Background Mortality from preventable pregnancy-related complications remains high in Ethiopia. Antenatal care remains a major public health intervention that prevents maternal and neonatal mortality. Thus, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of adequate antenatal care utilization in Southern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 670 women. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire administered with a digital survey tool (open data kit) and directly exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Descriptive statistics followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results The magnitude of adequate antenatal care utilization was 23.13%. Tertiary and above education (AOR,4.15;95%CI: 1.95, 8.83), having the best friend who used maternal care (AOR,2.01;95%CI: 1.18,3.41), husband support (AOR,3.84; 95%CI: 1.05, 14.08), high wealth index (AOR,3.61; 95%CI: 1.86, 6.99), follow-up in private health facilities (AOR, 2.27;95% CI:1.33, 3.88), having a history of risky pregnancy (AOR,2.59; 95%CI: 1.55, 4.35), and planned pregnancy (AOR,2.60;95% CI: 1.35, 4.99) were significant determinants of overall adequate ANC service utilization. Conclusion The utilization of adequate antenatal care services is quite low. The study findings suggest that interventions should be in place to improve husband’s support, social networks, and women’s education. There is also a need to counsel women to utilize family planning.

Background: HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's serious public health challenges. Patients with limited support from their family and community often experience social damage, poor adherence, compliance and are prone to additional psychosocial problems. This study aimed to assess the level of perceived social support and factors among adults living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: Facility-based mixed study (sequential explanatory) design was conducted among 423 adults living with HIV/AIDS attending chronic care follow-up at public hospitals in Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia. Respondents were selected by systematic sampling technique. The bivariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to determine associated factors. All assumptions applied to ordinal logistic regression including multicollinearity, proportional odds, model fitness and pseudo R 2 were checked. Level of significance was declared at p-values <0.05 and 95% CI. Results: Proportion of perceived social support of participants was 128 (30.7%), 197 (47.2%) and 92 (22.1%) with low, moderate and high levels of perceived social support, respectively. Females [(APOR = 2.42, 95% CI:(1.63-3.58), P < 0.001)], no formal education [(AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: (0.30-0.789), P = 0.004)], fair adherence [(APOR = 2.07, 95% CI: (1.17-3.49), P = 0.006)], no comprehensive knowledge about HIV [(APOR = 0.40, 95% CI: (0.26-0.62), P < 0.001)], and no disclosure status [(APOR = 0.64, 95% CI: (0.43-0.95), P = 0.028] were significantly associated with perceived social support. Qualitative findings revealed that disclosure and adherences involving income generation activities are beneficial to perceived social support. Conclusion:This study showed that one from three of the participants had low perceived social support. Low perceived social support was associated with adherence, disclosure status of individual, educational status and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Family, friends, health care providers and significant others should provide necessary support and inform people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) about social support.

Background Cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus prevention are public health priorities in Ethiopia. Despite cervical cancer being preventable with the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine and cervical cancer screening, HIV-infected women still have a low rate of screening, and data are scarce in this country. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among HIV-positive women in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia, 2018. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was performed from March 1st to May 15th, 2018. We recruited 465 HIV-positive women using a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, followed by multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Crude odds ratios, adjusted odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results In this study, only 8% of HIV-positive women were screened for cervical cancer. The most frequently cited barrier by participants to getting screened was feeling healthy 282 (65.9%). Multiparity {AOR = 4.12, 95% CI = (1.70, 9.95)}, provider recommendation to get screened {AOR = 3.20, 95%CI = (1.34, 7.65)}, having good knowledge {AOR = 4.33, 95%CI = (1.66-11.29)}, and high perceived susceptibility for cervical cancer {AOR = 3.10, 95% CI = (1.31-7.33)} were the factors significantly associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization. Conclusions The prevalence of cervical cancer screening service utilization was quite low. Provider’s recommendation to get screened, multiparity, knowledge, and perceived susceptibility were factors strongly associated with the service utilization. There is a need of routine counseling of health care providers for all HIV-positive women to get screened. Women’s lack of knowledge also needs to be addressed by informing every HIV-positive woman that they are more susceptible to cervical cancer, and that screening is critical to fighting against the disease.

Background Blood transfusion is one of the routine therapeutic interventions in hospitals that can be lifesaving. However, this intervention is related to several transfusion-related infections. Hepatitis C viral infection is one of the most common causes of transfusion-related hepatitis. Subsequently, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Ethiopia. Methods PubMed, Google Scholar, Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and Cochrane library, the web of science, African journal of online (AJOL), and Google Scholar was searched. The data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using STATA version 14. Publication bias was checked by funnel plot, contour-enhanced funnel plots, trim and fill analysis and more objectively through Egger’s regression test, with P <  0.05 considered to indicate potential publication bias. The heterogeneity of studies was checked using I2 statistics. Pooled analysis was conducted using a weighted inverse variance random-effects model. Subgroup analysis was done by region and study period. A sensitivity analysis was employed. Result A total of 25 studies with 197,172 study participants were used to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis c virus among blood donors. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus was 0.819% (95% CI: 0.67–0.969; I2 = 92.3%). Regional sub-group analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection among blood donors found to be 0.563% in Somali, 1.08% in Oromia, 0.847% in Amhara, and 0.908% in south nations nationalities and peoples region. Conclusion The pooled seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Ethiopia found to be low. Moreover, there should be systematic strategies that enhance donor screening and retention of safe regular donors.

