Background: Intestinal parasitic infections cause serious public health problem in Ethiopia. They are more prevalent in the poor segments of the population with low household income, poor handling of personal and environmental sanitation, overcrowding and limited access to clean water. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude and pattern of intestinal parasitism in urban communities of southwest Ethiopia. Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was undertaken in Jimma town from October 2004-January 2005. Study subjects were selected using systematic sampling method. Data were gathered through house to house survey using standardized questionnaire. Stool specimens were examined microscopically for the presence of parasite eggs, cysts and trophozoites using direct saline thin smear and formol-ether concentration methods. Results: Of the total, 754 (83%) had one or more intestinal parasitic infections. T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni were detected in single infection in 124 (16.4%), 44 (5.8%) and 11 (1.5%) of the infected study subjects, respectively. Polyparasitism was found in 515 (56.7%) of the total examined. Up to 5 parasites were detected in some individuals. T. trichiura with A. lumbricoides, hookworm and S. mansoni constituted 102 (13.5%), 33 (4.3%) and 17 (2.2%) of the double infections, respectively. H. nana and S. mansoni predominantly affected males than females (P<0.05). The prevalence of Giardia trophozites and H. nana were significantly higher in preschool children than other age groups (P<0.05). Higher proportions of teenagers were infected by A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni. Taeniasis was also dominant in teenagers. Conclusion: Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent in the study area. Public education on how to handle personal hygiene and proper use of latrines should be given to reduce the prevalence of infection.

Background: Ethiopia plans to increase its electricity power supply by five-fold over the next five years to fulfill the needs of its people and support the economic growth based on large hydropower dams. Building large dams for hydropower generation may increase the transmission of malaria since they transform ecosystems and create new vector breeding habitats. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Gilgel-Gibe hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia on malaria transmission and changing levels of prevalence in children.

Background: Vertical transmission from mother to baby is an important route of transmission for hepatitis B virus infection. Neonates who contract hepatitis B will have an almost 90 % risk of developing chronic HBsAg carriage and chronic liver disease. Neonatal immunization interrupts this vertical transmission. Objective: To determine the sero-prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women and to identify potential risk factors associated with the infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October, 2002 to March, 2003 in a total of 493 pregnant women attending Mother and Child Health clinics of Jimma university specialized hospital and its Training Health Centers. Serum was collected from each woman and tested for the presence of HBsAg using Bioline Strip, which is a qualitative, solid phase two site sandwich immunoassay (Pacific Biotech, Thailand). A pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and to find out possible risk factors. Results: The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 3.7% ranging from 1.4% to 6.4%. It was highest in Jimma and lowest in Shebe town. The socio-demographic status of the study population shows that high proportion of HBsAg positivity was among the illiterate (61%), those whose income <500 Birr / month (88.9%) and among the Oromo ethnic subgroup (83%). Pregnant women who experience abortion had a higher prevalence of HBsAg (7.3%). The odds of having HBsAg was more than twice with those with history of abortion than with other risk factors. When pregnant women of Jimma town were separately analyzed, dental procedure, cesarean section and tattooing are associated with HBsAg positivity, unlike other towns. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBsAg carrier state in the study area was significant enough to start routine antenatal screening for HBsAg. Except for abortion, known risk factors included in the study were not associated with Hepatitis B virus infection. The main route of HBV transmission in Jimma and its neighboring towns could be either through sexual contact or from mother to child. Further studies are required to confirm these modes of transmission.

BackgroundTyphoid fever is a major health problem in developing countries and its diagnosis on clinical ground is difficult. Diagnosis in developing countries including Ethiopia is mostly done by Widal test. However, the value of the test has been debated. Hence, evaluating the result of this test is necessary for correct interpretation of the result. The main aim of this study was to compare the result of Widal test and blood culture in the diagnosis of typhoid fever in febrile patients.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 270 febrile patients with symptoms clinically similar to typhoid fever and visiting St. Paul’s General Specialized Hospitals from mid December 2010 to March 2011. Blood culture was used to isolate S.typhi and S.paratyphi. Slide agglutination test and tube agglutination tests were used for the determination of antibody titer. An antibody titer of ≥1:80 for anti TO and ≥1:160 for anti TH were taken as a cut of value to indicate recent infection of typhoid fever.ResultsOne hundred and eighty six (68.9%) participants were females and eighty four (31.1%) were males. 7 (2.6%) cases of S. typhi and 4 (1.5%) cases of S. paratyphi were identified with the total prevalence of typhoid fever 4.1%. The total number of patients who have indicative of recent infection by either of O and H antigens Widal test is 88 (32.6%). The sensitivity, specificity, Positive predictive Value and Negative predictive Value of Widal test were 71.4%, 68.44%, 5.7% and 98.9% respectively.ConclusionsWidal test has a low sensitivity, specificity and PPV, but it has good NPV which indicates that negative Widal test result have a good indication for the absence of the disease.

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