Statistical analysis on the incidence and predictors of death among second-line ART patients in public hospitals of North Wollo and Waghemira Zones, Ethiopia, 2021.

Acquired immune deficiency virus, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, is a significant global health concern. Sub-Saharan Africa particularly Ethiopia faces a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus. In low-income settings like Ethiopia, early mortality rates are elevated due to severe opportunistic infections and advanced disease at Anti-retroviral treatment initiation. Despite available treatments, delayed treatment initiation among Human Immunodeficiency Virus -infected individuals in Africa, including Ethiopia, leads to disease progression and increased mortality risk. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to the death of HIV patients under treatment at second line regimen in public hospitals of North Wollo and Waghemira Zones. A retrospective cohort study with 474 patients was conducted in selected hospitals of North Wollo and Waghemira Zones. A parametric Weibull regression model was employed, and the adjusted hazard ratio served as the measure of association. Variables significantly affected the outcome of the study was determined at a p-value < 0.05, along with a 95% confidence interval for the variables. The patients were within the average age of 38.6(standard deviation ± 12.5) years and majority (45.57%) had no formal education. The overall death incidence rate among second-line anti-retroviral treatment patients was 1.98 per 100-person years [95% CI 1.4-2.9%]. Poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, male gender, and being underweight significantly increased the hazard of death. Conversely, increased anti-retroviral treatment duration had a significant and negative impact, reducing the hazard of death among patients. The study reveals a high incidence of death among second line anti-retroviral treatment users. Independent predictors include poor adherence, male gender, and underweight status, all significantly increasing the risk of death. On the positive side, the hazard of death decreases with longer anti-retroviral treatment duration. A critical concern and counseling should be given for better ART adherence, to change their nutritional status and for males.

Active tuberculosis incidence among treatment failure experienced patients in North Wollow Zone: A multicenter historical cohort.

Background: In Ethiopia, tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of death among individuals living with HIV, especially in resource-limited areas and those who have experienced treatment failure. However, there is the paucity of data regarding TB among treatment failures experienced people living with HIV. This study aimed to estimate the rate and identify predictors of tuberculosis among patients who received second-line treatment in North Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted on 474 HIV-infected patients who experienced treatment failure. The study period ranged from January 2015 to September 30, 2021. The incidence of TB was assessed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model, after ensuring that all assumptions were met. Factors associated with active TB were determined by analyzing adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: In a study of 474 HIV-positive patients on second-line antiretroviral treatment, we found an incidence rate of 3.6% with 17 new cases of TB observed over 4412.4 persons per year (PPY). The overall incidence density rate was estimated to be 0.39 cases per 100 PPY (95% CI: 0.239-0.618). Regarding the occurrence of active TB in second-line patients, WHO clinical treatment stage (T3 and T4), missed isoniazid preventive therapy had a significantly higher risk (AHR: 13.225, 95% CI: 2.894-60.434, p = 0.001), while being married was associated with a lower risk (AHR: 0.203, 95% CI: 0.045-0.907, p = 0.001). Conclusion: A high incidence of active TB was observed shortly after initiating second-line antiretroviral treatment. Factors such as being in the WHO clinical treatment stage (T3 and T4) and marital status were determinants for active TB. To improve overall survival rates, it is vital to enhance early TB screening and implement effective isoniazid preventive therapy.

Individual and community level factors for modern contraceptives utilization among reproductive aged women in Amhara region, Mixed effect multi-level modeling, Data from Mini-EDHS, 2019.

BACKGROUND: Modern contraceptive has been identified as a key strategy to control unintended pregnancy, protect the health of the mother and child, and promote women wellbeing. Despite this and increasingly wider availability of modern contraceptives, however, there are still high levels of unmet need for birth interspacing and contraceptive use in Amhara regions. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the enhancing of modern contraceptives utilization among reproductive aged women in Amhara region, using a mixed effects multilevel modeling data from mini-EDHS 2019. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 711(wt = 100%) samples of reproductive-aged women. The data were interviewed by trained data collectors using a semi-structured questionnaire for the final mini-EDHS 2019 data set. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the enhancing factors for modern contraceptive utilization Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) was used to identify factors associated with utilization. RESULT: The median age of the participants was 31 with (IQR ± 13) years. The overall modern contraceptive utilization was 42.3% (95%CI: 38.7; 46.1). Individual and community factors accounted for 21.4% of the variation in modern contraceptive utilization at the cluster level. Being age 25 years (AOR = 12.99; 95%CI: 4.5-37.2), 26-35 years (AOR = 8.8, 95%CI: 3.25- 24), 36-45 years (AOR = 5.6, 95%CI: 2.2-16.2), being married (AOR = 4.2, 95%CI: 2.21-6.97), educated women (AOR = 11.6, 95%CI: 3.22-40.4), and being middle-economic class (AOR = 3.03; 95%CI: 1.87-4.91) were identified as individual enhancing factors. Whereas, being urban resident (AOR = 5.19; 95%CI: 5.19: 41.7) and having media exposure (AOR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.58-3.7) were community-level enhancing factors for modern contraceptive utilization. CONCLUSION: Compared to earlier studies, in Amhara region, a lower prevalence rate of modern contraceptive utilization was reported. The variation in utilization at the cluster level, 21.4%, was attributed to individual and community-level factors. Healthcare providers should prioritize raising awareness about contraceptive side effects to encourage new users and decrease the number of individuals who discontinue contraceptive methods.

Time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition and its predictors among children aged 6-59 months at Asosa general hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. A retrospective follow up study.

BACKGROUND: Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) has become a major public health challenge in developing countries including Ethiopia, especially among the underprivileged population. Ethiopia is among the developing countries with the highest burden of acute malnutrition among under-five children. Though, plenty of studies were done on the magnitude of acute malnutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia, there is a limited evidence on time to recovery from SAM and its predictors among children aged 6-59 months in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed to assess the time to recovery from SAM and its predictors among children aged 6-59 months at Asosa general hospital (AGH), Benishangul Gumuz, Ethiopia. METHODS: A Five years retrospective follow-up study design was employed among 454 children admitted with SAM in AGH from January 2015 to December 2019. The data were extracted from the patient medical records using checklist. The data were coded and entered into Epi-Data 3.1; then exported to STATA/SE-14 for analysis. Proportional Cox regression was performed to identify predictors of recovery time. A proportional hazard assumption was checked. Variables with AHR at 95% CI and P-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable Cox proportional regression was considered as significant predictors of recovery time. FINDINGS: Among the 454 included records of children with SAM, 65.4% (95%CI: 50.1, 69.2) of them were recovered at the end of the follow-up with a median recovery time of 15 IQR(11-18)days. The incidence rate of recovery was 5.28 per 100 child days' observations. Being HIV Negative (AHR = 2.19: 95% CI 1.28, 3.73), Marasmic (AHR = 1.69: 95% CI 1.18, 2.42), and marasmic-kwashiorkor child (AHR = 1.60: 95% CI (1.09, 2.37) independently predicted recovery time. CONCLUSIONS: Though the time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition was in the acceptable range, the proportion of recovery was found to be low in the study area compared to sphere standard. The prognosis of children with severe acute malnutrition was determined by the HIV status of the child and the type of malnutrition experienced. Further strengthening of malnutrition therapeutic centers and routine checkup of the nutritional status of HIV positive children should be emphasized to reduce child mortality and morbidity from under-nutrition.