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Background The burden of hypertension is more devastating in low-and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa than in high-income countries. Among the modifiable risk factors, dyslipidemia and khat chewing were expanding at an alarming rate in Ethiopia but were still underestimated. Thus, this study aimed to assess heavy khat (Catha edulis) chewing and dyslipidemia as modifiable hypertensive risk factors among patients in the southwest, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based case-control study was conducted among 136 cases and 270 controls from May 15 to July 30, 2017. A consecutive sampling technique was used in this study. Epi data version 3.1.1 and SPSS version 21 were used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results The majority of the cases had a total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio of >5 (72.1%). The odds of hypertension increased among participants who had attended no formal education [AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: (1.05–4.82)], history of alcohol consumption [AOR = 5.93,95% CI:(3.11–11.30)], moderate khat chewing [AOR = 3.68, 95% CI:(1.69,8.01)], heavy khat chewing [AOR = 18.18, 95% CI: (3.56–92.89)], mild intensity physical activity [AOR = 3.01, 95% CI: (1.66–5.47)], type of oil used for food preparation [AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: (1.49–5.28)], and dyslipidemia [AOR = 6.68, 95% CI: (2.93–15.23)]. Conclusion The study showed that modifiable risk factors were the major factors associated with the development of hypertension. The findings of this study highlighted that health education is needed to focus on physical exercise, quitting excess alcohol consumption, quitting khat chewing by giving special emphasis to those who had no formal education. In addition, consideration should be given to a healthy diet free of cholesterol and unhealthy behavior.

Background Worldwide mortality due to cardiovascular disease is the dominant cause of death, and ischemic heart disease is the leading one. Though risk factors for Ischemic heart diseases are modifiable and preventable, it is not well investigated in the local context. Thus, this study aimed to assess the dietary and behavioral risk factors for ischemic heart disease among patients in medical outpatient departments in Southern, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from November 16 to March 20, 2020, among patients with ischemic heart disease and those patients who visited the three hospitals of the Wolaita Zone. A convenient sampling method was used and the data were entered using Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis, a p-value <0.05, were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 557 study participants (140 cases and 417 controls) were included in a ratio of 1:3. The adjusted odds ratio for having no formal education (AOR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.59, 6.34), previous history of hypertension (AOR= 2.84; 95% CI: 1.73, 4.66), physical inactivity (AOR= 2.23; 95% CI: 1.32, 3.76), inadequate intake of fruit and vegetable consumption (AOR= 2.43; 95% CI; 1.40, 4,22), palm oil use for food preparation (AOR= 2.12; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.63) and obesity (AOR= 5.68; 95% CI: 2.63, 12.23) increased the occurrence of the disease. Conclusion Although ischemic heart disease is preventable, using relatively simple and inexpensive lifestyle changes, it is projected to cause preventable loss of life. So, expanding health education and healthy life styles including exercise is recommended.

Background Early morning sunlight exposure for infants is a good practice to prevent rickets and alleviate the problem of vitamin D deficiency. Rickets is a major public health problem in many countries especially in developing country including Ethiopia. As mothers are frontline person for their children who should know and practice about sunlight exposure, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the pooled level of knowledge and practice towards sunlight exposure of their children among mothers in Ethiopia. Methods PubMed, Google Scholar, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and African Journal of Online (AJOL) were searched. The data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA version 14. Publication bias was checked by funnel plot and more objectively through Egger’s regression test, with P < 0.05 considered to indicate potential publication bias. The heterogeneity of studies was checked using I2 statistics. Pooled analysis was conducted using a weighted inverse variance random-effects model. Subgroup analysis was done related to geographic region and time. A leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was also employed. Result A total of 8 studies with 2974 study participants for knowledge, nine studies with 3475 study participants for practice were used to estimate the pooled level of good knowledge and good practice of sunshine exposure among Ethiopian mothers. The overall estimated good level of knowledge and good practice towards sunshine exposure of their children among mothers was found to be 56.08% ((95% CI: 46.26 - 65.89%; I2 = 96.8%) and 55.632% (95%CI: 44.091 - 67.174%; I2 = 98.2%). Regional subgroup analysis showed that the pooled level of good practice in Amhara and Sidama regions found to be 54.41 and 58.32% respectively. Conclusion Study findings showed mothers knowledge and practice towards sunshine exposure of children was quite low in Ethiopia. This study therefore recommends that interventions are needed to increase knowledge and practice of sunlight exposure. This study provides much needed significant evidence for making health-policy recommendations for this vulnerable population group.