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BACKGROUND: Malaria prevention and control strategies have been hampered by urbanization and the spread of Anopheles stephensi. The spread of this vector into Africa further complicates the already complex malaria situation, that could put about 126 million Africans at risk of infection. Hence, this study aimed to assess the determinants of urban malaria, focusing on the role of urbanization and the distribution of An. stephensi in Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A matched case control study was conducted among febrile urban residents of Dire Dawa (malaria positive as cases and negative as a control). A capillary blood sample was collected for parasite identification using microscopic examination and an interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect additional data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps (CDC-LT) and Prokopack aspirator were used to collect adult mosquito vectors from the selected cases and control houses to identify the mosquito vector species. Then, the data were exported to STATA for analysis. Conditional logistic regression was done to identify determinants, and principal component Analysis (PCA) was done for some independent variables. RESULTS: This study enrolled 132 cases and 264 controls from urban setting only. Of the 132 cases, 90 cases were positive for Plasmodium falciparum, 34 were positive for Plasmodium vivax and 8 had mixed infections. All cases and controls were similar with regard to their respective age and sex. Travel history (AOR: 13.1, 95% CI 2.8-61.4), presence of eves and holes on walls (AOR: 2.84, 95% CI 1.5-5.5), history of malaria diagnosis (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3), owning any livestock (AOR: 7.5, 95% CI 2.4-22.8), presence of stagnant water in the area (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-6.1), sleeping under bed net the previous night (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI 0.1-0.6) and knowledge on malaria and its prevention (AOR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.1) were determinants of urban malaria infection. About 34 adult Anopheles mosquitoes were collected and identified from those selected cases and control houses and 27 of them were identified as An. stephensi. CONCLUSION: Among the cases, the dominant species were P. falciparum. This study identified travel history, house condition, past infection, livestock ownership, stagnant water, bed net use, and malaria knowledge as determinants of infection. This study also found the dominance of the presence of An. stephensi among the collected mosquito vectors. This suggests that the spread of An. stephensi may be impacting malaria infection in the study area. Hence, strengthening urban-targeted malaria interventions should be enhanced to prevent and control further urban malaria infection and spread.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is a common problem among patients with diabetes, often going undiagnosed and having a significant negative impact on their health. This condition necessitates accurate evaluation and early intervention. However, there is an inconsistent explanation of factors and limited evidence on the prevalence of erectile dysfunction among patients with diabetes in eastern Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its associated factors among patients with diabetes in public hospitals in the Harari Region, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 339 randomly selected participants. Data were collected using the Kobo Toolbox with standardized questionnaires administered by interviewers, along with a review of the patients' medical records. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 14. The Poisson regression model with robust variance estimate was fitted to examine the association of the independent variables and erectile dysfunction. An adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) with 95% confidence intervals was reported. Statistical significance was declared at the p-value < 0.05. Result: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 78.28% (95% CI 73–83). Age 35–45 years [APR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.03–1.84], and > 45 years [APR = 1.58; 95% CI 1.17–2.13], depression [APR = 1.41; 95% CI 1.06–1.86], current khat use [APR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.00-1.28], low social support [APR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.09–2.65] and medium social support [APR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.16–2.78] were factors significantly associated with erectile dysfunction. Conclusions: More than three-fourths of the participants had erectile dysfunction. Significant factors associated with erectile dysfunction included age 35 years and above, depression, current hat use, and low and medium social support level. The management of erectile dysfunction should be integrated into routine medical care in diabetic follow-up clinics, with special attention for those participants aged 35 years and above, who have depression, currently use Khat, and have low-level social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality laboratory services are key in the healthcare system for successful diagnosis and patient care. Uninterrupted laboratory services are needed to meet the needs of all patients and clinical personnel, but studies in developing nations revealed that most clinicians were dissatisfied due to the lack of quality laboratory services and frequent interruptions. Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of health laboratory service quality, service interruptions, and its predictors in public Hospitals in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia. Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital and Jugel General Hospital between January and April 2024. Data collection utilized Standardized Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklists and questionnaires based on the Ethiopian Hospital Standard Transformation Guidelines. Data were entered and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, proportions, and means, were calculated. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify predictors with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a cut-off p -values <0.05 with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Two public hospital laboratories and their 54 laboratory professionals were involved in our study. According to our study, the mean score of the two public hospitals was 168.5 (61%), while Hiwot Fana specialized university hospital scored 212 (77%) and Jugel General Hospital scored 127 (46.1%). The study also revealed that out of 72 tests, 31 (43.05%) were interrupted, with clinical chemistry tests being the most interrupted (16, 51.6%) followed by Serology (7, 22.6%) and Hematology (4, 12.9%) tests. Lack of timely management response (AOR = 7.78, 95% CI = 1.48–40.83) and shortage of supplies (AOR = 60.8, 95% CI = 1.07–32.83) were significantly associated predictors of laboratory service interruptions. Conclusion: Neither of the hospital's laboratories met the required score of the SLIPTA standard for quality clinical laboratory services. Moreover, laboratory service interruptions were very common in the two public hospitals in which clinical chemistry, serology and hematology tests were the most frequently interrupted. Shortage of reagents and supplies and inefficient laboratory management are the major causes of service interruptions. So, policymakers and other stakeholders should support continuous quality improvement for a better patient clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is highly associated with poor in-hospital outcomes. This study aimed to determine the in-hospital outcome and its predictors among patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema at a tertiary hospital in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia, from May 1 to 20, 2023. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was employed among 204 patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema who were admitted between 1st May 2018 and 30th April 2023. The collected data were entered into Excel, and analysed using theSTATA software version 17. The hazard ratio with its 95% confidence interval was used and a P-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Results: The overall mortality rate was 17.60 (95% CI: 11.59–26.72) per 1000 person-day observation with mean (±SD) time to death was 2.88 (±2.06) days. Age (AHR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04–1.74 for every 10 years), being smoker (AHR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.05–10.10), having respiratory rate of ≥40 breaths per minute (AHR: 5.46; 95% CI: 1.71–17.45), and having anaemia (AHR: 4.35; 95% CI: 1.23–15.33) were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: More than one in ten patients in this study died in the hospital. Therefore, special attention needs to be considered for patients with those predictors of in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and their families living in leprosarium areas may have a lower quality of life than the general population. However, there is limited evidence on health-related quality of life and its associated factors among children living in previous leprosarium settlement areas. Hence, this study aimed to compare the health-related quality of life among children living in previous leprosarium and non-leprosarium settlement areas in eastern Ethiopia. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 515 randomly selected children aged 8 to 18 years living in the Amir Nur and Babile districts from January to February 30, 2024. Data were collected through interviews with children and parents using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4. The data were analyzed using STATA version 14. Simple and multiple linear regression was employed to identify associations between independent and outcome variables. The overall mean health-related quality of life scores were 73.98 ± 18.47 and 77.67 ± 14.72 in the child self-reports (P = 0.01) and 55.78 ± 12.03 and 55.61 ± 8.50 (P = 0.85) in the parent proxy reports in the previous leprosarium and nonleprosarium settlement areas, respectively. In multiple linear regression, child education (β = 14.69; 95% CI: 8.69, 20.69), the absence of neglected and tropical diseases (β = 4.02; 95% CI: 0.66, 7.37), and child face washing habits (β = 5.54, 95% CI: 2.14, 8.95) increase health-related quality of life. However, a previous history of neglected and tropical diseases (β = -8.54; 95% CI: -12.93, -4.15) and the absence of hand washing facilities (β = -8.57; 95% CI, -15.22, -1.92) decrease the mean health-related quality of life. Based on child self-reports, one in four children from previous leprosarium areas had poor health-related quality of life compared to children living in none leprosarium areas. Children's educational status, their daily habits of washing their face, not having neglected, and tropical diseases had improved health-related quality of life. To improve health-related quality of life, stakeholders should pay attention to and work on the early detection and treatment of neglected and tropical diseases, child education, and proper sanitation practices in the leprosarium community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacteriosis is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by the genus Campylobacter. The disease is transmitted from animals to humans predominantly through the consumption of contaminated food and water. However, the lack of information on the status of Campylobacter makes it difficult to quantify the role of camel meat in the dissemination of the pathogen. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2022 to August 2023 to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter and associated risk factors and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Campylobacter species from camels slaughtered at municipal abattoirs in the towns of Harar, Babile, Jigjiga and Dire Dawa in eastern Ethiopia. A total of 324 (146 carcass swabs, 146 camel feces and 32 abattoir environmental swab samples) were collected and analyzed using TaqMan real-time PCR and culture techniques following standard procedures. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using the disk diffusion method for eight antimicrobial agents according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter was 7.7%. Campylobacter was more frequently detected from carcasses and surface contact environmental swabs. We isolated Campylobacter at the genus level from approximately half of the PCR-positive samples, representing 54.2% (13 out of 24) of the total. The isolation levels of C. jejuni and C. coli were also 5.56% and 2.2%, respectively, which varied significantly (p = 0.037) based on sample type and site. The odds of occurrence of C. jejuni in samples collected from abattoir environments was 7.52 times greater than those in carcass and fecal samples. We detected resistance to chloramphenicol (78.6%), followed by amoxicillin (71.4%). However, 93%, 78.6%, and 71.4% of the isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid, respectively. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 60% of the isolates. Of these MDR isolates, 9 (75%) were C. jejuni and 3 (25%) were C. coli. This study revealed that a considerable proportion of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter species circulate in both camel meat and abattoir environments. This indicates possible carcass cross-contamination by Campylobacter during slaughtering that can pose a threat to humans and limit therapeutic options, which could be prevented by applying good hygienic practices at abattoirs. Therefore, abattoir workers need to be aware of abattoir hygienic standard operating procedures. Regular coordinated actions should be implemented for the rational use of veterinary and medical drugs at the national level, together with training and awareness of hygienic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Malaria prevention and control strategies have been hampered by urbanization and the spread of Anopheles stephensi. The spread of this vector into Africa further complicates the already complex malaria situation, that could put about 126 million Africans at risk of infection. Hence, this study aimed to assess the determinants of urban malaria, focusing on the role of urbanization and the distribution of An. stephensi in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A matched case control study was conducted among febrile urban residents of Dire Dawa (malaria positive as cases and negative as a control). A capillary blood sample was collected for parasite identification using microscopic examination and an interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect additional data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps (CDC-LT) and Prokopack aspirator were used to collect adult mosquito vectors from the selected cases and control houses to identify the mosquito vector species. Then, the data were exported to STATA for analysis. Conditional logistic regression was done to identify determinants, and principal component Analysis (PCA) was done for some independent variables. Results This study enrolled 132 cases and 264 controls from urban setting only. Of the 132 cases, 90 cases were positive for Plasmodium falciparum, 34 were positive for Plasmodium vivax and 8 had mixed infections. All cases and controls were similar with regard to their respective age and sex. Travel history (AOR: 13.1, 95% CI 2.8–61.4), presence of eves and holes on walls (AOR: 2.84, 95% CI 1.5–5.5), history of malaria diagnosis (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.3), owning any livestock (AOR: 7.5, 95% CI 2.4–22.8), presence of stagnant water in the area (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI 1.7–6.1), sleeping under bed net the previous night (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI 0.1–0.6) and knowledge on malaria and its prevention (AOR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.1) were determinants of urban malaria infection. About 34 adult Anopheles mosquitoes were collected and identified from those selected cases and control houses and 27 of them were identified as An. stephensi. Conclusion Among the cases, the dominant species were P. falciparum. This study identified travel history, house condition, past infection, livestock ownership, stagnant water, bed net use, and malaria knowledge as determinants of infection. This study also found the dominance of the presence of An. stephensi among the collected mosquito vectors. This suggests that the spread of An. stephensi may be impacting malaria infection in the study area. Hence, strengthening urban-targeted malaria interventions should be enhanced to prevent and control further urban malaria infection and spread.

