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BackgroundWorldwide, approximately half of all children are not provided the minimum meal frequency (MMF). Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) had the lowest proportion of children aged 6–23 months who met the requirements of the complementary feeding indicators, including MMF. Ensuring adequate meal frequency poses a challenge in numerous developing countries, particularly in regions characterized by low household food security, such as SSA. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of MMF and its associated factors in SSA via the most recent demographic and health survey data.MethodsA total of 100,526 weighted samples from demographic and health survey datasets of 35 SSA countries were used. A multilevel Poisson regression model with robust variance was applied to identify factors associated with MMF, and the model with the lowest deviance was the best-fitted model. An adjusted prevalence ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported, and variables with a p

Background: Medicinal plants are crucial for traditional healers in preparing remedies and also hold significant importance for the modern pharmaceutical industry, facilitating drug discovery processes. Accurate and effective identification and classification of Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plants are vital for their conservation and preservation. However, the existing identification and classification process is time-consuming, and tedious, and demands the expertise of specialists. Botanists traditionally rely on traditional and experience-based methods for identifying various medicinal plant species. Objective: This research aims to develop an efficient deep learning model through transfer learning for the identification and classification of Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plant species. Materials and methods: A custom dataset of 1853 leaf images from 35 species was prepared and labeled by botanist experts. Experiments have been done with the use of pretrained deep learning models, specifically VGG16, VGG19, Inception-V3, and Xception. Results: The results demonstrate that fine-tuning the models significantly improves training and test accuracy, indicating the potential of deep learning in this domain. VGG19 outperforms other models with a test accuracy of 94%, followed by VGG16, Inception-V3, and Xception with test accuracies of 92%, 91%, and 87%, respectively. The study successfully addresses the challenges in the identification and classification of Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plant species. Conclusion: With an inspiring accuracy performance of 95%, it can be concluded that fine-tuning emerged as a highly effective strategy for boosting the performance of deep learning models.

BackgroundDiarrhea is one of the leading causes of child death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Children with diarrhea who do not receive medical advice or treatment are at high risk of poor health outcomes and increased mortality. Prompt and adequate treatment is essential to mitigate these risks. However, studies that have been conducted on the factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior (HSB) for diarrhea in under-five children in SSA are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the variables related to HSB for diarrhea in children under the age of five.MethodsA secondary data analysis was conducted on the most recent data from the Demographic and Health Surveys in 35 SSA countries. The study included a total weighted sample of 51,791 children under the age of five with diarrhea. We presented the adjusted prevalence ratio and the 95% confidence interval in the multivariable multilevel robust Poisson regression analysis to show the statistical significance and strength of the association between HSB and its determinants.ResultsThe pooled prevalence of HSB for diarrhea in under-five children was 58.71% (95%CI: 55.39 to 62.04). Factors found to be associated with HSB included maternal age, education and working status, antenatal care visits, postnatal checkups for the child, wasting, distance to a health facility, SSA region, and country income level.ConclusionMore than 40% of under-five children with diarrhea in SSA did not receive medical advice or treatment. To improve healthcare-seeking behavior, effective health policy interventions are necessary. These include enhancing the education and employment status of mothers, promoting regular antenatal and postnatal care visits, building health facilities in close proximity, and raising awareness in the community about the importance of seeking healthcare services for malnourished children.

BackgroundSelf-medication is a widespread practice among pregnant women worldwide, with 44.55% practicing it. However, it may lead to incorrect diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and failure to recognize contraindications. The adverse effects of self-medication are often unknown, and they pose potential risks to maternal and fetal health. This study aimed to address the gap in research on the prevalence and associated factors of self-medication among pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia, and to promote effective strategies and interventions.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 425 pregnant women in Sodo Town from April to June 2021. Participants were enrolled using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. The association between the outcome and independent variables was assessed through bivariate logistic regression analysis. Additionally, multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out, including variables with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) accompanied by a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p-value of less than 0.05, which was considered statistically significant.ResultsIn this study, pregnant women aged 18–39 years participated with a 100% response rate. The study found that the prevalence of self-medication during pregnancy was 20.5%, with 8.2% using herbal medicine and 12.3% using conventional medicine. A history of self-medication and first-and second-trimester pregnancy were significantly associated with self-medication. A history of self-medication (AOR = 6.31, 95% CI: 4.89, 9.91) and being in the first trimester of pregnancy (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.63, 7.38) or second trimester of pregnancy (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.12, 4.08) were associated with a higher likelihood of self-medication.ConclusionThe study found that 20.5% of pregnant women engaged in self-medication. It also identified that a previous history of self-medication and gestational age were factors associated with self-medication. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational programs and policy interventions to mitigate the risks associated with self-medication during pregnancy, particularly in the early stages of gestation.

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases are becoming a challenge for the health care system in Ethiopia, which has suffered a double burden from infectious and rapidly increasing non-communicable diseases. However, there is little information on health-promoting behavior in the study settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine health-promoting behaviors and its associated factors among adult's residents of Gedeo zone.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 705 adult residents of Gedeo zone, south Ethiopia, selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Interviews administered through a structured questionnaire were used to collect the data. The data were entered using Kobo Collect and analyzed using Stata version 17. The baseline characteristics of the participants were summarized using descriptive statistics. The independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare two groups and more than two groups, respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the potential determinants of health-promoting behavior and its components. Statistically significant factors were declared at p-value of less than or equal to 0.05.ResultsThe overall means score for health-promoting behavior was 73.88 ± 16.79. Physical activity and spiritual growth had the lowest and highest mean scores, respectively. The variables: gender, marital status, education, family history of NCDs, health insurance status, perceived health status, knowledge of NCD risk factors, risk perception of NCDs, expected outcome, cues to action, and self-efficacy showed a statistically significant difference in overall health-promoting behavior. The total health-promoting behavior score was associated with age, gender, perceived health status, marital status, family history of NCDs, health insurance, knowledge of NCD risk factors, perceived threat, expected outcome, self-efficacy, and cues to action.Conclusion and recommendationsIn the study, the mean score of health-promoting behaviors was low. Socio-demographic and economic variables, family history of NCD, perceived health status, knowledge of NCD risk factors, perceived threat, expected outcome, self-efficacy, and cues to action affect health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, the study suggests establishing health promotion programs to increase residents' awareness of health-promoting lifestyles, empower them to adopt healthy lifestyles, and improve health outcomes by increasing self-efficacy, providing education, and creating supportive environments.

Abstract Background Abnormal uterine bleeding, a frequent gynecological problem among women of reproductive age, significantly affects their health and quality of life. Despite its problem, research on its extent and contributing factors in Ethiopia is scarce. Hence, this study is designed to determine the magnitude and factors associated with abnormal uterine bleeding among women visiting Dilla University General Hospital, Dilla, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted with 380 women of reproductive age at Dilla University General Hospital. A systematic sampling method was employed to select the participants for the study. A structured interview administered questionnaire and checklist were used to collect the data. Stata V.14 software was used for cleaning, coding, ensuring completeness and accuracy, and further analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used. Finally, the variables that have a p-value of

Abstract Background Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare clinically benign, pigmented, tumor of neural crest origin which commonly occurs in the maxilla. It is a rare tumor that may pose difficulty in differentiating from other malignant round cell tumors. Case presentation A 5-month-old Ethiopian infant presented with a mass on his forehead. A wide excision of the lesion was done and subjected to histopathologic evaluation. The histologic and immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin studies confirmed that the infant was having MNTI. The patient was followed and there was no sign of recurrence at the 6th and 9th months of follow-up. Conclusion MNTI should be considered as a differential diagnosis for tumors occurring in the head region in infants and prolonged follow-up may be needed to check for possible recurrence of the tumor.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra is an extremely rare malignancy with a poor outcome, mainly affecting females in old age. We present the case of a 42-year-old female patient who presented with progressively worsening lower urinary tract symptoms, leading to a cystoscopy-guided core needle biopsy diagnosis of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra. We will mainly discuss the cross-sectional imaging and pathological aspects of the case.

