Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of disorders that arise from the failure of the neural tube close between 21 and 28 days after conception. About 90% of neural tube defects and 95% of death due to these defects occurs in low-income countries. Since these NTDs cause considerable morbidity and mortality, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of NTDs in Africa. Methods The protocol of this study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO number: CRD42020149356). All major databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar search engine were systematically searched. A random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of NTDs in Africa, and Cochran’s Q-statistics and I2 tests were used to assess heterogeneity between included studies. Publication bias was assessed using Begg ’s tests, and the association between determinant factors and NTDs was estimated using a random-effect model. Results Of the total 2679 articles, 37 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of NTDs in Africa was 50.71 per 10,000 births (95% CI: 48.03, 53.44). Folic acid supplementation (AOR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.19–0.85), maternal exposure to pesticide (AOR: 3.29; 95% CI: 1.04–10.39), mothers with a previous history of stillbirth (AOR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.99–5.65) and maternal exposure to x-ray radiation (AOR 2.34; 95% CI: 1.27–4.31) were found to be determinants of NTDs. Conclusions The pooled prevalence of NTDs in Africa was found to be high. Maternal exposure to pesticides and x-ray radiation were significantly associated with NTDs. Folic acid supplementation before and within the first month of pregnancy was found to be a protective factor for NTDs.

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Background: There is a global concern that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cannot be addressed without the integration and active engagement of communities. We aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the residents in Eastern Ethiopia toward COVID-19.Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on May 1–30, 2020 among the residents of Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices toward COVID-19. We used random sampling to select the participants. Data was entered into the statistics and data (STATA) version for data cleaning and analysis. Binary logistic regression models with 95% CI were used to conduct bivariable [crude odds ratio (COR)] and multivariable [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)] analyses.Result: A total of 415 community residents responded to the questionnaire. Of those participants, 52.5% (95% CI 47.7–57) had adequate knowledge, 31.6% (95% CI 27–36) had favorable attitudes, and 49% (95% CI 45–50) had good practice toward the precautionary measures of COVID-19. Adequate knowledge had a significant association with urban residence (AOR = 5, 95% CI 3.1–8.4) and literacy (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.5–6.7). Good preventions practices had a significant association with place of residence (AOR = 4.1, 95% CI 2.3–7.2), literacy (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1,2–7.4), adequate knowledge (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 2.3–5.8), and favorable attitude (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.8) about the disease.Conclusion: The overall COVID-19-related KAP was inadequate in the majority of the residents of Dire Dawa that occupy irregular migration flows. These call for robust community-centered behavioral communication strategies that could bridge the gaps and help prevent and control COVID-19 and other future pandemics in their community.

Background: Ultrasonography is the first imaging method to assess splenomegaly. So far, established normal limits of spleen dimensions remain scanty in the Ethiopian population, and the ultrasound data from the previous studies demonstrated that racial differences could affect the splenic volume; this necessitates the establishment of normative data of spleen dimensions for different areas. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study design was performed at the University of Gondar, hospital. The sonographic measurements of spleen length, width, thickness and volume were performed on 380 subjects. In addition, weight of the subjects were measured using standard anthropometric technique. Age and sex were also recorded. By Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients, the relation of spleen dimensions to weight was evaluated. Results: In males, there is a statistically significant positive correlation between subject weight and spleen length (r=0.244, P<0.001), and volume (r=0.164, P<0.05); however, there is no statistically significant correlation with spleen width (r=0.034, P>0.05) and spleen thickness (r=0.136, P>0.05). In females there is a statistically significant positive correlation between the weight of female subject and spleen length (r=0.274, P<0.001), width (r=0.239, P<0.01), thickness (r=0.244, P<0.01), and volume (r=0.335, P<0.0001). Conclusion: The positive correlation is found between the spleen parameters and weight of both the genders in Ethiopian population which has both clinical and forensic importance.

Background: Spleen size vary widely according to age, sex and region. Many diseases can affect their size, ranging from infective processes to malignant disorders. Present study is done to establish the normal range of spleen size in adults of Northwest Ethiopia to assess splenomegaly in all disease conditions affecting the spleen and to correlate the dimensions of spleen with the height. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study design was performed at the University of Gondar, hospital. The sonographic measurements of spleen length, width, thickness and volume were performed on 380 subjects. In addition, height of the subjects were measured using standard anthropometric technique. Age and sex were also recorded. By Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients, the relation of spleen dimensions to height was evaluated. Results: Pearson`s correlation finding indicated a moderate positive significant correlation (P<0.0001) between the splenic length, width, volume and body height of all the subjects (r: >0.3). No statistically significant correlation with splenic dimensions in males (r=0.107, 0.039, 0.060, and 0.091 for spleen length, width, thickness, and volume, respectively) was found. Height of female study subjects had a statistically significant positive correlation with spleen length (r=0.203, P<0.01), width (r=0.175, P<0.05), thickness (r=0.292, P<0.001), and volume (r=0.261, P<0.001). Conclusion: The dimensions of the spleen (Length, width, thickness and volume) are found to have statistically significant positive correlation coefficient with the height of the female population.