Abstract Background Thyroid disease is a global health problem and the most common type of endocrine disorder next to diabetic mellitus, accounting for around 30–40% burden of the endocrine disorders. Objective The objective of the study was to assess patterns, treatment outcome and associated factors of surgically treated thyroid disease at Public Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods The study was conducted among surgically treated patients for thyroid disorders using a retrospective cross-sectional study design by reviewing all patients’ charts. A data abstraction sheet was used to collect relevant data, and the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression was employed to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Results The study was conducted on 200 patients’ medical records who had complete information. Out of this, 84.5% were female and 66.5% of patients’ age was between 20 and 40 years. Toxic goiter was the most common thyroid disease which accounted for 49.5%. Hemorrhage and Hypocalcemia were the most common complications after surgery. Anterior neck swelling of greater than 15 years [(AOR: 52.892 CI = 95% (6.087–459.5.68) (P-0.000)], Total/ near total thyroidectomy [(AOR: 20.139 CI = 95% (4.059–99.931) P-00.000] were significantly associated with complicated post-operative course, while female sex [(AOR: 0.124 CI = 95% (0.34–0.494) P- 0.003)] was associated with lower risk of developing post-operative complications. Conclusion This study showed that 9.5% of operated patients with thyroid disease had complicated post-operative course. Long standing goiter and total/ near total thyroidectomy were significantly associated with complicated post-operative course.