Uterine rupture is a catastrophic separation of the uterine walls due to several risk factors. It is a common complication of scarred uterus during labor and delivery. Early detection is associated with better maternal and fetal outcomes. Due to nonspecific presentation, a high level of suspicion especially on pregnancies with risk factors could help pick uterine rupture early. This report presents a gravida 11 para 10 mother who presented with vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain after laboring for 24 h at home. Intra-op findings were approximately 1000 ml of hemoperitoneum with the fetus and the placenta floating on the peritoneal cavity and a 13 cm posterior uterine rupture with vaginal extension. A subtotal hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy were done She was discharged well after several blood transfusions. The objective is to present a rare case of posterior wall uterine rupture and to emphasize the importance of early detection of posterior wall uterine ruptures.

Naproxen-contaminated water may lead to the accumulation of the drug in aquatic organisms and can pose high risks to an aquatic environment and human beings. Therefore, this work aimed to develop photoelectrochemical sensing and degradation of naproxen (NPX) using zinc-metal organic framework /graphitic carbon nitride thin film-based fluorine-doped tin oxide (Zn-MOF/g-C3N4/FTO) as anode material for the sensing and degradation of naproxen (NPX). The surface morphology, structure, surface property, surface area, optical property, photocurrent, and charge transfer kinetics abilities were studied using different techniques. The nanocomposites showed a superior photocurrent response (0.815 mA cm-2) compared to the original g-C3N4 (0.328 mA cm-2). The photo-anode made of Zn-MOF@g-C3N4/FTO displayed the highest photocurrent value, indicating that the alignment of the two semiconductor bands prevented the quick recombination of electron-hole pairs. Owing to these attractive features, the Zn-MOF/g-C3N4/FTO electrode was applied for photoelectrochemical detection of NPX using chronoamperometry. Interestingly, the nanocomposites-based FTO ascribed a lower detection limit (2.3 ng l-1) with a wide linear range concentration of NPX (0.5 to 200 µg l-1). Additionally, the analytical assessment of repeatability and reproducibility demonstrated robust performance, with commendable relative standard deviations (RSD%) of 2.54 % and 2.40 %, respectively. On the other hand, a remarkable degradation efficiency of 97.52 % was attained when employing a bias potential of 0.1 V during a 2 h photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of NPX. The degradation process was primarily driven by the active participation of holes and hydroxyl radicals in ring opening and subsequent cleavage of by-products. The notable effectiveness of this degradation can be attributed to the combined and synergistic effects of both electrochemical and photocatalytic degradation techniques. The current state demonstrates its effectiveness in the photoelectrochemical sensing and removal of NPX using MOF/g-C3N4 nanocomposites-based electrode materials in wastewater.

The surface urban heat island (SUHI) is caused by a combination of variables, broadly classified as climate change, land use change, and urbanization. They have varying degrees of influence depending on their level of intensity. As a result, recognizing the primary cause is critical to resolving the issue and developing suitable policies to reduce resource waste. This study attempted to identify the underlying cause of SUHI by primarily evaluating the intensity of the surface urban heat island using primary and secondary data. Zonal Statistics, the Mann-Kendall trend test, Oke’s UHI model, multiple linear regression, and Likert Scale were used in the analysis. The average SUHII value, Beta coefficient, and mean value of the Likert scale for urbanization are the highest, followed by Land use and climate change. The average temperature induced by population density is 3.85 °C and its Beta value is 0.449 which is significant at p

Background: Pregnancy termination is a major public health problem, and complications of unsafe abortion are among the proximate and major causes of maternal mortality. Mapping the trend and spatiotemporal variation and identifying factors that are responsible for the changes in pregnancy termination help achieve the sustainable development goal of reducing maternal mortality in Ethiopia by understanding the epidemiology and regional variations. Methods: Data from the 2000–2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey were analyzed with a total weighted sample of 40,983 women of reproductive age. Variables with a p-value

Background: Evidence-based practice is defined as using the best available research and clinical evidence by incorporating patients’ values and preferences for their health needs. The use of evidence-based intrapartum care practices is an essential tool to improve the quality of obstetrics care. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of evidence-based intrapartum care and associated factors among obstetrics care providers in Ethiopia. Method: Important articles were retrieved from universally accepted and used databases, including Cochran, PubMed, HINARI, Google Scholar, Web of Science, African OnLine, and repositories of Ethiopian Universities. We extracted articles by using a standard JOANNA Briggs Institute data extraction sheet. To determine the existence of heterogeneity in studies, I 2 statistics and Cochran Q tests were used. The publication bias of the included studies was checked using Egger’s test and a Funnel plot. Result: A total of 2035 obstetrics care providers were involved in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimated overall rate of evidence-based intrapartum care practice in Ethiopia was 54.45% (95% CI: 43.06, 65.83); I 2 = 96.6%, p

Abstract Diluted magnetic semiconductors have become a research area in the past few years due to the importance of new technology, spintronics devices, and green technology to withstand rising global temperatures. Both n‐type and p‐type diluted magnetic semiconductors are used in pairs for perfect performance, especially for p‐n junction diodes, the p‐d Zener model, GMR, and TMR spintronics devices. The main challenge for some researchers is to find a ferromagnetic diluted magnetic semiconductor with a Curie temperature greater than room temperature for both n‐type and p‐type ferromagnetic diluted semiconductors, but this study has solved this problem. In the present study, the ferromagnetic properties of an n‐type gallium iron antimonide diluted semiconductor have been studied using the Hamiltonian model without applying an external magnetic field, electric field, or chemical potential. We have formulated a Hamiltonian model in the system, considering the application of the green formalism function and the transformation of Holstein–Primakaff. The Curie temperature, dispersion, number of magnons, reduced magnetization, and specific heat capacity of ferromagnetic magnons of the n‐type (Ga, Fe)Sb formula are formulated. The Curie temperature versus concentration graph is plotted, and the specific heat capacity and magnetization versus temperature graphs are plotted. In this study, a surprising situation is that the Curie temperature of Ga0.8Fe0.2Sb n‐type diluted magnetic semiconductor is investigated above room temperature, which is 330.4 K. The ferromagnetic properties of Ga0.8Fe0.2Sb appear up to 330.4 K, which is able to play a major role in spintronic and next‐generation green nanotechnology devices.

Tadios Lidetu Bayeh,1 Alemshet Yirga Birhie,1 Elisabet Mesfin Alene2 1Department of Adult Health Nursing, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Nursing, Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tadios Lidetu Bayeh, P.O. Box 1072 Bahir Dar, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Tel +251955185671, Email tadioslidetu@gmail.comBackground: Phlebitis is an inflammation of vein and the common complication of peripheral intravenous cannula. Phlebitis leads patient to sepsis, pulmonary embolism and other serious complications that increase patient morbidity and mortality. Phlebitis-related literature is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, the incidence and predictors of phlebitis were the focus of this study.Methods and Materials: An institution-based prospective observational study was carried out at public hospitals of Bahir Dar city. Four hundred sixty-two patients with peripheral intravenous cannulas who were admitted to the medical ward were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Jackson’s Visual Infusion Phlebitis Scoring system was used to determine the presence of phlebitis. We used Cox proportional hazards regression model, to identify significant predictors of phlebitis.Results: In this study, 462 patients included, and 171 (37.01%) of them developed phlebitis. The median survival time of phlebitis was six days. Patients whose age group > 60 years had low probability to develop phlebitis (AHR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.29– 0.82), whereas chronic-diseases (AHR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.09– 2.07), drugs and blood administer in one vein (AHR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.44– 2.86), inappropriate cannula dressing (AHR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.31– 2.51), large cannula size (AHR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.08– 2.15) and longer cannula dwelling time (AHR = 7.39, 95% CI 4.12– 13.32) had high probability to develop phlebitis.Conclusion: The post-peripheral intravenous cannula phlebitis that frequently affects hospitalized cannulated patients requires particular attention and follow-up for cannulated patients with known risk factors.Keywords: time, incidence, predictors, phlebitis, cannula, patients

