Malnutrition is the leading cause of poor child health in Ethiopia, and progress to avert it is unacceptably slow. In addition, little is known about the magnitude and factors associated with concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with WaSt, wasting, stunting and underweight among children 6-59 months in Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Ethiopia. Data from a total of 1091 children and their parents' were analysed from a cross-sectional study. Household questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were used for data collection. Height-for-age, weight-forheight and weight-for-age indices are expressed as standard deviation units from the mean for the reference group. Multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with WaSt, wasting, stunting and underweight. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. The prevalence of indicators of malnutrition was WaSt (5.8%), wasting (16.8%), stunting (53.9%) and underweight (36.9%). Children aged 6-17 months had a higher odds of wasting (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.75) compared with those aged 36-59 months, whereas children aged 18-35 months (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.65-3.47) and 36-59 months (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.07-2.37) had higher odds of stunting compared with those aged 6-17 months. Similarly, children aged 18-35 months (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.07-2.37) and 36-59 months (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.52-3.10) had higher odds of underweight compared with children aged 6-17 months. Households that did not treat drinking water at point of use were at higher odds of WaSt (aOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.16-9.27) and stunting (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.31-2.85) compared with those who did treat drinking water. Boys were more likely to be WaSt, wasted, stunted and underweight. Cough was associated with WaSt, wasting and underweight. Furthermore, maternal education, maternal occupation and maternal age were significantly associated with

BackgroundDespite the significant benefits of digital health technologies (ITs), developing countries are lagging behind their developed counterparts in the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) in a healthcare setting. EMRs have long been considered essential elements in improving the quality of healthcare. However, the rate of utilization of EMRs among healthcare providers still remains low, particularly in developing countries.ObjectiveThis study aimed at exploring EMR use and its determinants among healthcare providers at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia.MethodsA quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 health professionals working at public health facilities supplemented with an exploratory qualitative study in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Descriptive summary statistics and binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to explore the determinant factors of EMR use, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed.ResultsOverall, about a quarter (26.6%) of health professionals were using electronic medical records. A work experience of 6 years or less [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.15–4.31]], a discussion on EMR (AOR = 14.47; 95% CI: [5.58–7.57]), the presence of an EMR manual (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI: [1.28–7.38]), and a positive attitude toward the EMR system (AOR = 11.15; 95% CI: [4.90–25.36]) and service quality (AOR = 8.02; 95% CI: [4.09–15.72]) were independent determinants of EMR use. Poor collaboration among stakeholders and dependence on the software programs of NGOs were the main challenges cited by key informants.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that EMR use by health professionals in the study area is very low. Several organizational, technical, and behavioral factors were identified for this low utilization. Therefore, there is a need to leverage EMRs through continuous technical support and commitment to enhance its use, which has the potential to improve health service performance. Developing locally applicable EMR software should be considered.

Objective: This systematic review was aimed to address the prevalence and causes of intestinal obstruction in Ethiopia. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, African Journals Online, HINARI, and other supplementary sources, including Google Scholar. We conducted methodological quality assessments for the articles by employing a critical appraisal checklist of Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: The reported prevalence of intestinal obstruction in Ethiopia ranges from 18.6% to 50.7% among patients with acute abdomen. However, the prevalence varies from 4.3% to 34.6% among total surgical admissions. The leading causes of small intestinal obstruction were small bowel volvulus, intussusception, and adhesion. Sigmoid volvulus was the most commonly reported cause of large intestine obstruction, followed by colonic cancer. Conclusion: The highest reported prevalence of intestinal obstruction in Ethiopia was 50.7% among patients with acute abdomen and 34.6% among surgical admissions. Small intestine volvulus and sigmoid volvulus were the common causes of small and large bowel obstructions, respectively. Therefore, clinicians have to consider the common causes during the diagnosis and management of intestinal obstruction.

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a highly contagious pathogen that has become a severe public health problem and a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Medical students are at high occupational risk during their training. However, no facility-based studies were found among medical students in eastern Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and associated factors among medical students in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 randomly selected medical students from March to June 2018. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and other risk factors. A 5ml blood was collected, and the serum was analyzed for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using the Instant Hepatitis B surface antigen kit. Data were entered using Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS statistical packages version 22. Outcome and explanatory variables were described using descriptive summary measures. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was conducted at 95% CI and an association at P-value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant. Results The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen was 11.5% (95%CI = 8.6, 14.7). Poor knowledge of universal precaution guideline (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI = [1.35–4.93]), history of needle stick injury (AOR = 2.11; 95% CI = [1.07–4.18]) and never been vaccinated for HBV (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI = [1.17–4.69]) were found statistically significantly associated with HBsAg positivity after multivariate analysis. Conclusion Hepatitis B virus infection rate is high among health care trainees in eastern Ethiopia. Improvement at health care practice centers safety through training on universal precaution guidelines, and scaling up HBV vaccination is mandatory.

Background The risk of hepatitis B virus infection among medical waste handlers who undergo collection, transportation, and disposal of medical wastes in the health institutions is higher due to frequent exposure to contaminated blood and other body fluids. There is limited evidence on the seroprevalence of hepatitis B among medical waste handlers in eastern Ethiopia. The study was aimed at studying the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and associated risk factors among medical waste collectors at health facilities of eastern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected medical waste collectors from public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia from March to June 2018. A pre-tested and well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and hepatitis B infection risk factors. A2.5ml venous blood was also collected, centrifuged and the serum was analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen using the instant hepatitis B surface antigen kit. Descriptive summary measures were done. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to assess the risk of association. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted with 95% CI and all value at P-value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant. Results From a total of 260 (97.38%) medical waste collectors participated, HBV was detected in 53 (20.4%) of the participants [95%CI; 15.8, 25.6]. No significant differences were observed in the detection rates of HBV with respect to socio-demographic characteristics. In both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, being unvaccinated (AOR = 6.35; 95%CI = [2.53–15.96], P = 0.001), history of blood transfusion (receiving) (AOR; 3.54; 95%CI; [1.02–12.24], P = 0.046), history of tattooing (AOR = 2.86; 95%CI = [1.12–7.27], p = 0.03), and history of multiple sexual partner (AOR = 10.28; 95%CI = [4.16–25.38], P = 0.001) remained statistically significantly associated with HBsAg positivity. Conclusion This cross-sectional study identified that HBV infection is high among medical waste collectors in eastern Ethiopia. Immunization and on job health promotion and disease prevention measures should be considered in order to control the risk of HBV infection among medical waste collectors in eastern Ethiopia.