Background Despite efforts to decrease the burden, vaccine reluctance is increasing worldwide and hindering efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, understanding the willingness of a community to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will help to develop and implement effective means of promoting COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Objectives This study was aimed to assess the willingness of the Ethiopian population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and its determinant factors. Methods E-survey was conducted from February 2021 to March 2021. After developing the questionnaire, the template was created on Google Forms and disseminated in public on different social media channels (e.g., Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, email, etc.) by using a shareable link. Descriptive statistics were performed. Finally, multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to assess their relationship with socio-demographic factors. Results In total, 31.4% (n = 372) of respondents were willing to get a vaccine. One-third of respondents, 32.2% (n = 381), reported that COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Almost all 94.9% (n = 1124) responded that health workers should be vaccinated first. Only 21.7% (n = 257) willing to buy the vaccine if it is not provided free. Being female [OR (95% CI):1.85 (1.05–3.25)], aged less than 25 years old [OR (95% CI): 5.09 (3.41–7.59)], aged between 26–30 years [OR (95% CI): 3.57 (2.55–5.00)], being unmarried[OR (95% CI):1.12 (0.81–1.55)], urban in residence [OR (95% CI): 1.06 (0.69–1.62)], private sector worker in occupation [OR (95% CI):0.45 (0.26 –0.77)], university/college student [OR (95% CI): 0.88 (0.59–1.32)], not having a health-related job [OR (95% CI): 4.08 (2.57–6.48)], orthodox [OR (95% CI): 1.16 (0.61–2.19)], Muslim [OR (95% CI): 0.285 (0.13 –0.61)], educational status of university/above [OR (95% CI): 4.87 (3.15–7.53)] have a statistically significant association and were more likely willing to take COVID-19 than their counterparts. Conclusion This study found that only 31.4% were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Being female, older age, marital status, residence, occupations, not having a health-related job, religion, educational status were statistically significantly associated with willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Background Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disorder which becomes common in middle and low incomes countries since few decades. Microvascular complications include retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy all of which can lead to disability, dependency, accelerate their morbidity, and mortality. In Ethiopia, there is paucity data regarding this topic. Hence, this study aimed to assess prevalence of microvascular complications and its predictors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2020 at Dessie town hospitals. We used simple random sampling to recruit study participants and pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire to collect the data. Data was entered into Epi-Data 3.1 and exported to SPSS-23 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was done to select potential variables to be adjusted at p ≤ 0.25. After running multivariable regression, variables with a p-value ≤ 0.05 were declared as statistically significant. Results Three hundred and thirty-five type 2 DM patients participated in the study, of which 54.6% were males. One hundred and twenty-seven [37.9% (95% CI 32.5%–43.3%)] of diabetes mellitus had at least one microvascular complications. These were retinopathy 24.8%, nephropathy 16.1%, and neuropathy 8.1%. Age 60–87 years (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.02–7.46), duration of diabetes > 5 years (AOR = 4.09, 95% CI 2.40–6.96), mellitus and co-morbid hypertension (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI 2.09–5.95), were statistically significant. Conclusions In this study, diabetic microvascular complications are prevalent. Increasing the age of participants, longer duration of diabetes mellitus and co-morbid hypertension were independent predictors. Health workers should give emphasis for diabetes mellitus through early screening and health education, abrupt medication for aged patients with long duration of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, and also early detection and management of microvascular complication.

Background Although a safe and effective vaccine is available, measles remains an important cause of mortality and morbidity among young children in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The WHO and UNICEF recommended measles-containing vaccine dose 2 (MCV2) in addition to measles-containing vaccine dose 1 (MCV1) through routine services strategies. Many factors could contribute to the routine dose of MCV2 coverage remaining far below targets in many countries of this region. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MCV2 utilization among children aged 24–35 months and analyze factors associated with it by using recent nationally representative surveys of SSA countries. Methods Secondary data analysis was done based on recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data from eight Sub-Saharan African countries. In this region, only eight countries have a record of routine doses of measles-containing vaccine dose 2 in their DHS dataset. The multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify significantly associated factors. Variables were extracted from each of the eight country’s KR files. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and p-value ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable model were used to declare significant factors associated with measles-containing vaccine dose 2 utilization. Result The pooled prevalence of MCV2 utilization in SSA was 44.77% (95% CI: 27.10–62.43%). In the multilevel analysis, mothers aged 25–34 years [AOR = 1.15,95% CI (1.05–1.26), mothers aged 35 years and above [AOR = 1.26, 95% CI (1.14–1.41)], maternal secondary education and above [AOR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.13–1.43)], not big problem to access health facilities [AOR = 1.21, 95% CI (1.12–1.31)], four and above ANC visit [AOR = 2.75, 95% CI (2.35–3.24)], PNC visit [AOR = 1.13, 95% CI (1.04–1.23)], health facility delivery [AOR = 2.24, 95% CI (2.04–2.46)], were positively associated with MCV2 utilization. In contrast, multiple twin [AOR = 0.70, 95% CI (0.53–0.95)], rural residence [AOR = 0.69, 95% CI (0.57–0.82)] and high community poverty [AOR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.54–0.80)] were found to be negatively associated with MCV2 utilization. Conclusions and recommendations Measles-containing vaccine doses 2 utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa was relatively low. Individual-level factors and community-level factors were significantly associated with low measles-containing vaccine dose 2 utilization. The MCV2 utilization could be improved through public health intervention by targeting rural residents, children of uneducated mothers, economically poor women, and other significant factors this study revealed.

