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Natnael Moges Misganaw,1 Girum Sebsbie,2 Mekonen Adimasu,2 Fekadeselassie Belege Getaneh,3 Getachew Arage,1 Fisha Alebel GebreEyesus,4 Wubet Alebachew Bayih,1 Ermias Sisay Chanie,1 Berihun Bantie,5 Gashaw Kerebeh,1 Dires Birhanu,6 Tadeg Jemere,7 Anteneh Mengist,8 Amare Kassaw1 1Debre Tabor University, College of Health Science, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Nursing, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 2Addis Ababa University, College of Health Science, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Nursing, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Wollo University, College of Health Science, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Nursing, Dessie, Ethiopia; 4Wolkite University, College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Nursing, Wolkite, Ethiopia; 5Debre Tabor University, College of Health Science, Department of Adult Health Nursing, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 6Dilla University, College of Health Science, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Nursing, Dilla, Ethiopia; 7Debre Tabor University, College of Health Science, Department of Biomedical Science, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 8Debre Tabor University, College of Health Science, Department of Public Health, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Natnael Moges Misganaw, Email natumoges611@gmail.comBackground: Esophageal atresia is an upper gastrointestinal tract developmental abnormality in which the upper and lower esophagus do not connect. Esophageal atresia has a higher incidence of death in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from 30% to 80%. In Ethiopia, infants with esophageal atresia had a higher mortality rate. The assessment of time to death and predictors of esophageal atresia can help to reduce newborn mortality.Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the time to death and predictors of neonates with esophageal atresia admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.Methods: An institutional-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 225 neonates diagnosed with esophageal atresia. The median survival time, Kaplan–Meier failure estimation curve, and Log rank test were computed. Bivariable and multivariable Cox regression hazards models were fitted to identify the predictors of time to death. Hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: In the study, the incidence density rate of neonates diagnosed with esophageal atresia was 5.5 (95% CI, 4.7– 6.4) per 100-neonates day. The median time to death was 11 days (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.92– 13.08). Birth weight < 2500 g (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=1.49, 95% CI, 1.02 − 2.21), having sepsis (AHR=1.67,95% CI, 1.15– 2.44), being malnourished (AHR = 1.61, 95% CI, 1.03 − 2.58), esophageal atretic neonates without surgery (AHR = 3.72, 95% CI, 1.34– 10.38), diagnosis time at > 48 hours of admission (AHR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.01– 2.15) and being dehydrated (AHR = 2.38, 95% CI, 1.63– 3.46) were significant predictors of time to death among esophageal atretic neonates.Conclusion: The findings in this study highlighted the necessity of early diagnosis, proper comorbidity treatment, and timely surgical intervention to reduce infant deaths due to esophageal atresia.Keywords: esophageal atresia, time to death, Ethiopia

Background: Early neonatal deaths, occurring within the first six days of life, remain a critical public health challenge. Understanding the trends and factors associated with this issue is crucial for designing effective interventions and achieving global health goals. This study aims to examine the trends in early neonatal mortality in Ethiopia and identify the key factors associated with changes in early neonatal mortality over time., Methods: This study utilized five consecutive Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey datasets from 2000 to 2019. To investigate the trends and identify factors influencing changes in early neonatal mortality over time, conducted a trend analysis and a logit-based multivariate decomposition analysis. Data management and analyses were performed using STATA version 17/MP software. All analyses were weighted to account for sampling probabilities and non-response. Statistical significance was determined at a two-sided p-value threshold of less than 0.05., Result: The analysis included a total of 12,260 weighted women from the 2000 survey and 5,527 weighted women from the 2019 survey. Over the study period, there was an overall downward trend in early neonatal mortality, decreasing from 34 deaths per 1000 live births in 2000 to 27 deaths per 1000 live births in 2019. The annual rate of reduction was estimated to be 1.03%. Approximately 45% of the observed decline in early neonatal mortality rate can be attributed to changes in population characteristics or endowments (E) during the study period. Factors such as the mother's age, maternal education, marital status, preceding birth interval, types of pregnancy, and the sex of the child significantly contributed to the compositional change in the early neonatal mortality rate., Conclusion: Over the past two decades, Ethiopia has seen a modest decline in early neonatal mortality, but this progress falls short of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) targets. To achieve the SDGs, the Ministry of Health and its partners should intensify efforts to reduce early neonatal mortality. Strategies like preventing early/late pregnancies, promoting appropriate marriage timing, and prioritizing education could help further reduce early neonatal deaths. Further research is also needed to explore the factors driving this issue., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Ethiopia implemented measures to reduce preterm mortality, and much is currently being done to avoid preterm death, yet preterm death remains the top cause of infant death. As a result, evaluating median time of recovery and determinants will provide information to planners and policymakers to design strategies to improve preterm survival., Methods: Hospital-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted in four selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa from September 2018 to August 2021. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Epi-data 4.6 and STATA Version 16 were used for data entry and analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve, log-rank test, and median time were computed. To find predictors of time to recovery, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted, and variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 466 preterm babies were included in the study of which 261 (56.1%) preterm neonates survived and were discharged from NICUs. The median time to recovery was 10 days (95% CI: 9-12). Low birth weight (Adjusted hazard-ratio [AHR]: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.2-3.06), normal birth weight (AHR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.16-3.76), late preterm (AHR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02-3.55), no hospital-acquired infection (AHR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.36-3.5), no thrombocytopenia (AHR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.27-3.02), continuous positive airway pressure (AHR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48-0.91), and kangaroo mother care (AHR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.48-2.81) were found to be independent predictors of time to recovery of preterm babies., Discussion/conclusion: The recovery rate was found relatively low. Several predictors of preterm recovery time were discovered in the study. The majority of predictors were preventable or treatable. Therefore, emphasis should be given towards prevention and early anticipation, and management of these predictors. Studies to assess the quality of care and cause of low survival rate of preterm infants are recommended., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Preterm infants are highly susceptible to infections, which significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of topical emollient oil application in preventing infections among preterm infants., Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Clinical trials, Epistemonikos, HINARI and Global Index Medicus) and other sources. A total of 2185 articles were identified and screened for eligibility. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomised controlled trials. Data analysis was performed using StataCrop MP V.17 software. Heterogeneity among the studies was evaluated using the I 2 and Cochrane Q test statistics. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist guided the presentation of the results., Results: Of 2185 retrieved articles from initial searches, 11 met eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. A random effects meta-analysis revealed that infants who received massages with emollient oils had a 21% reduced risk of infection (risk ratio=0.79, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.97, I 2 =0.00%). Subgroup analyses indicated that preterm babies who received topical emollient oil massages with coconut oil, administered twice a day for more than 2 weeks, had a lower likelihood of acquiring an infection compared with their non-massaged counterparts., Conclusion: It is quite evident from this analysis that topical emollient oil application in preterm neonates is most likely effective in preventing infection. However, further studies, particularly from the African continent, are warranted to support universal recommendations., Competing Interests: Competing interests: No, there are no competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The burden of parallel and overlapping infections of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), particularly HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are disproportionately higher among pregnant women globally, leading to unwanted consequences. These infections pose significant public health challenges as they can be transmitted vertically to the offspring. This study aimed to determine the sero-epidemiological patterns and predictors of STIs (HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV) among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics at ten health facilities in North-eastern Ethiopia., Methods: An institution-based multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2022 among 422 pregnant women selected using simple random sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics and predictor variables of STIs through face-to-face interviews. Venous blood was collected and it was tested for anti-HIV, HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-Treponemal antibodies using immunochromatographic test kits. