Linear mixed model to identify the relationship between grain yield and other yield related traits and genotype selection for sorghum.

Sorghum is the most popular crop in arid and semi-arid areas, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries. Genotype effects, environmental and the interaction of genotype by environmental factors have an influence on phenotypic traits. The aim of the study is to identify the relationship between grain yield and other yield-related traits and select the genotypes which perform better in grain yield as well as to examine the association between the uncorrelated phenotypic traits and grain yield via mixed model. The data was generated using a lattice square design. Principal component analysis was used to generate uncorrelated variables for the mixed model. The study revealed that there was a difference in grain yield due to the treatment and there was a pairwise relationship among the phenotypic variables. 77.12% of the total variance of the original phenotypic variables was explained by the first three principal components and decided to use PCAs as input variables for the mixed model. All PCs had significant effects on grain yield as well as grain yield variability due to random effects associated with genotypes, genotype interaction by treatment, and replication within the treatment. The variability of grain yield due to genotype effect was explained about 45.73%, the variation of grain yield due to the interaction of genotype by the treatment was also explained about 39.06% and 1.55% of the variation of grain was explained by replication within treatment. The best performer genotypes recommended for mass production were G40 (Genotype 40), G186 (Genotype 186) and G196 (Genotype 196) without any constraint of environment. The genotypes recommended for mass production under irrigation conditions were G40 (Genotype 40), G62 (Genotype 62) and G192 (Genotype 192). G26 (Genotype 26), G55 (Genotype 55) and G49 (Genotype 49) were the genotypes recommended for mass production under stress conditions. Overall, the study recommends using a mixed model to fit the grain yield, and future work will focus on to evaluate the performance of genotypes under different environments and years of production.

Female healthcare providers' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards cervical cancer screening and associated factors in public hospitals of Northwest Ethiopia.

Objective: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common gynaecological cancer in the world. Its incidence and burden are high in developing regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization plans to increase vaccination, screening, and treatment of cases to 90%, 70%, and 90%, respectively, in developing countries by 2030. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cervical cancer screening and predictors among female healthcare providers. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional survey was done from 4 March to 20 April 2019. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analysed with SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations. After controlling for confounders, an independent association was declared at a p-value of 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Of a total of 404 participants, half were nurses. One hundred seventy-seven (43.8%) had adequate knowledge, 124 (30.7%) had a favourable attitude, and 35 (8.7%) had regular screening practice. The availability of trained personnel in the health facility and regular screening were variables associated with knowledge. Participants' attitude was shown association with profession, level of education, and knowledge. Moreover, knowledge of the causes of cervical cancer and knowledge of screening were variables significantly associated with screening practice. Conclusion and recommendations: Unfortunately, there is low adequate knowledge, low favourable attitude, and irregular screening practice of cervical cancer in the study area. Despite their own effects, their knowledge and attitude may affect the vast majority of their clients. Therefore, this finding calls for prompt action, such as training for participants to increase awareness, to shape their attitudes, and to increase the uptake of screening services.

Time to lost to follow-up and its predictors among adult patients receiving antiretroviral therapy retrospective follow-up study Amhara Northwest Ethiopia.

Antiretroviral therapy lowers viral load only when people living with HIV maintain their treatment retention. Lost to follow-up is the persistent major challenge to the success of ART program in low-resource settings including Ethiopia. The purpose of this study is to estimate time to lost to follow-up and its predictors in antiretroviral therapies amongst adult patients. Among registered HIV patients, 542 samples were included. Data cleaning and analysis were done using Stata/SE version 14 software. In multivariable Cox regression, a p-value < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval with corresponding adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) were statistically significant predictors. In this study, the median time to lost to follow-up is 77 months. The incidence density of lost to follow-up was 13.45 (95% CI: 11.78, 15.34) per 100 person-years. Antiretroviral therapy drug adherence [AHR: 3.04 (95% CI: 2.18, 4.24)], last functional status [AHR: 2.74 (95% CI: 2.04, 3.67)], and INH prophylaxis [AHR: 1.65 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.56) were significant predictors for time to lost to follow-up. The median time to lost was 77 months and incidence of lost to follow-up was high. Health care providers should be focused on HIV counseling and proper case management focused on identified risks.

