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Rahel Dereje,1,2 Kalkidan Hassen,1 Getu Gizaw1 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan Tepi University, Mizan Aman, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Rahel Dereje Email raheldereje3@gmail.comBackground: Globally, hypertension is becoming a serious problem affecting the health and wellbeing of the adult population. Anthropometric indices like body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) have long been utilized to screen hypertension; in contrast, other evidence indicates the superior utility of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to screen hypertension. There are inconclusive results from different studies done in different settings regarding the best screening index for hypertension. In addition, there is a paucity of information on the evaluation of anthropometric indices for screening hypertension in the study area. Therefore, this study evaluates the utility of anthropometric indices for screening hypertension among Mizan Tepi University employees, southwestern Ethiopia.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Mizan Tepi University employees. A gender-based stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select 585 employees. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between anthropometric indices and hypertension. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was employed to evaluate anthropometric indices for screening hypertension, and optimal cutoff points were also developed based on Youden index (sensitivity + specificity – 1) and presented with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV).Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 20.9%, which was 22.5% in males and 18.7% in females. Among males, WHtR, WHR, and BMI were significantly associated with hypertension, while, in females, only BMI was associated with hypertension. WHtR had a higher screening ability for hypertension followed by WC in both sexes. For males, the cutoff point for WHR, WC, BMI, and WHtR for screening hypertension was 0.897, 85.17cm, 24.6kg/m2, and 0.51, respectively. In females, the cutoff point developed for screening hypertension for WHR, WC, BMI, and WHtR were 0.92, 85.67cm, 24.8kg/m2, and 0.52, respectively.Conclusion: The waist-to-height ratio was found to be the best obesity index to screen hypertension than BMI, WC, and WHR. The finding supports the use of WHtR for screening hypertension in resource-limited settings.Keywords: obesity, WHtR, BMI, WHR, WC

Robel Hussen Kabthymer,1 Getu Gizaw,2 Tefera Belachew2 1Human Nutrition Unit, School of Public Health, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia; 2Department of Population and Family Health, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Robel Hussen Kabthymer Tel +251913575702Email robelhussen@rocketmail.comPurpose: Treatment at a stabilization center is an important intervention to avert the huge burden of mortality for children with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Despite the improvement in hospital coverage and the development of standardized WHO treatment guidelines, recent reviews indicated a wide range in recovery rate (34– 88%) due to several context-specific factors. This study aimed to estimate time to recovery and to determine predictors of time to recovery among children aged 6– 59 months with severe acute malnutrition.Patients and Methods: An institution-based retrospective cohort study design was used among 375 children aged 6– 59 months admitted to Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia from September 2015 to September 2017. All eligible children were enrolled and assessed using a pretested questionnaire. Kaplan–Meir estimates and survival curves were used to compare the time to recovery using log rank test among different characteristics. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify significant predictors of time to recovery. A p-value less than 0.05 was declared statistically significant.Results: The rate of recovery was 4.06 per 100 person days. Median time of recovery for our cohort of SAM children’s was 19 days (95% CI: 17.95– 20.05). Independent predictors of time to recovery were play stimulation (AHR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.23– 3.03), vaccination status (AHR=2.26, 95% CI: 1.12– 4.57), tuberculosis (AHR= 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27– 0.87), malaria (AHR=0.34,95% CI:0.13– 0.88), use of amoxicillin (AHR=1.54, 95% CI: 0.008– 2.34), deworming (AHR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.18– 2.73), and shock (AHR=0.18, 95% CI: 0.05– 0.59).Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the average length of stay on treatment and median time for recovery are within the sphere standard. Psychosocial stimulation, appropriate provision of routine medication and management of medical co-morbidity are needed to promote fast recovery.Keywords: retrospective cohort, predictors, recovery, severe acute malnutrition, Jimma

Background: Short-term anthropometric outcomes are well documented for children treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM). However, anthropometric recovery may not indicate restoration of healthy body composition., Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate long-term associations of SAM with growth and body composition of children 5 y after discharge from community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM)., Methods: We conducted a 5-y prospective cohort study, enrolling children aged 6 to 59 mo discharged from CMAM (post-SAM) (n = 203) and nonmalnourished matched controls (n = 202) from Jimma Zone, Ethiopia in 2013. Anthropometry and body composition (bioelectrical impedance) were assessed. Multiple linear regression models tested differences in height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and body mass index-for-age (BAZ) z-scores; height-adjusted fat-free mass index (FFMI); and FM index (FMI) between groups., Results: Post-SAM children had higher stunting prevalence than controls at discharge (82.2% compared with 36.0%; P < 0.001), 1 y (80.2% compared with 53.7%; P < 0.001), and 5 y postdischarge (74.2% compared with 40.8%; P < 0.001). Post-SAM children remained 5 cm shorter throughout follow-up, indicating no HAZ catch-up. No catch-up in WAZ or BAZ was observed. Post-SAM children had lower hip (-2.05 cm; 95% CI: -2.73, -1.36), waist (-0.92 cm; CI: -1.59, -0.23) and mid-upper arm (-0.64 cm; CI: -0.90, -0.42) circumferences and lower-limb length (-1.57 cm; 95% CI: -2.21, -0.94) at 5 y postdischarge. They had larger waist-hip (0.02 cm; 95% CI: 0.008, 0.033) and waist-height (0.013 cm; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.021) ratios, and persistent deficits in FFMI at discharge and 6 mo and 5 y postdischarge (P < 0.001 for all). No difference was detected in head circumference, sitting height, or FMI., Conclusions: Five y after SAM treatment, children maintained deficits in HAZ, WAZ, BAZ, and FFMI, with preservation of FMI, sitting height, and head circumference at the expense of lower-limb length, indicating a "thrifty growth" pattern. Research is urgently needed to identify effective clinical and public health interventions to mitigate these consequences of malnutrition., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Nutrition. All rights reserved.)

