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Abstract Background Despite the positive impact of adhering to the new antenatal care model on pregnancy outcomes and maternal health service uptake, women in resource-limited settings exhibit low levels of compliance with this recommendation. Previous studies on women’s adherence to the new antenatal care recommendation have been limited to individual countries, with no evidence available at Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) level. Therefore, this study sought to investigate compliance with the 2016 WHO’s recommendation of at least eight antenatal care contacts among women in SSA countries and identify its determinants. Methods The study utilized a weighted sample of 101,983 women who had received antenatal care during their index pregnancy, drawn from recent DHS data of sixteen SSA countries. A multilevel mixed-effect analysis was conducted to identify factors that influence compliance with new antenatal care recommendations. Model comparison was performed using deviance and log-likelihood values, and statistical significance was determined at a P-value of less than 0.05. Results The level of compliance with the recommended antenatal care contacts among women in SSA was 9.9% (95% CI: 9.7-10.1%), with the highest rate in Sierra Leone (26.1%) and lowest in Rwanda (

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global health concern, causing over 35 million deaths, with 97% occurring in developing nations, particularly impacting Sub-Saharan Africa. While HIV testing is crucial for early treatment and prevention, existing research often focuses on specific groups, neglecting general adult testing rates. This study aims to identify predictors of HIV testing uptake among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. Method Data were obtained from the official Demographic and Health Survey program database, which used a multistage cluster sampling technique to collect the survey data. In this study, a weighted sample of 283,936 adults was included from thirteen Sub-Saharan African countries. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of HIV testing uptake. Akaike’s information criteria guided model selection. Adjusted odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals determined significant predictor variables. Result Among adults in Sub-Saharan African countries, the prevalence of HIV testing uptake was 65.01% [95% CI (64.84%, 65.17%)]. Influential factors included male sex [AOR: 0.51, 95% CI (0.49,0.53)], varying odds ratios across age groups (20–24 [AOR: 3.3, 95% CI (3.21, 3.46) ], 25–29 [AOR: 4.4, 95% CI (4.23, 4.65)], 30–34 [AOR: 4.6, 95%CI (4.40, 4.87)], 35–39 [AOR: 4.0, 95%CI (3.82, 4.24)], 40–44 [AOR: 3.7, 95%CI (3.50, 3.91)], 45–49 [AOR: 2.7, 95%CI (2.55, 2.87)], 50+ [AOR: 2.7, 95%CI (2.50, 2.92)]), marital status (married [AOR: 3.3, 95%CI (3.16, 3.46)], cohabiting [AOR: 3.1, 95% CI (2.91, 3.28)], widowed/separated/divorced [AOR: 3.4, 95%CI (3.22, 3.63)]), female household headship (AOR: 1.28, 95%CI (1.24, 1.33)), education levels (primary [AOR: 3.9, 95%CI (3.72, 4.07)], secondary [AOR: 5.4, 95%CI (5.16, 5.74)], higher [AOR: 8.0, 95%CI (7.27, 8.71)]), media exposure (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.32, 1.43)), wealth index (middle [AOR: 1.20, 95%CI (1.17, 1.27)], richer [AOR: 1.50, 95%CI (1.45, 1.62)]), Having discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHIV [AOR: 0.4; 95% CI (0.33, 0.37)], had multiple sexual partners [AOR: 1.2; 95% CI (1.11, 1.28)], had comprehensive knowledge about HIV [AOR: 1.6; 95% CI (1.55, 1.67)], rural residence (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.28, 1.45)), and lower community illiteracy (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.31, 1.50)) significantly influenced HIV testing uptake in the region. Conclusion This study highlights the need for tailored interventions to address disparities in HIV testing uptake among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa and progress towards the achievement of 95-95-95 targets by 2030. Thus, tailored interventions addressing key factors are crucial for enhancing testing accessibility and emphasizing awareness campaigns, easy service access, and targeted education efforts to improve early diagnosis, treatment, and HIV prevention in the region.

Abstract Background Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits for infants, mothers, and the community, making it the best intervention for reducing infant mortality and morbidity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends initiating breastfeeding within one hour after birth and exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months. This study investigated the trend, spatio-temporal variation, and determinants of spatial clustering of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Ethiopia from 2011 to 2019. Methods Data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), which was conducted in 2011, 2016, and 2019, were analyzed utilizing a weighted sample of 10,616 children aged 0–23 years for EIBF and 2,881 children aged 0–5 months for EBF. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was used to measure whether EIBF and EBF were dispersed, clustered, or randomly distributed and Kriging interpolation was employed to predict the outcome variables in the unmeasured areas. Spatial scan statistics were used to identify spatial clusters with a high prevalence of cases. Both global and local regression modeling techniques were employed to examine the spatial relationships between the explanatory variables and the dependent variables. Results The trend analysis revealed a notable increase in the prevalence of EIBF from 51.8% in 2011 to 71.9% in 2019. Similarly, the prevalence of EBF increased from 52.7% in 2011 to 58.9% in 2019. Spatial analysis demonstrated significant spatial variation in both EIBF and EBF throughout the country. Cold spots or clusters with a low prevalence of EIBF were observed consistently in the Tigray and Amhara regions, and significant cold spot areas of EBF were observed consistently in the Afar and Somali regions. Multiscale geographically weighted regression analysis revealed significant predictors of spatial variations in EIBF, including the religious affiliation of being a follower of the orthodox religion, parity of 1–2, absence of antenatal care visits, and delivery via cesarean section. Conclusions Despite the increase in both EIBF and EBF rates over time in Ethiopia, these rates still fall below the national target. To address this issue, the government should prioritize public health programs aimed at improving maternal healthcare service utilization and maternal education. It is essential to integrate facility-level services with community-level services to achieve optimal breastfeeding practices. Specifically, efforts should be made to promote breastfeeding among mothers who have delivered via cesarean section. Additionally, there should be a focus on encouraging antenatal care service utilization and adapting maternal healthcare services to accommodate the mobile lifestyle of pastoralist communities. These steps will contribute to enhancing breastfeeding practices and achieving better outcomes for maternal and child health.

