Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), an emerging virus in late 2019 causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has caused a catastrophic effect, resulting in an unprecedented global crisis. The immunopathology of COVID‐19 appears to be clearly associated with a dysregulated immune response leading to organ failure and death. Similarly, over two billion people worldwide are infected with helminth, with those living in low‐middle‐income countries disproportionately affected. Helminth infections have been shown to possess immunomodulatory effects in several conditions. Helminth co‐infection in COVID‐19 patients is one of the potential reasons for global attention to answer why COVID‐19 severity is still lower in helminth endemic countries. Recent studies have shown that helminth endemic countries showed fewer cases and deaths so far and helminth co‐infection might reduce the severity of COVID‐19. Moreover, lessons from other diseases with helminth co‐infection have been shown to substantially reduce vaccine efficacy that could also be implicated for COVID‐19. This immunomodulatory effect of helminth has intended and unintended consequences, both advantageous and disadvantageous which could decrease the severity of COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 vaccine efficacy respectively. Herewith, we discuss the overview of COVID‐19 immune response, immunomodulatory effects of helminth co‐infections in COVID‐19, lessons from other diseases, and perspectives on the efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccines.
Background Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common clinical disorders occurred worldwide. About 1.1 million neonates develop jaundice per year globally and the vast majority of them found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. There is a paucity of evidence on the incidence rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in the northwest, Ethiopia. Methods A prospective cohort study design was conducted at Debre Markos comprehensive, specialized Hospitals using 334 neonates from October 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Using a systematic random sampling technique, the study subjects were drawn. Data were entered into the Epi-Data TM Version 4.2 and analyzed using STATA TM Version 14.0. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival time. A generalized Log rank test was used to compare the survival curves of different categorical variables. Finally, both bi-variable and multivariable Cox-proportional hazards regression models were used to identify the predictors of neonatal jaundice. The Results The overall incidence rate of jaundice among neonates was 4.5 per 100 person-hours. Long duration of labor [ARR = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), (2.8–8.7)], being male neonates [ARR= 5.2; 95% CI (3.5–7.3)], “O” blood group mothers [ARR = 4.5; 95% CI (3.4–10.3)], and having neonatal sepsis 3.4 [ARR=3.4; 95% CI: (2.5–6.1)] were predictors. Conclusion The incidence rate of jaundice was higher in this study than the finding of the previous one. Being male, prolonged duration of labor, “O” blood group mothers and sepsis were the significant predictors. Hence, an effort has to be made to decrease the incidence rate of neonatal jaundice through improving newborn care and timely intervention for neonates with sepsis and delivered at a long duration of time as well as the neonates born from “o” blood type mothers are our recommendation.
Background Anemia, the most common micro-nutrient deficiency disorder, is the world’s second leading cause of morbidity and morbidity, affecting 24.8% of the population, of which 47.4% are under-five children. The prevalence of anemia ranges from 44 to 56% in Ethiopia. Although its magnitude has shown decreases across regions; it continues to be a significant public health problem, particularly in developing countries including Ethiopia. Despite this evidence, the magnitude and associated factors of anemia was not systematically explored and there is a limited information or limited evidences in the study area. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of anemia among children aged 6–59 months attending at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Debre Markos referral hospital Northwest Ethiopia from September 30 to December 30, 2019. Data on socio-demographic and socio-economic factors, health and nutritional features of children and their mothers were obtained using pre-tested structured questionnaires in a face-to-face interview with child care providers. Blood samples and stool examination for intestinal parasites were performed. Hemoglobin level was analyzed using the HemoCue device (HemoCueHb 301). The collected data were coded, cleared and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1, and analyzed using Stata version 14 software. To identify candidates and predictor variables, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were applied respectively. The significance level was determined at a confidence interval of 95% at p-value < 0.05. Results Of the total of 341 participants planned to be participated, about 310 mother-child pairs participated in the study, giving a response rate of 91%; and data were collected from children as well as their parents or guardians. In this study, the magnitude of anemia was 11.9% (95% CI, 8.5, 16.2%). Poor dietary diversity (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.12, 5.14), food-insecure households (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI: 1.85, 4.52), complementary feeding initiation time (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI:1.23, 6.61), intestinal parasites infection (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI:1.23, 6.61) and family income (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI:1.57, 5.0) were found to be factors significantly associated with anemia. Conclusion Overall, anemia is considered a public health problem among children aged 6–59 months attending at Debre Markos referral hospital, based on the cut-off point of the World Health Organization. Poor dietary diversity, complementary feeding initiation time, household food insecurity, intestinal parasite infection and family income were significantly associated with childhood anemia. Thus, it needs for proven interventions in public health such as food diversification, anti-helmintic drug provision and household food security. In addition, educating women about nutrition and diet diversification, as well as involving them in alternative sources of income-generating activity, can be vital in the study area.
Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is designed to assess the pooled prevalence and determine risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy in Ethiopia. Methods: International databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Publication bias was determined using the funnel plot and Egger’s regression tests. Heterogeneity between the studies included in this review was checked by I2 statistic. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled effect size. Sub-group, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Overall, meta-analysis was done using Stata version 14 statistical software. Results: Twenty-seven studies with 8946 individuals were included, the estimated pooled prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy was 40.24% (95% confidence interval = 33.8–46.6). Based on sub-group analysis, the highest prevalence was observed in the Tigray region 45.7% (95% confidence interval = 7.9–83.5), followed by Oromia region 42.2% (95% confidence interval = 28.8–55.6). Availability of latrine (odds ratio = 26.6, 95% confidence interval = 2.8–15.8), presence of animals at home (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.2–5.8), and source of drinking water (odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.3–7.5) were significantly associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the prevalence of intestinal parasites among people living with HIV/AIDS was high in Ethiopia.
Objective: This review is aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of mothers’ health care-seeking behavior and associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods: International databases were systematically searched for studies that were published between 2008 and 2019. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel 2019 and then exported to STATA version 14 for further analysis. Publication bias was determined by funnel plot, Begg’s test, and Egger’s test. Heterogeneity between the studies was checked by I2 statistic. The pooled proportion was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis model. Results: This review and meta-analysis included 14 studies from a total of 581 papers that were screened. The pooled proportion of mothers’ health care-seeking behavior in Ethiopia was 50.24% (95% CI: 37.13%, 63.35%). Health facility distance (OR = 2.07), awareness about common childhood illnesses (OR = 2.06), educational levels (OR = 1.82), and income (OR = 2.07) were significantly associated variables. Conclusion: The overall health care-seeking behavior of mothers for common childhood illnesses in Ethiopia is low. Accordingly, educating mothers/caregivers about the importance of health care-seeking behavior and increasing the proximity of health facilities were recommended to improve health care-seeking behavior.
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