Early discontinuation of breastfeeding is known to be associated with avoidable childhood morbidity and mortality. The effect of maternal employment on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and its determinants has not been addressed adequately in in Ethiopia in general and in the stud area in particular. Hence, this study was aimed to compare the time to stop exclusive breastfeeding and its determinants among employed and unemployed mothers of infants 6-12 months of age. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to 30, 2019. A total of 426 mothers were recruited using a simple random sampling technique. The Kaplan-Meier curve with log-rank test was used to compare the difference in cessation of exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months. Bivariate and Cox proportional hazards model were computed. Hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were computed to determine the level of significance. Four hundred twenty-six (213 employed and 213 un-employed) mothers were included in the final analysis. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 4 months and 6 months for infants of employed and unemployed mothers, respectively. The likelihood of ceasing of exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months of age was significantly associated with family support of exclusive breastfeeding [AHR = 3.99, 95% CI (1.9, 8.3)], and lack of exclusive breastfeeding counseling during postnatal care [AHR = 7.76, 95% CI (2.99, 20.1)], primipara mothers [AHR = 1.5, 95% CI (1.14, 2.04)], maternity leave of 4 months [AHR = 7, 95% CI 2.2, 22.2)] and employed mothers [AHR = 3.77, 95% CI (2.4, 5.9)]. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was shorter among employed mothers than un-employed mothers. It is clear from this study that cessation of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with the duration of paid maternity leave for employed mothers. Family support and perceived adequacy of breast milk were associated with cessation of exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months among unemployed mothers., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Outpatient therapeutic program (OTP) brings the services for the management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) closer to the community by making services available at decentralized treatment points within the primary health care setting. Despite the available interventions to tackle nutritional problems, there is scarce information on time to recovery and its predictors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate time to recovery and identify its predictors among children aged 6-59 month with SAM admitted to OTP in Bench Sheko zone Southwest Ethiopia., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 588 children who had been managed for SAM under OTP, from September 01, 2018, to August 30, 2019, in 4 public health centers in Bench Sheko zone. A total of 1301 children's card were eligible from them 588 children's cards were selected by simple random sampling methods. Data was entered into EPI- data version 4.4.2 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Kaplan Meir estimate median time to recovery and survival curve was used to compare the time to recovery using a log-rank test among different characteristics. Cox Proportional Hazard Model was used to identify significant predictors of time to recovery. Association was summarized by using adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) and statistical significance was declared at 95% CI, and P-value < 0.05., Result: Recovery rate was 54.4% with the median recovery time 49 days with an Interquartile range of 21 days. The independent predictors of nutritional recovery time were: newly admitted (AHR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.98),had no diarrhea (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.52, 2.42), had no cough (AHR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.74) had no blood stool (AHR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.10) had no malaria (AHR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.32), and took deworming (AHR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.01-1.61)., Conclusion and Recommendation: In the current study recovery rate and the median time of recovery is by far below the standard. Cough, diarrhea, malaria, deworming and admission status were independently associated with recovery time. Health professionals should give attention for early detection and management of co-morbidities. Minster of health should give refreshment community based management of acute malnutrition training for health workers to follow the national guideline strictly., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa shares a disproportionately large ratio of the global acute disease burden, however epidemiological data specific to the burden of emergency conditions are lacking. This study aimed to determine the morbidity burden of emergency conditions in Jimma city, Southwest Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using emergency case registries of three years from 2014 to 2017, at Jimma Medical Center and Shenen Gibe Hospital. 39,537 emergency visits were included in the study. The data were exported to SPSS V.23.0 for statistical analysis, descriptive analysis was used to summarize demographic characteristics, causes of visit, and morbidity rates. Findings were integrated with population-based health demographic reports quantifying the morbidity burden. Outcome measures were overall number of emergency visits and morbidity rates for the population groups., Results: From a total of 39,537 visits, those between 15 and 29 years of age accounted for 42.1% (n = 16615), and 50.6% (n = 20004) were females. Communicable, Maternal, Neonatal and Nutritional (CMNNs) conditions accounted for 57.2%(n = 22597), followed by injuries (22.9%, n = 9055). Top five conditions were non-specific trauma (2.3%, n = 4861), complicated labor (8.4%, n = 3320), lower respiratory infections (8.1%, n = 3213), acute febrile illness (6.6%, n = 2600), and neonatal infections (3.7%, n = 1444)., Conclusion: The burden of acute conditions presented to public hospitals in Jimma city is high. Traumatic injuries, obstetric emergencies, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal emergencies were the most frequent causes of acute visits. An appropriate emergency care system that addresses this high burden of acute emergencies should be established in the study area., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anemia defined as a low blood hemoglobin concentration is public health importance. The adolescence age group is the most neglected in public health and nutrition research as priorities are usually given to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and their children less than 2 years. Current Ethiopian Food and Nutrition policy included adolescent girls in the most at-risk group for nutritional demands; however, only a few published studies have assessed a deficiency of anemia and associated factors to tackle the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition., Objective: To assess the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among high school adolescent girls in Jimma town., Methods: Data were collected from 528 secondary school adolescent girls by a school-based cross-sectional study design in Jimma town from 1/1/2019 to 1/2/2019, southwest Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A portable battery-operated HemoCue Hb 301+ analyzer was used to measure the hemoglobin level, and then reading was classified as normal Hb ≥ 12 g\dl and anemic if the hemoglobin value <12 g/dl based on the WHO 2011 recommended cutoff points after adjustments to altitude was made. Bivariate analysis at p value ≤0.25 was considered as a candidate for multivariable logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression was done to control for confounders and to identify factors independently associated with anemia. Level of statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05., Results: A total of 528 adolescent girls were included in the study yielding a response rate of 95.8%. The prevalence of anemia was found to be 26.7%, 95% CI (22.7, 30.50). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, those living separately from their family (AOR = 4.430, 95% CI (2.20, 8.90)), low dietary diversity score (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI (1.88, 6.75)), menstrual bleeding more than 5 days (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI (1.17, 4.33)), and low economic status (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI (1.17, 4.33)) were positively associated factors with anemia and only having at least a secondary school in mother's educational status AOR = 0.43, 95% CI (0.18, 0.97) was negatively associated with anemia in the study area., Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia among school adolescent girls was moderate public health importance according to the World Health Organization prevalence estimation of anemia. The living condition of the adolescent girls, dietary diversity score, duration of menses, and low economic status were positive predictor variables, whereas mothers who are being secondary school and above was a protective factor for anemia. Therefore, iron-rich and diversified food consumption should be given attention., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (Copyright © 2020 Kelemu Fentie et al.)

Background: Substantial evidence is emerging on the coexistence of double burden of malnutrition on adolescents of low-income countries, shaping the health challenges of the upcoming adult generation for the worst. Whether nutritional status markers of adolescents in the cash crop setting are on par with economic gains remains uncertain. Thus, we investigated the nutritional outcomes of adolescents and their determinants in coffee farming households., Methods: The survey was carried out in 3 top coffee-producing districts of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. Five hundred fifty mothers/caregivers and their respective adolescents were selected using multistage random sampling. Anthropometric data were converted into height-for-age and body-mass-index-for-age Z scores using WHO Anthroplus software and analyzed by SPSS for windows., Results: Prevalence of thinness, stunting, and overweight/obesity were 11.6%, 15.6%, and 7.1%, respectively. The odds of stunting among adolescents in households in the lowest wealth tertile was nearly 6-fold higher compared to the highest tertile (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.6 [2.6-12]). Conversely, the odds of overweight/obesity was higher among adolescents in the households in the middle wealth tertile (AOR = 2.72 [1.08-6.86]) compared to the highest tertile. Adolescents living in households with low-dependent age-groups were more than twice likely to be overweight/obese (AOR = 2.58 [1.06-6.24])., Conclusion: The current study revealed the presence of substantial dual burden of malnutrition. In such a setting, it is critical to draw a fine line and trade-off for eliminating morbidity and mortality of undernutrition, without triggering the risk of overweight/obesity.