Making contextual gender analysis helps to design strong evidence-based institutional strategies for reversing stereotypes that are embedded in the organizational culture. Hence, an institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 participants to assess gender equality and workplace harassment among staff members of Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Sciences, and Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia from November 1 to 30, 2021. Data were collected through a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. We measured gender equality perception by indicators as a latent variable. To identify predictors of gender equality, a structural equation model fit and a coefficient of regression with 95% CI were used to report the association. Of the total participants, more than 85.5% were female, 36.7% had a bachelor's degree, and about 56.6% were administrative staff. Only 0.5% had a managerial role. The perception of gender equality was predicted positively by political (β =.21, 95% CI: [0.10, 0.31]), institutional (β =.32, 95% CI: [0.09, 0.55]), and sociocultural (β =.18, 95% CI: [0.11, 0.26]) factors. The proportion of workplace harassment in one form of violence ranged from 15.2% to 39%. Preferring dialog to get a solution (9.7%) and the unavailability of a gender office at the hospital (7.5%) were the main reasons for not reporting acts of violence. The findings of this study fortify gender inequality in the health and medical institute of Haramaya university but these disparities were not reported by the participants. A decent workplace, free from harassment and discrimination, has to be set up by implementing the existing gender policies and by designing contextualized strategies. Plain language summary: Gender Equality and Work Place Harassment in Health Institutions Gender refers to culturally specific arrangements and presumptions on the nature and character of men and women. These are manifested in several ideas and practices, which influence the identity, social opportunities, and life experiences of human actors. As a result, institutional cultures, mission statements, strategies, leadership styles, coordination, and staff profile are often gendered and dominated by patriarchal beliefs and attitudes to different degrees. Therefore, gender equity and equality can be ensured with the consideration of the gendered consequences of all actions, the gendered social relation, and power relations. Moreover, Gender-Based Violence is highly prevalent among health professionals, health sciences students, and patients. However, the health sector is lacking conceptual clarity and practical tools to address key challenges to gender mainstreaming. Therefore, this study aimed to assess gender equality and workplace harassment among staff members at health institutions in eastern Ethiopia. The result of this study showed the perception of gender equality was predicted by political, institutional, and sociocultural factors. The proportion of workplace harassment in one form of violence ranged from 15.2% to 39%. Preferring dialog to get a solution and the unavailability of a gender office at the hospital were the main reasons for not reporting acts of violence. The findings of this study fortify gender inequality in the health and medical institute of Haramaya university but these disparities were not reported by the participants. A decent workplace, free from harassment and discrimination, has to be set up by implementing the existing gender policies and by designing contextualized strategies. This survey was strong in presenting gendered analysis and gender-based violence in health and medical institutions in higher education sectors. However, the impacts of gender equality determinants could not be seen in this short study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin constitutes a significant concern for food and feed safety, posing detrimental health risks to both animals and humans. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and concentration of aflatoxins in maize feed, total mixed ration, and wheat bran collected from specialized dairy farms and local markets in three major urban centers in eastern Ethiopia. A total of 180 feed samples were collected from September 2021 to January 2022 in Chiro town, Dire Dawa city, and Harar city. These samples underwent thorough extraction and immunoaffinity clean-up before aflatoxin analysis using HPLC/FLD. The results revealed that AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and TAF contamination was detected in 72.2%, 66.1%, 71.1%, 68.7%, and 82.8% of the feed samples, respectively. The corresponding mean levels of each aflatoxin were 28.15 ± 3.50, 3.3 ± 0.40, 19.87 ± 1.87, 2.7 ± 0.32, and 54.01 ± 4.72 µg/kg, respectively. The occurrence and levels of aflatoxin varied across different study sites and feed types. Notably, feeds from Dire Dawa city exhibited significantly higher mean levels of AFB1 (43.98 ± 5.3 µg/kg), AFB2 (5.69 ± 0.6 µg/kg), AFG1 (32.25 ± 2.7 µg/kg), and AFG2 (5.01 ± 0.5 µg/kg) than feeds from other urban centers did. Additionally, a significantly higher occurrence of AFB1 (29.4%) and AFG1 (28.3%) was detected in feed from Dire Dawa city. Similarly, the total mixed ration (TMR) displayed significantly higher levels of AFB1 (50.67 ± 5.2 µg/kg), AFB2 (4.74 ± 0.6 µg/kg), AFG1 (32.87 ± 2.6 µg/kg), and AFG2 (3.86 ± 0.5 µg/kg) compared to the other feed types. Moreover, a significantly higher occurrence of AFB1 (30.7%) and AFG1 (28.7%) was detected in the TMR. Furthermore, a moderate correlation was observed between the count of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species and the levels of TAF in the feed samples. Overall, this study underscores the widespread presence of aflatoxin contamination in dairy feeds in eastern Ethiopia, highlighting the urgent need for stringent monitoring and mitigation measures to ensure food and feed safety, as well as public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, insufficient puberty education and a lack of hygienic menstrual hygiene management (MHM) items (absorbents) cause girls in developing countries like Ethiopia to view menstruation as shameful and uncomfortable. However, there was little evidence of female MHM practice and associated factors among secondary school girls in eastern Ethiopia. Objective: To assess MHM practice and associated factors among secondary school girls in eastern Ethiopia. Design: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Methods: A total of 473 secondary schoolgirls were selected using a stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire, double-entered to Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was computed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviations. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the association of the school water, sanitation and hygiene facilities with MHM. Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with its 95% confidence interval was computed to show the strength of the association between dependent and independent variables. The goodness of fit of the model was tested by the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Results: Out of 473 study participants, 72.93% of them (95% CI: 68.74–76.76) reported good MHM practices. The study also found that availability of continuous water supply (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI: (1.42–4.01)); types of toilet (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: (1.20–3.40)), confined space (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI: (1.49–4.76)) and having females' toilets alone inside in the school (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: (1.20–4.40)) were significantly associated with female students' good MHM practice. Conclusion: The survey revealed that some of the secondary schoolgirls practiced poor menstrual hygiene management (MHM), which needs further improvement. The study also found that the availability of continuous water supply in the school, types of toilet facility in the school, availability of private space to manage periods at school, learning about MHM in schools and availability of female toilets kept locked inside were factors significantly associated with MHM practice of students, which require integration of Zonal Health and education bureau to jointly work towards the improvement of school WASH facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid disease is a global health problem and the most common type of endocrine disorder next to diabetic mellitus, accounting for around 30–40% burden of the endocrine disorders. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess patterns, treatment outcome and associated factors of surgically treated thyroid disease at Public Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: The study was conducted among surgically treated patients for thyroid disorders using a retrospective cross-sectional study design by reviewing all patients' charts. A data abstraction sheet was used to collect relevant data, and the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression was employed to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Results: The study was conducted on 200 patients' medical records who had complete information. Out of this, 84.5% were female and 66.5% of patients' age was between 20 and 40 years. Toxic goiter was the most common thyroid disease which accounted for 49.5%. Hemorrhage and Hypocalcemia were the most common complications after surgery. Anterior neck swelling of greater than 15 years [(AOR: 52.892 CI = 95% (6.087–459.5.68) (P-0.000)], Total/ near total thyroidectomy [(AOR: 20.139 CI = 95% (4.059–99.931) P-00.000] were significantly associated with complicated post-operative course, while female sex [(AOR: 0.124 CI = 95% (0.34–0.494) P- 0.003)] was associated with lower risk of developing post-operative complications. Conclusion: This study showed that 9.5% of operated patients with thyroid disease had complicated post-operative course. Long standing goiter and total/ near total thyroidectomy were significantly associated with complicated post-operative course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionA widely recognized public health issue affecting people worldwide is central obesity. Numerous chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and malignancies are linked to this syndrome. There is limited information about waist circumference (WC) and its related variables among urban bank workers in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate waist circumference and the factors associated with it among bank workers in Northeast Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia, between 2 October 2023 and 24 October 2023. A random selection method was employed to select 363 bank workers. STATA version 17 was used for analysis after the data were imported into EpiData version 4.4.2.0. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyzes were performed to identify factors related to waist circumference. Normality, homoscedasticity, significant outliers, and multicollinearity were assessed, and a p-value of less than 0.05, along with a 95% confidence interval, was considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 345 participants were included in the final analysis, with a 95% response rate. The overall mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the waist circumference of the employees was 81.7 ± 6.8 cm, with 82.4 ± 6.5 cm for men and 80.7 ± 7.2 cm for women. The overall prevalence of central obesity was 57.7%, with 48.2% for the men and 70.3% for the women. The overall mean ± SD of the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was 0.90 ± 0.05, with 0.91 ± 0.04 for men and 0.89 ± 0.05 for women. The average waist circumference was significantly associated with the participants’ age (0.2 cm per year (SE: 0.1)) and MET hours (0.2 cm (SE: 0.1)). The mean waist circumference was 2.7 cm (SE:0.8) higher in the married women, 4.6 cm (SE:1.9) higher in the participants with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and 1.7 cm (SE:0.8) higher in the participants who consumed discretionary calories for 4 days/week.ConclusionThe mean waist circumference among bank employees was higher, with more than half of the participants having central obesity. Age, marital status, discretionary calorie intake, non-communicable diseases, and metabolic equivalence task hours were the significant factors of waist circumference. Therefore, promoting activities aimed at preventing non-communicable diseases, such as leisure-time physical activity, and reducing discretionary calorie intake are essential for reducing high waist circumference measurements.

IntroductionEnteric pathogens are a leading causes of diarrheal deaths in low-and middle-income countries. The Exposure Assessment of Campylobacter Infections in Rural Ethiopia (EXCAM) project, aims to identify potential sources of bacteria in the genus Campylobacter and, more generally, fecal contamination of infants during the first 1.5 years of life using Escherichia coli as indicator.MethodsA total of 1,310 samples (i.e., hand rinses from the infant, sibling and mother, drinking and bathing water, food and fomite provided to or touched by the infants, areola swabs, breast milk and soil) were collected from 76 households between May 2021 and June 2022. Samples were assigned to two groups by infant age: TP1 (time point 1), infants between 4 and 8 months of age, and TP2, infants between 11 and 15 months of age. Fluorometric and semi-selective colorimetric approaches were used to quantify E. coli in the field samples.ResultsOverall, E. coli was ubiquitous within selected households (56.8% across the study). E. coli was more frequently detected than average (>53%) with high concentration (>2-log CFU) in soil (g) and per pair of hand, while the opposite trend (51%), but at low concentration ( 0.3).DiscussionUsing E. coli as surrogate, our study identified mother (hands and areola) as reservoirs likely to be involved in frequent transmission of fecal contaminants to infants within rural Ethiopian households.

BackgroundQuality laboratory services are key in the healthcare system for successful diagnosis and patient care. Uninterrupted laboratory services are needed to meet the needs of all patients and clinical personnel, but studies in developing nations revealed that most clinicians were dissatisfied due to the lack of quality laboratory services and frequent interruptions.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the level of health laboratory service quality, service interruptions, and its predictors in public Hospitals in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia.MethodA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital and Jugel General Hospital between January and April 2024. Data collection utilized Standardized Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklists and questionnaires based on the Ethiopian Hospital Standard Transformation Guidelines. Data were entered and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, proportions, and means, were calculated. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify predictors with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a cut-off p-values

BackgroundUnderstanding the level of inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) services in urban and rural settlements is crucial for prioritizing community interventions and resource allocation. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding discrepancies in WaSH services across rural and urban slum communities in Ethiopia.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess inequalities in households’ WaSH services and their associated factors among urban slums and rural communities in Eastern Ethiopia from February to April 2024.MethodsA comparative community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted, with study participants selected through stratified random sampling using proportional-to-size allocation. Data were entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and then exported to STATA version 17 for analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted, and associations were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using a p-value less than 0.05 as the significance threshold.ResultA total of 278 urban and 301 rural households participated in the study, with a response rate of 94%. Key indicators showed that WaSH services were significantly better in urban areas compared to rural households. For example, 98% (95% CI: 96, 99) of urban households had access to an improved water source compared to 76% (95% CI: 71, 80) of rural households. The proportion of households with improved latrines was 44% (95% CI: 38, 50) in urban areas and only 14% (95% CI: 11, 19) in rural areas. Handwashing practices at all five critical times were reported by 52% (95% CI: 46, 58) of urban household heads, compared to 22% (95% CI: 18, 27) of rural households. Additionally, occupation (such as being a farmer, p = 0.000) and water service satisfaction (p = 0.000) were significantly associated with these key WaSH outcomes.ConclusionThe study revealed that the WaSH services in urban slums are considerably better than in rural households. Socioeconomic factors significantly influence the existing disparities in WaSH services. Stakeholders should focus on providing targeted, strategic support to communities to address the challenges in WaSH service provision.