Background Visual impairment (VI) is a decreased ability to see things which is critical problem for health professionals and students to whom normal vision is essential for their daily activity. If it is not timely managed, visual impairment leads to physical, psychological, and socio-economic malfunctions to the victims and nation. Despite the above impacts, currently there is no study in Ethiopia on this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and its associated factors among Medical and Health Science students at the University of Gondar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among Medical and Health Science students. After recruiting study participants using systematic random sampling technique, we applied pre-tested self-administered questionnaire for sociodemographic variables and also visual acuity measurement was performed using Snellen chart placed at a distance of 6 meters. Visual acuity tested separately for each eye and for both eyes in a well- illuminated area. Pinhole was used for those participants with a visual acuity of < 6/9. Participants with a presenting visual acuity of < 6/12 in the better eye were diagnosed as having visual impairment. Epi data version 3.1 and stata version 14 were used for data entry and statistical analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression was used, and the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported to declare the statistical significance and strength of association between VI and independent variables. Results A total of 654 students were screened for visual acuity. The prevalence of visual impairment was 12.5% (95% CI: 10.21, 15.31). Age above 25 years (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.26) and current alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.7, 5.00), were statistically significant factors of visual impairment. Conclusion The prevalence of visual impairment among medical and health science students was high. Age of study participant and current alcohol consumption were statically significant factors. This study warrants the routine screening of Medical and Health science students for visual impairment.

Background Bottle feeding is associated with diarrheal disease morbidity and mortality and risk of pyloric stenosis, especially in developing countries. Even though, World Health Organization (WHO) recommended avoiding bottle feeding among children, still higher magnitude was reported in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the spatial distribution and determinants of bottle feeding among children 0-23 months in Ethiopia. Methods This study was conducted based on Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys data (EDHS). The data were weighted using sampling weight for probability sampling and non-response to restore the representativeness of the data and get valid statistical estimates. Then a total of 4,275 weighted samples of under two years children were used to investigate the study. The data were cleaned using MS excel and extracted and analyzed using STATA V.16 software. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted. P-value < 0.05 was taken to declare statistical significance. A spatial analysis was done using ArcGIS and SaTScan software. Results The prevalence of bottle feeding practice among under two years children in Ethiopia were 13.5% (95%CI: 11.16, 15.29) and ranges from the lowest 5.16% (95% CI: 3.28, 78.73) Amhara region to the highest 55.98% (95% CI: 47.98, 61.46) Addis Ababa region. Women with secondary and above education status [AOR=2.49; 95%CI; 1.66, 3.74], women from richest household [AOR=1.33; 95%CI; 1.01, 1.78], child 12-23 months age [AOR= 1.59; 95%CI; 1.23, 2.05], multiple birth [AOR=4.30; 95%CI; 1.88, 9.84], rural residence [AOR=0.49; 95%CI; 0.16, 0.82] and large central region [AOR= 0.15; 95%CI; 0.08, 0.27] have significantly associated with bottle feeding. Addis Ababa, Central Oromia, Dire Dewa, Somali and Harari regions were the hot spot areas for bottle feeding practice among under two years children. Conclusion and recommendations The prevalence of bottle feeding practices in Ethiopia is relatively moderate. Maternal education, wealth index, child age, multiple births, residence and region were significant predictors of bottle feeding. These findings highlight that, the Ministry of Health Ethiopia (MOH), policymakers, and other stakeholders had better give prior attention to preventable factors such as empowering women, enhancing household wealth status to decreasing bottle feeding practice in Ethiopia.