IntroductionMeasles remain a leading cause of vaccine-preventable infant mortality. In Africa, about 13 million cases and 6,50,000 deaths occur annually, with Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest morbidity and mortality. Ethiopia launched second-dose measles vaccination into the routine immunization program in the second year of life in 2019. However, little has been known about the coverage of the second-dose measles vaccine. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the level of second-dose measles vaccine uptake and associated factors in North Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia.ObjectiveTo assess second-dose measles vaccination and associated factors among under-five children and to identify reasons for not being vaccinated in urban areas of North Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia, 2022.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 February to 15 March 2022. The sample size was 410, and it was allocated proportionally to each kebelle. The study units were selected consecutively. The data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Four nurses were used as data collectors. Data were coded manually and entered into Epi-data Version 4.4.2.1. Frequency and cross-tabs were used for data cleaning. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21 software. Multicollinearity and model goodness-of-fit tests were checked. A multivariable logistic regression model at 95% CI was used to identify factors associated with the dependent variable.ResultThe response rate was 90.7%. The level of second-dose measles vaccination among children in urban areas of North Shoa Zone was 42.5% [95% CI (36.8, 47.3)]. Maternal age of ≤ 25 years [AOR = 9.12: 95% CI (1.97, 42.19)], 26–30 years [AOR = 9.49: 95% CI (2.33, 38.63)], 31–35 years [AOR = 7.87: 95% CI (1.78, 34.79)]; average time mothers had been waiting for vaccination at the health facility [AOR = 3.68: 95% CI (1.33, 10.23)]; awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases [AOR = 4.15: 95% CI (1.53, 11.26)]; and awareness on recommended measles doses [AOR = 17.81: 95% CI (3.91, 81.22)] were identified as factors associated with MCV2 vaccination. The major reason (48.1%) reported by mothers for not vaccinating second-dose measles vaccine was being unaware of the need to return for second-dose measles vaccination.Conclusion and recommendationThe level of second-dose measles vaccination (MCV2) among children in urban areas of the North Shoa Zone was low. Maternal age, average time mothers had been waiting for vaccination at the health facility, awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases, recommended age for the last vaccination, and recommended measles doses were identified as factors associated with MCV2 uptake. The major reason for not vaccinating MCV2 was a lack of information (unaware of the need to return for MCV2, unaware of the need to return for MCV2, and the place and/or time of immunization unknown). Hence, enhancing awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases, shortening the average time for vaccination at the health facility by half an hour, creating an alerting mechanism for MCV2 appointments, and future studies on the effect of healthcare provider-related factors on MCV2 uptake are recommended.

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are currently the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, posing significant challenges to global healthcare systems. Particularly, the prevalence of NCDs is rising in Ethiopia, resulting in a triple burden of diseases on the health system that disproportionately affects all age groups. Hence, this study aims to determine the level of adequate knowledge of NCDs and associated factors among adult residents of the North Shewa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study with a concurrent mixed-method approach was conducted from April 1, 2021 to May 30, 2021 among 846 residents using the multistage sampling technique. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and a guiding checklist was used to collect qualitative data. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted to compute the association between explanatory variables and knowledge of NCDs. Adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval with a p-value < 0.05 were used to decree statistical significance in multivariable analysis. Also, a thematic framework analysis was used for qualitative data analysis.ResultsA total of 823 subjects have participated in this study making a response rate of 97.3%. The level of adequate knowledge was 33.9% (95%CI: 30.67, 37.13). Higher-income, receiving information from health professionals, owning a TV, having a family member with NCD(s), and marital status were factors significantly associated with adequate knowledge of NCDs.ConclusionThis study reveals a high level of inadequate knowledge of NCDs despite its foundational ability in tackling the burden of NCDs. As a result, broadening a wider and more comprehensive health promotion strategy for the prevention of triple burden of NCDs would benefit the population. Additionally, special efforts are needed both at the practice and policy levels targeting the disadvantaged groups, such as low-income people, those who do not receive information from health professionals, those who do not own a television, and those who are widowed/divorced, who were found to have less knowledge of NCDs.

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Background: Neisseria meningitidis causes severe life-threatening meningococcal disease with a case fatality rate of 10-15% even with proper treatment. In Ethiopia, particularly in our study area, inadequate information is found on meningococcal disease. So, this study aimed to assess N. meningitidis carriage rate, antibiotic susceptibility profile, and associated factors among prisoners in Jimma Town, Southwestern Ethiopia. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia, from May to October 2019. A stratified sampling technique was used and proportional allocation was done. A total of 550 oropharyngeal swabs were collected, processed, isolated, and identified N. meningitidis using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotics susceptibility test was done for isolates using the disk diffusion method. Data on demographic and associated factors for carriage were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were summarized using frequency, percentage, graph, and table. A logistic regression model was used to see the association between the dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 during bivariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis to identify factors significantly associated with the meningococcal carriage and, a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result: Out of the 550 study participants, 76(13.8%) with (CI: 7.20-18.20) were found carriers of N meningitidis. The predominant isolates were non-serogroupable 26(34.2%) and serogroup W/Y 22(28.9%), respectively. N. meningitidis isolates showed highest sensitivity to chloramphenicol 74(97.4%). Meningococcal carriage rate was significantly associated with being age group of 16-20 years; having respiratory symptoms within 3 months and active cigarette smoking within 3 months. Conclusions:The majority of participants harbor most of the serogroups responsible for invasive cases of meningococcal disease. Respiratory symptoms, active cigarette smoking, and age group of 16-20 years increased the risk of N. meningitidis pharyngeal carriage rate. This study suggests providing better health education to control respiratory symptoms, smoking, and providing antibiotic prophylaxis for prisoners.

Background Undernutrition and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are related in a complex and harmful way and are both exceedingly prevalent throughout the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of undernutrition ranged from 12.3–43% and the prevalence of stunting and thinness among HIV-infected adolescents were 39%) and 14% respectively. There is no study among young patients living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and ART. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factor among young infected with HIV and following ART clinics at the north Shoa health facilities in Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A probability-proportional sampling method was used to select 387 participants and pretested, interview-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. The information was entered into EpiData and analyzed with SPSS. A 95% confidence interval and a P-value less than 0.05 were used to identify predictor variables, and an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to assess the strength of the association. Result The prevalence of stunting and thinness in the study was 37% (95% CI: 32.0,41.9) and 13.4% (95%, CI:10.3, 16.9) respectively. Being male (AOR 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0,2.4), educational level of caregiver(AOR 7.8, 95%CI: 3.5, 17.2), and having a family income ≤ 1500 ETB (AOR 7.8,95%CI:3.5,17.2) were significantly associated with stunting while being male (AOR = 2.59,95% CI: 1.25,5.40), nutritional counseling (AOR 4.05,95% CI:1.64,10.02), Skipping meal (AOR 4.97,95%CI:2.08,11.9) and educational level of caregiver (AOR 4.18,95% CI:1.82,9.60) were significantly associated with thinness. Conclusion The prevalence of stunting and thinness among HIV-infected adolescents and youth in the study area was consistent with EDHS and higher than the EDHS report respectively. Sex, skipping a meal, nutritional counseling, and family size were significantly associated with thinness and Sex, educational level of the caregiver, and family income was significantly associated with stunting.