Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder among health professionals working in South Gondar Zone hospitals in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amhara Ethiopia 2020. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted. A total of 396 respondents completed the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. A previously adapted self-administered pretested standard questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-22) was used to measure post-traumatic stress disorder. Data was entered into Epi data version 4.4.2 then exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. Descriptive and analytical statistical procedures, bivariate, and multivariate binary logistic regressions with odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were employed. The level of significance of association was determined at a p-value < 0.05. Results The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among health care providers in this study was 55.1% (95% CI: 50.3, 59.6). Lack of standardized PPE supply (AOR = 2.5 7,95CI;1.37,4.85), respondents age > 40 years (AOR = 3.95, 95CI; 1.74, 8.98), having medical illness (AOR = 4.65, 95CI;1.65,13.12), perceived stigma (AOR = 1.97, 95CI;1.01, 3.85), history of mental illness(AOR = 8.08,95IC;2.18,29.98) and having poor social support (AOR = 4.41,95CI;2.65,7.3) were significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder at p-value < 0.05. Conversely, being a physician (AOR = 0.15, 95CI; 0.04, 0.56) was less affected by PTSD. Conclusions The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among health care providers in this study was high. Adequate and standardized PPE supply, giving especial emphasis to those care providers with medical illness, history of mental illness, and having poor social support, creating awareness in the community to avoid the stigma faced by health care providers who treat COVID patients is recommended.

Background Hypoxic perinatal brain injury is caused by lack of oxygen to baby’s brain and can lead to death or permanent brain damage. However, the effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia in birth asphyxiated infants with encephalopathy is uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to estimate the pooled relative risk of mortality among birth asphyxiated neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a global context. Methods We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to search randomized control trials from electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and meta register of Current Controlled Trials (mCRT)). The authors extracted the author’s name, year of publication, country, method of cooling, the severity of encephalopathy, the sample size in the hypothermic, and non-hypothermic groups, and the number of deaths in the intervention and control groups. A weighted inverse variance fixed-effects model was used to estimate the pooled relative risk of mortality. The subgroup analysis was done by economic classification of countries, methods of cooling, and cooling devices. Publication bias was assessed with a funnel plot and Eggers test. A sensitivity analysis was also done. Results A total of 28 randomized control trials with a total sample of 35, 92 (1832 hypothermic 1760 non-hypothermic) patients with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy were used for the analysis. The pooled relative risk of mortality after implementation of therapeutic hypothermia was found to be 0.74 (95%CI; 0.67, 0.80; I2 = 0.0%; p<0.996). The subgroup analysis revealed that the pooled relative risk of mortality in low, low middle, upper-middle and high income countries was 0.32 (95%CI; -0.95, 1.60; I2 = 0.0%; p<0.813), 0.5 (95%CI; 0.14, 0.86; I2 = 0.0%; p<0.998), 0.62 (95%CI; 0.41–0.83; I2 = 0.0%; p<0.634) and 0.76 (95%CI; 0.69–0.83; I2 = 0.0%; p<0.975) respectively. The relative risk of mortality was the same in selective head cooling and whole-body cooling method which was 0.74. Regarding the cooling device, the pooled relative risk of mortality is the same between the cooling cap and cooling blanket (0.74). However, it is slightly lower (0.73) in a cold gel pack. Conclusions Therapeutic hypothermia reduces the risk of death in neonates with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Both selective head cooling and whole-body cooling method are effective in reducing the mortality of infants with this condition. Moreover, low income countries benefit the most from the therapy. Therefore, health professionals should consider offering therapeutic hypothermia as part of routine clinical care to newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy especially in low-income countries.

