Background Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (MDRTB) is a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to at least Rifampicin and Isoniazid drugs. The treatment success rate for MDRTB cases is lower than for drug susceptible TB. Monitoring the early treatment outcome and better understanding the specific reasons for early unfavorable treatment outcome are important to evaluate the effectiveness of tuberculosis control and preventing the emergence of extremely drug resistant tuberculosis. However, this information is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the intensive phase treatment outcome and factors contributing among patients treated for MDRTB in Ethiopia. Methods A 6 year (2009 to 2014) retrospective cohort record review was conducted in fourteen treatment initiating centers in Ethiopia. The records of 751 MDRTB patients were randomly selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured checklist. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression model was undertaken to identify the contributing factors. Results At the end of the intensive phase, 17.3% of MDRTB patients had an unfavorable treatment outcome while 16.8% had an unknown outcome with the rest having a favorable outcome. The median duration of the intensive phase was 9.0 months (IQR 8.04-10.54). Having an unfavorable intensive phase treatment outcome was found to be more common among older aged [ARRR= 1.047, 95% CI (1.024, 1.072)] and those without a history of hypokalemia [ARRR=0.512, 95% CI (0.280, 0.939)]. Having an unknown intensive phase treatment outcome was found to be more common among those treated under the ambulatory care model [ARRR=3.2, 95% CI (1.6, 6.2)], rural dwellers [ARRR= 0.370, 95% CI (0.199, 0.66)], those without a treatment supporter [ARRR=0.022, 95% CI (0.002, 0.231)], and those with resistance to a limited number of drugs. Conclusion We observed a higher than anticipated rate of unfavorable and unknown treatment outcomes in this study. To improve favorable treatment outcome more emphasis should be given to conducting all scheduled laboratory monitoring tests, assignment of trained treatment supporters and ensuring complete recording and reporting which could be enhanced by quarterly cohort review. Older aged and rural patients need special attention. Furthermore, the sample referral network should be strengthened.

Background Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to at least Rifampicin and Isoniazid drugs. The treatment success rate for MDR-TB cases is lower than for drug susceptible TB. Globally only 55% of MDR-TB patients were successfully treated. Monitoring the early treatment outcome and better understanding of the specific reasons for early unfavorable and unknown treatment outcome is crucial for preventing the emergence of further drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, this information is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the intensive phase treatment outcome and contributing factors among patients treated for MDR-TB in Ethiopia. Methods A 6 year retrospective cohort record review was conducted in fourteen TICs all over the country. The records of 751 MDR-TB patients were randomly selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured checklist. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was undertaken to identify the contributing factors. Results At the end of the intensive phase, 17.3% of MDR-TB patients had an unfavorable treatment outcome, while 16.8% had an unknown outcome with the remaining having a favorable outcome. The median duration of the intensive phase was 9.0 months (IQR 8.04–10.54). Having an unfavorable intensive phase treatment outcome was found significantly more common among older age [ARRR = 1.047, 95% CI (1.024, 1.072)] and those with a history of hypokalemia [ARRR = 0.512, 95% CI (0.280, 0.939)]. Having an unknown intensive phase treatment outcome was found to be more common among those treated under the ambulatory care [ARRR = 3.2, 95% CI (1.6, 6.2)], rural dwellers [ARRR = 0.370, 95% CI (0.199, 0.66)], those without a treatment supporter [ARRR = 0.022, 95% CI (0.002, 0.231)], and those with resistance to a limited number of drugs. Conclusion We observed a higher rate of unfavorable and unknown treatment outcome in this study. To improve favorable treatment outcome more emphasis should be given to conducting all scheduled laboratory monitoring tests, assignment of treatment supporters for each patient and ensuring complete recording and reporting which could be enhanced by quarterly cohort review. Older aged and rural patients need special attention. Furthermore, the sample referral network should be strengthened.

