Platelet indices as predictors of poor glucoregulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus adults at Bishoftu General Hospital,Ethiopia

BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic metabolic syndrome that has become a global public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality.It is a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic condition characterized by increased platelet activation and alterations in platelet indices.However,the use of platelet indices as predictors of poor glucoregulation has not been fully evaluated in this context,and evidence for their role as predictors of poor glycemic status in diabetic patients is limited.AIM To evaluate platelet indices and determine their prognostic significance in relation to inadequate glucoregulation among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at Bishoftu General Hospital in Ethiopia,from June 15 to August 12,2022.METHODS A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 261 participants including 174 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and 87 non-diabetic controls.The systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants.Data were collected using structured questionnaires,physical measurements,checklists,and laboratory tests.Platelet parameters and fasting blood glucose levels were determined from blood samples using Sysmex-XN550 and CobasC311 analyzers,respectively.The hematology analyzer output was checked and participants were also screened for malaria parasites using a prepared blood smear.Collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.Theχ^(2) test,Mann-Whitney U test,Kruskal-Wallis test,post hoc test,Spearman correlation,and receiver operating characteristic curve were used for analysis.A P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS The results of our study indicate that diabetic patients have significantly higher levels of platelet distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV),platelet large cell ratio(PLCR),and plateletcrit(PCT)compared to healthy individuals(P<0.001).Furthermore,these indices were found to be significantly elevated in individuals with poor glycemic control in T2DM compared to those with good glycemic control and healthy controls.We also observed significant correlations between these indices and various anthropometric and clinical variables.Our findings suggest that PDW,with a cut-off value of 15.75 fL and an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.803,MPV,with a cut-off value of 12.25 fL and an AUC of 0.774,PLCR,with a cut-off value of 36.3%and an AUC of 0.775,and PCT,with a cut-off value of 0.24%and an AUC of 0.761,can serve as predictors of poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION The observed correlation between diabetic patients and a significant increase in platelet indices has highlighted their potential as predictors of poor glycemic control in diabetes.Therefore,regular screening and profiling of platelet indices is recommended as part of the follow-up process for individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Does community-based health insurance affect lifestyle and timing of treatment seeking behavior?Evidence from Ethiopia

Objectives This paper aims to investigate the effects of enrollment in the Ethiopian community-based health insurance(CBHI)scheme on household preventive care activities and the timing of treatment-seeking behavior for illness symptoms.There is growing concern about the financial sustainability of CBHI schemes in developing countries.However,few empirical studies have identified potential contributors,including ex-ante and ex-post moral hazards.Methods We implement a household fixed-effect panel data regression model,drawing on three rounds of household survey data collected face to face in districts where CBHI scheme is operational and in districts where it is not operational in Ethiopia.Results The findings show that enrolment in CBHI does not significantly influence household behaviour regarding preventive care activities such as water treatment before drinking and handwashing before meals.However,CBHI significantly increases delay in treatment-seeking behaviour for diseases symptoms.Particularly,on average,we estimate about 4-6 h delay for malaria symptoms,a little above 4 h for tetanus,and 10-11 h for tuberculosis among the insured households.Conclusions While there is evidence that CBHI improve the utilization of outpatient or primary care services,our study suggests that insured members may wait longer before visiting health facilities.This delay could be partly due to moral hazard problems,as insured households,particularly those from rural areas,may consider the opportunity costs associated with visiting health facilities for minor symptoms.Overall,it is essential to identify the primary causes of delays in seeking medical services and implement appropriate interventions to encourage insured individuals to seek early medical attention.

Diagnostic significance of complete blood cell count and hemogramderived markers for neonatal sepsis at Southwest Public Hospitals,Ethiopia

