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Siraj Benti Biratu,1 Abreha Addis Gesese2 1Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia; 2Department of Clinical Nursing, Gambella Teachers Education and Health Science College, Gambella, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Abreha Addis Gesese, Email abrhaddis09@gmail.comBackground: Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, clients loss to follow-up (LTFU) from the treatment poses a paramount problem to the public, healthcare, and patient outcome. Thus, this study identified determinants of loss to follow-up to ART among adult clients in West Wollega hospitals, Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2021.Methods: An unmatched case-control study was conducted and a systematic random sampling technique was used. Data were collected from patient charts by three BSC nurses and three card reporters using a structured checklist. Then, it was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were used to present the results. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using the backward stepwise method. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and p-values < 0.05 were used to declare significant association with loss to follow-up. Model fitness was checked using Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit.Results: A total of 399 (133 patients and 266 controls) participated in this study. Rural residents (AOR:3.46, 95% CI:1.65, 7.25), male patient (AOR: 2.65 95% CI 1.54,4.55), lack of formal education (AOR: 4.35, 95% CI 1.53, 12.41), base line CD4 ≤ 350 (AOR: 5.25, 95% CI 1.93,14.24), poor functional status (AOR: 4.298, 95% CI 5.33,34.62) and WHO stages III & IV (AOR: 2.65, 95% CI 1.68,4.19), and tuberculosis co-infection (AOR: 2.82, 95% CI 1.11,7.45) were determinant factors of loss to follow up.Conclusion: Rural residence, male sex, daily laborer, no formal education, baseline CD4 count < 350 cells/mm3, baseline advanced WHO clinical stage, and TB co-infection were determinants of LTFU. Therefore, emphasis should be given to the identified factors along with awareness creation and health education sessions. Regular TB screening, optimal adherence regardless of their stay on ART, and follow-up study are recommended.Keywords: ART, loss to follow-up, adults, determinants, People Living with HIV, West Ethiopia

Abstract Background Suicide is a major public health problem and for decades, it has remained one of the leading causes of injury and death worldwide. The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation, and patterns among youth in the Anywaa zone of the Gambella regional state, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods and materials A mixed-method study design was used in which a quantitative survey was conducted along with qualitative interviews and FGDs in the Anywaa zone. A total of 136 respondents were included in the survey study from the two woredas. The survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of suicidal behavior and ideations in a sample of preparatory school youth students. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used for the descriptive analysis. Qualitative information was also obtained through interviews and focus group discussions to identify the patterns of suicide and to gain more nuanced participants/ survivors’ experiences. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, for which descriptive statistics were used. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Suicidal behaviors and ideation were high among youths in the study area. In this study 62.3% of respondents reported they had heard others talk about their wish to die by suicide, 68 (64.2%) of youth said they had heard many youths claim that “I feel like there is no way out”, 48 (43.3%) reported having seen someone with the signs of planning a suicide such as obtaining a weapon or writing a suicide note. About 68 (64.2%) of participants said, “My family would be better off without me.” The majority of respondents were in the age groups ranging from 26 to 30 years. The results on the patterns of suicide attempts showed that hanging and drug overdose or poisoning were the most common patterns used by both men and women. Conclusion The findings indicate that the prevalence of suicide-related behaviors and ideations was high among youths in the Anywaa zone. The results on the patterns of suicide attempts showed that hanging and drug overdose or poisoning were the most common patterns used by both men and women. As a result, we would like to recommend that Government, Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs, and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), along with health care providers and counselors should work together by creating awareness, and by establishing Programs that target youths. Meanwhile, early identification and management of suicide risk in youth should be strengthened.

