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Askale Gizaw,1 Petros Admasu,2 Achalu Nagasa,3 Solomon Shiferaw,1 Morka Dandecha Bayu,1 Adem Abdella3 1Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, Ambo University, Ambo, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2Department of Veterinary Science, Ambo University, Ambo, Oromia, Ethiopia; 3Department of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Harar, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Askale Gizaw, Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, Ambo University, P.O. Box 19, Ambo, Oromia, Ethiopia, Tel +251-940047577, Email askalegizaw21@gmail.comBackground: Ovine oestrosis is an economically important and widely distributed parasitic disease of sheep that is caused by Oestrus ovis larvae across the world. Despite the fact that Oestrus ovis is a common parasite in Ethiopia and that there are many sheep in the study area, there is no information on the prevalence, larval burden, predilection sites, and risk factors associated with Oestrus ovis infestation in sheep in the Dendi district of West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to April 2018, to estimate the prevalence, risk factors, and larval burden, and identify common predilection sites for Oestrus ovis larvae. A total of 180 sheep heads were randomly selected from five purposely selected restaurants in Ginchi town, Dendi district, transported to the laboratory, opened with a hand saw, and visually examined for infestations. The larvae were collected from positive sheep heads and counted. The sites where the larvae were obtained were recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software.Results: Of the total of 180 examined sheep heads, 104 (57.8%) were infested with larvae of Oestrus ovis. In the study, a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was not observed in the prevalence of Oestrus ovis in relation to all considered risk factors such as sex, age, and origin of sheep. From 104 infested sheep, a total of 664 larvae were detected in different parts of sheep heads. The mean larval intensity per infected animal with Oestrus ovis was 6.38. In this study, the minimum and maximum numbers of larvae recovered were 1 and 26, respectively. The nasal cavity, nasal sinus and frontal sinus were the predilection sites of Oestrus ovis larvae identified in this study.Conclusion: Oestrosis is an important and common parasitic disease of sheep in the study area.Keywords: Dendi, Ethiopia, Oestrus ovis, ovine, prevalence, risk factors

Amene Abebe,1 Aseb Arba,2 Kebreab Paulos,3 Wogayehu Abera,4 Temesgen Sidamo,5 Shimelis Shiferaw,6 Zinabu Abraham,7 Daniel Baza,2 Banchialem Nega,3 Selamawit Woldeyohannes1 1Department of Public Health, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 2Department of Nursing, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 3Department of Midwifery, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 4Department of Anaesthesia, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 5Department of Pharmacy, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 6Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 7Department of Surgery, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Amene Abebe, Email ameneabe@gmail.comBackground: Primary family caregivers of hemodialysis patients are the “hidden patients” who shoulder extraordinary care burdens. However, there is a dearth of studies in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of primary family caregivers of hemodialysis patients in Southern Ethiopia.Methods: Qualitative phenomenological study design was employed in February 2021. A homogeneous purposive sampling technique was applied to select study participants. An in-depth interview using an interview guide and field notes were used to collect the required data. All interviews were recorded using a digital audio recorder. Data coding was assisted by Open code software version 4.03. Inductive thematic analysis was used to develop the emerged themes and sub-themes using Colaizzi’s 1978 seven-step phenomenological analysis method. The themes and sub-themes are described in detail in the respective heading and sub-headings.Results: A total of twelve participants were involved in the present study. Bio-psychological experience, socio-economic impact, and healthcare provider-primary family caregiver relationships are the major themes that emerged from the data. The emotional responses, coping mechanisms, consequences on the family caregivers’ health, care fatigue, lifestyle change, economic burden, impact on social responsibility, social support, the role of the primary family caregiver, and trust and confidence in the service providers are the sub-themes defining primary family caregivers caring experience.Conclusion: In this study, emotional instabilities and reactions, care fatigue, distortion of caregiver’s health, multiple economic and social damages are the major challenges faced by primary family caregivers.Keywords: caregiver, hemodialysis, lived experience, patient, primary family caregiver

Tadesse Tolossa,1 Reta Tsegaye,2 Siraj Shiferaw,3 Bizuneh Wakuma,2 Diriba Ayala,4 Belay Bekele,5 Tesfaye Shibiru3 1Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 2Department of Nursing, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 3School of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 4Department of Midwifery, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 5Wollega University Referral Hospital, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tadesse TolossaDepartment of Public Health, Institutes of Health Sciences, Wollega University, P.O.BOX: 395, Nekemte, EthiopiaTel +251911936804Email yadanotolasa@gmail.comIntroduction: The triple burden of COVID-19, human immune virus (HIV), and TB co-infection is one of the contemporary challenges to this globe. People living with chronic medical diseases such as HIV and TB are more likely to experience poor outcomes from COVID-19. This study aimed to report survival from triple co-infection with PTB, HIV, and COVID-19 in Wollega University referral hospital (WURH), western Ethiopia.Case Presentation: A 55-year-old male known HIV patient on HAART for the last 3 years presented to WURH on May 26, 2021, with chief complaints of shortness of breath of 5 days’ duration associated with productive cough, history of high-grade fever, and severe headache. He had produced a lot of bloody sputum one month prior to the current complaints. On 1st day of his presentation, a Gene Expert test was done from sputum, and he was positive for pulmonary TB. On the same day, a nasopharyngeal sample for COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive. On his 2nd day of admission, he was transferred to the COVID-19 treatment center with the diagnosis of severe COVID-19, PTB, and WHO stage-3 RVI. During his stay in the hospital, he was provided with oxygen via a nasal cannula. Intensive phase anti-TB treatment was initiated on the 3rd day of admission. HAART was continued with the same regimen he was taking prior to his presentation. On June 6, 2021, the patient was recovered and discharged from the hospital after 10 days of hospital stay.Conclusion: This case report suggests, after 10 days of admission with triple infections, there is a good clinical prognosis and survival from COVID-19. On admission, further diagnosis and investigations of TB co-infection should be performed for all patients admitted with COVID-19 due to their similar and non-specific clinical manifestations.Keywords: co-infection, COVID-19, HIV, PTB, Ethiopia

Zeleke Bonger,1 Solomon Shiferaw,2 Eshetu Zerihun Tariku3 1TB/HIV Control and Prevention, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Adama, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Department of Public Health, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia Background: Self-care practices in diabetes patients are crucial to keep the illness under control and prevent complications. Effective management of diabetes will be a difficult task without adequate understanding of the existing level of practice related to diabetes self-care. This study is, therefore, aimed at assessing the self-care practice and its associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.Materials and methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 419 type 2 diabetes patients from March 29, 2013, to May 16, 2013. The data were collected by face-to-face interview using structured and pretested questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between determinant factors and adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to identify factors associated with the outcome variables in the multivariable analysis.Result: In this study, 318 (75.9%) diabetes patients did not adhere to the recommended diet management, 350 (83.5%) did not adhere to self-monitoring of blood glucose level, while 18 (4.3%) of the respondents did not adhere to the prescribed medications. Diabetic patients who were unemployed were 2.4 times more likely to practice blood glucose monitoring than merchants (AOR [95% CI] =2.4 [1.3–5.9]). Those who attended primary education were 70% less likely to adhere to blood glucose self-monitoring than those educated to a tertiary educational level (AOR [95% CI] =0.3 [0.1–0.9]). Respondents within the age group of 40–49 years were 11 times more likely to adhere to their medication than those aged 60–76 years (AOR [95% CI] =11 [1.03–13.6]).Conclusion: The study showed that the extent to which individuals adhere to the recommended management of type 2 diabetes is substantially low. Improving awareness of patients and the community at large is imperative especially on medication adherence, glycemic control and diet management. Keywords: type 2 diabetics, self-care practice, Tikur Anbessa, Ethiopia