BACKGROUND Neonatal sepsis is defined as an infection-related condition characterized by signs and symptoms of bacteremia within the first month of life.It is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among newborns.While several studies have been conducted in other parts of world to assess the usefulness of complete blood count parameters and hemogram-derived markers as early screening tools for neonatal sepsis,the associations between sepsis and its complications with these blood parameters are still being investigated in our setting and are not yet part of routine practice.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic significance of complete blood cell count hemogramderived novel markers for neonatal sepsis among neonates attending public hospitals in the southwest region of Oromia,Ethiopia,through a case control study.METHODS A case control study was conducted from October 2021 to October 2023 Sociodemographic,clinical history,and laboratory test results data were collected using structured questionnaires.The collected data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 version and exported to SPSS-25 for analysis.Chi-square,independent sample ttest,and receiver operator characteristics curve of curve were used for analysis.A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS In this study,significant increases were observed in the following values in the case group compared to the control group:In white blood cell(WBC)count,neutrophils,monocyte,mean platelet volume(MPV),neutrophils to lymphocyte ratio,monocyte to lymphocyte ratio(MLR),red blood cell width to platelet count ratio(RPR),red blood width coefficient variation,MPV to RPR,and platelet to lymphocyte ratio.Regarding MLR,a cut-off value of≥0.26 was found,with a sensitivity of 68%,a specificity of 95%,a positive predictive value(PPV)of 93.2%,and a negative predictive value(NPV)of 74.8%.The area under the curve(AUC)was 0.828(P<0.001).For WBC,a cutoff value of≥11.42 was identified,with a sensitivity of 55%,a specificity of 89%,a PPV of 83.3%,and a NPV of 66.4%.The AUC was 0.81(P<0.001).Neutrophils had a sensitivity of 67%,a specificity of 81%,a PPV of 77.9%,and a NPV of 71.1%.The AUC was 0.801,with a cut-off value of≥6.76(P=0.001).These results indicate that they were excellent predictors of neonatal sepsis diagnosis.CONCLUSION The findings of our study suggest that certain hematological parameters and hemogram-derived markers may have a potential role in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

Time to recovery from severe pneumonia and its predictors among pediatric patients admitted in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital,South West Ethiopia,2022

Objective:Despite trials and programs for the prevention of childhood mortality due to pneumonia,Ethiopia is among the top five countries with the highest number of deaths due to pneumonia.Although the prevalence of pneumonia has increased in the abovementioned trials,little is known about the recovery time from severe pneumonia and its predictors in the study area.Therefore,this study aimed to assess the time to recovery from severe pneumonia and its predictors among pediatric patients admitted to Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital,Ethiopia,in 2022.Methods:A total of 591 children admitted for severe pneumonia were selected using simple random sampling.Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.4.2.1 and expor ted to STATA version 14 for analysis,and the assumptions of Cox propor tional hazard models and goodness of fit were assessed through Shoenfeld residual and Cox-Snell residual,respectively.Bivariate and multivariable Cox regression models were used to identify the predictors of mor tality.Results:This study revealed that 91.54%(95%confidence interval[CI]:89.00–93.53)of participants recovered with an incidence rate of 24.10(95%CI:22.15–26.21)per 100 person-day–observations.The hmedian recovery time of children was 4 days(95%CI:2–6).Children who were not exclusively breastfed(AHR=1.3;95%CI:1.03–1.66),who had a history of inability to suck/feed(AHR=0.81;95%CI:0.65–0.99)were independent predictors of the time to recovery.Conclusions:Children with severe pneumonia who had not exclusively breastfed and who had a history of inability to suck/feed were independent predictors of time to recovery.Therefore,all stakeholders and concerned health care providers should focus more on early diagnosis and management and hasten early recovery based on the identified factors.

Antibacterial activities of selected medicinal plants in traditional treatment of human wounds in Ethiopia

Objective:To evaluate the activity of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for wound treatment against wound-causing bacteria.Methods:Samples of medicinal plants(Achyranthes aspera,Brucea antidysenteriea,Datura stramonium,Croton macrostachyus,Acokanthera xchimperi.,Phytolacca dodecandra,Milhttia ferruginea,and Solanum incanum)were extracted using absolute methanol and water and tested for their antimicrobial activities against clinical isolates and standard strains of wound-causing bacteria using agar well diffusion and micro titer plate methods.Results:Most of the plant extracts had antibacterial activities,among which Acokanthera schimperi and Brucea antidysenteriea inhibited growth of 100%and 35%of the test organisms,respectively.Methanolic extracts had higher activities compared with their corresponding aqueous extracts.The most susceptible organism to the extracts was Streptococcus pyogens while the most resistant were Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris.Conclusions:This finding justifies the use of the plants in wound healing and their potential activity against woundcausing bacteria.Their toxicity level and antimicrobial activity with different extraction solvents should further be studied to use them as sources and templates for the synthesis of drugs to control wound and other disease-causing bacteria.

