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BackgroundDelayed treatment of tuberculosis (TB) cases increases the risk of death and rate of infection in the community. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment is essential for effective TB control. The aim of this study was to assess length of delays and analyze predictors of treatment delay of newly diagnosed TB patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Dessie city and surroundings from April1, 2016 to January 30, 2017. Fifteen health facilities of study area were selected randomly and 382 adult TB patients were included consecutively. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Delay was analyzed at three levels (patient, health system and total) using median as cut-off. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate predictors of delays. A p-value of ≤0.05 at multivariate analysis was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe median total, patients’ and health system’s delay was 36 [interquartile range (IQR): 24, 64], 30 (IQR: 15, 60) and 6 (IQR: 4, 8) days, respectively. About 41 and 47% of patients had prolonged patients’ and total delay, respectively. Practicing self-medication [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.0; 95% CI: 1.3–5.6], having more than three family member in the household (AOR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.02–2.50), older age (≥55 years) (AOR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.27–5.83), being smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.25–4.21) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.28–4.07) were independent predictors of patients’ delay. Initial visit of general practitioners (AOR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.43–4.63) and more than one health care visit (AOR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.30–3.46) were independent predictors of health system’s delay. However, patients’ delay was shorter among widowed/divorced patients (AOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.8). Lower level of education [illiterate (AOR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.20–0.92), grade 1–8 (AOR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.18–0.81)] and diagnosis of TB using a chest X-ray (AOR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16–0.68) significantly reduce health system’s delay.ConclusionAbout half of TB patients delayed beyond 36 days before starting treatment, and the late patient health seeking behavior was the major contributor of total delay. Development and implementation of strategies aimed at addressing identified factors should be recognized in order to reduce TB treatment delay. Further well designed research is needed to explore additional risk factors of delayed treatment.

BackgroundHealth care professionals, especially medical students, are at greater risk of contracting hepatitis B and C virus infections due to their occupational exposure to percutaneous injuries and other body fluids. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among medicine and health science students in Northeast Ethiopia and to assess their knowledge and practice towards the occupational risk of viral hepatitis.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 408 medicine and health science students during the period from March to September 2017. A pre-coded self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on students’ socio- demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of hepatitis B and C infections. Blood samples were collected and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. SPSS version 20 statistical software was used for data analysis.ResultsThe seroprevalence of HBV infection was 4.2% (95% CI 2.5 to 6.1%) and 0.7% (95% CI 0.0 to 1.7%) for HCV. Older age (AOR = 15.72, 95% CI 1.57–157.3) and exposure to needlestick injury (AOR = 3.43, 95% CI 1.10–10.73) were associated with a higher risk of HBV infection. Majority of the students (80.1%) had an adequate knowledge about hepatitis B and C infection, mode of transmission and preventive measures. Only 50.0% of students had safe practice towards occupational risk of viral hepatitis infection. Almost half (49.8%) of students experienced a needlestick injury; of which, 53.2% reported the incidence, and only 39.4% had screening test result for viral hepatitis.ConclusionA high seroprevalence but poor practice of hepatitis B and C virus infection was found in the study area despite their good knowledge towards occupational risk of viral hepatitis infection.

ObjectiveIntestinal parasitic infection is a serious public health problem throughout the world particularly in developing countries. Like other countries in sub saran region epidemiological data regarding prevalence of intestinal parasites and their associated factors were limited in Ethiopia. So, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated factors among under five children in Dessie Referral Hospital from August 1, 2017 to December 20, 2017.ResultsIn this research a total of 232 under five children were involved. Out of these study subjects 36 (15.5%) were infected with at least one intestinal parasites. A total of five intestinal parasites were examined and the dominant parasite was E. histolytica 15/232 (6.5%) followed by H. nana 11/232 (4.7%). All age groups were affected by intestinal parasites but children who were at the age of below 2 years and at the age between 2 and 3 years were 4.7 times and 2.6 times at risk of acquiring infection with intestinal parasites in comparison at the age of 3–5 years children.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3888-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Hematologic abnormalities involving peripheral blood cell cytopenias are strong predictors of morbidity, mortality and poor antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes of HIV infected individuals. However, limited studies are conducted in resource-limited settings of sub-Saharan Africa that have addressed the magnitude and associated factors of cytopenias. This study aimed to investigate the magnitude and associated factors of cytopenias among ART naïve HIV infected adult Ethiopians. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among ART naïve HIV infected individuals attending at ART unit of Dessie Referral Hospital between November 01, 2015 and April 30, 2016. A total of 402 adults were included using consecutive sampling. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data of patients were collected. The data were entered to Epi Info version 3.4.3 and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software (SPSS INC, Chicago, IL, USA). Factors associated with cytopenias were analyzed first using bivariate and then multivariate logistic regression models. An odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the strength of association. For all statistical significant tests, the cut-off value was set at P<0.05. Results In this study, the overall magnitude of any cytopenia, anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were 63.4%, 43.5%, 24.4% and 18.7%, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, severe immunosuppression and WHO clinical stage IV HIV disease were significantly associated with increased prevalence of cytopenias. In addition, older age and younger age showed significant association with increased prevalence of anemia and leucopenia, respectively. Conclusion Frequent occurrence of cytopenias was independently associated with severe immunosuppression and WHO clinical stage IV HIV disease. Further longitudinal multicenter studies are recommended to bolster the findings of this study in order to suggest the need of routine assessment and management of hematological abnormalities for optimal choice of initial antiretroviral agents and prevention of further morbidities.