Varietal differences and stages of crop harvest have great contributions to biomass quantity and quality of maize stovers, however, little/no studies have been done in these regards. We evaluated three maize varieties: Jibat, Kuleni, and Kolba for their morphological characteristics, dry matter production, and feed quality harvested at milk and dough stages for two years in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Variety had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the measured morphological traits except for cob length (CL). Plant height (PH) and dry matter yield (DMY) were significantly (P<0.001) influenced by year at both harvest stages. The DMY achieved at the milk and dough stages significantly increased by 22.6 and 36.3% in 2020 compared to 2019. At both stages, Kolba and Jibat recorded significantly higher number of cobs per plant, and these varieties also achieved longer leaf lengths at the milk stage than kuleni. We found insignificant (P>0.05) differences among varieties for DMY at milk and dough stages. The fiber contents (NDF, ADF, and ADL) were influenced by varieties only at the milk stage. Thus, Jibat and Kuleni could be appropriate for feed with better quality when harvested at the milk stage. After removing the green cobs for human consumption, the three varieties are also used as animal feed at the dough stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teenage pregnancy remains a critical public health issue in developing countries, significantly impacting maternal health. In Kenya, despite an expected decrease in teenage pregnancy rates from 18% in 2014 to 15% in 2022, evidence on its prevalence and associated factors is still limited. This study utilized data from the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, analysing 6,390 participants through multilevel binary logistic regression. The findings revealed a 15.3% prevalence (95%CI: 14.4, 16.2%) and identified key factors linked to teenage pregnancy, including being aged 18–19, higher education, contraceptive use, unemployment, wealth status, media exposure, and a higher proportion of uneducated individuals. The study underscores the urgent need for strategic investment in policy development and evaluation to enhance adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Targeted interventions should prioritize economically disadvantaged households, focusing on maternal education and empowerment to reduce teenage pregnancies by 2030.

ABSTRACTDespite the ongoing global vaccination campaign aimed at preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) related health issues, the uptake of the HPV vaccine remains unacceptably low in developing regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and associated factors of HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent school girls in SSA. Electronic bio-medical databases were explored. Pooled prevalence, publication bias, meta-regression, sub-group, and sensitivity analysis were performed. The estimated pooled prevalence of HPV vaccine uptake was 28.53% [95% CI: (5.25, 51.81)]. Having good knowledge and a positive attitude was significantly associated with HPV vaccine uptake in SSA. Subgroup analysis revealed the highest uptake was 62.52% from Kenya and the lowest was 3.77% in Nigeria. The HPV vaccine uptake is low. It underscores the need for community education, school-based immunization, and education programs that promote the uptake of the vaccine to increase coverage.

ABSTRACTThis study was carried out to determine the effects of supplementing Commelina forage species on nutrient uptake, weight gain, and economic viability in Black Head Ogaden lambs. Twenty yearling lambs were used in four treatments with five replicates in randomized complete block design. The treatments included Teff straw + 120 g dried Moringa stenopetala leaves (DMSL) for treatment 1 (T1), Teff straw + 120 g DMSL + 300 g C.benghalensis (T2), Teff straw + 120 g DMSL + 300 g C.imberbis (T3) and Teff straw + 120 g DMSL + 300 g concentrate (T4). A 60-day feeding trial was followed by a 10-day digestibility investigation. The study used SAS 9.0 for data analysis; the Duncan multiple range test for mean separation and partial budget analysis for financially feasibility testing. With better responses in T4 followed by T3, T2, and T1, supplementation significantly improved total DM, nutritional intakes, and apparent digestibility (P

BackgroundDespite various interventions to combat child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, wasting remains a critical public health concern for children aged 6–59 months. Wasting is a significant predictor of child survival and development, with a heightened risk of mortality among children. However, there is a lack of recent comprehensive data on the prevalence, severity level, and factors contributing to wasting in this age group.ObjectiveTo identify the severity levels of wasting and its individual and community-level factors contributing to wasting among children aged 6–59 months in Sub-Saharan African countries.MethodsThis research utilized Demographic and Health Survey data from 34 Sub-Saharan African countries, spanning the period from 2007 to 2022. The study included a weighted sample of 180,317 6–59-month-old children. We employed a multilevel proportional odds model to identify factors predicting the severity of wasting. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported to demonstrate significant relationships (p