Opportunistic and other intestinal parasites among HIV/AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic in Bahir Dar city,North West Ethiopia

Objective:To determine the magnitude of opportunistic and non-opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections among HTV/AIDS patients in Bahir Dar.Methods:Cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV/ AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic from Aprill- May 30,2009. Convenient sampling technique was employed to identify the study subjects and hence a total of 248 subjects were included.A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data of patients.Stool samples were examined by direct saline,iodine wet mount, formol-ether sedimentation concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Results:Out of 248 enrolled in the study,171(69.0%)(90 males and 81 females) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites.The highest rate of intestinal parasites were observed among HIV/AIDS patients(80.3%,151/188),and the infection rate of HIV negative individuals was 33.3%(20/60).Cryptosporidum parvum(43.6%),Isospora belli(15.5%) and Blastocystis hominis (10.5%) were opportunistic parasites that were found only in HIV/AIDS patients.Conclusions: Opportunistic parasite infections are common health problem among HIV/ AIDS patients in the study area.Therefore,early detection and treatment of these parasites are important to improve the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients.

Influence of topographic aspect on floristic diversity, structure and treeline of afromontane cloud forests in the Bale Mountains,Ethiopia

We studied the influence of east and west aspects on floristic composition, diversity, structure and treeline of afromontane cloud forests at Rira in the Bale Mountains, southeast Ethiopia. In addition, we studied how aspect relates to and/or interacts with other topographic and edaphic factors in influencing vegetation diversity. Strati- fied systematic plot sampling was used to survey the floristic composition, diversity and structure of forests on east- and west-facing slopes. The sample plot size was 20 x 20 m and a total of 36 plots were inventoried. A total of 72 composite soil samples were collected and analysed. Woody species richness of the forest on the east-facing slope was 1.7 times higher than on the west-facing slope. Shannon, Simpson and Log-series alpha diversity indices and evenness of forests on the east-facing slope were sig- nificantly higher than on the west-facing slope. NMDS ordination indicated that the east- and west-facing slopes formed two clusters of species and aspect explained 55.2 % and 10.4 % of the variation in species richness and abun- dance, respectively. There was no significant difference between aspects in stand structure except in dominantheight, which was higher on the east-facing slopes. There was significant interaction between aspect and elevation in influencing woody species diversity. The four plant com- munity groups, which were identified using cluster and indicator species analysis were represented differently on the east and west aspects. The treeline on the east-facing slope （3352 m） was located about 110 m higher than on the west-facing slope （3240 m）. Soil moisture deficiency was unlikely to be a limiting factor on either site. Near the equator, east-west aspect was shown to have considerable impact on floristic composition, diversity, structure, and treeline position of montane forests. Diurnal cloud move- ment patterns and its impact on microclimate of slope aspect should be taken into account in future studies of cloud forest diversity, structure, and treeline position.

Phenotypic diversity in Ethiopian durum wheat(Triticum turgidum var.durum)landraces

The phenotypic diversity of 274 Ethiopian durum wheat accessions was analyzed, taking their geographic origins into account. The aim was to assess the extent and patterns of agronomically important phenotypic variation across districts of origin and altitude classes for major qualitative traits using diversity index and multivariate methods. Eight qualitative and three quantitative traits were scored for 2740 plants and analyzed for diversity. The Shannon–Weaver diversity(H′) index was used to estimate phenotypic diversity. The estimated H′ ranged from monomorphic for glume hairiness to highly polymorphic for other traits. The highest(0.86) H′ was obtained for seed degree of shriveling, possibly indicating the differential responses of the genotypes to water deficit during later growth stages. With respect to district of origin, the highest(0.72) and lowest(0.44) H′ values were obtained for the Bale and SNNP districts, respectively. With respect to altitude, the highest(0.76) and lowest(0.62) H′ values were recorded for altitudes 1600–2000and > 3000 m above sea levels, respectively. Principal components analysis explained substantial variation contributed by district of origin and altitude range. Genotypes were clustered into three groups by districts of origin and altitude class, with relatively strong bootstrap values of 57 and 62 for the former and latter, respectively. It could be concluded that Ethiopian durum wheat landraces are very diverse both within and among districts of origin and altitude classes. This wealth of genetic diversity should be exploited for wheat improvement of yield and for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly terminal drought.