Sahlu Mitku Shiferaw,1 Emiru Ayalew Mengistie,2 Getasew Mulatu Aknaw,3 Abraham Tsedalu Amare,4 Kefyalew Amogne Azanaw5 1Department of Adult Health Nursing, Debre Tabor Health Science College, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 2Department of Adult Health, Nursing College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Nursing College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Adult Health Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 5Department of Reproductive and Child Health, Debre Tabor Health Science College, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Sahlu Mitku Shiferaw, Department of Adult Health Nursing, Debre Tabor Health Science College, Po Box 83, Debre Tabor, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, Email sm092750@gmail.comBackground: A significantly greater proportion of patients who die due to aspiration pneumonia were diagnosed with in-hospital aspiration pneumonia (19%). The incidence and major predictors are not known clearly, especially in Ethiopia.Objective: To determine the incidence and predictors of aspiration pneumonia among adult traumatic brain injury patients at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital, Bahir Dar, North west Ethiopia, in 2021.Methods: An institution-based retrospective study was conducted from all admitted adult traumatic brain injury patients at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020 for 51 days of survival. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan–Meier survival curve log rank test, and the Cox proportional hazard regression model were used.Results: A total of 396 adult patients diagnosed and admitted with traumatic brain injury in the past 5 years were included. Seventy patients (17.67%) developed aspiration pneumonia, providing an incidence rate of 32.39 (95% CI=25-62– 40.94) per 1,000 person days of observation. Independent predictors were being referred for AHR (2.43; 95% CI=1.12– 5.25), nasogastric tube insertion AHR (3.02; 95% CI=1.43– 6.39), and baseline Glasgow coma scale < 8 AHR (3.88; 95% CI=1.42– 10.062).Conclusion: Having a nasogastric tube and low baseline Glasgow coma scale were significant predictors. This improves prehospital and hospital care during transportation and admission time.Keywords: aspiration pneumonia, traumatic brain injury, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Background: A previous study conducted four years ago among surgeons-in-training at the Addis Ababa University revealed that work-related accidents among surgical trainees were enormous, and there was huge under reporting to the occupational health unit (OHU) of the hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the strengthened OHU of the hospital and what the current status of work-related accidents is like at the same hospital three years later. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and context of all work-related accidents that resulted in contamination with blood and blood products inside the operating theatre, among surgical residents at the Tikur Anbessa teaching specialized referral hospital, in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Data was collected from all 76 surgical residents who were at different stages of their specialty training in 2011. Results: Seventy-two (94.7%) of the residents were males and 26 (34.2%) were in their 3rd and 4th year of training. Of the 76 respondents, 53 (69.8%) had sustained a needle-stick injury inside the operating theatre at least once during their residency (Range=1-15 times). For 20 (26.3%), the accidents involved a high risk patient at least once. Cut with a sharp object, contact of blood to an unprotected skin and splash of blood to the eyes and face were reported by 9 (11.7%), 39(51.3%) and 28(36.9%) of the respondents respectively. Information concerning the most recent injuries inside the operating theatre revealed that 46(69.7%) of the residents sustained accidents in the 6 months preceding the survey, 7(9.2%) of which involved a high risk patient. All of the 7 (100%) of the recent high risk injuries and 10(27.7%) of the low-risk injuries were reported to the OHU and all the high risk injury victims were commenced on HIV prophylaxis. Conclusions and Recommendations: Overall, the study revealed that work-related accidents among surgical trainees are still unacceptably high, even though there is a decline in the number of sharp object cut, and blood splash accidents. However, there is a positive trend towards reporting of injuries, particularly those which are high risk. More is expected from the hospital to create a safe working environment and to encourage reporting of all form of injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The evaluation of clinical skills of surgical residents has long been viewed by surgical educators as problematic and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is said to address the deficiencies of the traditional clinical examinations. Here, we report findings from evaluation of our first experience with this examination at the Addis Ababa University, Department of Surgery. Methods: This was a cross sectional survey among surgical students in University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa University. The study population consisted of 10 final year residents in General surgery sitting for final exit exam in the year 2011 and 20 academic staff at the Department of surgery. Results : The study showed that both students and instructors found OSCE to be useful and believed that OSCE evaluated very well the history taking and physical examination ability of residents. Students' OSCE results showed that they had borderline consistency (Cronbach's α =0.67) and correlation with viva (Pearson r = 0.65; p-value=0.04) and written test results (Pearson r = 0.58; P-value=0.08). Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicate that OSCE can be implemented with some level of success provided the students and staffs are adequately oriented and convinced of the justifications for an objective assessment in clinical training. Further plans and activities need to address how OSCE can be made a more reliable measure of students' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Skilled attendants during labor, delivery, and in the early postpartum period, can prevent up to 75% or more of maternal death. However, in many developing countries, very few mothers make at least one antenatal visit and even less receive delivery care from skilled professionals. The present study reports findings from a region where key challenges related to transportation and availability of obstetric services were addressed by an ongoing project, giving a unique opportunity to understand why women might continue to prefer home delivery even when facility based delivery is available at minimal cost. Methods The study took place in Ethiopia using a mixed study design employing a cross sectional household survey among 15–49 year old women combined with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Results Seventy one percent of mothers received antenatal care from a health professional (doctor, health officer, nurse, or midwife) for their most recent birth in the one year preceding the survey. Overall only 16% of deliveries were assisted by health professionals, while a significant majority (78%) was attended by traditional birth attendants. The most important reasons for not seeking institutional delivery were the belief that it is not necessary (42%) and not customary (36%), followed by high cost (22%) and distance or lack of transportation (8%). The group discussions and interviews identified several reasons for the preference of traditional birth attendants over health facilities. Traditional birth attendants were seen as culturally acceptable and competent health workers. Women reported poor quality of care and previous negative experiences with health facilities. In addition, women’s low awareness on the advantages of skilled attendance at delivery, little role in making decisions (even when they want), and economic constraints during referral contribute to the low level of service utilization. Conclusions The study indicated the crucial role of proper health care provider-client communication and providing a more client centered and culturally sensitive care if utilization of existing health facilities is to be maximized. Implications of findings for maternal health programs and further research are discussed.

The use of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and frass in agriculture can make an important contribution to food and nutrition security. However, it is important to understand whether consumers are willing to consume food products resulting from the use of BSF larvae as animal feed or BSF frass as fertilizer. This study employed the stated preference approach as food products produced using BSF larvae and frass are not currently available on the market. Questionnaires were administered to a total of 4412 consumers in Ghana (1360), Mali (1603), and Niger (1449). The results show that the vast majority of respondents are willing to consume vegetables (88%) produced using BSF frass and meat (87%) produced using animal feed made of BSF larvae. A smaller percentage of respondents are even willing to pay USD 1.32 and USD 1.7 more if the base price of BSF-based products were USD 5 per kg. Age, gender, education, and country positively influenced the respondents' willingness to consume food produced using BSF products. In contrast, neighborhood status, income, and household size are inversely related to the respondents' willingness to pay for and consume these products. Our findings are, therefore, important to scaling up BSF technologies in the region.