Abstract Background Women’s high-risk fertility behavior (HRFB), which is characterized by narrow birth intervals, high birth order, and younger maternal age at birth, have been scientifically reported to have detrimental effects on the mother and child’s health. To date, there has been limited research into the underlying factors contributing to high-risk fertility behavior in Kenya. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with high-risk fertility behavior among women of reproductive age in Kenya. Method The 2022 Kenyan Demography and Health Survey data was used for the current study. This study included 15,483 women of reproductive age. To account for the clustering effects of DHS data and the binary nature of the outcome variable, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was applied. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported to declare the statistical significance. In addition, the model that had the lowest deviance was the one that best fit the data. Results The overall prevalence of HRFB among Kenyan women were 70.86% (95%CI = 69.96, 71.40). Women with primary, secondary, and higher educational levels, Protestant and Muslim religion followers, women whose husbands/partners had secondary and higher educational levels, a high household wealth index, ever had a terminated pregnancy, and rural residence, all of these factors were found to be strongly associated with high-risk fertility behavior. Conclusion As per the findings of our study, in Kenya a significant proportion of women has experienced HRFB. This is a matter of concern as it poses a significant challenge to the healthcare system. The high prevalence of HRFB indicates that there is an urgent need to take appropriate measures in order to mitigate its impact. The situation calls for a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving all stakeholders to address this issue effectively. It would benefit policymakers to create programs that consider factors like education, wealth, and residence that make women more susceptible to HRFB. Targeting women living in high HRFB-prevalence areas could help address the root causes of the issue. This approach can alleviate negative impacts and ensure effective and sustainable solutions.

Abstract Background Despite the availability of exempted family planning services, a significant proportion of women in African countries continue to experience inadequately spaced pregnancies. To the authors’ knowledge, evidence of suboptimal birth intervals at the SSA level is lacking and previous studies have been limited to specific geographic area. Therefore, this analysis was aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of suboptimal birth spacing and its predictors among childbearing women in SSA. Methods Pooled DHS data from 35 SSA countries were used and a weighted sample of 221,098 reproductive-age women was considered in the analysis. The survey across all countries employed a cross-sectional study design and collected data on basic sociodemographic characteristics and different health indicators. Forest plot was used to present the overall and country-level prevalence of suboptimal birth spacing. Multilevel mixed-effects models with robust Poisson regression were fitted to identify the predictors of suboptimal birth spacing. Akaike’s and Bayesian information criteria and deviance were used to compare the models. In a multivariable regression model, a p-value less than 0.05 and an adjusted prevalence ratio with the corresponding 95% CI were used to assess the statistical significance of the explanatory variables. Results The pooled prevalence of suboptimal birth spacing among women in SSA was 43.91% (43.71%-44.11%), with South Africa having the lowest prevalence (23.25%) and Chad having the highest (59.28%). It was also found that 14 of the 35 countries had a prevalence above the average for SSA. Rural residence [APR (95% CI) = 1.10 (1.12–1.15)], non-exposure to media [APR (95% CI) = 1.08 (1.07–1.11)], younger maternal age [APR (95% CI) = 2.05 (2.01–2.09)], non-use of contraception [APR (95% CI) = 1.18 (1.16–1.20)], unmet need for family planning [APR (95% CI) = 1.04 (1.03–1.06)], higher birth order [APR (95% CI) = 1.31 (1.28–1.34)], and desire to have at least six children [APR (95% CI) = 1.14 (1.13–1.16)] were the predictors of suboptimal birth spacing practice. Conclusion More than four out of ten reproductive-age women in SSA countries gave birth to a subsequent child earlier than the recommended birth spacing, with considerable variations across the countries. Thus, interventions designed at enhancing optimal birth spacing should pay particular attention to young and socioeconomically disadvantaged women and those residing in rural regions. Strengthening community health programs and improving accessibility and availabilities of fertility control methods that ultimately impacts optimal reproductive behaviors is crucial to address contraceptive utilization and unmet need.

BackgroundStunting poses a significant health risk to adolescent girls aged 15-19 in low- and middle-income countries, leading to lower education levels, reduced productivity, increased disease vulnerability, and intergenerational malnutrition. Despite the inclusion of adolescent nutrition services in the Sustainable Development Goals, little progress has been made in addressing malnutrition among adolescent girls in several African nations. Limited evidence exists in East Africa due to small sample sizes and methodological limitations. To overcome these constraints, this study utilizes the latest Demographic and Health Survey data to estimate the prevalence and factors influencing stunting among late adolescent girls in ten East African countries.MethodsThis study utilized the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 10 East African countries, including a total sample weight of 22,504 late-adolescent girls. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model with cluster-level random effects was employed to identify factors associated with stunting among these girls. The odds ratio, along with the 95% confidence interval, was calculated to determine individual and community-level factors related to stunting. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant in determining the factors influencing stunting among late-adolescent girls.ResultsThe prevalence of stunting among late adolescent girls in East Africa was found to be 13.90% (95% CI: 0.13-0.14). Religion, relationship to the head, presence of under-five children in the household, lactating adolescent, marital status, Time to get water source, and country of residence were significantly associated with Stunting.ConclusionThis study highlights the complexity of stunting in East Africa and identifies key factors that need attention to reduce its prevalence. Interventions should focus on improving water access, supporting lactating girls, addressing socioeconomic disparities, promoting optimal care practices, and implementing country-specific interventions to combat stunting and improve adolescent girls' nutrition.

