Search

Introduction: Several studies have been done on the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by high school students in Ethiopia, but they have yielded inconsistent results. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which high school students in Ethiopia are using sexual and reproductive health services by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Various electronic databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, AJOL, Google Scholar, and Grey Literature were used to search for relevant articles. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Guidelines were followed for this review and meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² and Cochrane Q statistical tests, and data analysis was done with STATA 17 software. Random effect meta-analyses were used to determine the overall utilization rate of sexual and reproductive health services. Result: This review included 20 studies with 12, 215 study participants. The pooled magnitude of sexual and reproductive health service utilization among high school students in Ethiopia was 29.79% (95% CI: 25.14, 34.43). Students with grades 11--12 (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.39, 3.90), aged between 20 and 24 years (AOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.79--3.81), having higher level of knowledge towards sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.67--5.77), previous history of sexual intercourse (AOR = 4.18; 95% CI: 2.59--6.75), previous history of sexually transmitted infection (AOR = 3.74; 95% CI: 2.22--6.31), presence of a reproductive health service facility in the school (AOR = 2.55; 95% CI: 1.72--3.77), and ever-discussed reproductive health issues (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI: 1.62--10.03) were more likely to utilize sexual and reproductive health services. Conclusions: The overall utilization of sexual and reproductive services among high school students in Ethiopia was found to be low as compared to SDG 3.7. Older individuals with higher education levels and knowledge about sexual and reproductive health services, as well as those who have had previous sexual experiences or discussions about sexual health, are more likely to utilize reproductive health services. To increase utilization, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education should prioritize these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a prevalent cancer among women in low and middle-income countries, but it can be largely prevented through screening programs and HPV vaccination. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer screening among healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Relevant databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, AJOL, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases were used to retrieve and search articles. The study included published and unpublished research written in English between January 2013 and May 16, 2024 for studies reporting knowledge, attitude, and practice towards cervical cancer screening among healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This review has been registered on PROSPERO. The heterogeneity of the data was evaluated using the I² statistic. A meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17 software, with a 95% confidence interval. The researchers also conducted publication bias and sensitivity analysis. Results: The review included 30 studies involving 7542 healthcare providers. The pooled magnitude of good knowledge status towards cervical cancer was 67.93% (95% CI: 53.36-82.50) whereas the pooled magnitude of positive attitude towards cervical cancer was 55.26% (95% CI: 34.28-76.23). The results also showed that about 49.68% (95% CI: 33.18-66.17) of healthcare providers had good knowledge status about cervical cancer screening, 66.63%(95% CI: 50.36-82.89) had a positive attitude towards it, and only 17.23% (95% CI; 6.08-28.37) had ever screened for cervical cancer. Conclusion: The overall magnitude of knowledge and attitude of healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa towards cervical cancer and its screening was suboptimal. Furthermore, a low percentage of female healthcare providers in the region had undergone screening for cervical cancer. As a result, policymakers and program administrators should focus on improving the knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare providers to meet the global health goal of cervical cancer screening and effectively eliminating cervical cancer. Healthcare providers must serve as role models for other women who should also undergo screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccine card is a crucial tool for gauging vaccine coverage. It is imperative to hold these health cards to have well-fitted data which are crucial in reaching data-driven decisions in the era of immunization surveillance and monitoring processes. However, there is limited knowledge about the retention rate of vaccination card and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Objective: This research aimed to assess the retention rate and associated factors of vaccination card in Ethiopia, using data from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey. Methods: This study included a total of 1304 (weighted) children aged 12─23 months who were vaccinated and provided with a vaccination card. We used a multilevel logistic regression model to analyze factors associated with vaccination card retention. We considered factors to be statistically significant if they had a p-value of less than 0.05 with a respective 95% confidence interval. Result: Among the cohort of 1,304 immunized children, it was observed that 684, representing 52.5% (95% CI: 49.7%─55.2%), were able to present their respective vaccination card during the interview time. According to the results of the multilevel logistic analysis, there is a considerable reduction in the rate of vaccination card retention by 65% (adjusted OR 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19─0.65) and 37% (adjusted OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.4─0.91) for individuals who are rural residents and those who are fully vaccinated, respectively. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention that individuals originating from socio-economic backgrounds with low poverty levels exhibit a 59% increase in vaccination card possession (adjusted OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11─2.50). Conclusion: This study revealed a low rate of holding vaccination cards. Place of residency, wealth status, and vaccination status were factors that contributed to the change in the vaccination card retention rate. It is advisable to customize the interventional strategy by taking into account the individual's residency, immunization status, and degree of poverty within the community, to achieve a favorable rate of holding vaccination cards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The HIV epidemic continues to be a major public health challenge worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia. Community-based antiretroviral refill groups are emerging as a patient-centered approach, but there is limited evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess attrition and predictors in community antiretroviral refill groups among ART users in Eastern Ethiopia., Methods: Institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted. Systematic random sampling techniques were used. Data were collected via Kobo Collect and exported to Stata. Statistically significant effects were assumed for a P-value < 0.05 at a confidence interval of 95%., Results: The incidence of attrition in community-based ART refill groups was 6.63 (95% CI: 5.78, 7.48) per 100 person-years. The median duration of months in CAGs from the start till the end of the follow-up period was 9 months (IQR = 24). Thus, recruitment level from health facilities, history of LTFU, and stage IV were statistically significant variables., Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the importance of improving the use of community antiretroviral groups in care. Healthcare programs can ultimately improve health outcomes for individuals living with HIV., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.