Background. Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a serious public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, 20 million, an estimated 15% to 20% of babies were born with LBW, and, of these, 13% were in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the World Health Assembly targeted to reduce LBW by 30% by the end of 2025, little has been done on and known about LBW. To meet the goal successfully and efficiently, more research studies on the problem are vital. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of LBW in Dire Dawa city, eastern Ethiopia. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of low birth weight in Dire Dawa City, eastern Ethiopia, 2017. Method. A cross-sectional study designed was conducted, and using a systematic sampling technique, 431 mothers who gave birth in the public hospitals in Dire Dawa city from July 01 to August 30, 2018, were selected. Stillbirth and infants with birth defects were excluded from the study. Well-trained data collectors collected the data using a structured questionnaire which was pretested. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied in multivariate logistic regression models, and p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significant. Result. The prevalence of low birth weight was 21%. Not received nutritional counseling during antenatal care (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.06), preterm birth (AOR = 18.48, 95% CI: 6.51, 52.42), maternal smoking (AOR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.59, 9.88), and height of the mother less than 150 cm (AOR = 3.54, 95% CI: 1.07, 11.76) were significantly associated with Low birth weight. Conclusion. There was a high prevalence of low birth weight in the study area. Effective dietary counseling and additional diet, implementing proven strategies to prevent preterm birth and avoid smoking during pregnancy might decrease the low birth weight and then enhance child survival.

Background: In African countries including Ethiopia occupational exposure of needle stick and sharp injuries is higher than elsewhere and it is still a major public health problem. It accounts for 86% of all occupationally related infection transmissions; expose Health Professionals to more than 20 blood borne pathogens. In Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, the magnitude of needle stick and sharp injuries and its health impacts remain unknown. In addition, available statistics underestimate the severity of the problem because most health care workers do not report their injuries. Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of needle stick and sharp injuries among health care workers of public health facilities, Dire Dawa. Methods: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted using quantitative methods on a samples of 305 health care workers from five selected health facilities of Dire Dawa. Results: Both the life time and the last 12 months prevalence of NSSI were 149(53.8%) and 75(26.6%), respectively. The prevalence of NSSIs among clinical nurses, laboratory technologist and midwifery was 57%, 46% and 20%, respectively. Among the 75 cases occurred in the last one year, 49(65.3%) did not report the incident due to absence of reporting protocol (53.1%), fear of isolation and/or discrimination (20.4%), too busy to report (16.3%) and that it was not important to report the incident (10.2%). Although 80% HCWs took HBV vaccine, only 45% completed the full dose. Both before (crude analysis) and after the results were adjusted for selected variables, profession of medical laboratory (p=0.037), sometimes use of personal protective equipment (p=0.001), sometimes recapping needles after use (p=0.001), inadequate availability of post exposure prophylaxis (p=0.011), and working more than 40 H a week (p=0.009)} were factors significantly associated with occupational exposure NSSI. Conclusion: This study revealed high prevalence of NSSIs in the study area. This suggests distribution of adequate safety materials and prophylaxis is mandatory. Exposure prevention among the HCWs must be all health facilities concern and completion of three doses of Hepatitis B must be reiterated. More importantly distribution of syringe and needles which sheath or retract after use, and replace the older one, can be cost effective intervention strategy.

Introduction/Objective Continuing professional development (CPD) is required for health workers in practice to update knowledge and skills regularly to match the changing complexity of healthcare needs. The objective of this study was to identify the training needs of Medical Laboratory professionals in Ethiopia. Methods/Case Report A total of 457 Medical Laboratory professionals from five region and two city administrations were involved in the study. Data was collected from August 02 to 21, 2021 with structured self-administered online tool with five-point Likert scale. The tool had consent, demography, cross-cutting issues, and main activity area specific to medical laboratory. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Majority of the participants were male (80.1%). Participants from Amhara region 110 (24.1%) were the largest groups in the survey followed by Oromia 105(23%) and Addis Ababa 101(22.1%). The study participants comprised of 54.7% with a Bachelor degree, 31.3% with a diploma (Associate degree), and 14% with a Master’s degree. The participants had varying years of service, ranging from less than one year to over 10 years of experience. Most of the participants work as generalists (24.1%) followed by working in microbiology (17.5%) and Parasitology (16%). The majority (96.9%) was working in a public sector or training institutions and the rest were employed in the private sector. Our study showed that the three most important topics selected for training in the cross cutting health issues were health and emerging technology, computer skills and medico-legal issues. Topics under microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics were selected as the most preferred technical areas for training. Participants have also selected topics under research skill and pathophysiology. When the laboratory specific issues were regrouped based on areas of application as technical competence, research skill and pathophysiology, thirteen topics under technical competence, four topics under research skill and three topics under pathophysiology were picked as priority areas. Conclusion In conclusion, our study identified that CPD programs should focus on topics that address technical competence in microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics. Additionally competencies in research skill and updating knowledge in pathophysiology should also receive due attention in designing trainings.