In vitro gas measurement study was known to be a helpful tool for investigating the nutritional quality of feed for ruminant animals. This research was conducted to explore the ruminal fermentation and methane emission potential, and their variability pattern with changing seasons and altitudes for Commelina species, using in vitro test. Samples of the species were collected from different altitudes and seasons and used for the in vitro degradability study. Five species (C.africana, C. albescence, C. benghalensis, C. imberbis and C. diffusa), two altitudes (low and mid), and two seasons (wet and dry) were arranged in a 5 × 2 x 2 factorial manner in a completely randomized design, with three repeats of each treatment. In vitro gas and methane production as well as methane to total gas ratio were all meaningfully (P

AbstractSearching for low-cost, readily available non-conventional feeds is viewed as an alternate measure and solution in resolving feed-related difficulties. This study was conducted to investigate Commelina species feed use in Konso zone, Southern Ethiopia, by identifying available species and characterize seasonal and altitudinal distribution. The data were gathered through focus group discussions and interviews with 195 households drawn randomly from 15 villages. Five Commelina spp.; Commelina benghalensis, Commelina imberbis, Commelina diffusa, Commelina albescens, and Commelina africana were identified in the study area. C. diffusa was available year-round (88.71%) at low and mid altitudes, whereas all others show diminishing pattern with dry season. C. benghalensis, C. imberbis and C. diffusa were found in low and mid altitudes, whereas C. africana and C. albescence were found only in low altitude. Availability and distribution of commelina spp. in the study area shows variability with seasonal and altitudinal changes. The wider feed usage by livestock keepers across all the corners of the area, combined with the species’ proclivity to grow as friendly alley crops on farmland, suggests that the value of C. benghalensis and C. imberbis may extend beyond feed use. Agricultural experts must transfer intercropping trend of C. benghalensis, and C. imberbis with food crops to farmers who lack it. Nutritional quality of the species should be conducted to have a clear picture about feed value of the plants.

In Ethiopia rural households growing Eucalypts at farm level in the form of woodlot become popular and Eucalyptus woodlot products play a significant role in household economy in particular and economic development of the nation in general. This study was conducted in Cheha districts in the Guraghe zone to assess the farmers’ management practices and analyze the socioeconomic contribution of Eucalypts woodlot to the livelihood of the rural households in the area. Economic data was collected by employing a formal survey using a structured questionnaire. Woodlot inventory was conducted on farmers’ eucalyptus woodlots to identify the existing trees' frequency distribution by diameter classes that indicated economic value. The latest version of Stata, version 13, SAS version 9.1, sigma plot version 12, and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the data. The result of the study revealed that most of the sampled farmers in the study area had Eucalypts woodlot, targeting either to earn more income or to increase the productivity of the land which has denied growing cereal crops and pastures. Most of the farmers considered Eucalypts as one of the major sources of income and risk aversion. Excluding household consumption, the aggregate cash income contribution of Eucalypts woodlot products to rural households was more than 34% for midland and 37% for highland agro-ecologies. Further studies are needed on the management aspect of Eucalypts woodlots for the productivity of allocated land.

This study tested genetic microbial source tracking (MST) methods for identifying ruminant‐ (BacR) and human‐associated (HF183/BacR287, BacHum) bacterial faecal contaminants in Ethiopia in a newly created regional faecal sample bank (n = 173). BacR performed well, and its marker abundance was high (100% sensitivity (Sens), 95% specificity (Spec), median log10 8·1 marker equivalents (ME) g−1 ruminant faeces). Human‐associated markers tested were less abundant in individual human samples (median: log10 5·4 and 4·2 (ME + 1) g−1) and were not continuously detected (81% Sens, 91% Spec for BacHum; 77% Sens, 91% Spec for HF183/BacR287). Furthermore, the pig‐associated Pig2Bac assay was included and performed excellent (100% Sens, 100% Spec). To evaluate the presence of MST targets in the soil microbiome, representative soil samples were tested during a whole seasonal cycle (n = 60). Only BacR could be detected, but was limited to the dry season and to sites of higher anthropogenic influence (log10 3·0 to 4·9 (ME + 1) g−1 soil). In conclusion, the large differences in marker abundances between target and non‐target faecal samples (median distances between distributions ≥log10 3 to ≥log10 7) and their absence in pristine soil indicate that all tested assays are suitable candidates for diverse MST applications in the Ethiopian area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundTrachoma is the chief cause of preventable blindness worldwide and has been earmarked for elimination as a public health problem by 2030. Despite the five-year Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (SAFE)-based interventions in the Andabet district, the prevalence of trachomatous follicular (TF) was 37%. With such a high prevalence of TF, the determinant factors were not revealed. Besides, there were no reports on the overall prevalence of active trachoma (i.e.TF and or trachomatous intense (TI)).ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among 1-9 years of age children in the Andabet district.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged under nine years from March 1-30, 2023 in Andabet district, Northwest Ethiopia. Multi-stage systematic random sampling was employed to reach 540 children. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with active trachoma. We fitted both random effect and fixed effect analysis. Finally, variables with pResultIn this study, the overall prevalence of active trachoma was 35.37% (95% CI: 31.32%, 39.41%). The prevalence of TF and TI was 31.3% and 4.07% respectively. In the multilevel logistic regression analysis ocular discharge, fly-eye contact, latrine utilization, and source of water were significantly associated with the prevalence of active trachoma.ConclusionIn this study, the prevalence of active trachoma was much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold prevalence. Ocular discharge, fly-eye contact, latrine utilization, and source of water were independent determinants of active trachoma among children (1-9 years). Therefore, paying special attention to these high-risk groups could decrease the prevalence of a neglected hyperendemic disease, active trachoma.

