Ten-year trend analysis of malaria prevalence in Gindabarat district, West Shawa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major public health concern in Ethiopia, where more than half of the population lives in malaria risk areas. While several studies have been conducted in different eco-epidemiological settings in Ethiopia, there is a notable scarcity of data on the prevalence of malaria in the Gindabarat district. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse 10-year trend of malaria prevalence in Gindabarat district, West Shawa Zone of Oromia, Western Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective laboratory record review was conducted at Gindabarat General Hospital and Gindabarat District Health Office from September 2011 to August 2020. The retrieved data included the date of examination, age, sex and laboratory results of the blood smears, including the Plasmodium species identified. Data were summarized and presented in the form of tables, figures, and frequencies to present the results. The data were analysed using SPSS (version 25.0) and Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: Over the course of 10 years, a total of 11,478 blood smears were examined in the public health facilities in the district. Of the total blood smears examined, 1372 (11.95%) were microscopically confirmed malaria. Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and mixed infections (P. falciparum and P. vivax) accounted for 70.77%, 20.55% and 8.67% of the cases, respectively. Malaria prevalence was significantly higher among individuals aged ≥ 15 years (12.60%, x2 = 13.6, df = 2, p = 0.001) and males (14.21%, x2 = 59.7, df = 1, p = 0.001). The highest number of malaria cases was recorded from September to November. CONCLUSION: Malaria remains a public health problem in the district. P. falciparum was the most predominant parasite species in the area. Malaria prevalence was significantly higher among individuals aged ≥ 15 years and males. There was a remarkable fluctuation in the number of malaria cases in different months and years. In the study area malaria cases peaked in 2015 and 2017 then decreasing from 2017 to 2019, with sharp increase in 2020. Moreover, this study showed malaria cases were reported in all seasons and months, but the highest was observed from September to November. Strengthening malaria control activities is essential to further reduce the burden of malaria and pave the way for the anticipated elimination.

Equipment preparedness for neonatal resuscitation in neonatal intensive care unit in resource limited setting: cross-sectional study.

Background: Adverse healthcare's events are a critical issue worldwide, neonatal intensive care unit adverse events are a considerable issue. It is important that we recognize the basic equipment needed to address these circumstances. The aim of this study is to asses' equipment preparedness for neonatal resuscitation in the neonatal intensive care unit. Method: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at comprehensive specialized hospital from 26/03/2022 to 26/05/2022. The data were collected using Checklist prepared from Neonatal resuscitation: current evidence and guidelines. The data obtained were summed up and presented as descriptive statistics using the Microsoft Excel and were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The result reported in text and table form. Result: In this study there was 12.72% complete equipment preparation (without defect) in 210 cases. From the total, there was minor defect in 52.8% cases, and 34.45% cases had serious defect. Serious defects were more frequently detected in the equipment preparation (42.46%), resuscitation medications (12.5%), and radiant warmer set-up (40%). Conclusion and recommendation: Overall equipment preparation for neonatal resuscitation was insufficient, and quality of equipment preparation for neonatal resuscitation and stabilization needs to be improved. To enhance equipment preparedness in the neonatal intensive care unit staff should establish uniform guidelines.

Health-related quality of life in epilepsy and its associated factors among adult patients with epilepsy attending Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mean score of health-related quality of life in epilepsy and its associated factors among adult patients with epilepsy. DESIGN: Institution-based cross-sectional study based on random case selection was conducted. SETTING: The study was carried out at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital located in Southwest Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 346 patients with epilepsy who visited the psychiatric clinic for follow-up for at least 3 months and who were 18 years or older were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Health-related quality of life in epilepsy measured using quality-of-life in epilepsy (QOLIE)-31 health survey evaluated as a dependent variable with simple and multivariable linear regressions. RESULTS: The overall weighted mean score of health-related quality of life was 55.6 (SD=20.9). Only 50.3% of patients scored above a total score of 50. Age (ß=-0.35, 95% CI-0.46 to -0.23), anxiety (ß=-6.79, 95% CI -9.26 to -4.32), depression (ß=-7.36, 95% CI -10.16 to -4.55), low self-esteem (ß=-5.29, 95% CI -8.07 to -2.51), perceived stigma (ß=-3.62, 95% CI -6.30 to -0.94), taking medication two times or more times per day (ß=-2.4, 95% CI -4.58 to -0.27), being illiterate (ß=-4.1, 95% CI -6.87 to -1.31) and having more than two seizures for a year (ß=-4.18, 95% CI -6.97 to -1.39) were negatively affecting health-related quality of life while income of >1000 birr per month (ß=4.5, 95% CI 2.00 to 6.99), social support (ß=0.34, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.40) and being free of seizure for a year (ß=6.5, 95% CI 3.66 to 9.33) were positively affecting health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Only half of the patients with epilepsy in the study area are leading a better quality of life and the overall mean health-related quality of life score is lower than the global mean score. Health-related quality of life was inversely associated with age, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, perceived stigma, taking medication two times a day or more, being illiterate and experiencing more than two seizures in a year. Besides controlling seizures, public educational campaigns should be conducted to raise public awareness regarding the need for social support.

