Despite the existence of standard protocol, many stabilization centers (SCs) continue to experience high mortality of children receiving treatment for severe acute malnutrition. Assessing treatment outcomes and identifying predictors may help to overcome this problem. Therefore, a 30-month retrospective cohort study was conducted among 545 randomly selected medical records of children <5 years of age admitted to SCs in Gedeo Zone. Data was entered by Epi Info version 7 and analyzed by STATA version 11. Cox proportional hazards model was built by forward stepwise procedure and compared by the likelihood ratio test and Harrell’s concordance, and fitness was checked by Cox–Snell residual plot. During follow-up, 51 (9.3%) children had died, and 414 (76%) and 26 (4.8%) children had recovered and defaulted (missed follow-up for 2 consecutive days), respectively. The survival rates at the end of the first, second and third weeks were 95.3%, 90% and 85%, respectively, and the overall mean survival time was 79.6 days. Age <24 months (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] =2.841, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.101–7.329), altered pulse rate (AHR =3.926, 95% CI =1.579–9.763), altered temperature (AHR =7.173, 95% CI =3.05–16.867), shock (AHR =3.805, 95% CI =1.829–7.919), anemia (AHR =2.618, 95% CI =1.148–5.97), nasogastric tube feeding (AHR =3.181, 95% CI =1.18–8.575), hypoglycemia (AHR =2.74, 95% CI =1.279–5.87) and treatment at hospital stabilization center (AHR =4.772, 95% CI =1.638–13.9) were independent predictors of mortality. The treatment outcomes and incidence of death were in the acceptable ranges of national and international standards. Intervention to further reduce deaths has to focus on young children with comorbidities and altered general conditions.

Background Despite it is easily preventable; malaria is still remains to be a major public health problem in globally as well as in Ethiopia. The disease can be easily prevented through individual and societal combined efforts by keeping the environment safe, effective utilization of long lasting Insecticide Nets and early treatment. However, the factors for poor knowledge and practices of malaria prevention is not well studied in Ethiopia; particularly, in the study area. Hence, this study aimed to provide concrete evidence towards malaria prevention practices and associated factors among Households of Hawassa City Administration, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a randomly selected 598 households at Hawassa City Administration from April 1–15, 2020. Multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit the study households. Data were collected by trained data collectors through a face-to-face interview with pretested structured questionnaire, which was adapted from previous peer reviewed articles. Then the data were checked for the completeness and consistencies, then, coded and entered into Epi data 3.1 and it was exported to SPSS IBM version 23 for analysis. Descriptive mean with standard deviation was used to summarize the continuous variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess factors affecting prevention and control of Malaria. Finally, adjusted odds ratio together with 95% CI and p-value <0.05 was used to declare the statistical significances. Results The overall 317 (54.3%) of households practiced good measure of malaria prevention and control measures. Urban residence [AOR = 1.95 (95%CI: 1.17–3.24)], Secondary school completed [AOR = 5.02(95%CI 2.24–12.03)], Tertiary school completed [AOR = 7.27(95%CI: 2.84–18.55)], Positive Attitude [AOR = 8.20(95%CI: 5.31–12.68)] and Good knowledge about malaria [AOR = 2.81(95%CI: 1.78–4.44)] were significantly associated with malaria prevention practices. Conclusions Nearly half of the households were still practiced poor measure of malaria prevention and control measures. Hence, health officials and stake holders need attention by providing continuous health education and follow up to control malaria.

