Nutritional Status and Associated Factors Among School Adolescent Girls in North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Adolescents are the most affected group and the group that is least studied when it comes to malnutrition, which is one of the most important public health concerns in underdeveloped countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess nutritional status and related factors among teenage females who are in school. Materials and Methods: From October 1 to October 25, 2018, 645 young girls in school participated in an institution-based cross-sectional study. Girls in their teen years from the school were selected using a simple random sample method. Anthropometric tests and in-person interviews were used to collect the data. An odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and a p-value under 0.05 were used to declare a statistical association. Results: This study found that 12.3% and 9.6% of school adolescent girls were stunted and thin, respectively. Being a rural resident (adjusted odd ratio [AOR]: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.05-3.28) and inadequate dietary diversity score (AOR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.06-4.60) were significant predictors of stunting. School adolescent girls from merchant father were 71% less likely to develop stunting compared with government employee father. Late adolescent age (AOR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.28-4.02) and family size ≥5 (AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.05-3.75) were significant predictors of thinness. Conclusions: Stunting and thinness were the major public health problems among school adolescent girls in the study area. Being a rural resident and inadequate dietary diversity increases the risk of stunting. However, being late adolescent girl and large family size were risk factors for thinness. There was a need for a school-based instruction program that concentrated on a varied diet and methods of encouraging the adolescent girls' appetites.

Effect of menstrual irregularity on academic performance of undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University: A comparative cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual period is a critical time in the life of females. For the first few years after menarche, irregular cycle is common due to premature hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian (HPO) axis physiologically. If persistent, it becomes a major problem in student's life. But few studies conducted on effect of menstrual cycle irregularity on academic performance among university students were descriptive. However assessing the effect of menstrual irregularity on academic performance by using average grade point approach is critically important to magnify its effect. OBJECTIVE: To compare effects of menstrual irregularity on academic performance among undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia 2020. METHODS: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted among 404 students in Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia, 2020. A standard tool of menstrual cycle regularity which is prepared by international federation of gynecologist and obstetrics (IFGO) was used to screen students who have menstrual irregularity. Independent sample t- test was done to compare the mean difference of academic performance between the two groups of students. RESULTS: The age of study participants ranges between 18 and 26 years with a mean age of 20.69 ± 1.43 years. The mean age at menarche was 14.9 ± 1.67 ranging from 9 to 18 years. Students who had menstrual irregularity had mean average grade point (AGP) of (2.78 ± 0.57) and students who had regular menstruation had mean AGP of (2.97 ± 0.53). Students who had menstrual irregularity had lower mean average grade point by a mean difference of 0.19 (95%CI: 0.09-0.30). CONCLUSION: This study found that students who had menstrual irregularity had significantly lower mean AGP as compared with students who had regular menstruation.

Survival Status and Predictors of Mortality among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Saint Peter's Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is tuberculosis that is resistant to at least both rifampicin and isoniazid. The World Health Organization as reported in 2019 revealed that Ethiopia is among the 20 countries with the highest estimated numbers of incident MDR-TB cases. However, supporting evidence is limited in the study area after the Ethiopian national strategic plan for tuberculosis prevention and control is started. OBJECTIVE: To determine survival status and predictors of mortality among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients treated in Saint Peter's Specialized Hospital at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: An institutional retrospective cohort study was conducted using all MDR-TB patients who were enrolled in Saint. Peter's Specialized Hospital from January 01, 2015, to December 31, 2017. A pretested data extraction form that had 5 items for sociodemographic and 15 items for the measurement of clinical characteristics of 484 MDR-TB patients was used. STATA software version 14.2 was used for data cleaning and analysis. A variable that fitted in the bivariable Cox proportional hazard model at p value <0.25 was used in the final multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, and independent predictors of time to event were determined at a p value of 0.05. RESULT: A total of 484 patients were followed up for 5,078 person-months. Among the total patients, nearly half, 238 (48.8%), were males. The median age of patients was 30 years (interquartile range (IQR), 24-39), and 56 (11.6%) were aged between 1 and 19 years. During the follow-up period, 315 (65.1%) patients were cured, 125 (25.8%) completed treatment, 24 (5%) died, and 20 (4.1%) were lost to follow-up. The overall cumulative probability survival of the patients at the end of treatment was 94.85% (95% confidence interval (CI): 92.38%-96.53%). The independent predictors of time to death were being anemic (AHR = 3.65; 95% CI: 1.36, 9.79), having clinical complication (AHR = 3; 95% CI: 1.2, 7.5), and being HIV infected (AHR = 5.8; 95% CI: 2.2, 15.7). CONCLUSIONS: MDR-TB patients' survival rate was high in St Peter's Specialized Hospital. MDR-TB patients with anemia, HIV coinfection, and clinical complications had higher risk of mortality. So, prevention and controlling of anemia, HIV/AIDS, and clinical complications will reduce the mortality of MDR-TB patients.

