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Abebe Nega Zelelew,1 Demeke Lakew Workie2 1Department of Statistics, CNS, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2Department of Statistics, CNS, BahirDar University, BahirDar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Abebe Nega Zelelew, Email abebe017n@yahoo.comIntroduction: Hypertension is also referred to as a silent killer and a leading factor for cardiovascular disease complication in the world today. This study aimed to identify the factors that affect longitudinal outcomes and survival time for cardiovascular disease complications among patients with hypertension.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 178 outpatients with hypertension at the Debre Tabor Specialized Hospital between September 2017 and December 2019. Three different models were used to analyze the data: the bivariate mixed-effects model, Cox proportional hazard model, and bivariate joint model for longitudinal and survival sub-models linked by shared random effects.Results: Bivariate mixed-effects and Cox proportional hazards survival sub-models were jointly preferred based on the minimum Akaike Information Criterion value. The estimated values of the association parameters were 0.0655 (p = 0.0270) and 0.963 (p = 0.0387), indicating that the association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure with time to event was guaranteed. The joint bivariate mixed-effects model analysis showed that patients with hypertension with a family history of hypertension and clinical stage II hypertension have a high chance of developing cardiovascular disease complications and have high average systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to their counterparts. Patients with hypertension and diabetes have higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than their counterparts.Conclusion: Generally, systolic and diastolic blood pressure stabilized over the follow-up period of treatment, while sex and residence were statistically insignificant to the survival time of cardiovascular disease complication. Health professionals and concerned bodies should therefore focus on patients with comorbidities, older age, and poor adherence to hypertension control and cardiovascular disease complications using technology, such as text messaging, and mobile application to promote cardiovascular health at early stage. It is important to provide early interventions for these groups of people, especially for those with family history.Keywords: joint model, multiple longitudinal assessments, time to event outcome

Background . Neonatal jaundice is more common and complicated in low and middle-income countries. However, there is no adequate evidences on the prevalence of neonatal jaundice and associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods . An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 April to 15 June 2021 among 340 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at public specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar city. Results . The prevalence of neonatal jaundice was found to be 38.8%. Conclusion . The prevalence of neonatal jaundice was relatively high. Being male, prematurity, maternal Rh negative, neonatal Rh positive, maternal blood type AB, and ABO incompatibility were predictor variables of neonatal jaundice. Therefore, healthcare facilities in Bahir Dar city should provide opportunities for testing blood groups and Rh factors of all women early during antenatal care follow-up. Moreover, the treatment of neonatal jaundice has to be easily accessible in all primary health care units of the district.

Introduction: Delaying in seeking abortion services causes adverse public health outcomes, which increases maternal mortality rates due to complications from abortion. However, evidence shows that there are limited factors associated with delayed abortion. Therefore, the study aims to determine the magnitude and identify factors associated with delayed seeking abortion among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia. Methods: Secondary cross-sectional data analysis was conducted on the Ethiopian Demographical and Health Survey dataset. A total weighted sample of 2198 reproductive-aged women was considered in this study. All data processing and statistical analyses were performed using R-software version 4.2.3. Multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify a significant predictor for delays in seeking abortion. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95 % confidence interval was used to measure a statistical association. Result: The prevalence of delays in seeking abortion among women in Ethiopia was 32 %. Educational status (AOR = 0.63; 95 % CI: 0.37–0.78), marital status (AOR = 2.12; 95 % CI: 1.38–3.74), wealth index (AOR = 0.54; 95 % CI: 0.41–0.75), frequency of listening a radio (AOR = 0.61; 95 % CI: 0.45–0.75), live births (AOR = 0.43; 95 % CI: 0.25–0.72), pregnancy wanted status (AOR = 0.59; 95 % CI: 0.4–0.79), contraceptive use (AOR = 0.46; 95 % CI: 0.34–0.69), and place of residence (AOR = 2.31; 95 % CI: 1.67–3.19) were statistically significantly variables associated with delays in seeking abortion. Conclusions: Delayed seeking abortion remains high in Ethiopia. The study is vital for policymakers, healthcare providers, and advocates to improve training on the importance of early abortion care, develop targeted interventions for better accessibility to abortion services, expand health education programs to raise awareness about reproductive rights and empower women with information for informed reproductive health decisions. Health education programs, specifically targeting uneducated women, poorer women, rural resident women, and women who do not use contraceptives, would decrease delays in accessing abortion services.