Effective utilization of family planning services are major contributors of improved maternal health. This, in turn, needs adequate involvement of male partners through direct uptake the services and approval of the spouses’ usage. Yet the family planning method utilization as well as male involvement is indicated to be low in Ethiopia. Qualitative case study was conducted in August 2015 in Arba Minch town to identify barriers to male involvement in uptake of family planning services. Open ended, semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the participants. Four men and four women are purposively selected. Interviews were conducted in audibly private location after verbal consent was obtained from the recruited individuals. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The narratives were then translated to English and the responses are aggregated in to nine concepts. The final aggregated data were analyzed using OpenCode 3.4 software based on thematic framework analysis. Total of eight participants (four men and four women) were interviewed where seven are married and one is single. Participants identified that, Perception (or opinion) towards family planning as women’s issue, Sex preference for inheritance and considering children as measure of blessing of and Fear of partner sexual promiscuity and to reduce women’s attractiveness were barriers for male involvement in modern family  planning method. Future interventions aimed at improving family planning services and methods utilization in Arba Minch town and similar settings need to consider these bottlenecks for male involvement.

Background Globally, at least 1 billion people have a vision impairment that could have been easily prevented or easily treated. Cataract is the leading preventable and most treatable causes of blindness and bilateral low vision among adults. Despite being the leading cause of preventable and most treatable blindness, the lack of knowledge about the disease and its option of treatment is still a major barrier in reducing the blindness owing to cataract in the developing countries particularly in Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the level of knowledge about cataract and associated factors among adults in Yirgalem Town, Sidama National Regional State, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among randomly selected 599 adult’s age 18 years and above from May 10–30, 2020. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured face-to-face interview questionnaires. The collected data were entered to Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associated factors of knowledge about cataract. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) together with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to declare the statistical association between dependent and independent variables. Results Of the total study participants, 379 (64.7%), [(95% CI: 60.7–68.6%)] of them had good knowledge about cataract. Age (≥40 years) [AOR = 2.29(95% CI 1.18–4.44)], Elementary school completed [AOR = 2.31(95% CI 1.30–4.10)], High school & above [AOR = 5.55(95% CI 2.81–10.89)], governmental and non-governmental employed [AOR = 5.62 (95% CI 2.78–11.38)], Merchant [AOR = 1.72(95% CI 1.03–2.88)], Positive Attitude [AOR = 3.85(95% CI 2.94–6.47)] were positively significantly associated with knowledge about cataract. Whereas, rural residence [AOR = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.12–0.31)] was negatively associated with knowledge about cataract. Conclusions More than one third of the participants still had poor knowledge about cataract. This implies that health facilities should be engaged and raises the awareness of the community and empowers people about eye care needs.

Background Nearly 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occur in a low resource setting. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of precancerous cervical lesions ranges from 7% to 28%. Precancerous cervical lesions may progress to cervical cancer. Early screening and treatment of precancerous cervical lesions is a cost-effective way to avert the growth of cervical cancer. However, there has been limited research on risk factors for precancerous cervical lesions in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify risk factors for precancerous cervical lesions among women screened for cervical cancer in south Ethiopia. Method A facility-based unmatched case-control study was carried out in five health facilities in south Ethiopia between 8 May to 28 September 2018. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 98 cases and 197 controls. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify determinants of precancerous cervical lesions. Results Women aged 30–39 years (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.03–6.08), monthly income ≤66 (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI: 1.77–6.97), initiation of first sexual intercourse at age less than or equal to 20 (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.14–5.47), having more than one lifetime sexual partner (AOR = 4.70, 95% CI: 2.02–10.95), having a partner/ husband with more than one lifetime sexual partner (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.35–6.65) had higher odds of precancerous cervical lesions. Conclusion and recommendation Strategies to prevent precancerous cervical lesions should focus on modification of lifestyle and sexual behaviour. The findings of this study highlight several implications for policymakers: targeting older women for cervical cancer screening, addressing inequalities and education relating to risky sexual behaviour may reduce precancerous cervical lesions. Furthermore, future longitudinal studies are needed to assess the awareness of women about cervical cancer screening.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most frequently diagnosed opportunistic infection (OI) and disease in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), world-wide. This study aimed at determining the incidence and predictors of tuberculosis among people living with HIV.A Six year retrospective follow up study was conducted among adult PLHIV. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify predictors.A total of 554 patients were followed and produced 1830.3 person year of observation. One hundred sixty one new TB cases occurred during the follow up period. The overall incidence density of TB was 8.79 per 100 person-year (PY). It was high (148.71/100 PY) in the first year of enrolment. The cumulative proportion of TB free survival was 79% and 67% at the end of first and sixth years, respectively. Not having formal education(AHR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.41, 5.11 ), base line WHO clinical stage IV (AHR = 3.22, 95% CI=1.91-5.41), CD4 count &lt;50 cell/ul  (AHR=2.41, 95%CI=1.31, 4.42), Being bed redden (AHR= 2.89, 95%CI=1.72, 3.78), past TB history (AHR=1.65, 95% CI = 1.06,2.39), substance use (AHR=1.46, 95% CI=1.03,2.06) and being on pre ART (AHR=1.62, 95%CI:1.03-2.54 ) were independently predicted tuberculosis occurrence. Advanced WHO clinical stage, limited functional status, past TB history, addiction and low CD4 (&lt;50cell/ul) count at enrollment were found to be the independent predictor of tuberculosis occurrence. Therefore early initiation of treatment and intensive follow up is important.

