Occupational radiation exposure dose and associated factors among radiology personnel in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ionizing radiation is being used more frequently in medicine, which has been linked to recognized biological effects such as cancer and mortality. Radiology services are becoming more widely available in Ethiopian health facilities but there is no compiled record of worker's radiation dose. So, assessing the magnitude and identifying the associated factors of occupational radiation exposure dose among radiology personnel help to design strategies for radiation protection. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to assess the occupational radiation exposure dose and associated factors among radiology personnel in eastern Amhara, northeast Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted from March 25 to April 30, 2021, in 57 health institutions among 198 radiology personnel. The study comprised all eligible radiology personnel. The data were collected using an electronic-based (Google form) self-administered questionnaire, and document review. The data were entered into an excel spread sheet and then, exported to Stata 14 software. Linear regression model was used to analyse the data after checking its assumptions. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 were entered into a multiple linear regression analysis, and those with a p-value < 0.05 were judged significant. VIF was used to check for multi-collinearity. Coefficient of determination was used to check the model fitness. RESULTS: The mean (± SD) annual shallow and deep dose equivalents of radiology personnel were 1.20 (± 0.75) and 1.02 (± 0.70) mSv, respectively. Body mass index (ß = 0.104, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.14), practice of timing (ß = -0.43, 95% CI: -0.73, -0.13), working experience (ß = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.048, -0.032), and practice of distancing (ß = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.49, -0.17) were found to be statistically significant factors of annual deep dose equivalent. In addition, body mass index (ß = 0.113, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.15), practice of timing (ß = -0.62 95% CI: -0.93, -0.31) and, working experience (ß = -0.044, 95% CI: -0.053, -0.036 had statistically significant associations with annual shallow dose equivalent. CONCLUSION: The annual dose equivalents were two times higher than the global average of annual per caput effective dose due to medical exposure. Body mass index, practice of timing, working experience, and practice of distancing were factors of occupational radiation exposure dose. Strategies focusing on increasing the skill, experience, and lifestyle of radiology personnel would be supreme important means to reduce occupational radiation exposure dose.

Individual and contextual-level factors associated with iron-folic acid supplement intake during pregnancy in Ethiopia: a multi-level analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is still one of the major public health problems in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess individual and contextual-level factors associated with iron-folic acid supplement intake during pregnancy in Ethiopia. METHODS: A secondary analysis was done on the 2019 mini-Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) dataset. A total of 3,927 pregnant women who gave birth five years before the survey were included in the analysis. Multi-level mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was done by STATA/SE version 14.0 to identify individual and contextual-level factors. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to show the strength and direction of the association. The level of statistical significance was declared at a P value less than 0.05. RESULTS: Those primary educated [AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: (1.24, 2.74)], secondary educated [AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: (1.57, 4.824)], women who had greater than 5 living children [AOR = 2.02, 95% CI: (1.25, 3.27)], women who had ANC visit [AOR = 21.26, 95% CI: (13.56, 33.32)] and women who lived in a cluster with high proportion of women had ANC visit [AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: (1.17, 2.54)] and women who lived in Somali [AOR = 0.44 0.73, 95% CI: (0.22, 0.87)] were significantly associated with iron-folic acid intake during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Both individual and contextual-level factors were significantly associated with iron-folic acid intake during pregnancy. From individual-level factors: education status of women, the total numbers of living children, and ANC follow-up are significant and from contextual-level factors: region and living in a high proportion of women who had ANC follow-up were found to have a statistically significant association. Promoting women's education and maternal health services like ANC and intervention targeting the Somali region would be the recalled area of the government.

Viral suppression and associated factors among children tested for HIV viral load at Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess viral suppression and associated factors among children tested for HIV viral load at the Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Ethiopia. DESIGN: An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted. An observational checklist was used to collect the data. Data were entered into EpiData and analysed using SPSS (V.25). The data were analysed descriptively. Variables with p=0.25 from the bivariable analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model, and significant variables (p=0.05) were retained in the multivariable model. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 randomly selected children tested for HIV viral load at the Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Ethiopia. The study included children under the age of 15 years with complete records. RESULTS: Viral suppression was 73% (95% CI: 60.41% to 77.63%). Treatment duration on antiretroviral therapy (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.207; 95% CI: 0.094 to 0.456) and regimen substitution (AOR=0.490; 95% CI: 0.306 to 0.784) were significantly associated with viral suppression rate. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the overall magnitude of viral suppression in Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch is low as compared with the WHO's 95% viral suppression target. Viral suppression was significantly associated with antiretroviral therapy duration and regimen substitution.