Abstract Tree plantation-based land use in Ethiopia is a crucial sustainable approach to improving community income and reducing soil resource degradation in highland areas. The study aimed to evaluate land use and cover change and examine factors driving community transition from crop agriculture to tree plantation in Fagita Lekoma district. Landsat 1986, 2002 and 2020 images were used to generate the land use maps by using the maximum likelihood algorithm of supervised classification. This study utilized field observations, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews as crucial data collection tools for socioeconomic analysis. The change detection results show that cultivated land, grassland, and wetlands are significantly declining by 22.6, 20.1, and 63%, respectively. On the contrary, forestland and settlement areas are increasing by 210 and 1,665%, respectively. Forest cover was increased by 210% in the district’s study year, with the highest conversion rate of 15.1% from cultivated land to forest land in the overall study period. As a result, Acacia decurrens forestation is the main cause of the change of use from arable land to forest land systems. This tree plantation-based land use is also the main driving force behind shifting crop farming to tree plantation-based livelihoods because it increases economic benefits and employment opportunities, reduces soil erosion, and increases soil productivity in the area. To limit the negative consequences and raise the beneficial effects of tree plantations, systematic management of tree-based land use systems, integrated advanced land resource management, and increased economic and environmental benefits are suggested for the district.

Forest environment monitoring is essential for natural resource management. The development of sensors using across forests enables for the collection massive volumes of data due to technological improvements in the sensor network. Raspberry Pi, a flexible and inexpensive single-board computer, is at the main of the system, connecting and interfacing with the many sensors spread throughout the system. Sensors such as this can collect crucial information about the forest's environment, such as the weather, humidity, and temperature. Data from various sensors can be acquired and processed in real-time due to Raspberry Pi's role as a data collection device. The system uses cloud-based services to overcome the limitations of on-premises data processing and storage. A fusion technique on the cloud platform combines and analyzes data from various sensors after receiving transmissions from Raspberry Pi. The cloud service provides a location for live monitoring and other visualization which greatly help data in real-time. These visuals can be accessed remotely, allowing users to access the forest from any location. Improved comprehension and control of forest environments are possible because of the combination of various technologies for collecting, analyzing, and evaluating sensor data.

In this paper, the structural, electronic, phonon, and optical properties of lanthanum (La)-doped yttrium hydrogen selenide (YHSe), along with the effects of pressure variations on its optical properties, are investigated using the density functional theory method. Both the La-doped and YHSe systems are dynamically stable, as indicated by phonon calculations showing no imaginary frequencies in the Brillouin zone (BZ). The influence of pressure on optical properties is examined, revealing that increased pressure enhances these properties, particularly by improving the absorption coefficient in the ultraviolet (UV) range. Moreover, the bandgap energy of both La-doped YHSe and YHSe compounds is explored. Increasing La concentration reduces the bandgap and enhances the density of states (DOS) at Fermi energy, inducing metallic characteristics in YHSe. Furthermore, the optical properties are examined at various La concentrations, most of which exhibit a nonlinear relationship as the La concentration increases. Doping under extreme conditions significantly enhances the optical properties of La-doped YHSe, particularly in the UV-light wavelength range. Specifically, the absorption coefficient reaches its maximum value in the energy range of 6.678 −13.023 eV within the UV region for all concentrations, indicating strong absorption in this range. This suggests the material’s effectiveness in absorbing electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the UV range, making it a promising candidate for photochromic applications. A thorough exploration of the optical properties under doping reveals prominent peaks, particularly in response to the UV spectrum, with a slight shift toward higher energies beyond the UV range. This suggests that the material under study holds promise as a candidate for sustained photochromic performance over time.

BackgroundTeenage pregnancy remains one of the major reproductive health problems, especially in sub-Saharan African countries. It can lead to maternal and neonatal complications and social consequences. The proportion of teenage pregnancy differs across regions of Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to determine the spatial variation in determinants of teenage pregnancy among adolescents aged 15-19 years in Ethiopia using the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).MethodsThis study included a total weighted sample of 2165 teenage girls aged 15 to 19 years. A mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was employed to consider the hierarchical nature of the DHS data using STATA version 17. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals are reported, and a p-value less than 0.05 was used to identify significant predictors. The spatial analysis was conducted with ArcGIS version 10.7 and Python 3. To identify factors associated with the hotspots of teenage pregnancy, a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) was performed. Spatial regression models were compared using adjusted R2, the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc), and the residual sum of squares (RSS).ResultsThe prevalence of teenage pregnancy among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years was 12.98% (95% CI: 11.6%, 14.5%). It was spatially clustered throughout the country with a significant Moran's I value. Significant hotspot areas were detected in central and southern Afar; northern, central, and western Gambela; northeastern and southern central Oromia; and the eastern Somali region. The MGWR analysis revealed that the significant predictors of spatial variations in teenage pregnancy were being illiterate and being married. Based on the multivariable multilevel analysis, age 17 (AOR = 3.54; 95% CI: 1.60, 7.81), 18 (AOR = 8.21; 95% CI: 3.96, 17.0), 19 (AOR = 15.0; 95% CI: 6.84, 32.9), being literate (AOR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.92), being married (AOR = 22.8; 95% CI: 14.1, 37.0), age of household head (AOR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98, 0.99) and residing in the Gambela region (AOR = 3.27; 95% CI: 1.21, 8.86) were significantly associated with teenage pregnancy among adolescents aged 15 to 19.ConclusionTeenage pregnancy is a public health problem in Ethiopia. Policymakers should prioritize addressing early marriage and improving teenage literacy rates, with a focus on the Gambela region and other hotspot areas. It is crucial to implement policies aimed at transforming the traditional practice of early marriage and to take measures to enhance literacy levels and promote awareness about sexual and reproductive health at the family and school levels. This will help ensure that young people have the opportunity to pursue education and make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

Introduction: Human rights laws defend the right to abortion. In Ethiopia, the 2005 abortion law permits termination in specific cases. Unsafe abortions account for 19.6 % of maternal deaths. Objective: Assessing knowledge and attitudes towards the current Ethiopian abortion law for women in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in an institutional setting. We entered the data into Epi-Data version 4.6.0.2 and then exported it to SPSS Windows version 25. In bivariate logistic regression analysis, we included explanatory variables with a p-value

Ethiopia has made significant progress in the last two decades in improving the availability and coverage of essential maternal and child health services including childhood immunizations. As Ethiopia keeps momentum towards achieving national immunization goals, methods must be developed to analyze routinely collected health facility data and generate localized coverage estimates. This study leverages the District Health Information Software (DHIS2) platform to estimate immunization coverage for the first dose of measles vaccine (MCV1) and the third dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-Hib-HepB vaccine (Penta3) across Ethiopian districts ("woredas"). Monthly reported numbers of administered MCV1 and Penta3 immunizations were extracted from public facilities from DHIS2 for 2017/2018-2021/2022 and corrected for quality based on completeness and consistency across time and districts. We then utilized three sources for the target population (infants) to compute administrative coverage estimates: Central Statistical Agency, DHIS2, and WorldPop. The Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys were used as benchmarks to which administrative estimates were adjusted at the regional level. Administrative vaccine coverage was estimated for all woredas, and, after adjustments, was bounded within 0-100%. In regions with the highest immunization coverage, MCV1 coverage would range from 83 to 100% and Penta3 coverage from 88 to 100% (Addis Ababa, 2021/2022); MCV1 from 8 to 100% and Penta3 from 4 to 100% (Tigray, 2019/2020). Nationally, the Gini index for MCV1 was 0.37, from 0.13 (Harari) to 0.37 (Somali); for Penta3, it was 0.36, from 0.16 (Harari) to 0.36 (Somali). The use of routine health information systems, such as DHIS2, combined with household surveys permits the generation of local health services coverage estimates. This enables the design of tailored health policies with the capacity to measure progress towards achieving national targets, especially in terms of inequality reductions.