Agricultural expansion is one of the main drivers of deforestation in Ethiopia. This study was therefore carried out to examine the trade-off between forest and agricultural land uses in Guraferda district, southwest Ethiopia. Data to estimate economic values of land use were derived from the household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The household surveys were carried out in four purposively selected kebeles. Within the selected Kebeles, a total of 186 sample households were selected randomly. In addition, this study used Remote Sensing (RS) to detect and quantify LULC changes that occurred in the district throughout a thirty-year study period. The study employed by Excel 2013 for solving a cost –benefit analysis and ERDAS Imagine 9.1 for image processing. The finding revealed that an expansion of agriculture/settlement and shrinkage of forest and shrub land over the last thirty-year. The forest and shrub land use decreased by 0.43 and 2.42% ha year-1, respectively, whereas agriculture/settlement and grassland increased by 9.1 and 0.64% ha year-1, respectively over the same period. The deforestation rate is estimated at 425 ha year-1 in the study area. Analysis of trade-off provides estimated forgone earnings of about ETB 79,138 ETB (1665.3 USD ha-1) and ETB 258,298.10 (5,435.5 USD ha-1) from forest conservation and crop production, respectively assuming a 20-year planning horizon and a 10% discount rate. The 425 ha of annual deforestation entails a loss of ETB 33,633,650 (707,779 USD year-1) from forest conservation and a gain of 109,776,692.5 ETB (2,310,115.5 USD) agricultural activity.

Previous studies on patient satisfaction in Ethiopia focused on satisfaction with nursing care and outpatient services. Therefore, this study aimed to assess factors affecting satisfaction with inpatient services among adult patients admitted to Arba Minch General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. A mixed method cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 462 admitted adult patients from March 7 to April 28, 2020. A standardized structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide were used to collect data. A total of 8 in-depth interviews were conducted to collect the qualitative data. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data, and a P -value

Acknowledging patients' experience with the care delivered in healthcare settings is crucial in ensuring the quality of healthcare service delivery. In Ethiopia, qualitative evidence of patients’ experience with inpatient care services is limited. This study aimed to explore the experience of inpatient care service among adult patients admitted to Arba Minch General hospital, Southern Ethiopia from April 05-28, 2020. An institution-based qualitative approach was carried out among adult patients discharged from the study hospital. Thirty-one in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were conducted and audio-recorded data were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Data were coded, sorted, and themes were developed manually based on the thematic analysis. This study showed that kindness, respecting appointments, and treatment outcomes were the positive experiences highlighted by study participants. Participants reported a lack of drinking water, unpleasant toilet hygiene, lack of bedsheets, and absence of drugs as negative experiences. Therefore, the hospital administration should work on improving the problems mentioned by the participants of this study.

Introduction: In Ethiopia, only one in ten reproductive-age women use long-acting reversible contraceptives. Evidence on the utilization of these methods and associated factors among sexually active reproductive-age women in the pastoral area of Northeast Ethiopia is limited. Thus, this study aimed to assess the utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives and associated factors among sexually active reproductive-age women in the pastoral community of Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 30 April 2021 among 572 reproductive-age women selected by a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and entered into Epi-info version 7 and then finally exported to Stata version 16 for further analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors affecting the utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives. Odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval were computed and the statistical significance of the explanatory variables was declared at p -value

Temamen Tesfaye Yunka,1 Solomon Berhanu Mogas,2 Belay Zawdie,3 Desalegn Tamiru,4 Yonas Tesfaye,5 Ayantu Kebede,2 Mulualem Tadesse,6 Esayas Kebede Gudina,7 Lelisa Sena Dadi2 1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 4Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 5Department of Psychiatry, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 6Department of Medical Laboratory, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 7Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Temamen Tesfaye YunkaSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Jimma University, P.O.Box-378, Oromia region, EthiopiaTel +251913153299Email tekanetesfu@gmail.comIntroduction: Early detection of the unrecognized diabetes mellitus (DM) and its risk factors in the community is crucial to minimizing the burden of DM and associated complications. Hence, this study aimed to assess unrecognized DM and its relationship with behavioral characteristics, physical characteristics, and lipid profile among adults in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 915 adults in Jimma Town from June 17 to July 27, 2019. Physical measurements, lipid profile, and blood sugar levels were measured. The collected data were entered and analyzed using Epi Data 3.1 and SPSS version 21, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was fitted to assess predictors of unrecognized DM where adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the strength of association at P-value ≤ 05.Results: The prevalence of unrecognized DM and impaired glucose metabolism (pre-diabetes) were 3.1% (95% CI; 2.0– 4.4) and 14.8% (95% CI; 12.5– 17.2), respectively. The risk of unrecognized DM was higher among male participants (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.19, 7.29), age group of 35 years and above (AOR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.16, 10.27), and high waist circumference (AOR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.72, 10.33). On the other hand, participants who perform sufficient physical activity (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.58) had low risk of undetected DM.Conclusion: The prevalence of unrecognized diabetes mellitus was relatively high. Male sex, advanced age, physical inactivity, and high waist circumference were found to be predictors of unrecognized DM. Thus, awareness needs to be created among the community to practice regular physical activity and maintaining normal body weight. Additionally, screening of DM should be promoted for early detection, prevention, and treatment.Keywords: unrecognized DM, diabetes mellitus, adult, lipid profile, physical measurement