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors of STIs. Variables with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: The overall prevalence of STIs was 23.9% (95% CI = 20.08-28.25). The prevalence of parallel infections of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis were 6.4%, 9%, 1.7%, and 6.9%, respectively. The overlapping infections for HIV-HBV was 4% but HIV-HCV overlapping infection wasn't found. Increased age, tattooing, multiple sexual partners, exposure to unsafe sex, and RH status were independent factors of HBV. Likewise, increased age, rural residence, illiteracy, and tattooing were independently associated with HCV. Moreover, rural residence and a history of tattooing were independent predictors for the acquisition of HIV, whereas multiple sexual partners and RH status were found to be significant predictors of syphilis infection among pregnant women., Conclusion: The magnitude of overlapping and parallel STD infections is still continued to be a problem among pregnant women. Moreover, there were overlapping infections of HBV-HIV. Therefore, continuous screening of pregnant women for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and C infections should be performed, and special attention should be given to pregnant women who have co-infections., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Gedefie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are the leading causes of global liver-related morbidity and mortality. Waste handlers are one of the high-risk groups for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus acquisition. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the pooled prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among waste handlers in Ethiopia., Methods: Articles were extensively searched in bibliographic databases and gray literature using entry terms or phrases. Studies meeting eligibility criteria were extracted in MS Excel and exported to STATA version 14 software for statistical analysis. A random-effects model was used to compute the pooled magnitude of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. Heterogeneity was quantified by using the I 2 value. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of a single study on pooled effect size., Result: Of the 116 studies identified, 8 studies were selected for meta-analysis. All studies reported hepatitis B virus, while 5 studies reported hepatitis C virus infection among waste handlers. The overall pooled prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection among waste handlers in Ethiopia was 5.07% (2.0-8.15) and 1.46% (0.52-2.4), respectively. Moreover, the pooled prevalence of lifetime hepatitis B virus exposure among Ethiopian waste handlers was 33.98% (95% CI: 21.24-46.72). Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection were not statistically associated with the type of waste handlers, that is, there was no difference between medical and nonmedical waste handlers., Prospero Registration: CRD42023398686., Conclusion: The pooled prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection among waste handlers in Ethiopia was intermediate and moderate, respectively. This showed that there is a strong need to scale up preventive efforts and strategic policy directions to limit the spread of these viruses. Moreover, we also conclude that handling healthcare and domestic waste is associated with a similar risk of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: Synthesizing current evidence on interventions to improve survival outcomes in preterm infants is crucial for informing programs and policies. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of topical emollient oil application on the weight of preterm infants., Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted. To identify relevant studies, comprehensive searches were conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Clinical trials, ProQuest Central, Epistemonikos, and gray literature sources. The inclusion criteria were based on the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes) format. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). Data analysis was performed using StataCrop MP V.17 software, which included evaluating heterogeneity, conducting subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression. The findings were reported in accordance with the PRISMA checklist, and the review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023413770)., Results: Out of the initial pool of 2734 articles, a total of 18 studies involving 1454 preterm neonates were included in the final analysis. Fourteen of these studies provided data that contributed to the calculation of the pooled difference in mean weight gain in preterm neonates. The random effects meta-analysis revealed a significant pooled difference in mean weight gain of 52.15 grams (95% CI: 45.96, 58.35), albeit with high heterogeneity (I2 > 93.24%, p 0.000). Subgroup analyses were conducted, revealing that preterm infants who received massages three times daily with either sunflower oil or coconut oil exhibited greater mean differences in weight gain. Meta-regression analysis indicated that the type of emollient oil, duration of therapy, and frequency of application significantly contributed to the observed heterogeneity. A sensitivity analysis was performed, excluding two outlier studies, resulting in a pooled mean weight difference of 78.57grams (95% CI: 52.46, 104.68). Among the nine studies that reported adverse events, only two mentioned occurrences of rash and accidental slippage in the intervention groups., Conclusion: The available evidence suggests that the application of topical emollient oil in preterm neonates is likely to be effective in promoting weight gain, with a moderate-to-high level of certainty. Based on these findings, it is recommended that local policymakers and health planners prioritize the routine use of emollient oils in newborn care for preterm infants. By incorporating emollient oils into standard care protocols, healthcare providers can provide additional support to promote optimal growth and development in preterm infants., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Getaneh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Neonatal mortality within