In this study, density functional theory (DFT) as it is implemented in the Quantum Espresso simulation package was employed to investigate the structural, electronic, mechanical and optical properties of RhZrZ (Z = As, Sb) half-Heusler compounds. Results reveal that both the two compounds are most stable in α phase. Analysis of mechanical properties shows that the compounds are ductile in nature and mechanically stable. Calculations of band structure and density of states indicated that they are semiconductors with RhZrAs direct and RhZrSb indirect band gap. Furthermore, the investigation of the optical properties reveals that there is a high absorption coefficient and low electron energy loss in visible and some ultraviolet energy spectrum indicating that these compounds are potential candidates for optoelectronic applications.

IntroductionChild malnutrition is the main contributor to the disease burden in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and trends of child malnutrition and maternal anemia in Ethiopia at the national and regional state levels between 1990 and 2019.MethodsWe used all accessible data sources and analyzed prevalence, death, and years of life lost (YLL) due to child malnutrition and maternal anemia across nine regions and two chartered cities in Ethiopia, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. The burden and trends of child and maternal malnutrition and anemia at the national level, across the regions, and in cities were assessed. Point estimates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) are presented.FindingsOf the 190,173 total under-5 deaths in Ethiopia in 2019, 108,864 (95% UI: 83,544-141,718; 57·2%, 51·3-62·7) were attributed to malnutrition. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 37·0%, 27·0%, and 7·0%, respectively, in 2019. The YLL rate attributable to child malnutrition declined from 251,964 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 218,720-287,559) in 1990 to 57,615 (95% UI: 44,190-75,015) in 2019. The YLL rate of wasting, stunting, and underweight in Ethiopia was 18,566 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 12,950-26,123), 3,290 (95% UI: 1,443-5,856), and 5,240 (95% UI: 3,608-7,312) in 2019, respectively. Gambella showed the highest YLL rate reduction among regions, with a 98·2% change for stunting, 95·9% for wasting, and 97·9% for underweight between 1990 and 2019. The prevalence of anemia among under-5 children in Ethiopia was 62·0% (95% UI: 59·1%-65·1%) in 2019. Somali has the highest child anemia prevalence, 84·4% (95% UI: 79·8%-88·8%), compared to others in 2019. The prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Ethiopia was 20·4% (95% UI: 19·0%-21·8%) in 2019.InterpretationThe prevalence of child malnutrition and maternal anemia in Ethiopia remains high compared to national, WHO, and UNICEF 2030 targets in all indicators of child malnutrition and anemia despite several interventions in the last three decades. The YLL rate due to child malnutrition was high, with regional variations. In conjunction with other sectors, especially agriculture, the National Nutrition Program and other nutrition initiatives must make greater efforts with short-term and long-term interventions to improve access and better nutrition.

Background Neural tube defects are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality that can occur in the early pregnancy periods. Though the burden is high, it gains only limited attention. In Ethiopia, the estimated number of neural tube defect cases was significantly higher. So, identifying factors contributing to it would be significant for planning risk reduction and preventive strategies. Therefore, identifying the possible determinants was aimed at this study.Methods A hospital-based, unmatched case–control study was conducted on 104 cases and 208 controls selected from neonatal intensive care units of teaching hospitals in Gedeo Zone and Sidama Region, southern Ethiopia from December 2021 to November 2022. All neural tube defect cases were included consecutively and controls were selected by using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using interviewer-administered semistructured questionnaires. Data analysis was done by using SPSS V.25. Binary logistic regression was used, and variables with a p value less than 0.25 in bivariate analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model. An adjusted OR with a 95% CI was estimated, and finally, variables that show a level of p value less than 0.05 in multivariable analysis were declared statistically significant.Result After controlling confounders, factors such as unplanned pregnancy 2.20 (95% CI 1.20 to 4.041), history of abortions 2.09 (95% CI 1.19 to 3.67), khat chewing 6.67 (95% CI 2.95 to 15.06), antipyretic and analgesic medications 2.87 (95% CI 1.47 to 5.56) and, being a female neonate 2.11 (95% CI 1.21 to 3.67) were significantly associated with a neural tube defect.Conclusion This study has identified some determinants of neural tube defects. Hence, the behavioural, medical and obstetrical conditions of mothers need serious evaluation in the prepregnancy period. So, improving preconception counselling and prenatal care practices would have a significant role in reducing the risk of neural tube defects.

The electronic, phonon, and superconducting properties of hexagonal yttrium hydrogen selenide (YHSe) are studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods. The DFT analysis revealed that the energy bandgap and density of states near the Fermi energy (ɛF) decrease with increasing pressure. Additionally, the influence of pressure on the vibrational properties of YHSe is also examined. The findings of the vibrational properties indicate a stiffening of lattice dynamics under pressure and the identification of negative Gruneisen parameters at certain high symmetry sites. This enhances and deepens the understanding of the vibrational characteristics of YHSe under extreme pressure conditions. Finally, the electron–phonon coupling (EPC) parameter (λ) is examined under different pressures. The examination of EPCs across varying pressures showed a significant increase from 0.826 (0 GPa) to 2.6287 (200 GPa), where an increase in this EPC is found to increase the superconducting critical temperature (Tc). Furthermore, the nonmonotonic relationship between the superconducting critical temperature (Tc) and external pressure (P) in the YHSe compound is observed. Initially, Tc decreases with increasing pressure and then begins to rise again, reaching its peak value at extreme pressure. These findings provide valuable insights into the pressure-dependent properties of YHSe and have important implications for the field of superconductivity in condensed matter physics.

BackgroundObstetric fistula repair failure can result in increased depression, social isolation, financial burden for the woman, and fistula care programs. However, there is limited, comprehensive evidence on obstetric fistula repair failure in Sub-Saharan African countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula repair failure and associated factors among women who underwent surgical repair in Sub-Saharan African countries.MethodsTo identify potential articles, a systematic search was done utilizing online databases (PubMed, Hinari, and Google Scholar). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Statement (PRISMA) guideline was used to report the review's findings. I2 test statistics were employed to examine study heterogeneity. A random-effects model was used to assess the pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula repair failure, and the association was determined using the log odds ratio. Publication bias was investigated using the funnel plot and Egger's statistical test at the 5% level of significance. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were done to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. The data were analyzed using STATA version 17 statistical software.ResultsA total of 24 articles with 9866 study participants from 13 Sub-Saharan African countries were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula repair failure in sub-Saharan Africa was 24.92% [95% CI: 20.34-29.50%]. The sub-group analysis by country revealed that the highest prevalence was in Angola (58%, 95% CI: 53.20-62.80%) and the lowest in Rwanda (13.9, 95% CI: 9.79-18.01%). Total urethral damage [OR = 3.50, 95% CI: 2.09, 4.91], large fistula [OR = 3.09, 95% CI: (2.00, 4.10)], duration of labor [OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.76], and previous fistula repair [OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.94, 3.45] were factors associated with obstetric fistula repair failure.ConclusionWomen who received surgical treatment for obstetric fistulas in Sub-Saharan African countries experienced more repair failures than the WHO standards. Obstetric fistula repair failure was affected by urethral damage, fistula size, duration of labor, types of fistula, and history of previous repairs. Therefore, we suggest policy measures specific to each country to provide special attention to the prevention of all risk factors, including poor nutrition, multiparty, obstructed labor, and maternal age, which can result in conditions like large fistulas, urethral damage, and repeat repair, in order to reduce obstetric fistula repair failure.