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae over 6 years at Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Objective:To assess the magnitude and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeisolates from various clinical specimens.Methods:A record based on retrospectivestudy was conducted at Gondar University Teaching Hospital from September 2007 to January 2012.All patients who visited Gondar University Hospital and provided clinical specimens(body fluids,discharge,swab and blood)for routine bacteriological culturing and antimicrobial susceptibilitytesting were taken for analysis.Clinical specimens were processed for bacterial culture accordingto the standard procedures.Antimicrobial susceptibility test for isolated organisms was doneusing agar disk diffusion method.The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version16 package.Results:One hundred and fifty threeStreptococcus pneumoniaewere isolated frompatients who visited Gondar University Teaching Hospital bacteriology laboratory for culture.Majority of the pneumococcal isolates were from inpatients[111(72.5%)],and 74(48.4%)were frombody fluids.Out of the total isolates,93(61%)were found to be resistant to at least one antibioticused for susceptibility testing.Forty eight(43.2%)of the isolates were multi-drug resistant(resistantto two or more drugs).The resistance rate noted for both ciprofloxacin 17(11.1%)and ceftriaxone15(9.8%)were alarming.Conclusions:High proportions of the isolates tend to be increasinglyresistant to the commonly prescribed drugs.The recommended drug of choice like ciprofloxacinand ceftriaxone were found to be less susceptible in the study area.Based on the findings,wetherefore recommend that antimicrobial agents should be inspected for acceptable activity beforethey are prescribed and administered empirically.Further study with a better design and surveyof antimicrobial susceptibility at large scale shoule be performed to draw advanced information.

Optimal parameter selection for qualitative regional erosion risk monitoring:A remote sensing study of SE Ethiopia

Arid and semi-arid regions are susceptible to high levels of erosion. A rapid and cost effective methodological erosion assessment for these regions is required to describe and monitor the processes that control erosion. This study uses remote sensing to describe the contribution of several factors that control erosion. Topography, land use, vegetation density, soil properties and climatic proxies are used to determine erosion risk and to provide basic maps of water and soil conservation practices. A hierarchical decision tree is used to sum and combine the weight of parameters controlling the erosion. The assigned weights of each spatial unit express the susceptibility to erosion. We focus on the catchment basin of the Maleka Wakena reservoir, located in the southeastern portion of the main Ethiopian Rift, where erosion is the major environmental problem. Three different combinations of the dominant controlling factors are yielded in this study. In order to optimize the qualitative erosion risk assessment, each combination is discussed and evaluated depending on the contribution of parameters involved in the erosion process.

Impact of exclosures on wood biomass production and fuelwood supply in northern Ethiopia

In the Ethiopian highlands, communal grazing lands are one of the major land uses, and are source of livelihood for the rural people. Free and uncontrolled grazing in the communal grazing lands is the dominant grazing system. The traditional uncontrolled and free grazing system has caused severe degradation of the grazing lands. As a result, communities have started to establish exclosures and support the restoration of degraded communal grazing lands. Studies have shown that exclosures are effective to restoring degraded communal grazing lands and improving ecosystem services. However, studies that investigate the changes in aboveground biomass following the establishment of exclosures and compare it with fuelwood demand of the beneficiaries in our study area is lacking. Therefore, our study aimed at:(1) quantifying yearly biomass accumulation in exclosures and compare it to fuelwood demand of households that manage the exclosures;(2) assessing household energy sources and their consumption levels. To monitor changes in biomass production with over time, replicated(n = 3) 5 and10 year-old exclosures were sampled. To investigate fuelwood sources and consumption patterns, household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussion were conducted. Our results demonstrated that total biomass production increased with exclosure age. In both exclosure, biomass production from Vachellia etbaica was significantly(p \ 0.05) greater than that from Euclea.racemosa. Average daily fuelwood consumption per person was(0.63 ± 0.2) kg day^(-1). This means that the total biomass(27.5 Mg year^(-1)) obtained from 114.6 ha of exclosures covers only 9.4% of yearly fuelwood demand of the residents who manage the sampled exclosures. Nearly all respondents(95%) confirmed that they travel more than10 km day^(-1) to gather fuelwood from surrounding degraded forest patches. We recommend plantings of fast growing native tree species within exclosures and around homesteads to provide a sustainable fuelwood supply and using improved stoves to address the problem of fuelwood shortage. District agricultural offices could provide seedlings of native plant species, while communities provide unpaid labour for planting and managing plantations.

