A relatively high prevalence of enteric protozoan infection was observed among individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Routine stool and CD4+ T-cell examinations should be conducted to monitor the status of HIV/AIDS patients.

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Background. Intestinal parasitic infection is still common in Ethiopia. Periodic evaluation of the current status of human intestinal parasitic infections (HIPIs) is a prerequisite to controlling these health threats. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence and determinant factors of HIPIs among elementary school-age children in Merawi town. Methods. A school-based cross-sectional study design was used among 403 children. The direct wet mount method was used to diagnose the stool samples. The sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of the respondents were collected using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression. Results. Out of the 403 students, the overall prevalence of HIPIs was 173 (42.9%). The magnitudes of single and double infections were 39.7% and 3.2%, respectively. Seventy-two (17.9%) were positive for Entamoeba histolytica, 63 (15.4%) for Giardia lamblia, 28 (9.6%) for Ascaris lumbricoides, 22 (6.9%) for hookworm, and 1 (0.2%) for Schistosoma mansoni. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was high in the age group of 6–11 years compared to other age groups. The following were the risk factors associated with HIPIs: groups aging 6 to 11 ( AOR = 9.581 ; 95% CI: 0.531-17.498; P = 0.008 ), aging 12 to 18 ( AOR = 3.047 ; 95% CI: 0.055-1.828; P = 0.008 ), not washing of hands after defecation ( AOR = 3.683 ; 95% CI; 1.577-8.598; P = 0.003 ), not regularly washing of hands after defecation ( AOR = 2.417 ; 95% CI; 1.224-4.774; P = 0.003 ), dirty fingernails ( AOR = 2.639 ; 95% CI: 1.388-5.020; P = 0.003 ), not wearing shoes ( AOR = 2.779 ; 95% CI: 1.267-6.096; P = 0.011 ), rural residence ( AOR = 6.6 ; 95% CI; 0.06-0.351; P < 0.0001 ), and a family size greater than or equal to five ( AOR = 2.160 ; 95% CI: 1.179-3.956; P = 0.013 ). Conclusion. The prevalence of HIPIs among elementary school children in Merawi town was very high. Thus, there is a need for intensive health education for behavioral changes related to personal hygiene and mass treatment for effective control of HIPIs in the study area.

Tannery effluent plays a significant role in increasing pollution in the environment; in particular, it contains toxic heavy metals which cause toxic effects on plant genetic materials. Among tannery effluent chemicals, chromium and lead have cytotoxicity and genotoxicity potentials on Allium cepa. This investigation was undertaken to assess the physicochemical properties of tannery wastewater and their effect on the genetic materials of A. cepa. Effluent’s physicochemical characteristics were investigated using digital instruments for direct measurement and standard methods of atomic absorption spectrophotometer colorimetric analysis. A series of six onion bulbs were grown in 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% concentrations of wastewater (v/v) ratio, and root tips from each onion bulb were cut and processed for analysis by aceto-orcein squash technique. Most of effluent components were above the discharge limit standards set by Federal Environmental Protection Agency and Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority. The cytotoxicity effect on the root growth showed a significant reduction at high concentration. Simple regression analysis showed that the results of mitotic index were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in different concentrations. A decrease in mitotic index with increasing concentration of the effluent was observed. The effluent had induced chromosomal abnormalities such as laggard, fragmentation, stickiness, bridge, micronucleus, and binucleated and morphologically changed nuclei in A. cepa root cells among others. The results showed that cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and chromosomal aberrations were induced by the tannery effluent. Industries shall think of biological waste treatment methods.

Background. Hypertension is one of the noncommunicable cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and its prevalence is rising in middle- and low-income countries. It is not given enough attention in the developing countries like Ethiopia. Not enough data and studies about hypertension are available in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors among secondary school teachers in Bahir Dar city administration. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among secondary school teachers in Bahir Dar. Two hundred twenty-two randomly selected teachers were interviewed, and data related to the demographic, behavioral, health, and dietary characteristics of the individuals were recorded. Blood pressure data were taken. Logistic regression analysis had been used to assess independent risk factors for hypertension. p -values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. The overall prevalence of hypertension in the study was 29.28%. Age 41 to 50 (AOR: 2.506; 95% CI: 1.103–5.694; and p = 0.028 ), having self-reported diabetes mellitus (AOR: 8.595; 95% CI: 2.795–26.424; and p < 0.0001 ), having a family history of hypertension (AOR: 3.387; 95% CI: 1.579–7.285; and p = 0.002 ), khat chewing (AOR: 5.426; 95% CI: 1.811–16.256; and p = 0.003 ), physical inactivity (AOR: 5.212; 95% CI: 1.974–13.763; and p = 0.001 ), and presence of self-reported repeated stress (AOR: 3.027; 95% CI: 1.404–6.527; and p = 0.005 ) were the risk factors associated with hypertension. Conclusions. Different intervention measures with a particular emphasis on prevention by introducing lifestyle modifications are highly recommended to mitigate and control hypertension.