Islam in Ethiopia has a profound impact as one of the streams of its long history. It has been present in the country for almost one and a half millennia. It was first introduced to Axum in northern Ethiopia in AD 615, also referred to as the 'first hijra', followed by the subsequent expansions to Shoa in central and eastern Ethiopia through Dahlak and Zeila ports since the 9th century AD. The main agents of these expansions were caravan traders and refugees. Coinciding with such intensified trade and the Islamisation process, eastern Africa witnessed the emergence and consolidation of several Muslim principalities, including in modern-day Ethiopia, from the 11th century AD onwards. Fedis, as one of those principalities within modern-day Ethiopia, was mentioned in Amde Seyon's chronicle in the 14th century AD. However, Islamic history and archaeology in Ethiopia remain understudied until recently. As part of this negligence, Fedis site has never been studied until the completion of this research. Inspired by its historical mentions and an old map revealing several ruins of settlement sites south of Harar, the researchers conducted a preliminary survey of this particular site in 2021 and 2022. Accordingly, various remains were identified from Fedis that confirmed the site's archaeological potential. During the fieldwork, ruins of an elaborate stone-built defensive wall, a succession of mosques, a stepwell, carnelian-made seal carved with Arabic text, beads of various kinds, storage pits of different sizes and burials were the findings explored, among many others. As confirmed from these findings, this pilot research sheds new and first archaeological insight into the medieval Islamic site of Fedis in eastern Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify and examine the prevalence of Aspergillus species in three types of feed collected from specialized dairy farms and local markets in Chiro town, Dire Dawa, and Harar cities in eastern Ethiopia. A total of 180 dairy feed samples were collected and sown, initially on YES agar and then subcultured to AFPA to identify Aspergillus species based on colony color, conidia, vesicle, and phialide features. Additionally, the aflatoxigenic potential of the colonies was tested using CAM-based UV fluorescence. The study revealed that the prevalence of Aspergillus species was 80.6% in dairy feeds with a mean count of 3.04 log10cfu/g. Among the identified species, A. flavus was found to be highly prevalent (80%) in the feed with a mean of 2.73 log10cfu/g (7.45 × 103 cfu/g). Meanwhile, A. parasiticus and A. niger were observed in 73.3% (mean 2.43 log10cfu/g) and 58.3% (mean 1.68 log10cfu/g) of feeds, respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of all Aspergillus species in feeds were not significant (p > 0.05) among the study sites and feed sources. However, the mean count of total Aspergillus (3.47 ± 1.34 log10cfu/g), A. flavus (3.20 ± 1.27 log10cfu/g), and A. parasiticus (2.82 ± 1.41 log10cfu/g) was significantly higher in feeds from Dire Dawa city. Additionally, both the prevalence rates and mean counts of total Aspergillus (37.9% and 3.65 ± 1.16 log10cfu/g), A. flavus (38.2% and 3.26 ± 1.12 log10cfu/g), A. parasiticus (38.6% and 2.98 ± 1.34 log10cfu/g), and A. niger (37.1% and 2.11 ± 1.57 log10cfu/g) in total mixed ration were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in other feed types. Out of the screened Aspergillus colonies, 81.42% were found to be aflatoxigenic, with 58.32% belonging to A. flavus and 41.68% to A. parasiticus. Therefore, widespread contamination of Aspergillus species in dairy feeds across the study sites raises food safety and public health concerns, which highlights the urgent need for stringent measures in feed quality control to curb its prevalence and the risk of aflatoxin exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health service utilization in the Eastern part of Ethiopia. Methods: Comparative analysis was used to examine 2 years of maternal and child health service utilization. Data were extracted from client registers. A traditional Expert Modeler and one-way Analysis of Variance were used to compare service utilization before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 34,576 client records were reviewed, of which 17,100 (49.5%) and 17,476 (50.5%) had visited the MCH service before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The total client visit has shown a 2% percentage point increase. However, postnatal care and child immunization services showed a decrease. Moreover, there was a significant difference between service visits before and during COVID-19 (f = 4.6, p < 0.04). Conclusion: Mothers and children have missed or unattended facility appointments due to protective impositions or fear of getting infected with COVID-19, which might suggest a higher proportion of MCH issues were not addressed during the pandemic. The health system should therefore improve its resilience and strengthen its access at the lowest health care inlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of long-lasting comorbidities makes cancer management and treatment challenging because of their overlapping poor prognosis. However, there are no data that show the burden of these chronic cases in patients with cancer in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the burden of and the factors associated with chronic disease comorbidity among cancer patients in the eastern part of Ethiopia. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 patients with cancer admitted to the only cancer treatment center in eastern Ethiopia. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Data were extracted from the patients' medical records using a checklist. The collected data were entered into the Epi-Data statistical software version 3.1 and then exported to STATA version 17 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the outcomes and the independent variables. Finally, adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. The statistical significance of the factors was indicated at a p-value <0.05. Results: Of the 422 eligible medical records identified, 419 (99.3%) were included for analysis. A total of 230 (54.8%, 95%CI = 50.0%-59.6%) patients with cancer presented with one or more chronic diseases. Of these comorbidities, anemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were the most common diseases reported. Obesity at admission (AOR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.10-3.61) had a significant association with the occurrence of comorbidities among patients with cancer. Conclusion and recommendation: The overall prevalence of comorbidity among patients with cancer was relatively lower than that reported in previous studies. Being obese was significantly associated with the occurrence of comorbidities. Attention should be given to the burden of chronic comorbidities among patients with cancer through researching, formulating policies, and improving community literacy to manage comorbidities. Thus, interventions for weight reduction and the early detection and treatment of the comorbidities could limit further complications and lower the incidence of other comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overweight and obesity are major worldwide health concerns, with serious consequences for mortality and morbidity. Overweight and obesity rates are frighteningly high in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ethiopia, due to a variety of causes such as urbanization, greater affluence, and bad food habits. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among people in Jigjiga Town, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia, as well as to investigate related factors in order to inform treatments and policy. A cross-sectional survey was done among persons aged 20 to 64 working in the government, non-governmental, and commercial sectors. Socio-demographic information, food habits, physical activity, and anthropometric measures were all recorded. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was shown to be 42.4 %, with significant correlations identified with profession and TV viewing habits. Employed people were less likely to be overweight or obese than those in commerce/trade, and those who watched TV for 2–3 h had a reduced risk than those who watched less than 2 h. The study found that khat chewing is significantly associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity, with chewers being 1.56 times more likely to be overweight or obese compared to non-chewers. Additionally, there is an inverse relationship between snacking frequency and overweight/obesity risk; participants who snacked once a day were 2.5 times more likely to be overweight or obese than those who snacked three or more times a day. These findings highlight that khat chewing and snacking patterns are important modifiable risk factors for overweight and obesity in the studied population. These findings highlight the need of focused treatments targeting food choices, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in combating overweight and obesity in Eastern Ethiopia. Collaboration among academics, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders is critical for developing successful methods for promoting healthy lifestyles and lowering the region's overweight and obesity burden.