Mineralogical and petrographic analysis on the flake graphite ore from Saba Boru area in Ethiopia

The mineralogy and petrography of natural graphite in Saba Boru of Ethiopia indicate that there exists flake graphite with a slightly oval structured fine size according to our study on thin and polished sections.Herein,for estimating the carbon content in graphite,the ASTM-C561,the test method for ash in a graphite sample,was used.For characterizing graphite,x-ray diffraction,x-ray fluorescence,inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscopy were also used.Chemical analysis of ore samples determined that the average compositions are 63.35%SiO2,15.45%Al2O3,2.36%Fe2O3,2.07%K2O,less than1%others,and loss-on-ignition(LOI)in the range of^4.74%–37.42%.The total carbon content of graphitic ore ranged from 4.11%to 33.14%.Importantly,when graphite is concentrated through floatation,its average purity and recovery are 92.97%and 90.82%,respectively.Furthermore,once the graphite concentrates are treated with hydrofluoric acid,the average value attains a high grade of 96.48%C.Moreover,the average ash content is 81.93%(pre-flotation)and 3.1%(post-flotation),respectively.Finally,after beneficiation,a silica is identified as a major gangue(85.88%),usable as a raw material for other purposes such as cement.Hence,these graphite-bearing rocks seem to be worth exploring for commercialization opportunities.

Efficacy and side effects of praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosomiasis mansoni in schoolchildren in Shesha Kekele Elementary School,Wondo Genet,Southern Ethiopia

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of praziquantel(PZQ) in the treatment of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia.Methods:In a cross-sectional study,stool specimens were collected from randomly selected 299 school children in Shesha Kekele Elementary School,Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia,in April 2010.Stool specimens were examined using a single Kato-Katz thick smear for Schistosoma mansoni(5.mansoni) ova.Children who were found positive for S.mansoni were treated with a single oral dose of PZQ at 40 mg/kg bw and interviewed for treatment-related symptoms 24 hours after drug administration.Four weeks post-treatment,stool specimens were collected from the same children and examined following the same procedure as in the pretreatment.Drug efficacy was determined based on cure and egg reduction rates.Results:Pretreatment prevalence of S.mansoni infection was 74.9%with geometric mean egg count of 268. The evaluated generic PZQ produced an overall cure rate of 73.6%(P<0.000 1,OR:8.33,CI:5.3-13.1) and egg reduction rate of 68.2%(P=0.03,F=0.64).The cure rate showed significant association with age(x^2=H,P=0.004),the highest rate being observed in the 15-22 age group.83%of S. mansoni infected children showed various treatment-related symptoms,the most frerjiient being headache,nausea,and abdominal pain.These symptoms were associated with age(P<0.001) and pre-treatment intensity of infection(P<0.05).Conclusions:The present observations revealed relatively lower cure and egg reduction rates of the PZQ evaluated as compared to previous reports for other PZQ brands in Ethiopia.Hence,in depth studies are recommended to clarify whether the present relatively lower cure rate is the actual cure rate of the praziquantel evaluated,treatment failure,or reduced susceptibility of the parasite.Treatment-related side effects observed were transient and tolerable.

Efficiency of soil and water conservation practices in different agro-ecological environments in the Upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia

In developing countries such as Ethiopia, research to develop and promote soil and water conservation practices rarely addressed regional diversity. Using a water-balance approach in this study, we used runoff plots from three sites, each representing a different agro-ecological environment, e.g., high, mid and low in both elevation and rainfall, in the Upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia to examine the runoff response and runoff conservation efficiency of a range of different soil and water conservation measures and their impacts on soil moisture. The plots at each site represented common land use types（cultivated vs. non-agricultural land use types） and slopes（gentle and steep）. Seasonal runoff from control plots in the highlands ranged 214–560 versus 253–475 mm at midlands and 119–200 mm at lowlands. The three soil and water conservation techniques applied in cultivated land increased runoff conservation efficiency by 32% to 51%, depending on the site. At the moist subtropical site in a highland region, soil and water conservation increased soil moisture enough to potentially cause waterlogging, which was absent at the lowrainfall sites. Soil bunds combined with Vetiveria zizanioides grass in cultivated land and short trenches in grassland conserved the most runoff（51% and 55%, respectively）. Runoff responses showed high spatial variation within and between land use types, causing high variation in soil and water conservation efficiency. Our results highlight the need to understand the role of the agro-ecological environment in the success of soil and water conservation measures to control runoff and hydrological dynamics. This understanding will support policy development to promote the adoption of suitable techniques that can be tested at other locations with similar soil, climatic, and topographic conditions.

Analysis of vulnerability and resilience to climate change induced shocks in North Shewa, Ethiopia

This article analyzes the vulnerability and resilience levels of farm households in North Shewa, Ethiopia, using a survey of 452 households. Agro ecological based classification was done to analyze vulnerability to climate change induced shocks. Integrated vulnerability analysis approach was employed to develop indexes for socioeconomic and biophysical indicators. The indicators have been classified into adaptive capacity, exposure and sensitivity to climate change impact. Then Principal Component Analysis was used to compute vulnerability index of each agro ecological zone. The result shows that farmers living in the highland areas were very much vulnerable to natural shocks compared to those living in the lowland area. In order to identify and analyse the determinants of resilience to climate change impacts, ordered probit model was used. Households were classified into three categories based on the time they take to bounce back after natural shocks. The model outputs indicate that farmers with better investment on natural resource management, access to market, better social network, access to credit, preparedness, saving liquid assets, access to irrigation and better level of education exhibited greater level of resilience during and after climate change induced shocks.

Prevalence and antibiogram of bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections at Dessie Health Research Laboratory,Ethiopia

Objective:To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria from suspected urinary tract infections.Methods:A retrospective analysis of Imcterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility was done on urine samples at Dessic Regional Laboratory in the period 2003 to 2010.Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done using disc diffusion technique as per the standard of Kirby-Bauer method.Results:The male to female ratio of the patients was 1:1.96.Of the total 1404 samples..119(22.7%,were culture positive.Escherirhia coli was the dominant isolate(63.6%) followed by Klebsiella spp.(8.5%) and Proteus spp.(8.2%).The overall resistance rates to erythromycin,amoxycillin,and tetracycline were 85.6%,88.9%and 76.7%,respectively,The three most frequently isolated bacteria had resistance rates of 80.1%-90.0%to.amoxycillin,and tetracycline and sensitivity rates of 0to 25%to nitrofurantoin,ciprofloxacin and genlamiein.Antibiogram of isolates showed that 152i47.85%isolates were resistance to two and more antimicrobials.Conclusions:In the study area resistance rates to erythromycin,amoxycillin and tetracycline were high.Since most isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin and gentamicin.they are considered as appropriate antimicrobials for empirical treatment urinary tract infections.

Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondi infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia

Objective: To determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and to assess the possible risk factors associated with the infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care center at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women. Three hundred eighty four serum samples were collected from November 2013 to January 2014. Data on socio-demographic and predisposing factors were collected from each study participant with simple random sampling technique. The serum samples were examined for anti- Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) antibodies using latex agglutination test. Results: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii among the pregnant women was 18.5%. All of T. gondii positive cases found to be positive only for Ig G antibody. Significant association was observed between seroprevalence and presence of domestic cats [AOR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.66-4.90, P=0.000], consumption of raw or undercooked meat [AOR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.15-2.43, P=0.014] and history of abortion [AOR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.40-4.34, P=0.002]. No significant association was observed between seroprevalence and socio-demographic characters, gestational age, gravidity, consumption of raw vegetable, and blood transfusion. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Bahir Dar town was relatively high. Presence of domestic cats at home and consumption of raw or undercooked meat were identified as main risk factors for T. gondii infection. Therefore, health education towards avoiding eating raw or undercooked meat and avoiding contact with cats are recommended for prevention of miscarriage or defects during pregnancy.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthic infections and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Tilili town,northwest Ethiopia

