Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization among medicine and health science students, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia.

Individuals with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonized nasal cavities were at greater risk of developing the infection and can serve as potential reservoirs of transmission. Aim of this study is to determine the extent of nasal carriage and associated factors linked to MRSA in medical and health science students of Arba Minch University (AMU), Ethiopia, who are much prone. An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at AMU from 01st August through 30th November, 2020 by means of a systematic sampling technique using a structured questionnaire. Nasal swabs samples were collected and S. aureus were identified following standard microbiological methods. Methicillin resistance was tested using cefoxitin disk and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. Biofilm forming ability was phenotypically detected by micro-titer plate assay. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done by Statistical Package for Social Service (SPSS) version 25. The overall prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA were 27.1% (70/258) and 7.4% (19/258) respectively. Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus carriage were higher among medical interns, 16.9% (11/65). Isolates in general were co-resistant to antibiotics, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (63.2%) and tetracycline (48.4%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) were observed among 52.6% (10/19) of the isolates. Besides, 31.4% (6/19) of MRSA were biofilm producers and all of them were MDR. Multivariable analysis showed that mean exposure for > 2 years to hospital settings [p = 0.048, AOR: 4.99, 95% CI 1.01-24.66] and the habit of sharing clothing and sports equipment [p = 0.017, AOR: 5.43, 95% CI 1.35-21.83] were statistically significant. The overall prevalence of nasal colonized MRSA among students were comparatively lower than that observed in other studies done in Ethiopia itself. An alarming factor is that, 60% of MDR-MRSA were biofilm producers.

Knowledge of pre-conception health and planned pregnancy among married women in Jinka town, southern Ethiopia and factors influencing knowledge.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing women's health and knowledge of preconception healthcare before conceiving a pregnancy decreases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, preconception health care is one of the missing pillars in the continuum of maternal and child health care in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge of pre-conception health, its relation to planned pregnancy, parity, family planning use, and education among married women in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 337 married women recruited from March 25 to April 30, 2018 in Jinka town. A simple random sampling technique was employed and the data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis involved calculating frequencies, percentages, and logistic regression. Associations were assessed using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals with statistical significance determined at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall women's preconception health care knowledge score in this study was 55.2%, which is a moderate score. In multivariable analyses, women's secondary level of education [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.13-4.87], family planning use [AOR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.37-4.87], planned pregnancy [AOR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.35-7.44], Nullyparity [AOR = 21.2; 95% CI = 4.92-91.5], and market trade vendors [AOR = 2.5; 95%CI = 1.06-6.03], were significantly associated with knowledge of preconception health care. CONCLUSION: The findings show that women's knowledge of preconception health care is moderate. Women's knowledge of preconception health care can be linked to their level of education, use of family planning methods, pregnancy planning, and Nullyparity. Therefore, the government and other key stakeholders need to develop a specific education package that improves women's knowledge of preconception care and pregnancy planning, taking into account factors such as levels of education and literacy when designing implementation strategies.

Knowledge of Preconception Healthcare and Associated Factors: A Study among Mothers in Jinka Town, Southern Region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Preconception healthcare is promising to improve the reproductive health status of women and couples if they receive care three months to two years before conception. In the current context of Ethiopia, however, preconception healthcare is overlooked in the continuum of care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of preconception healthcare and associated factors: a study among mothers in Jinka town, southern region, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among 522 randomly selected women of childbearing age who are living in Jinka town from March to April 2018. The study considers all the kebeles in the town. Study subjects were determined using proportionate-to-population size allocation. Then, a systematic random sampling technique was applied. Data were collected using a semistructured and pretested questionnaire. Descriptive summary data and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out to identify factors with the 95% confidence level and a p value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 513 study subjects participated in this study. The overall preconception healthcare knowledge score of women in Jinka town was 51.1%. In the multivariable analysis, housewives (AOR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.38-6.19), an education level of at least college (AOR = 3.79; 95% CI: 1.75-8.23), no history of neonatal death (AOR = 4.13; 95% CI = 1.39-12.25), and the use of family planning methods (AOR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.49-3.79) increased the probability of preconception healthcare knowledge compared to the counterparts. CONCLUSION: In this study, women's knowledge of preconception healthcare was found borderline. The identified factors were housewife, education level of at least college, no history of neonatal death, and using family planning methods. Therefore, emphasizing these factors for the enhancement of women's knowledge of preconception healthcare is a necessary step.