Parental experiences in neonatal intensive care unit in Ethiopia: a phenomenological study.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal intensive care unit is important to save the lives of a sick neonate; however, parents are challenged by several stressful conditions during their stay. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of parents in neonatal intensive care units in Ethiopia. METHODS: We used a phenomenological study design. The data were collected using an in-depth interview method from purposively selected parents. In addition, we followed a thematic analysis approach and used Open Code Software Version 4.02 to process the data. RESULTS: In this study, 18 parents were interviewed. The researchers have identified six themes. Parents complained of psychological problems like anxiety, stress, worries, hopelessness, and a state of confusion. In addition, anger, crying, sadness, frustration, dissatisfaction, regret, disappointment, feeling bad, self-blaming, nervousness, disturbance, and lack of self-control were major emotional problems raised by the parents. Parents expressed that health care providers showed indiscipline, lack of commitment, and uncooperative behaviour. Likewise, shortage of medicines, money, and limited time to visit their neonates were the other concerns of many parents. At the same time, parents were provided minimal information and limited cooperation from health care providers. CONCLUSION: Parents whose infants admitted to the NICU were suffered from various psychological and emotional problems. Researchers recommend that health care providers should be supported parents with psycho-emotional problems, strengthen parents-healthcare workers' interaction, and scale up neonatal intensive care unit services to the primary health care centres.KEY MESSAGESParents whose infants admitted to the NICU were suffered from psychological and emotional problems.Poor NICU environment, shortage of equipment, long hospital stay, the presence of pandemic COVID-19, and lack of parental involvement in the care were identified barriers that affected parents' stay.

Effect of maternity waiting homes use on maternal and perinatal birth outcomes and its challenges in Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Women's death due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth is still high. Maternity waiting homes are one of the strategies to reduce it. However, there is limited evidence on the effect of using maternity waiting homes on birth outcomes, particularly in this study area. Therefore, this study was aimed to estimate the effect of staying in maternity waiting homes use on maternal and perinatal birth outcomes and its challenges in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia 2018. Methods: Institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted. Data were collected using structured questionnaire interviews, in-depth interview and chart reviews. Propensity score matching analysis was used to estimate the effect of maternity waiting homes use on birth outcomes. Propensity score matching analysis was used to match potential differences in background characteristics that affect pregnancy outcomes between comparison groups. We used thematic analysis for qualitative data. Result: A total of 548 pregnant mothers (274 stayed in maternity waiting homes 274 did not stay) took part in this study. The proportion of adverse birth outcomes of mothers who stayed in maternity waiting homes were 15(5.5%) which is lower than those who didn't stay 35 (12.8%). After matching with baseline covariates, mean difference of adverse maternal birth outcomes, the difference between didn't use maternity waiting home and used was 10.4%, at (t = 3.78) at 5% level of significance. Similarly, the mean adverse perinatal birth outcomes difference between mothers who didn't use MWHs and used was 11% (t = 4.33). Conclusions: Maternity waiting home showed a significant positive effect on birth outcomes. Mothers who stayed in the maternity waiting homes had low adverse maternal and perinatal birth outcomes compared to non-users. Accommodations and quality health care services were the challenges mothers faced during their stay in the maternity waiting homes. Therefore, all concerned bodies should give attention accordingly to maternity waiting home services to reduce adverse birth outcomes through the strengthening of the quality of health care provided.

Treatment adherence and associated factors among glaucoma patients attending Ophthalmic units of referral hospitals in North West Ethiopia, 2019.