Magnitude and associated factors of menstrual irregularity among undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual irregularity is a common problem among women aged from 21 to 25 years. Previously published work on menstrual irregularity used inconsistent definition which results in a difference in prevalence. Therefore the study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of menstrual irregularity among undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was carried out among 660 undergraduate female students at Debre Berhan University. To get representative study participants, a stratified sampling technique was used. To collect the data self-administered questionnaire was used. Physical examination and anthropometric measurement were also done. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression analysis was done. A significant association was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. RESULT: A total of 620 students participated in the present study with a response rate of 93.9%. Out of the total study participants, 32.6% (95% CI 29-36.5) participants had irregular menstrual cycle. Significant association was found between anemia (AOR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.337-3.441), alcohol intake (AOR = 2.4; 95%CI 1.25-4.666), < 5 sleep hours (AOR = 5.4; 95%CI 2.975-9.888), 6-7 sleep hours (AOR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.291-2.907), Perceived stress (AOR = 3.3; 95%CI 1.8322-5.940), iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) (AOR = 3.9; 95%CI 1.325-11.636) and underweight (AOR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.109-2.847) with menstrual irregularity. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study reported a low magnitude of menstrual irregularity as compared to previous studies. Students should adopt healthier lifestyle practices (weight control, stress control, anemia control, and avoid alcohol intake) to control menstrual irregularity.

Menstrual irregularity is a common problem among university students. It affects their daily activities. But it lacks attention, especially in developing countries. Additionally, menstrual irregularity is defined differently by different researchers which results in a difference in prevalence. So it is difficult to compare. Therefore this study aims to assess the magnitude and associated factors of menstrual irregularity among undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia. To avoid the inconsistent definition of menstrual irregularity which is used by different researchers, we used the standard of menstrual irregularity definition which was prepared by the international federation of obstetrics and gynecologist in 2018.This study uses across sectional study design among 660 undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia. A self-administered questioner which includes socio-demographic data, menstrual-related questions, lifestyle and behavioral questions, and medical history questions were used to collect data. Besides, physical examination and anthropometric measurement were done.Of a total 620 students who participated in the study: 202 (32.6%) had menstrual irregularity. Factors that had significant association with menstrual irregularity were, anemia (AOR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.337­3.441), alcohol intake (AOR = 2.4; 95%CI 1.25­4.666), < 5 sleep hours (AOR = 5.4; 95%CI 2.975­9.888), 6­7 sleep hours (AOR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.291­2.907), Perceived stress (AOR = 3.3; 95%CI 1.8322­5.940), iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) (AOR = 3.9; 95%CI 1.325­11.636) and underweight (AOR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.109­2.847). In conclusion, the finding of this study reported a low magnitude of menstrual irregularity as compared to previous studies.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder and Knowledge about Benefit and Food Source of Iodine among Adolescent Girls in the North Shewa Zone of Amhara Region.

