Background Workplace violence is one of the global health concerns. Although nurses are the backbone of the health care provision, they are highly subjected to workplace violence in healthcare. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of evidence on the extent of workplace violence against nurses in Ethiopia in general and Eastern Ethiopia in particular. Hence, this study aimed to assess the extent of workplace violence against nurses and its associated factors among nurse professionals working at public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 nurses working in public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Nurses were recruited using a simple random sampling method at their workplace (health facilities). A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive, binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to declare significant association. Results Among the 620 estimated sample, 603(97.3%) of the nurses gave consent and completed the self-administered questionnaire. The prevalence of workplace violence against nurse professionals in the last 12 months was 64.0% (95%CI: 60.2–67.7%). Nurses who were working in surgical (AOR: 2.30, 95%CI: 1.01–5.26), psychiatric (AOR: 3.06, 95%CI: 1.11–8.46), emergency (AOR: 3.62, 95%CI: 1.46–8.98), and medical wards (AOR: 5.20, 95%CI: 2.40–11.27); being worried of workplace violence (AOR: 1.71, 95%CI: 1.09–2.69); witnessed of physical workplace violence (AOR: 5.31, 95%CI: 3.28–8.59); claimed “absence/not-aware” of reporting procedure on workplace violence (AOR: 2.24, 95%CI: 1.45–3.46); and claimed “absence/not-aware” of institutional policies against workplace violence (AOR: 2.68, 95%CI: 1.73–4.13) were factors associated with nurses’ experience of workplace violence in eastern Ethiopia. Conclusions Workplace violence against nurses was found to be unacceptably high in the study area (eastern Ethiopia). We suggest that stakeholders could work on early risk identification and management of violent incidents, establish violence reporting and sanction mechanisms using contextual strategies to prevent workplace violence against nurse professionals.

Background: Indigenous herbal medicine use during pregnancy is a common phenomenon worldwide, particularly in low resource countries like Ethiopia, mainly due to their cost, perceived efficiency in treatment, and ease of access. But so far, studies across Ethiopia are variable and inconsistent and in the study area. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing indigenous herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public health facilities in the Dire Dawa Administration, eastern Ethiopia, from October 10 to November 10, 2022, among pregnant women selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, and data were entered and cleaned by Epi DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22). A P-value < 0.25 at bivariate to select variables for multivariate and ≤ 0.05 at multivariate with 95% confidence intervals was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 628 participants were included, yielding a response rate of 95.15 %. During their current pregnancy, 47.8% (95% CI: 43.8–51.6%) pregnant women used indigenous herbal medicine(IHMs). The predictors were education level: no formal education (AOR: 5.47, 95%CI: 2.40-12.46), primary level (AOR: 4.74, 95%CI: 2.15-10.44), rural residence (AOR: 2.54, 95%CI: 1.71-3.77), being a housewife (AOR: 4.15, 95%CI: 1.83-9.37), number of antenatal care visits (AOR: 2.58, 95%CI: 1.27-5.25), and knowledge of IHMs (AOR: 4.58, 95% CI: 3.02-6.97). Conclusion: The use of indigenous herbal medicine during pregnancy was as common and widespread as other research done in different areas. The predictors were residence, education level, occupation, number of antenatal care visits, and knowledge. The most commonly used herbal medicines were Lepidium sativum, Vernonia amygdalina, Moringa oleifera, Linum usitatissimum, Zingiber officinale, Eucalyptusglobulus, and Trigonella foenum-graecum. The most common indications were related to gastro-intestinal problems: intestinal parasites, nausea and vomiting, constipation, stomach aches, indigestion, and abdominal cramps. It was recommended that, considering their residence and education level, pregnant women during their ANC visits be made aware of the potential benefits and risks of indigenous herbal medicine, and that more research be conducted to confirm their efficacy and safety during pregnancy.

