The incidence and factors associated with anemia in elective surgical patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a frequently reported and commonly documented issue in intensive care units. In surgical intensive care units, more than 90% of patients are found to be anemic. It is a hematologic factor that contributes to extended mechanical ventilation, sepsis, organ failure, longer hospitalizations in critical care units, and higher mortality. Thus, this study aimed to determine the incidence and identify factors associated with anemia in elective surgical patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective follow-up study involving 422 hospitalized patients was carried out between December 2019 and December 2022 in the surgical intensive care unit after elective surgery at Tikur-Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were gathered from the patients' charts, and study participants were chosen using methods of systematic random sampling. SPSS 26 (the statistical software for social science, version 26) was used to analyze the data. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to examine associations between variables. RESULTS: The incidence of anemia in elective surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit was 69.9% (95% CI 65.4-74.5%). American Society of Anesthesiologists' class III (ASA III) [AOR: 8.53, 95% CI 1.92-13.8], renal failure [AOR:2.53, 95% CI (1.91-5.81)], malignancy [AOR: 2.59, 95% CI (1.31-5.09)], thoracic surgery [AOR: 4.07, 95% CI (2.11-7.87)], urologic surgery [AOR: 6.22, 95% CI (2.80-13.80)], and neurosurgery [AOR: 4.51, 95% CI (2.53-8.03)] were significantly associated with anemia in surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: More than two-thirds of the intensive care unit-admitted surgical patients experienced anemia. An American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA III score), renal failure, malignancy, thoracic surgery, urologic surgery, and neurosurgery were significantly associated with this condition. Early identification helps to institute preventive and therapeutic measures.

Hotspot areas of tetanus-unprotected births and its associated factors in Ethiopia: Spatial analysis of EDHS data.

Neonatal tetanus persists as a public health problem in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Maternal tetanus toxoid vaccination is a cornerstone to prevent neonatal tetanus. However, its prevalence is low in Ethiopia, and little has been devoted to its spatial epidemiology and associated factors. Hence, this study aimed to explore the spatial pattern and factors affecting tetanus-unprotected births in Ethiopia. A further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data was conducted, and a weighted sample of 7590 women was used for analysis. Spatial analysis was done using ArcGIS and SaTScan software. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors and variables with a p-value <.05 were considered as statistically significant. About 54.13% (95% CI: 53.01, 55.25) of births were not protected against neonatal tetanus, and spatial clustering of tetanus unprotected births was observed (Moran's I = 0.144, p-value = .028). The primary and secondary SaTScan clusters were detected in Northeastern Tigray, Eastern Amhara, and almost the entire Afar (RR = 1.34 & LLR = 66.5, p < .01), and in the Somali region, and the western border of Gambela (RR = 1.44 & LLR = 31.3, p < .01), respectively. Tetanus unprotected births were higher among women without formal education (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.04), came from poor households (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.45), who had no ANC contact (AOR = 6.97; 95% CI: 6.21, 7.88), and who were not exposed to the media (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.47). Hence, tetanus-unprotected birth hotspots require priority interventions, and it is good if the targeted interventions consider the identified factors.

Intention to take COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant mothers are a risky population group for COVID-19 and pregnant mothers with COVID-19 are at increased risk of hospitalization, intensive-care unit admission, invasive ventilation support, and maternal mortality. Vaccination is an essential tool in stopping the effect of the pandemic on maternal and child health. However, there are only limited studies in Ethiopia on the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women. Thus, this study aimed to assess intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among pregnant women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 590 pregnant women from 23 May to 07 July 2022. The study participants were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Interviewer administrative questionnaire with epicollect5 application was used to collect the data. Both bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Statistical significance was defined at a 95% CI with a p-value < 0.05. RESULT: Overall, 19.8% (95% CI: 16.60-23.06%) of pregnant women intend to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Being urban residence (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.71-6.78), third trimester of gestational age (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.61-6.03), multipara (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.33-3.97), knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.44-3.77) and having good attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.65-4.33) were significantly associated with intention to take COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the pregnant women's intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine in this study area was very low. It was significantly associated with residency, gestational age, parity, knowledge, and attitude toward the vaccine. Therefore, strengthening interventions that improve knowledge and attitude about the COVID-19 vaccine, predominantly among those primipara mothers and mothers from rural residences, may raise the intention to take it.