers were included in this meta-analysis. Between-study heterogeneity was evaluated by the forest plot and inconsistency index ( I 2 ). A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled estimates of adolescents' contraceptive uptake. Results. The overall pooled proportion of adolescents' contraceptive uptake was 40% ( I 2 = 99.70 , p ≤ 0.001 ; 95 % CI = 19 , 61). Adolescents' usage of contraception was influenced by a number of factors: individual-, sociocultural-, knowledge- (about contraceptive methods), and healthcare service-related factors. Individual-related factors include the educational status of adolescents, being of young age, and the income status of adolescents' families. Sociocultural-related factors comprise discussion with the family/relatives, parent disapproval and pressure from partners, and being married or having a partner. Healthcare service-related factors include the availability of youth clubs and inconvenient service hours for SRH services. Knowing contraceptive methods and SRH services was also positively associated with adolescents' contraceptive utilization. Conclusions. The proportion of adolescents who used contraception in Ethiopia was 40%. Adolescents' use of contraceptives was influenced by a variety of factors: individual-, sociocultural-, healthcare-, and knowledge-related factors. Hence, integrated interventions targeted at tackling barriers to contraceptive uptake may be helpful to improve adolescents' contraceptive utilization in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The wide variety of methods for recording occlusal contacts and the contradictory data on the interpretation of the obtained markings provoked us to make a comparative laboratory study between different occlusal indicators. Purpose. Evaluation of a qualitative and quantitative method for registration of occlusal contacts in static occlusion in laboratory conditions. Materials and Methods. In completion of the objective, we designed an apparatus for registration of the occlusal contacts (AROC) in static occlusion which is used, corresponding to the MIP in clinical conditions. The occlusal indicators that were included in the study were articulating paper 100 μ, articulating foil 12 μ, and T-Scan Novus system with a sensor thickness of 100 μ. The collected primary statistical information was entered and processed with the statistical package SPSS Statistics 19.0, and the graphs were prepared using Microsoft Office 2019. We performed descriptive statistical analysis in this study. Comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student's t -test, and Pearson coefficient method. For a significance level, p < 0.05 was chosen. Result and Discussion. With quality occlusal indicators, it is possible only to visually determine the size, number, and intensity of the marked contacts. After the statistical processing of the obtained data on the number of registered contacts, a significant difference is found in the number of contacts of certain teeth (18, 24, 25, 28, 38, 35, 34, 33, 44, 45, and 48) registered with articulating paper and articulating foil. The maximum force that is reported during the study with the T-Scan system is 93.72% and the forces in the right half of the dentition are 51.7% and in the left 48.9%. To visualize the location of the registered occlusal contacts with the system, it is intraoral to use a quality indicator and we recommend the use of articulating foil. Conclusion. Based on findings from the current in vitro simulation, we can conclude that the type of occlusal indicator influences the registration of contacts, and therefore, we propose as a method of choice to achieve a balanced occlusion in clinical practice to combine the use of one conventional and one quantitative method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A large amount of publications had reported the association between incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the past decade. However, those papers' results are inconsistent on relationships between T2DM the incidence of EC. Therefore, the objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between T2DM and the risk of EC (including 2 histological types, esophageal adenocarcinoma [EADC] and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC]). Method. We finally extracted 19 articles though Pubmed, Embased, and Cochrane library. Those identify extraction date including 14,312 cases and 24,959,067 control records and then mixed the relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) through STATA. Results. We observed that there are significantly positive correlation between T2DM and EC risk (R R = 1.28 , 95% CI: 1.05-1.57, P = 0.015).Also, our study showed positive correlation between T2DM and EADC (esophageal adenocarcinoma) risk (R R = 1.28 , 95% CI: 