In this article, we studied the structural, electrical, lattice vibrational, and magnetic properties of the quaternary compound Zn(1−x)FexSeyTe(1−y) using density functional theory. All the calculations have been performed based on first-principles calculations using Perdew–Zunger [local-density approximation (LDA)] and Hubbard parameter correction (LDA+U) functionals as employed in the Quantum Espresso package. The computed equilibrium lattice parameter for ZnTe is 6.01 Å, and the energy bandgap, Eg, is 1.362 eV, which is consistent with the experimental values as well as the previous reports, respectively. The influence of the co-doping of iron and selenium on electrical and magnetic properties in a ZnTe system is discussed in detail. The co-doping of iron and selenium affects metallic behavior in these systems by forming localized states between the conduction and valance bands. The presence of localized states is related to the metallic properties of the iron atom, specifically iron 3d orbitals. The spin-polarized density of state and band structure computations also confirmed that the iron and selenium co-doped ZnTe system exhibits significant half-metal ferromagnetic and dilute magnetic semiconductor features at room temperature. Furthermore, the phonon calculation of these systems indicated that the systems are dynamically stable and that localized frequency states are created at higher frequencies due to the presence of iron atoms. As a result, the iron and selenium co-doped ZnTe systems can be considered for magnetic and spintronic device applications at room temperature, pending further experimental research.

IntroductionNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal condition characterized by ischemic necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, inflammation, and invasion by gas-forming organisms, posing a significant threat to neonatal health. Necrotizing enterocolitis remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Due to limited research conducted in Ethiopia and the study area, there is a lack of information regarding the risk factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis. Therefore, the goal of this study is to fill the aforementioned gap.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify the risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at selected general and referral hospitals in southern Ethiopia in the year 2023.Methods and materialsA facility-based unmatched case–control study was conducted. All neonates admitted to the NICU and diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis by the attending physician during the data collection period were considered as cases, whereas neonates admitted to the NICU but not diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis during the data collection period were considered as controls. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and record reviews using the Kobo toolbox platform. The binary logistic regression method was used to determine the relationship between a dependent variable and independent variables. Finally, a p-value of

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the associated factors of low fifth minute Apgar scores among newborns in Dilla town public health facilities, southern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based case-control study was conducted in Dilla town public health facilities, Southern Ethiopia. The case and control groups were newborns with fifth minute Apgar score of

Objective To measure the gap between expectations of patients with cancer for oncology services and their perceptions of the actual service and to identify associated factors at the oncology centre of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.Design An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted using the service quality (SERVQUAL) tool from March to April 2022 on a sample of 256 hospitalised patients with cancer at the oncology centre of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. A paired Wilcoxon test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine the statistically significant difference between expectation and perception and to quantify the strength of association between the level of gap in the quality of oncology service and dependent variables, respectively.Results Out of 256 patients with cancer included in the study, all of them agreed and participated, making the response rate 100%. The overall gap in service quality explained by the mean and SD is −1.42 (±0.41). The overall score for expectation and perception is 4.24 (±0.31) and 2.82 (±0.37), respectively. Being female, age greater than 65, having a college degree and above, being a patient with cervical cancer, patients with stage 4 cancer and patients who waited for more than 12 months for radiotherapy were found to have a statistically significant higher expectation compared with their perceived care in one or more dimensions of the SERVQUAL tool.Conclusion Patient perceptions of the quality of service they received were lower than their expectations of the quality of service in all service quality aspects at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital’s oncology centre, implying unmet quality expectations from the oncology service users, with tangibility, assurance and empathy being the dimensions with the highest gap recorded, respectively. Therefore, the hospital and other stakeholders should strive to exceed patient expectations and the overall quality of care.

Only 14% of births had information on birth weight available at the time of birth in Ethiopia. Hence, previous studies underestimate the magnitude and associated factors of low birth weight (LBW). As a result, the goal of this study is to fill those gaps in the previous studies. An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors. In this study, the magnitude of LBW was 13.06%. History of chronic medical illness (AOR = 3; 95% CI: (1.02, 9.17)), haemoglobin level during pregnancy (AOR = 0.23; 95% CI: (0.10, 0.50)), iron/folic acid supplementation (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI: (0.10, 0.72)) and extra meal during pregnancy (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: (1.52, 7.00)) were significantly associated with LBW. The magnitude of LBW in this study was comparable to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) report from 2016. It is better to intervene in those identified factors in order to reduce LBW.Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Low birth weight (LBW) accounts for 60–80% of all neonatal deaths each year. In developing countries like Ethiopia, LBW is a major public health concern. Almost half of the world's infants are not weighed at birth, a figure that is especially high in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. What do the results of this study add? Only 14% of births had information on birth weight available at the time of birth in Ethiopia. Hence, previous studies underestimate the magnitude and associated factors of LBW. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-2030 targets for neonatal and child mortality, sufficient evidence on the magnitude of LBW and associated factors must be important in order to contribute to the development of timely interventions. A history of chronic medical illness, haemoglobin level, iron/folic acid supplementation and extra meal during pregnancy was associated with LBW. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings of this study will be useful in developing better health policies to prevent LBW as well as interventions that can target the identified factors.

The study identified the variables that affect rural-urban migration and how it impacts the stability of household livelihood. Descriptive statistics, ivprobit regression, and the dose response function were all used to examine the data. Livestock holding, family size, access to information, number of cultivated fields, soil infertility, distance in kilometers to the nearest town, and distance in kilometers to the farmer training centers were the factors driving rural-urban migration. The impact of remittances on household livelihood security is positive and improved over time with relatively broad confidence ranges. It increased the livelihood security of migrant-sending households by 13.6% and the overall population by 10.99%. Higher levels of remittance had a greater impact on household livelihood security with a 40% local minimum dose. Stakeholders were given a list of policy issues and strategies for dealing with the underlying causes of rural-urban migration and maximize remittance gains.

Abstract Background Work-related stress and anxiety are emerging global public health problems causing serious social and economic consequences. Working women bear a heavy burden due to high social disparity, gender inequality, and an important responsibility to balance work and family life in undeveloped society. Objective To assess the prevalence and associated factors of work related stress and anxiety among female employees of Hawassa industrial park in Sidama Region, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 417 female employees using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale (DASS) 21 items. A simple random sampling technique was used through the computer-generated random method. The outcome variables were work related stress and anxiety. Work related stress and anxiety were ascertained using the DASS 21( stress ≥ 15 &anxiety8 – 14). The associated factors assessed included sociodemographic, behavioral factor, job and organization related factors, past illness and social support related factors. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. The strength of association was declared by using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval and, the statistical significance of P-value

People from low socioeconomic positions (SEP) are at a higher risk of smoking, face greater barriers to smoking cessation, and have lower access to health information. To improve tobacco-related health outcomes, policies requiring altering labeling on cigarette packs could be implemented. However, public support is needed to influence the policymaking process. We assessed factors associated with supporting tobacco-control communication policies. We analyzed data from Project CLEAR, a study conducted in Massachusetts. The analytic sample included participants who answered questions on their support for three policies: 1) graphic health warnings (GHWs), 2) Quitline number, and 3) smoking cessation information on cigarette packs (n = 357). Binomial logistic regression modeling was conducted by policy. Independent variables included demographic characteristics and smoking status. We found that younger vs. older individuals (aOR = 0.41, 95 %CI:0.23–0.72), males vs. females (aOR = 0.58, 95 %CI:0.35–0.96), and people who smoke vs. those who don’t smoke (aOR = 0.41, 95 %CI:0.24–0.70) were less likely to support a law requiring GHWs. Participants with a low vs. higher level of education (aOR = 0.55, 95 %CI:0.32–0.95) were less likely to support a law requiring a Quitline number. Younger (18–39) vs. older individuals (aOR = 0.53, 95 %CI:0.29–0.94), males vs. females (aOR = 0.57, 95 %CI:0.34–0.96), and participants with a low vs. higher level of education (aOR = 0.56, 95 %CI:0.32–0.98) were less likely to support a law requiring cessation information on cigarette packs. Findings suggest that targeted theory-based public health and communication strategies should be developed to increase awareness and support towards policies that would help reduce cigarette smoking among people from low SEP to eliminate tobacco-related health inequities in the US.

