Background. Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease which is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Trachoma is one of the major health problems in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. However, knowledge, attitudes, and practices about trachoma are not yet studied in depth. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices on trachoma and its associated factors among rural communities in two districts of Tigay Region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia, from May 7–24, 2017. Data were collected on paper based, were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.1, and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results. In this study, a total of 194 respondents were included. The overall level of good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on trachoma was 51%, 49.5%, and 35.6%, respectively. Having ever received health education was significantly associated with good knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.91–8.79) and attitudes (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.02–4.25). Moreover, good knowledge was associated with good practices on trachoma prevention and control (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.46–5.62). Conclusion. Our study implies that areas with high burden of trachoma need to improve communities’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards trachoma prevention and control in order to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Therefore, health education focused on SAFE strategy should be provided to increase knowledge and changing attitudes that contribute for good practices towards trachoma prevention and control among communities.

Objectives: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a primary modality of supporting organ function in patients who are treated in intensive care units (ICUs). Although it is lifesaving, it is also associated with life-threatening complications. This study aims to address the existing paucity of evidence on clinical characteristics and determinants of invasive MV outcomes in adult ICU in North Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the adult ICU of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. A hospital-based prospective study was conducted to collect data using the purposive sampling technique to include all the patients who received invasive MV from January 2017 to October 2017. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: MV was utilized in 36.7% (n = 105) of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU. The two most common indications for invasive MV use were hypoxic respiratory failure 44.8% (n = 47) and coma 35.2% (n = 37). The mortality rate among patients who received invasive MV was 28.6%. Age above 60 years and development of septic shock after intubation were significant determinants of invasive MV-related mortality. Conclusion: A significant number of patients admitted to the ICU require respiratory support with invasive MV. Old age and the development of septic shock after intubation were significant determinants of mortality for patients under invasive MV.

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Back ground HIV/AIDS remained among the common public health problems in developing country. Despite the extensive delivery of ART and improved coverage of the service access, still, man-made problems like war have negatively influenced the utilization of antiretroviral treatment services. The war in Tigray Region in the northern Ethiopia broke out in November 2020 and thereby has brought about an extreme damage on most of the infrastructure in Tigray, including the health institutions. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to assess and report the trend of HIV service provision across the war affected rural health facilities in Tigray. Methods The study was conducted in 33 rural health facilities during the active war in Tigray. A facility based retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted among health facilities from July 03 to August 05, 2021. Result A total of 33 health facilities from 25 rural districts were included in the HIV service delivery assessment. A total of 3274 and 3298 HIV patients were seen during pre-war period in September and October 2020, respectively. The number of follow-up patients during the war period in January remained to be only 847(25%) which is significantly reduced with a P value<0.001. A similar trend was observed during the subsequent months until May. The trend of follow-up patients on ART significantly declined from 1940 in September (pre-war) to 331(16.6%) in May (during the war). This study also revealed a 95.5% reduction of laboratory service provision to HIV/AIDS patients during the war in January and with similar trends thereafter (P<0.001). Conclusion The war has led to a significant decline of HIV service provision in the rural health facilities and most part of the region during the first eight months of active war in Tigray.

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Back ground: HIV/AIDS remained among the common public health problems worldwide. Despite the extensive delivery of ART and improved coverage of the service access, still, man-made problems like war have negatively influenced the utilization of antiretroviral treatment services. The war in Tigray Region in the northern Ethiopia broke out in November 2020 and thereby has brought about an extreme damage on most of the infrastructure in Tigray, including the health institutions. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to assess and report the trend of HIV service provision across the war affected rural health facilities in Tigray. Methods: The study was conducted in 33 rural health facilities during the active war in Tigray. A facility based retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted among health facilities from July 03 to August 05, 2021. Result: A total of 33 health facilities from 25 rural districts were included in the HIV service delivery assessment. A total of 3274 and 3298 HIV patients were seen during pre-war period in September and October 2020, respectively.  The number of follow-up patients during the war period in January remained to be only 847(25%) which is significantly reduced with a P value<0.001. A similar trend was observed during the subsequent months until May. The trend of follow-up patients on ART significantly declined from 1940 in September (pre-war) to 331(16.6%) in May (during the war). This study also revealed a 95.5% reduction of laboratory service provision to HIV/AIDS patients during the war in January and with similar trends thereafter (P<0.001). Conclusion: The war has led to a significant decline of HIV service provision in the rural health facilities and most part of the region during the first eight months of active war in Tigray.

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