Knowledge and practice of infant exposure to sunlight among mothers in the rural villages of Mettu district, southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Sunlight is essential for the synthesis of vitamin D and supports bone growth and strength. The awareness of mothers about the benefit of exposing their infants to sunlight, as well as the practice of doing so, is important to a child's proper growth and development. The current study looked into mothers' knowledge, practice, and factors related to infant sunlight exposure in rural villages in the Mettu district, southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was utilized with randomly selected mothers of newborns from rural areas in the Mettu district. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS version 21 software. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 600 mothers who participated in the present study, 397 (66.2%) had good knowledge and 346 (57.7%) practiced proper exposure of their infants to sunlight. Out of the 482 mothers who practiced sunning, 382 (79.3%) did it daily, and 409 (84.8%) began sunning before 45 days of birth. However, 453 (94%) of the mothers used lubricants while sunbathing. Sociodemographic characteristics were found to have statistically significant associations with the level of knowledge and practice of mothers. Mothers with four to six children [AOR = 0.511, 95% CI: (0.352-0.741)] and those who got the information from health professionals [AOR = 3.285, 95% CI: (2.154, 5.011)] for the knowledge level, and mothers aged 36 years old and above [AOR = 0.801, 95% CI: (0.533, 0.161)], who were married during the data collection period [AOR = 0.370, 95% CI: (0.155, 0.884)], and employed by the government [AOR = 4.081, CI: (1.477, 11.280)] for the practice level were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the level of infant sunning. Conclusion: Despite the fact that the majority of mothers in the study area had good knowledge and practice of infant sunlight exposure, there are clear signs that further work is needed to narrow the large gap seen in the present findings. Thus, district and zonal health offices, as well as stakeholders working with children, should start periodical maternity health education, and professional development training for health post workers.

Utilization of Ambulance Services and Associated Factors during Pregnancy and Labor Among Lactating Mothers in Buno Bedele Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, the use of ambulance services for urgent obstetric care improved institutional delivery and reduced maternal mortality. However, poor infrastructure, delayed response from dispatchers, and other socioeconomic factors influence service utilization. The present study assessed the utilization of ambulance services and associated factors during pregnancy and labor among lactating mothers in the Buno Bedele administrative zone of Southwest Ethiopia. Community-based cross-sectional study design with a sample of 792 lactating mothers was carried out. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, and data were collected through structured questionnaire, and focus group discussions (FGD). Among the 792 study participants, 618 (78%) had antenatal care (ANC) follow up and 705 (89%) were aware of information on the availability of free ambulance services. Eighty one percent study participants requested for ambulance services, and 576 (79%) utilized during their pregnancy and delivery periods. Awareness of free ambulance service (AOR = 3, 95% CI [1.4, 7.1], P = .006), maternal formal education (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI [1.46, 9.8], P = .006) and ANC follow up (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI [8.9, 23.3], P = .001) were identified factors responsible for enhanced ambulance services utilization in the study area. The finding of the present study revealed that pregnant women had a higher tendency to use ambulance services during their obstetric emergency. However, poor communication and road infrastructure, as well as delayed dispatcher response hampered better service utilization.

Microstructure Evolution and Deformation Mechanisms of As-Cast Antibacterial Ti6Al4V-5Cu Alloy for Isothermal Forging Process.

The hot workability behavior of antibacterial Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy was investigated using a hot compression experiment in the temperature range of 790-1040 °C and strain rate of 10-3-10 s-1 with a strain of 0.4. The deformation behavior of the alloy was characterized by Gleeble 3800 compression experiment, and the relationship among deformed microstructures and deformation parameters was established. The deformations of Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy were temperature and strain rate-dependent. Higher temperature and lower strain rate made power dissipation efficiency (η) increase and reach 89%. The activation energies (Q) in the dual-phase (α + ß) and single ß phase regions were calculated as 175.43 and 159.03 kJ mol-1, respectively. In the dual (α + ß) phase region, with an increase in strain rate, flow-softening behavior was dominated, however in the single ß phase region such as processing at 940 °C. Flow stress increased slightly in which work-hardening behavior was dominated (especially between strain rates of 10-3-1 s-1). The deformation at various conditions exhibited different stress-strain profiles, providing an insight that work hardening and flow softening coexisted in Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy. The relative intensity of oscillatory change in flow stress profile decreased as the strain rate decreased. The hot workability of Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy was also accessed from the viewpoint of the sub-grain structure.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis and undernutrition among schoolchildren in Mettu town, Southwest Ethiopia.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) and undernutrition are common health problems in developing countries. Several reports showed that STH and undernutrition are often associated. The main aim of this study was to determine the association of STH and undernutrition among schoolchildren in Mettu town, Southwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed. To collect socio-demographic data, semi-structured questionnaire and physical observation were used. Kato-Katz technique and Anthropometric measurements were also considered to see STH infection and determine the nutritional statuses of the study participants respectively. Then, the data generated from the study was managed using Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to determine the association of demographic variables with infections of helminthes and assess the risk factors for nutritional status of the study participants respectively. As a result, among the 392 study schoolchildren, 331 (84.4%) children were positive for different species of STH and undernutrition accounted 32.6%. Ascaris lumbricoides (39.0%), Trichuris trichiura (32.9%) and hookworm (28.1%) are the predominant STH identified from the study participants. Age, maternal educational and occupation status, and fingernail status of children were found significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the risk of getting STH. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, age (AOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.53, 6.59), maternal illiteracy (AOR 0.13, 95% CI 0.91, 0.34) and maternal occupation (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08, 5.91) were major co-founding factors for the prevalence of STH among study participants. In addition, children with T. trichiura infection were more likely (P < 0.01) to suffer from undernutrition (AOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31, 0.83). Thus, the findings revealed the high prevalence of STH and it has significant association with undernutrition among school age children in the study area. Anti-helminthic mass drug administration and maternal health education should be anticipated to curve the tragedy.

