Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen failure is linked to an increased risk of disease progression and death, while early detection of ART failure can help to prevent the development of resistance. This study aimed to evaluate virological and immunological ART failure and predictors among HIV-positive adult and adolescent clients in southeast Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective cohort study was implemented from January 2016 to November 30, 2020; all HIV-positive nave patients on follow-up during the study period from four hospitals were included. Virological and immunological treatment failure was the primary outcome of the study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed for analysis. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were reported and variables with p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of treatment failure. Results A total of 641 HIV patients’ charts were reviewed, 62.6% of the study participants were females. Of the total study participants, 18.4% and 15% developed virological and immunological ART regimen treatment failure respectively. The median time to virological failure was 40 months. WHO stage IV [AHR = 4.616; 95% CI: (2.136–9.974)], WHO stage III [AHR = 2.323; 95% CI: (1.317–4.098)], poor adherence to HAART regimen [AHR = 3.097; 95% CI: (1.349–7.108)], and fair adherence [AHR = 2.058; 95% CI: (1.234–3.432)] were significantly associated with virological treatment failure among adolescent and adult study participants in southeast Ethiopia. Conclusion The prevalence of virological treatment failure was 18.4% (95% CI: 15.4 −21.4) and the prevalence of immunological treatment failure was 15% (95% CI: 11.8–18.4). WHO clinical stage III/IV and non-adherence were independent predictors of virological ART treatment failure. Early management of clinical WHO stages and improving patients’ ART regimen adherence are important to decrease the prevalence of ART regimen treatment failure.

Background Obesity and overweight are known public health problems that affect populations across the world. These conditions have been associated with a wide range of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. In Ethiopia, the literature regarding the burden of central (abdominal) obesity is scarce. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing the prevalence and risk factors associated with central obesity among adults in Ethiopia. Methods From May to July 2021, a community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 694 adults aged ≥18 years in administrative towns of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling followed by systematic random sampling was employed to identify study participants. Waist and hip circumferences were measured using standard protocols. The World Health Organization STEPS wise tool was used to assess risk factors associated with central obesity. Bi-variable and multi-variable binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with central obesity. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) have been reported to estimate the strength of associations. Results The overall prevalence of central obesity using waist circumference was 39.01% [(95% CI: 35.36–42.76; 15.44% for men and 53.12% for women)]. Multi-variable binary logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (AOR = 12.93, 95% CI: 6.74–24.79), Age groups: 30–39 years old (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.59–4.94), 40–49 years (AOR = 7.66, 95% CI: 3.87–15.15), 50–59 years (AOR = 4.65, 95% CI: 2.19–9.89), ≥60 years (AOR = 12.67, 95% CI: 5.46–29.39), occupational status like: housewives (AOR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.85–14.62), self-employed workers (AOR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.62–13.24), government/private/non-government employees (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 1.47–14.88), and skipping breakfast (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23–0.9) were significantly associated with central obesity. Conclusions Abdominal obesity has become an epidemic in Bale Zone’s towns in Southeastern Ethiopia. Female sex, age, being employed were positively associated with central obesity, while skipping breakfast was a protective factor.

Background Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Hypertension and dyslipidemia appear to be the two most important modifiable risk factors contributing to the global rise in cardiovascular disease. Several plant preparations are currently being touted as having benefits for such cardiovascular risk factors. African moringa, Moringa stenopetala, is one of these plants used in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the serum lipid profiles and blood pressure measurements of Moringa stenopetala herbal tea drinkers and non-drinker hypertensive patients attending chronic care follow-up at Bale zone hospitals. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study, involving 128 blood samples (64 each of Moringa stenopetala herbal tea drinkers and nondrinkers), was conducted on hypertensive patients who were on chronic care follow-up from July 1 to August 30, 2021. A face-to-face interview was used to collect data, and serum LDL-c, HDL-c, TG, and TC levels were measured using a clinical chemistry analyzer. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, Chi-square (X2) was used to compare the relationship between categorical variables, and an independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the mean of the groups. Generalized linear regression was used to study the association between continuous variables and Moringa stenopetala herbal tea consumption groups. The statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Results Moringa stenopetala herbal tea drinkers have showed statistically significant lower values than non-drinkers for LDL-c (p < 0.001), TG (p = 0.001), TC (p < 0.001), TC/HDL-c ratio (p < 0.001), and LDL-c/ HDL-c ratio (p < 0.001). The mean SBP, DBP, and MAP were significantly lower among the Moringa stenopetala tea drinkers group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusions Interestingly, Moringa stenopetala herbal tea consumption has a significant health benefit by lowering blood pressure, LDL-c, TG, TC, and the ratios TC/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c, which have the potential risk of developing CVDs.

Background Obesity and overweight are known are public health scourge challenges affecting populations across the world. These conditions have been associated with a wide range of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. In Ethiopia, literature regarding the burden of central (abdominal) obesity is scarce. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing the prevalence and risk factors associated with central obesity among adults in Ethiopia. Methods From May to July 2021, a community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 694 adults aged >=18 years in administrative towns of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling followed by systematic random sampling was employed to identify study participants. Waist and hip circumferences were measured using standard protocols. The World Health Organization STEPS wise tool was used to assess risk factors associated with central obesity. Bi-variable and multi-variable binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with central obesity. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported to estimate the strength of associations. Results The overall prevalence of central obesity using waist circumference was 39.01% (15.44% for men and 53.12% for women). Multi-variable binary logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (AOR=12.93, 95% CI: 6.74-24.79), Age groups: 30-39 years old (AOR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.59-4.94), 40-49 years (AOR=7.66, 95% CI: 3.87-15.15), 50-59 years (AOR=4.65, 95% CI: 2.19-9.89), >=60 years (AOR=12.67, 95% CI: 5.46-29.39), occupational status like: housewives (AOR=5.21, 95% CI: 1.85-14.62), self-employed workers (AOR=4.63, 95% CI: 1.62-13.24), government/private/non-government employees (AOR=4.68, 95% CI: 1.47-14.88) and skipping breakfast (AOR=0.46, 95% CI: 0.23-0.9) were significantly associated with central obesity. Conclusions Abdominal obesity has become an epidemic in towns of southeast Ethiopia, and the prevalence is higher among women. Female sex, older age group, being employed, not skipping breakfast were significantly associated with central obesity.

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