No abstract

Livestock farming provides a possible mechanism by which smallholder farmers can meet their household need for animal source foods (ASF), which may reduce the risk of stunting. However, direct/indirect contacts with domestic animals may increase colonization by Campylobacter spp., which has been associated with Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) and stunting. A cross-sectional study involving 102 randomly selected children between 12 and 16 months of age was conducted in rural eastern Ethiopia to establish prevalence rates of Campylobacter colonization, EED, and stunting, and evaluate potential risk factors. Data were collected between September and December 2018. The prevalence of EED and stunting was 50% (95% CI: 40–60%) and 41% (95% CI: 32–51%), respectively. Among enrolled children, 56% had consumed some ASF in the previous 24 h; 47% had diarrhea and 50% had fever in the past 15 days. 54, 63, 71 or 43% of households owned at least one chicken, cow/bull, goat, or sheep; 54 (53%) households kept chickens indoors overnight and only half of these confined the animals. Sanitation was poor, with high levels of unimproved latrines and open defecation. Most households had access to an improved source of drinking water. The prevalence of Campylobacter colonization was 50% (95% CI: 41–60%) by PCR. In addition to the thermotolerant species Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter upsaliensis, non-thermotolerant species related to Campylobacter hyointestinalis and Campylobacter fetus were frequently detected by Meta-total RNA sequencing (MeTRS). Current breastfeeding and ASF consumption increased the odds of Campylobacter detection by PCR, while improved drinking water supply decreased the odds of EED. No risk factors were significantly associated with stunting. Further studies are necessary to better understand reservoirs and transmission pathways of Campylobacter spp. and their potential impact on child health.

Intimate partner violence is common in rural areas of Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and prevalence of domestic violence among women in Kersa district of Oromia region and identify the types, perpetuators and triggers for violence. A community-based cross-sectional interview-based survey was conducted in 2008 on 858 women of reproductive age. Only 39.7% of women reported that they recognized that violence against women was a problem in their area. Ever experience of violence by an intimate partner was reported by 166 women (19.6%) and 70.3% of the perpetuators were husbands. Ever experience of domestic violence among women was significantly related to Amhara ethnicity and age group 30-49 years. Only 33 (19.9%) women who ever experienced violence had reported it to the legal authorities. Women's reasons for failing to report to the legal system were not wanting to expose the issue and not knowing where to go.

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of pediatric death, with >99% of mortality occurring in low- and lower middle-income countries. At least half of RSV-related deaths are estimated to occur in the community, but clinical characteristics of this group of children remain poorly characterized. Methods The RSV Global Online Mortality Database (RSV GOLD), a global registry of under-5 children who have died with RSV-related illness, describes clinical characteristics of children dying of RSV through global data sharing. RSV GOLD acts as a collaborative platform for global deaths, including community mortality studies described in this supplement. We aimed to compare the age distribution of infant deaths <6 months occurring in the community with in-hospital. Results We studied 829 RSV-related deaths <1 year of age from 38 developing countries, including 166 community deaths from 12 countries. There were 629 deaths that occurred <6 months, of which 156 (25%) occurred in the community. Among infants who died before 6 months of age, median age at death in the community (1.5 months; IQR: 0.8−3.3) was lower than in-hospital (2.4 months; IQR: 1.5−4.0; P < .0001). The proportion of neonatal deaths was higher in the community (29%, 46/156) than in-hospital (12%, 57/473, P < 0.0001). Conclusions We observed that children in the community die at a younger age. We expect that maternal vaccination or immunoprophylaxis against RSV will have a larger impact on RSV-related mortality in the community than in-hospital. This case series of RSV-related community deaths, made possible through global data sharing, allowed us to assess the potential impact of future RSV vaccines.

Background: Cervical cancer is a public health problem and one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. In Ethiopia, the government expands cervical cancer screening centers and recommends services to age-eligible and high-risk groups of women. However, evidence indicates that the utilization of services among eligible and high-risk women in the country has remained very low, and data are scarce in Dire Dawa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among women aged 30 to 49 years in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Dire Dawa from February 01 to March 01, 2017. Only two facilities provided the screening service in Dire Dawa Administration. Six- hundred and one women aged 30 to 49 years were selected using a systematic sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Version 21. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening utilization. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, the magnitude of cervical cancer screening service utilization was 4.0% (95% CI: 2.5-5.7). The factors associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization were older age (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI:1.3-13.8), attending private health facilities (AOR = 8.9; 95% CI: 2.8-28.0), being employed (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3-8.8), visiting the gynecology departments (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.5-9.8), being knowledgeable (AOR = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.5-15.5), being counseled by health professionals (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.5-11.3), and user’s of family planning (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.2-20.0). Conclusion: The magnitude of cervical cancer screening utilization was very low. Hence, to improve the screening service utilization of cervical cancer, a campaign on community awareness, strengthening service linkage among departments, expansion of the centers for cervical cancer screening, and promotion of family planning method utilization are recommended.