BackgroundAcute malnutrition is a major global public health problem, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. A targeted supplementary feeding program is an approach recommended to address moderate acute malnutrition in food-insecure settings. Preventing and treating moderate acute malnutrition requires identifying factors shown to affect the treatment outcome and duration of stay on treatment. This study aimed to determine the time to recovery from moderate acute malnutrition and its predictors among children aged 6–59 months in Fedis Woreda East Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, from January 1 to December 31, 2022.MethodsA facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted on 567 children with moderate acute malnutrition in Fedis Woreda, East Hararghe Zone, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, and data was collected using a structured checklist. Data were extracted from randomly selected records after obtaining ethical clearance. Data were cleaned, coded, entered into EpiData 4.6, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14. Descriptive statistics and analytic analysis schemes, including bivariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, were conducted, and finally, statistical significance was considered at p

Abstract Background Diarrhea is a serious health problem in children under the age of five that is both preventable and treatable. In low-income countries like Ethiopia, children under the age five years frequently experience diarrhea. However, the burden and associated factors of these diarrheal diseases are understudied in Eastern Ethiopia, Thus, this study aimed to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of diarrheal diseases in Eastern Ethiopia from September 1–30, 2022. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on the total of 602 children aged 6 to 59 months in Oda Bultum district in eastern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling method was used. Three kebeles were selected from nine kebeles by the lottery method. Data was entered into Epi data 4.0.2 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was used for frequency, mean, and standard deviations. In addition, bivariable, and multivariable Poisson regression model was used to identify predictors of diarrhea along with a 95% confidence interval. Finally, statistical significance was declared at a p-value of 0.05. Result A total of 602 children were included in this study. The prevalence of diarrhea 7.4% (47/602), 95% CI; 5.5–9.7%) among the children. Factors such as being unvaccinated for any vaccine (AOR = 10.82, 95%CI; 4.58–25.48) and born from a mother who had medium level of empowerment (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI; 0.11–0.88) in the household had statistically significant association with diarrhea among the children compared to their counterparts. Conclusion The study found that nearly one out of thirteen children aged 6 to 59 months had any form of diarrheal diseases in Oda Bultum District, Eastern Ethiopia. In addition, the study revealed that children who were vaccinated for their age developed diarrhea less likely compared to those who did not receive any form of vaccine for their age. Moreover, children with mothers who had a medium level of empowerment were less likely to get diarrhea than children with mothers who had a low level of empowerment.

Abstract Background Appropriate maternal referral system plays an essential role in curbing maternal mortality. Although the occurrence of obstetric complications is often unpredictable, addressing bottlenecks of the referral system is crucial to facilitate the women to have access to timely lifesaving interventions. Nonetheless, little is known about the barriers to maternal referral system in the eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers to maternal referral system at selected referral hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods Key informant interviews and in-depth interviews were conducted among purposively selected respondents who had a role in maternal referral processes. A total of 12 key informants that comprised of liaison officers, healthcare providers and three in-depth interviews with referred women were conducted. Semi-structured interview guide was developed and used to facilitate the interviews. All the interviews were tape recorded, complemented by note taking. Then audio recorded interviews were transcribed as per verbatim and imported to NVivo for coding and merging. The data were thematically synthesized. Results The study identified a range of barriers that affect the maternal referral system in Eastern Ethiopia. The main barriers are grouped into three domains, such as: communication, transportation, and healthcare system. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of pre-referral communication and feedback, using informal communication, incomplete referral forms, poor ambulance service including misuse of ambulances, lack of skilled healthcare escort and lack of medical equipment at emergency, unnecessary self-referrals, poor referral skills and limited number of health professions. Conclusions The maternal referral system is overwhelmingly affected by lack of skill, logistics (referral form), misuse of available ambulance, poor communication, and limited seeking of feedback. Regular consultative meeting with relevant stakeholders and uptake of feedback are crucial to improve referral communication, proper use of ambulance and building capacity of health workforce about referral are essential to improve maternal referral system.

Tadesse Misgana,1 Berhe Gebremichael,2 Dejene Tesfaye,1 Dawit Tamiru,3 Daniel Alemu,1 Adisu Birhanu Weldesenbet,2 Mandaras Tariku,1 Merga Dheresa4 1Department of Psychiatry, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 4School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Berhe Gebremichael, Email berhegere09@gmail.comIntroduction: Maternal common mental disorders (CMD) and inadequate child feeding practices are significant public health concerns in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, the impact of maternal CMD on infant feeding practices remains poorly comprehended. Hence, the objective of this research was to examine the impact of maternal CMD on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the rural districts of eastern Ethiopia.Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out within a community setting, involving 986 pregnant women (371 exposed and 615 non-exposed). The assessment of maternal CMD during pregnancy and the postpartum period was conducted using the Self-Reported Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) from the World Health Organization (WHO). To determine the impact of maternal CMD on EBF, a modified Poisson regression model was employed. Statistical significance was set at P< 0.05.Results: The cumulative incidence of suboptimal EBF practice was higher among infants’ mothers who had only prenatal CMD (61.3%) and persistent/chronic CMD (64.7%) compared to those with no CMD at all (51.9%). However, the incidence was slightly lower in mothers having only postnatal CMD (51.1%). The risk of suboptimal EBF was 1.21 times more likely among women with prenatal CMD (Adjusted Relative Risk (ARR)=1.21, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.04, 1.40) and 1.25 times more likely in those with persistent CMD (ARR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.52) compared with those having no CMD.Conclusion: Maternal CMD is a significant predictor of suboptimal EBF practice in the rural part of Ethiopia. Community-based screening and early management of maternal CMD and integration of mental health services into community-based nutrition could improve EBF.Keywords: common mental disorders, Eastern Ethiopia, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal

Abstract Introduction Several studies conducted worldwide revealed the magnitude of early relaparotomy and its outcome among patients undergoing laparotomy. However, there was very little evidence on the magnitude of early relaparotomy and its outcome among patients who underwent laparotomy in Ethiopia, especially in the study area. Objective this study aimed to the assess magnitude of early relaparotomy and its outcome among patients who underwent laparotomy in a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. All patients who underwent laparotomy during the data retrieval period were included. Data were collected using a data abstraction checklist from patients’ medical records. The collected data were entered, cleaned, and analyzed by using SPSS version 23. Descriptives statistics were generated where by continuous variables were summarized into means and standard deviation and categorical variables were summarized as the frequency with proportions. Result The magnitude of relaparotomy was 6.8%. Among 82 patients included in the final analysis, 53 (64.6%) were males and the mean (± SD) age of patients was 33.32 ± 16.63 years. The major indications for relaparotomy were intra-abdominal collection (26.8%) and anastomotic leak (24.4%). Among 82 patients who underwent relaparotomy, 52(63.4%) were developed post relaparotomy complications, and 30(36.6%) patients died. Conclusion The magnitude of early relaparotomy was 6.8%. The magnitude of in-hospital mortality was high in comparison to earlier study findings from developing countries. About three fourth of patients who underwent relaparotomy were developed postoperative complications.