Background Nearly 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in low resource setting. In Ethiopia the magnitude of cervical cancer was 17%. Precancerous cervical lesions may progress to cervical cancer. Early screening and treatment of precancerous cervical lesions is a cost effective way to avert the growth of cervical cancer. However, there is a limited research on risk factors of precancerous cervical lesions in Ethiopia. Therefore the aim of this study was to identify determinants of precancerous cervical lesions in south Ethiopia.Method A facility based case-control study was carried out in five health facilities in south Ethiopia between 8 May to 28 September 2018. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 98 cases and 197 controls. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify determinants of precancerous cervical lesions.Results Women aged 30-39 years (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.03 – 6.08), monthly income < 42 USD and 43-66 USD (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.34 – 6.08; AOR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.31 – 9.88), initiation of first sexual intercourse at age less than or equal to 20 (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.14 – 5.47), having more than one life time sexual partners (AOR=4.70, 95% CI:2.02–10.95), having a partner/ husband with more than one lifetime sexual partners (AOR=2.98, 95% CI: 1.35–6.65) had higher odds of precancerous cervical lesions.Conclusion Strategies to prevent precancerous cervical lesions should focus on modification of life style and sexual behaviour. The findings of this study highlight implications for policy makers by suggesting that targeting older women for cervical cancer screening, addressing inequalities and education relating to risky sexual behaviour may reduce precancerous cervical lesions. Further longitudinal study is needed to assess awareness of women about cervical cancer screening.

Cesarean deliveries have become a major public health problem worldwide in recent decades. In addition, information on the quality of service, as measured by timely recovery is scarce. This study was assessed predictors of recovery time after cesarean section among women who delivered by cesarean section at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HU-CSH) Southern Ethiopia. Institution-based prospective cohort study design was conducted among 381 study participants from July to August 2020. A consecutive sampling technique employed to select study participants. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were entered and analyzed by Epi info version 7 and SPSS respectively. Bivariable and multivariable Cox regression used to identify the predictors of time-to-recovery after cesearean section. Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs)and p-value <0.5 was used to declare statistical significance. A total of 369 mothers who undergone cesearean section were followed for 1,042 person-days of observation. The timely recovery (within 4 days) was found to be 96.2% [95%CI: 94.04–98.4%] and the overall median (IQR) time of recovery was 2.00 (2, 3) days. The study revaled that the Incidence density rate (IDR) of timely recovery was found to be 0.34 per person-days or 2.38 per person-week. Whereas, the cumulative probability of not recovered on the 1st and 4th day was 0.995 and 0.038 respectively. This study found that women who had ANC follow-up (AHR = 1.49, 95%, CI: 1.05–2.10) and discharge from the wound site (AHR = 0.13, 95%, CI: 0.03–0.56) were identified as a significant positive and negative predictors of time-to-recovery after CS delivery respectively. The rate of early recovery obtained by this study was comparable to the global level figures. Still, the cleanness of the surgical site to prevent the incidence of postsurgical site CS delivery is very essential.