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in the world. It can result in various upper gastroduodenal diseases. The prevalence varies among countries, population groups within the same country and testing methods. The aim of the study was to determine feco-prevalence and risk factors of H.pylori infection among symptomatic patients in Amhara region, Northeast Ethiopia.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted in a total of 342 new consecutive outpatients with upper abdominal complaints at Dessie Referral Hospital from May to July, 2016. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic, lifestyle and environmental data. Stool samples were used to detect H. pylori specific antigen. Blood samples were assessed for anti-H. pylori IgG and ABO blood types. SPSS version 20.0 statistical software package was used for data analysis. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used in the analysis and P-value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultsH. pylori stool antigen and serum anti-H.pylori IgG detection rate was 30.4 and 60.5% respectively with kappa measure of agreement of 0.271. Antigen detection was significantly associated with family size (> 3) [AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.10–3.05, p = 0.02], more persons (> 3) sharing the same bed room in the household [AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.39–6.11, p = 0.005], alcohol consumption (> once a week) [AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.49–4.89, p = 0.001] and individuals’ blood type: group O [AOR = 8.93, 95%CI: 1.79–44.48, p = 0.008] and group A [AOR = 5.53, 95%CI: 1.08–28.36, p = 0.040]. Gender, age, marital status, occupation, educational level, residence, smoking as well as coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables consumption were not statistically associated with H. pylori antigen detection (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe overall H. pylori stool antigen and anti-H. pylori IgG detection rate was 30.4 and 60.5%, respectively. The test agreement was not strongly convincing and needs further evaluation. Alcohol consumption, overcrowding and ABO blood group were significantly associated with H. pylori antigen detection.

ObjectiveIntestinal parasites and H. pylori are well-known for their high prevalence worldwide. Thus, the objective of this study waste assess risk factors and co-infection of intestinal parasites and H. pylori among adult patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints. A hospital-based cross sectional study was conducted among 363 consecutive adult patients from December 10, 2015 to February 30,2016. Stool and venous blood were collected for analysis of Intestinal parasites and H. pylori infection, respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess predictors of co-infection. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultsHelicobacter pylori IgG and intestinal parasites were detected in 70.25–38.3% of participants, respectively while G. lamblia accounted 22.3%. G. lamblia prevalence was significantly higher among H. pylori infected participants (COR: 2.76; 95% CI: 1.46–5.23), but E. hystolytica/dispar infection didn’t show significant variation (p = 0.15). H. pylori and intestinal parasites concomitant co-infection was associated with male sex (AOR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.01–2.56), consumption of river water (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.11–3.07) and ground/spring water (AOR: 4.10; 95% CI: 1.97–8.52). Thus, besides H. pylori investigation, upper gastrointestinal symptomatic patients should be screened for G. lamblia infection and other intestinal parasites.

ObjectiveIntestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the major public health and socioeconomic problems in developing countries like Ethiopia. Food-handlers that directly deal with production and distribution of foods between societies are one of the most important sources to transmit parasitic infections to humans. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasites among asymptomatic food-handlers working in students’ cafeteria of Wollo University, Northeastern Ethiopia.ResultA cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 asymptomatic food handlers at Wollo University from January 1 to February 20, 2018. Among the total participants 30 (15%) were infected with at least one intestinal parasites. The dominant parasite was E. histolytica (5.5%) followed by A. lumbricoides (4%) and then G. lamblia (3%). Finger nail trimming (p = 0.002, AOR: 4.35, 95% CI 1.71–11.04), medical checkup (p = 0.012, AOR: 4.01, 95% CI 1.37–12.25) and residence (p = 0.014, AOR: 3.16, 95% CI 1.26–7.95) were independent predictors of intestinal parasitic infection among the food handlers.