With expanding pediatric antiretroviral therapy access, children will begin to experience treatment failure and require second-line therapy. In resource-limited settings, treatment failure is often diagnosed based on the clinical or immunological criteria which occur way after the occurrence of virological failure. Previous limited studies have evaluated immunological and clinical failure without considering virological failure in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to investigate time to first-line antiretroviral treatment failure and its predictors in Shashamene town health facilities with a focus on virological criteria. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in three health facilities of Shashamene town, Oromia Regional State, from March 1 to 26, 2019. Children aged less than 15 years living with HIV/AIDS that were enrolled on ART between January 1, 2011, and December 30, 2015, in Shashamene town health facilities were the study population. Data were extracted using a checklist, entered into EpiData version 3.1, and exported to SPSS version 20 for data analysis. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine the predictors of time to first-line treatment failure. Result. The median survival time to virological failure was 30 months with IQR of 24.42 to 44.25. Baseline WHO stages 3 and 4 with AHR = 5.69 (95% CI: 2.07–15.66) and NVP-based NNRT at initial treatment with AHR = 2.72 (1.13–6.54) were the independent predictors of time to treatment failure. Conclusion. The median survival time of first-line antiretroviral treatment failure was moderate in the study area as compared to other studies. The incidence density of treatment failure in this study was low as compared to other studies. The finding also demonstrated that children treated with nevirapine-based nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors at initial and advanced WHO clinical stages at baseline were at higher risk of treatment failure.

Abstract Background Postpartum contraceptives during the first year after delivery is a key service for women to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality by ensuring safe birth intervals. This process evaluation aimed to assess the availability, compliance, and accommodation of Post-Partum Contraceptives (PPC) and the experience of women’s contraception in the first 12 months postpartum in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (ACSH). Methods A case study evaluation design with a mixed method was employed from February 16/2020 to Mar 30, 2020. Direct observations, 12-month document reviews, and key informant interviews were conducted. The quantitative data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, variables with

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000822.].

BackgroundAcute malnutrition is a severe public health issue caused by poor nutrition over a short period of time. It is a powerful predictor of mortality. The Gambella region’s risk factors for acute malnutrition, however, are not well understood. Thus, the risk factors for acute malnutrition were identified in this study.MethodsA facility-based unmatched-case control study design was conducted in public hospitals in Gambella town from February 15 to March 30, 2019. A total of 85 cases and 170 controls were included in the study. According to the average monthly caseload, children between the ages of 6 and 59 months were distributed among the public hospitals. Then, cases and controls were chosen using a systematic random sampling technique. A standardized, previously tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. EPI-data version 3.1 was used to enter the data, which was subsequently exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05 for the bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions that were employed.ResultsHousehold income of

With expanding pediatric antiretroviral therapy access, children will begin to experience treatment failure and require second-line therapy. In resource-limited settings, treatment failure is often diagnosed based on the clinical or immunological criteria which occur way after the occurrence of virological failure. Previous limited studies have evaluated immunological and clinical failure without considering virological failure in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to investigate time to first-line antiretroviral treatment failure and its predictors in Shashamene town health facilities with a focus on virological criteria. Methods . A retrospective cohort study was conducted in three health facilities of Shashamene town, Oromia Regional State, from March 1 to 26, 2019. Children aged less than 15 years living with HIV/AIDS that were enrolled on ART between January 1, 2011, and December 30, 2015, in Shashamene town health facilities were the study population. Data were extracted using a checklist, entered into EpiData version 3.1, and exported to SPSS version 20 for data analysis. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine the predictors of time to first-line treatment failure. Result . The median survival time to virological failure was 30 months with IQR of 24.42 to 44.25. Baseline WHO stages 3 and 4 with AHR = 5.69 (95% CI: 2.07-15.66) and NVP-based NNRT at initial treatment with AHR = 2.72 (1.13-6.54) were the independent predictors of time to treatment failure. Conclusion . The median survival time of first-line antiretroviral treatment failure was moderate in the study area as compared to other studies. The incidence density of treatment failure in this study was low as compared to other studies. The finding also demonstrated that children treated with nevirapine-based nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors at initial and advanced WHO clinical stages at baseline were at higher risk of treatment failure., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Endale Zenebe et al.)