Objective: Glaucoma is one of the common eye disorders resulting from optic neuropathy, which leads to irreversible blindness if left untreated. Poor adherence to glaucoma medical treatments typically leads to some serious consequences, such as progressive visual impairment and blindness. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to treatment and associated factors among patients with glaucoma attending at Northwest Ethiopia referral hospitals. Method: From March 1st to April 30th, 2019, an institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 382 consecutive glaucoma patients attending at Northwest Ethiopia referral hospitals. Data about adherence to glaucoma treatment was collected by using a standardized tool, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Each collected data set was coded and entered into Epi-Data version 4.2, and analysis was done by using STATA version 14.0 statistical software. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess the effect of an independent variable on the dependent variable. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to declare a statistically significant association. The study proposal was approved by the Debre Markos University ethical review committee. Results: Among the study participants, 189 (49.5%) were adherent to glaucoma treatment. In this study, occupation (farmer), good knowledge, favorable attitude, a short distance from patients' homes to hospitals, and scheduling problems for glaucoma medical follow-up visits were significant factors associated with adherence to glaucoma treatments. Conclusion: The study has identified the adherence level as being low. Patient related factors and health care system related factors were significantly associated with adherence to glaucoma treatments. Appropriate patient education and planning a patient follow-up strategy might improve patients' adherence to glaucoma treatment. Care providers should place emphasis on the importance of adherence.

Time to recovery and predictors of severe community-acquired pneumonia among pediatric patients in Debre Markos referral hospital, North West Ethiopia: A retrospective follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children which leads to over 156 million episodes and 14.9 million hospitalizations each year. Besides this fact, the recovery time and predictors of children's hospitalization related to severe community-acquired pneumonia is not well known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the median time to recovery and its predictors among severe community-acquired pneumonia patients admitted to the pediatric ward, Debre Markos referral hospital, North West Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was employed among 352 records of children who were admitted starting from January 2016 to December 2018. Patients' charts were retrieved using a structured data extraction tool. Cox proportional hazard model assumption and model fitness was checked. Stratified Cox regression was fitted as a final model. Hazard ratio with its 95% confidence interval was used and P-value < 0.05 was considered as a statistically significant association. RESULT: The overall median recovery time was 4 days IQR (3-7). Recovery rate from severe community acquired pneumonia was 16.25 (95% CI: 14.54-18.15) per 100 person day observation. Age (AHR; 0.94 95% CI (0.90-0.98)), being stunted (AHR; 0.62 95% CI (0.43-0.91)), presence of danger sign at admission (AHR; 0.61 95% CI (0.40-0.94)), late presentation to seek care(AHR; 0.64 95% CI (0.47-0.88)) and co-morbidity (AHR; 0.45 95% CI (0.35-0.58)) were significant predictors of recovery time. CONCLUSION: The median recovery time from severe community-acquired pneumonia was long so that measures to reduce recovery time should be strengthened.

Knowledge, attitude, practice, and predictors of female genital mutilation in Degadamot district, Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018.

BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation is defined as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of external female genitalia, or other injuries to the female genital organs for cultural and religious purposes. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of female genital mutilation practice was 70.8% according to Ethiopian demographic and health survey 2016. This practice is against females' reproductive health rights with many serious consequences in physical, mental, social and psychological makeup. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, practice, and predictors of female genital mutilation in Degadamot district. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Three hundred twenty-five mothers who had under 5 years old female children were selected using systematic random sampling from seven kebeles of Degadamot district. Data were collected using an adapted semi-structured face to face interview questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Logistic regression analysis with 95% confidence intervals was carried out to determine the associations between predictor variables and outcome variables. RESULT: The finding of this study revealed that 56.6% of mothers had good knowledge about female genital mutilation and 54.2% of participants had a favorable attitude about female genital mutilation. 70.8% of under 5 years old female children's had female genital mutilation. Marital status AOR = 7.19(95%CI3.22-16.03), monthly income AOR = 1.97(95% CI 0.26-3.81), custom AOR = 2.13(95% CI 1.20-3.78), belief AOR =2.47(95% CI 1.39-4.39), value AOR = 0.37(95% CI 0.22-0.63), and attitude AOR = 24.4(95% CI 20.01-34.76) towards female genital mutilation had significant association with female genital mutilation practice. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of FGM practices among female children of under 5 years of age was found to be high as compared to the national level (64%). 56.6% of mothers had good knowledge about FGM. The majority of the women had a favorable attitude to keep FGM practice among their under 5 years old daughters. Marital status, monthly income, custom, belief, value, and attitude had a significant association with FGM practice.