Great White Pelicans, once thriving at Lake Shala, have faced a decline in breeding pairs at Lake Abijata due to increased salinity and overfishing. A study at Lake Tana Biosphere, from December 2020 to December 2021, aimed to understand their breeding biology, which had not been previously documented. We conducted intensive searches for nests and monitored them during incubation and post-hatching to assess reproductive success. The study found pelicans breed year-round, with peaks from late December to March and June to July. The average clutch size was 2.14, with egg dimensions averaging 90.33 mm in length and 58.70 mm in breadth and a mean weight of 173.68 g. No significant differences were observed in these measurements, but a positive correlation was found between egg length, weight, and breadth and weight. However, no correlation existed between length and breadth. Out of 98 eggs, 84 hatched, resulting in 80 and 91.5 % hatchability rates across two breeding seasons, averaging 85.71 %. The hatching success rate did not differ significantly between seasons. Unfortunately, only 37 pelicans reached the pre-fledging stage, indicating a high mortality rate of 63 %. The study concluded that the breeding performance of Great White Pelicans at Lake Tana is poor, with human disturbance, overfishing, and predation on nestlings posing significant threats to their nesting success. This highlights the need for conservation efforts to address these challenges and protect the species.

This study assesses the impact of PSNP on soil and water conservation (SWC) practices in southern Tigray, Ethiopia. The propensity score matching technique was used to assess the impact of PSNP on soil and water conservation practices. The Nearest neighbor (4) matching estimator was selected as the best matching algorithm which has a large matched size, good balancing test, and low pseudo R2. 204 respondents from treated and 130 from control group matched respondents were used to come up with the final result. The estimated result of the nearest neighbor (4) matching estimator indicates that participation in PSNP did not bring any significant impact on SWC practices on the program beneficiaries. This might be due to the fact that a full targeting problem of beneficiaries by kebele food security force focuses on consumption smoothing rather than engaging in livelihood improvement, dependency seeing as supportive relief aid rather than productive and implementing SWC activities on communal lands public work transfer rather than doing at their private farm lands. Policymakers, governments, and donors are responsible for further improvement and should reconsider the implementation and design of the PIM of the program to bring a positive impact on beneficiaries.

Many institutions of higher education systems worldwide are transitioning from face-to-face modality to e-learning as a means of solving issues of limited resources and access to quality education. One of the crucial prerequisites for the successful implementation of e-learning is a careful consideration of emerging technologies and the underlying pedagogy of how learning takes place using a virtual platform. In practice, however, this consideration is often a neglected aspect in developing countries' context, and this neglect results in several challenges in academic setups. This study identifies and evaluates clusters of e-learning features and implementation strategies in use and challenges sought at the ET Online College located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The features of these strategies are briefly discussed, as well as how these strategies evolved during the implementation processes. The college's e-learning components have achieved merits for quality by their primary users (online students, e-course instructors, and technology, instructional design, and curriculum experts), web designers and graphic designers, and administrators within the college. These also achieved acceptance nationally by the larger key stakeholders. The findings and recommendations of the study can be used as empirical evidence-base to help policymakers strategically think about the implementation of e-learning in the Ethiopian Higher Education institutions, and other similar contexts at large.

A reliable assessment of the population size of threatened species is crucial for making informed decisions about their conservation and management. However, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge on the population of the eastern Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina ceciliae), which is globally recognized as a threatened taxon experiencing a declining population trend. Here, we investigated the density, abundance and factors that influence flock size in the wetlands of the Gambella region in Ethiopia. We used line transects to collect data during dry and wet seasons. Population density and abundance were estimated using DISTANCE software, whereas factors influencing crane flock size were evaluated using a generalized linear model. We found that crane density ranged from 444 to 965 birds per sq km in the dry season and from 62 to 105 individuals per sq km in the wet season. We estimated that the population size within the designated survey areas as 7634 during the dry season and 866 during the wet season. Furthermore, for the broader survey region that encompasses permanent wetlands, the estimated population ranged from 9138 to 19,849 individuals in the dry season and from 1272 to 2166 individuals in the wet season. We found that grazing intensity and proximity to woodlands and rivers had significant positive impacts on crane flock size, whereas an increase in wetland water depth and grass height remarkably reduced flock size. As a result, wetland habitat degradation-related problems are not currently a threat to cranes in this region, but are likely to increase in the future due to large-scale agricultural expansion. The crane population size we estimated in Gambella is high, three to four times higher than the estimate from the entirety of Ethiopia. Our research underscores the global significance of Gambella wetlands as an important habitat for cranes. However, to obtain an accurate population estimate in this region, it is imperative to include seasonal wetlands, savannah grasslands, farmlands and the extended wetlands of South Sudan, which are hydrologically connected to the wetlands of Gambella region. To achieve this, comprehensive surveys and estimations should incorporate various techniques, such as aerial surveys, satellite telemetry, and high-resolution satellite imagery.