Preoperative anemia and associated factors in women undergoing cesarean section at a comprehensive specialized referral hospital in Ethiopia.

Background: Anemia is a common public health burden during pregnancy. Severe maternal and fetal complications have been associated with anemia. Despite many studies on anemia during pregnancy have been conducted in Ethiopia at any time of antenatal care visits, the prevalence of preoperative anemia among women awaiting cesarean delivery and its contributing factors have not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of preoperative anemia in women awaiting cesarean section at a comprehensive specialized hospital in Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was done from April to June 2022 to determine preoperative anemia in women undergoing cesarean delivery. Data were obtained using a standardized questionnaire that included the women's background characteristics. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables related to preoperative anemia. With a 95% confidence level, the estimated crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio were calculated. In a multivariate analysis, variables were considered statistically significant if their p-value was less than 0.05. Results: A total of 424 pregnant women with a 100% response rate were included in this study. The prevalence of preoperative anemia among women awaiting cesarean delivery was 28.3% (95% CI: 23.8-32.5%). Previous history of abortion, lack of iron supplementation, human immunodeficiency virus infection, previous cesarean section, and American Society of Anesthesiology class III were significantly associated with preoperative anemia among women awaiting cesarean section. Conclusion and recommendation: Preoperative anemia was diagnosed in a significant proportion of women awaiting cesarean-delivery. Anemia was linked to a lack of iron supplementation, American Society of Anesthesiology class III, previous history of abortion, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and previous cesarean section. Therefore, early detection of high-risk pregnancies, iron supplementation, prevention of HIV infection and due attention to people living with HIV/AIDs are paramount.

Determinants of Fertility Desire among Women Living with HIV in the Childbearing Age Attending Antiretroviral Therapy Clinic at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: High fertility and aspiration to have more children are a normal phenomenon in many developing countries including Ethiopia. The desire of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to have children can have significant public health implications. Despite the growing number of women living with HIV/AIDS, the issues of fertility and childbearing intention have not been widely studied in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To identify determinants of fertility desire among women living with HIV in the childbearing age attending antiretroviral therapy clinic at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based case-control study was conducted in March 2019. Cases were women living with HIV who had fertility desire, and controls were those who had not. Data was collected using a face-to-face interview using a pretested questionnaire. The data was entered into EpiData 3.1 and exported to SPSS Version 24 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify candidate and independent determinants of fertility desire, respectively. Independent determinants associated with fertility desire were assessed using AORs with their corresponding 95% CIs at P value < 0.05 cutoff point. Results. Three hundred forty-four (115 cases and 229 controls) were included into the study with a 100% response rate. Age categories 15-24 (AOR: 4.1; 95% CI: 2.0, 8.4) and 25-34 (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 4.2) years, not using family planning (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.4, 4.0), and having a sexual partner (AOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.2) were independent predictors of fertility desire. CONCLUSIONS: Age of women, family planning, and sexual partner were found to be the independent predictors of fertility desire among women living with HIV/AIDS. Policymakers and health care providers who are working on an ART clinic should try to consider the effects of these factors for women living with HIV while developing HIV/AIDS interventions and discussing on sexual and reproductive health issues with their clients, respectively.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among street children in Jimma town; south West Ethiopia in 2019: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Street child is any child whose age is less than 18 years for whom the street has become his or her habitual abode and/or source of livelihood, is inadequately protected, supervised or directed by responsible adults. In Ethiopia the health problems of street children are given poor attention in research. This problem is pronounced when it comes to intestinal parasitic infections, making it difficult to design appropriate interventions targeting this segment of population. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among street children in Jimma town in the year 2019. METHODS: Community based cross sectional study was employed. Complete enumeration was used to include 312 street children. Pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was entered to Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20. Stool samples were examined by wet mount and formalin ether concentration techniques. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection. Significance of association was decided by using the 95% confidence interval of AOR and P-value of ≤0.05 in the multivariable model. RESULT: A total of 312 children of the street were involved in the study making the response rate 96.2%. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 66.7%. Untrimmed finger nails AOR = 2.03;95%CI (1.02-4.06), eating street food AOR = 2.24;95% CI (1.04-5.02), practice of swimming in unprotected water bodies AOR = 2.5; 95% CI (1.24-5.04), not wearing shoes at the time of data collection AOR = 3.8;95% CI (1.8-8.2) and lacking knowledge of way of transmission of intestinal parasites AOR = 2.5; 95% CI (1.25-5.0) were significantly associated with parasitic infections. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among street children in the study area was high and require integrated interventions to avert the problem. Several factors were also found to be associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Measures has to be taken to curb the problem by including them in mass drug administration and targeted health education towards identified factors.