the first few days of life is a pressing issue in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Despite efforts to achieve the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals, the rate of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia has increased from 29 to 33 deaths per 1000 live births. This study aimed to investigate and identify significant determinants of neonatal mortality within the first 72 h of life in Ethiopia. Utilizing data from the 2019 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, we employed Generalized Poisson regression analysis following rigorous model fitness assessment. Our study encompassed 5527 weighted live-born neonates. Among women in their reproductive years, 3.1% (n = 174) experienced at least one very early neonatal death. Multiple births (Incidence Risk Ratio (IRR) = 3.48; CI = 1.76, 6.887) and birth order six or above (IRR = 2.23; CI = 1.008, 4.916) were associated with an increased risk of neonatal death within the first 72 h. Conversely, household size (IRR = 0.72; CI = 0.586, 0.885) and additional feeding practices (IRR = 0.33; CI = 0.188, 0.579) were found to mitigate the risk of very early neonatal mortality per mother in Ethiopia. Interventions targeting the identified risk factors and promoting protective factors can contribute to reducing very early neonatal mortality rates and improving the well-being of mothers and their newborns. Further research and implementation of evidence-based strategies are needed to address these challenges and ensure better neonatal outcomes in Ethiopia., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate the pooled prevalence and identify risk factors of congenital anomalies among neonates in Africa., Methods: The pooled birth prevalence of congenital anomalies was the first outcome of this review, and the pooled measure of association between congenital anomalies and related risk factors in Africa was the second. We conducted a thorough search of the databases PubMed/ Medline, PubMed Central, Hinary, Google, Cochrane Library, African Journals Online, Web of Science and Google Scholar up to 31 January 2023. The JBI appraisal checklist was used to evaluate the studies. STATA V.17 was used for the analysis. The I 2 test and Eggers and Beggs tests were used to measure study heterogeneity and publication bias respectively. The pooled prevalence of congenital anomalies was calculated using DerSimonian and Laird random-effect model. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and meta-regression were also performed., Result: This systematic review and meta-analysis includes 32 studies with a total of 626 983 participants. The pooled prevalence of congenital anomalies was 23.5 (95% CI 20 to 26.9) per 1000 newborns. Not taking folic acid (pooled OR=2.67; 95% CI (1.42 to 5.00)), history of maternal illness (pooled OR=2.44, 95% CI (1.2 to 4.94)), history of drug use (pooled OR=2.74, 95% CI (1.29 to 5.81)), maternal age (>35 years.) (Pooled OR=1.97, 95% CI (1.15 to 3.37)), drinking alcohol (pooled OR=3.15, 95% CI (1.4 to 7.04)), kchat chewing (pooled OR=3.34, 5% CI (1.68 to 6.65)) and urban residence (pooled OR=0.58, 95% CI (0.36 to 0.95)) were had significant association with congenital anomalies., Conclusion: The pooled prevalence of congenital abnormalities in Africa was found to be substantial, with significant regional variation. Appropriate folate supplementation during pregnancy, proper management of maternal sickness, proper antenatal care, referring healthcare personnel before using drugs, avoiding alcohol intake and kchat chewing are all important in lowering the occurrence of congenital abnormalities among newborns in Africa., Competing Interests: Competing interests: No, there are no competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The primary method for preventing health and health-related problems in diabetic people is glycemic control. Numerous studies have documented the importance of glycemic control and the factors that influence it. However, the results are dispersed. This study sought to identify the prevalence of poor glycemic control and associated factors in Ethiopia. Findings will be crucial to reduce the burden of poor glycemic control. Comprehensive search was performed from databases: PubMed, Global Health, CINAHL, IRIS, and FSTA. Gray literature sources were also explored. This document was prepared based on the PRISMA flowchart. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022296583). STATA software was used for data analyses and I 2 test with Cochrane Q statistics, and forest plot were used to verify heterogeneity. When the I 2 value was higher than 50% and the p-value was 0.05, heterogeneity was deemed significant. To confirm publication bias, a funnel plot with an Egger's regression test was performed. The factors related to poor glycemic control were reported using pooled odds ratios (POR) and a 95% confidence interval. In this study, 46 papers totaling 15 457 people were used to calculate the pooled estimates. It was determined that 32.6% (95% CI: 28.3, 36.9) and 61.92% (95% CI: 57.92, 65.92) of the subjects, respectively, had good and poor glycemic control. Being male protected against poor glycemic control, while poor diet adherence, lack of exercise, poor adherence to anti-diabetic medications, and smoking increased the likelihood of poor glycemic control. Lack of formal education, no family history of diabetes, lack of glucometer for blood glucose monitoring, comorbidity, being overweight and prolonged length of stay with diabetes all contributed to poor glycemic control. Ethiopia had a fairly high rate of poor glycemic control. The main determinants are lifestyle factors. Therefore, it is important to focus on behavioral interventions.

