Factors associated with perinatal substance use among Ethiopian women: an institutional-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Substance use during the perinatal period is a significant public health concern, as it can have potential adverse effects on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Unexpectedly, no previous studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of substance use during the perinatal period among Ethiopian women. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of substance use and its determinant factors during the perinatal period. Method: We conducted a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study among a systematically selected sample of 418 women who attended perinatal care between May and July 2022. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, with a 95% confidence interval and p-values less than 0.05, was employed to identify factors associated with substance use behavior. Result: The prevalence of perinatal substance use was found to be 38.3% (95% CI: 33.5-43.5). Of the women who used substances, 109 (26.1%) reported using chat, 46 (11.0%) reported alcohol consumption, and 5 (1.20%) reported using shisha. Factors significantly associated with substance use behavior during the perinatal period included a history of obstetric complications (AOR = 1.722, 95% CI: 1.022-2.902), the presence of chronic medical conditions (AOR = 3.784, 95% CI: 2.164-6.615), experiencing physical abuse (AOR = 5.323, 95% CI: 2.171-13.050), depression (AOR = 1.963, 95% CI: 1.028-3.749), and experiencing sleep disturbances (AOR = 2.016, 95% CI: 0.975-4.168). Conversely, giving birth to a live baby was found to be a protective factor against substance use behavior (AOR = 0.389, 95% CI: 0.187-0.810). Discussion: This study highlights a high prevalence of substance abuse among women during the perinatal period. In light of these findings, a comprehensive approach is recommended to address perinatal substance use among Ethiopian women. This should include the integration of preventive educational programs into perinatal care.

Ecological niche modeling predicting the potential distribution of African horse sickness virus from 2020 to 2060.

African horse sickness is a vector-borne, non-contagious and highly infectious disease of equines caused by African horse sickness viruses (AHSv) that mainly affect horses. The occurrence of the disease causes huge economic impacts because of its high fatality rate, trade ban and disease control costs. In the planning of vectors and vector-borne diseases like AHS, the application of Ecological niche models (ENM) used an enormous contribution in precisely delineating the suitable habitats of the vector. We developed an ENM to delineate the global suitability of AHSv based on retrospective outbreak data records from 2005 to 2019. The model was developed in an R software program using the Biomod2 package with an Ensemble modeling technique. Predictive environmental variables like mean diurnal range, mean precipitation of driest month(mm), precipitation seasonality (cv), mean annual maximum temperature (oc), mean annual minimum temperature (oc), mean precipitation of warmest quarter(mm), mean precipitation of coldest quarter (mm), mean annual precipitation (mm), solar radiation (kj /day), elevation/altitude (m), wind speed (m/s) were used to develop the model. From these variables, solar radiation, mean maximum temperature, average annual precipitation, altitude and precipitation seasonality contributed 36.83%, 17.1%, 14.34%, 7.61%, and 6.4%, respectively. The model depicted the sub-Sahara African continent as the most suitable area for the virus. Mainly Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Malawi are African countries identified as highly suitable countries for the virus. Besides, OIE-listed disease-free countries like India, Australia, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia have been found suitable for the virus. This model can be used as an epidemiological tool in planning control and surveillance of diseases nationally or internationally.

Assessment of Biosecurity Status in Commercial Chicken Farms Found in Bishoftu Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

A survey was undertaken from December 2017 to April 2018 to assess the biosecurity status of 44 commercial chicken farms established in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia, by interviewing farm owners using a structured questionnaire. The obtained data were summarized using frequency tables and analyzed with Pearson's chi-square test and Fischer's exact value using Stata 14 statistical software. From the assessed chicken farms, 31 (70.45%) were located within 0-50 m from the main road, 39 (88.64%) situated 500 m from the nearest farms, and 27 (61.36%) placed within 0-20 m from the residential areas. Forty-one (93.18%) participants disclosed that their employees did not receive training on biosecurity. From the assessed chicken farms, 30 (68.18%) had fences, 40 (90.91%) had footbaths at their gates, 31 (70.45%) prohibited visitors entrance, and 39 (88.64%) did not exchange equipment with other farms. In addition, 26 (59.09%) farms were easily accessed by wild birds, each of 42 (95.45%) farms purchased day-old chicks and feed, and 40 (90.91%) shared trucks with other farms as well. Among the assessed farms, only 2 (4.55%) had signages to restrict people's access, 9 (20.45%) had isolation rooms for diseased chickens, 14 (31.82%) disposed of dead birds properly, and 10 (22.73%) kept various types of records. Occupation (Fischer's exact value = 8.40; P=0.019), previous training (Fischer's exact value = 4.40; P=0.044), source of the premises (χ 2 = 5.50; P=0.019), and farm capacity (Fischer's exact value = 13.50; P=0.002) were found statistically significantly associated with the farm biosecurity status. The farm biosecurity status was found to be good in farms that were run by civil servants, had trained employees, are owned premises, and were of large and medium scales. In conclusion, the higher poor biosecurity status on chicken farms calls for the implementation of good biosecurity practices in each farm as well as the provision of training to the farm owners and their employees.