Introduction. More than half of the pregnant women in Ethiopia do not receive the recommended number of antenatal care visits. In the Afar region, where women have limited access to healthcare services due to pastoral livelihood, evidence on noncompliance to the adequate number of antenatal care visits is scarce. Therefore, this study was intended to examine the level of nonadherence to the recommended antenatal care visits and its associated factors in the pastoral community of Northeast Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 04 February to 22 March 2020 among randomly selected 703 women who gave birth within 24 months preceding the survey in the Transform HDR districts of the Afar region. Data were collected using a pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 and finally exported to Stata version 16 for further analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors affecting the nonadherence to the recommended antenatal care visits. Odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval were computed and the statistical significance of the explanatory variables was declared at a p-value

Crystallite size is one of the fundamental factors controlling the magnetic property of magnetic nanoparticles. In this study, magnetite nanoparticles were produced from Ethiopian iron ore and the effect of solvent extraction parameters on the crystallite size were investigated by considering classical nucleation theory. First, the iron ore was crushed and unwanted gangues were discarded, then followed by further grinding to get a black powder. Finally, the magnetite nanoparticles were produced using solvent extraction and co-precipitation method. For the solvent extraction, tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) and tri-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) was used as an extractant, while 2-ethyl-hexanol, and heptanol were used as a modifier and diluent, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles was characterized using XRD, SEM (EDS), TGA, and FTIR. The results show that leaching temperature and modifier concentration have a significant effect on the crystallite size of the nanoparticles. Comparison of the crystallite size using the Scherrer equation reveals the mean crystallite size of the sample extracted using TBP is smaller than the sample extracted using TOPO.

Desho grass (Pennisetum glaucifolium Trin) an important fodder grass. However, information on its production is lacking. This study was carried out to evaluate the forage dry matter yield and nutritive value of Desho grass harvested at different cutting heights (CH), under rain-fed conditions in two different sites in central highlands of Ethiopia for two years. The treatments (T1-T8) were: 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 cm cutting heights, distributed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The root splits of the grass were planted in a 3 m × 4 m (12 m 2 ) plot size with 0.5 m × 0.25 m inter and intra-row spacing. In the two locations, over the years, significant differences were observed among cutting heights. The interaction of cutting heights by locations, and location by years were also significant. The interaction among cutting height, location, and year was insignificant. The highest (number of leaves per plant) NLPP was attained as the plant height advance, while the number of tillers per plant (NTPP) showed non-significant differene in different treatments. The dry matter yield (DMY) increased linearly with an increase in CH (ranging from 12.2 to 20.1 t ha -1 at Holetta, and 4.2 to 11.4 t ha -1 at Kulumsa). The grass's ash and crude protein (CP) contents decreased as the cutting height increased. An increase in CH increased the fiber content Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and Acid detergent lignin (ADL), resulting decrease in in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). We recommend that desho grass be managed at 80-90 cm height resulting in optimum dry matter yield and nutritive value for use in smallholder farmers and market-oriented livestock producers of the central highlands of Ethiopia and major growing areas., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

In this study, the biosurfactants (Bio-SFs) producing bacteria are screened from the selected alkaline lake of Ethiopia, and the potential bacterial strain and their produced Bio-SFs are further characterized. In an initial screening, 25 bacterial isolates were isolated, and among those, the bacterial isolate assigned as CS1 was identified as the most potent producer of Bio-SFs using a subsequent characterization process. The CS1 strain was identified as Serratia sp. via biochemical and molecular methods. An emulsion index (E 24 ) of 69.06 ± 0.11% was obtained for CS1 after 5 days of incubation time at 30 °C. The CS1-extracted Bio-SFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and it indicated that the type of biosurfactant produced was a glycolipid. The stability of the crude Bio-SFs was characterized, and the optimal conditions were found to be 80 °C, pH 8, and 3% NaCl, respectively. The extracted Bio-SFs were compatible with tested commercial detergents, and its efficiency increased from 12.2 ± 0.1% to 67.1 ± 0.17% and 70.43 ± 0.11% when combined with commercially available detergent brands in Ethiopia such as Taza and Largo, respectively. This study suggests that the isolated S. marcescens CS1 strain has the potential to produce Bio-SFs that are viable competence to replace the use of synthetic chemicals in the production of commercial detergents., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Tropical communities in the developing world depend heavily on riverine systems for their socioeconomic development. However, these resources are poorly protected from diffuse pollution, and there is a lack of quantitative information regarding the microbial pollution characteristics of riverine water, despite frequently reported gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of our study was to apply faecal taxation (i.e., faecal pellet counting in representative test areas to estimate the potential availability of diffuse pollution sources) in combination with a detailed microbiological faecal pollution analysis in a riverine environment to elucidate the importance of diffuse pollution. To realize this approach, ambient faecal pellets, a multiparametric data set for standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB), including Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens spores and enterococci from catchment soil and river water, and a number of riverine water physicochemical variables were analysed during a one-year cycle. We demonstrated that the abundance of ambient faecal pellets, which were consistently counted at reference sites in the catchment, was associated with faecal pollution in the river water. Water SFIB, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, conductivity and total suspended solids were strongly linked with the abundance of ambient faecal pellets in the river catchment, as demonstrated by principal component analysis (PCA). Elevated concentrations of SFIB in the riverine water in the absence of rainfall also suggested the direct input of faecal bacteria into the riverine water by livestock (e.g., during watering) and humans (e.g., during bathing). Statistical analyses further revealed that the microbiological water quality of the investigated riverine water was not influenced by SFIB potentially occurring in the soil. This study demonstrates the importance of diffuse faecal pollution sources as major drivers of the microbiological quality of riverine water in the Ethiopian highlands. In addition, the new successfully applied integrated approach could be very useful for developing predictive models, which would aid in forecasting riverine microbiological quality in tropical developing countries.

