Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the breakthrough in care and treatment of people living with HIV, leading to a reduction in mortality and an improvement in the quality of life. Without antiretroviral treatment, most HIV-infected children die before their fifth birthday. So the objective of this study is to determine the mortality and associated factors in a cohort of HIV-infected children receiving ART in Ethiopia. A multicentre facility-based retrospective cohort study was done in selected pediatric ART units in hospitals found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The probability of survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazards regression models was conducted to determine the independent predictor of survival. A total of 556 children were included in this study. Of the total children, 10.4% were died in the overall cohort. More deaths (70%) occurred in the first 6 months of ART initiation, and the remaining others were still on follow-up at different hospitals. Underweight (moderate and severe; HR: 10.10; 95% CI: 2.08, 28.00; P = 0.004; and HR: 46.69; 95% CI: 9.26, 200.45; P < 0.01, respectively), advanced disease stage (WHO clinical stages III and IV; HR: 10.13: 95% CI: 2.25, 45.58; P = 0.003), poor ART adherence (HR: 11.72; 95% CI: 1.60, 48.44; P = 0.015), and hemoglobin level less than 7 g/dl (HR: 4.08: 95% CI: 1.33, 12.56; P = 0.014) were confirmed as significant independent predictors of death after controlling for other factors. Underweight, advanced disease stage, poor adherence to ART, and anemia appear to be independent predictor of survival in HIV-infected children receiving HAART at the pediatric units of public hospitals in Ethiopia. Nutritional supplementations, early initiation of HAART, close supervision, and monitoring of patients during the first 6 months, the follow up period is recommended.

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Background: The livelihoods of most the Somali regional state people are based on herding and their life styles are mobile. The harmful traditional practices particularly female genital mutilation seriously affects the well-being of children and women. The age at which FGM is performed varies according to the type of mutilation being done. Sunna is generally the type that is performed at a very young age and even soon after the birth. In case of excision and infibulations, the child is allowed to grow older and usually performed between seven and nine years of age. This study aimed to assess the current actual status of female genital mutilation in the Tulli and Ararso districts. Methods: A total of 57 subjects were included for quantitative and qualitative analysis. In the two sites about 15 Men and Women, 9 Youth clubs, 5 Victims, 7 boys, 4 Circumcisers, 6 religious leaders or elders, 6 local governments, and 5 Women's Associations were interviewed. Under the quantitative approach, a structured questionnaire was prepared and piloted and administered through interview of individuals that were included in the sample. Result: Interview of men and women revealed that 53.7% of females were circumcised at Tulli and Ararso Somali areas. Interview of youth club also showed that 40% of the circumcision practices were continued and culture of ancestors and protection of virginity were still the two common reasons for circumcision practices in the locality. In all respondents interviewed, Sunna is the most commonly practiced type of FGM and Pharaohnic is the second type.