Shear-thickening fluids (STFs) undergo significant transformation under shear, transitioning from liquid-like to solid-like states, opening up diverse applications. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advances in nanoparticle-reinforced STFs and highlights their improved rheological and mechanical properties. We explore various STF types, including colloidal suspensions and polymer-based systems, and investigate the underlying shear-thickening mechanisms such as order-disorder, hydrocluster, and contact rheology theories. Nanoparticle reinforcement significantly improves STF performance. In our review, nanoparticle types, incorporation methods, and their effects on STF behavior are systematically investigated. Key results demonstrate significant improvements in stiffness, toughness, thermal stability, and chemical resistance, which are critical for practical applications in protection and smart body armor, biomedical devices, industrial equipment, battery reinforcement, and explosion protection functions, as well as vibration dampening and shock absorption. To address the associated challenges, we propose future research directions to fully exploit nanoparticle-enhanced STFs and provide important insights for researchers and practitioners in this dynamic area.

Marta Yemane Hadush,1 Dawit Seyoum Gebremariam,1 Selemawit Asfaw Beyene,2 Tedros Hailu Abay,1 Amanuel Hadgu Berhe,1 Yibrah Berhe Zelelew,1 Tirhas Asmelash,3 Fisseha Ashebir,3 Samson Yohannes Amare,4 Znabu Hadush,2 Araya Abrha Medhanyie2 1School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; 3Tigray regional health bureau, Mekelle, Ethiopia; 4School of Computing, Mekelle University, Mekelle, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Marta Yemane Hadush, Email marsec112@yahoo.comBackground: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is an evidence-based approach to reducing morbidity and mortality in low-birth-weight and preterm newborns. Barriers for KMC and its effective practice at a larger scale are highly affected by contextual factors. The purpose of this study is to explore barriers and enablers in the community and health facilities for implementation and continuation of KMC.Methods: This formative study employed a qualitative exploratory approach using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews in five zones of Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. A total of 16 focus group discussions and 46 in-depth interviews were conducted with health workers and community members. The whole process of data collection took an iterative approach. An inductive thematic analysis was done by going through the transcribed data using ATLAS.ti software.Results: The current study found that problems of infrastructure and equipment for KMC practice, shortage of staff, and absence of trained health workers as the most frequently mentioned barriers by health workers. Low level of awareness, lack of support, mother being responsible for the rest of the family, holding babies in the front being traditionally unacceptable, and preference of incubators for better care of small babies were among the barriers identified in the community. Presence of community health workers and the positive attitude of the community towards them, as well as antenatal and postnatal care were among the favorable conditions for the implementation of KMC at health facilities and continuation of KMC at home.Conclusion: Empowering health workers through training to identify preterm and low-birth-weight babies, to do follow-ups after discharge, and creating awareness in the community to change the perception of kangaroo mother care are necessary.Keywords: kangaroo mother care, KMC, implementation research, low birth weight, Ethiopia, newborn care, preterm birth, KMC implementation, enablers and barriers to KMC