Urease is an enzyme produced by ureolytic microorganisms which hydrolyzes urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Microbial urease has wide applications in biotechnology, agriculture, medicine, construction, and geotechnical engineering. Urease-producing microbes can be isolated from different ecosystems such as soil, oceans, and various geological formations. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize rapid urease-producing bacteria from Ethiopian soils. Using qualitative urease activity assay, twenty urease-producing bacterial isolates were screened and selected. Among these, three expressed urease at high rates as determined by a conductivity assay. The isolates were further characterized with respect to their biochemical, morphological, molecular, and exoenzyme profile characteristics. The active urease-producing bacterial isolates were found to be nonhalophilic to slightly halophilic neutrophiles and aerobic mesophiles with a range of tolerance towards pH (4.0-10.0), NaCl (0.25-5%), and temperature (20-40°C). According to the API ZYM assays, all three isolates were positive for alkaline phosphatase, leucine aryl amidase, acid phosphatase, and naphthol&#95;AS&#95;BI&#95;phosphohydrolase. The closest described relatives of the selected three isolates (Isolate&#95;3, Isolate&#95;7, and Isolate&#95;11) were Bacillus paramycoides , Citrobacter sedlakii , and Enterobacter bugandensis with 16S rRNA gene sequence identity of 99.0, 99.2, and 98.9%, respectively. From the study, it was concluded that the three strains appear to have a relatively higher potential for urease production and be able to grow under a wider range of growth conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Eshetu Mekonnen et al.)

The spread of HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem in military personnel in Africa. However, the epidemiological evidence regarding HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Ethiopia remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study among military personnel ( n  = 410) was conducted in Northwest Ethiopia in 2015. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to ascertain factors influencing participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. About one-fourth (24.6%) of the military personnel had multiple sexual partners, of whom 24.7% failed to use condoms regularly when having sex with non-regular sexual partners. Majority of the sample ( n  = 355, 86.6%) participated in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Military personnel who had multiple sexual partners were 6.3 times more likely to report history of non-participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs (AOR = 6.3, CI 95  = 3.5-11.54). A considerable proportion of military personnel had multiple sexual partners with lower levels of condom utilization with non-regular sexual partners. The study further demonstrated misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in Ethiopian military personnel, which reduce their likelihood of participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Health authorities need to strengthen and accelerate HIV/AIDS prevention programs focusing towards military personnel.

Background: Ethiopia had an increasing trend of morbidity and mortality due to road traffic injury. Road traffic injured patient's recovery rate is affected by many different factors. Those factors might affect the duration of time to recovery. Therefore studying the median time to recovery and its predictors of road traffic injured patients will be needed to act upon the patient's hospital provided service., Method: A retrospective cohort study design was employed. The study population was all admitted road traffic injured patients in Ayder tertiary hospital. We have used the total of all three-year RTI patients' chart from 2015 to 2017 found in the hospital. After excluding incomplete charts for major variables the sample size was 322. Descriptive statistics, life table, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test and assumptions of the Cox proportional hazard model was applied. Bi and multivariate Cox regression analysis, hazard ratios and associated 95% CI were estimated., Result: Male to female RTI patient ratio was 3:1. Of the total 258(80.1%) had been recovered and the median survival time to recovery was 15 days (interquartile range 7-29). From those recovered, 104(40.3%) had been referred from other health facilities. Availability of referral form linkage [adjusted hazard ratio = 1.5, CI (1.1-1.9)], mild and moderate glass coma scale [adjusted hazard ratio = 2.3, CI (1.3-3.9)], conservative management [adjusted hazard ratio = 1.6, CI (1.2-2.1)], and not having organ injury [adjusted hazard ratio = 1.6, CI (1.1-2.3)] were associated with time to recovery in multivariate analysis., Conclusion: Median time to recovery of road traffic injured patients was relatively good. Being referred from another health facility, mild and moderate glass coma scale, conservative management and without organ injury was positively associated with time to recovery of road traffic injured patients. We would like to recommend for future prospective studies to determine the time to return to work of road traffic injured patients and quality of life after the injury.