Background: Appropriate maternal referral system plays an essential role in curbing maternal mortality. Although the occurrence of obstetric complications is often unpredictable, addressing bottlenecks of the referral system is crucial to facilitate the women to have access to timely lifesaving interventions. Nonetheless, little is known about the barriers to maternal referral system in the eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers to maternal referral system at selected referral hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Key informant interviews and in-depth interviews were conducted among purposively selected respondents who had a role in maternal referral processes. A total of 12 key informants that comprised of liaison officers, healthcare providers and three in-depth interviews with referred women were conducted. Semi-structured interview guide was developed and used to facilitate the interviews. All the interviews were tape recorded, complemented by note taking. Then audio recorded interviews were transcribed as per verbatim and imported to NVivo for coding and merging. The data were thematically synthesized. Results: The study identified a range of barriers that affect the maternal referral system in Eastern Ethiopia. The main barriers are grouped into three domains, such as: communication, transportation, and healthcare system. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of pre-referral communication and feedback, using informal communication, incomplete referral forms, poor ambulance service including misuse of ambulances, lack of skilled healthcare escort and lack of medical equipment at emergency, unnecessary self-referrals, poor referral skills and limited number of health professions. Conclusions: The maternal referral system is overwhelmingly affected by lack of skill, logistics (referral form), misuse of available ambulance, poor communication, and limited seeking of feedback. Regular consultative meeting with relevant stakeholders and uptake of feedback are crucial to improve referral communication, proper use of ambulance and building capacity of health workforce about referral are essential to improve maternal referral system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a concern that job dissatisfaction among health extension workers (HEWs) reduces the benefit of investment in the execution of health extension programs. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the level of job satisfaction and factors affecting it among the HEWs in the West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. Method: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 416 randomly selected health extension workers from 20 September 2020 to 20 October 2020. A pretested, structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. STATA 14.2 was used for data analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were also performed. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05. Results: The overall level of satisfaction of health extension workers was 51.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 46.97%, 56.6%]. Earning more than 5,260 ETB as salary [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.85], working more than 10 km from the district town (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.53), receiving supportive supervision (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.55), and not living with parents (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.24, 3.04) were significantly associated factors with HEW job satisfaction. Conclusion: Nearly half of the health extension workers were dissatisfied with their jobs. Supportive supervision, compensation, distance, and parental home location were all predictors of job satisfaction. It is critical to establish intervention tactics that may satisfy and motivate HEWs to expand health coverage, strengthen health extension programs, and improve service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diarrhea is a serious health problem in children under the age of five that is both preventable and treatable. In low-income countries like Ethiopia, children under the age five years frequently experience diarrhea. However, the burden and associated factors of these diarrheal diseases are understudied in Eastern Ethiopia, Thus, this study aimed to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of diarrheal diseases in Eastern Ethiopia from September 1–30, 2022. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the total of 602 children aged 6 to 59 months in Oda Bultum district in eastern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling method was used. Three kebeles were selected from nine kebeles by the lottery method. Data was entered into Epi data 4.0.2 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was used for frequency, mean, and standard deviations. In addition, bivariable, and multivariable Poisson regression model was used to identify predictors of diarrhea along with a 95% confidence interval. Finally, statistical significance was declared at a p-value of 0.05. Result: A total of 602 children were included in this study. The prevalence of diarrhea 7.4% (47/602), 95% CI; 5.5–9.7%) among the children. Factors such as being unvaccinated for any vaccine (AOR = 10.82, 95%CI; 4.58–25.48) and born from a mother who had medium level of empowerment (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI; 0.11–0.88) in the household had statistically significant association with diarrhea among the children compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The study found that nearly one out of thirteen children aged 6 to 59 months had any form of diarrheal diseases in Oda Bultum District, Eastern Ethiopia. In addition, the study revealed that children who were vaccinated for their age developed diarrhea less likely compared to those who did not receive any form of vaccine for their age. Moreover, children with mothers who had a medium level of empowerment were less likely to get diarrhea than children with mothers who had a low level of empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient insufficiencies during pregnancy have a marked impact on the health of the woman and her offspring. Evidence about the dietary practice of pregnant women is limited in Ethiopia, particularly in drought‐prone areas where food insecurity is widely seen. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the dietary diversity practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Chiro district, Eastern Ethiopia. We employed a community‐based cross‐sectional survey in Chiro district, Eastern Ethiopia. The data were collected from 417 randomly selected pregnant women using an interview‐administered structured questionnaire. EpiData‐3.1 and STATA‐14 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. The binary logistic regression analysis was deployed to assess the association between dietary diversity practice and predictor variables. Out of 420 calculated sample size, 417 pregnant women completed the survey giving a response rate of 99.3%. The overall prevalence of optimal dietary diversity was 38.4% (95% CI: 33.7%, 43.2%). Educational status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.08, 6.81), meal frequency (AOR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.11, 3.28), home gardening (AOR: 4.21, 95% CI: 2.48, 7.16), and household food security (AOR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.40) were independent predictors of dietary diversity practice.This study found that a substantial proportion of pregnant women had suboptimal dietary diversity, indicating a fundamental micronutrient inadequacy. Educational status, meal frequency, home gardening practice, and household food security were independent determinants of dietary diversity practice. The findings suggest that promoting maternal education and home gardening practice, and controlling food insecurity might enhance optimal dietary diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies conducted worldwide revealed the magnitude of early relaparotomy and its outcome among patients undergoing laparotomy. However, there was very little evidence on the magnitude of early relaparotomy and its outcome among patients who underwent laparotomy in Ethiopia, especially in the study area. Objective: this study aimed to the assess magnitude of early relaparotomy and its outcome among patients who underwent laparotomy in a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. All patients who underwent laparotomy during the data retrieval period were included. Data were collected using a data abstraction checklist from patients' medical records. The collected data were entered, cleaned, and analyzed by using SPSS version 23. Descriptives statistics were generated where by continuous variables were summarized into means and standard deviation and categorical variables were summarized as the frequency with proportions. Result: The magnitude of relaparotomy was 6.8%. Among 82 patients included in the final analysis, 53 (64.6%) were males and the mean (± SD) age of patients was 33.32 ± 16.63 years. The major indications for relaparotomy were intra-abdominal collection (26.8%) and anastomotic leak (24.4%). Among 82 patients who underwent relaparotomy, 52(63.4%) were developed post relaparotomy complications, and 30(36.6%) patients died. Conclusion: The magnitude of early relaparotomy was 6.8%. The magnitude of in-hospital mortality was high in comparison to earlier study findings from developing countries. About three fourth of patients who underwent relaparotomy were developed postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify and examine the prevalence of Aspergillus species in three types of feed collected from specialized dairy farms and local markets in Chiro town, Dire Dawa, and Harar cities in eastern Ethiopia. A total of 180 dairy feed samples were collected and sown, initially on YES agar and then sub-cultured to AFPA to identify Aspergillus species based on colony color, conidia, vesicle, and phialide features. Additionally, the aflatoxigenic potential of the colonies was tested using CAM-based UV fluorescence. The study revealed that the prevalence of Aspergillus species was 80.6% in dairy feeds with a mean count of 3.04 log10cfu/g. Among the identified species, A. flavus was found to be highly prevalent (80%) in the feed with a mean of 2.73 log10cfu/g (7.45 × 103 cfu/g). Meanwhile, A. parasiticus and A. niger were observed in 73.3% (mean 2.43 log10cfu/g) and 58.3% (mean 1.68 log10cfu/g) of feeds, respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of all Aspergillus species in feeds were not significant (p > 0.05) among the study sites and feed sources. However, the mean count of total Aspergillus (3.47 ± 1.34 log10cfu/g), A. flavus (3.20 ± 1.27 log10cfu/g), and A. parasiticus (2.82 ± 1.41 log10cfu/g) was significantly higher in feeds from Dire Dawa city. Additionally, both the prevalence rates and mean counts of total Aspergillus (37.9% and 3.65 ± 1.16 log10cfu/g), A. flavus (38.2% and 3.26 ± 1.12 log10cfu/g), A. parasiticus (38.6% and 2.98 ± 1.34 log10cfu/g), and A. niger (37.1% and 2.11 ± 1.57 log10cfu/g) in total mixed ration were significantly higher (p

BackgroundPsycho-emotional violence, a type of workplace violence targeting healthcare workers, varies across countries, occasions, and professions in the healthcare sector. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of comprehensive studies focusing on violence against healthcare workers in Ethiopia, which may also encompass psycho-gender-based emotional violence against healthcare workers. Therefore, there is a compelling need for in-depth research to address this gap and develop effective strategies to mitigate psycho-emotional violence in the healthcare sector in Ethiopia, especially in the eastern region. Hence, we aimed to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with workplace psycho-emotional violence against healthcare providers in eastern Ethiopia.MethodsThis institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 744 health professionals working in urban public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Multistage stratified random sampling was used, and data were collected using a standardized structured tool adopted from the WHO workplace violence assessment tool. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with psycho-emotional workplace violence. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported, and a p-value of 0.05 was used as the cut-off point to declare significance.ResultsWorkplace psycho-emotional violence was reported by 57.39% of the healthcare workers. The absence of guidelines for gender-based abuse [AOR = 35.62, 95% CI:17.47, 72.64], presence of measures that improve surroundings (class lighting and privacy) [AOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.98], training on workplace violence coping mechanism [AOR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.26, 0.98], spending more than 50% of their time with HIV/AIDS patients [AOR = 1.96, 95%CI:1.05, 3.72], and spending more than 50% of their time with psychiatric patients [AOR = 1.92, 95%CI:1.08, 3.43] were factors significantly associated with workplace violence against health professionals.ConclusionThe prevalence of workplace psycho-emotional violence against health professionals in eastern Ethiopia was relatively high. Improving the working environment decreases the chance of workplace violence; however, there is a lack of guidelines for gender-based violence, the absence of training on coping mechanisms, and spending more time with psychiatric and HIV/AIDS patients’ increases workplace violence. We recommend that health institutions develop gender abuse mitigation guidelines and provide training on coping mechanisms.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health service utilization in the Eastern part of Ethiopia.Methods: Comparative analysis was used to examine 2 years of maternal and child health service utilization. Data were extracted from client registers. A traditional Expert Modeler and one-way Analysis of Variance were used to compare service utilization before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: A total of 34,576 client records were reviewed, of which 17,100 (49.5%) and 17,476 (50.5%) had visited the MCH service before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The total client visit has shown a 2% percentage point increase. However, postnatal care and child immunization services showed a decrease. Moreover, there was a significant difference between service visits before and during COVID-19 (f = 4.6, p < 0.04).Conclusion: Mothers and children have missed or unattended facility appointments due to protective impositions or fear of getting infected with COVID-19, which might suggest a higher proportion of MCH issues were not addressed during the pandemic. The health system should therefore improve its resilience and strengthen its access at the lowest health care inlets.