Timely initiation of antenatal care and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The timing of initiation of first antenatal care visit is paramount for ensuring optimal care and health outcomes for women and children. However, the existing evidence from developing countries, including Ethiopia, indicates that most pregnant women are attending antenatal care in late pregnancy. Thus, this study was aimed to assess timely initiation of antenatal care and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 pregnant women from April 15 to June 15, 2019 in Southwest Ethiopia. A structured and pre-tested face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire technique was used to collect data. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to recruit pregnant women. The data were entered into Epi data version 4.4.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Frequency tables, charts and measures of central tendency were used to describe the data. The effect of each variable on timely initiation of antenatal care was assessed using bi-variable logistic regression. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with timely initiation of antenatal care. The adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 was used to identify factors associated with timely initiation of antenatal care. RESULTS: The study revealed that 41.9% of pregnant women started antenatal care timely. Pregnant women who had good knowledge of timely initiation of antenatal care (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI: 2.2-6.5), planned to be pregnant (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI: 2.9-8.9), being primigravida (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4-4.7) and confirmed their pregnancy by urine test (AOR = 4.1, 95% CI: 2.4-6.9) were found to be significant predictors for timely initiation of antenatal care. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the efforts made to make ANC visit services freely available, timely initiation of antenatal care among pregnant women in the study area was low. Pregnant women who had good knowledge of timely initiation of antenatal care, planned to be pregnant, being primigravida and confirmed pregnancy by urine test were found to be significant predictors for timely initiation of antenatal care. Therefore, efforts that strengthen awareness on antenatal care and its right time of commencement, increase pregnant women's knowledge of timing of antenatal care services and reducing unplanned pregnancies should be organized.

Hand hygiene compliance and its associated factors among health care providers in primary hospitals of Waghimira Zone, Northeast Ethiopia: a mixed study design.

INTRODUCTION: Hand hygiene compliance is the problem of developing nations particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. Despite a lot of efforts have been employed, healthcare-associated infections are the existing health care problems, leading to impaired quality of life, prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with hand hygiene compliance among health care providers working at the primary hospitals of Waghimira Zone, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study design supplemented with qualitative research method was employed at the primary hospitals of Waghimira Zone from March 02-15, 2020. Simple random sampling using lottery method was applied to select 253 study participants. The data were coded on pre-arranged coding sheet and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were displayed using tables and figures. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to test associations between the independent and the outcome variable. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify the independent predictors of hand-hygiene compliance at p-value < 0.05 and AOR with 95% confidence interval. Six Key Informant Interviews were conducted with purposively selected chief executive and clinical officers. Thematic content analysis was made and the findings were written sequentially with explanatory method. RESULTS: One-fifth of the subjects (20.6%, 95% CI = 15.2, 24.9) had good hand hygiene compliance. Attended training on hand hygiene protocol (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.39, 7.28), accessible to adequate soap and water (AOR = 3.77, 95%CI: 1.52, 9.37), having alcohol for hand rub (AOR = 2.67, 95%CI: 1.18, 6.05) and having hand wash sink (AOR = 2.31, 95%CI: 1.03, 5.14) were significantly associated with hand hygiene compliance which also supported by the qualitative findings. CONCLUSIONS: Hand hygiene compliance among health care providers was low in the study area. Attended training on hand hygiene, accessibility to adequate soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, and having hand washing sink in working area were statistically significant. Hence, the primary hospitals should be equipped with adequate supply to all the basic hand hygiene facilities.

Prevalence and Predictors of Stunting among Primary School Children in Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Stunting is a major public health problem affecting children in low- and middle-income countries and has become one of the underlying causes of early childhood mortality. However, there is a paucity of information on the prevalence of stunting and its predictors among school children in these settings including Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of stunting and its predictors among school children in Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study design was used among 341 primary school children in Northeast Ethiopia from October to December 2019. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit the study subjects. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and dietary data. Anthropometric data were generated using WHO AnthroPlus software version 1.0.4. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to see the association between independent variables and the outcome variable. Odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval was estimated to measure the strength of the association. The level of statistical significance was declared at p value ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of stunting was found to be 14.1% (95% CI: 10.1%, 18.1%). Family size of 6-9 (AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: (1.16, 4.58)), washing hands less frequently before eating (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI: (2.09, 11.66)), and intestinal parasitic infection (AOR = 2.66; 95% CI: (1.16, 4.95)) were significantly associated with stunting. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of stunting among school-age children was a great public health concern. Large family size, poor handwashing practice before meals, and intestinal parasitosis were significant predictors of stunting. Thus, periodic deworming, health education on personal hygiene, and health promotion and counseling on family planning need to be strengthened by all relevant stakeholders.

Proportion of Depression and Its Associated Factors Among Youth HIV/AIDS Clients Attending ART Clinic in Dessie Town Government Health Facilities, Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Depression is the most prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS than people without HIV/AIDS. Depression is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV/AIDS and adversely affects the adherence to antiretroviral therapy, quality of life, and health-related parameters. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the proportion of depression and its associated factors among youth HIV/AIDS patients attending ART clinics in Dessie town Government health facilities, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed on 431 youth HIV/AIDS patients attending ART clinics at Dessie town Public health facilities. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. EPI-Data software version 3.1 was used to enter the data and analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with depression. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05 in the final model. RESULTS: The proportion of depression among youth HIV/AIDS patients was 26.2%. The age range between 20 and 24 years (AOR = 2.019, 95% CI: 1.143-3.566), poor medication adherence (AOR = 9.007, 95% CI: 3.061-26.500), stigma (AOR = 4.14, 95% CI: 2.08-8.26), and low social support (AOR = 1.854, 95% CI: 1.034-3.324) were associated with depression. CONCLUSION: The proportion of depression among youth HIV patients in the current study was found to be lower compared to previous studies. Age, HIV-related stigma, social support, lost job, and poor medication adherence were found to be independent predictors of depression. Therefore, scaling up the pediatric psychosocial support program to youth psychosocial support for all ART site health facilities, strengthening health education about the medication adherence and complication of HIV/AIDS are needed.

