Introduction. Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the commonest occupational risks in healthcare workers. However; there is limited evidence regarding the prevalence of hepatitis in health professionals in Ethiopia. Objective. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of hepatitis B and associated factors in health professionals. Methods. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among health professionals at University of Gondar Hospital from January to February, 2015. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic variables and blood sample was also taken to determine hepatitis B virus sero-status. Chi square test with 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to assess the associations of different factors with hepatitis B infection. Result. A total of 332 health professionals (with a response rate of 92.2%) participated in the study. Most (98.5%) of health professionals were not vaccinated for hepatitis B. The prevalence of hepatitis B in health professionals at UOG hospital was found to be 4.52% (95% CI: 2.4, 6.5). Hepatitis B infection was more common among males (P value =0.0299).  Conclusion. The prevalence of hepatitis B in health professionals in this study was comparable with other studies done in Ethiopia among health professionals. Males were more affected than females for hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B virus vaccine, treatment for the infected, and training on infection prevention should be more available for healthcare workers.

Background Iron deficiency is one of the most important factors of anemia which is caused by poor iron intake. In addition, children need more iron because of their rapid growth. On the other side, daily intake of iron is also recommended as a standard approach for the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia. In Ethiopia, although more than half of children 6–59 months of age were affected by anemia, the magnitude and factors associated with iron intake among them are understudied. Therefore this study aimed to assess the magnitude and community and individual level determinants of iron intake among 6–59 months children in Ethiopia. Methods Demographic and Health Survey datasets (EDHS) were used for this study. The data were weighted using sampling weight to get valid statistical estimates. The total weighted samples of 9,218 children aged 6–59 months were included. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with iron intake among 6–59 months of children in Ethiopia. In the final model adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05 was taken to declare statistical significance. Results The magnitude of iron intake among children 6–59 months in Ethiopia was 9.24% (95% CI: 8.31%, 10.15%). Individual level variables such as having at least one antenatal care visit (ANC) [AOR = 1.27; 95%CI; 1.01, 1.61], having health institution delivery [AOR = 1.46; 95%CI;1.04, 2.04], age of children ≥ 24 months [AOR = 1.82; 95%CI; 1.29, 2.57], being female child [AOR = 0.81; 95%CI; 0.67, 0.99], being greater than three birth order [AOR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.55, 0.98], whereas community level variables such as living in large central regions [AOR = 3.68; 95%CI; 1.47, 9.21], and living in community with high women education [AOR = 1.96; 95%CI; 1.28, 2.98] have an association with iron supplements among children 6–59 months years old in Ethiopia. Conclusion and recommendations The magnitude of iron intake among children 6–59 months old in Ethiopia is relatively low. Individual level factors such as; ANC visit, institution delivery, age of children, sex of the child, and birth order as well as; community level variables such as regions, and community women's education have a significant association with iron intake among children 6–59 months in Ethiopia. Prior attention should be given for under two years old children, children greater than three birth orders, and children living in small peripheral regions. Moreover, policymakers and other stakeholders had better plan and implement programs that empower women, enhance ANC visits, and health institution delivery to have a sustainable increment in iron intake for children in Ethiopia.

Background Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) preschool age children are more vulnerable to soil-transmitted helminths (STH) which caused millions of morbidity because of low socioeconomic status and lack of clean water and sanitation. Despite this problem, there is minimal evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with deworming medication utilization among preschool age children (pre-SAC) in SSA regions. Hence this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of deworming among preschool age children in SSA. Methods Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data were used for this study with a total weighted 192,652 children aged 24–59 months. Taking deworming medication in the 6 months preceding the interview was our outcome of interest. A multi-level binary logistic regression model was fitted. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was taken to identify significant variables. Results The prevalence of deworming medication utilization among preschool age children in SSA was 45.03% (95% CI 44.46%, 45.60%), ranging from 41.82% in Malawi to 50.5% in Lesotho. It was 44.91% (95% CI 44.32%, 45.51%) among countries having endemic STH infection and 46.01% (95% CI 43.64%, 48.38%) for none endemic countries. Factors such as; secondary and above women education [AOR = 2.18; 95% CI 2.10, 2.26], occupation [AOR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.27, 1.34], having ≥ 11 family members [AOR = 0.68; 95% CI 0.64, 0.70], household media exposure [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI 1.13, 1.19] and richer wealth status [AOR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.16, 1.27], vitamin A supplementation [AOR = 6.18; 95% CI 6.02, 6.33] and living rural residence [AOR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.92, 0.98] have significantly associated with deworming among preschool age children. Conclusions Utilization of deworming medication among pre-SAC children in sub-Saharan Africa is below half. Factors, such as the education status of women, family size, household media exposure, wealth status, diarrhea, vitamin A supplementation, and residence were significant variables. To increase the utilization of deworming medication for pre-SAC, WHO should work as an integrated approach with other stakeholders, by strengthening women’s education, and media exposure. Maternal employment should be promoted and prior attention should be given to rural children.

BackgroundEven though numerous factors contribute to undernutrition, it can happen immediately due to poor intake and illness. A minimum acceptable diet is one of the proxy measures for adequate consumption, which is an impact indicator for the Productive SafetyNet Program (PSNP). As a result, this study aimed to assess the impact of PSNP on the minimum acceptable diet among rural infants in the South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was employed in the selected woredas (districts) of South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, from 1 December 2017 to 30 January 2017. A total of 442 participants' data were collected during this time period through interviews with their mothers or caregivers. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select study subjects and interviewees using a structured questionnaire. Stata version 16 (MP) was employed to carry out a statistical analysis. A binary logistic regression model was employed to identify significant variables. The statistical significance was declared at a p-value of more than 0.05.ResultsThe highest proportion of adequate diet diversity scores (261 [59.05%]) was from households who graduated (not part of it) from PSNPs. In this study, the magnitude of adequate dietary diversity, meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet was 79.86, 82.58, and 66.52%, respectively. Marital status (AOR = 3.98, 95% CI: 1.39, 11.40), child age (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.78, 4.47), the educational status of the father (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.89), the wealth index (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.64), and the place of delivery (AOR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.47, 6.73) were significant predictors for minimum acceptable diet uptake by children.ConclusionIn this study, two-thirds of the infants had/received a minimum acceptable diet. Furthermore, infants from households with Productive SafetyNet users had a low minimum acceptable diet. Marital status, the educational status of the father, child age, the wealth index, and the place of delivery were associated factors with having an adequate intake of minimum acceptable diet by the children. Therefore, efforts to address sociodemographic and child-related factors during routine care are crucial.

No abstract