Adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare professionals working in Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study.

Background of the study: One of the best medical approaches for halting the spread of infectious diseases is vaccination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) were a high-risk population. Due to their susceptibility in terms of their working environment, front-line healthcare personnel should receive vaccinations before others. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines among Ethiopian healthcare professionals in 2022. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Addis Ababa Health Facilities, Ethiopia. A total of 290 health professionals who were vaccinated during the study period were involved. Data entry was done by Epidata (version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Bivariable analysis was conducted and a p value of less than 0.25 was selected for further multivariable analysis. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Results: A total of 277 study participants were successfully involved in the study, yielding a response rate of 95.5%. The study participants comprised 123 (44.4%) women and 154 (55.6%) men. The majority of them (202, 72.9%) had received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. Among the 277 study participants, 142 (51.3%) had developed adverse reactions associated with vaccination. Of these, 81 (29.2%) had moderate adverse reactions. Only 2 (0.7%) had developed adverse reactions that led to hospitalization. The most reported short-term adverse reactions were injection site pain (151, 54.5%), headache (114, 41.2%), fever (104, 37.5%), fatigability and tiredness (94, 33.9%), chills (92, 33.2%), muscle pain (79, 28.5%), and decreased sleep quality (34, 12.3%). The multivariable logistic regression showed that the odds of having an adverse reaction were 1.501 times higher among women than men (AOR = 1.501, 95% CI [1.08, 2.754]). Conclusion and recommendations: This study revealed that adverse effects following the COVID-19 vaccine were moderate in magnitude and minimal in severity. This study showed that adverse reactions that led to hospitalization were rare. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that national, multicenter, prospective, and randomized studies be conducted to assess the independent association of each vaccine.

Double burden of malnutrition and associated factors among adolescent in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: As adolescence is a transition period from childhood to adulthood malnutrition occurring at this age resonates through generations. Although there were many individual studies in Ethiopia about different form of malnutrition among adolescent, their results are inconclusive indicating the need for generating a pooled estimate of adolescent nutritional status and associated factors. This review and meta-analyses aimed at estimating the pooled prevalence of different forms of malnutrition and associated factors among adolescents in Ethiopia. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We searched data bases from Pub Med, Cochrane Library, Health Inter Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), Science Direct and search engines; Google and Google Scholar and other sources; Reference of References and expert contact which were used to select the studies. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality appraisal tool was applied to identify eligible studies. STATA/SE V.14 was used to analyze the data. Effect size with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and heterogeneity were estimated. Heterogeneity of studies was quantified with I2 statistic >50% used as an indicator of heterogeneity. Potential publication bias was assessed using Funnel plots and Egger's regression test. Trim and fill analysis was also performed. The presences of a statistical association between independent and dependent variables were declared at P <0.05. The PROSPERO registration number for the review is CRD42020159734. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of overweight/obesity, stunting and thinness were 10.63% (95% CI: 8.86, 12.40), 20.06% (95% CI: 15.61, 24.51) and 21.68% (95% CI: 9.56, 33.81), respectively. Being female (OR: 2.02, CI: 1.22-3.34), low dietary diversity score (OR: 2.26 CI: 1.28-3.99) and high physical activity (OR: 0.36, 95%CI: 0.14-0.88) were significantly associated with adolescent overweight/obesity. Urban residence (OR: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.68-0.99), protected drinking water source (OR: 0.50, CI: 0.27-0.90) and having family size<5 people (OR: 0.54, CI: 0.44-0.66) were independent predictors of adolescent stunting. Early adolescent age (10-14 years) (OR: 2.38, CI: 1.70-3.34), protected water source for drinking (OR: 0.36, CI: 0.21-0.61), low wealth index (OR: 1.80, CI: 1.01-3.19) and family size <5 people (OR: 0.50, CI: 0.28-0.89) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with adolescent thinness. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight/obesity, stunting and thinness are high in Ethiopian adolescents indicating the upcoming challenge of double burden of malnutrition. The results imply the presence of double burden of malnutrition among adolescents which heralds the need for programmatic and policy response in terms of addressing modifiable risk factors including: dietary practices, physical activity, water source and economic status of these adolescents.

Prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors among hypertensive patients on follow up at Jimma University Medical Center.