Rapid industrialization has significantly boosted economic growth but has also introduced severe environmental challenges, particularly in water pollution. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a nanocomposite composed of Rumex Abyssinicus Activated Carbon/Acid Activated Bentonite Clay/Graphene Oxide, and Iron Oxide (RAAC/AABC/GO/Fe 3 O 4 ) for chromium removal from aqueous solutions. The preparation of the nanocomposite involved precise methods, and its characterization was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and the point of zero charge (pHpzc). Batch adsorption experiments were designed using Design Expert software with a central composite design under response surface methodology. The factors investigated included pH (3, 6, and 9), initial Cr (VI) concentration (40, 70, and 100 mg/L), adsorbent dose (0.5, 0.75, 1 g/200 mL), and contact time (60, 90, and 120 min). Adsorption isotherms were analyzed using nonlinearized Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models, while pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were applied to adsorption kinetics. Characterization revealed a pHpzc of 8.25, a porous and heterogeneous surface (SEM), diverse functional groups (FTIR), an amorphous structure (XRD), and a significant surface area of 1201.23 m 2 /g (BET). The highest removal efficiency of 99.91% was achieved at pH 6, with an initial Cr (VI) concentration of 70 mg/L, a 90 min contact time, and an adsorbent dose of 1 g/200 mL. Optimization of the adsorption process identified optimal parameters as pH 5.84, initial Cr (VI) concentration of 88.94 mg/L, contact time of 60 min, and adsorbent dose of 0.52 g/200 mL. The Langmuir isotherm model, with an R 2 value of 0.92836, best described the adsorption process, indicating a monolayer adsorption mechanism. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model provided the best fit with an R 2 value of 0.988. Overall, the nanocomposite demonstrates significant potential as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for chromium removal from wastewater., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study examines the relationship between integrated, person-centered maternity care (PCMC), the provision of postpartum family planning (PPFP) services, and postpartum contraceptive use among women delivering at health facilities in Ethiopia., Study Design: We analyze 2019-2021 longitudinal data from a representative sample of pregnant and recently postpartum women in Ethiopia. This study examines baseline, 6-week, and 6-month survey data collected from women who delivered at a health facility., Results: Maternity patients who reported more person-centered care were more likely to be counseled on postpartum contraceptive methods before discharge. Overall, 27.5% of women delivering in a health facility received family planning counseling before discharge, ranging from 15.2% in the lowest PCMC quintile to 36.3% in the highest PCMC quintile. The receipt of PPFP counseling was associated with increased odds of postpartum contraceptive use., Conclusions: Findings suggest dimensions of quality care are interlinked, and person-centered care is associated with greater integration of recommended PPFP services into predischarge procedures. However, even among women who report relatively high levels of person-centered care, our results highlight that family planning is not routinely discussed prior to discharge from delivery, and very few women receive a contraceptive method or referral prior to discharge., Implications: While most postpartum women report they wish to limit or space future pregnancies, the uptake of modern contraceptive methods in the postpartum period is low. As women increasingly opt to deliver in health facilities, further integration of family planning services into predischarge procedures within maternity care can improve contraceptive access., Data Statement: The data used in these analyses were collected as part of the PMA Ethiopia study. Data are publicly available at https://www.pmadata.org/data/request-access-datasets., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Research into heterocyclic ligands has increased in popularity due to their versatile applications in the biomedical field. Quinoline derivatives with their transition metal complexes are popular scaffolding molecules in the ongoing pursuit of newer and more effective bioactive molecules. Subsequently, this work reports on the synthesis and possible biological application of new Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes with a bidentate quinoline derivative ligand (H 2 L ), [(H 2 L ):( E )-2-(((6-fluoro-2-((2-hydroxyethyl)amino)quinolin-3-yl)methylene)amino)ethanol]. The ligand and its metal complexes were structurally characterized by spectroscopic methods ( 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-vis, fluorescence, and mass spectroscopy), as well as by thermogravimetric and elemental analysis methods. The spectroscopic findings were further supported by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations. The biological application was examined by investigating the inhibitory action of the complexes against bacterial strains using diffusion and agar dilution methods, and their profiles against two Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains were supported by molecular docking analysis. To rationalize the in vitro activity and establish the possible mechanism of action, the interactions and binding affinity of the ligand and complexes were investigated against three different bacterial enzymes ( Escherichia coli DNA gyrase (PDB ID 6f86), E. coli dihydrofolate reductase B (PDB ID: 7r6g), and Staphylococcus aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PDB ID: 1JIJ)) using AutoDock with the standard protocol. The MIC value of 0.20 μg/mL for zinc complex against E. coli and associated binding affinities -7.2 and -9.9 kcal/mol with DNA gyrase (PDB ID 6f86) and dihydrofolate reductase B (PDB ID: 7r6g), as well as the MIC value of 2.4 μg/mL for cobalt(II) complex against Staphylococcus aureus and the associated binding affinity of -10.5 kcal/mol with tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PDB ID: 1JIJ), revealed that the complexes' inhibitory actions were strong and comparable with those of the standard drug in the experiments. In addition, the ability of the new quinoline-based complexes to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radicals was investigated; the findings suggested that the complexes exhibit potent antioxidant activities, which may be of therapeutic significance., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Despite widespread concerns about contraceptive side effects among contraceptive users, few studies explore the specific side effects women are told about during contraceptive counseling. It is thus unclear whether women receive appropriate and sufficient information on side effects they may experience. The objective of this study is to describe which specific side effects of hormonal contraception or copper IUD users are counseled on and identify relevant user characteristics associated with receipt of counseling, using nationally representative cross-sectional data from Ethiopia. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of women between October and December 2019. Analyses were restricted to 2,039 current users of hormonal contraception (implant, injectable, pill, or emergency contraception) or the copper IUD. Descriptive analyses identified the types and number of side effects, across all methods and by the injectable, implant, and pill. Multinomial regression identified factors associated with receipt of counseling on bleeding changes only, non-bleeding changes only, or both, relative to no counseling on side effects, adjusting for method type, source, and socio-economic characteristics. Less than 10% of users were told of at least one bleeding and non-bleeding side effect. Relative to implant users, injectable and other method users were less likely to be told about bleeding changes only (aRRR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.46-0.93 and aRRR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.61, respectively) and users of other methods were less likely to be told about both a bleeding and non-bleeding change (aRRR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19-0.93). Users who received their method from a non-public source were less likely to receive counseling on any kind of side effect and nulliparous women were less likely to be told about both kinds of side effects. There is need to improve counseling on the method specific side effects on which women are counseled, particularly in the private sector., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Zimmerman et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objectives: This study aims to describe patterns of beliefs about contraceptive-induced infertility and assess their relationship with current contraceptive use, including whether these relationships vary by parity and residence., Design: We use data from Performance Monitoring for Action Ethiopia, a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of 7491 women, aged 15-49, to assess agreement with the statement 'If I use family planning, I may have trouble getting pregnant next time I want to.' We used multilevel hierarchical models to identify the association between agreement and use of a hormonal method of contraception among 3882 sexually active, fecund women who wish to prevent pregnancy. We include interaction terms for parity and residence., Results: 4 in 10 women disagreed (42.3%) and 2 in 10 strongly disagreed (20.7%) with the statement. Relative to women who strongly disagreed, women who disagreed and women who agreed had significantly lower odds of using a hormonal method of contraception (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.65, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.97 and 0.46, 95% CI 0.46, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.70). The effect of agreeing with the statement was strongest among high parity women (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.95). Greater agreement with the statement at the community-level use was associated with a reduction in the odds of using hormonal contraception but only among rural women., Conclusions: Efforts to address concerns around contraceptive-induced fertility impairment through the provision of comprehensive counselling and through community education or mass media campaigns are necessary, particularly among high-parity women and in rural communities. Interventions should acknowledge the possibility of delayed return to fertility for specific methods and attempt to address the root causes of concerns., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