BackgroundSubstance use has a terrible impact on health, behavior and country’s economy because the number of people particularly the youngsters being involved in this practice is increasing rapidly. However, the prevalence, determinants and consequence of substance use in the study area has been overlooked.MethodsA descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 254 health science students of Haramaya University. The respondents were selected randomly after double stratification based on their department and batch respectively. A pre-tested self–administrable anonymous questionnaire was used. The collected data were entered into epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistical analysis was done to examine findings. Besides, chi-square (X2) test was considered to examine the nonparametric association of factors with ever substance use.ResultsPrevalence of ever substance use for at least one substance was found to be 114(45.4%). Ever khat chewers take the highest percentage [107(93.9%)] followed by ever smokers 45(39.5%) and ever drinkers 44(38.6%). Among these ever substance users, 80(70.2%) were found to be current substance users. Being a preparatory student (26.3%) and freshman at university (57.9%) were critical times to initiate substance use. Sex, monthly income, sexual risk behavior and family history of substance use were found to be significantly associated with being ever substance user as witnessed by their respective X2 values of 19.67, 72.28, 28.99 and 139.72 at P-value = 0.05 and degree of freedom (df = 1). From the overall ever substance users, 31.6% had undesirable health consequences. Among these consequences, anorexia [40 (35.1%)] accounted for the highest percentage followed by insomnia [29 (25.4%)], depression [25 (22%)], gastritis [25 (22%)], dental caries [23 (20.2%)] and increased sexual activity [12 (10.5%)].ConclusionPrevalence of ever substance use in the study area was relatively high. Therefore attention should be given to the major reasons for substance use mainly orientation of freshman students about better stress coping mechanisms and expansion of adequate recreational activities.

BackgroundNeonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite implementing of different preventive interventions, the burden of neonatal sepsis is reporting in different areas of Ethiopia. For further interventions, identifying its determinants is found to be crucial.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify determinants of neonatal sepsis in the Northwest part of Ethiopia.MethodsUnmatched case-control study was conducted among 246 neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit, Northwest Ethiopia. Study participants were selected from February 1st to March 30th 2018. Data was collected through face to face interview and review of neonates’ medical records using pretested structured questionnaire. Data was entered into Epi Data version 4.2.0.0 and further transferred to SPSS statistical software version 25 for analysis. All independent variables with p-value < 0.25 in Bivariable analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 were considered as determinants of neonatal sepsis.ResultsA total of 82 cases and 164 controls were included in this study. Neonates with gestational age < 37 weeks [AOR = 6.90; 95% CI (2.76, 17.28)], premature rupture of membrane [AOR = 2.81; 95% CI (1.01, 7.79)], not crying immediately at birth and have received resuscitation at birth [AOR = 2.85; 95% CI (1.09, 7.47)] were found to be predictors of neonatal sepsis.Conclusions and recommendationsPremature rupture of membrane was found to be obstetric-related determinant of neonatal sepsis. Gestational age < 37 weeks, not crying immediately at birth, and have received resuscitation at birth were found to be neonatal-related risk factors of neonatal sepsis. Infection prevention strategies need to be strengthening and/or implementing by providing especial attention for the specified determinants.

Background More than one third of the neonatal deaths at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Debre Tabor General Hospital (DTGH) are attributable to birth asphyxia. Most of these neonates are referred from the maternity ward in the hospital. Concerns have also been raised regarding delayed intrapartum decisions for emergency obstetrics action in the hospital. However, there has been no recent scientific evidence about the exact burden of birth asphyxia and its specific determinants among live births at maternity ward of DTGH. Moreover, the public health importance of delivery time and professional mix of labor attendants haven’t been addressed in the prior studies. Methods Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 582 mother newborn dyads at maternity ward. Every other mother newborn dyad was included from December 2019 to March 2020. Pre-tested structured questionnaire and checklist were used for data collection. The collected data were processed and entered into Epidata version 4.2 and exported to Stata version 14. Binary logistic regressions were fitted and statistical significance was declared at p less than 0.05 with 95% CI. Results The prevalence of birth asphyxia was 28.35% [95% CI: 26.51, 35.24%]. From the final model, fetal mal-presentation (AOR = 6.96: 3.16, 15.30), premature rupture of fetal membranes (AOR = 6.30, 95% CI: 2.45, 16.22), meconium stained amniotic fluid (AOR = 7.15: 3.07, 16.66), vacuum delivery (AOR =6.21: 2.62, 14.73), night time delivery (AOR = 6.01: 2.82, 12.79) and labor attendance by medical interns alone (AOR = 3.32:1.13, 9.78) were positively associated with birth asphyxia at 95% CI. Conclusions The prevalence of birth asphyxia has remained a problem of public health importance in the study setting. Therefore, the existing efforts of emergency obstetric and newborn care should be strengthened to prevent birth asphyxia from the complications of fetal mal-presentation, premature rupture of fetal membranes, meconium stained amniotic fluid and vacuum delivery. Moreover, night time deliveries and professional mixes of labor and/delivery care providers should be given more due emphasis.