Several studies have reported an association between the abnormal duration of sleep and chronic conditions including hypertension. However, the existing body of evidence is not entirely significant; as insignificant associations between poor sleep and blood pressure (BP) have been found across different studies. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and factors associated with poor sleep quality among hypertensive patients in Jimma University Medical Center. An institution based cross sectional study design was employed from June 01 to July 15, 2018 among 279 hypertensive patients on follow-up at Jimma University Medical Centre chronic clinic, Jimma, Ethiopia. Data collection was done by using face to face interview. Sleep quality was measured by using validated, standard Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). PSQI total score ≥5 was considered as a diagnostic of poor sleep quality. On multivariate logistic regression variables with of p value of <0.05 was considered as predictors of poor sleep quality. A total of 279 hypertensive patients were enrolled into the study. Out of which 279, 142 (50.9%) were males. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among hypertensive patient was 99 (35.5%). Physical inactivity (AOR = 0.288, 95% CI: (0.130-0.639), diastolic blood pressure Stage I (AOR = 3.923, 95% CI: 1.052-14.632) and diastolic blood pressure Stage II (AOR = 4.520; 95% CI: 1.079-18.931) were identified as independent predictors of poor sleep quality. In conclusion, about one-third of hypertensive patients were poor sleepers. High diastolic blood pressure and physical inactivity are independent predictors of poor sleep quality among hypertensive patients.

Barriers and Strategies to Lifestyle and Dietary Pattern Interventions for Prevention and Management of TYPE-2 Diabetes in Africa, Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic illness in Africa that requires lifelong lifestyle interventions and pharmacological therapy. Lifestyle change is the most important aspect of diabetes care and includes diabetes self-management education and support, medical nutrition therapy, physical activity, smoking cessation counseling, and psychosocial care. PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to review published articles that investigate lifestyle and dietary pattern interventions for diabetes prevention and management in Africa. Barriers to lifestyle interventions and strategies to overcome the barriers are also reviewed in this study. METHODS: The article search was conducted in an electronic database search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library. Studies were included if they were published between 2011 and 2019, if they were conducted in an African country, and were written in the English language. RESULTS: Articles reviewed included several that examined the basic lifestyle and dietary pattern changes for all patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, on self-care behavior of type 2 diabetes patients, on the cost of diabetes in Africa, and on barriers for adherence to lifestyle and dietary changes in Africa, with strategies to address those barriers. CONCLUSION: Lifestyle interventions including regular physical exercise, weight management, and adherence to health care professionals' recommendations on a healthy diet are the cornerstone in the prevention and management of diabetes in Africa. The main barriers to adherence were both systemic (population changes, poor access, western cultural influences, and low-quality healthcare) and personal (poverty and cost, educational status, and perceptions about the disease) in nature. The strategies for the barriers include health education programs, advocacy, and capacity building.

Determinants of Low Fifth Minute Apgar Score among Newborn Delivered in Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Apgar score is currently an accepted method for newborn infant assessment immediately after delivery. Low fifth minute Apgar score was strongly associated with the risk of neonatal and infant death. Even though much has been done, still, the levels of neonatal mortality in sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia were significant. Therefore, this study is aimed at identifying the risk factors so as providing strategies for decreasing the morbidity and mortality of newborns and identifying determinants of low fifth minute Apgar score among newborns delivered in Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia, 2018. METHOD: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 366 neonates delivered at Jimma University Medical Center. Data was collected by using interview questionnaire. Apgar score was assessed by standard tool at the 1st, 5th, and 10th minutes after birth and only 5th minute Apgar score was used as outcome variable. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Chi-square test was done at bivariate level and P value was used to select candidate variables for multivariate analysis. Finally, a 95% confidence interval was used to assess significance. RESULTS: A response rate of this study was 95%. The proportion of low 5th minute Apgar score in this study was 11.5%. Prolonged duration of labor (AOR = 15.18, 95% CI: 5.51-40.27), maternal history of khat use (AOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.26-8.85), and low birth weight (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.02-3.11) were predictors of low fifth minute Apgar score. CONCLUSION: About one tenth of newborns were having low 5th minute Apgar score. The likelihood of low 5th minute Apgar score was found to increase with prolonged duration of labor, history of mother's khat use, and low birth weight.