1.05-1.57, P < 0.001). What's more, subgroup analysis based on ethnicity represented the Caucasian is more susceptible to EC (R R = 1.28 ,95% CI: 1.10-1.49, P = 0.001). Conclusion. Those results offer a recent epidemiological and integrated evidence to ascertain the correlations between T2DM and incidence of EC. Those results take public health implications on preventing T2DM and then depress the occurrence of EC. Our study also provides referenced information for the prevention. However, some data is still insufficient, and more research should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper investigates the risk factors preventing the reversal and nonreversal of Hartmann's procedure, as a surgical technique that has been performed in our clinic for ten years. Methods. The study involved a ten-year Hartmann's procedure followed up at our center. The patients were divided into Hartmann reversal and nonreversal groups. Groups were examined in terms of age, gender, diagnosis, stage of malignancy, ASA score, comorbidity, perioperative morbidity-mortality, and the length of the operation. Results. Age (p < 0.001), ASA score (p < 0.001), stage in case of malignancy (p = 0.002), and comorbidities (p < 0.001) were significant risk factors. The ratio of patients without any comorbidities to those with one or more comorbidities was 2.63 (95% CI 1.12–6.20). Among the malignant patients, the ratio of early-stage patients to advanced-stage patients in the group with reversal of Hartmann's colostomy was 2.82 (95% CI 1.30–6.10). In addition, the ratio of older patients to younger patients in group 2 was 0.95 (95% CI 0.92–0.98). A univariate analysis revealed that younger patients, those with lower ASA scores, those without comorbidities, and those with early-stage malignancy had a greater chance of closure of the stoma. Conclusion. Although Hartmann's procedure is performed in emergency surgery, the nonreversal of the colostomy is a problem in itself. It should be kept in mind that patients who have high risks are likely to have a permanent stoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. About 83% and 49% of Liberians live beneath the poverty line of US$1.25/day and experience hunger, respectively. Studies have established that hunger has long-term adverse consequence on truancy among students. However, no national level study has investigated contribution of hunger on truancy among in-school students in Liberia. This paper therefore seeks to examine the association between hunger and truancy among students in Liberia. The study hypothesises that there exists a positive association between hunger and truancy. Methods. This study used the 2017 Liberia Global School-Based Student Health Survey (LGSSHS) and sampled 2,744 students. However, the present study was restricted to 1,613 respondents who had complete information about variable of interest analysed in the study. Hunger and truancy are the main explanatory and outcome variables for this study. At 95% confidence interval, two binary logistic regression models were built with Model I examining relationship between hunger and truancy and Model II controlled for the influence of covariates on truancy. Our findings were reported in odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR). All the analysis was done using STATA version 14.0. Results. Descriptively, 46% were truant, and 65% of students ever experienced hunger. Inferentially, students that ever-encountered hunger had higher odds to truancy (AOR = 1.32 , CI = 1.06 -1.65). The odds to be truant also increased among those at 15 years and above (AOR = 2.00 , CI = 1.46 -2.72), who witnessed bullying (AOR = 1.36 , CI = 1.10 -1.68), that felt lonely (AOR = 1.35 , CI = 1.06 -1.71), that currently smoke cigarette (AOR = 2.58 , CI = 1.64 -4.06), and wards whose parents go through their things (AOR = 1.26 , CI = 1.03 -1.55). Conclusions. The study concluded that hunger was associated with truancy among students in Liberia. Additionally, students' age, bullying, feeling lonely, cigarette use, and parental concern also determined truancy. Governments, policy makers, and other partners in education should therefore roll out some school-based interventions, such as the school feeding program, which will help minimise the incidence of hunger among students. Such programs should consider the variations in students' background characteristics in its design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A lot of effort is being done in the electronic medical record (EMR) system. However, it has not been implemented and used at the expected scale for maximal effectiveness. There is limited evidence on the factors affecting the utilization of EMR in this particular context, which are critical for targeted strategies. Objective. To assess the magnitude and factors affecting the utilization of EMR among health professionals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 412 health professionals from Harari and Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia, using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. The tool was developed from previous literature, and a pilot survey was done before the actual study. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were done to assess the relationship between an independent variable with EMR use. Crude and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were reported. A P value of less than 0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant association. Results. A total of 412 health professionals with a mean age of 29 years (±6.4 years) were included. A total of 229 (55.6%) and 300 (72.8%) of them had good knowledge and attitude towards the EMR, while 279 (67.7%) used the service (54% used it on a daily basis). About 272 (66%) of the respondents reported that they prefer EMRs to paper-based systems. Health professionals with more than five years of experience had two times higher odds of using the service (AOR = 2.22 ; 95% CI; 1.12-4.42) than early-career workers. Health professionals trained in EMR would use the service more (AOR = 5.88 ; 95% CI; 2.93-11.88) compared to those who did not take the training. In addition, having good knowledge (AOR = 1.52 ; 95% CI; 0.92-1.5) and a good attitude towards the EMR system (AOR = 2.4 ; 95% CI; 1.35-4.31) showed to use EMR as compared to counterparts. Conclusions. The utilization of EMR was found to be optimal. Age, work experience, knowledge, attitude, and training of professionals were positively associated with the use of the service in their facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We aimed to summarize the current evidence regarding the impact of extraction vs. nonextraction in orthodontic treatment on patients' soft-tissue profile with malocclusion. Methods. Between April 30th and November 30th, 2020, we searched PubMed and SCOPUS for published papers from inception to November 2020 using "orthodontic," "extraction," "nonextraction," and "Malocclusion." Included studies were summarized, and relevant data were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager 5.4. Results. Pooled data from four controlled trials demonstrated a nonsignificant difference between extraction and nonextraction in terms of SNA (MD = 0.50 , 95% CI: -0.37, 1.38; p = 0.26), SNB (MD = 0.11 , 95% CI: -1.23, 1.44; p = 0.88), FMA (MD = 1.82 , 95% CI: -2.39, 6.02; p = 0.40), IMPA (MD = 0.06 , 95% CI: -8.83, -8.94; p = 0.99), overjet (MD = − 1.47 , 95% CI: -6.21, 3.26; p = 0.54), and overbite (MD = 0.50 , 95% CI: -1.40, 2.40; p = 0.60). On the other hand, the extraction method significantly increased the ANB compared with the nonextraction group (MD = 0.78 , 95% CI: 0.25, 1.31; p = 0.004). Conclusion. The current evidence demonstrated that nonextraction protocols for orthodontic treatment are a safe and effective alternative to extraction protocols; individually tailored treatment strategies should be applied. More randomized controlled trials are critically needed to safely make an evidence-based treatment conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Coinfections have a potential role in increased morbidity and mortality rates during pandemics. Our investigation is aimed at evaluating the viral coinfection prevalence in COVID-19 patients. Methods. We systematically searched scientific databases, including Medline, Scopus, WOS, and Embase, from December 1, 2019, to December 30, 2020. Preprint servers such as medRxiv were also scanned to find other related preprint papers. All types of studies evaluating the viral coinfection prevalence in COVID-19 patients were considered. We applied the random effects model to pool all of the related studies. Results. Thirty-three studies including 10484 patients were identified. The viral coinfection estimated pooled prevalence was 12.58%; 95% CI: 7.31 to 18.96). Blood viruses (pooled prevalence: 12.48%; 95% CI: 8.57 to 16.93) had the most frequent viral coinfection, and respiratory viruses (pooled prevalence: 4.32%; 95% CI: 2.78 to 6.15) had less frequent viral coinfection. The herpesvirus pooled prevalence was 11.71% (95% CI: 3.02 to 24.80). Also, the maximum and minimum of viral coinfection pooled prevalence were in AMRO and EMRO with 15.63% (95% CI: 3.78 to 33.31) and 7.05% (95% CI: 3.84 to 11.07), respectively. Conclusion. The lowest rate of coinfection belonged to respiratory viruses. Blood-borne viruses had the highest coinfection rate. Our results provide important data about the prevalence of blood-borne viruses among COVID-19 patients which can be critical when it comes to their treatment procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]