The development and persistence of antibody secreting cells (ASC) after antigenic challenge remain inadequately understood in teleosts. In this study, intraperitoneal (ip) injection of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with salmonid alphavirus (WtSAV3) increased the total ASC response, peaking 3-6 weeks post injection (wpi) locally in the peritoneal cavity (PerC) and in systemic lymphoid tissues, while at 13 wpi the response was only elevated in PerC. At the same time point a specific ASC response was induced by WtSAV3 in PerC and systemic tissues, with the highest frequency in PerC, suggesting a local role. Inactivated SAV (InSAV1) induced comparatively lower ASC responses in all sites, and specific serum antibodies were only induced by WtSAV3 and not by InSAV1. An InSAV1 boost did not increase these responses. Expression of immune marker genes implies a role for PerC adipose tissue in the PerC immune response. Overall, the study suggests the Atlantic salmon PerC as a secondary immune site and an ASC survival niche., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Weight gain in low birth-weight babies remains a challenge to the management of the neonatal period in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the time to adequate weight gain and its predictors among low-birth-weight preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of public hospitals in Bahir Dar City. An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted from March 4 to April 3, 2023, using three years of data. About 344 low-birth-weight preterm babies were recruited and followed up until 28 days of age. Model goodness-of-fit was checked by Cox Snell residuals test. The Cox-Proportional Hazards Model was used to assess predictors of weight gain with a statistically significant level of P-value < 0.05. The median weight gain time was 15 days with an overall incidence density rate of 6.3 per 100 person-day of observation (95% CI 0.055, 0.071). Absence of medical problems of mothers (AHR: 1.63, 95% CI 1.015, 4.614), spontaneous vaginal mode of delivery (AHR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.028, 2.593), and long duration of labor (AHR: 3.18, 95% CI 1.579, 6.413) were significant predictors. The time of adequate weight gain was long. Early detection and management of significant predictors is recommended., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Globally, unmet need for postpartum family planning is high. However, immunization services are among the most widely utilized health services. Establishing systematic screening, counseling, and referral systems from different contact points, particularly from EPI units may improve postpartum family planning uptake. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effect of counseling for family planning at EPI units on contraceptive uptake during the extended post-partum period. A before-and-after type of quasi-experimental study was conducted in 8 purposively selected primary health care units in Sidama region, Ethiopia. All mothers visiting the selected health facilities for infant immunization services from February 06 to August 30, 2020, were screened, counseled, and referred for family planning. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 1421 randomly selected mothers (717 for pre-intervention and 704 post-intervention phases). EpiData version 3.1 and SPSS version 22 were used for data entry and analysis. The effect of the intervention was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for the effects of potential confounders. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The contraceptive utilization rate before intervention was 72.7% with 95% CI (69.5, 75.9). It was 91.9%, 95% CI (89.8%, 93.9%) after the intervention. Utilization of contraceptive pills increased from 4.3% to 6.9%, injectables from 52.4% to 57.5%, implants from 12.8% to 22.9%, and IUCD from 3.2% to 5.0% after the intervention. After adjusting for the effect of possible confounding variables, screening, counseling, and referring mothers for family planning at infant immunization units significantly increases the contraceptive utilization rate among mothers presented for infant immunization services(AOR = 5.83, 95% CI: 4.02, 8.46). Screening, counseling, and referring mothers for family planning services at infant immunization units significantly increases postpartum contraceptive uptake. Integrating family planning messages with infant immunization services is recommended. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04767139 (Registered on 23/02/2021)., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Muluneh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Reproductive coercion (RC) is any intentional behavior that interferes with another's reproductive decision-making or pregnancy outcome. This study aims to qualitatively examine RC experiences and perceptions among women and men in Ethiopia, Nigeria (Kano and Anambra States), and Uganda. This is a secondary analysis utilizing qualitative data from the Women's and Girls' Empowerment in Sexual and Reproductive Health study. Across sites, focus group discussions (38 groups; n=320 participants) and in-depth interviews (n=120) were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. Transcripts were loaded into Atlas.ti, and quotes describing experiences of reproductive control or abuse were coded as "reproductive coercion." RC quotes were input into a matrix for thematic analysis. Emergent RC themes included indirect reproductive pressures, direct family planning interference, concurrent experiences of violence, and responses to RC. Indirect reproductive pressures included tactics to both promote and prevent pregnancy, while direct interference centered on pregnancy promotion. Women who were not compliant with their partners' reproductive demands were often subjected to violence from multiple actors (i.e., parents, in-laws, community members) in addition to their partners. Despite concurrent forms of violence, women across sites resisted RC by using contraceptives covertly, choosing to abort, or leaving their abusive partnerships. Women and men across sites indicated that men were highly influential in fertility. RC behaviors were a mechanism of control over desired reproductive outcomes, which were often rooted in perceptions of childbearing as social status. Findings indicate a need for more nuanced community interventions targeting social norms, as well as improved RC screening and response within health services., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Background: The Ethiopian Ministry of Health (EMOH) has recently introduced a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program for healthcare workers to ensure they maintain the necessary competencies to meet the community's health needs. However, there is limited information on healthcare workers' knowledge and perceived need for CPD. This study aims to assess healthcare workers' CPD knowledge, perceived needs, and factors associated with these in eastern Ethiopia., Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted from September 1, 2022, to October 30, 2022. Health facilities and study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A total of 731 healthcare professionals were randomly selected. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire developed from national CPD guidelines. Data analysis was performed using the STATA statistical package version 14. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between predictors and the outcome variable. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the strength of the association. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: In this study, 731 healthcare workers participated. Among them, 65.80% (95% CI: 62.35%, 69.24%) had knowledge of CPD, and 79.48% (CI95% 76.54, 82.41) expressed a strong perceived need for CPD. Female healthcare workers [AOR: 0.54 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.78)] and lack of internet access [AOR: 0.68 (95% CI: 0.47-0.97)] were predictors of knowledge of CPD. Age above 35 [AOR: 0.39 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.91)] and being female [AOR: 0.59 (95% CI: 0.40-0.87)] were predictors of a strong perceived need for CPD., Conclusion: The study found that there was a low level of knowledge about Continuing Professional Development among healthcare workers. The perceived needs of healthcare workers varied. It is important for health sectors and stakeholders to prioritize developing strategies that address knowledge gaps, particularly among female healthcare workers, improve access to the Internet for CPD resources, and address the diverse needs of professionals for effective CPD implementation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Teleost B cells are of special interest due to their evolutionary position and involvement in vaccine-induced adaptive immune responses. While recent progress has revealed uneven distribution of B cell subsets across the various immune sites and that B cells are one of the early responders to infection, substantial knowledge gaps persist regarding their immunophenotypic profile, functional mechanisms, and what factors lead them to occupy different immune niches. This review aims to assess the current understanding of B cell diversity, their spatial distribution in various systemic and peripheral immune sites, how B cell responses initiate, the sites where these responses develop, their trafficking, and the locations where long-term B cell responses take place., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors confirm that no financial or other conflicts exist., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), an important crop grown for its protein source for humans and livestock, is widely introduced in different parts of Ethiopia. However, the productivity of the crop is far below its potential in the country due to different factors, among which low soil fertility is a major contributor. Hence, this field experiment was conducted with the objective of determining the optimum rate of starter nitrogen (N) and bradyrhizobium inoculation on yield and yield components of soybean in the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. Two levels of bradyrhizobia (inoculated and uninoculated) and six levels of starter nitrogen (0, 9, 18, 27, 36, and 54 kg N ha -1 ) were arranged in a factorial design. The result showed that soybean grain yield increased by about 60 % with inoculation of bradyrhizobia applied with low rates of starter nitrogen fertilizer, regardless of cropping seasons. Application of a nitrogen rate above 18 kg N ha -1 leads to yield decline and has no significant variation from bradyrhizobia inoculation only. Regardless of the cropping seasons, elevated levels of starter nitrogen beyond 27 kg ha -1 suppressed nodulation and nodule dry matter. Starter N at a rate of 9 and 18 kg N ha -1 improved soybean nodulation by 125-130 % over control and 95 % over bradyrhizobia inoculation alone. Thus, it was recommended to apply bradyrhizobia strains with 9 or 18 kg N ha -1 starter nitrogen for better yield of soybean as well as adequate nitrogen fixation in Nitisols having moderate soil nitrogen levels similar to the Teppi areas., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is a principal component of safe motherhood and reproductive health strategies across the continuum of care. Although the coverage of antenatal care visits has increased in Ethiopia, there needs to be more evidence of effective coverage of antenatal care. The 'effective coverage' concept can pinpoint where action is required to improve high-quality coverage in Ethiopia. Effective coverage indicates a health system's performance by incorporating need, utilization, and quality into a single measurement. The concept includes the number of contacts, facility readiness, interventions received, and components of services received. This study aimed to measure effective antenatal care coverage in Ethiopia., Methods: A two-stage cluster sampling method was used and included 2714 women aged 15-49 years and 462 health facilities from six Ethiopian regions from October 2019 to January 2020. The effective coverage cascade was analyzed among the targeted women by computing the proportion who received four or more antenatal care visits where the necessary inputs were available, received iron-folate supplementation and two doses of tetanus vaccination according to process quality components of antenatal care services., Results: Of all women, 40% (95%CI; 38, 43) had four or more visits, ranging from 3% in Afar to 74% in Addis Ababa. The overall mean health facility readiness score of the facilities serving these women was 70%, the vaccination and iron-folate supplementation coverage was 26%, and the ANC process quality was 64%. As reported by women, the least score was given to the quality component of discussing birth preparedness and complication readiness with providers. In the effective coverage cascade, the input-adjusted, intervention-adjusted, and quality-adjusted antenatal coverage estimates were 28%, 18%, and 12%, respectively., Conclusion: The overall effective ANC coverage was low, primarily due to a considerable drop in the proportion of women who completed four or more ANC visits. Improving quality of services is crucial to increase ANC up take and completion of the recommended visits along with interventions increasing women's awareness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The challenge of achieving maternal and neonatal health-related goals in developing countries is significantly impacted by high fertility rates, which are partly attributed to limited access to family planning and access to the healthcare systems. The most widely used indicator to monitor family planning coverage is the proportion of women in reproductive age using contraception (CPR). However, this metric does not accurately reflect the true family planning coverage, as it fails to account for the diverse needs of women in reproductive age. Not all women in this category require contraception, including those who are pregnant, wish to become pregnant, sexually inactive, or infertile. To effectively address the contraceptive needs of those who require it, this study aims to estimate family planning coverage among this specific group. Further, we aimed to explore the geographical variation and factors influencing contraceptive uptake of contraceptive use among those who need., Method: We used data from the Performance Monitoring for Action Ethiopia (PMA Ethiopia) survey of women of reproductive age and the service delivery point (SDP) survey conducted in 2019. A total of 4,390 women who need contraception were considered as the analytical sample. To account for the study design, sampling weights were considered to compute the coverage of modern contraceptive use disaggregated by socio-demographic factors. Bayesian geostatistical modeling was employed to identify potential factors associated with the uptake of modern contraception and produce spatial prediction to unsampled locations., Result: The overall weighted prevalence of modern contraception use among women who need it was 44.2% (with 95% CI: 42.4%-45.9%). Across regions of Ethiopia, contraceptive use coverage varies from nearly 0% in Somali region to 52.3% in Addis Ababa. The average nearest distance from a woman's home to the nearest SDP was high in the Afar and Somali regions. The spatial mapping shows that contraceptive coverage was lower in the eastern part of the country. At zonal administrative level, relatively high (above 55%) proportion of modern contraception use coverage were observed in Adama Liyu Zone, Ilu Ababor, Misrak Shewa, and Kefa zone and the coverage were null in majority of Afar and Somali region zones. Among modern contraceptive users, use of the injectable dominated the method-mix. The modeling result reveals that, living closer to a SDP, having discussions about family planning with the partner, following a Christian religion, no pregnancy intention, being ever pregnant and being young increases the likelihood of using modern contraceptive methods., Conclusion: Areas with low contraceptive coverage and lower access to contraception because of distance should be prioritized by the government and other supporting agencies. Women who discussed family planning with their partner were more likely to use modern contraceptives unlike those without such discussion. Thus, to improve the coverage of contraceptive use, it is very important to encourage/advocate women to have discussions with their partner and establish movable health systems for the nomadic community., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