Background Continuing professional development (CPD) is required for health workers in practice to update knowledge and skills regularly to match the changing complexity of healthcare needs. The objective of this study was to identify the training needs of Medical Laboratory professionals in Ethiopia. Methods A total of 457 medical laboratory professionals from five regions and two city administrations were involved in the study. Data were collected from August 02 to 21, 2021 with structured self-administered online tool with five-point Likert scale. The tool had consent, demography, cross-cutting issues, and main activity area specific to medical laboratory. Results Majority of the participants were male (80.1%). Participants from Amhara region 110 (24.1%) were the largest groups in the survey followed by Oromia 105 (23%) and Addis Ababa 101 (22.1%). The study participants comprised 54.7% with a bachelor’s degree, 31.3% with a diploma (associate degree), and 14% with a master’s degree. The participants had varying years of service, ranging from less than one year to over 10 years of experience. Most of the participants work as generalists (24.1%) followed by working in microbiology (17.5%) and parasitology (16%). The majority (96.9%) were working in a public sector or training institutions and the rest were employed in the private sector. Our study showed that the three most important topics selected for training in the cross-cutting health issues were health and emerging technology, computer skills and medico-legal issues. Topics under microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics were selected as the most preferred technical areas for training. Participants have also selected priority topics under research skill and pathophysiology. When the laboratory specific issues were regrouped based on areas of application as technical competence, research skill and pathophysiology, thirteen topics under technical competence, four topics under research skill and three topics under pathophysiology were picked as priority areas. Conclusion In conclusion, our study identified that CPD programs should focus on topics that address technical competence in microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics. Additionally competencies in research skill and updating knowledge in pathophysiology should also receive due attention in designing trainings.

Background Continuing professional development (CPD) is required for health workers in practice to update knowledge and skills regularly to match the changing complexity of healthcare needs. The objective of this study was to identify the training needs of Medical Laboratory professionals in Ethiopia. Methods A total of 457 Medical Laboratory professionals from five region and two city administrations were involved in the study. Data was collected from August 02 to 21, 2021 with structured self-administered online tool with five-point Likert scale. The tool had consent, demography, cross-cutting issues, and main activity area specific to medical laboratory. Results Majority of the participants were male (80.1%). Participants from Amhara region 110 (24.1%) were the largest groups in the survey followed by Oromia 105(23%) and Addis Ababa 101(22.1%). The study participants comprised of 54.7% with a Bachelor degree, 31.3% with a diploma (Associate degree), and 14% with a Master’s degree. The participants had varying years of service, ranging from less than one year to over 10 years of experience. Most of the participants work as generalists (24.1%) followed by working in microbiology (17.5%) and Parasitology (16%). The majority (96.9%) was working in a public sector or training institutions and the rest were employed in the private sector. Our study showed that the three most important topics selected for training in the cross cutting health issues were health and emerging technology, computer skills and medico-legal issues. Topics under microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics were selected as the most preferred technical areas for training. Participants have also selected priority topics under research skill and pathophysiology. When the laboratory specific issues were regrouped based on areas of application as technical competence, research skill and pathophysiology, thirteen topics under technical competence, four topics under research skill and three topics under pathophysiology were picked as priority areas. Conclusion In conclusion, our study identified that CPD programs should focus on topics that address technical competence in microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics. Additionally competencies in research skill and updating knowledge in pathophysiology should also receive due attention in designing trainings.