Background: Timely breastfeeding initiation is a simple but important measure that has protective effects on infants and mothers. This study aims to determine the predictors of early breastfeeding initiation among mothers residing in Ethiopia., Methods: This study employed the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. A total of 5546 children born during the last 24 months at the time of survey were included for analysis from nine regional states and two city administration areas. Socio-demographic and socio-economic factors including individual, household and community-level factors were examined of their significance against the outcome variable of early initiation of breastfeeding using a mixed-effect logistic regression model., Results: The proportion of infants who had timely initiation of breastfeeding was 74.3% (n = 3064). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, mothers who delivered with assistance of one or more health professionals had 68% (AOR 1.68; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.29) higher odds of initiating timely breastfeeding. In addition, mothers delivering by a caesarean section had 86% reduced odds of early breastfeeding initiation (AOR 0.14; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.22) when compared to mothers who had vaginal delivery. In terms of socio-demographic factors, the odds of early breastfeeding initiation were more than two and half times higher particularly for mothers residing particularly in Oromiya (AOR 2.58; 95% CI: 1.84, 3.63) and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) (AOR 2.75; 95% CI: 1.86, 4.05). In addition, timely breastfeeding initiation was also significantly associated with wealth index with wealthier mothers having 43% higher odds compared to mothers of poorest households (AOR 1.43; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.92). Other factors such as age, gender and birth order of the infant also had significant associations with early breastfeeding initiation., Conclusion: Early breastfeeding initiation in Ethiopia is inextricably associated with various socio-demographic, biomedical, and socio-economic factors. The study findings can potentially inform mothers and the wider community on the benefits of timely breastfeeding initiation and policymakers and community leaders to target health promotional interventions and resources where needed.

We propose that crystalline ionic hydrates constitute a valuable resource for benchmarking theoretical methods for aqueous ionic systems. Many such structures are known from the experimental literature, and they contain a large variety of water-water and ion-water structural motifs. Here we have collected a data set (CRYSTALWATER50) of 50 structurally unique "in-crystal" water molecules, involved in close to 100 nonequivalent O-H···O hydrogen bonds. A dozen well-known DFT functionals were benchmarked with respect to their ability to describe these experimental structures and their OH vibrational frequencies. We find that the PBE, RPBE-D3, and optPBE-vdW methods give the best H-bond distances and that anharmonic OH frequencies generated from B3LYP//optPBE-vdW energy scans outperform the other methods, i.e., here we performed B3LYP energy scans along the OH stretching coordinate while the rest of the structure was kept fixed at the optPBE-vdW-optimized positions.

Background: The 2005 report of United Nations Millennium Project of Transforming Health Systems for women and children concluded that universal access to Emergency Obstetric and New born Care could reduce maternal deaths by 74%. Even though some studies investigated quality of Emergency Obstetric and New born Care in different parts of the world, there is scarcity of data regarding this issue in Ethiopia, particularly in Jimma zone. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and new born Care services among clients using public health facilities in Jimma zone, Southwest Ethiopia., Methods: A facility-based cross sectional study was conducted in Jimma Zone from April 01-30, 2014. The data were collected by interviewing 403 clients, who gave birth in the past 12 months prior to data collection in 34 randomly selected public health facilities. The collected data were entered by using Epi-info version 3.5.4 and analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Linear regression analysis was done to ascertain the association between covariates and the outcome variable, and finally the results were presented using frequency distribution tables, graphs and texts., Results: The overall mean client satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services in this study was 79.4%; 95% CI (75%, 83%). The result of linear regression analysis revealed that a unit decrease in satisfaction to availability of drugs and equipment, decreased overall clients' satisfaction by 0.23 unit 95% CI (0.15, 0.31)., Conclusions: The level of clients' satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services was low in the study area. Factors such as availability of essential equipment and drugs, health workers' communication, health care provided, and attitude of health workers had positive association with client satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services. This in turn could affect utilization of Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services and play a role in contribution to maternal and new born mortality. Therefore, the efforts of health facilities leaders and health care providers towards improvement of quality of care could contribute more for better maternal satisfaction.

Background: Universal access to information for health professionals is a need to achieve "health for all strategy." A large proportion of the population including health professionals have limited access to health information in resource limited countries. The aim of this study is to assess information needs among Ethiopian health professionals., Methods: A cross sectional quantitative study design complemented with qualitative method was conducted among 350 health care workers in February 26-June 5/2012. Pretested self-administered questionnaire and observation checklist were used to collect data on different variables. Data entry and data analysis were done using Epi-Info version 3.5.1 and by SPSS version19, respectively. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analyses were applied to describe study objectives and identify the determinants of information seeking behaviours respectively. Odds ratio with 95% CI was used to assess the association between a factor and an outcome variable., Results: The majority of the respondents acknowledged the need of health information to their routine activities. About 54.0% of respondents lacked access to health information. Only 42.8% of respondents have access to internet sources. Important barriers to access information were geographical, organizational, personal, economic, educational status and time. About 58.0% of the respondents accessed information by referring their hard copies and asking senior staff. Age, sex, income, computer literacy and access, patient size, work experience and working site were significantly associated with information needs and seeking behaviour., Conclusions: The health information seeking behaviour of health professional was significant. The health facilities had neither information center such as library, nor Internet facilities. Conducting training on managing health information, accessing computer and improving infrastructures are important interventions to facilitate evidence based decisions.