Background: Limited knowledge on the proportion of admission hypothermia and factors of death in hypothermic preterm neonates is hindering early and appropriate interventions in Ethiopia. Thus, studies on the proportion of admission hypothermia and factors of death in hypothermic preterm neonates are critical to enhancing preterm infants' survival., Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 398 participants using the systematic sampling method from October 10, 2021, to December 15, 2022. A pretested data extraction tool was used to collect data. EpiData version 4.6 and STATA version 16 were used for data entry and analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated the association between independent and outcome variables with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Hosmer and Lemeshow test and variance inflation factor were assessed to check model fitness and collinearity, respectively. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Result: Of the 398 admitted preterm neonates, 331(83.2%) had hypothermia at admission. Factors that were significantly associated with mortality included outborn babies [Adjusted hazard ratio (AOR) = 2.18 : 95% CI (1.03-4.62)], GA less than 32 weeks [AOR = 6.64 : 95% CI (1.87-13.58)], weight less than 1500 gram [AOR = 7.91 : 95% CI (1.21-15.38)], thrombocytopenia [AOR = 3.36 : 95% CI (1.49-7.58)], and kangaroo mother care [AOR = 0.38 : 95% CI (0.16-0.88)]., Conclusion: The proportion of admission hypothermia was high. Outborn babies, birth weight less than 1500 gram, gestational age < 32 weeks, being thrombocytopenic, and lack of kangaroo mother care were identified as risk factors for hypothermic preterm neonatal mortality. Preterm labor prevention, improved inborn delivery, and kangaroo mother care may alleviate the high proportion of admission hypothermia and related mortalities in preterm neonates., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Fekadeselassie Belege Getaneh et al.)

Background: Abdominopelvic vascular structures are exposed to be compressed by adjacent organs or might cause compression of the adjacent hollow viscera. Most of these conditions are asymptomatic and they are detected on imaging incidentally. However, when they are symptomatic, they can lead to a variety of uncommon syndromes in the abdomen and pelvis. Aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of incidental abdominopelvic vascular compressions on computed tomography., Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. All the CT was performed using 64 slice machine. All computed tomography scan of the abdomen between January and April 2019 were evaluated. Data were collected by evaluating abdominal Computed Tomographic scans from Picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 25.0 software., Results: Out of 623 multi detector abdominopelvic computed tomography (MDCT) performed between January 2019 and April 2019; a total of 513 (N = 513) patients were included in the study. This study group comprised of 277 (54 %) females and 236 male (46%) patients. Mean age was 38 ± 20 (mean ± SD). We identified 35(6.8%) participants with imaging features of Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) compressions and a 34(6.6%) with imaging features of nutcracker phenomenon. The celiac artery was compressed by median arcuate ligament (MAL) in 22(4.3%) of them., Conclusion: Incidentally detected intraabdominal vascular compressions are common to asymptomatic patients. This result emphasizes that, vascular compression syndromes diagnosis should not be made on imaging alone., (© 2022 Mulugeta Getu Kassa and Ferehiwot Bekele Getaneh.)

Background: Globally, perinatal asphyxia (PNA) is a significant cause of most neonatal deaths. Similarly, the burden of birth asphyxia in Ethiopia remains high (22.52%) and has been noted the second leading cause of neonatal mortality. Thus, researches on survival status and predictors of perinatal asphyxia are critical to tackle it. Therefore, the current study intended to determine the survival status and predictors of asphyxia among neonates admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units of public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Methods: Hospital-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted in four selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa from January 2016 to December 2020. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Epi-data 4.6 and STATA Version 16 was used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curve, log-rank test and Median time were computed. To find the predictors of time to recovery, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted, and variables with a P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Finally, the Schoenfeld residual test was used to check overall model fitness., Result: Four hundred eleven admitted asphyxiated babies were followed a total of 3062 neonate-days with a minimum of 1 h to a maximum of 28 days. The Overall incidence density rate of survival was 10 (95% CI: 0.08-0.11) per 100 neonate-days of observation with a median recovery time of 8 days (95% CI: 7.527-8.473). Low birth weight (Adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47-0.96), stage II hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (AHR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51-0.97), stage III HIE (AHR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.27-0.71), seizure (AHR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38-0.97), thrombocytopenia (AHR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24-0.80) and calcium gluconate (AHR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58-0.99) were found to be independent predictors of time to recovery of asphyxiated neonates., Conclusion: In the current findings, the recovery time was prolonged compared to others finding. This implies early prevention, strict monitoring and taking appropriate measures timely is mandatory before babies transferred into highest stage of HIE and managing complications are recommended to hasten recovery time and increase survival of neonates., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Ultrasonography (USG) guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a safe, rapid and accurate procedure for establishing diagnosis of intraabdominal lesions. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy, and factors affecting the yield of USG guided FNAC. In addition, we intent to analyze the various intraabdominal masses based on location and cytological features., Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of radiology, between September 2019 - September 2020. Patients' preparation and USG guided FNAC procedures were performed according to the departments protocol. Chi-square test was used to assess the significance of association between independent and dependent variables., Results: Seventy-four USG guided FNAC were performed. The liver was aspirated in 34 (45.9%) followed by omentum, nine (12.2%), abdominal lymph nodes in seven (9.5%) and ovaries in four (5.4%) of the cases. The sample was diagnostically adequate in 56 (75.7%). Malignancy was diagnosed in 52 (70.3%) followed by inflammatory 3(4.1%) and one (1.4%) case of indeterminate spindle cell neoplasm (1.4%). There were no statistically significant associations between the diagnostic yield and location of the lesion, the size of the lesion, the sampling technique, the number of needle passes and qualification of the operators., Conclusion: USG guided FNAC provides a good diagnostic yield and there is no difference in diagnostic yield between the various location of the lesions, sampling techniques, number of needle passes and qualification of the operators. A larger size study is recommended to better analyze factors affecting the diagnostic yield of this procedure., (© 2021 Simon, Shiferaw Melese, et al.)