BACKGROUND: As the dietary iodine content depends on the iodine contents of the soil where the crop is harvested, in highland areas where the iodine content of topsoil was washed away due to erosion, iodized salt is the main source of iodine. This study assessed the magnitude of iodine deficiency disorder and knowledge about the benefit and food sources of iodine among adolescent girls in the highland areas of the North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, central Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted from October 5, 2018, to December 30, 2019. Through a multistage sampling technique, 625 adolescent school girls were selected from 9 schools. A pretested semistructured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Anthropometric measures and thyroid gland physical examinations were performed by trained nurses. The collected data were entered into the computer through Epi Data 3.1 software, and analysis was performed using Anthro plus and SPSS software. RESULTS: The total goiter rate was 317 (50.7%) with 95%CI of 46.9% to 54.6%. Grade-one and grade-two goiter accounts 226 (36.2%) and 91 (14.6%), respectively. About one-third, 428 (68.5%), had knowledge about locally available iodine source foods and 309 (72.2%) of them mentioned salt as a source of iodine. Over half, 216 (55.1%), of 392 (62.7%) participants who had knowledge about the benefit of iodine knew it prevents goiter. Diet diversity score of <5 food groups [AOR 1.487, 95%CI 1.061-2.083], stunting [AOR 1.876, 95%CI 1.079-3.257], menstruation [AOR 1.615, 95%CI 1.110-2.349], rural residence [AOR 1.412, 95%CI 1.005-1.984], and open salt storage container [AOR 2.001, 95%CI 1.044-3.833] were significantly associated with goiter. CONCLUSIONS: Total goiter rate of adolescent school girls is high in the area. Low diet diversity score, stunting, menstruation, rural residence, and using an open container for salt storage increased the risk of goiter. In addition to universal salt iodization, the emphasis has to be given on proper handling and utilization of iodized salts at the household level to avoid iodine deficiency disorder in adolescent girls.

Completing the Continuum of Maternity Care and Associated Factors in Debre Berhan Town, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020.

BACKGROUND: The continuum of maternity care is the continuity of maternal health care services that a woman practices antenatal care, skilled birth attendant, and postnatal care. Even though there are positive inclinations towards the continuum of maternity care, the problem is still significant. So, the purpose of this study was to assess the utilization of continuum maternity care and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last 12 months before the data collection period in Debre Berhan town. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 17 to March 15/2020. The respondents were selected by using the cluster sampling technique. Face-to-face interview was used for data collection. EpiData software version 3.1 was used for data entry and exported to SPSS version 21 for further analysis. In multivariable logistic regression, a statistically significant association has declared a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: In this study, the proportion of women who completed the continuum of maternity care was 37.2% (95% CI: 33.4-41.1). Completing primary education (AOR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.17-6.38), secondary education (AOR: 3.11, 95% CI: 1.32-7.31), college and above educational level (AOR: 4.15, 95% CI: 1.79-9.57), initiation of first ANC visit ≤16wks (AOR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.41-4.68), knowing key pregnancy danger signs (AOR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.15-3.19), and well prepared on birth and complication readiness (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.10-2.32) were found to positively increase the chance of completing maternity care in our study area. CONCLUSION: Even if a higher proportion of mothers completed the continuum of maternity care in the study area than the finding at national level of 9.1% basing EDHS 2016 data, further interventions are mandatory to reach the acceptable level. Therefore, health promotion programs targeting mothers with no education and lower educational level are important to increase their awareness about the importance of completing all levels of maternity care, health education, and counseling regarding early initiation of ANC, pregnancy danger signs, and birth preparedness and complication readiness plan.

Thyme Tea and Primary Dysmenorrhea Among Young Female Students.

