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Background Rapid Ethical Assessment (REA) is a rapid qualitative study anticipated to understand the ethical sphere of the research setting prior to recruiting study subjects. The aim of this study was to gather ethnographic data to assess the knowledge about TB and research, study the social arrangements of the community and appraise the research ethics process in Amhara National Regional State (ANRS). Methods An ethnographic study was conducted in ANRS from January 5 to 30, 2021. Google based quantitative survey was carried out to assess the perceptions of researchers about REA. Face to face indepth interview (IDI) and focus group discussion (FGDs) were carried out to collect the qualitative views of participants. The study was conducted among researchers, data collectors, health professionals and community and religious leaders. The information was structured in to seven themes. Results Over 71% of researchers were not satisfied with the current consent process, and 82.7% of researchers agreed that the best interest of research participants was not adequately addressed in the current research practice. Tuberculosis is well known by the community as disease of cough. The community misunderstood and misinterpreted what research is and its goals. For community based research, participants advised researchers to approach the community either with health extension workers (HEW), religious leaders or local health professionals for data collection. Combined use of verbal and written based information provision at individual participant level. Conclusion and recommendations: The general public in ANRS have low level of knowledge and awareness about research, goal of research, research ethics and TB host genetic study key terms. Hence, a short flyer of key terms to research, ethics and TB genomic study shall be prepared in the local language and shared to the community using available public media. Besides the international ethical standards, it is appropriate to adhere to local rules and regulations.

Background Soil-transmitted helminths are more prevalent in tropics and sub-tropics including Ethiopia. Despite their high prevalence, direct saline microscopy with its low sensitivity has been used as a diagnostic method in almost all health facilities in Ethiopia. Alternative diagnostic methods which have higher sensitivity are not yet implemented. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and evaluate the performance of diagnostic methods for soil transmitted helminths. Methods A cross-sectional study among 520 school children was conducted from October to December, 2019 in Amhara National Regional State. The study participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were processed via formol ether concentration, Kato-Katz, spontaneous tube sedimentation and agar plate culture techniques. Data was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value were calculated against the combined result. Strength of agreement of the diagnostic methods was determined by Kappa value. Results The Overall prevalence of soil transmitted helminths was 40.8% using combination of methods. The prevalence 24.4, 22.5, and 32.4%, respectively was recorded by using formol ether concentration, Kato-Katz and spontaneous tube sedimentation. The highest prevalence of hookworm (29.2%) was detected by the agar plate culture. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of formol ether concentration were 57.9 and 78.4%, for Kato-Katz thick smear 55.2 and 76.4%, for spontaneous tube sedimentation were 79.2 and 87.5% to soil transmitted helminths detection, respectively. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of agar plate culture to hookworm detection were 86.4 and 93.5%, respectively. Conclusion Spontaneous tube sedimentation shows higher sensitivity in the detection of soil transmitted helminth infections. Agar plate culture method also indicated better performance for hookworm detection than other methods. Therefore, the employment of spontaneous tube sedimentation technique for routine laboratory and agar plate culture for research purposes will significantly aid in accurate diagnosis of parasitic infections.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths are more prevalent in tropics and sub-tropics including Ethiopia. Despite their high prevalence, direct saline microscopy with its low sensitivity has been used as a diagnostic method in almost all health facilities in Ethiopia. Alternative diagnostic methods which have higher sensitivity are not yet implemented. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and evaluate the performance of diagnostic methods for soil transmitted helminths. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 520 school children was conducted from October to December, 2019 in Amhara National Regional State. The study participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were processed via formol ether concentration, Kato-Katz, spontaneous tube sedimentation and agar plate culture techniques. Data was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value were calculated against the combined result. Strength of agreement of the diagnostic methods was determined by Kappa value. Results: The Overall prevalence of soil transmitted helminths was 40.8% using combination of methods. The prevalence 24.4%, 22.5%, and 32.4%, respectively was recorded by using formol ether concentration, Kato-Katz and spontaneous tube sedimentation. The highest prevalence of hookworm (29.2%) was detected by the agar plate culture. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of formol ether concentration were 57.9 % and 78.4%, for Kato-Katz thick smear 55.2% and 76.4%, for spontaneous tube sedimentation were 79.2% and 87.5% to soil transmitted helminths detection, respectively. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of agar plate culture to hookworm detection were 86.4% and 93.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Spontaneous tube sedimentation shows higher sensitivity in the detection of soil transmitted helminth infections. Agar plate culture method also indicated better performance for hookworm detection than other methods. Therefore, the employment of STS technique as a confirmatory test in routine laboratory and APC for research purposes will significantly aid in accurate diagnosis of parasitic infections in school children.

Background Malaria continues to be a major health problem in developing sub-Saharan countries including Ethiopia. Malaria is a complex disease and its local characteristics are determined by a variety of geographical, environmental, insect vector, host, and parasite factors.Methods A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria and its possible association with hemoglobin level and ABO blood group among individuals attending Mekaneeyesus Primary Hospital, Estie District, northwestern Ethiopia. Socio-demographic variables and relevant data were collected from 390 randomly selected individuals through structured questionnaire. Then, thick and thin smears were prepared from finger pricked blood samples, stained, and examined microscopically for detection and identification of malaria parasites. ABO blood group and hemoglobin levels of the same subjects were also determined. The data generated were entered into a computer and analyzed for descriptive and logistic regression models using SPSS version 23.0. Variables with p-value < 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were considered as explanatory variables.Results The overall prevalence of malaria was 8.5%; Plasmodium vivax (5.6%) was the most predominant, followed by P. falciparum (2.3%), and mixed infection of the two species (0.5%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, being male (AOR = 3.48), under-five years of age (AOR = 72.84), rural residence (AOR = 2.64), and failing to use bed net (AOR =4.65) were significantly associated with the risk of malaria infection. Most (14.6%) of malaria positives cases were among individuals with blood group “A”, while the least number of cases were among subjects with blood group “O”. Individuals with blood group “A” were about four times more likelihood of getting malaria as compared to individuals with blood group “O” (AOR= 3.74). The prevalence of anemia was 23% and significantly associated with malaria (p