Background Needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) are a common problem among healthcare workers (HCWs). Although the factors related to NSSIs for HCWs are well documented by several studies in Ethiopia, no evidence has been reported about the magnitude of and factors related to NSSIs in hospitals in northwestern Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from January to March 2019 among 318 HCWs in three randomly-selected hospitals of the eight hospitals found in South Gondar Zone. Sample sizes were proportionally allocated to professional categories. Study participants were selected by systematic random sampling methods using the monthly salary payroll for each profession as the sampling frame. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The outcome of this study was the presence (injured) or absence of NSSIs during the 12 months prior to data collection. A binary logistic regression model with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for data analysis. Variables from the bi-variable analysis with a p-value ≤ 0.25 were retained into the multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value less than 0.05 was declared as factors significantly associated with NSSIs. Main findings The prevalence of NSSIs was 29.5% (95% CI: 24.2–35.5%) during the 12 months prior to the survey. Of these, 46.0% reported that their injuries were moderate, superficial (33.3%) or severe (20.7%). About 41.4% of the injuries were caused by a suture needle. Factors significantly associated with NSSIs were occupation as a nurse (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.18–4.26), disposal of sharp materials in places other than in safety boxes (AOR = 3.93, 95% CI: 2.10–5.35), recapping of needles (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.13–4.56), and feeling sleepy at work (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.14–4.41). Conclusion This study showed that almost one-third of HCWs had sustained NSSIs, a proportion that is high. Factors significantly associated with NSSIs were occupation as a nurse, habit of needle recapping, disposal of sharp materials in places other than in safety boxes and feeling sleepy at work. Observing proper and regular universal precautions for nurses during daily clinical activities and providing safety boxes for the disposal of sharp materials, practicing mechanical needle recapping and preventing sleepiness by reducing work overload among HCWs may reduce the incidence of NSSIs.

Background Intestinal parasitosis is a major public health problem that affects the health of primary school children in low- and middle-income countries where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions are deficient. Since there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and associated factors of this problem among primary school children in Dessie City in Ethiopia, this study was designed to address these gaps. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 stratified-sampled primary school children in five primary schools at Dessie City from April to June 2018. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, an observation checklist and laboratory analysis of stool samples. Stool specimen from each study participant was collected using clean, properly labeled and leak-proof stool cup. A portion of stool from each study participant collected sample was processed using saline wet mount technique and examined by microscope. The remaining specimens were preserved with 10% formalin and transported to Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital laboratory to be processed by using formol-ether concentration technique. Then, slide smears were prepared from each processed stool specimen and finally, it was microscopically examined with 10x as well as 40x objectives for the presence or absence of intestinal parasites. Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis were determined using binary logistic regression model at 95% CI (confidence interval). Thus, bivariate (COR [crude odds ratio]) and multivariable (AOR [adjusted odds ratio]) logistic regression analyses were carried out. From the multivariable analysis, variables having a p-value of less than 0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary school children. Main findings The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was found to be 16.0% (95% CI: 12.5–19.4%), of these, 50.8% were positive for protozoa, 32.2% for helminth infections and 16.9% for double co-infections. Entamoeba histolytica was the most prevalent parasite (29.2%), followed by Giardia lamblia (21.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (18.5%), Hymenolepis nana (9.2%) and Enterobius vermicularis (4.6%). Prevalence rates were similar among government (16.3%) and private (15.7%) school children. Water consumption was less than 5 liters per capita per day in 4 of the 5 schools. Thirty-eight (9.3%) of primary school students reported that they practiced open defecation. About two-thirds (285, 70.0%) said they always washed their hands after defecation. Mother’s education (illiterate) (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.20–9.37), father’s education (illiterate) (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.40–10.82), fathers who could read and write (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.25–7.86), handwashing before meal (sometimes) (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.11–4.17) and poor knowledge of WASH (AOR = 9.3; 95% CI: 2.17–16.70) were statistically associated with presence of intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion We concluded that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in the study area among Grades 4–8 primary school children had public health significance. Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary school children’s were illiterate mothers and fathers, irregular handwashing of children before meals, and poor knowledge of WASH. Health education to improve students’ WASH knowledge and mass deworming for parasites are recommended as preventive measures; and improvements to the quality of WASH facilities in primary schools are strongly recommended to support these measures.