Background: Tuberculosis is the leading causes of mortality among infectious diseases worldwide. The risk of transmission from patients to health workers is doubles that of the general population. The close contact to the infectious case before diagnosis is the major risk for tuberculosis infection. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and practice of health professionals towards tuberculosis infection control and its associated factors in health facilities of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 29 to April 15/2014 in selected health facilities in Addis Ababa. Five hundred ninety health workers were included in the study. The sample size was assigned to each health facility proportional to their number of health workers. Study subjects were selected from each stratum by simple random sampling technique. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with knowledge and practice of health workers towards tuberculosis infection control., Result: Five hundred eighty two participants with 98.6% response rate were involved in the study. Of these, 36.1% had poor knowledge and 51.7% unsatisfactory practice score towards tuberculosis infection control. Having more than six years working experience in health facility (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.5-4.1) and tuberculosis related training (AOR = 2.51 95% CI; 1.5, 4.1) were significantly associated with knowledge on tuberculosis infection control. Having experience in tuberculosis clinic (AOR =1.93; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.34) and tuberculosis related training (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.87, 2.51) were significantly associated with practice on tuberculosis infection control., Conclusion: One third of health workers had relatively poor knowledge and nearly half of them had unsatisfactory practice on tuberculosis infection control. Tuberculosis training and work experiences in health facility are determinant factor to knowledge. Whereas tuberculosis related training and experience in tuberculosis clinic are predictor to practice. So, training of the health professionals, on job orientations of junior health workers, and farther study including private health workers are recommended.

Lack of customer satisfaction in public service is one of the most important problems particularly in developing countries. Despite the efforts by governments to improve public service delivery, the resulting outcomes are quite limited. This demands evidence not only on the demand side but also on the supply side of the public service delivery in that how to motivate employees to improve their performance in satisfying customers. It is believed that finishing customers' issues within required time and serving them with impartiality are few of the many factors satisfying customers. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used to explore the intentions of employees towards finishing customers' issues within required time and serving customers with impartiality, and to study associations between their intentions and any of three factors (attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control) that, according to the Theory of Planned Behavior, determine intentions. A total of 188 questionnaires were completed by employees in 12 organizations. Majority of the employees (88.8%) had a positive intention to serve customers with impartiality; 66.5% had the intention to finish customers' issues within required time. Employees had a more positive attitude and perceived behavioral control but lower subjective norm toward implementing both intentions. Attitude was positively associated (P<0.05) with the intention to serve customers with impartiality. Subjective norm was negatively associated with the intention to finish customers' issues within required time. Intervention programs aiming to increase the intention of employees toward customers' satisfaction should primarily focus on changing employees' attitude and secondarily on improving their subjective norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolving human–carnivore conflict is crucial for the sustainable coexistence of humans and wildlife. Achieving this, however, requires a comprehensive understanding of the causes and complexities associated with the conflict. This study aimed to assess the nature, underlying causes and costs of human–carnivore conflict, as well as the conservation challenges and potential mitigation measures in and around Kafta Sheraro National Park, Ethiopia. In 2020, we conducted 210 questionnaire interviews with villagers surrounding the park. The surveys gathered data on respondents' reports of carnivore depredation, the extent and patterns of human–carnivore conflicts, incidents of carnivore killings, the economic impact of livestock depredation, threats to wildlife conservation, potential traditional mitigation measures for human–carnivore conflicts, and their socio‐economic characteristics. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors contributing to livestock depredation. Seventy‐one percent of respondents reported conflict with carnivore species in the 5 years preceding the study. A total of 1390 heads of stock were reported killed by carnivore species, resulting in an economic loss of US$ 170,741. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) were responsible for most livestock depredation (37.8%), followed by leopards (Panthera pardus) (29.5%), caracals (Felis caracal) (8%), and common jackals (Canis aureus) (7.3%). Spotted hyenas killed all types of livestock [cattle (Bos taurus), goat (Capra hircus), sheep (Ovis aries), and donkey (Equus asinus)] across all the studied villages, while leopards, caracals, and jackals primarily targeted goats and sheep. Our findings indicated that most livestock depredations occurred at night and during the dry season. Although villagers employed several mitigation measures to prevent carnivore attacks, vigilance and bush fences were reported as the most effective methods. The study also revealed that agricultural land expansion and human settlements are major threats to wildlife conservation. Approximately 75% of surveyed households admitted to retaliatory killings of carnivore species in direct response to livestock losses. The study suggests that effective conflict mitigation and community conservation education should incorporate strategies to promote sustainable wildlife conservation and rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines how Holistic Building Design (HBD) affects Lifecycle Management of Building Structures in the ever-changing construction market. HBD includes adaptability, environmental sustainability, maintenance, and disaster preparation. It is a key idea in the present boom in resilient and sustainable building techniques. A surprising dearth of quantitative empirical research on HBD's impact on LMBS considering the field's growing importance. This study uses a quantitative method to explore the relationship between essential HBD components and LMBS outcomes especially Extended Service Life (ESL) and Optimized Performance and Value (OPV) are critical factors to address this information gap. The quantitative study polled 171 construction industry professionals and utilized Structural Equation Modelling to examine the data. This approach was selected for its ability to explore complex relationships between variables and constructs. HBD components Adaptability and Retrofitting (AAR), Environmental Considerations and Sustainability (ECS), Maintenance and Inspection Programs (MIP), and Resilience and Disaster Preparedness (RDP) profoundly influenced the Enhanced Service Life (ESL) and Optimized Performance and Value (OPV) elements of LMBS. Building adaptation and retrofitting, maintenance and inspection programs, and other activities increased building value and lifespan. These findings have major theoretical and practical implications. The work potentially fills a research gap by providing actual evidence on HBD-LMBS linkages. Practically, the results advise construction industry specialists to use HBD ideas for sustainable building management. Finally, our work illuminates the vital roles of HBD components in LMBS and paves the way for ecologically friendly building approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study assessed the effectiveness of an environmental approach-based learning method in developing primary science process skills and enhancing cognitive achievement among children. Utilizing validated instruments, this study involved 62 children who were divided into two groups: an experimental group of 32 children, who received instruction based on the environmental approach, and a control group of 30 children, who were taught using conventional methods. The results indicated that the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores on both the science process skills test and the achievement test compared to the control group. Statistical analyses confirmed these differences, demonstrating the superior performance of the experimental group. These findings provide robust evidence of the effectiveness of environmental approach-based learning in improving