BackgroundHepatitis B Virus is a major public health problem worldwide. In 2012 alone, over 350 million chronic carriers and 1. 2 million annual deaths were occurred. Hepatitis B Virus causes 60 to 80% of the world’s primary liver cancer and nearly 90% infants infected due to vertical transmission are at higher risk of developing chronic liver disease and cancer. Hence determining the burden of maternal and neonatal Hepatitis B Virus infection is a priority.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted from July – September 2012 at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College and Selam Health Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Blood samples from delivering mothers (n = 265) and their corresponding cords (n = 265) were collected. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. Hepatitis B Virus surface antigen was detected using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Frequency analysis and logistic regression test was used to identify the potential risk factors associated with Hepatitis B Virus positivity using SPSS Version -15.ResultsA total of 265 delivering women with the mean age of 25.8 years were enrolled in the study. Of these delivering women, 8 (3.0%) of mothers were positive for Hepatitis B Virus surface antigen, whereas 6 (2.3%) of cord bloods were positives with 75% concordance rate of exposed infants with sero-positive mothers. However, only one maternal positive case was observed for Hepatitis B e Ag test. Only 11% of the mothers know their Hepatitis B Virus status. Of the total mothers assessed for possible risk factors, 69 (26%) had only one type, while 161 (60.8%) had multiple exposure factors such as ear pricing, history of tribal marks, abortion, multiple-sexual partner and history of surgical procedures experienced from high to low frequency. The remaining 35 (13.2%) of the participants had not experienced possible risk factors.ConclusionThough the maternal positivity rate was low, the rate of positivity in cord bloods was almost equal to those infected mothers. Therefore, screening of pregnant mothers and vaccination of infants could help to reduce the transmission. To minimize the higher overall risk exposure status of mothers, increasing awareness and intensive public health education is also recommended.

BackgroundUse of modern contraceptive methods reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancy, and is influenced by individual-level factors. Willingness to use modern contraceptive methods maybe a useful metric when considering health outcomes as it could predict health behaviors. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the willingness of women to use modern contraceptives in Afar pastoralist communities.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to 30, 2016. Three hundred forty-five women of childbearing age (15–49 years) were systematically sampled with proportionate allocation from seven randomly selected kebeles (neighborhoods) in Aballa District of Afar Region, Ethiopia. All women meeting the inclusion criteria in each selected household were interviewed at home using a semi-structured questionnaire. Construct validity was assured using factor analysis. A combination of individual behavioral models were applied in order to measure willingness to use modern contraceptive methods. Multiple logistic regressions were utilized to identify factors associated with willingness to use contraceptive at P-value of less than 0.05.ResultsThree hundred twenty-two women participated in the study, for a response rate of 93.3%. The mean age of respondents was 27 (±6) years. About one-third (N = 106, 32.9%) of the participants reported that they were willing to use modern contraceptives. Orthodox Christians (AOR = 4.22, 95% CI 1.94–8.92), women aged 19 or older at first marriage (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.16–7.23), and women who had never experienced a stillbirth (AOR = 3.85, 95%CI 1.37–10.78) were more likely to report being willing to use modern contraceptives. Additionally, perceived severity of an unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.57–1.93) and perceived self-efficacy to use contraceptives (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.17–1.65) were positively associated with the willingness. Women who had never had an abortion were less likely to express willingness to use modern contraceptives (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.92) and perceived importance of cultural and religious norms (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.62–0.90) was also negatively associated with willingness.ConclusionsThe majority of women in this study were not willing to use modern contraceptive methods. A previous pregnancy outcome of stillbirth was associated with reduced willingness, while a prior abortion was associated with increased willingness. Perceived severity of unwanted pregnancy and higher self-efficacy surrounding contraceptive use were strong predictors of increased willingness to use contraceptives. Religious and cultural norms also appear to influence perception towards modern contraception. Thus, involvement of cultural and religious leaders and consideration of a woman’s reproductive history are recommended when designing health education messages on contraception for Afar pastoralist women.

Background Despite the fact that the disease has spread throughout the world, with millions infected and killed, global COVID-19 vaccine coverage remains low, particularly in developing countries including Ethiopia. Epidemiological data is insufficient to assess the amount of COVID-19 up take, willingness for vaccination, and associated factors. Objective This study aimed to assess COVID-19 up take, willingness for vaccination and associated factors among patients attending chronic follow up in the referral hospitals of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2022 Method A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 patients attending chronic follow up in the referral hospitals of Bahir Dar from May 09 - June 09/2022. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants. Data was gathered using a pre-tested questionnaire, and checked for its consistency and accuracy. The data were entered to Epi data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive analysis was performed to find the frequencies and percentages. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between the dependent and independent variables. Variables having p-value < 0.25 in the bi-variable analysis were fitted into the multi-variable logistic regression. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 in the 95% confidence interval (CI) in the multi-variable binary logistic regression were considered as significant factors associated with the outcome variables. Results From a total of 423 participants, 400 (95% response rate) were included for analysis. The COVID-19 vaccine up take was less than 50% (46.8%), while the willingness for vaccination was 60.5%. About 56% and 68% of the respondents had good knowledge and favorable attitude respectively. Older people with age groups > 64 years were 2.7 times more likely to be vaccinated. Similarly, those people living in the urban area had 3.94 times increased COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, the probability of being vaccinated among respondents with good knowledge and favorable attitude were 70% and 79%, respectively. The willingness for vaccination was increased among those individuals with favorable attitude (AOR: 1.82). In contrast, urban people were less likely to be willing for COVID-19 vaccination (AOR: 0.46). The majority of the respondents (19.7% for vaccination to 35.7% for willingness for vaccination) misunderstood that the vaccine may aggravate their disease condition. Conclusion and recommendation The overall COVID-19 vaccine up take and willingness for vaccination was low compared to what was estimated by WHO. The majority of the respondents had good knowledge and favorable attitude. Age, residence, knowledge and attitude were factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine up take, while residence and attitude were associated with the willingness for vaccination. Increase accessibility of the vaccine, health education, strengthening vaccination campaign and community-based researches are recommended.

Background Human caliciviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and foodborne diarrheal diseases in all age groups worldwide, with an increased burden in developing countries. As there is no routine surveillance, epidemiological data is limited in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of human caliciviruses among patients suffering from gastroenteritis in the selected health facilities of Amhara National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A multi-center health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to November 2021. A total of 550 study participants were proportionately assigned to the different health facilities in four study areas. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants. A stool sample was collected and analyzed with a one-step real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data were gathered using a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS. A descriptive analysis was performed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables. Variables with p-value < 0.05, at the 95%CI, were considered statistically significant. Result The prevalence of norovirus among all age groups was 8.9% (95% CI: 6.6, 11.6). Specifically, it was higher among elder people (33.3%) and under-5 children (12.5%). Sapovirus was not detected. Both norovirus genogroup I and II were detected, but genogroup II was the predominant, 82.6%. All of the respondents were diarrheic, but only 20% of them had a history of vomiting. The odds of norovirus infection among respondents from the Debre Tabor and Bahir Dar areas were significantly higher. Similarly, elder people and under-5 children were more affected than their adult-age counterparts (p < 0.05). Furthermore, previous history of acute gastroenteritis, family contact history with related cases, and poor hand-washing practice were statistically significant factors associated with norovirus infections (p < 0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of norovirus was considerably high. Norovirus-GII was predominant. The positivity rate of norovirus was higher among the elderly and under-5 children. The distribution of the norovirus, and their genogroups, varies across the four study areas.