Objective:To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Tilili town,northwest Ethiopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study involving 383 schoolchildren was conducted between November 2011 to February 2012.Each student was selected using systematic random sampling method.Questionnaire and observation were used to identify socio-demographic and associated risk factors.Fresh stool samples were observed using formal-ether concentration technique.Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0statistical software.Results:Four species of intestinal helminthes were identified with an overall prevalence of 44.2%(170 of 385 schoolchildren).The predominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides(A.lumbricoides)153(39.7%)and Trichuris trichiura(T.trichiura)30(7.8%).One hundred thirty five(35.1%)had single infections and 35(9.2%)were infected with more than one helminthic parasites in which 32(8.4%)were double infections and 3(0.8%)were triple infections.Significant associations were observed between intestinal helminth infection and those of age,grade level,and school variables.Prevalence of hookworm infection was significant in children who did not wear shoes regularly(P<0.05).Conclusions:intervention programs and education on personal and environmental hygiene should be implemented for the prevention and control of helminthic infections in the study area.

Current state of active trachoma among elementary school students in the context of ambitious national growth plan: The case of Ethiopia

Trachoma is a classical disease of poverty. It is still the second leading cause of blindness in Ethiopia. Cognizant of the poor living condition of its people, every effort of the current government of Ethiopia is geared towards eradication of extreme poverty. The main aim of this study was to assess the current status and correlates of active trachoma among elementary school students. A cross sectional school-based study was conducted in Dangla town administration in the month of March 2012. Multistage sampling technique was employed. Pre-tested structured questionnaire and eye examination were data collection tools. The data were collected by health professionals especially trained for eye care. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 for windows. Possible associations, and statistical significance between, and among variables were measured using odds ratio at 95% confidence interval. The study indicated that overall prevalence of active trachoma was 12%. The multi-variate analysis revealed that those children with unclean face were seven times more likely to develop active trachoma than those with clean face (AOR = 7.07, 95% CI: 3.36-14.96). Moreover, children who didn’t use soap to wash their face were two times more likely to develop active trachoma than those who claimed to use soap to wash their face (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.72-3.01). In short, the prevalence of trachoma is lower than the figures in previous survey reports in the region and at national levels;however, the risk factors remain the same. The struggle to eradicate extreme poverty should continue in a sustainable manner so that diseases of poverty including trachoma could be eliminated altogether.

Social determinants of under-five mortality in Ethiopia: Event history analysis using evidence from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS)

Background: Under-five mortality is one of the indicators of the millennium development goals (MDGs) for the child mortality reduction goal. Understanding the social determinants of under-five mortality is helpful to narrow the gap between different social classes. Therefore, this study focused on the social determinants of under-five mortality inEthiopiausing EDHS 2011 data. Methods: The data source for this analysis was the 2011 EDHS which was undertaken over a five-month period from 27 December, 2010 to 3 June, 2011. The sample was selected using a stratified, two-stage cluster design. Samples of 16,515 women of reproductive age were interviewed. The questionnaire used to collect information from these women who?had among other things such as?background characteristics of women, birth history of these women and the survival of each birth at the time of the interview. Births that had occurred to women in the last 10 years prior to the date of the?interview were extracted for the analysis. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the distribution of the characteristics of the data. Kaplan Meier plots and incidence rates per 1000 person years were used to compare survival across different categories of the risk factors. The effect of the risk factors on survival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Data management and analysis were carried out using STATA 10. Results: A total of 23,581 under-five children were included in the study. The under-five mortality incidence rate in Ethiopia for the last ten years was 29.6 per 1000 person years. Maternal education beyond primary level of education reduced the risk of under-five mortality by about half. A significant reduction in risk of under-five mortality was observed among births to mothers residing in richest households. The hazard ratio (HR) was higher for under-five mortality among boys than daughters, twins than singleton, teen age mother than higher ages and short births than optimal. Conclusions: Empowering mothers with education and making them productive for improving their income are important aspects for reducing under-five mortality. Emerging regions were disadvantaged on the incidence of under-five mortality;however, there was a positive result in narrowing the urban-rural under-five mortality risks. Being teenage mother at birth, short birth interval and twin births were identified risk factors for increased under-five mortality in Ethiopia. Interventions targeted at empowering women and much effort in emerging regions are required. Preventing teenage motherhood and promoting optimal birth spacing are also required to reduce under-five mortality in Ethiopia.