science process skills and cognitive achievement. It is recommended that early childhood science educators integrate environmental approach-based learning into their science education practices to enhance scientific understanding and engagement among young learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the quality assurance (QA) practices of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain (Cb-CLSC) amid the pandemic by adopting an embedded mixed-method design involving a comprehensive desk literature review and experts across the Hong Kong–Mainland China links. The study revealed 10 critical QA practices, with the top three critical practices comprising 'understanding requirements, norms, and standards of quality', 'assigning clear responsibilities to qualified workers' and 'recording and documenting work processes, project routine, and seamless implementations'. This attained a relatively good percentage agreement of 55% between the industry and academia. Sentiment analysis denoted the impacts of the pandemic to be largely neutral, i.e. the created opportunities neutralise the negative impacts. This study deepens the understanding of the subject matter to help practitioners, researchers and policymakers develop innovative approaches and make operational decisions to position QA adequately for the post-pandemic era and endure the risks of future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diversified diet in early childhood that comprises plant and animal source foods contributes to better health outcomes throughout the life course. However, inadequate infant and young child-feeding practices are serious public health problems in Africa. Evidence on the magnitude and determinants of inadequate animal source food consumption (ASF) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is not yet well established. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the pooled magnitude and determinants of ASF consumption in SSA. A total weighted sample of 92,309 children aged 6–23 months from the Demographic and Health Survey dataset of 35 SSA countries was used for this study. A multilevel mixed-effect model was fitted. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and likelihood ratio (LR) tests were used to assess the presence of the clustering effect. The model comparison was made using deviance information criteria (DIC). A p-value of p < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. The pooled magnitude of ASF consumption among children aged 6–23 months in SSA was 23.7% (95% CI: 23.4, 23.9). Across the SSA regions, the Southern Africa region had the highest consumption of ASF (51.35%), and the lowest was from the Eastern Africa region (21.41%). Younger children aged 6–9 months (AOR = 3.39; 95% CI: 3.14, 3.65), mothers who had no formal education (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.37, 1.56), children from mothers with no media exposure (AOR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.24), children from the poorest households (AOR = 2.59; 95% CI: 2.36, 2.84), rural residence (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.28), living in low-income countries (AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 2.03, 2.90), and children from the East Africa region (AOR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.35) were among the significant predictors for not consuming ASF. In this study, ASF consumption was markedly low. Almost three-fourths of children aged 6–23 months in SSA did not consume ASF in the previous day. Age of the child, ANC visits, maternal educational status, maternal marital status, media exposure, and household wealth index were significant individual-level predictors of ASF consumption, whereas the place of residence, country's income level, and regions of SSA were found to be significant community-level predictors of ASF consumption. Thus, the study highlighted that policymakers, governments, and their partners should demonstrate rigorous efforts to improve dietary diversification with due consideration to the identified predictors of ASF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioinspired superwetting oil–water separation strategies have received significant attention for their potential in addressing global water scarcity and aquatic pollution challenges. Over the past two decades, the field has rapidly developed, reaching a pivotal phase of innovation in the oil–water separation process. However, many groundbreaking studies have not received extensive scientific recognition. In this review, we systematically examine the application of bioinspired superwetting materials for complex multiscale oil–water separation. We discuss the development of 2D membrane filtration and 3D sponge adsorption materials in confined spaces, summarizing the core separation mechanisms, key research findings, and the evolutionary logic of these materials. Additionally, we highlight emerging open-space separation strategies, emphasizing several novel dynamic separation devices of significant importance. We evaluate and compare the design concepts, separation principles, materials used, comprehensive performance, and existing challenges of these diverse strategies. Finally, we summarize these advantages, critical bottlenecks, and prospects of this field and propose potential solutions for real oil–water separation processes from a general perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In line with Africa's commitment to keeping up with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, achieving a sustainable future requires balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. This study investigates the long-term impacts of foreign direct investment, economic growth, agricultural production, and energy consumption on CO2 emissions across 43 African nations from 1990 to 2021. Despite significant research on the individual effects of these factors, the combined influence on CO2 emissions remains underexplored. Addressing this gap, this study employs cross-sectional augmented distributed lag estimators (CS-DL and AMG) and updated estimation packages to effectively examine the relationships between variables. Our findings are as follows: firstly, economic growth and energy use was shown to have a significant positive influence on CO2 in the long term. Also, foreign direct investment significantly promotes CO2 emissions. Secondly, the causality test shows a unidirectional causal relationship between CO2 emissions and foreign direct investment. The test also revealed a bidirectional relationship between GDP and CO2 emissions, as well as between energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Again, a bidirectional causation was observed between agricultural production and CO2 emissions. Thirdly, the impulse response analysis shows that GDP will contribute more to emissions over the 10-year forecast period. This study also proposes policy implications to lessen CO2 across the continent and advocates for the judicious adoption of existing policy frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for environmental Sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various reports state that investment in the ASEAN region has a good future, especially investment in the agricultural sector in general. One of the important instruments in investment is the permits obtained, which are widely reported to influence good governance and the level of public trust in licensing actors. The research aims to reveal the effects of implementing easy permits, and public trust in good governance, by taking cases as the latest research in agricultural-based areas. The research uses a quantitative paradigm, taking cases in Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The sample size of 100 people was determined purposively. An important finding that is a scientific contribution is the proof that ease of business licensing can create public trust, and good governance, as well as the public trust that is formed can improve good governance, especially in areas that generally operate in the agricultural sector. The practical consequence is that every government, to absorb investment activities in the future, must strengthen good governance created through ease of doing business and creating public trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant progress made previously and the recognized health benefits of optimal feeding practices, ensuring a minimum acceptable diet in developing countries like Ethiopia remains a formidable challenge. Additionally, there is a scarcity of data in this area. Therefore, our study aims to identify predictors of a minimum acceptable diet using a powerful tool called complementary log‐log regression analysis. Thus, it contributes to accelerating the pathway of ending child undernutrition thereby promoting optimal child health. A multilevel analysis was conducted among a weighted sample of 1427 children aged 6‐23 months using the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS). The EDHS sample was stratified and selected in two stages. A minimum acceptable diet is defined as a composite of children fed with both minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency. Data extraction took place between August 1 and 30, 2023. We used STATA software version 17 for data analysis. A complementary log‐log regression model was fitted to identify significant predictors of the minimum acceptable diet. A p‐value of ≤0.05 was used to declare statistically significant predictors. Only 10.44% (95CI: 8.90‐12.15) of the children meet the minimum acceptable diet. Child aged (18‐23 month) (AOR = 1.78, 95CI:1.14‐2.78)], mother's educational level (secondary and above education) (AOR = 279,95CI: 1.51‐5.15), number of children three and above [(AOR = 0.78,95CI: 0.53‐0.94], institutional delivery [AOR = 1.77,95CI: 1.11‐3.11], having postnatal‐check‐up [AOR = 2.33,95CI: 1.59‐3.41] and high community poverty level (AOR = 0.49,95CI: 0.29‐0.85) were found to be predictors of minimum acceptable diet. In Ethiopia, only one in ten children achieve a minimum acceptable diet. Which is lower than the global report findings (16%). Enhancing maternal education programs and promoting family planning strategies to reduce household size are essential. Besides, encouraging institutional deliveries and postnatal check‐ups are also recommended. It is necessary to implement targeted interventions for poverty reduction in communities to ensure that families can afford nutritious diets for their children. Key messages: This study aimed to identify predictors of a minimum acceptable diet among children aged 6‐23 months.Analysis revealed that only 10.44% of children met the minimum acceptable diet criteria.Factors such as child age, mother's educational level, number of children in the household, place of delivery, postnatal checkup 2 months after delivery, and community poverty level emerged as significant predictors of achieving a minimum acceptable diet.These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of dietary adequacy in early childhood and highlight the importance of targeted interventions to improve nutritional outcomes for young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to assess the role of stakeholders and the applicable regulatory instruments in ensuring technology and innovation development (TID) in Ethiopian construction industry. A structured questionnaire was developed to assess the engagement level of major stakeholders and effectiveness of the applicable regulatory instruments. In analyzing the quantitative data, while mean score was used to rank the variables, factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying dimensions. A semi-structured interview was conducted to get detail insight about the practice. In addition, document analysis was conducted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the applicable regulatory instruments. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically focusing on the purpose of the study. Despite their significant role, the stakeholders' engagement level is found to be unsatisfactory. Similarly, the findings suggest that there is room for improvement in the relevant regulatory instruments to better accommodate TID. The identified improvement dimensions are associated with timeliness, effectiveness, and appropriateness of the applicable regulatory instruments. These are attributed to the poor coordination and weak capacity of the stakeholders. Findings of this study help the concerned stakeholders in indicating the intervention areas to effectively enhance TID in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under-reporting of COVID-19 and the limited information about circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants remain major challenges for many African countries. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in Addis Ababa and Jimma, Ethiopia, focusing on reinfection, immunity, and vaccination effects. We conducted an antibody serology study spanning August 2020 to July 2022 with five rounds of data collection across a population of 4723, sequenced PCR-test positive samples, used available test positivity rates, and constructed two mathematical models integrating this data. A multivariant model explores variant dynamics identifying wildtype, alpha, delta, and omicron BA.4/5 as key variants in the study population, and cross-immunity between variants, revealing risk reductions between 24% and 69%. An antibody-level model predicts slow decay leading to sustained high antibody levels. Retrospectively, increased early vaccination might have substantially reduced infections during the delta and omicron waves in the considered group of individuals, though further vaccination now seems less impactful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, one-quarter of young women have suffered from anemia. However, the available studies in Ethiopia have been usually used the traditional stastical methods. Therefore, this study aimed to employ multiple machine learning algorithms to identify the most effective model for the prediction of anemia among youth girls in Ethiopia. A total of 5642 weighted samples of young girls from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey dataset were utilized. The data underwent preprocessing, with 80% of the observations used for training the model and 20% for testing. Eight machine learning algorithms were employed to build and compare models. The model performance was assessed using evaluation metrics in Python software. Various data balancing techniques were applied, and the Boruta algorithm was used to select the most relevant features. Besides, association rule mining was conducted using the Apriori algorithm in R software. The random forest classifier with an AUC value of 82% outperformed in predicting anemia among all the tested classifiers. Region, poor wealth index, no formal education, unimproved toilet facility, rural residence, not used contraceptive method, religion, age, no media exposure, occupation, and having more than 5 family size were the top attributes to predict anemia. Association rule mining was identified the top seven best rules that most frequently associated with anemia. The random forest classifier is the best for predicting anemia. Therefore, making it potentially valuable as decision-support tools for the relevant stakeholders and giving emphasis for the identified predictors could be an important intervention to halt anemia among youth girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Higher rate of acute malnutrition is observed in emergencies compared to non-emergency settings and severe acute malnutrition upsurges alarmingly and become deadly in humanitarian crises due to lack of food, lack of quality water supply and insufficient healthcare. Research is one learning tool by identifying strength and areas of improvement. However, little is known about outcomes of therapeutic feeding programmes in comparison with the standard indicators set in humanitarian setting. Methods: Health facility based prospective cohort study was conducted using routinely collected programme data of children hospitalized to the inpatient therapeutic feeding center in suhul general hospital from January 1st, 2023 to June 30, 2023. Data was collected using a form developed relating to the federal ministry of health standard management protocols for severe acute malnutrition then it was cleaned, coded and entered to EpiData version 4.2.0 and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Results: From 184 children, 96.2% were stabilized while the remaining 3.8% were censored with overall median stabilizing time of 8 days. Weight gain was used as one of the discharging criteria for infants less than six months and their mean weight gain found to be 12.89 g per kilogram daily. Appetite test (AHR = 0.338; 95% CI: 0.221–0.518), blood transfusion (AHR = 5.825; 95% CI: 2.568–13.211), IV fluid resuscitation (AHR = 2.017; 95% CI: 1.094–3.717), IV antibiotics (AHR = 2.288; 95% CI: 1.164-4.500) and NG tube feeding (AHR = 1.485; 95% CI: 1.065–2.071) were identified as significant predictors of stabilizing time. Conclusion: All the outcome indicators for stabilization center are consistent with the SPHERE association set of standards during humanitarian intervention. The hospital and other concerned humanitarian organizations should focus on sustaining these achievements as suhul hospital is the main treatment center for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the northwest zone of Tigray regional state. Further pre-post experimental studies which compare the stabilizing time before and after crisis are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To ensure a child's full growth, health, and development during infancy and the early years, adequate nutrition is crucial. A crucial window of opportunity for ensuring children's proper growth and development through adequate eating exists during the first two years of life. According to the evidence of the efficacy of interventions, achieving universal coverage of optimal breastfeeding could prevent 13% of deaths in children under the age of 5 worldwide, and using complementary feeding methods appropriately would lead to an additional 6% decrease in under-five mortality. Methods: From several electronic databases, all published, unpublished, and