In Ethiopia, the use of veterinary vaccines to control animal diseases is an effective strategy. A study conducted in Southwest Ethiopia from October 2020 to October 2021 aimed to determine the adoption level of veterinary vaccines and factors affecting their use. The study used multistage random sampling to select districts and interviewed 476 farmers who had either adopted or not adopted the vaccines. The study found that certain diseases should be prioritized for vaccination to safeguard the health of cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. These include anthrax (19.12 %), blackleg (17.65 %), foot and mouth disease (10.50 %), and lumpy skin disease (8.82 %) in cattle, and pasteurellosis (18.07 %), contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (15.97 %), peste des petits ruminants (14.15 %), and Orf (13.45 %) in sheep and goats. Newcastle disease (21.85 %), infectious bursal disease (19.33 %), and coccidiosis (17.02 %) were identified as high-priority diseases for flock health. Overall, 30.7 % of farmers were adopters of veterinary vaccines, while 69.3 % were non-adopters. The study identified several factors that influence the likelihood of adopting veterinary vaccines, including breed type (OR = 9.1, p < 0.0001), production size (OR = 9.7, p < 0.0001), production type (OR = 2.7, p < 0.0001), and farm location (OR = 9.8, p = 0.001). Common barriers to vaccination included a lack of disease knowledge, high vaccine costs, limited vaccine availability, and administration difficulties. Insights from the study can guide strategies for promoting veterinary vaccine adoption in Ethiopia. Stakeholders should pay attention to these findings since vaccine use is crucial for controlling animal diseases, enhancing animal health, and preventing economic losses. Further research is needed to investigate factors affecting enhanced veterinary vaccine adoption., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors claim to have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Around one-fourth of maternal deaths worldwide are attributed to hemorrhage. One of the prevalent types of maternal hemorrhage is postpartum hemorrhage. In spite of this, there is very little data on postpartum hemorrhage. Thus, the intention of this study was to determine factors associated with postpartum hemorrhage among mothers who gave birth in the selected Southern Oromia hospitals in Ethiopia., Methods: An institutional-based, unmatched case-control study was employed on a sample of 333 (83 cases and 250 controls) mothers who gave birth from March 1-30, 2021. Standardized and pretested check-lists were used to retrieve data from patients' cards, delivery registration, and operation registration logbooks. Epi Data Version 3.1 was used to enter data, while SPSS Version 25 was used for analysis. Multi-variable logistic regressions were used to identify the determinants of postpartum haemorrhage with a 95% confidence interval and p -value less than 0.05., Results: Mothers who have no antenatal care follow-up (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.03, 3.64), had pre-partum anemia (AOR = 5.68, 95% CI = 3.13, 10.32), hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.13, 9.64), intrauterine fetal death (AOR = 4.21, 95% CI = 1.68, 10.58), and genital tract trauma during delivery (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.52, 6.89) were found as determinants of postpartum haemorrhage., Conclusion: The study showed that factors such as lack of antenatal care, pre-partum anemia, pregnancy-related hypertension, intrauterine fetal death and genital tract trauma during delivery were responsible for postpartum hemorrhage. The early introduction of antenatal care services for all mothers plays a crucial role in reducing postpartum hemorrhage., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Negesa Beyene, Jara Boneya, Gelchu Adola, Abebe Sori, Dinku Jiru, Sirage, Awol, Melesse, Wayessa, Jemalo, Kebede, Eshetu and Dejene.)

