Indigenous herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of indigenous herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A facility-based cross-sectional study design. SETTING: The study was conducted in seven public health facilities (one referral hospital, three urban and three rural health centres) in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, from October to November 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 628 pregnant women of any gestational age who had been on ANC follow-up at selected public health facilities were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of indigenous herbal medicine (users vs non-users) and associated factors. RESULTS: The study revealed that 47.8% (95% CI 43.8% to 51.6%) of pregnant women used herbal medicines. Lack of formal education (adjusted OR, AOR 5.47, 95% CI 2.40 to 12.46), primary level (AOR 4.74, 95% CI 2.15 to 10.44), housewives (AOR 4.15, 95% CI 1.83 to 9.37), number of ANC visits (AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.27 to 5.25), insufficient knowledge (AOR 4.58, 95% CI 3.02 to 6.77) and favourable perception (AOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.77) were factors significantly associated with herbal medicine use. The most commonly used herbs were garden cress (Lepidium sativum) (32%), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) (25.2%), moringa (Moringa oleifera) (24.5%). Common indications were related to gastrointestinal problems, blood pressure and sugar. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of herbal medicine use is high (one in two pregnant women) and significantly associated with education level, occupation, ANC visits, knowledge and perceptions. The study's findings are helpful in advancing comprehension of herbal medicines using status, types and enforcing factors. It is essential that health facilities provide herbal counselling during ANC visits, and health regulatory bodies ought to raise awareness and implement interventions to lower the risks from over-the-counter herbal medicine use by pregnant women.

Magnitude and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms among municipal street sweepers in Dessie and Kombolcha City, Northeast, Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study.

Objective: Respiratory diseases are one of the main morbidities worldwide, especially in developing countries due to a lack of occupational safety and health measures. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms among street sweepers in Dessie and Kombolcha town, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used from 15 February to 16 March 2019 Gregorian calendar, among 392 participants. An interviewer-based questionnaire was used. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used, and variables with p value less than 0.05 in the final model were taken as associated factors. Results: The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms among street sweepers was 178 (45.4%) with the prevalence of cough 67 (16.54%), phlegm 60 (15.4%), wheezing 127 (32.3%), breathlessness 83 (21.3%), and chest pain 55 (14.3%). Respiratory symptoms were associated with not using face mask (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio = 0.31, 95% confidence interval: 0.17-0.57), monthly income (p = 0.013, adjusted odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-3.8), work experience (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 2.1-6.2), previous sinusitis (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio = 8.0, 95% confidence interval: 2.8-22), and educational status (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio = 8.6, 95% confidence interval: 3.0-24.4). Conclusion: Respiratory symptoms were prevalent among street sweepers in Dessie and Kombolcha towns, Northeast Ethiopia. The non-use of respiratory equipment, educational status, working experience, and past sinusitis was identified factors.

Preparedness toward COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among health care workers in Dire Dawa Hospitals, Eastern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers are at the frontline of the response against the COVID-19 outbreak. Poor preparedness and infection prevention practices among health care workers compound the hazard and occurrence of COVID-19 hospital transmission. Thus, the study aimed to assess preparedness toward COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among health care workers in Hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 June to July 10 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 423 health care workers. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome variable, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that the proportion of health care workers' preparedness toward the COVID-19 pandemic was 40.9% (95% CI: 36.2-45.9). Working in a public hospital (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.6-4.3), being unafraid of transmitting COVID-19 to patients (Adjusted odds ratio/AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.2-10.0), feeling safe at the workplace (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.7-6.4)), satisfied with the infection control policy (AOR = 6.0, 95% CI: 2.3-15.0), and not feeling anxious about the likelihood of COVID-19 spread (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4) were significantly associated with COVID-19 preparedness. CONCLUSION: The majority of the health care workers were not prepared for COVID-19 pandemics. Feeling safe at the workplace scared of transmitting COVID-19 to patients, satisfied with the infection control policy, and feeling anxious concerning the likelihood of COVID-19 were factors associated with health care workers' preparedness to COVID-19. The current awareness creation training, including motivational and psychological preparation for all health care workers, is mandatory, regardless of their profession or working place.

Time to Development of Anemia and Predictors among HIV-Infected Patients Initiating ART at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Retrospective Follow-Up Study.

METHODS: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted among clients on ART from 2012 to 2017. Data were collected using checklists. The Kaplan-Meier curve was employed to compare survival rates. The Cox proportional hazard model was applied to identify predictors of time to development of anemia. RESULTS: A total of 490 ART patients were followed. The overall incidence of anemia was 27/100 person-years. The incidence was highest in the second year (18.7/100 PY) of starting ART when compared with the first year (13.8/100 PY) and third year (18.1/100 PY) of ART initiation. The independent predictors show an association for time to development of anemia and were as follows: being female (AHR = 2.94, 95%CI = 2.15-4.0), pulmonary tuberculosis positive (AHR = 2.98, 95%CI = 1.62-5.51), baseline weight < 60 kg (AHR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.19-1.92), and severe acute malnutrition (AHR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.39-2.89). CONCLUSION: Most of the anemia cases occurred after the first year of ART initiation. Pulmonary tuberculosis, baseline weight, nutritional status, and sex were predictors for anemia. Clients with low baseline weight and abnormal nutritional status need to get close follow-up to prevent the risk of early development of anemia.