Introduction Medication error has the potential to lead to harm to the patient. It is the leading cause of threatens trust in the healthcare system, induce corrective therapy, and prolong patients’ hospitalization, produces extra costs and even death. This study aimed to assess medication administration error (MAE) and associated factors among nurses in referral hospitals of Ethiopia. Methods Institutional-based, cross-sectional study design was used, and 422 study participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a semi-structured and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire and observational checklist. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics and binary logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with medication administration errors. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Four hundred fourteen participants with a response rate of 98.1% were involved and 54.3% were females. The median age was 30 with IQR (28–34) years and the majority of them (83.8%) had BSc qualification in nursing. The prevalence of MAE in this study was 57.7% and 30.4% of them made it more than three times. Wrong time (38.6%), wrong assessment (27.5%), and wrong evaluation (26.1%) were the most frequently perpetuated medication administration errors. Significant association between medication administration errors and lack of training [AOR=2.20; 95% CI (1.09, 4.46)], unavailability of guideline [AOR=1.65; 95% CI (1.03, 2.79)], poor communication when face problem [AOR=3.31; 95% CI (2.04, 5.37)], interruption [AOR = 3.37, 95% CI (2.15, 5.28)] and failure to follow medication administration rights [AOR=1.647; 95% CI (1.00, 2.49)] was noticed. Conclusion MAE was high in the study area as compared to studies from Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Adigrat and Mekelle University Hospital, and the University of Gondar Referral Hospital and hence developing guidelines, providing training, and develop strategies to minimize distracters are better to be undertaken.

Background: Healthcare professionals are at the frontline facing the pandemic. Since the pandemic is new with sophisticated needs of resources, identifying perceived barriers of the healthcare institutions has an important input for the government in slowing the viral spread and prevents healthcare professionals from infection. Objective: The study was aimed to assessperceived barriers and preventive measures of corona virus disease among healthcare providers in Debretabor Town, north central Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare providers working in Debretabor town, north central Ethiopia from May 1 to 15, 2020. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were coded, entered, cleaned, and checked using Epi data statistical software version 4.2.0.0 and analysis using STATA Version 14 statistical software. Descriptive statistics of different variables were presented in figures, text, and tables. Chi-square (chi 2) test of independence was considered to examine the nonparametric association of factors with preventive practice, and association was considered at a P-value of less than 0.05. Results: A total of 183 healthcare providers participated in the survey, of which 67.76% were males, and 80.87% were in the age range of 25-35 years. About 45% of participants were nurses. In the current study, overall preventive practice was 68.3%. Despite recommendations by the World Health Organization, avoidance of outdoor, physical distancing, and avoiding meeting a person with a coughwere not implemented by 32.24%, 24.18%, and 13.11% of healthcare providers, respectively. Insufficient training, lack of policy, less commitment to infection control, and limitations of resources were perceived as major barriers for practicing preventive measures during the pandemic. Conclusion: Preventive measures taken by healthcare providers were poor. Multiple barriers, such as insufficient training related to the pandemic, limitation of resources, and less commitment of healthcare providers to infection prevention measures were reported. So, the government should work on reducing the pandemic propagation by fulfilling the barriers using different means or strategies.

Introduction. Although the efforts at global and national levels have attempted to decrease the COVID-19 pandemic, the low level of preparedness among healthcare providers is a challenge mainly in developing countries. Hence, this study is aimed at assessing the level of preparedness for COVID-19 and its associated factors among frontline healthcare providers in South Gondar public hospitals, northwest Ethiopia. Methods and Materials. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 207 selected healthcare providers who were working in South Gondar public hospital from July 08 to August 29, 2020. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The healthcare providers were selected through simple random sampling techniques. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions with a 95% confidence interval were fitted with 95% CI to establish the associated factors with a low level of preparedness. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The overall level of preparedness among healthcare providers for COVID-19 was found to be 41.3% (95% CI: 37.4, 44.7). Only 81 (40.1%) healthcare providers had prepared for telling their family and friends if they are infected with COVID-19. Besides, only 23.8% of healthcare providers obtained alcohol-based hand sanitizer in every patient room. Factors associated with a low level of preparedness include being male ( AOR = 2.5 , 95% CI: 1.22–4.94), unmarried ( AOR = 3.4 , 95% CI: 1.44–8.00), and working experience less than five years ( AOR = 3.4 , 95% CI: 1.29-9.09). Conclusion. The level of preparedness among frontline healthcare providers towards COVID-19 was found to be very low. In the future, more emphasis should be placed on healthcare providers who are male, unmarried, and had working experience of lower than five years to decrease the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.