This study aimed to ascertain the pooled prevalence and trend of consistent condom use in Sub-Saharan Africa, addressing the fragmented and inconsistent research on its role in preventing HIV transmission. In this meta-analysis, we systematically searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, ScienceDirect, Africa-Wide Information (via EBSCOhost), as well as clinical trial registries, and the search engine Google Scholar. All necessary data were extracted using a standardized data extraction format. The data were analyzed using STATA 17 statistical software. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I 2 test. A random-effect model was computed to estimate the pooled rate of consistent condom utilization. This meta-analysis, which included thirty-three full-text studies, found a pooled prevalence of 44.66% (95% CI 18.49-70.83; I 2  = 0.00%) for consistent condom use in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the prevalence fluctuated between 2007 and 2022, the year-to-year variations were not statistically significant. The current study identified low rates of consistent condom use, with utilization fluctuating annually in the study area. Therefore, uncovering the underlying reasons and addressing barriers to consistent condom use is crucial in the region., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia causes vascular complications, mortality, and life-threatening disabilities in low-income countries including Ethiopia. Glycemic control status in diabetic patients is crucial to maintain the blood glucose level at the optimal level and to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications and mortality. However, there is limited data on poor glycemic control status and its associated factors among diabetic patients in southern Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Thus, this study aimed to determine glycemic control status and its associated factors using glycated hemoglobin among adult diabetic patients at Nigist Elleni Mohammad Memorial Referral Hospital, Hossana, southern Ethiopia., Materials and Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit 307 diabetic patients at follow-up. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics. Five milliliters of venous blood samples were collected to determine lipid profiles and hemoglobin A1C. Lipid profiles and hemoglobin A1C were measured by Cobas c311 analyzer. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine associated factors with poor glycemic control status. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant., Result: The overall prevalence of poor glycemic control among the study participants based on hemoglobin A1C ≥7% was 82.4%. Having a history of diabetic complications (AOR: 7.09, 95%CI: 1.72-29.16), duration of diabetes ≥7 years (AOR: 4.09, 95%CI: 1.38-12.08), insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (AOR: 0.106 95%CI: 0.02-0.44), lack of self-glucose monitoring (AOR: 8.27, 95%CI: 1.61-42.46), lack of physical exercise (AOR: 5.5, 95%CI: 1.6-18.9) and dyslipidemia (AOR: 2.74, 95%CI: 1.12-6.66) were significantly associated with poor glycemic control., Conclusion: A high prevalence of poor glycemic control status (82.4%) was observed among diabetic patients in this study area, and disease-related factors like duration of diabetes, complication, treatment type and lack of self-glucose monitoring, physical exercise, and dyslipidemia were identified as factors significantly associated with poor glycemic control status. The finding of the current study should be taken into account to conduct a strategic and timely intervention on significantly associated factors to delay diabetic complications and to improve the health outcome of diabetic patients. Routine screening and monitoring of dyslipidemia and providing health education on behavioral factors were the necessary measures that should be conducted to reduce the burden of poor glycemic control status among diabetic patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (© 2024 Abose A et al.)

Cattle abortion, stemming from both infectious and non-infectious causes, lead to notable financial setbacks in the cattle industry. Between October 2020 and October 2021, an epidemiological investigation took place in Southwest Ethiopia. The objective was to determine the magnitude and seasonal occurrence of the presumed causes of cattle abortion. Information for this research was collected through 30 group discussions, each involving 8-12 participants. Various participatory epidemiological tools, including semi-structured interviews, pairwise ranking, matrix scoring, proportional piling, and seasonal calendars, were employed in the designated areas. By employing the pairwise ranking approach, the relative significance of presumed causes contributing to cattle abortion was established. The identified major presumed causes of cattle abortion, listed in increasing order of importance, were blackleg, foot-and-mouth disease, pasteurellosis, lumpy skin disease, listeriosis, trypanosomosis, Q fever, leptospirosis, and brucellosis. Participants identified brucellosis (6.1%), leptospirosis (6.0%), and Q-fever (5.7%) as the primary presumed causes of abortion, determined through proportional piling. Matrix scoring analysis indicated a robust agreement (W = 0.464-0.989; P < 0.001) among different informant groups regarding both the presumed causes of abortion and the associated clinical signs. Brucellosis and Q-fever were perceived to be more prevalent during the dry season, while leptospirosis, listeriosis, and lumpy skin disease were associated with the wet, hot, and rainy seasons. However, Pasteurellosis, blackleg, and physical/mechanical factors were deemed to be consistently encountered causes of abortion throughout the year. The patterns of seasonal occurrence of suspected abortion causes were widely acknowledged across informant groups (W = 0.977-0.863; P < 0.001). Local practices involving herbal remedies and traditional methods were employed by participants to manage cattle abortion. Moreover, the results underscore the necessity for additional laboratory research to pinpoint the exact causes of abortion in the study areas., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