gray literature was extracted and exported into EndNote version X20. For further analysis of the review, the retrieved data from the excel sheet were imported into the statistical software program Stata version. Metanalysis was used to determine the prevalence of MAD, and a random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of MAD. The DerSimonian-Laird Random effects model (REM) was used to combine the determinant factors from all qualifying papers for the meta-analysis, and the heterogeneity was independently assessed using a χ2 test, Q statistics, and matching I2 statistics. To retrieve the extent of publication bias, funnel plots were scattered and tested for asymmetry and, additionally, Egger's test was computed with the user-written "meta bias" command in Stata (version 11) software. To end, sensitivity analyses with trim and fill were performed. Results: The pooled estimate of the overall prevalence of minimum acceptable diet in 16 studies in Ethiopia was 22% with (95% CI: 16, 28%) with a random effect model. However, eight papers were filled during trim and fill in order to counteract the small study effect. The overall filled pooled estimate was 7.9% with (95%CI: 11, 14.8%). Maternal education (primary and secondary) is 1.714 (95% CI 1.244,2.363) and 2.150(95% CI: 1.449,3.190), respectively, Ages of children with range of 12-17 months (2.158 (95% CI 1. 9,3.006) and 18-23 months 2.948(95% CI: 1.675,5.190)), Nutrition information ((1.883 (95% CI 1.169,3.032)) media exposure (1.778(95% CI: 1.396,2.265), and maternal knowledge (2.449 (95% CI 1.232, 5.027) were significantly associated with MAD. Conclusion: The pooled estimate of the overall prevalence of minimum acceptable diet in 16 studies in Ethiopia were low. Maternal education (primary and secondary), ages of child with range of 12-17 month and 18-23 months, mothers having nutrition information, mothers who have media exposure,and mothers having good knowledge were significantly associated with Minimum acceptable diet. The government, NGO, and other stakeholders should focus on improving Minimum acceptable diet among 6 to 23 months of children through promoting with mass media, focuses on nutrition council during critical contact point in health facility, and doing capacity building for the mothers/caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees play a critical role as pollinators. However, their reproduction success and survival face severe threats due to the deterioration of their living environment. Notably, environmental conditions during their preimaginal stage inside brood cells can influence their immune capabilities and overall health after emergence. During the in-cell developmental stage, workers are in close contact with cocoons, which can become a source of stress due to accumulated metals. To investigate this potential threat, experiments were conducted to examine the impact of cocoons in brood cells used to rear different generations on the metal content and detoxification gene expression levels in Apis cerana cerana. Our findings indicated significant differences in the layers, weight, base thickness, and metal contents like Cr, Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, and As of cocoons in multi-generation brood cells compared to single-generation brood cells. These increases led to significant elevations in metal levels and upregulations of the four CYP450 detoxification genes in both six-day-old larvae and newly emerged workers. In conclusion, this study highlights the negative impact of cocoons in multi-generation brood cells on bee health and provides evidence supporting the development of rational apiculture management strategies for ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The minimum acceptable diet is the proportion of children aged 6–23 months who consumed the minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity during the previous day or night. The minimum acceptable diet assesses both micronutrient adequacy and the quantity of food consumed during the previous day or night. Inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices during this period result in significant threats to child health through impaired cognitive development. Therefore, this study aims to assess the minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Jig-Jiga, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Jig-Jiga town. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 536 children aged 6–23 months with their mothers. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi-data 3.1. The data were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS v20. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done, and model fitness was checked and tested by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. The results of the adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals and P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: The overall prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was 47.2% (95% CI: 43.1–51.6). Occupation of fathers (AOR = 0.5, 95%CI: 0.3–0.8), child age of 6–11 months (AOR = 3.6, 95%CI: 1.7–7.7), age of the mother 15–24 years (AOR = 7.6, 95%CI: 1.5–38.146), 25–34 years (AOR = 5.56, 95%CI: 1.17–26.325), mothers who had only one under-five child (AOR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.298–3.471), and media as a source of information (AOR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.061–0.433) were associated with the minimum acceptable diet. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was low. Factors associated with a minimum acceptable diet included the father's occupation, the child's age, the mother's age, having one under-five child, and the media as a source of information. Therefore, interventional strategies that focus on family planning and advocacy for infant and young child feeding are required to improve the provision of a minimum acceptable diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relevant aspects of the construction of knowledge in science, as well as the elements that are an essential part of a scientific inquiry, need to be discussed in teacher training courses in the area of natural sciences. This study aimed to identify and classify investigative elements present in the conceptions of undergraduates from a university in Brazil and another in Portugal who will be working in basic education. This is a qualitative study using content analysis to identify categories based on the students' responses, and a quantitative approach using descriptive statistics to quantify the absolute frequency of each response. The data were obtained during a preparatory course on inquiry teaching given to 30 undergraduates from both countries in 2023 through the analysis of a problem situation involving forensic entomology. The results showed that the most frequent investigative elements present in the students' answers are the problem, the formulation of hypotheses, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, and the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to discover the process skills needed to teach chemistry by extracting oil from castor oil seeds. A pure experimental research design was used for the investigation. The study is guided by one null hypothesis and three research questions. The population was made up of all 2,305 SS1 Chemistry students from five government-owned secondary schools in the local government area of Otuocha, Anambra East. 120 SS1 chemistry students were selected as a sample using basic random instruction. The instrument for data collection was established using fifteen (15) Process Skills Observation Guide (PSOG). Observing, classifying, communicating, measuring, counting and using number, inferring, predicting, experimenting, questioning, manipulating, formulating hypothesis, controlling variable, formulating models, interpreting data and making operational definitions. The mean and standard deviation were used to validate and assess the instrument. The hypothesis was tested at the 0.05 significant levels using the Z test. The results showed that 4.8 kg of castor seed was required to produce 1000 cm3, that 13 out of 15 process skills were acquired, only classifying and inferring were not acquired, that male students had a high level of acquisition of science process skills, and that gender had no discernible effect. Nonetheless, recommendations were made and the educational ramifications were mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The poor practice of tuberculosis infection control may increase the risk of transmission of tuberculosis in healthcare settings. Thus, this study aimed to determine the pooled magnitude of good tuberculosis infection control practice and associated factors among healthcare workers in Ethiopia. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist guideline was followed for this review and meta-analysis. The electronic databases (Pub Med, Cochrane Library, Google scholar and grey literatures) were searched to retrieve articles by using keywords. The Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to assess the quality of studies. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The meta-analysis with a 95% confidence interval using STATA 17 software was computed to present the pooled practice and odds ratio of the determinant factors. Publication bias was assessed visually by inspecting the funnel plot asymmetry and using statistical tests using the eggers and begs test. Results: Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis, with a total of 3256 health workers. The overall pooled magnitude of good tuberculosis infection control practice was 46.44% (95% CI: 34.21%, 58.67%). In subgroup analysis, the highest practice was in Addis Ababa 51.40% (95% CI: 47.40, 55.40%) and the lowest prevalence of tuberculosis infection control practice was in Amhara region 40.24% (95% CI: 15.46, 65.02%). Working in TB clinics (AOR; 7.42, 95% CI: 3.89, 14.13) and good TB related knowledge (AOR; 4.40, 95% CI: 1.76, 10.97) were the significant predictors of good TB infection control practice. Conclusions: Only less than half of the health care workers had good practice of TB infection control. Working in TB clinics and having good TB related knowledge were statistically significant predictors of TB infection control practice. Periodic shifting of health care workers to work in TB clinics and an emphasis on TB infection control related skill based training was recommended to increase the TB infection control practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollutants are associated with honeybee colony losses and may show seasonal concentration variations with respect to the environment and plants. In this study, we examined arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) seasonal variations in honey and honeybees in urban areas. Seasonal trends in detoxification (CYP9Q1, CYP9Q2, and CYP9Q3) and antioxidant genes encoding catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD1) were also determined in honeybees. Accordingly, As, Pb, and Hg concentrations were significantly increased in summer in both honey and honeybee samples when compared with other seasons. Similarly, the expression level of CYP9Q1, CYP9Q2, CYP9Q3, SOD1, and CAT showed a significant increase in summer honeybees. This increased expression level particularly in summer honeybees indicating an increased summer honeybee exposure and adaptive oxidative stress responses to environmental pollutants, including heavy metals due to increased flight activity when compared with other seasons. Thus, active season honeybees were subjected to environmental oxidative and detoxification stressors when exposed to environmental pollutants, including heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent pandemic in the form of COVID‐19 has been associated with increasing income inequalities because of high uncertainty around the globe. As a result, we examined the nexus between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and inequality and how this relation is moderated by friendly business environment reflected by ease of doing business (EODB). To understand the relation among the different dimensions several techniques like fixed effects model, Driscoll and Kraay, and panel quantile regression were employed for a sample of 20 countries ranging for the period of 12 years. Our findings show that EPU contributes to higher levels of overall income inequality (Gini‐Index) and the results are heterogenous across countries, however the concentration of wealth among top 10% rich people gets reduced with increased EPU. Additionally, we find EODB moderating the impact of EPU on income inequality by mitigating the adverse effects of EPU on income inequality. Finally, we combined the results across different proxies and models to propose suggestive policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have reported a poor diet quality among children in Ghana and other developing countries. Inadequate dietary diversity among children may lead to deficiencies in micronutrient intake necessary for growth and other cognitive functions. Understanding factors associated with infants' diverse diets is a key step to promoting adequate infant and young child nutrition. This study sought to determine the factors associated with food consumption and dietary diversity (DD) among infants. Methods: In this cross-sectional study among 1503 mothers-infant (aged 6–18 months) pairs from rural, urban, and peri-urban districts of Ashanti Region, factors associated with food consumption and DD were evaluated. The FAO 18-food group DD questionnaire was used to determine previous food group intake, while a structured questionnaire was used to capture data on the mother's socio-demographic parameters and child morbidity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression to compare mothers and infants who had adequate and inadequate DDS of 9 out of 18 food groups and the predictors of dietary diversity. Results: About 64.7% of the infants did not meet the minimum dietary diversity. Over two-third (77.4%) of the children consumed maize porridge the previous day. Foods which were less consumed included vegetables (35%), animal milk (38.9%), and meat (organ 14%, any meat 26%). The mean food group intake from 18 food groups was 7.0, and the majority (64.7%) did not meet the recommended 9 food group intake. Significantly more younger children (6–11 months) (74%, p<0.001) compared with older children (12–18 months) (52.5%) did not meet the minimum DDS. Also compared with the older children, the younger ones had above two times increased odds of inadequate DD (OR = 2.5, p<0.001, 95% CI = 1.4–4.4). When controlled for gender, children from peri-urban areas (OR = 5.2, p = 0.260, 95% CI = 0.2–93.2) and rural areas (OR = 1.8, p = 0.650, 95% CI = 0.2–9.3) had increased odds of lower DD than urban children. Children of unemployed caregivers had an increased odds of low DD (OR = 2.3 p<0.001, 95% CI 1.7–3.2) compared with children of employed caregivers. Finally, children of caregivers with better nutrition knowledge (nine correct answers from 12 questions) had lower odds of having lower dietary diversity (adjusted OR = 0.9, p = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.5–1.6) than those with less knowledge. Conclusions: Low DD was common among infants and associated with infants age, caregivers' areas of residence, employment status, and level of nutrition education. Children who did not meet the minimum dietary diversity were not fed particular foods such as vegetables, animal milk, and organ meat. Proper maternal nutrition education and feeding practices targeting age-specific needs and community livelihood support systems are necessary to improve dietary diversity of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent girls are highly vulnerable to developing anemia due to reproductive immaturity, poor personal hygiene, and lack of nutritional intake and health education in rural Bangladesh. Digital health technology is a promising tool to overcome barriers and provide appropriate health guidelines. We aim to evaluate eHealth education's impact and changes in adolescent girls' knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding anemia. A 1:1 parallel randomized control trial was conducted among school-going adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh. A total of 138 anemic (mild and moderate) participants were enrolled. We randomized schools to reduce the health education bias through a simple coin toss technique, then allocated participants to the intervention group (n = 69) and control group (n = 69) by stratified random sampling technique. The intervention group received two online counseling sessions and 8-month eHealth education through mobile phone calls and short message service regarding anemia. The control group received the usual care. The primary endpoint changes the anemic level through changing knowledge, healthy lifestyle behavior, and an iron-rich food dietary plan. Per-protocol analysis will utilize to compare the control and intervention groups using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean, SD) will be employed, and continuous variables will be compared using the t-test/Mann–Whitney test. Two-way analysis of variance will assess outcome variables at baseline, 4 months, and 8 months. The 8-month intervention is designed from May 2022 to February 2023. Participants' age range of 10-14 years was 60.9% in the intervention group and 56.5% in the control group. Among the participants, 89.9% and 88.4% were mild anemic; 11.11 (SD ± 0.80) and 11.06 (SD ± 0.96) were mean hemoglobin in the intervention and control groups, respectively. eHealth education is expected to be an effective way to increase knowledge and healthy behavioral change, which can reduce the anemia burden among adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: More health workers die from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) than from any other infectious agent, so the current study is designed to assess TB treatment and preventive measures as they relate to nursing care practice. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 82 nurses from December 2022 to January 2023. The data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire and analyzed by frequency table and analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics. Results: The researchers found that nurses have sufficient knowledge on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policy, but not all nurses follow this management protocol, and the reason for their action is addressed in this study. The management and preventive measures used by the participants were identified as: proper cough etiquette/hygiene, working in a well-ventilated area, use of mask, appropriate disposal of used items and so on was reported. Moreover, this study also discovered that there is a positive correlation between nurses who had received training in IPC policy and their use of airborne preventive measures for TB patients (F = 1.87, P = 0.002) as well as a positive correlation between the availability of resources and their adherence to the proper use of airborne preventive measures when caring for TB patients (F = 1.96, P < 0.001). Conclusion: We proposed infection and control training for nurses and adequate equipment supplies to the TB ward which are required in quick TB diagnosis, and must be carried out on a regular basis by health-care personnel, for efficient nursing practice. Ensuring proper safety equipment and isolation units should be available and assessable for nurses or other health workers showing sign or symptoms of TB. Similarly, it is necessary for government to put in place the control and regulations that will safeguard nurses and mandate them to adopt TB prevention protocols, which will aid in lowering the prevalence of TB among nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measurement of an individual's anthropometric indices is one of the many methods for determining physical health status. This study was designed to test the reliability of some anthropometric indices in predicting central obesity among undergraduate students in Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Random sampling was used in recruiting 843 undergraduate students aged 15-31 years old from Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, into this cross-sectional study. Traditional and new Anthropometric indices were determined by standard methods, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test, Chi-square, and Mann--Whitney test, and correlations were determined and were deemed statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: The majority of males (52.5%) and females (50.7%) were aged 19-22 years. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were significantly higher in males than females (P < 0.05). Conversely, body mass index (BMI), body roundness index (BRI), and body adiposity index (BAI) were significantly higher in females compared to males (P < 0.05). The female participants had significantly higher pulse rates, oxygen saturation, and pulse pressure than the males (P < 0.05). The AUC constructed showed WC and Waist--height ratio predicted central obesity in both genders (AUC ≥ 0.9). A significant positive correlation of WHtRatio with MUAC was observed in female participants, while a significant inverse correlation was observed between BAI and a body shape index in male participants in this study. Conclusion: Determining cutoff values for these indices, particularly in adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrochemicals pose significant threats to the survival of bees, yet the physiological impacts of sublethal doses on stingless bees remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of acute oral exposure to three commercial formulations of agrochemicals [CuSO 4 (leaf fertilizer), glyphosate (herbicide), and spinosad (bioinsecticide)] on antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde content (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels, and total hemocyte count (THC) in the stingless bee Partamona helleri. Foragers were exposed to lethal concentrations aimed to kill 5% (LC 5 ) of CuSO 4 (120 μg mL -1 ) or spinosad (0.85 μg mL -1 ) over a 24-h period. Glyphosate-exposed bees received the recommended label concentration (7400 μg mL -1 ), as they exhibited 100% survival after exposure. Ingestion of CuSO 4 or glyphosate-treated diets by bees was reduced. Levels of NO and catalase (CAT) remained unaffected at 0 h or 24 h post-exposure. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher at 0 h compared to 24 h, although insignificantly so when compared to the control. Exposure to CuSO 4 reduced glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity at 0 h but increased it after 24 h, for both CuSO 4 and glyphosate. MDA levels decreased after 0 h exposure to CuSO 4 or spinosad but increased after 24 h exposure to all tested agrochemicals. THC showed no difference among glyphosate or spinosad compared to the control or across time. However, CuSO 4 exposure significantly increased THC. These findings shed light on the physiological responses of stingless bees to agrochemicals, crucial for understanding their overall health., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Adolescence, a stage of growth between 10 and 19 years, is a transitional period of intense cognitive, emotional and physical development. Though iron deficiency is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among this age group, nutritional interventions targeting adolescents are rare. To inform policy and practice aimed at adolescent health, we established the burden of anaemia among school-going adolescents in Center West Burkina Faso and investigated the potential explanatory factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2021. Blood samples, socio-demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, dietary and water, sanitation and hygiene data from 2947 students aged 10-18 years were collected. Anaemia was determined by the World Health Organization's sex- and age-specific haemoglobin concentrations. χ 2 tests and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia among adolescents in the sample was 36.2%, including 24.2% mild, 11.6% moderate and 0.4% severe anaemia. Compared to males, females were 19% less likely to have mild anaemia (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.81; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.689, 0.955) but 42% more likely to be moderately or severely anaemic (aOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.102, 1.831). Among iron-rich foods, tamarind (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.610, 0.929) and pumpkin leaves (aOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.605, 0.974) were associated with lower odds of anaemia. Several water, sanitation and hygiene factors were associated with higher haemoglobin, including handwashing after toilet use (β = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.031, 0.966) and tooth brushing twice daily (β = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.030, 0.354). Anaemia among adolescents in Burkina Faso should be addressed with interventions targeting diet, sanitation and hygiene., (© 2023 The Authors. Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Anemia among adolescents (ages 10–19 years) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries and carries long-term health and economic consequences. To address the issue, policymakers and programmers require evidence of the burden of anemia among adolescents in specific contexts, as well as an understanding of the factors associated with anemia in this population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey as a baseline assessment to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in secondary school students, as part of a cluster-randomized effectiveness trial testing different micronutrient supplementation strategies in addressing anemia among adolescents in Zanzibar. Between March 7th to 25th, 2022 the survey was conducted on 2,479 school-going adolescents aged 10–17 years from 42 schools on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. Hemoglobin concentration was measured along with the collection of socio-demographics, health, food frequency, and water, sanitation and hygiene data. Results: Based on the World Health Organization cutoffs for anemia, 53.3% of the sample had anemia (mild, moderate, or severe). Using chi-square tests and logistic regressions, we determined that females had higher odds of anemia than males (Adjusted OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.74), those in the highest wealth quintile had lower odds of anemia than those in the lowest wealth quintile (Adjusted OR = 0.7; CI: 0.54, 0.91), stunted adolescents had higher odds of anemia than non-stunted students (Adjusted OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06,1.81), and those who used shared toilets had higher odds of moderate or severe anemia than those with private toilet access (Adjusted OR = 1.68; CI: 1.07, 2.64). Conclusions: The high prevalence of anemia in this sample indicates an urgent need to address anemia among adolescents in Zanzibar, and the factors associated with anemia point to the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in addition to dietary and nutritional support. Trial Registration: NCT05104554, registered 03/11/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]