Moges Wordofa,1 Dessie Abera,1 Abiyot Mesfin,2 Kassu Desta,1 Bineyam Taye,3 Aster Tsegaye1 1Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Pyramid Pharma Plc, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Biology Department, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, USACorrespondence: Moges Wordofa, Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Email heranmakmow@gmail.comBackground: Undernutrition and anemia in children continue to be a public health problem in developing countries. Besides, intestinal parasitic infection among school children is common in developing countries. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic deworming of children who live in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of anemia and undernutrition among school children in a setting of mass deworming.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 510 school children aged 5– 14 years from three randomly selected governmental schools in Sululta town, central Ethiopia. Socio-demographic variables were assessed using interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Anthropometric data were obtained and analyzed using WHO Anthroplusv1.0.4. Venous blood samples were collected using EDTA vacutainers. Hemoglobin level was determined by Sysmex KX-21N automated hematology analyzer and stool samples were processed using direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration and Kato-Katz methods. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of anemia and undernutrition with the independent variables.Results: The overall magnitude of anemia was 3.7%. Among anemic individuals, 84.2% and 15.8% of participants had mild and moderate anemia, respectively. The magnitude of stunting and thinness was 16.9% and 10.8%, respectively. Of them, 18.6% of stunting and 14.5% of thinness were severe. Of factors related to undernutrition, children from large families (≥ 5) were less likely to be stunted (AOR=0.38, 95% CI=0.2– 0.7, P=0.002) compared to small families.Conclusion: The magnitude of anemia in the study area was considered as an insignificant public health problem and none of the socio-demographic variables of participants were significantly associated with anemia and likewise with undernutrition except for family size. Further studies are required to clearly understand the impact of mass deworming on the magnitude of anemia and undernutrition.Keywords: anemia, undernutrition, deworming, school children

Objective: This study aimed to assess the perception of caring behaviors and associated factors among nurses and midwives who provided maternal health care services at Sidama region public hospitals, Hawassa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used on a sample of 269 nurses and midwives working in maternity wards in Sidama region public hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with nurses’ and midwives’ perceptions of caring behaviors. Results: Totally 261 nurses and midwives participated the survey. Based on the mean score, participants’ perception of caring behavior was classified as higher and lower. According to this study, 75.1% (196/261) of nurses and midwives demonstrated a higher perception of caring behavior. Respondents’ age, professional satisfaction, personal satisfaction, midwife/nurse-doctor relationship and workload were significantly associated with their perception of caring behavior. Conclusions: Assessing the nurses’ and midwives’ perception of caring behavior and related factors is crucial for providing high-quality nursing and midwifery interventions. It is suggested to create a positive and conducive caring behavior in the organization by reducing excessive workload of nurses and midwives, as well as enhancing nurse/midwife-doctor relationship, and increasing their job satisfaction by providing recognition and reward will improve nurses’ and midwives’ caring behavior.

Today, neonatal tetanus accounts for a significant portion of newborn and under−5 mortality – 40% and 57%, respectively – and is the most prevalent cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing nations. As a result, more study on birth protection against neonatal tetanus is required because it is such a terrible condition with such a high death rate and there is a need for more recent evidence on it. From April 1 to 30, 2022, a community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Gozamn district of Northwest Ethiopia. A two-stage stratified sampling procedure was applied, with an overall sample size of 831. The data were gathered using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. It was then checked, cleaned, and entered into Epidata software version 4.6 before being exported to Stata version 14 for analysis. The proportions of birth protected against neonatal tetanus were 58.57% (95% CI (55.15–61.89%) in the study. Mother who had radio (AOR = 3.09,95%CI: 2.09, 4.56), mother who travel less than one hour to reach nearest health facility (AOR = 1.96,95%CI: 1.23,3.10), mother who gave birth of their last child in the health institution (AOR = 4.17,95%CI:2.39,7.28), mothers who had information from health professional (AOR = 2.56,95%CI:1.56,4.19) and > 4 ANC visit (AOR = 2.57,95%CI:1.55,4.26) were positive predictors of birth protected against neonatal tetanus. Low levels of maternal protection against neonatal tetanus were seen in this study location. To enhance the percentage of births protected against neonatal tetanus, professional-based guidance regarding the TT vaccine are essential.

Background: Obstetric fistula among women of reproductive age is a significant public health issue in developing countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the pooled awareness of obstetric fistula among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa and its variation between countries have not yet been studied. Hence, the review aims to assess variability and awareness of obstetric fistula among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan African Countries. Method: Articles were searched using different electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of science, science direct (Scopus), Google scholar, and HINARI and manual search without regard to publication date. A random-effects model was used to ascertain the pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula awareness among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa. Publication bias was checked by using funnel plot and Egger's test at a 5% level of significance. I2 test statistics was performed to evaluate heterogeneity among included studies. In addition, to identify the possible reason for the potential heterogeneity between the studies, sub-group and meta-regression analyses were conducted. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the impact of individual research on the overall results. The data were extracted by using Microsoft excel and analyzed using statistical software STATA/SE version 17. Result: A total of 22 studies with 79,693 women of reproductive age were included in this systematic review and meta-analyses. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the pooled prevalence of awareness towards obstetric fistula among women of reproductive age was 40.85% (95% CI: 33.48, 48.22%). Analysis of the subgroups by specific countries revealed significant variation. The highest awareness of obstetric fistula was found among Tanzanian women of reproductive age (61.10%, 95% CI: 55.87–66.33%), whereas the lowest awareness was found in research from the Gambia (12.80%, 95% CI: 12.20–13.40%).The likelihood of obstetric fistula awareness were lower by a factor of 0.424 among studies with sample sizes greater than 3542 (β = −0.424 (95% CI: −0.767 to 0.081), p -value

Introduction: Delays in timely seeking care, failure to reach health institutions and receiving ineffective health care cause maternal mortality in developing countries. The three maternal delay was used to identify contributing factors to maternal death. There was limited data on the maternal delay in receiving emergency obstetric care services in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of delay in receiving emergency obstetric care and associated factors among postnatal mothers in the Bale and east Bale zones. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 postnatal women from April 6 to May 6, 2022. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The data were collected electronically using an Open Data Kit and exported to SPSS window version 25 for cleaning and analysis. Both bivariate and multivariable analyses were done by using a binary logistic regression model to identify factors associated with delay in receiving emergency obstetric care services. Statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05. Results: In this study, the magnitude of delay in receiving institutional delivery service utilization was 34.6% with [95% CI (30.0_39.5)]. Delay one was found to be statistically associated with maternal delay in receiving institutional delivery services (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.53). Mothers with low monthly income had shown higher odds of delay (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.10). Moreover, the delay in receiving emergency obstetric care was 89% less likely among mothers who had not been referred multiple times than among those who had been referred many times (AOR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.18). Conclusion: This study showed that the magnitude of the delay in receiving the utilization of emergency obstetric care services in the study area was high. Factors such as delay one, average monthly income and multiple referrals of mothers were found significant factors for delay in receiving care. Therefore, it is important to reduce delay in receiving institutional delivery by working on promoting road accessibility, transport mechanisms and building health education on key danger signs.

