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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common health problems worldwide and is associated with high mortality and heavy economic burdens. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Adigrat General Hospital in Northern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2024 among 385 pregnant women. Participants were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Socio-demographic and associated factor data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and 5 mL blood samples were collected. The data were subsequently entered into EPI Info and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were computed. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to measure associations, and values < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg among the 385 study subjects enrolled was 10.4% (n = 40). HBsAg was common in all age groups. The prevalence of infection was greater in those who had a history of multiple sexual partners (22.7%), early piercing (13.4%), or abortion (27.6%), as was the history of delivery (26.3%) and genital mutilation (35.7%). According to multivariate logistic regression, patients were unmarried (AOR 8.57; 95% CI 3.20 - 22.93), illiterate (AOR 12.06; 95% CI 3.07 - 47.33), had a history of ear piercing (AOR 5.66; 95% CI 1.65 - 19.45), a history of abortion (AOR 8.16; 95% CI 3.18 - 20.95), a history of home delivery (AOR 6.69; 95% CI 1.26 - 35.53), and a history of genital mutilation (AOR 9.77; 95% CI 2.64 - 36.18) for acquiring HBV infection compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: The results showed that HBV was highly prevalent in our study area. Being unmarried, having a low educational level, having an ear piercing, having an abortion, having a home delivery, and having genital mutilation were significantly associated with HBV infection. Therefore, these findings suggest that health education programs should be provided to the community to increase awareness among mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hematological reference intervals are important in clinical and diagnostic management for the assessment of health and disease conditions. Hematological reference intervals are better to be established based on gender and age differences as these are among the main affecting factors. Objective: The aim of this study was to establish hematological reference intervals among apparently healthy adolescents aged 12–17 years in Mekelle City, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia, 2019. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 249 adolescents aged 12–17 years from December 2018 to May 2019. About 4ml of blood sample was collected from each study participant using vacutainer tube containing K2EDTA. Hematological parameters were analyzed using Sysmex KX-21N hematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation Kobe, Japan). Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Both parametric and non-parametric analyses were used to calculate the median and 95% of reference intervals. The 97.5th and 2.5th percentiles were calculated using descriptive statistics for the upper and lower reference limits of the study participants. Differences in reference intervals between male and female participants were evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U test. Result: Among the 249 participants 122 (49%) were males and 127 (51%) were females with the median age of 14.5 (range 12 to 17) years were recruited in this study. The median and the 95% reference intervals of hematological parameters were determined. The 95% RIs were: Red blood cells (1012/Liter) 4.6–5.9 (Males) and 4.3–5.6 (Females), White blood cells (109/Liter) 2.9–9.6 (Males) and 3.4–10.2 (Females), Hemoglobin (g/dl) 12.6–17.1 (Males) and 12–15.4 (Females), Platelets (109/Liter) 138–364 (Males) and 151–462 (Females). Almost all of the hematological parameters showed significant differences (p<0.05) across gender. Conclusion: The hematological reference intervals established in this study showed a difference based on gender. We suggest preparing and using distinct local reference intervals for males and females separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimanot,4 Hagos Haileslasie,2 Getachew Kahsu,1 Aderajew Gebrewahd,5 Fitsum Mardu,6 Gebre Adhanom,5 Brhane Berhe,6 Hirut Teame,7 Aster Tsegaye,8 Mistire Wolde91Unit of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia; 2Unit of Hematology and Immuno-Hematology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia; 3Unit of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; 4Unit of Hematology and Immuno-Hematology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; 5Unit of Medical Microbiology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia; 6Unit of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia; 7Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia; 8Unit of Hematology and Immuno-Hematology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 9Unit of Clinical Chemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Brhane Tesfanchal Tel +251-949604754Email birhanetesfanchal@gmail.com Background: Visceral leishmaniasis causes alterations of lipid metabolism and it is associated with hypocholesterolemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia. Hepatic dysfunction and life-threatening hepatitis are associated with visceral leishmaniasis. Kidney damage is frequently associated with increased morbidity and mortality in visceral leishmaniasis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the alterations of clinical chemistry parameters among visceral leishmaniasis patients attending Kahsay Abera and Mearg hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 100 visceral leishmaniasis patients and 100 healthy controls without visceral leishmaniasis were selected by using convenient sampling techniques. Data were entered and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: Results were showed that the mean value of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and triglyceride was significantly higher in visceral leishmaniasis patients than in apparently healthy controls, but the mean value of serum urea and total cholesterol was significantly lower in visceral leishmaniasis patients than healthy controls. Conclusion: The finding of this study concluded that visceral leishmaniasis causes significant alterations of clinical chemistry tests like liver and lipid profile tests compared to healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Ethiopia, despite the integrated implementation of antiretroviral therapy since 2005, the human immunodeficiency virus remains a public health concern. Managing and detecting antiretroviral treatment response is important to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy for individuals who experience failed virological response. An increased viral load indicating drug resistance or rapid progression of viral replication needs early detection. Hence, we aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of virological response among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Adigrat General Hospital from September to December, 2019, on a total of 422 participants. An interviewer-based questionnaire was used for data collection. About 4 mL of venous blood was collected for viral load determination. Patient records were reviewed for the previous results of CD4+ T cell counts. STATA 14 software was used to analyze the data. Descriptive data were presented using tables and figures. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Results: The mean age of study participants was 39 years (SD ± 12.2 years), of which 66.7% of them were females. The overall prevalence of virological failure was 12.47% (49/393). Moreover, the prevalence of virological failure was observed to be higher among tuberculosis co-infected individuals (26%) compared with the mono-infected HIV patients (6.3%). The odds of virological failure were higher among obese and undernourished individuals, tuberculosis co-infected, and individuals with the failure of immune reconstitution. Conclusion: There was a high rate of virological failure among the study participants. Tuberculosis infection increased the rate of failure. There should be consistent assessment of viral load testing to determine the status of virological response for appropriate drug switching to clients. HIV patients with virological failure are recommended for switching of the antiretroviral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]