In most developing countries, including Ethiopia, a conspicuous gap exists in understanding risk of pesticides and establishing robust regulatory frameworks for their effective management. In this context, we present a detailed assessment of pesticide risks within Ethiopian aquatic ecosystems in at least 18 distinct surface water bodies, including 46 unique sample locations. Measured environmental concentrations (MECs; n = 388) of current-use pesticides (n = 52), sourced from existing field studies, were compared against their respective regulatory threshold levels (RTLs). The results indicated a scarcity of pesticide exposure data across the majority of Ethiopian water bodies situated within agricultural watersheds. Importantly, surface water pesticide concentrations ranged from 0.0001 to 142.66 μg/L, with a median concentration of 0.415 μg/L. The available dataset revealed that 142 out of 356 MECs (approximately 40 %) of the identified pesticides entail significant acute risks to aquatic ecosystems, with the highest RTL exceedances up to a factor of 8695. Among the pesticide use groups, insecticides exhibited the highest exceedance rate, while this was rarer for fungicides and herbicides. Furthermore, a species-specific insecticide risk assessment indicated aquatic invertebrates (54.4 %) and fishes (38.4 %) are more exposed to pesticide risks, attributable to pyrethroids and organophosphates. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the presently registered pesticides in Ethiopia carry elevated risks towards aquatic environments under real-world settings. This challenges the notion that pesticides approved through Ethiopian pesticide regulatory risk assessment entail minimal environmental hazards. Consequently, we advocate for the adoption of more refined risk assessment strategies, a post-registration reevaluation process, and, if deemed necessary, the imposition of bans or restrictions on highly toxic pesticides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dairy farming faces a significant challenge of bacterial infections in dairy calves, which can have detrimental effects on their health and productivity. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the most prevalent bacterial infections in dairy calves, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella enterica, Clostridium perfringens, Pasteurella multocida, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycoplasma bovis , and Haemophilus somnus . These pathogens can cause various clinical signs and symptoms, leading to diarrhea, respiratory distress, septicemia, and even mortality. Factors such as management practices, environmental conditions, and herd health influence the incidence and severity of the infections. Efficient management and prevention strategies include good colostrum and nutrient feeding, early detection, appropriate treatment, hygiene practices, and supportive care. Regular health monitoring and diagnostic tests facilitate early detection and intervention. The use of antibiotics should be judicious to prevent antimicrobial resistance and supportive care such as fluid therapy and nutritional support promotes recovery. Diagnostic methods, including immunological tests, culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serology, aid in the identification of specific pathogens. This review also explores recent advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bacterial infections in dairy calves, providing valuable insights for dairy farmers, veterinarians, and researchers. By synthesizing pertinent scientific literature, this review contributes to the development of effective strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of bacterial infections on the health, welfare, and productivity of young calves. Moreover, more research is required to enhance the understanding of the epidemiology and characterization of bacterial infections in dairy calves., Competing Interests: The authors have not revealed any possible conflicts of interest., (© 2024 Robi et al.)

When the concentration of hexavalent chromium (Cr(vi)) in the environment is greater than a certain limit, it becomes a global concern. Thus, the aim of this study was to use banana peel as an adsorbent to remove heavy metals, specifically Cr(vi) ions from wastewater. Banana peel (BP) was activated in a furnace for 2 h (h) at 450 °C and 50% humidity. Subsequently, the activated BP was characterized by proximate analysis, elemental analysis, scanning-electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). According to the characterization results, the activated BP possessed a porous surface and high surface area of 200 m 2 g -1 , which are important adsorption parameters. Additionally, the removal efficiency for Cr(vi) was evaluated in terms of pH, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose. Consequently, the optimal operating conditions for removing 94% of Cr(vi) were found to be an adsorption time of 92 min, adsorbent dose of 1.5 g L -1 , pH of 3, and initial Cr(vi) concentration of 38 mg L -1 . In addition, the adsorption kinetics and isotherms were examined. The pseudo-first-order model with an R 2 of 0.996 and the Langmuir isotherm with an R 2 of 0.997 were found to be the most effective mathematical representations of the rate and nature of Cr(vi) adsorption on the surface of the activated BP, respectively. Furthermore, it was discovered that the activated BP could be reused six times before its removal efficiency was reduced to less than 70%., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding this article., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Healthcare workers must maintain their knowledge, attitude, and skills regarding the most recent technology and competencies to deliver quality health care. The Ministry of Health, Ethiopia developed guidelines and directives for the utilization of continuous professional development programs. However, there is limited evidence on utilization and barriers to utilization in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utilization and barriers to the utilization of continuous professional development among health professionals working in health facilities in eastern Ethiopia., Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 731 healthcare professionals from September 01, 2022, and October 30, 2022. A multistage sampling technique was utilized. A simple random sampling technique selected health facilities and study participants. A self-administered questionnaire developed from national continuous professional development guidelines was disseminated to healthcare professionals working in the selected forty health centers and four hospitals. STATA statistical package version 14 was used for data analysis. A descriptive summary was used to summarize the variables. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between independent variables and the outcome variable. Adjusted odds ratios along with 95% CIs were estimated to assess the strength of the association, and a p-value < 0.05 was used to declare the level of statistical significance in the analysis., Results: Continuous professional development utilization was determined for 731 healthcare professionals, of whom 241 (32.97%) [(95% CI: (29.55, 36.38)] had utilized continuous professional development. Lack of continuous professional development knowledge AOR 0.23 [(95% CI: 0.14, 0.37)], being female AOR 0.58 [(95% CI: 0.39, 0.86)], lack of internet access AOR 0.62 [(95% CI: 0.43, 0.89)], greater than 20 km distance from main road AOR 0.58 [(95% CI: 0.37, 0.91)], not heard importance of continuous educational units AOR 0.45 [(95% CI: 0.31, 0.65)], and poor perceived need of continuous professional development AOR 0.61 [(95% CI: 0.38, 0.97)], had a negative statistically significant association with the utilization of continuous professional development., Conclusion: The utilization of continuous professional development in the study area was low. Health sectors and stakeholders working on continuous professional development programs are required to focus on developing strategies for knowledge creation, female health workers, and access to the internet, remote areas, information on the importance of continuous educational units, and the variety of needs of professionals for continuous professional development implementation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding are crucial in preventing child morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of these practices, rates of timely initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding remain suboptimal in many sub-Saharan countries, including Ethiopia. This paper aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify determinants of breastfeeding initiation within the first hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia., Methods: Data from the Performance Monitoring for Action Ethiopia project, a national survey conducted from August 2019 to September 2020, were used. The analytical sample comprises 2564 postpartum women and their children; data reported at baseline during enrollment and six weeks postpartum were used in this analysis. A multi-level binary logistic regression model was employed to identify determinant factors linked with initiation breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding., Results: Of the 2564 mothers, 77.8% of infants breastfed within the first hour of birth and 68.4% of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum with significant variation across regions. In the multivariate analysis, mothers who had cesarean delivery were less likely to initiate early breastfeeding as compared to mothers with vaginal delivery (AOR 0.27; 95% CI 0.17, 0.41). The odds of early initiation of breastfeeding were higher for mothers whose baby cried immediately after birth (AOR 3.31; 95% CI 1.95, 5.62) and who had skilled assisted delivery (AOR 2.13; 95% CI 1.01, 4.48). Other factors that were significantly associated with early initiation of breastfeeding were obstetric complication(s), parity, immediate mother-to-baby skin-to-skin contact, immediate postnatal care and the region. Similarly, mothers whose babies had a good neonatal birth status (AOR 1.81; 95% CI 1.09, 2.99) were more likely to exclusively breastfeed their child at six weeks postpartum., Conclusions: Early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding is sub-optimal in Ethiopia. Nutrition programmers should consider regional variations in designing intervention programs to enhance breastfeeding practices. Healthcare providers should give special attention to women at risk such as those giving birth through cesarean section and having obstetric complications during delivery., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A cross-sectional study design was conducted in different agroecological zones of southwest Ethiopia from October 2019 to October 2021. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for honeybee diseases and pests, as well as the impact of these issues on honeybee colonies and their products. To identify potential risk factors for honeybee disease and pests, a multivariate random effects logistic regression analysis was used. Adult honeybee and brood samples from a total of 384 honeybee colonies were collected and tested using standard laboratory diagnostic methods. The highest prevalence (55.8%) of ants was recorded, followed by wax moths (22.5%) and hive beetles (23.3%). In the current study, the main honeybee diseases observed in the study areas were varroosis (36.5%), bee lice (5.2%), nosemosis (39.6%), amoeba (56%), and chalkbrood (4.5%). However, tracheal mites, sachbrood, and American and European foul brood, were not detected. The agroecological zone (OR = 5.2, 95% CI: 1.75-14.85), type of hive (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.17-17.03), management system (OR = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.23-14.70), and the management of the colony (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.31-9.14) were identified as risk factors for varroosis in these areas. The occurrence of nosemosis in colonies was also influenced by the agroecological zone (OR = 12.2, 95% CI: 3.06-48.54) and colony management (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.59-7.23). The agroecological zone (OR = 10.5, 95% CI: 12.76-22.63) and hive type (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.39-6.36) were the primary risk factors for the occurrence of amoeba in honeybee colonies. However, the occurrence of bee lice (OR = 34.7, 95% CI: 3.96-104.93) and chalkbrood (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.44-13.16) in honeybee colonies was only influenced by the agroecological zone in the study areas. This study demonstrated that losses in honey production in the area are significantly attributed to honeybee disease and pests. Therefore, it is essential to increase public awareness of how honeybee diseases and pests affect honey production and to develop and implement appropriate control measures for these diseases and pests. Furthermore, more studies should be conducted to characterize and isolate other causes of honeybee diseases and pests in various locations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors claim to have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The National Immunization Program (NIP) was introduced in Ethiopia in 1980. The NIP has expanded the number of vaccines from six to more than 14 in 2023. However, decisions on new vaccine introduction and other vaccine-related matters were not systematically deliberated nationally. Thus, the need to establish a national body to deliberate on vaccine and vaccination matters, in addition to the global immunization advisory groups, has been emphasized in the last decade. This article presents the establishment and achievements of the Ethiopian NITAG. The E-NITAG was established in 2016 and maintained its active role in providing recommendations for new vaccine introduction and improving the delivery of routine vaccines. The external assessment indicated the E-NITAG was highly functional and played a critical role in enhancing the vaccination practice in Ethiopia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The absence of a dedicated secretariat staff was the major bottleneck to expanding the role of the E-NITAG beyond responding to MOH requests. The E-NITAG must be strengthened by establishing a secretariat that can eventually grow as an independent institution to address complex vaccine-related issues the NIP needs to address., (© 2024 Yemane Berhane., et al.)

