Background Flour dust in the respiratory tract affects lung function. Flour dust is a heterogeneous organic substance which can have a tendency to cause respiratory ailments. There is growing consensus on the deleterious effects of flour dust on respiratory symptoms and lung performance of flour mill workers. Methods The study design was comparative cross-sectional. A total of 54 flour mill workers who work for more than eight-hour shift per day and 54 control subjects matched for sex, age, weight, height, and area of residence were enrolled. Anthropometric measurement was done. Lung function was measured by using a digital portable spirometer (Spiro Pro) based on the ATS guidelines. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF25%  −75% were measured. Productive cough, dry cough, wheeze, and breathlessness were evaluated using BMRC questionnaire guidelines, administered through face-to-face interview. Result This study showed statistically significant reduction in the mean values of pulmonary function tests in flour mill workers as compared to their matched controls. Reduction of pulmonary function indices in study subjects was significant for FVC (4.25±0.93 vs. 5.30±0.71, p<0.001), FEV1 (3.46±0.86 vs. 4.50±0.72, p<0.001), PEFR (5.43±2.43 vs. 7.87±2.53, p<0.001), and FEF25%  −75%, (3.87±1.61 vs. 4.60±1.60, p<0.05), but not significant for FEV1/FVC (81.93±12.74 vs. 83.40±12.50, p>0.05). Flour mill workers developed 27.7% of restrictive type and 11.1% of obstructive type of lung disorders. Percentage prevalence of respiratory symptoms was evaluated as dry cough (27.7% vs. 9.3%), productive cough (11.1% vs. 5.6%), wheeze (14.8% vs. 3.8%), and breathlessness (16.6% vs.7.4%) in flour mill workers and controls, respectively. Conclusion Based on the results of the present study, occupational exposure to flour dust could cause respiratory dysfunction, thereby reducing lung efficiency.

Background: A number of epidemiological studies were performed to know the prevalence of and the risk factors for hypertension. However, these studies reported inconsistent results. As a result, this systematic review and meta-analysis were planned to generate representative data on the prevalence of and risk factors for hypertension among the Ethiopian adult population.

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Background Anemia is more prevalent among women, and it is a moderate public health problem in Ethiopia. The wealth status and place of residence of a woman have implications on the intervention of anemia. Studies that examined the relationship between women’s wealth index status and residency in Ethiopia are scarce. We aimed to identify the urban–rural differential in the association between household wealth index and anemia among women of childbearing age in Ethiopia. Method A cross-sectional design was employed with a nationally representative sample of 14,100 women aged 15–49-year-old from the Ethiopian demographic and health survey conducted in 2016. We used the two-stage sampling method to select the sample size. The primary outcome was anemia in women of childbearing age. A hemoglobin level of below 11 g/dl for pregnant women and 12 g/dl for non-pregnant women was the indicator of anemia. Using a three-level random intercept model to explore associated factors at the individual and household levels quantified the observed and unobserved variations between household wealth index and residence on anemia. Results Women belonging to a lower household wealth index category were more anemic (29.6%) than those middle and above wealth index categories. Women who lived in rural areas (25.5%) were prone to anemia than those who lived in urban areas (17.5%). The odds of anemia were significantly higher in women of the low household wealth category who living in rural compared to women of the middle and above household wealth category who living in urban (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.14–1.65, P < 0.001). Conclusion In this study, anemia is more common among women who live in rural with the low house wealth category. Therefore, novel public health interventions should target women who live in rural areas with the lowest household wealth status.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine hematological reference ranges for apparently healthy blood donors in Debre Markos, North West Ethiopia. Result A total of 250 adults with the median age of 20 (range 18 to 48) years were recruited. The mean ± standard deviation of hematological values were white blood cells (WBC) count 6.34±1.82×103/µl (males) and 6.96±1.89×103/µl (females); absolute neutrophil count 3.57±1.47×103/µl (male) and 3.99±1.38×103/µl (females); absolute lymphocyte count, 2.09±0.64×103/µl (males) and 2.27±0.68×103/µl (females); absolute mid-sized cell count 0.68±0.36× 103/µl (males) and 0.70±0.37×103/µl (females); red blood cell (RBC) count 5.13±0.49×106/µL (males) and 4.57±0.36×106/µL (females) platelets, 255.86±65.96 × 103/µl (male) and 280.67±65.71× 103/µl (female).