Search

Gete Berihun,1,* Zebader Walle,2,* Daniel Teshome,3,* Leykun Berhanu,1 Mohammed Derso4 1Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 4Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Gete Berihun; Daniel Teshome, Email geteberihun@gmail.com; danigreatt19@gmail.comBackground: The COVID-19 vaccine is regarded as an effective measure for reducing the pandemic’s impact. But, COVID-19 disease burden reduction efforts are being affected by the rising vaccine resistance.Objective: To assess the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among college students in Dessie city, Northeastern Ethiopia.Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out among college students in Dessie town from July 1– 20, 2021. The association between independent and dependent variables was assessed by binary logistic regression analysis using crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio. Variables having p values of less than 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval were regarded as potential determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.Results: A total of 422 college students participated in the study with a response rate of 95.6%. More than half 226 (56.2%) of the participants had willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents who had history of chronic medical illness (AOR: 4.340, 95% CI: 1.166, 16.149), training on COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 4.755, 95% CI: 2.606, 6.674), history of regular vaccine uptake (AOR: 2.534, 95% CI: 1.412, 4.549), perception of COVID-19 severity (AOR: 4.109, 95% CI: 2.190, 7.710), perception that COVID-19 can be prevented by va

Alelgne Feleke,1 Metadel Adane,1 Asha Embrandiri,1 Gete Berihun,1 Zebader Walle,2 Awoke Keleb,1 Helmut Kloos3 1Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence: Alelgne Feleke; Metadel Adane, Email alelgnefe@gmail.com; metadel.adane2@gmail.comBackground: Knowledge, attitudes, and misconceptions of students about COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) prevention have been examined in relatively few studies. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions about COVID-19 prevention practices among high and preparatory school (grades 9 to 12) students in Dessie City, Ethiopia.Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study used a pre-tested structured questionnaire and direct observations from March 1 to 30, 2021 in 5 high and preparatory school students in Dessie City, Ethiopia. The sample size was proportionally allocated in each school based on the number of students registered in the first semester, stratified by grade level, and section. Data analysis employed 3 binary logistic regression models (Models I, II and III) with 95% CI (confidence interval). Bivariate analysis (crude odds ratio [COR]) and multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]) were used. Variables with P-values < 0.3 in the bivariate analysis were retained in the multivariable logistic regression analysis for each model. Variables with significance levels P< 0.05 in the multivariable analysis of each model was identified as significant factors.Results: The levels of good knowledge, positive attitudes, and low misconceptions were 74.8%, 60.2%, and 56.1%, respectively. After adjusting for the covariates, grade 12, positive attitude and living in households with more than 5 members were identified as

Gete Berihun,1 Zebader Walle,2 Leykun Berhanu,1 Daniel Teshome3 1Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gete Berihun Email geteberihun@gmail.comBackground: Despite the implementation of different COVID-19 prevention measures, the incidence of the disease continues to rise. Hence, vaccines have been taken as the best option for controlling the transmission of the disease. Although the approved COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective, multiple beliefs and misconceptions still exist influencing its acceptance.Objective: To assess the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and determinant factors among chronic patients visiting Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northeastern Ethiopia.Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was used among patients with chronic diseases visiting Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from May 1 to 20, 2021 using a consecutive sampling technique. Binary logistic regression analysis using crude odd ratio (COR) and adjusted odd ratio (AOR) was performed to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. Variables having p values of less than 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered as factors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.Results: A total of 416 respondents participated in the survey, with a response rate of 98.6%. About 59.4% of the respondents were willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants who had health insurance (AOR=1.812; 95% CI: 1.703– 3.059), knew anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 (AOR=2.482; 95% CI: 1.427– 4.317), having good knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR=6.890; 95% CI: 3.900– 120.17), and having a positive attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR=7.

Leykun Berhanu,1 Seid Tiku Mereta,2 Beje Gume,2 Tesfaye Kassa,3 Gete Berihun,1 Lelisa Sena Dadi,4 Sultan Suleman,5 Dechassa Tegegne,6 Assegid Getaneh,6 Habib Bedru7 1Department of Environmental Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 3School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jimma, Ethiopia; 4Department of Epidemiology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 5Department of Pharmacy, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 6Department of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 7Jimma Zone Livestock and Fishery Development Office, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Leykun Berhanu Email leyberhanuwu.edu.et@gmail.comBackground: In most cases, people pay more attention to the microbial quality of drinking water than the quality of water they used to wash hands. This may lead to the occurrence of various foodborne illnesses through the introduction of pathogenic microbes during preparation and serving of food.Objective: To determine the effect of microbial quality of washing water on the hand hygiene status of food handlers in Jimma town.Methods: Laboratory-based cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 150 food handlers were selected randomly for hand hygiene examination, and 150 water samples were collected aseptically from water storage tanks, food handlers used to wash their hands. The samples were subjected for microbiological analysis using standardized protocol. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to summarize the data and to determine the effect of microbial quality of water on hand hygiene of food handlers, respectively.Results: Among 150 food handlers included in the study, 104 (69.0%) of them were males and 64 (43.0%) of them aged between 35 and 50 years. On the other hand, 64 (42.7%) of the study participants had not attended formal education. About three-fourth of them used stored water to wash their hands, and a