Background: Neck pain is a common health problem throughout the world causing significant individual disability and economic burden on health care facility. Many factors are mentioned as a cause or association in relation to neck pain, of which degenerative and posttraumatic cause are the main ones. The aim of this study is to assess cervical spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) patterns in patients presented with neck pain., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 160 patients who had cervical spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for evaluation of a neck pain was done. The study was conducted between February to August 2018 at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. The patients' clinical history and magnetic resonance imaging reports were reviewed from their medical records. All patients who have cervical spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for a neck pain were included in the study. Those patients with acute traumatic neck pain were excluded., Results: From a total of 160 patients, 71(44.4%) were males and 89(55.6%) were females. Degenerative cervical spine findings such as intervertebral disc degenerations were seen in 127(79.4%) patients. Non-degenerative imaging findings such as neoplasm and infection were seen in 10(6.3%) patients only. The MRI was normal in 23(14.4%) of them., Conclusion: The most common cause of neck pain from this study is degenerative changes of the cervical spine, which was predominant in the older age groups. Non-degenerative causes such as neoplasm and infection were less common findings., (© 2021 Tewodros Balcha, et al.)

Background: Lithopedion is a word derived from the Greek words lithos, meaning stone, and paidion, meaning child, to describe a fetus that has become stony or petrified. Lithopedion is a rare complication of pregnancy which occurs when a fetus dies and becomes too large to be reabsorbed by the body. This entity in rare circumstances can be challenging for physicians to diagnose since it has a range of clinical manifestations., Case Presentation: We present a case of a 55-year-old, gravida IV para III, Ethiopian woman from Ethiopia with a retained fetus and vesicovaginal fistula after an obstructed labor and a neglected intrauterine fetal demise of approximately 22 years. The diagnosis was confirmed by suggestive clinical history, physical examination findings, and an abdominopelvic computed tomography scan. Laparotomy and removal of the lithopedion was done and our patient was sent to a fistula hospital for vesicovaginal fistula repair., Conclusion: This case is a rare phenomenon in which the dead fetus remained in the uterus for a long time after a neglected obstructed labor and uterine rupture.

Background: Malignant lymphoma is a common primary hematopoietic malignancy. Cross sectional imaging is used commonly. The wide spread availability and diagnostic potential of ultrasound (US) place it at the forefront in the setting of resource limited countries that do not have access to the full range of imaging modalities and in which patients frequently present in the late stages of diseases., Objective: Assess the patterns of abdominal organ involvement and ultrasound findings in patients with abdominal lymphoma., Material and Methods: 69 consecutive patients who came to the US unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) with the diagnosis of lymphoma were scanned. All examinations were performed by the authors based on standard scanning techniques. Cine and spot images were stored for analysis and finding recorded on a preprepared and pretested format., Results: Eighty nine percent of the patients were below the age of 60 and 75% were males. Chest x-ray and US were the modalities commonly used, while only 6 of 69 had computed tomography (CT) scans. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma account for 81% of the cases. Lymph nodes were the most common organ involved and abdominal nodes accounted for 61% of the cases. Homogenous and hypoechoic echo appearances were seen in 52% and their pattern of involvement comprised multiple discrete nodes. Comparable overall patterns of involvement were seen in both pathologically confirmed and unconfirmed lymphoma cases. Liver followed by spleen was the most common abdominal organ involved, and organ enlargement and/or multiple variable sized hypoechoic lesions were the most common US findings., Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the continued role of US for lymphoma patients. The US findings and pattern of organ involvement was found to be comparable with previous studies.