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Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability. High prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among medical and other health science students has been reported globally. However, little is known about the magnitude of the problem in Ethiopia among medical and health science students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify the associated risk factors of MSDs among medical and health science students in Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2018. A stratified random sampling technique was applied to select 422 study participants, and the data was collected by a standardized Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in any part of the body region among medicine and nursing students was 69.4% (95% CI, 64.9, 73.9). Lower back pain was the most commonly reported body site and its prevalence increased as the year of study increases, ranging from 38% among 2nd year to 74.4% among 5th-year students. As the year of study/academic year increased, the odds of developing musculoskeletal disorders were higher. Furthermore, this study showed that a poorly designed sitting chair was a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: Ergonomic interventions focusing on modification of workstations, and promoting and delivering ongoing ergonomic education are very important to reduce the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care workers are at the greatest risk of developing blood-borne diseases through occupational exposure to blood and other contaminated body fluids. Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs) continues to be the major public health problems and serious concern for the health care force in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of exposure to blood and other body fluids and its associated risk factors among health care workers.Methods: The institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed from January 20 to February 30, 2018. A stratified random sampling followed by a simple random sampling technique was used to select 286 study participants. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with occupational exposure to BBFs. The significance level was obtained at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and p value ≤ 0.05.Results: The prevalence of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers in the last 12 months was 65.3% (95% CI: 59.4, 70.9). Lack of readily available personal protective equipment (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)) = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.56, 5.84), lack of training (AOR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.1, 11.2), Khat chewing (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.3, 5.8), and being a medical doctor (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI: 1.68, 15.21) were significantly associated risk factors with occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids.Conclusions: In this study, occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids among health care workers remains a major health problem. Hence, ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment, developing strategies on banning, and strict monitoring of Khat chewing and training on infection prevention should be emphasized to minimize the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Acute respiratory infections in particular pneumonia constitutes the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age throughout the world. In Ethiopia, pneumonia continues to be the major childhood problem and killer, particularly in the study area. However, evidence dealing with the problem is still unavailable. The current study is aimed at determining the magnitude and risk factors of childhood pneumonia in Gondar City. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed in five randomly selected clusters/subcities of Gondar City. A total of 792 child-mother/caregiver pairs in the selected subcities/clusters were included. A pretested and validated questionnaire was used by trained supervisors through house-to-house visits to collect the data. Binary logistic regression (bivariable and multivariable) was employed. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to declare statistically significant variables on the basis of p < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model. Results. The prevalence of pneumonia among under-five children in the current study was found to be 12% with 95% CI: 10% to 14.4%. The presence of unpaved road within 100 m of the house (AOR = 2.27 , 95% CI: 1.41-3.66), living within 100 m of heavy traffic (AOR = 1.94 , 95% CI: 1.19-3.16), the habit of not opening doors while cooking (AOR = 1.62 , 95% CI: 1.01-2.62), the presence of cockroach infestation (AOR = 1.98 , 95% CI: 1.25-3.14), and new carpet in the house (AOR = 1.75 , 95% CI: 1.01-3.03) were statistically significant variables associated with childhood pneumonia. Conclusions. This study indicated that the prevalence of childhood pneumonia is still high. As such, enhancing strategies that would address unpaved roads within 100 m of the house, living within 100 m of heavy traffic, the habit of not opening doors while cooking, cockroach infestation, and new carpet in the house to reduce the burden of childhood pneumonia needs to be advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Manufacturing industries are one of the leading industries, where a large work force is employed and most accidents occurred. Unsafe safety practices are the primary cause for most workplace injuries and illnesses. However, in Ethiopia there is inadequate, limited, and narrow research attention with regard to the health and safety practices among manufacturing industrial workers. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of organizational and individual factors on health and safety practices. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2017. A stratified sampling technique was used to select 403 study participants from within the manufacturing industries. In addition to a structured questionnaire, an observational checklist was used to assess the working conditions. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. Significance level was obtained at 95% CI and p value ≤ 0.05. Odds ratio was used to determine the strength of association. Result: The overall percentage of good health and safety practices among workers in manufacturing industries was 57.5% (95% CI: 52.4, 62). Work experience > 5 years (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.44, 5.29) and a level of education of diploma and above (AOR = 6.49, 95% CI: 1.31, 31.86) were important predictors of good health and safety practices. Moreover, working hours ≤ 48 h per week (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.78), safety training (AOR = 3.95, 95% CI: 2.20, 7.12), and management support (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.15) were significantly associated organizational factors for good health and safety practices. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for ongoing health and safety training, management commitment to health and safety of employees, and provision of appropriate personal protective equipment to enhance health and safety practices of workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess perceived work-related stress and associated factors among public secondary school teachers in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia. A self-completed questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was entered into Epi-info version 7.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 20 software. The associations between dependent and independent variables were assessed using a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis based on the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p values < 0.05. Results: The response rate was 96.4%. The overall prevalence of perceived work-related stress was 58.2%. Teaching experience < 5 years (AOR 2.03, 95% CI (1.10, 3.73), education level BSC/BED (AOR 1.66, 95% CI (1.07, 3.17), high job demand (AOR 1.61, 95% CI (1.29, 3.74), and poor relationships (AOR 1.88, 95% CI (1.07, 3.31) were significantly associated with work-related stress. In conclusion, the findings showed a high proportion of stress among participants. Therefore, we suggested a need to take action to balance job demand and teaching experience, offering the opportunity to upgrade their educational level and establish good relationships to ease the burden of stress factors related to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, computer is one of the common office tools used in various institutions. Using computer for prolonged time led to the users at greater health risk of computer vision syndrome (CVS). Computer vision syndrome is the leading occupational health problem of the twenty-first century. About 70 percent of computer users are suffered from CVS. Besides the health problems, CVS causes inefficiency at workplace and deteriorate quality of work. The problem of CVS and its risk factors are not well known in Ethiopia.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of CVS and associated factors among computer user government employees in Debre Tabor town from February to March, 2016. Multistage random sampling method was applied to select 607 study participants, and the data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. Computer vision syndrome was measured by self-reported method. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. Significance level was obtained at 95% CI and p value < 0.05.Results: The prevalence of CVS was 422 (69.5%) with 95% CI of 65.60, 73.0%. Blurred vision, eyestrain, and eye irritation were the commonest reported symptoms of CVS with proportion of 62.60%, 47.63%, and 47.40%, respectively. Occupation: officer (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.74) and secretary (AOR = 9.17), daily computer usage (AOR: 2.29), and preexisting eye disease (AOR = 3.19) were risk factors for CVS. However, computer users with high payment, who took regular health break, and with good knowledge on computer safety measures were less impacted by CVS.Conclusion: The prevalence of computer vision syndrome was found to be higher in Debre Tabor town. Monthly income, occupation, daily computer usage, regular health break, knowledge, and preexisting eye disease were predictor variables for CVS. Optimizing exposure time, improving awareness on safety measures, and management support are important to tackle CVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient safety culture is an important aspect for quality healthcare delivery and is an issue of high concern globally. In Ethiopia health system little is known and information is limited in scope about patient safety culture. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the level of patient safety culture and associated factors in Jimma zone Hospitals, southwest Ethiopia.Methods: Facility based cross sectional quantitative study triangulated with qualitative approaches was employed from March to April 30/2015. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 637 study participants among 4 hospitals. The standardized tool which measures 12 patient safety culture composites was used for data collection. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. Significance level was obtained at 95 % CI and p-value < 0.05. Semi structured guide in depth interview was used to collect the qualitative data. Content analysis of the interview was performed.Results: The overall level of patient safety culture was 46.7 % (95 % CI: 43.0, 51.2). Hours worked per week (β =-0.06, 95 % CI:-0.12,-0.001), reporting adverse event (β = 3.34, 95 % CI: 2.12, 4.57), good communication (β = 2.78, 95 % CI: 2.29, 3.28), teamwork within hospital (β = 1.91, 95 % CI: 1.37, 2.46), level of staffing (β = 1.32, 95 % CI: 0.89, 1.75), exchange of feedback about error (β = 1.37, 95 % CI: 0.91, 1.83) and participation in patient safety program (β = 1.3, 95 % CI: 0.57, 2.03) were factors significantly associated with the patient safety culture. The in depth interview indicated incident reporting, resources, healthcare worker attitude and patient involvement as important factors that influence patient safety culture.Conclusions: The overall level of patient safety culture was low. Working hours, level of staffing, teamwork, communications openness, reporting an event and exchange of feedback about error were associated with patient safety culture. Therefore, interventions of systemic approach through facilitating opportunities for communication openness, cooperation and exchange of ideas between healthcare workers are needed to improve the level of patient safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among school-age children in Sebeya primary school, northern Ethiopia, 2017. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites in school-age children was (29.9%). A total of six parasites were detected in this study. E. histolytica/dispar 19.43% (82/422) and G. lamblia 8.29% (35/422) were the predominant ones. Unclean fingernail (AOR = 1.72), defecating in the open field (AOR = 2.82), and being barefooted (AOR = 1.72) were the determinant factors for intestinal parasitic infections. Frequently washing hands reduced the chance of infections by 68%. Furthermore, children in grade 1–4 and 5–6 had higher odds developing the infections than those in grade 7–8 (AOR = 8.21 and AOR = 2.50, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]