Background : Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to at least Rifampicin and Isoniazid drugs. The treatment success rate for MDR-TB cases is lower than for drug susceptible TB. Globally only 55% of MDR-TB patients were successfully treated. Monitoring the early treatment outcome and better understanding of the specific reasons for early unfavorable and unknown treatment outcome is crucial for preventing the emergence of further drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, this information is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the intensive phase treatment outcome and contributing factors among patients treated for MDR-TB in Ethiopia. Methods : A 6 year retrospective cohort record review was conducted in fourteen TICs all over the country. The records of 751 MDR-TB patients were randomly selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured checklist. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was undertaken to identify the contributing factors. Results: At the end of the intensive phase, 17.3% of MDR-TB patients had an unfavorable treatment outcome, while 16.8% had an unknown outcome with the remaining having a favorable outcome. The median duration of the intensive phase was 9.0 months (IQR 8.04-10.54). Having an unfavorable intensive phase treatment outcome was found significantly more common among older age [ARRR= 1.047, 95% CI (1.024, 1.072)] and those without a history of hypokalemia [ARRR=0.512, 95% CI (0.280, 0.939)]. Having an unknown intensive phase treatment outcome was found to be more common among those treated under the ambulatory care [ARRR=3.2, 95% CI (1.6, 6.2)], rural dwellers [ARRR= 0.370, 95% CI (0.199, 0.66)], those without a treatment supporter [ARRR=0.022, 95% CI (0.002, 0.231)], and those with resistance to a limited number of drugs. Conclusion: We observed a higher rate of unfavorable and unknown treatment outcome in this study. To improve favorable treatment outcome more emphasis should be given to conducting all scheduled laboratory monitoring tests, assignment of treatment supporters for each patient and ensuring complete recording and reporting which could be enhanced by quarterly cohort review. Older aged and rural patients need special attention. The sample referral network should be strengthened.

Background: There is a global concern that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cannot be addressed without the integration and active engagement of communities. We aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the residents in Eastern Ethiopia toward COVID-19.Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on May 1–30, 2020 among the residents of Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices toward COVID-19. We used random sampling to select the participants. Data was entered into the statistics and data (STATA) version for data cleaning and analysis. Binary logistic regression models with 95% CI were used to conduct bivariable [crude odds ratio (COR)] and multivariable [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)] analyses.Result: A total of 415 community residents responded to the questionnaire. Of those participants, 52.5% (95% CI 47.7–57) had adequate knowledge, 31.6% (95% CI 27–36) had favorable attitudes, and 49% (95% CI 45–50) had good practice toward the precautionary measures of COVID-19. Adequate knowledge had a significant association with urban residence (AOR = 5, 95% CI 3.1–8.4) and literacy (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.5–6.7). Good preventions practices had a significant association with place of residence (AOR = 4.1, 95% CI 2.3–7.2), literacy (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1,2–7.4), adequate knowledge (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 2.3–5.8), and favorable attitude (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.8) about the disease.Conclusion: The overall COVID-19-related KAP was inadequate in the majority of the residents of Dire Dawa that occupy irregular migration flows. These call for robust community-centered behavioral communication strategies that could bridge the gaps and help prevent and control COVID-19 and other future pandemics in their community.

Background: Ethiopian abortion law is relatively liberal, but due to lack of knowledge and negative attitude toward legalization of abortion among most women, shortage of safe abortion services provision and significant amount of sociocultural pressures women still go to unsafe abortion service. So the objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice toward legalization of abortion among female students of Sabiyan secondary school, Dire Dawa, March 20-30/ 2018. Subjects & Methods:   The study was conducted in Dire Dawa city,   in Sabiyan high school. An institutional based cross-sectional survey was employed on randomly selected female students. Data was collected using pre- tested self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using computer software SPSS version 24.0. Tables, graphs and charts were used for some variable to describe the results of the study. Results: A total of 320 regular female students were included making the response rate of 100%. Ethiopian abortion law was assessed only 40 (12.5%) of participants were knowledgeable and only 98 (30.6%) of the respondents were having positive attitude. Out of 24 (7.5%) who ever get pregnant, 15 (4.7%) seek for unsafe abortion and only 7 (2.2%) were having experience (practice) of legal abortion. Conclusion: there was a low level of knowledge of the revised Ethiopian abortion law among study participants and majority of the participants had a negative attitude towards legal abortion services and only few of them had practice of legal abortion. So focusing on awareness creation strategy by each stakeholder is an important.