Evaluation of the Antimalarial Activity of Ethanol Extracts of the Leaves of Three Plant Species Collected from Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, Southwest Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: In the attempt of searching for potential plant derived antimalarial medicines, the aim of the present study was to examine In vivo antimalarial efficacy of crude ethanol extracts of the leaves of Croton macrostachyus, Ruta chalepensis and Vernonia amygdalina using chloroquine (CQ) sensitive strains of Plasmodium berghei in Swiss albino mice. METHODS: To ascertain the safety level of the plant materials, crude extracts underwent oral acute toxicity assessments whereby mice received up to a single dose of 3000 mg/kg. Peter's four day standard antimalarial suppressive test was carried out to determine growth inhibition of parasitemia at tested doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg of the extracts. Survival time of experimental mice and preliminary phytochemical screenings of the extracts were also done according to the standard procedures. RESULTS: Extracts of the plant materials did not produce severe acute toxic effects in mice that received up to 3000 mg/kg in a single dose. Although complete clearance was not recorded, extracts of the plant materials produced dose dependent suppression of the parasitemia. The highest growth inhibition recorded was by extract of V. amygdalina (61.44%) followed by C. macrostachyus (59.3%) at 800 mg/kg of tested doses. Whereas, complete parasitemia clearance was attributed in mice treated with 25 mg/kg of CQ. In addition, survival time of experimental mice was recorded and the result showed mice treated with the extracts lived longer than the corresponding negative controls. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of antimalarial active constituents such as alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, and tannins. CONCLUSION: The present study, therefore, suggests that crude ethanol extracts of C. macrostachyus, R. chalepensis, and V. amygdalina are safe and rich with active secondary metabolites which have promising antimalarial effects.

Efficacy Study of Chloroquine to Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Darimu and Bure Districts, Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Chloroquine (CQ) is the first line treatment for vivax malaria in Ethiopia. However, the therapeutic efficacy of the drug is now declining. Several reports from different areas of the country showed CQ-vivax treatment failure increasing. This study therefore aimed to provide additional data on the therapeutic efficacy of CQ against Plasmodium vivax malaria from two districts of Southwestern Ethiopia. METHODS: An observational prospective study among P. vivax malaria infected individuals was conducted in two districts of Southwest Ethiopia for a period of 28 follow-up days. Study participants were treated with 25 mg/kg of standard CQ for 3 consecutive days according to the procedure. Microscopic blood film examinations and other clinical assessments were measured within the follow-up period on a weekly basis. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were enrolled in the study. Sixty-five were from Darimu and 50 were from Bure districts. The majority (67%) of study participants were male and 86.1% (99/115) were below 35 years old. The study revealed that CQ treatment was able to clear vivax malaria parasites and febrile within a week. During the follow-up study period, recurrence of vivax parasitemia was not recorded. However, there was a marked heterogeneity with respect to fever clearance time, parasitemia load, and carriage of parasite gametocyte within 72 hours of post-treatment between the two study areas. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that CQ has good clinical and parasitological response to vivax malaria in the study areas. Thus, it can be continued as the first line P. vivax malaria treatment. However, further monitoring and evaluation of the drug should be considered.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Food Handlers in Mettu Town, Southwest Ethiopia.

Food handlers are important sources of intestinal parasitic infection to the public and mass catering service areas. Several reports worldwide particularly in developing countries showed a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among these groups of individuals. In an attempt to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites, a cross-sectional study was carried out among food handlers in food establishment areas of Mettu town, Southwest Ethiopia. To collect sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants, a structured questionnaire and physical observation were employed. Stool specimens collected from each food handlers participated in the study were then examined using light microscopy of the wet mount followed by formol-ether concentration methods to see infection status. A total of 139 food handlers were enrolled in the study. Majority of them were females 89 (64%), and 124 (89.2%) of them had not taken any training related to food handling and preparation. Sixty-two (44.6%) of the study participants were diagnosed with one or more intestinal parasites. The chi-square test showed that intestinal parasite infection was found associated with personal hygiene (p ≤ 0.0001), nail trimming status (p ≤ 0.0001), and hair cover status (p ≤ 0.040). The multivariable logistic regression indicated that the risk to be infected with intestinal parasites were related with older age (p ≤ 0.032), food handlers who had no hand wash practices (p ≤ 0.033), who had no food handling and preparation training (p ≤ 0.005), poor personal hygiene (p ≤ 0.0001), who had not taken regular medical checkup (p ≤ 0.008), and whose nail was not trimmed (p ≤ 0.0001). The most abundant intestinal parasite identified was G. lamblia (24, 26.7%) followed by E. histolytica/dispar (22, 24.4%), and A. lumbricoides (15, 16.7%). Twenty-eight (45.2%) study individuals were also found with mixed infections. The study thus revealed a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among apparently healthy food handlers in food establishments of the study area. Mass drug administration for all food handlers working in food establishment areas of the town coupled with health education and training should be initiated urgently.