Prevalence of low back pain and its associated factors among traditional cloth weavers in Gulele sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders particularly low back pain is significantly high among common informal or small-scale enterprises within developing countries like weaving. However, there is little information on risk factors for low back pain in the informal sector such as the weaving sector in the areas of Addis Ababa as well as in Ethiopia. Therefore this study was aimed to assess the magnitude of low back pain and its associated factors among traditional cloth weavers in the Gulele sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study with internal comparison was conducted from June 1, 2022, and August 30, 2022. A total of 660 traditional cloth weavers were included in the study by using a systematic random sampling method to select participants in each of cooperatives as well as individual households in 5 woredas in Gulele sub-city. The data was analyzed and managed using SPSS version 20. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to control potential confounding factors and to determine the association. Among 660 (100%) respondents, 330 (50%) of them experienced low back pain after starting weaving. Out of the respondents with low back pain through their job career, 291 (44.1%) of them experienced low back pain during the last 12 months. Working greater than 8 h per day (AOR = 4.60, 95%CI: 2.35, 8.87), working with frequent bending (AOR = 3.32, 95%CI: 1.49, 7.40), job stress (AOR = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.18, 2.40) were among factors significantly associated with the occurrence of low back pain. This study has shown a high prevalence of low back pain among traditional cloth weavers which indicates the need for immediate public health action. However, very small improvements in the working condition, weaving tools design, working methods can potentially lead to large benefits.

Integrated Methods for Household Greywater Treatment: Modified Biofiltration and Phytoremediation.

Most countries around the world have experienced water scarcity in recent decades as fresh water consumption has increased. However, untreated wastewater is routinely discharged into the environment, particularly in developing countries, where it causes widespread environmental and public health problems. The majority of wastewater treatment method publications are heavily focused on high-income country applications and, in most cases, cannot be transferred to low and middle-income countries. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the performance efficiency of pilot-scale physicochemical and biological treatment methods for the treatment of household greywater in Jimma, Ethiopia. During the experiment, grab samples of greywater were taken from the combined treatment system's influent and effluent every 7 days for 5 weeks and analyzed within 24-48 hours. Temperature, DO, EC, turbidity, TDS, and pH were measured on-site, while BOD, COD, TSS, TP, TN PO4 -3-P, NO3-N, NH4-N, Cl-, and FC were determined in the laboratory. During the five-week pilot-scale combined treatment system monitoring period, the combined experimental and control system's mean percentage reduction efficiencies were as follows: turbidity (97.2%, 92%), TSS (99.2%, 97.2%), BOD5 (94%, 57.4%), COD (91.6%, 54.7%), chloride (61%, 35%), TN (68.24, 42.7%), TP (71.6%, 38.7%), and FC (90%, 71.1%), respectively. Similarly, the combined experimental and control systems reduced PO4 -3-P (12.5 ± 3 mg/L), NO3-N (4.5 ± 3 mg/L), and NH4-N (10.19 ± 2.6 mg/L) to PO4 -3-P (3.5 ± 2.6 mg/L, 7.5 ± 1.6 mg/L), NO3-N (0.8 ± 0.5, 3.6 ± 2.3 mg/L), and NH4-N (7 ± 2.9 mg/L, 15.9 ± 3.9 mg/L), respectively. From the biofiltration and horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland combined systems, the experimental combined technology emerged as the best performing greywater treatment system, exhibiting remarkably higher pollutant removal efficiencies. In conclusion, the combined biofiltration and horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland treatment system can be the technology of choice in low-income countries, particularly those with tropical climates.

Utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated net and its associated factors among pregnant women in Dawo district, Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023.

Introduction: The use of long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) is one of the most effective malaria prevention strategies, particularly among pregnant women. It has mosquito-killing repellent and physical barrier properties. Pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as non-immune migrants, mobile populations, and travelers, are the most vulnerable groups to malaria. Even when pregnant women are given priority, not all nets owned by households are used by pregnant women. Therefore, the risk of the occurrence of malaria during pregnancy is also high. Objective: This study aimed to assess the utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated net and its associated factors among pregnant women in Dawo district, Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in Dawo district, Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, from 21 to 30 April 2023. A total of 353 pregnant women were chosen through simple random sampling and interviewed face-to-face using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Before being exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23, the data were coded and entered into EPIDATA version 4.6. The study examined the prevalence of long-lasting insecticide-treated net use among pregnant women in the Dawo district using descriptive statistics. Analytical statistics, such as bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses, were used to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Statistical significance was determined using a P-value of <0.05 and adjusted odd ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets were utilized by 55.5% (95% CI: 50.4-60.7%) of all pregnant participants in the study, which was below the national target. Pregnant women who have antenatal care (ANC) contact for current pregnancy adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.95, 11.10), community-based health insurance (CBHI) enrollment (AOR = 2.38, 95% confidence intervals, CI: 1.38, 4.11), children under 5 years of age (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.62, 4.43), understanding that malaria poses a risk to fetuses (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI: 1.26, 8.41), and LLINs access (AOR = 12.47, 95% CI: 3.98, 39.08), were factors that significantly associated with LLIN utilization. Conclusion: In conclusion, the utilization of LLINs was relatively low. ANC contact for current pregnancy, CBHI enrollment, having children under the age of 5, having a high income, and understanding that malaria poses a risk to fetuses were factors significantly associated with LLIN utilization among pregnant women.