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ObjectivesThis study aimed to map the national, regional and local prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in Ethiopia.Design and settingNationwide cross-sectional survey in Ethiopia combined with georeferenced ecological level data from publicly available sources.Participants9801 participants aged between 15 and 69 years.Primary outcome measuresPrevalence of hypertension and diabetes were collected using the WHO’s STEPS survey approach. Bayesian model-based geostatistical techniques were used to estimate hypertension and diabetes prevalence at national, regional and pixel levels (1×1 km2) with corresponding 95% credible intervals (95% CrIs).ResultsThe national prevalence was 19.2% (95% CI: 18.4 to 20.0) for hypertension and 2.8% (95% CI: 2.4 to 3.1) for diabetes. Substantial variation was observed in the prevalence of these diseases at subnational levels, with the highest prevalence of hypertension observed in Addis Ababa (30.6%) and diabetes in Somali region (8.7%). Spatial overlap of high hypertension and diabetes prevalence was observed in some regions such as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s region and Addis Ababa. Population density (number of people/km2) was positively associated with the prevalence of hypertension (β: 0.015; 95% CrI: 0.003–0.027) and diabetes (β: 0.046; 95% CrI: 0.020–0.069); whereas altitude in kilometres was negatively associated with the prevalence of diabetes (β: –0.374; 95% CrI: –0.711 to –0.044).ConclusionsSpatial clustering of hypertension and diabetes was observed at subnational and local levels in Ethiopia, which was significantly associated with population density and altitude. The variation at the subnational level illustrates the need to include environmental drivers in future NCDs burden estimation. Thus, targeted and integrated interventions in high-risk areas might reduce the burden of hypertension and diabetes in Ethiopia.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and its predictors in selected public health institutions in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.DesignAn institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted using data extracted from 1690 patient cards from September 2012 to November 2016.SettingSelected government health institutions in the Amhara region, Ethiopia.ParticipantsChildren treated in therapeutic feeding units for SAM were included.Outcome measuresTime to recovery from SAM.ResultsOne thousand and fifty children have recovered from SAM, 62.13% (95% CI 59.8% to 64.5%). The median time to recovery was 16 days (IQR=11–28). Female gender (adjusted HR (AHR)=0.81, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.98), oedematous malnutrition (AHR=0.74 95% CI 0.59 to 0.93), pneumonia (AHR=0.66, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.83), tuberculosis (AHR=0.53, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.77), HIV/AIDS (AHR=0.47, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.79), anaemia (AHR=0.73, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.89) and receiving vitamin A (AHR=1.43, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.82) were notably associated with time to recovery.ConclusionsThe time to recovery in this study was acceptable but the proportion of recovery was far below the minimum standard. Special emphasis should be given to the prevention and treatment of comorbidities besides the therapeutic feeding. Supplementing vitamin A would also help to improve the recovery rate.