Shear‐thickening fluids (STFs) undergo significant transformation under shear, transitioning from liquid‐like to solid‐like states, opening up diverse applications. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advances in nanoparticle‐reinforced STFs and highlights their improved rheological and mechanical properties. We explore various STF types, including colloidal suspensions and polymer‐based systems, and investigate the underlying shear‐thickening mechanisms such as order‐disorder, hydrocluster, and contact rheology theories. Nanoparticle reinforcement significantly improves STF performance. In our review, nanoparticle types, incorporation methods, and their effects on STF behavior are systematically investigated. Key results demonstrate significant improvements in stiffness, toughness, thermal stability, and chemical resistance, which are critical for practical applications in protection and smart body armor, biomedical devices, industrial equipment, battery reinforcement, and explosion protection functions, as well as vibration dampening and shock absorption. To address the associated challenges, we propose future research directions to fully exploit nanoparticle‐enhanced STFs and provide important insights for researchers and practitioners in this dynamic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bowel obstruction is a mechanical or functional blockade of intestinal contents from evacuation to the adjacent distal bowel or external environment. It poses significant morbidity and mortality in both high‐income and low‐to‐middle‐income countries. Ileosigmoid knotting is a special form of obstruction where the small bowel often ileum wraps around the sigmoid colon or vice versa. It is the severest form of bowel obstruction, involving both the small and large bowels in a compound manner. It is common where sigmoid volvulus is common and geographic areas with a bulky diet. Methods: An institution‐based retrospective cohort study was employed among purposively selected 40 surgical patients with ileosigmoid knotting records from July 2020 to July 2023 at Jimma University Medical Center. To estimate and compare the survival probabilities, the Kaplan‐Meir method and log‐rank test were used. A Cox‐regression analysis was fitted to identify independent predictors of time to death. Results: Among a cohort of 40 patients followed for 347 person‐days at Jimma University Medical Center, 11 (27.5%) had died. The overall incidence rate of death was 3.2 (95% CI 1.8, 5.7) per 100 person‐days. In multivariable Cox‐regression analysis, age (AHR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04–1.28), shock at presentation (AHR = 30.50: 95% CI 1.25–742.54), comorbidities (AHR = 5.81; 95% CI 1.19–28.23), pulse rate intraoperatively (AHR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.01–1.40), postoperative pulse rate (AHR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01–1.14) were independently associated with time to death. Conclusion: The incidence of death among surgical patients with ileosigmoid knotting was high and also had a shorter median survival time. Age, shock at presentation, comorbidities, pulse rate intraoperatively, and postoperative pulse rate were found to be statistically significant predictors of time to death and outcome among surgical patients with Ileosigmoid knotting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based health insurance (CBHI) as a demand-side intervention is presumed to drive improvements in health services quality, and the quality of health services is an important supple-side factor in motivating CBHI enrollment and retention. There is, however, limited evidence on this interaction. This study examined the interaction between quality of health services and CBHI enrollment and renewal. A mixed-method comparative study was conducted in four agrarian regions of Ethiopia. The study followed the Donabedian model to compare quality of health services in health centers located in woredas/districts that implemented CBHI with those that did not. Data was collected through facility assessments, client-exit interviews, and key informant interviews. In addition to manual thematic analysis of qualitative data, quantitative descriptive and inferential analyses were done using SPSS vs 25. The process related (composite index including provider-client interpersonal communication) and outcome related (client satisfaction) measures of service quality in CBHI woreda/districts differed significantly from non-CBHI woredas/districts, but there were no significant differences in overall measures of structural quality between the two. The study found better diagnostic test capacity, availability of tracer drugs, provider interpersonal communication, and service quality standards in CBHI woredas. A higher proportion of clients at CBHI health centers gave high ratings of overall satisfaction with services. Individual and household factors including family size, age, household health care-related expenditures, and educational status, played a more significant role in CBHI enrollment and renewal decisions than health service quality. Key-informants reported in interviews that participation in the scheme increased accountability of health facilities in CBHI woredas/districts, because they promised to provide quality services using the CBHI premium collected at the beginning of the year from all enrolled households. This study indicates a need for follow-up research to understand the nuanced linkages between quality of care and CBHI enrollment.

This study intends to explore the morphogenesis of Dire Dawa through comparative analysis. Several scholars have claimed that central and northern Ethiopian cities share a common urban form tradition, and this study compares the morphogenesis of Dire Dawa, located on the country's eastern border, to this morphological thought. The research employs a comparative analysis technique of Dire Dawa's morphogenesis based on Conzenian urban form elements. The findings reveal that the spatial organization of the case areas of the city deviates significantly from the conventional morphological philosophy of northern and central Ethiopian cities. Thus, the establishment of new ones and the redevelopment and extension of existing urban quarters must consider urban form philosophy in the nation along with the identity and conservation of urban form features. This will enable a well-managed morphological blending that might incorporate significant new concepts with existing local knowledge without having undesirable consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]