Daniel Teshome,1 Chalachew Tiruneh,1 Leykun Berhanu,2 Gete Berihun2 1Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Daniel TeshomeDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, PO. BOX-1145, Dessie, EthiopiaTel +251 919158464Email danigreatt19@gmail.comIntroduction: The knowledge of basic medical science could help to remember a fact and be used to understand causal mechanisms of disease process that improve the accuracy of diagnostic formulations.Objective: To assess the perception and attitude of medical students towards basic medical science subjects along with retention rate and clinical relevance in Wollo University.Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed in Wollo University from September, 2020 to October, 2020. A pre-tested and structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. All opinions were rated using a positive-point Likert scale, which ranges from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.Results: A total of 153 students participated with a 100% response rate. Among them, 45 (29.4%), 38 (24.8%), 39 (25.5%), and 31 (20.3%) were PC-II, C-I, C-II, and Intern students, respectively. Ninety-six (62.7%) of medical students were very much interested in basic medical science subjects. But, 113 (73.9%) of them did not have plans to join the subjects as a future career. The main reasons in more than half 85 (55.7%) of the respondents were less financial growth followed by less chance of promotion 31 (20.3%). There were 66.7% of the students who considered anatomy as clinically relevant, whereas 53.6% and 47.1% considered physiology and biochemistry, respectively, to be clinically relevant. The number of

Leykun Berhanu,1 Gete Berihun,1 Zebader Walle,2 Daniel Teshome,3 Adinew Gizeyatu,1 Masresha Abebe,1 Seada Hassen,1 Ayechew Ademas,1 Birhanu Wagaye,4 Metadel Adane1 1Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Social and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 4Department of Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Leykun Berhanu Email leyberhanuwu.edu.et@gmail.comBackground: COVID-19 is a global health threat due to its rapid spread and ability to kill millions of people. The majority of pandemic-fighting approaches rely on prevention activities, which can be influenced by a variety of factors. Farmers are more vulnerable to COVID-19, so evaluating existing prevention practices and associated factors is critical to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic.Objective: To assess COVID-19 prevention practices and associated factors among farmers in peri-urban areas of Northeastern Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 409 selected farmers. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews and on-the-spot-observational checklist. Data were analyzed using bivariable logistic regression model at 95% CI (confidence interval). During the bivariable analysis (crude odds ratio [COR]), varibales having a p-value of less than 0.250 were included into the multivariable analysis (adjsuted odds ratio [AOR]). Factors associated with COVID-19 preventive practices were determined using a multivariable analysis at a p-value of 0.050.Results: Of 409 participants, 206 (63.6%), 157 (38.4%), and 117 (28.6%) of them had satisfactory knowledge, positive attitude, and good prevention practices about COVID-19, respective

Ayechew Ademas,1 Metadel Adane,1 Awoke Keleb,1 Gete Berihun,1 Mistir Lingerew,1 Tadesse Sisay,1 Seada Hassen,1 Melaku Getachew,1 Getu Tesfaw,2 Dejen Getaneh Feleke,3 Elsabeth Addisu,4 Leykun Berhanu,1 Masresha Abebe,1 Adinew Gizeyatu,1 Habtemariam Abate,5 Atimen Derso1 1Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 4Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 5Department of Environmental Health Regulatory Directorate, Addis Ababa Food Medicines and Health Care Control Authority, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Ayechew Ademas Email aayechew19@gmail.comBackground: Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) is affecting many people. Chronic patients are highly vulnerable to contracting an infection. Most people recover within a week, but chronic patients can face severe illness or death. The increasing of cases, complications, and mortality demands compulsory preventive measures. Therefore, this study was designed to identify major preventive practices and associated factors.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed from November to December 2020 among diabetics and HIV/AIDS follow-up clients in Dessie referral hospital. Data were entered into EpiData manager 4.6.0 version and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0 for data cleaning and analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done and an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for determining the strength of association.Results: Data were collected from 426 participants with a mean age of 46.54 years. The overall poor prevention practice rate of COVID-19 among diabetic and HIV/AIDS follow-up client