BackgroundCoronavirus-19 disease is more severe in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Low-income countries, such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa, are particularly vulnerable to the virus’ spread. However, there is little information on antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in Ethiopia during the pandemic, particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of antiretroviral treatment adherence and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic era in public hospitals in Jigjiga City, Somalia, and Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 randomly selected HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) follow-up in public hospitals in Jigjiga City from March 1–30, 2022. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews and a review of the patient’s record. To explore the relationship between variables, both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was utilized, along with a 95% confidence interval, to assess the strength and direction of the association. Statistical significance was considered at p

Dawit Firdisa,1 Admas Abera,1 Jerman Dereje,2 Fekede Asefa1,3 1School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Psychiatry, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) - Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Center for Biomedical Informatics, Memphis, TN, 38103, USACorrespondence: Dawit Firdisa, School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.box, 235, Harar, Ethiopia, Tel +251961794645, Email firdisadawit@gmail.comBackground: Management of diabetes requires a long-term care strategy, including support for adherence to a healthy lifestyle and treatment. Exploring the willingness of patients with diabetes to receive mHealth services is essential for designing efficient and effective services. This study aimedto determine willingness to receive mHealth services and associated factors, as well as explore the barriers to receive mHealth services among patients with diabetes.Methods: A multicenter mixed-method study was employed from September 1 to November 30, 2022. For the quantitative part, a total of 365 patients with diabetes receiving chronic follow-up at three public hospitals were enrolled. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires administered by interviewers, entered into Epi-data version 4.6, and analyzed using Stata version 17. A binary and multivariable logistic regression model was computed to identify the associated factors. For qualitative, eight key informants and seven in-depth interviews were conducted. After verbatim transcription and translation, the data were thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti V. 7.5.Results: Overall, 77.3% had access to a mobile phone, and 74.5% of them were willing to receive mHealth services. Higher odds of willingness to receive mHealth services were reported among patients with an age below 35 years [AOR = 4.11 (1.15– 14.71)], attended formal education [AOR = 2.63 (1.19– 5.77)], without comorbidity [AOR = 3.6 (1.54– 8.41)], < 1-hour travel to reach a health facility [AOR = 3.57 (1.03– 12.36)], answered unknown calls [AOR = 2.3 (1.04– 5.13)], and were satisfied with health-care provider service [AOR = 2.44 (1.04– 5.72)]. In the qualitative part, infrastructure, health facilities, socioeconomic factors, and patients’ behavioral factors were major identified barriers to receiving mHealth services.Conclusion: In this study, the willingness to receive mHealth services for those who have access to mobile phones increased. Additionally, the study highlighted common barriers to receiving mHealth services.Keywords: willingness, mHealth, mobile phone, diabetes, mixed method, eastern Ethiopia

Ammas Siraj Mohammed,1 Kirubel Minsamo Mishore,1 Tadesse Bekele Tafesse,2 Abera Jambo,1 Ahmed Mohammed Husen,3 Addisu Alemu4 1Clinical Pharmacy Department, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Reproductive Health and Nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Kirubel Minsamo Mishore, Email Kira2031@gmail.comBackground: Epilepsy is one of the common chronic neurological disorders with varying therapeutic responses. Despite the high prevalence of epilepsy and the significant treatment gaps in developing nations, such as Ethiopia, there is a dearth of data on seizure remission and its predictors in Eastern Ethiopia in particular.Objective: This study aimed to determine seizure remission and its predictors among epileptic patients on follow-up in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital (HFSUH) and Dilchora Referral Hospital (DCRH), from July 2 to 31, 2021.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 418 newly diagnosed epilepsy patients receiving anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) between July 1, 2014, and July 31, 2019, in two public hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia. Relevant data were collected for all patients with a minimum follow-up period of two years. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Cox proportional hazards model was performed to identify predictors of seizure remission.Results: Overall, 252 (60.3%) of the study participants have achieved seizure remission for at least one year. The mean time to achieve seizure remission was 1.9 ± 0.87 years. Regarding the seizure remission pattern, 171 (40.9%) patients achieved early remission, 81 (19.4%) achieved late remission, and 166 (39.7%) achieved no remission. Shorter pre-treatment duration (AHR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.28– 4.37); good adherence to ASDs (AHR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.33– 4.34); and monotherapy (AHR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32– 0.98) were predictors of seizure remission.Conclusion: We observed that less than two-thirds of epileptic patients had achieved seizure remission. A shorter pre-treatment duration, good adherence to ASDs, and monotherapy were predictors of seizure remission. Therefore, we recommend the requirement of an integrated effort from different health disciplines that increases patients’ adherence to ASDs, promotes early visits to medical facilities, and improves the health-seeking behavior of epileptic patients.Keywords: seizure, epilepsy, remission, predictors, Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Many households in urban areas suffer from severe food insecurity. In Ethiopia, current economic recession, pandemic, locust invasion, and conflict, disproportionately aggravated the problems. This study aims to assess food insecurity in household and its factors in the Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess 616 households in urban areas of Eastern Ethiopia using simple random sampling. FANTA Indicator Guide (v.3) Questionnaires were used as data collection tool. Then, the information was entered into Epi-data version 3.02 and exported to SPSS version 21. To determine factors affecting household food insecurity, binary regression analysis was performed, and a p-value of < 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Model fitness was checked using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was 41.7% (95% CI: 37.4–45.6). The following factors were determined as food insecurity predictors: household head's sex [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=1.75, 95% CI: 1.08–2.84], household head's education (AOR= 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33–0.99), mother's occupation [AOR= 0.3, 95% CI: 0.19–0.57], households with the medium wealth index (AOR =1.72, 95% CI: 1.06–2.78) and households with the lowest wealth index (AOR=4.01, 95% CI: 2.35–6.86). Conclusions: The prevalence of household food insecurity in urban areas of Eastern Ethiopia is high. The food insecurity was significantly affected by residency, education, occupation, and wealth index. The government should focus on socio-economic policies targeting the vulnerable and improve their economic status. Corresponding Author:Tariku Derese View Orcid in Profile You can search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar Profile

Abstract Hypertensive crisis poses substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess in‐hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and their predictors among patients with hypertensive crisis treated at public hospitals in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. An institutional‐based retrospective cohort study was conducted from October 1 to 31, 2022. The medical records of 328 patients with hypertensive crisis treated at two public hospitals between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2022 were reviewed. Cox proportional hazards regression and negative binomial regression were used to identify predictors of in‐hospital mortality and LOS, respectively. The in‐hospital mortality rate of patients with hypertensive crisis was 18.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.08–29.70) per 1000 person‐day observation. The median (interquartile range) LOS of these patients was 10 (4–120) hours. Age ≥65 years (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 3.30; 95% CI: 1.17– 9.33); increment in initial systolic blood pressure (AHR: 1.040; 95% CI: 1.014–1.066); and having acute brain‐related damage (AHR: 4.02; 95% CI: 1.48–10.88) were predictors of in‐hospital mortality. Rural residence (adjusted incident‐rate ratio (IRR): 1.34; 95% CI: 1.03–1.75); having a history of medication discontinuation (adjusted IRR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.16–2.18); comorbidity (adjusted IRR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.49–2.43); acute brain‐related damage (adjusted IRR: 13.32; 95% CI: 9.22–19.24), acute cardiac‐related damage (adjusted IRR: 7.40; 95% CI: 4.90–11.16); and acute kidney injury (adjusted IRR: 7.64; 95% CI: 5.46–10.69) were predictors of LOS. Thus, it is necessary to develop strategies that allow early screening and follow‐up of patients at risk.