The current work focuses on the fabrication of pristine and metals (Co, Cu, Ni, Li, and Sn) doped β -PbO phase nanoparticles by cost-effective precipitation method. The properties of the produced nanoparticles were investigated using a variety of characterization techniques. The produced compound was a highly pure β -PbO phase, according to the XRD data. From the UV–vis DRS the obtained bandgap of pristine β -PbO, Co, Cu, Ni, Li, and Sn doped β -PbO was 2.68 eV, 1.88 eV, 2.01 eV, 2.65 eV, 2.64 eV, and 2.70 eV, respectively. The doped samples with the lowest photoluminescence (PL) intensities show the reduced photogenerated electron–hole pair recombination, which increased the photocatalytic activity of β -PbO nanoparticles. The study of the surface morphology by SEM reveals the irregular distribution of the particles. In both pristine and doped nanoparticles, EDX verifies the existence of the expected elements. In comparison to pristine β -PbO, all doped β -PbO nanoparticles have enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under the irradiation of visible light. Among the doped nanoparticles, Cu and Co-doped β -PbO demonstrated particularly high performance. After 80 min of irradiation, Cu and Co-doped β -PbO showed 99.45% and 99.39% degradation rates of MB dye, compared to only 75.13% for pure β -PbO. Hence, the photocatalytic activity of pure β -PbO is boosted through metals doping due to bandgap narrowing, generation of impurity states, increased specific surface area, higher carrier concentration, reduced carriers recombination, the action of dopant ions, and microstructural changes.

Ethiopia is renowned for its rich biodiversity, supporting a diverse variety of medicinal plants with significant potential for therapeutic applications. In regions where modern healthcare facilities are scarce, traditional medicine emerges as a cost-effective and culturally aligned primary healthcare solution in developing countries. In Ethiopia, the majority of the population, around 80%, and for a significant proportion of their livestock, approximately 90% continue to prefer traditional medicine as their primary healthcare option. Nevertheless, the precise identification of specific plant parts and their associated uses has posed a formidable challenge due to the intricate nature of traditional healing practices. To address this challenge, we employed a majority based ensemble deep learning approach to identify medicinal plant parts and uses of Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plant species. The primary objective of this research is to achieve the precise identification of the parts and uses of Ethiopian medicinal plant species. To design our proposed model, EfficientNetB0, EfficientNetB2, and EfficientNetB4 were used as benchmark models and applied as a majority vote-based ensemble technique. This research underscores the potential of ensemble deep learning and transfer learning methodologies to accurately identify the parts and uses of Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plant species. Notably, our proposed EfficientNet-based ensemble deep learning approach demonstrated remarkable accuracy, achieving a significant test and validation accuracy of 99.96%. Future endeavors will prioritize expanding the dataset, refining feature-extraction techniques, and creating user-friendly interfaces to overcome current dataset limitations.

This research aims to map flood inundated areas under changing climate in the Boyo watershed of Southern Ethiopia. A semi-distributed physically based Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) were used to simulate the flood events and maps, respectively, for climate scenarios. The bias-corrected data of four climate models were used for the baseline (1976–2005), mid-term (2041–2070) and long-term (2071–2100) cycles under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The 50- and 100-year return period flood events were generated from the baseline and future period streamflow data. The HEC-RAS model was used to simulate the inundation areas and depths from the flood events. The result exhibited that the average annual rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures of the catchment will increase in the future with an increase in annual runoff. The severity of annual floods would increase in the future under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Approximately, 193 ha of the study may be flooded with flood events having a return period of 100 years under the RCP8.5 scenario in the long-term period, which is an extreme case. The result is a benchmark to reduce the flood risk and management of floodplains in this watershed. HIGHLIGHTS The result is a benchmark to reduce the flood risk and management of floodplains in this watershed.; This study will be helpful for cities, farming communities nearby the river bank, local community and government bodies concerned with risk management.;

Abstract Introduction Obstetric violence is an invisible wound which is being distorting the quality of obstetric care. Obstetric Violence, which is an issue spoken and amplified currently as a type of sexual violence and is of alarming seriousness and is an evolving field of inquiry despite women’s experience of institutional childbirth, has garnered unprecedented global attention in recent years. Losing on both counts: obstetric violence is a double burden among disabled women. Aim To explore the experience of disabled women towards obstetric violence during child birth in Gedio zone, South Ethiopia. Methods Twenty-two (22) women with disabilities were interviewed. They were recruited through a nonprobability snowball sampling method. The interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire in the Gedio zone, south Ethiopia. For coding purposes, NVivo (version 11) software was employed. Using a method known as continuous comparison, we classified the extracted codes based on their similarities and differences. The classes were then arranged in such a way that there was the greatest internal uniformity and the least external mismatch. Results The profile of the study group is predominantly of women between the ages of 21 and 30. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, stigma and discrimination, neglect and abandonment, and violations of privacy were the five major categories emerged during the thematic analysis describing the experience of obstetric violence. Women also observed these forms of obstetric violence among other disabled women during child birth. In addition to the violations of care, some of the participants described positive aspects of their childbirth experiences in one or more obstetric care settings. Conclusion This study concluded that the quality of service was deplorable, with reports of obstetric violence among this vulnerable group of women imposing a double burden on them. The findings suggest that there is a need to improve maternity care for disabled women by implementing comprehensive, culturally sensitive, client-sensitive special services and providing sensitivity training to healthcare providers, ensuring satisfied, equitable, and quality obstetric care.

BackgroundDespite an increasing number of studies revealing both the benefits and harms of social media use on well-being, there is heterogeneity and a lack of consensus on how social media use is conceptualized, defined, and measured. Additionally, little is known whether existing literature focuses on ill-being or well-being outcomes and whether studies use theories. ObjectiveThe main objective of this review was to examine (1) how social media use has been conceptualized and measured, (2) what health and well-being outcomes have been focused on, and (3) whether studies used theories. MethodsStudies were located through a comprehensive search strategy involving 4 steps. First, keyword searches were conducted on 6 major databases: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, ProQuest, and Annual Reviews. Second, a search was conducted on Google Scholar using the same sets of search terms, and the first 100 results were examined. Third, the reference sections of reviews identified in the first 2 rounds of searches were examined, and finally, the reference lists of the final set of papers included in the review were searched. Through a multistage screening, papers that met our inclusion criteria were analyzed. ResultsThe review included a total of 233 papers published between 2007 and 2020 in 51 different countries. While 66 (28%) of the studies investigated the effects of the problematic use or addiction of social media on health and well-being, 167 (72%) studied the effects of social media use as a “normal” behavior. Most of the studies used measures assessing the time users spend using social media. Most of the studies that examined the effects of problematic social media use or addiction used addiction scales. Most studies examined the association of social media use with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness. While there are a considerable number of studies investigating physical health outcomes such as self-rated health, sleep, and sitting time or lack of physical activity, relatively a small number of studies examined social, psychological, and emotional well-being. Most of the studies 183 (79%) did not use any theory. ConclusionsMost studies conceptualized social media use as a “normal” behavior and mostly used time-spent measures, whereas a considerable number of studies conceptualized social media use as an addiction and used various addiction measures. The studies disproportionately focused on investigating the associations of social media use with negative health and well-being outcomes. The findings suggest the need for going beyond time spent to more sophisticated measurement approaches that consider the multiplicity of activities that users perform on social media platforms and the need for more theory-based studies on the association of social media use with not only negative well-being or “ill-being” but also with positive health and well-being outcomes.