Human and bovine tuberculosis knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among cattle owners in Ethiopia.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a re-emerging disease occurring worldwide, resulting in multi-billion-dollar loss and human death annually. The situation is worse in developing countries like Ethiopia, where lower knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the people is poor about the disease. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess livestock owners' KAP level towards human and bovine Tuberculosis in Gondar, Ethiopia. A total of 349 study participants were addressed through a face-to-face interview. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-squares analysis were used to analyze the data and observe the association between outcome (KAP level) and predictor variables (sociodemographic characteristics). Out of the 349 respondents, 223 (63.9%) were males, while 126 (36.1%) were females. The KAP measuring interview indicated that 97.4% of the participants are aware of human tuberculosis, while only 84 (24.1%) know about bovine tuberculosis cause and mode of transmission. Inhalation was reported as the main route of transmission for human TB (41.1%) whereas, 50% of the respondent mentioned inhalation, contact, and ingestion of raw animal products as the main route of TB transmission from animal to human. Among those who have heard of bovine tuberculosis, only 56 (66.7%) of respondents consider bovine tuberculosis as a significant threat to public health. The study showed there is a lower KAP on bovine TB among cattle owners in the study area. Therefore, community health education about the impact of the disease, transmission, control, and prevention should be integrated with one health-oriented education and research to eradicate the disease from the country.

Cloacael Carriage and Multidrug Resistance Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Poultry Farms, Eastern Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine antimicrobial drug resistance patterns of E. coli O157:H7 isolates and estimate the level of the pathogen. A total of 194 cloacae swab samples were collected randomly in two poultry farms. Standard cultural, biochemical, and serological (latex agglutination) methods were used to isolate E. coli O157:H7. The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disc diffusion method. Out of 194 cloacae samples examined, 13.4% (n = 26) were found to be positive for E. coli O157:H7. The finding indicated differences in E. coli O157:H7 infection among the different risk factors. Chicken from Adele Poultry Farm showed higher E. coli O157:H7 infection (OR = 3.89) than Haramaya University poultry farm and young birds had more infection (OR = 4.62) than adult birds. Of the total 14 antimicrobials included in the panel of study, the susceptibility results were varied with 96.15% and 0% E. coli O157:H7 isolates expressing resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, spectinomycin, and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Multidrug resistance to more than two antimicrobial agents was detected in 24 (92.30%) of the isolates. The study showed high presence of antimicrobial resistant isolates of E. coli O157:H7. Further study is required to better understand the ecology and evolution of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of E. coli O157:H7 Isolated from Traditionally Marketed Raw Cow Milk in and around Asosa Town, Western Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2014 to July 2015 to determine the prevalence and populations of E. coli as well as the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli O157:H7 isolated from raw milk. Biochemical and serological tests methods were used to confirm E. coli and E. coli O157:H7 and isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the agar disc diffusion method. Out of 380 raw milk samples examined, 129 (33.9%) and 11 (2.9%) were contaminated with E. coli and E. coli O157:H7, respectively. The highest prevalence was recorded in samples obtained from vendors (39.1%, 4.978 ± 0.180 log10/ml) compared with samples from farmers (28.1%, 3.93 ± 0.01 log10/ml) with significant differences (P = 0.02). The frequency of contamination was higher in the samples collected from milk that was stored and transported in plastic containers (39.4%) than in the containers made of stainless steel (23.0%) (P = 0.002). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile showed that E. coli O157:H7 were resistant to tetracycline (81.8%), streptomycin (81.8%), and kanamycin (63.6%). Milk samples were produced and handled under poor hygienic conditions, stored, and transported in inappropriate containers and under temperature abuse conditions leading to high health risk to the consumers. Additional studies would be needed to establish association between the occurrences of E. coli O157:H7 in raw milk and all the risk factors involved in and around Asosa town.

Contamination of Ethiopian paper currency notes from various food handlers with E. coli.

Contamination rate of Ethiopian paper currency notes handled by various food handlers with Escherichia coli and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was assessed. A total of 384 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) notes were randomly sampled from meat handlers at butchers, bread and the related food handlers at cafeteria, fruit and vegetables handlers at supermarket, and milk sellers both at open market and dairy station. Fifty control new currencies were also sampled from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. Both surfaces of the currency were swabbed using wet sterile cotton. The swab was overnight incubated in buffered peptone water. A loop full was streaked on eosin methylene blue agar and followed by biochemical test on presumptive E. coli colonies. Randomly selected isolates were exposed to chloramphenicol (C-30 µg), neomycin (N-30 µg), oxytetracycline (OT-30 µg), polymyxin-B (PB-300 IU) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT-1.25/23.75/µg) susceptibility using disc diffusion techniques. E. coli was not isolated from currency used as control. A total of 288 (75 %) currency notes were found carrying E. coli. E. coli prevalence was ranges from 67.2 % at open market milk sellers to 87.2 % at dairy station milk sellers; from 64.8 % on ETB 100 to 82.9 % on ETB 1. Differences were not observed in E. coli prevalence on currency notes from among almost all food handlers (P > 0.05). Susceptibility of tested isolates to each chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was 100 %, and to polymyxin-B was 97.3 %. High resistance (83.7 %) was observed to neomycin. The finding indicates, contaminated food can be a source of E. coli for further contamination of currency which again transfer through various foods ready for consumption.