Determinants and Magnitude of Neonatal Sepsis at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a serious blood bacterial infection in neonates at the age of equal to or less than 28 days of life, and it's still the major significant cause of death and long-term morbidity in developing countries. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and related factors with neonatal sepsis among newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted among 386 neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from September 2017 to August 2019. A systematic random sampling method was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.26. Descriptive summary statistics were done. Bivariate regression and multivariate analysis were computed. Variables with P-value <.05 were declared as having a statistically significant association. Result: The prevalence of neonatal sepsis was 53.1%. Among the total neonates who had sepsis, 67.8% had early neonatal sepsis. Among neonatal factors, preterm neonates (AOR: 8.1, 95%CI: 2.1, 31.2), birth asphyxia (AOR: 4.7, 95%CI: 1.6, 13.6); and among maternal factors, urban residence (AOR: 0.26, 95%CI: 0.1, 0.5), antenatal care attendance (AOR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.2, 0.6), spontaneous vaginal delivery (AOR: 0.047, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.2), and maternal antibiotic use (AOR: 0.39; 95%CI: 0.2, 0.8) were found to have significant association with neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: Overall, the magnitude of neonatal sepsis was high. Provision of neonatal and obstetrics care as per standard during prenatal, intranatal, and postnatal periods is needed. Training of health professionals on infection prevention and safe delivery practice should be provided.

Evaluation of the performance of Abbott Panbio™ COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic test for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at Harar, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Rapid antigen tests can help in the effective isolation of symptomatic cases and the systematic tracing of close contacts. However, their reliability must be validated before implementing them widely. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 236 COVID-19-suspected patients visiting four different health institutions in Harari Regional State, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia, from June to July 2021. Two nasopharyngeal samples were collected and processed by the Panbio™ Ag-RDT kit and qRT-PCR. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The Panbio tests had a sensitivity of 77.5% (95% CI: 61.6-89.2%) and a specificity of 98.5% (95% CI: 95.6-99.7%). It also had a positive predictive value of 91.2% (95% CI: 76.9-96.9%), a negative predictive value of 95.5% (95% CI: 92.3-97.4%), and a kappa of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.7-0.9). The test had a sensitivity of 94.4%, 100%, 100%, and 90% in the samples collected from patients within the 1-5 days post-onset of COVID-19 signs and symptoms, of age group ≤18 years old, with cycle threshold values of <20, and with household contact, respectively. Conclusion: This test can be used as point-of-care testing for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with short clinical courses and contact with patients in households.

Determinants of WHO recommended COVID-19 prevention measures among pregnant women attending antenatal care during the third wave of COVID-19 in eastern Ethiopia, 2021.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease has emerged as the most pressing global health issue. In women with COVID-19 disease, pregnancy confers a substantial additional risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess WHO-recommended COVID-19 prevention practices and determinant factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care during the third wave of COVID-19 in eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: An Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 pregnant women attending antenatal care in Harar, from October 10 to November 10, 2021. The sample size was proportionally allocated to all healthcare facilities, then the study participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Descriptive summary statistics were done. Logistic regression analyses were computed to identify associations between dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared statistically significant. RESULT: Out of 422 pregnant women, 61.6% of them had good WHO Recommended COVID-19 Prevention Practices. Those with age 25-34 years (AOR: 9.7, 95%CI: 4.8, 19.3), age 35-44 years (AOR:4.8, 95%CI: 2.6, 9.03), monthly income > 10,000 ETB (AOR: 9.4, 95%CI: 2.1, 42.1), being a student (AOR: 10, 95%CI: 2.3, 47.1), having a good level of knowledge (AOR: 2.3, 95%CI:1.4, 3.8), and having ≥10 family members (AOR: 0.24, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.9) were found to have a significant association with WHO recommended prevention practice among pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Overall, the WHO-recommended COVID-19 prevention practice among pregnant women attending antenatal care was good, but it needs improvement. In order to improve prevention practices among pregnant women, Harari Regional Health Bureau and other stakeholders should provide repeated, targeted, and tailored information to pregnant women and the community at large through different media.

COVID-19 vaccine side effect: age and gender disparity in adverse effects following the first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine among the vaccinated population in Eastern Ethiopia: a community-based study.

