Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminth infections and malnutrition are major health problems of school-age children in developing countries. Malnutrition and soil-transmitted helminth infections often co-exist with synergetic consequences. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths and its association with nutritional status of school-age children. Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was carried out from April to May 2014 among 404 elementary school-age children in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. Data on background characteristics were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken according to World Health Organization standard. Fresh single stool sample was collected from each study participant and examined using direct wet mount and McMaster techniques. Anthropometric indices were generated using WHO AnthroPlus software. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to isolate independent predictors of intestinal parasitic infection and nutritional status using STATA-MP software. All tests were two-sided and P < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites and soil-transmitted helminths were 68.6% (n = 277) and 55.0% (n = 222), respectively. A total of eight species of intestinal parasites were identified in this study, Trichuris trichiura being the most common parasite identified followed by Ascaris lumbricoides. Study participants who had a habit of open defecation were two times more likely to be infected with soil-transmitted helminths (adjusted odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.0–3.4). The overall prevalence of stunting and thinness were 21.0% (n = 85) and 6.9% (n = 28), respectively. The odds of stunting was significantly high (adjusted odds ratio = 4.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.7–9.7) among children who had fathers working as daily labourers and children with personal dietary diversity score of ⩽3 (adjusted odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–8.0). T. trichiura infection (adjusted odds ratio = 9.4, 95% confidence interval: 2.0–44.8) was identified as an independent predictor of stunting among school-age children. Conclusion: Both the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and stunting are high among school-age children in Jimma Town. Although there was no statistically significant association between the STHs, in general, T. trichiura was reported as predictor of stunting. The results imply the need for strengthening strategies for reduction of parasitic infection to curb the pervasively high prevalence of stunting.

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Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease with a variable therapeutic response. To design effective treatment strategies for epilepsy, it is important to understand treatment responses and predictive factors. However, limited data are available in Africa, including Ethiopia. The aim of this study was therefore to assess treatment response and identify prognostic predictors among patients with epilepsy at Jimma university medical center, Ethiopia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 404 newly diagnosed adult epilepsy patients receiving antiepileptic treatment between May 2010 and May 2015. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected for all patients with a minimum follow-up of two years. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify predictors of poor seizure remission. Overall, 261 (64.6%) of the patients achieved seizure remission for at least one year. High number of pre-treatment seizures (adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49–0.83) and poor adherence (AHR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.75) were significant predictors of poor seizure remission. In conclusion, our study showed that only about two-thirds of patients had achieved seizure remission. The high number of pre-treatment seizures and non-adherence to antiepileptic medications were predictors of poor seizure remission. Patients with these characteristics should be given special attention.

Background Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is defined as the resistance of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal microorganisms to antimicrobial medicines that were previously effective for treatment of infectious disease. It is a major international concern in both developed and developing countries. Therefore, the aim of this review is to investigate the role of clinical pharmacists in reducing antimicrobial resistance. Methods The databases Medline, PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), and EMBASE were searched for articles published between 1999 and 2019 that involved studies on the role of clinical pharmacists and the expanded services of clinical pharmacists in health care system and their contributions in antimicrobial use. Results Studies from different countries have demonstrated that the roles of clinical pharmacists in health care team resulting in improved clinical outcome and economic outcome. Conclusions This review highlights that integration of clinical pharmacist services in healthcare systems will assist in reducinggrowing of catastrophic AMR.

Background Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic disease with variable treatment responses. To design effective epilepsy treatment strategies, it is important to understand treatment responses and predictive factors. However, there are fewer data available in limited resource settings including Ethiopia. Objectives To assess treatment response and its predictors among adult epilepsy patients in Jimma university medical center, Ethiopia. Method and Materials A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 404 adult patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy and receiving antiepileptic medication between May 2010 to May 2015. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data of epilepsy patients with a follow-up of at least two years were collected. Data was entered into Epidata software and imported into the statistical package for the social sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp) for analysis. Cox regression was used to identify independent predictors of seizure remission. Result A total of 404 study participants were followed for 1579.25-person years (median 44.0 months). Of them, 64.6% remained seizure-free for at least one year. High frequency of pre-treatment seizure (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]= 0.716, 95% CI: 0.558–0.919), poor early response (AHR= 0.339, 95% CI: 0.256–0.449), poor adherence (AHR= 0.719, 95% CI 0.546–0.942) and being on polytherapy (AHR= 0.563, 95% CI: 0.420–0.756) were significant predictors of poor seizure remission. Conclusion Only about two third of the patients achieved a one-year seizure remission period. High pre-treatment seizure frequency, poor early response, being on polytherapy and nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs were the independent predictors of poor seizure remission. Early identification and prediction of patients likely to be unresponsive based on the present findings need to be considered.