Gete Berihun,1 Zebader Walle,2 Daniel Teshome,3 Leykun Berhanu,1 Masresha Abebe,1 Ayechew Ademas,1 Adinew Gizeyatu,1 Awoke Keleb,1 Asmamaw Malede,1 Getaneh Atikilt,2 Abraham Teym,4 Metadel Adane1 1Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 4Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gete Berihun Email geteberihun@gmail.comIntroduction: COVID-19 has been a global public health problem since December 2019. Higher education institutions are risky areas for the transmission of COVID-19. But, still there is insufficient information on the prevention of the disease in this setting.Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and prevention practices towards COVID-19 among students of Ethiopian higher education institutions.Methods: Institutin -based cross-sectional study design was conducted from December 1 to 30, 2020 among randomly selected 407 undergraduate students from higher education institutions in Ethiopia. The outcome variables were knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19. Binary logistic regression models at 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the factors affecting knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19. In multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant and independently associated with outcome variables at 95% CI.Results: About 75.9% (95% CI: 72.2– 79.9%) of University students had a good knowledge, 62.4% (95% CI: 58.2– 67.1%) had a positive attitude, and 56.8% (95% CI: 52.6– 61.9%) had a good COVID-19 prevention practices. Students over the age of 30 (AOR=5.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 10.6), third-year students

Zebader Walle,1 Gete Berihun,2 Awoke Keleb,2 Daniel Teshome,3 Leykun Berhanu2 1Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 2Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gete Berihun Email geteberihun@gmail.comBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global public health crisis since December 2019. Health care professionals (HCP) are highly vulnerable for contracting the disease. Due to the absence of known treatment, prevention is the best option for controlling its transmission.Objective: The study aimed to assess COVID-19 prevention practices and determinant factors among HCP working in hospitals of South Gondar ZoneH, Northwestern Ethiopia.Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was used from July 1 to 30, 2020 among 372 HCPs. The participants were selected on random sampling technique basis. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V.25) software for data cleaning and analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between independent variables and prevention practice of COVID-19.Results: A total of 372 HCPs participated in the study with a response rate of 94.9%. Less than one-third 112 (30.1%) of the participants were females. About 308 (82.8%), 285 (76.6%), and 224 (60.2%) of the participants had good knowledge, positive attitude, and good prevention practice towards COVID-19, respectively. Being male (AOR =2.68; 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.50,4.81), 2– 5 years working experience (AOR= 4.61; 95% CI: 1.70,12.47), greater than five years working experience (AOR= 5.86; 95% CI: 2.01,17.05), age of 31– 40 years old (AOR= 2.49; 95% CI; 1.41,4.41), above 40 years (AOR= 6.94; 95% CI: 2.33–

Daniel Teshome,1 Chalachew Tiruneh,1 Leykun Berhanu,2 Gete Berihun,2 Zebader Walle Belete3 1Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 3Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Daniel TeshomeDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, PO. Box 1145, Dessie, EthiopiaTel +251 919158464Email danigreatt19@gmail.comIntroduction: Achyranthes aspera is one of the medicinal plants widely used for fertility control in the local health system of Ethiopia.Objective: Assessment of developmental toxicity of ethanolic extracts of leaves of Achyranthes aspera in rat embryos and fetuses.Methods: Fresh leaves were extracted by mixing the grinded powder with 70% ethanol. Then, the extract was given orally to gravid Wistar rats at doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg from day 6– 12 of gestation. On gestational days 12 and 20, embryos and fetuses were examined for developmental and gross malformations.Results: On day 12 embryos, the number of implantation sites and somites in 1000 mg/kg treated rats were significantly reduced. The number of implantation sites in pair-fed control and 1000 mg/kg groups was 11.2± 0.86 and 8.34± 0.65, respectively. Retarded development of hindlimb, forelimb, optic and olfactory systems was detected at a high dose. In addition, the number of branchial bar was significantly reduced in 1000 mg/kg dose. In near-term fetuses, significant reduction of litter weight and crown–rump length was seen at 1000 mg/kg dose. Crown–rump length in pair-fed control and 1000 mg/kg treated groups was 2.82± 0.17 cm and 2.31± 0.11 cm, respectively. Fetal resorptions and deaths in 1000 mg/kg were 1.45± 0.65 a