Determinants of community acquired pneumonia among 2 to 59 months of age children in Northeast Ethiopia: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in under-five children. Regardless of this fact, efforts to identify determinants of pneumonia have been limited in the study area. The aim of this study was to identify determinants of community-acquired pneumonia among 2-59 months of age children in Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from February to April, 2019 among 444 (148 cases and 296 controls) 2-59 months of age children in Northeast Ethiopia. Cases were children with pneumonia, while controls were non-pneumonia children. Data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire by integrated management of neonatal and childhood illness trained nurses. The data were entered into Epi Data and then transferred to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to test associations between the independent and the dependent variables. Variables with P-value ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model were declared as significant variables. RESULTS: Children having older age mother (AOR = 0.03, 95% CI; 0.01,0.14), having mothers who are housewife (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI; 0.07,0.54), not having separate kitchen (AOR = 5.37; 95% CI: 1.65,17.43), having a history of diarrhea in the last 2 weeks (AOR = 10.2; 95% CI: 5.13, 20.18), having a history of acute lower respiratory infection in the last 2 weeks (AOR = 8.3, 95% CI: 3.32, 20.55) and having a history of parental asthma in the family (AOR = 4.9, 95% CI: 2.42, 10.18) were found to be determinants of community-acquired pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Children having older age mother, having mothers who are housewife, not having separate kitchen, having a history of diarrhea in the last 2 weeks, having a history of acute lower respiratory infection in the last 2 weeks and having a history of parental asthma in the family were found to be determinants of community-acquired pneumonia. Therefore, all health institutions should promote early treatments and prevention of diarrhea and acute lower respiratory infections of under-five children at the health facility and household level.

Factors Associated with Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in North East Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous exposure to blood and body fluids through contaminated needle sticks and sharps are serious occupational hazards for morbidity and mortality from infections from blood-borne pathogens among healthcare workers. However, limited studies have been conducted to identify factors associated with needle stick and sharp injuries among healthcare workers in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed at identifying factors associated with needle stick and sharp injuries among healthcare workers. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers at health facilities in Dessie from January to March 2018. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 362 healthcare workers. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The association between dependent and independent variables was checked using binary logistic regression and p-value ≤0.05 was used as a cut-off point for significance. RESULTS: The entire work time and one-year prevalence of needle stick and sharp injury among healthcare workers were 60.2% and 40.1%, respectively. Working in private hospital (AOR = 9.619, 95% CI: 2.476, 27.373), working in private clinic (AOR = 3.308, 95% CI: 1.038, 8.506), less work experience (AOR = 2.762, 95% CI: 1.381, 4.521), higher workload (AOR = 3.794, 95% CI: 2.268, 6.346) and all-time availability of sharp storage and disposal containers (AOR = 0.435, 95% CI: 0.215, 0.879) were significant predictors of needle stick and sharp injuries. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of needle stick and sharp injury was high. Working in private health institutions, less work experience, higher workload and all-time availability of sharp storage and disposal containers were significant predictors of needle stick and sharp injuries. Therefore, efforts have to be made to reduce the workload of healthcare workers and to available sharp storage and disposal containers all the time in the workplaces.

Modern health services utilization and associated factors in North East Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia is one of the developing countries with the poorest health status and the health services utilization is generally low with different patterns in different regions of the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess utilization of modern health services and associated factors in Dessie, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was employed from January to March, 2015 in Dessie City. The total sample was 420 adults. Adults were selected by stratified random sampling. The strata were made using residence as urban and rural residents. The data was collected using pre-tested, interviewer administered questionnaire. The data was entered into Epi infoTM7 software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 Software for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate independent effect of each variable on modern health service utilization by controlling the effect of others. The strength of association between dependent variable and independent variables was expressed by odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The overall modern health services utilization rate was 41.8%. Being Female sex, annual income greater than poverty line, poor perception of health status, high perceived severity of illness, two or more than two number of illnesses in the last 12 months prior to the survey and presence of chronic health problem were found to have a significant association with utilization of modern health services. CONCLUSION: Modern health services utilization was found to be low. Being female sex, annual income above poverty line, having poor perceived health status, having two or more than two illnesses, severe perceived severity of illness and having chronic health problem were found to have a statistically significant association with utilization. Therefore, efforts have to be made to increase utilization of modern health services through establishing systems like health extension workers and health development army.