Objective: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major threat to community health, and vaccinations are a safe and effective way to reduce disease loads around the world. This study aimed to assess the age and gender disparity in adverse effects following the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine among the vaccinated population in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 832 randomly selected individuals from December 1st to 20th, 2021, in eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the SPSS V26. Descriptive summary statistics were done. A chi-square test statistic was computed to assess the difference in adverse effects between age groups and both genders. Result: Out of 832 study participants who had taken the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, 96.3% of them felt at least one adverse effect. The magnitude of adverse reactions was higher among male participants. The reported adverse reactions were significantly higher in the age group of 50-60 years with comorbidity than those of <50 and >60 years of age. Conclusion: Overall, there is a significant age and gender difference in adverse effects following the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, adverse reactions were higher among people with comorbidity in the age group of 50-60 years. The Harari Regional Health Bureau should provide training for frontline healthcare workers on early recognition and response to adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, information and education should be provided to the community as a whole regarding recognition and the appropriate measures to be taken.

Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Determinant Factors among General Public in East Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Vaccines are an effective and ideal solution that can reduce the burden of disease worldwide. Although vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories impair vaccination acceptance intentions. Several studies were conducted in East Africa. However, these studies had reported inconsistent findings. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to pool the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and identify its determinants. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, and GLOBAL HEALTH databases were used to retrieve previously published studies. All papers published in the English language up to February 28, 2022 were included. The result was written and reported according to the PRISMA updated guideline. A random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and effect sizes. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 test statistics. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and egger's test statistics. Statistical tests result at P-value<0.05 were declared as having significance.Result: A total of 25 Cross-sectional studies with a total sample size of 33,044 were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was 60.2%, (95%CI: 52.8- 67.3). Egger's test statistics (P = 0.003) showed there is a significant publication bias. Attending above secondary school (AOR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.37, 2.96), having good knowledge about the vaccine (AOR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.6, 2.8), having a positive attitude towards vaccine (AOR: 3.8, 95%CI: 2.3, 6.2), history of COVID-19 infection (AOR: 2.7, 95%CI: 1.6, 4.7) and being male (AOR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1.2, 2.7) were found to have a significant association with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: The COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rate was good, but it could be improved. The findings could help governments to figure out the best way to carry out COVID-19 mass vaccination campaigns. There is a lack of data in most countries. Therefore, we suggest more studies be conducted in the future.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake and barriers to being vaccinated among first-round eligibles for COVID-19 vaccination in Eastern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease is a deadly virus that continues to afflict many countries worldwide. Ethiopia has planned to give vaccines to 20% of the population by March 2022. This study aimed to assess determinants of vaccine uptake and barriers to being vaccinated among first-round eligibles for coronavirus disease vaccination in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 820 randomly selected coronavirus disease first-round eligible groups in Harar from August 20 to September 15, 2021. Descriptive summary statistics were done. Logistic regression analyses were computed to identify associations between dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p value of <0.05 were declared statistically significant. RESULT: Out of 820, only 39.4% of participants took the coronavirus disease vaccine. The main barriers to being vaccinated were, belief vaccine has no use (24%), and belief vaccine causes blood clots (17.9%). Being a merchant (adjusted odds ratio: 7.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.6, 24), people who had no schooling (adjusted odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 4.9), having attitude below the mean score (adjusted odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.8), having coronavirus disease prevention practice above the mean score (adjusted odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.8), and family size < 5 members (adjusted odds ratio: 0.64, 95% confidence interval: 0.4, 0.9) were found to be significantly associated with coronavirus disease vaccination. CONCLUSION: Overall, coronavirus disease-19's first-round vaccination status was low. The number of people vaccinated was higher among 50-60 age groups than those who are >60 years. Being female, being a person with no schooling, being a merchant, being a farmer, and having low coronavirus disease prevention practice was found to be significantly associated with coronavirus disease vaccination. We recommend that the Federal Ministry of Health, Harari Regional Health Bureau, and other concerned stakeholders should work more diligently to provide continued campaigning on coronavirus disease vaccination and better vaccine awareness creation, as this is the only way out of this epidemic.