In this article, density functional theory is used to explore the electronic structure, phonon, and magnetic properties of Zn(1−x)FexSe (for x = 0%, 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%). The electronic structure, phonon properties, and magnetic properties of the systems were examined using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and with Hubbard correction (GGA + U), where U is a Hubbard parameter. The calculated lattice parameter is 5.65 Å, which is quite close to the experimental lattice parameter of ZnSe, 5.66 Å. In this study, the GGA+U provides a better bandgap approximation (Eg = 1.3708 eV) than the GGA (Eg = 1.229 eV), which is consistent with experimental results and values previously reported. According to our results, the iron-doped zinc selenide exhibits antiferromagnetic coupling for a percentage of substitution greater than 12.5%. In addition, for an iron substitution of 12.5% with the distance between dopant atoms exceeding 5.6364 Å, it tends to exhibit ferromagnetic properties. Therefore, the iron-doped zinc selenide manifests the dilute magnetic semiconductor and can be considered to enhance its applications in the field of spintronics and magneto-optical devices based on further experimental results.

Abstract Background About 210 million women become pregnant per year, with one out of every ten pregnancies terminating unsafely worldwide. In developing countries, unsafe induced abortion is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. In addition, the burden of public health is also greatest in developing regions. In Ethiopia, abortion was responsible for 8.6% of maternal deaths. Despite the problem's significance, little is known about the factors that lead to women terminating their pregnancies. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors associated with having induced abortion in public hospitals of Arba Minch and Wolayita Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods An institutional-based unmatched case–control study was conducted among 413 women from 15th April to 15th June 2021 in selected public hospitals of Arba Minch and Wolayita Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia. Cases were women who received induced abortion care services or who received post-abortion care services after being presented to the selected public hospital with an attempt of induced abortion whereas controls were women who came for maternal health care (antenatal or postnatal care) services in selected public hospitals and never had history of induced abortion. The data were collected by pretested and structured questionnaires with face-to-face interviews via Kobo Collect v3.1 mobile tools and analyzed by STATA version14. Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with induced abortion. In this study P-value less than 0.05 with 95% CI was declared a result as statistically significant. Results In this study, 103 cases and 309 controls were participated. Urban residence (AOR = 2.33, 95%CI:1.26, 4.32), encountered first sex at age of 20–24 years (AOR = 0.51, 95%CI:0.27,0.97), multiple sexual partner (AOR = 5.47, 95%CI: 2.98,10.03), women who had one child (AOR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.10, 0.99), and good knowledge of contraceptives (AOR = 0.12, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.46) were identified as determinants of induced abortion. Conclusions Interventions focusing on those identified factors could probably reduce the burden and consequences of induced abortion. Sexual and reproductive health education and family planning programs would target urban dwellers, women who start sexual intercourse between the ages of 15 and 19, women with more than one sexual partner, women with a desire to limit childbearing, and women with poor contraceptive knowledge in order to reduce induced abortion.

Background: Moringa stenopetala and Mentha spicata have long been used to treat diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other ailments. Herbal tea of M. stenopetala and Mentha spicata leaves formulation showed better antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities. This study investigated the prenatal developmental toxicity potential of the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend in rats. Methods: Wistar pregnant rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n = 8). Group I (control) dams received distilled water. Group II-IV dams were treated with 559.36, 1118.72, and 2237.44 mg/kg of herbal tea of M. stenopetala and Mentha spicata leaves formulations, respectively, during days 5–19 of gestation. Maternal mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and food consumption were recorded. On gestation day 20, cesarean sections were performed, and maternal parameters of systemic toxicity (e.g., body weight, serum biochemistry, organ weight, and macro-pathology) as well as reproductive toxicity (e.g., number of corpora lutea, implantations, resorptions (early/late), pre/postimplantation losses, number of fetuses (live/dead), and fetal body weights, length, and their sex ratio) were evaluated. Fetuses were further examined for external, soft tissue, and skeletal alterations. Results: No herbal tea-related maternal deaths or overt toxic symptoms were observed. The measured maternal systemic and reproductive toxicity parameters showed no herbal tea-associated significant alterations at any dosage levels. Moreover, there were no overt toxic effects of the herbal tea on the fetal external, visceral, or skeletal prenatal growth and development. Conclusion: The study findings demonstrated that the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend could be relatively safe/low toxic to pregnant rats and developing fetuses. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of herbal tea for maternal toxicity, fetotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats is estimated to be > 2237.44 mg/kg/day.

Background: Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cudof. and Mentha spicata L. are widely used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, digestive problems and various disorders. The leaves formulation of M. stenopetala and M. spicata herbal tea showed better antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects in rodent models. However, its long-term safety profile has not been investigated yet. Thus, this study investigated the subchronic (90 days) oral toxicity of the leaves formulation of M. stenopetala and M. spicata herbal tea in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Four groups of rats (n = 10, with 5/sex/group) were randomly assigned into a control (vehicle) group and three test groups (559.36, 1118.72 and 2237.44 mg/kg, respectively). The three test groups received the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend daily for 90 days. The control group received distilled water. During the treatment period, clinical signs were observed daily, and food consumption and body weight changes of the rats were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, macro-pathological, hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Furthermore, histopathology of liver, kidney, heart, stomach and pancreas were examined. Results: Subchronic oral administration of the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend did not result in death or significant toxicity signs in the treated group rats. Moreover, the herbal tea caused no significant changes on body weight, food intake, organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters in either sex. However, the serum AST, CK and LDH levels were significantly elevated in rats treated with 2237.44 mg/kg of herbal tea in both sexes. There was no significant alteration in the histology of organs, only minor lesions in the liver, kidney and pancreas were observed. Conclusion: The study results indicate that the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend is relatively safe/low toxic to rats in subchronic exposure. However, further preclinical (chronic, teratogenic, reproductive and developmental toxicity) studies in animals are required in order to have sufficient safety and toxicity profiles for its use in humans.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of climate change on water availability in the Bilate catchment, Southern Ethiopia. The bias-corrected outputs of five climate models and their ensemble mean were used for the baseline (1976–2005), the 2050s, and 2080s under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) for both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. A semi-distributed physically-based Hydrologic Engineering Center of Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) was used to perform rainfall-runoff simulation after sensitivity analysis, calibration, and validation. The forecasted temperatures of the watershed will increase in the future. The forecasting from all the climate models indicated that rainfall of the watershed will increase by 34% in the 2050s and 21% in 2080s under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 respectively. The discharge projection for almost all climate models shows an increment up to 27% whereas it will decline up to 30% under RCP 4.5 and RCP8.5 respectively in the 2050s. In the 2080s, nearly all climate models will show an increment up to 25% in discharge whereas it will decrease up to 32% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 respectively. This research paves the way to reduce the impacts of changing climate for sustainable water resources management.

Worldwide, the incidence of cesarean sections has increased. Cesarean scar dehiscence, in which the scar tissue from the prior cesarean section is disrupted and separated, is one of the most significant complications of cesarean deliveries. Spontaneous cesarean scar dehiscence is among rare obstetric events. It carries catastrophic fetal and maternal complications. Timing of occurrence, screening, diagnosis, and obstetrics management in the current and subsequent pregnancies are full of controversies. Here, we present a case of spontaneous cesarean scar dehiscence in a patient who had an inter-pregnancy interval of only 4 months. We present the case of spontaneous cesarean scar dehiscence during pregnancy in a 30-year-old patient from western Ethiopia. She got pregnant after 4 months of previous cesarean delivery. Currently, she presented to the hospital with previous two cesarean scars and a term pregnancy. Intraoperative findings showed separation of the uterine wall which is covered by only fetal membranes. After delivering the fetus and placenta, the uterus was repaired in two layers. The patient had a smooth postoperative course and was discharged on the fifth day with appropriate counseling. During pregnancy, there is a chance of spontaneous cesarean scar dehiscence. Therefore, it is essential to properly assess pregnant mothers who have had a previous cesarean scar. If the cesarean scar dehiscence is diagnosed before the elective cesarean section, the obstetrician should get prepared to prevent potential complications.