Background: Inappropriate self-medication is a public-health problem worldwide. Major problems associated with self-medication include wastage of resources, increased resistance of pathogens, and adverse drug reactions. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess self-medication practices and associated factors among undergraduate Wollo University students in Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 341 undergraduate university students using a pretested and self-administered questionnaire from January to February 2019. Simple random sampling was used to select study participants. Data were collected using the self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Multiple logistic regression was employed in data analysis, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of self-medication in this study was 64.98%. Mildness of disease (57, 34.13%) and dissatisfaction with health-care services, (44, 26.34%) were the main reasons for self-medication practice. The most common types of diseases for selfmedication were headache (80, 47.9%), gastrointestinal infections (74, 44.31%), and respiratory tract infections (48, 28.74%). Analgesics (94, 56.28%) and antibiotics (60, 35.9%) were the leading classes of medicine used in self-medication. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that agriculture students (AOR 0.163, 95% CI 0.049-0.545) were 84% less likely to practice self-medication than medicine and health-science students. Conclusion: This study revealed that self-medication practices are common among study participants and significantly associated with their field of study. Awareness promotion on the risk of inappropriate self-medication for university students is highly recommended.

Background: In the early stages of life, anemia leads to severe negative consequences on the cognitive, growth and development of children. The Ethiopian demographic and health survey showed an increasing trend of anemia nationally. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the magnitude and factors associated with anemia among under-five children. Methods: A health facility based cross sectional study was conducted among 409 systematically selected children 6-59 months attending services at public and private health institutions in Kombolcha Town, Northeast Ethiopia. Data were collected using structured questioner from mother or caretakers.  The data entry and analysis were done by SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression was fitted to determine associations. The odds ratio with the 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results: From the total participant 213(53.9%) were males with the mean age of 26 months (SD+15.2). The overall prevalence of anemia was 52.2% (95% CI, 46.8%-57%). Being in the age of 6-11 months (AOR= 6.23, 95% CI: 2.44, 15.95), 12-23 months (AOR= 3.74, 95%CI: 1.63, 8.60), maternal age ≥30 years (AOR=0.37 (0.18, 0.77), exclusive breast feeding until six months (AOR=0.27, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.45), having low dietary diversity score (AOR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.55, 4.38), having history of diarrhea (AOR= 1.87, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.12) and having the lowest family monthly income (AOR=16.97, 95% CI: 4.95, 58.20) were identified as factors associated with anemia. Conclusion: The magnitude of anemia in children was a public health problem in the study area. child age, maternal age, exclusive breastfeeding, dietary diversity score, diarrhea and family income were found to be associated with anemia.

BackgroundEarly HIV diagnosis and access to treatment is one of the most effective ways to prevent its further spread and to protect the health of those living with the virus. However, delay in diagnosis is the major risk factor for uptake of and response to antiretroviral therapy.MethodsInstitution-based unmatched case-control study design was used in the study. The study was conducted in Debre-Markos and Finote-Selam Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. Cases were people living with HIV who had CD4 count <350cells/mm3 or WHO clinical stage III and IV regardless of the CD4 count at first presentation and controls were those who had CD4 count ≥350cells/mm3 or WHO clinical stage I and II. If both criteria were available, the CD4 count was used in the study as World Health Organization recommended. A total of 392 respondents (196 cases and 196 controls) were recruited and selected systematically. The data were collected by trained nurses using chart review and interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Binary Logistic Regression Model was used to identify the factors associated with late HIV diagnosis.ResultsAbout 95.9 % of study participants provided complete response. Having no understanding, compared to having understanding, about HIV/AIDS (AOR = 1.7, 95 %CI = 1.08–2.79) and ART (AOR = 2.1, 95 %CI: 1.25–3.72), being tested as a result of symptoms/ illness, compared to being tested for risk exposure (inverted AOR =2.5, 95 %CI: 1.64–4.76), and acquiring HIV through sexual contact, compared to acquiring it through other modes (AOR = 2.5, 95 %CI = 1.52–4.76) were positively and independently associated with late HIV diagnosis.ConclusionsUnlike perceived HIV stigma, having no understanding about HIV and ART, being tested for presence of symptoms/illness, and acquiring HIV through sexual contact were independent and significant factors for late HIV diagnosis.

Background Vaccines are a powerful choice to stop disease outbreaks, including covid-19. However, people are hesitant to take vaccinations due to uncertainty about side effects. So, this study aimed to assess covid-19 vaccine side-effect and its associated factors among healthcare workers in Dessie comprehensive specialized hospital, in Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Dessie Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital among 351 vaccinated healthcare workers from April 25 to May 25, 2021. Self-administrated questionnaires were used by consented health workers. Variance inflation factor (VIF) was used to assess the multicollinearity of independent variables. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify significant factors of vaccine side effects. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported as the effect size. Statistical significance was considered at p-value <0.05. Results Overall, of vaccinated healthcare workers, 56.98% (95% CI, 50.86–61.26%) experienced at least one side effect. The majority of the side effects were fever (44.44%), headache (39.03%), fatigue (27.35%), injection site pain (25.93%), and nausea (24.22%). Healthcare workers with (≥10 years) of work experience (AOR: 3.74, 95% CI, 1.32–10.59), Hesitancy to take the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine (AOR: 3.01, 95% CI, 1.82–4.99), underlying chronic disease (AOR: 14.41, 95% CI, (5.07–40.92)), being on antihypertensive medication (AOR: 0.15; 95% CI (0.02–0.93)), and unsafe perception of vaccine safety (AOR:3.50; 95% CI, 1.43–8.57) were independent factors of Covax vaccine side effect development. Conclusion Overall, common vaccine side effects were identified in healthcare workers who have taken the Covax vaccine. Healthcare workers with (≥10 years) of work experience, Hesitancy to take the first dose, unsafe perception of vaccine safety, and underlined chronic disease were predictors of vaccine side effect occurrence. So, providing vaccine-related information to the community to be vaccinated is mandatory to reduce hesitancy and flaws regarding vaccine safety.

Background Closing the gap of unmet for family planning is crucial to eliminate new pediatric HIV infections likewise to improve maternal and child health among reproductive-age women living with HIV. However, studies conducted on unmet need for family planning among reproductive-age women living with HIV showed inconsistent and non-conclusive findings on the magnitude of the problem. Moreover, there was no meta-analysis conducted in this area. So this systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence unmet need for family planning among reproductive-age women living with HIV in Ethiopia. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was followed to review both published and unpublished studies in Ethiopia. All studies in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Hinari, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Global Health databases were searched. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14 software. The heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I2 statistics and Egger regression asymmetry test, respectively. Forest plots were used to present the pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results This review included 7 studies, and 3333 study participants. The pooled prevalence of unmet need for family planning among reproductive-age women living with HIV in Ethiopia was 25.13% (95%CI: 19.97, 30.29). The pooled prevalence of unmet need for spacing and limiting was 13.91% (95%CI: 10.11, 17.72) and 9.11% (95%CI: 6.43, 11.78), respectively. Conclusions One-fourths of reproductive-age women living with HIV had an unmet need for family planning. A variety of programmatic investments are needed to achieve more meaningful progress toward the reduction of unmet need for family planning among reproductive-age women living with HIV.