Background: Neurocognitive impairment, characterized by reduced performance in various cognitive domains, has been significantly linked with glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Poorly controlled diabetes often results in decreased cognitive abilities, and a longer duration of the disease is associated with lower cognitive levels., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairment in adults with T2DM and identify related factors., Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 421 adults with T2DM. A systematic random sampling was used to select study participants in two referral hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination tool was used. Binary logistic regression was used. Significance was declared at p value≤0.05 with 95% confidence interval., Results: Over a quarter (27.6%) of participants were identified as cognitively impaired. Factors associated with lower cognitive status included older age, being single, lower education level, farming occupation, presence of comorbidity, and engagement in moderate physical activity., Conclusions: In conclusion, the prevalence of cognitive impairment among T2DM patients is a growing concern. Several risk factors have been identified like age group, marital status, education level, occupation, presence of comorbidity, and moderate physical activities. The impact of cognitive impairment on the quality of life and functional abilities of T2DM patients should not be underestimated.

Children's consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is increasing in Ethiopia, but relatively little is known about the specific feeding practices that underlie this pattern. The objective of this study was to explore patterns of consumption of UPF by infants and young children within a broader context of inappropriate complementary feeding practices in extremely poor households in rural Oromia, Eastern Ethiopia. A formative qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interview questionnaires developed drawing on a socioecological model. A total of 16 focus group discussions with mothers (45 respondents), fathers (21 respondents) and grandmothers (23 respondents) of children aged 6-23 months in households that were beneficiaries of the Productive Safety Net Program were conducted, along with four key informant interviews with health workers. Qualitative transcripts were complemented with field notes before qualitative content analysis was applied. The key findings suggest that UPF were widely provided to infants and young children as part of a pattern of suboptimal complementary feeding, including both early and late initiation of complementary foods. In particular, UPF (including juice, biscuits and lipid-based nutrient supplements) were diluted with or dissolved in water and fed to infants via bottle, often before the recommended age of initiation of 6 months. Mothers and caregivers reported that they perceived the products to be affordably priced and packaged, ready to use and convenient given their time constraints. The level of consumption of UPF and its effects on infant and young child feeding feeding practices and children's nutritional status in rural Ethiopia should be further explored., (© 2023 The Authors. Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Eukaryotic infections are common among dairy calves and can have significant impacts on their health and growth rates. Fungal infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton verrucosum , and Candida albicans can cause respiratory diseases, dermatophytosis, and diarrhea, respectively. Protozoan parasites, including Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia duodenalis , and Eimeria spp ., are also common in dairy calves. C. parvum is highly contagious and can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration, while Giardia duodenalis can lead to poor growth and is transmissible to humans through contaminated food or water. Eimeria spp . can cause coccidiosis and lead to reduced growth rates, poor feed conversion, and death. The common helminthic infections in dairy calves include Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia spp., Fasciola hepatica , and Strongyloides papillosus . These parasitic infections significantly impact calf health, growth, and dairy industry productivity. Diagnosis of these infections can be made through fecal samples using microscopy or molecular methods. However, diagnosis of the infections can be challenging and requires a combination of clinical signs and laboratory tests such as culture and PCR. Preventing and controlling eukaryotic infections in dairy calves requires several measures. Good hygiene and sanitation practices, proper management strategies, and timely treatment of affected animals are important. It is also necessary to avoid overcrowding and consider vaccination against ringworm. Further research is needed to better understand the epidemiology and characterization of eukaryotic infections in dairy calves, which will help in the development of more effective prevention and control strategies. In general, good hygiene practices, appropriate management strategies, and timely treatment of affected animals are crucial in preventing and controlling the infections, ensuring the health and well-being of dairy calves., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2023 Robi et al.)

The postpartum period is an ideal time for women to access contraception, but the prevalence of postpartum contraceptive use remains low in sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand the gap between women's desires to space or limit births and their contraceptive behaviors, intention to use contraception has been proposed as a person-centered measure of contraceptive demand. Using data from a panel study of Ethiopian women aged 15-49 who were interviewed at six weeks, six months, and one year postpartum, we examined the dynamics of contraceptive intention in the first year postpartum and its relationship with contraceptive use. Contraceptive intention fluctuated considerably in the year after childbirth. At six weeks, 60.9 percent of women intended to use a contraceptive method in the next year; 23.2% did not. By one year, less than half (43.5 percent) were using a method, and those who had no intention to use doubled (44.5 percent). Women who developed or sustained their intention to use a method in the postpartum period were more likely to adopt a method by one year than those who did not, showing that contraceptive intention is a strong predictor of use and has the potential to inform person-centered reproductive health programming in the extended postpartum period., (© 2023 The Authors. Studies in Family Planning published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Population Council.)