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a family of severe acute respiratory infection first detected in 2019 in China. It has made high morbidity and mortality across the world. Currently, most countries including Ethiopia have taken preventive measures including vaccine. However, there is still limited evidence in COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and perceived barriers among some subgroups like university students. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess it and fill the information gap to enable intervention.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01 to 30 2022 at Dire Dawa university and 337 students were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using structured, self-administered questionnaire, entered and cleaned by Epi DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22). A p&lt;0.2 at Bivarate to select variables for multivariable and &lt;0.05 at multivariable with 95% CI was considered as statistical significance.  </p><p><strong>Results:</strong> COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was 26.7% (95% CI: 22-31.5%). Urban resident (AOR: 3.13, CI: 1.61-6.10), mothers’ education (AOR: 3.48, CI: 1.44-8.43), knowledge (AOR: 2.23, CI: 1.21-4.11) and favorable intention towards COVID-19 prevention (AOR: 2.21, CI: 1.11-4.38) were independent factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was lower than national average in Ethiopia. The predictors were residence, mothers’ education, knowledge and intention towards COVID-19 prevention. Major barriers were misconceptions, uncertainty on effectiveness, concern on side effects and a need to know more about the vaccine. Integrated health education campaign on vaccine’s misconception was recommended. </p>

Background: Husbands’ support is an important factor in spouses’ decisions to utilize reproductive health care services, including screening. Despite this, it is still poorly understood in the study area. Therefore, this study was aimed at exploring it, and this may help to fill the gap via interventions related to screening. Methodology: A community-based phenomenological qualitative study was undertaken in the rural Dire Dawa administration, Ethiopia, from September 1 to October 30, 2022. Data was collected from purposively selected husbands via in-depth interviews using a semi-structured tool aided by a voice recorder and field notes. A thematic analysis done with an inductive approach goes through six steps: familiarization, coding, generating themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and writing up. Results: Thematically, three main themes and sixteen sub-themes were identified, and in general, one-third of the husbands had knowledge of cervical cancer; however, aside from signs and symptoms, they lacked knowledge of the cause, risk factors, transmission, complications, cervical cancer treatment, screening, and other prevention methods. They each have different perceived reasons for not supporting their wives' screening. Conclusion: Husbands lack knowledge of cervical cancer and their perceptions of the disease and screening are negative, and this is explored as being a major barrier to supporting wives’ cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is recommended that information regarding cervical cancer and screening be disseminated not only to women but also to men, as well as conducting additional community-based research.

Background: A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a special ward in a hospital that is important to save babies' lives when they are born early, have health problems, or have a difficult birth. Accordingly, parents face various challenges in such stressful conditions during their stay. Hence, this study was aimed at exploring the lived experiences of such parents. Methodology: A phenomenological qualitative study was undertaken in the Haramaya General Hospital, east Hararghe, Ethiopia, from September 1 to 30, 2022. Data was collected from purposively selected parents via in-depth interviews using a semi-structured tool, aided by a voice recorder and field notes. A thematic analysis done with an inductive approach goes through six steps: familiarization, coding, generating themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and writing up. Results: 22 parents were interviewed and six themes have identified. Parents complained of psychological problems like anxiety, stress, worries, hopelessness, and a state of confusion. In addition, anger, crying, sadness, frustration, dissatisfaction, regret, disappointment, feeling bad, self-blaming, nervousness, disturbance, and lack of self-control were major emotional problems raised by the parents. Parents expressed that health care providers showed indiscipline, lack of commitment, and uncooperative behavior. Likewise, shortage of medicines, money, and limited time to visit their neonates were the other concerns of many parents. At the same time, parents were provided minimal information and limited cooperation from health care providers. Conclusion: Medical and non-medical services in the NICU can challenge parents' finances. Parents in the NICU face both emotional and psychological challenges related to the hospital, HCPs, society, and their own perceptions. Parents in the NICU have also been challenged by the hospital's miserably loud sounds or shouts. The hospital and health care professionals recommended expanding both medical and non-medical services in the NICU.