Background Acute respiratory infections are rising in developing countries including Ethiopia. Lack of evidence for the prevalence and associated factors of acute respiratory infection among street sweepers and door-to-door waste collectors in Dessie City, Ethiopia is a challenge for the implementation of appropriate measures to control acute respiratory infection. Thus, this study was designed to address the gaps. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 84 door-to-door waste collectors and 84 street sweepers from March to May 2018. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected by trained data collectors using a pretested structured questionnaire and on-the-spot direct observation checklist. Data were analyzed using three different binary logistic regression models at 95% confidence interval (CI): the first model (Model I) was used to identify factors associated with acute respiratory infection among street sweepers, whereas the second model (Model II) was used to identify factors associated with acute respiratory infection among door-to-door waste collectors, and the third model (Model III) was used for pooled analysis to identify factors associated with acute respiratory infection among both street sweepers and door-to-door waste collectors. From each model multivariable logistic regression, variables with a p-value <0.05 were taken as factors significantly associated with acute respiratory infection. Results The overall prevalence of acute respiratory infection among studied population was 42.85% with 95% CI (35.1, 50.0%). The prevalence of acute respiratory infection among street sweepers was 48.80% (95% CI: 37.3, 64.8%) and among door-to-door waste collectors was 36.90% (95% CI: 27.4, 46.4%). There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of acute respiratory infection among the two groups due to the overlapping of the 95% CI. Among the street sweepers, we found that factors significantly associated with acute respiratory infection were not cleaning personal protective equipment after use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.15, 5.51) and use of coal/wood for cooking (AOR: 3.95; 95% CI: 1.52, 7.89), whereas among door-to-door waste collectors, were not using a nose/mouth mask while on duty (AOR: 5.57; 95% CI: 1.39, 9.32) and not receiving health and safety training (AOR: 3.82; 95% CI: 1.14–7.03) were factors significantly associated with acute respiratory infection among door-to-door-waste collectors. From the pooled analysis, we found that not using a nose/mouth mask while on duty (AOR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.16, 4.53) and using coal/wood for cooking (AOR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.18, 6.95) were factors significantly associated with acute respiratory infection for both street sweepers and door-to-door waste collectors. Conclusion The prevalence of acute respiratory infection among street sweepers and door-to-door waste collectors has no statistically significant difference. For both groups, not using a nose/mouth mask while on duty and using coal/wood for cooking fuel factors associated with acute respiratory infection. The municipality should motivate and monitor workers use of personal protective equipment including masks and gloves. Workers should use a nose/mouth mask while on duty and should choose a clean energy source for cooking at home.

Brewery industries are a major surface water pollution source since they release their waste waters into receiving aquatic systems. The Brasserieset Group Industry (BGI) located at the town of Kombolcha (Ethiopia) discharges large quantities of organically laden waste water into the Borkena River, a tributary to the Cheffa Wetland, one of Ethiopia's largest wetlands. As the efficiency of the brewery's wastewater treatment plant has not been assessed, there is no existing evidence regarding the compliance of its effluent discharges with standard discharge limits. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate the efficiency of the brewery wastewater treatment plant, as well as to assess the status of the effluent discharge compliance for the stated guidelines. Time‐composite wastewater samples were collected from the treatment plant inlet and final outlet during February to March 2020. Pollutant removal efficiency was evaluated by determining the differences in the pollutant concentrations in the influent and effluent. The mean value of the treated brewery wastewater Biochemical Oxygen Demand was 23.3 ± 12.3 mg/L, Chemical Oxygen Demand was 111.9 ± 33.8 mg/L, total nitrogen (TN) was 92.4 ± 21 mg/L, total phosphorus (TP) was 12.8 ± 5.1 mg/L and nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐N) was 22.5 ± 5.2 mg/L. Although the brewery treatment plant removed large percentages of organic constituents such as BOD5 (98.6%) and COD (96.7%), only small quantities of TP (49.8%), TN (19.9%) and NO3‐N (9.3%) were removed. As the treatment plant discharges did not meet the Ethiopian permissible limit standards for the critical parameters, deterioration of the downstream wetland and its resources is of serious concern. To better manage and conserve the Cheffa Wetland and its important ecosystem services, it is recommended that the industry improves its wastewater treatment efficiency.

The integration of water quality characteristics with habplot‐based habitat quality assessment score (HabQA) has received little attention in ecological quality assessment studies. This study investigated the macroinvertebrate community structure in relation with lake habitat quality and physicochemical water quality variables in Lugo Lake (Ethiopia). Twelve sampling sites (eight agricultural and four recreational) were included. The variation among macroinvertebrates data was significantly explained by HabQA score and soluble reactive phosphorus. The study revealed the greater importance of habitat quality characteristics in comparison with the other conventional physicochemical characteristics on macroinvertebrate community structure. We strongly recommend the use of HabQA system while studying macroinvertebrate community structure for a deeper understanding of the environmental functioning of tropical lakes. The results suggested the need to apply integrated and sustainable protection and management of the lake catchment (including wetlands) to enhance the ecological integrity and hence biodiversity of lakes.