Bushra Aliyi,1 Yadeta Dassie,2 Alemayehu Deressa,2 Adera Debella,3 Abdi Birhanu,4 Mulugeta Gamachu,4,5 Addis Eyeberu,3 Gelana Mamo Ayana,2 Hamdi Fekredin,2 Ibsa Mussa2 1Zonal Health Office, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, CHMS, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 3School of Nursing and Midwifery, CHMS, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 4School of Medicine, CHMS, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 5Departments of Public Health, Rift Valley University, Harar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Alemayehu Deressa, School of Public Health, CHMS, Haramaya University, PO Box 235, Harar, Ethiopia, Tel +251917841709, Fax +251256668081, Email alexdheressa@gmail.comBackground: The demand for health-related information has increased dramatically in recent years. Media is crucial in reaching health messages to audiences, especially those who are distant and rural. Therefore, the study aimed to assess demands, access, and factors associated with access to health messages through mass media in the rural community of Kersa District of East Hararghe, Eastern Ethiopia.Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted from October 15 to November 20, 2020. A quantitative cross-sectional and a qualitative phenomenological study design were applied. A total of 578 participants were included by using a systematic sampling technique. Collected data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. A multivariate logistic regression analysis model was used and reported using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. For qualitative, six-focused group discussions (FGDs) were used and then analyzed thematically.Results: Overall, the demand of and access to health messages through mass media was 32.5% (95% CI=28.5– 34.2%) and 26.6% (95% CI=24.6– 28.7%), respectively. Factors such as having electric services (AOR=2.36, 95% CI=2.13– 5.41), having a mobile phone (AOR=4.56, 95% CI=4.32– 8.73), exposure to TV (AOR=4.73, 95% CI=1.03– 11.62), and exposure to social media and printed media (AOR=5.24, 95% CI=1.07– 15.63), a preference for programs such as news, current affairs, entertainment, health and educational were 2.37, 9.47, 4.75 and 7.55 times more likely to access health messages (AOR=2.37, 95% CI=1.00– 5.61; AOR=9.47, 95% CI=3.54– 25.34; AOR=4.75, 95% CI=1.23– 18.38; and AOR=7.55, 95% CI=3.12– 8.66, respectively). Qualitative findings, participants demand for health messages from health workers, radio, and the main source for accessing the message was the radio.Conclusion: Approximately one in every three and one in every four rural communities in the study area had demand, and access to health messages through mass media, respectively. As a result, all stakeholders should emphasize and strengthen expanding methods of reaching health messages using mass media.Keywords: health message, media, access, rural community, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Introduction The third stage of labor is the shortest, most critical, and hazardous stage as it is linked with postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Postpartum hemorrhage can be prevented by 60% with active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL). Few studies have been conducted in different parts of Ethiopia showing rates of AMTSL ranging from 16.7% to 43.3%. Limited information, however, exists about its practice in our study area. Thus, we aimed to assess the practice of AMTSL and associated factors among maternity care providers in public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was used among 270 maternity care providers in public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia. They were recruited using cluster sampling techniques in their health facilities from July 15—October 30/2021. Pretested self-administered questionnaires and an observational checklist were used to collect data. Descriptive, binary, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used for statistically significant associations. Results Good practice of AMTSL occurred in 40.3% (95% CI: 34.5%—46.1%) of births. Being trained (aOR 3.02; 95% CI 1.60–5.70); presence of birth assistance (aOR 2.9; 95% CI 1.42–6.04); having the highest educational level (aOR 4.21; 95% CI 1.08–16.40); and having good knowledge (aOR 3.00; 95% CI 1.45–6.20) were factors statistically associated with maternity care providers’ good practice of AMTSL. Conclusion Active management of the third stage of labor was practiced with low rates in the study area. Therefore, we suggest that the stakeholders could enhance the presence of birth assistance during all births and provide education to attain higher educational levels and continuously update the maternity care providers’ level of knowledge through comprehensive and on-the-job training to increase the good practice of the third stage of labor.

BackgroundPneumonia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Despite its substantial impact, there exists a dearth of evidence regarding treatment outcomes and related factors, particularly within the Ethiopian context. This study endeavors to address these critical gaps by examining the treatment outcome of pneumonia among pediatric patients hospitalized in the Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital.MethodA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 204 children (≤14 years of age) diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital. An interview using a structured questionnaire accompanied by a review of medical records was used to collect data from the parents/guardians. A binary logistic regression model with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify the associated factors with the outcome variable. Statistical significance was set at P

BackgroundThere is a concern that job dissatisfaction among health extension workers (HEWs) reduces the benefit of investment in the execution of health extension programs. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the level of job satisfaction and factors affecting it among the HEWs in the West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, eastern Ethiopia.MethodAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 416 randomly selected health extension workers from 20 September 2020 to 20 October 2020. A pretested, structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. STATA 14.2 was used for data analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were also performed. Statistical significance was set at P

• Despite the inclusion of magnesium, sulphate into the national drug list of country to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality remained a severe concern and worse among patients with eclampsia in Ethiopia. • More than half a live births developed neonatal complications and majority of them admitted to neonatal intensive care unit. • The most complications were respiratory distress syndromes, prematurity and early neonatal sepsis. • Born to women with eclampsia, null parity, incidence of maternal complication, and low fifth minute Apgar score were independent predictors of neonatal complications, and then low fifth minute Apgar score remained the independent predictors of perinatal mortality. • Interventions to reduce the incidence of eclampsia, better antenatal care, early recognition, prompt treatment of severe pre-eclampsia, and enhanced neonatal care have to be initiated for patients. Neonatal complications and deaths are still increasing worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to assess perinatal outcomes and their determinants among women with eclampsia and severe preeclampsia admitted to selected tertiary hospitals Eastern Ethiopia. The prospective observational study was conducted among 245 foetal born to women with eclampsia and severe preeclampsia admitted to selected Hospitals. Data were collected from patients' charts and maternal interviews using questionnaires and telephone follow-ups from April 01 to September 30, 2022. Then, Cox regression were used to determine the predictors of perinatal clinical outcomes by SPSS (version 21.0®). Hazard ratios with a two-sided P-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Of 245 deliveries, perinatal mortality was 26.1 % and about 57.4 % of newborns developed neonatal complications. Fifth-minute Apgar score (AHR: 10.3; 95 % C.I: 3.8–28.1; P: 0.0001) was statistically a determinant to perinatal mortality whereas maternal parity (AHR: 1.7; 95 % CI: 1.0–2.86; P: 0.05), maternal diagnosis (AHR: 2.1; 95 % C.I:1.17–3.66; P: 0.012), maternal complications (AHR: 1.96; 95 % C.I: 1.13–3.41; P: 0.018) and fifth-minute Apgar score (AHR: 2.0; 95 % C.I: 1.29–3.19; P: 0.002) were found to be determinants for neonatal complications. Despite the inclusion of magnesium sulphate into the national drug list of Ethiopia to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, the perinatal condition remained a severe concern and worse among patients with eclampsia. Interventions to reduce the incidence of eclampsia, better antenatal care, early recognition, prompt treatment of severe preeclampsia, and enhanced neonatal care have to be initiated for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Loss to follow-up (LTFU) and death are unfavorable outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment. This study aimed to identify the predictors of LTFU and death among individuals with newly diagnosed HIV receiving dolutegravir (DTG)–based first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A multisite prospective cohort study was carried out between October 2020 and July 2022. New case patients who started ART were enrolled consecutively and then followed up for the next 6 months. A structured questionnaire and checklists were used to collect data. HIV viral load was determined using the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify baseline factors associated with the outcomes. Results A total of 235 people with newly diagnosed HIV were enrolled; 16.6% (95% confidence interval, 12.3%–21.9%) were lost to follow-up, and 5.9% (3.5%–9.8%) died within 6 months of follow-up. Baseline World Health Organization clinical stage I (adjusted odds ratio, 3.93 [95% confidence interval, 1.34–11.57]), low viral load (3.67 [1.09–12.36]), and body weight (1.04 [1.01–1.07]) were predictors of LTFU, whereas nonfunctional status (10.02 [1.9–51.3]) was the only factor associated with death. Conclusions LTFU and death rates among patients with DTG were relatively high, accounting for roughly a quarter of the attrition of people with newly diagnosed HIV from ART care and services. Thus, targeted interventions are required to reduce LTFU and death among individuals with HIV on ART. Further investigation is necessary to evaluate the long-term effects of DTG-based regimens on LTFU and its impact on HIV mortality rates, and qualitative research, specifically tracing LTFU, is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]