BACKGROUND: Thyme tea, locally known as "tossign tea", is one of the most popular herbal-tea in Ethiopia used for the medicinal attribute, besides adding aroma and flavor to the tea. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of thyme tea-drinking and other dietary factors of school girls on primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: An institutional case-control study was conducted from December 2019 to March 2020 in the suburbs of Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire on 252 (86 cases and 166 controls) study participants. Data were entered to Epi Data version 3.1 and then exported to IBM SPSS version 24 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were carried out to identify factors significantly associated with primary dysmenorrhea. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) age of cases was 15.98 (±1.60) years and controls was 15.73 (±1.35) years. Thyme tea drinking was reported by 19 (22.1%) of cases and 56 (33.7%) of controls. Thyme tea-drinking decreased the risk of primary dysmenorrhea by 63.2% (AOR: 0.368, 95% CI: 0.145-0.934). Coffee drinking tends to increase the odds of severe dysmenorrhea on young female students. Besides, age, age at menarche, meal frequency, and residence were significantly associated with primary dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSION: Thyme tea-drinking, consumption of vegetables and fruits had primary dysmenorrhea related pain-relieving tendency. Delayed onset of menarche decreased the risk of primary dysmenorrhea. Coffee drinking was positively associated with primary dysmenorrhea. Further studies on the effect of thyme tea on primary dysmenorrhea are required.

Determinants of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in relation to HIV/AIDS and other STIs among people with disabilities in North-Shewa zone, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: People with disabilities face socioeconomic disadvantages and they have limited access to sexual and reproductive health information. They are highly vulnerable to sexual abuse which places them at increased risk of HIV and STI infection. At present, however, little is known about the knowledge, attitude and practice of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and other STIs in Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify which individual factors best predict knowledge, attitudes, and practices in relation to HIV/AIDS and other STIs among people with disabilities in North-shewa zone, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to October 2019. A total of 397 respondents were interviewed using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. A systematic sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the data. A significant association was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: Nearly half of the study participants were knowledgeable in relation to HIV/AIDS (47.3%) and STIs (46.9%). Sixty-two percent of respondents had good attitude towards evidence of HIV/AIDS while sixty-nine percent of participants had good attitude towards helpful facts of STIs. Twenty-three percent of study participants had been ever tested for HIV infections. Being married (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.92, 10.72) was associated with having good knowledge of STI. Males were 1.6 times more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS than females (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.21, 9.12). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people with disabilities in relation to HIV/AIDS and other STIs were relatively low. This is clear evidence that HIV programs need to ensure that people with disabilities can access basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS and STIs.

Admission and Inpatient Mortality of Hypertension Complications in Addis Ababa.

BACKGROUND: The number of people with undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled hypertension is higher in Ethiopia. This in turn increases the risk of developing complications and hospitalization. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypertension complication hospitalization among medical admissions and admission outcomes of hypertension complication patients in the medical ward of Saint Peter Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa. METHODS: We used a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Data were collected by reviewing all medical ward admission logbook records from January 1st, 2018 to December 30th, 2019. An individual patient folder of 308 patients admitted due to hypertension complications was selected for further detailed investigation and then entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 24 statistical software for analysis. RESULTS: Of the total 2728 medical admissions, 308 (11.3%) were patients with hypertension complications. Hypertension complications account for 308 (11.3%) of all medical admissions. Their mean age and length of hospital stay were 59.85 (± 16.36) years and 11.45 (± 11.48) days, respectively. Near to two-third of 196 (63.6%) of them were stroke patients followed by 76 (24.7%) heart disease. Fifty-two (16.9%) hypertension complication patients died at admission which accounts for 52 (14.6%) of all medical ward deaths. As age increases, the risk of death at admission increases by 6.5%. Similarly, the risk of death increased by three-fold for a month increase in the duration of anti-hypertensive drug discontinuation. Rural residents had a 3.5% lesser risk of death than urban patients. CONCLUSION: Hypertension complications had a significant share of the medical ward mortality rate. Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular complications were common causes of hospitalization and inpatient death. Old age, urban residence, and prolonged duration of anti-hypertensive drug discontinuation increased the risk of death at admission.