Determinants of first line antiretroviral therapy treatment failure among adult patients on ART at central Ethiopia: un-matched case control study.

BACKGROUND: In 2018 in Ethiopia, magnitude of human immunodeficiency virus Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome treatment failure was 15.9% and currently the number of patient receiving second line antiretroviral therapy (ART) is more increasing than those taking first line ART. Little is known about the predictors of treatment failure in the study area. Therefore; more factors that can be risk for first line ART failure have to identified to make the patients stay on first line ART for long times. Consequently, the aim of this study was to identify determinants of first line ART treatment failure among patients on ART at St. Luke referral hospital and Tulubolo General Hospital, 2019. METHODS: A 1:2 un-matched case-control study was conducted among adult patients on active follow up. One new group variables was formed as group 1 for cases and group 0 for controls and then data was entered in to Epi data version 3 and exported to STATA SE version 14 for analysis. From binary logistic regression variables with p value ≤0.25 were a candidate for multiple logistic regression. At the end variables with a p-value ≤0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULT: A total of 350 (117 cases and 233 controls) patients were participated in the study. Starting ART after 2 years of being confirmed HIV positive (AOR = 3.82 95% CI 1.37,10.6), nevirapine (NVP) based initial ART (AOR = 2.77,95%CI 1.22,6.28) having history of lost to follow up (AOR 3.66,95%CI 1.44,9.27) and base line opportunistic infection (AOR = 1.97,95%CI 1.06,3.63), staying on first line ART for greater than 5 years (AOR = 3.42,95%CI 1.63,7.19) and CD4 less than100cell/ul (AOR = 2.72,95%CI 1.46,5.07) were independent determinants of first line ART treatment failure. CONCLUSION: Lost to follow up, staying on first line ART for greater than 5 years, presence of opportunistic infections, NVP based NNRT, late initiation of ART are determinant factors for first line ART treatment failure. The concerned bodies have to focus and act on those identified factors to maintain the patient on first line ART.

Determinants of chronic energy deficiency among adults living with HIV in Shebel Berenta District, East Gojjam, Amhara region, North West Ethiopia, 2017: case control study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess determinants of chronic energy deficiency in adults living with HIV in Shebel Berenta District Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) site health centers, East Gojjam, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2017. An institutional based unmatched case control study design was employed and simple random sampling was used to select the desired sample size for both cases and controls. Data were entered to Epi-Data 3.1, exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of chronic energy malnutrition among Human Immune Deficiency Virus positive adult patients. RESULTS: A total of 473 (118 cases and 355 controls) People Living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus (PLHIV) adult patients were participated. PLHIV who started ART at world health organization (WHO) clinical stage I (AOR: 0.285, CI 0.10, 0.81), rural residents (AOR: 0.38, CI 0.17, 0.83), had family size ≤ 3 (AOR: 0.114, CI 0.03, 0.48) and changed their feeding style (AOR: 0.075, CI 0.038, 0.150) decreased the risk of chronic energy deficiency. However, the baseline CD4 cell < 200/mm3 (AOR: 13.398; CI 4.83, 37.19), monthly family income ≤ 500 Ethiopia Birr (AOR: 6.9, CI 1.07, 44.62) and interrupted treatment (AOR: 2.28, CI 1.02, 5.09) were increasing the risk of chronic energy deficiency. Therefore; the government and partners should focus on the above determinants to improve the nutritional status of the clients.

Determinants of long-acting contraceptive utilization among married women of reproductive age in Aneded district, Ethiopia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the determinants of long-acting contraceptive utilization among married women of reproductive age in Aneded district, northwestern Ethiopia. Unmatched case control study was conducted from May 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018. One hundred forty-five households with married reproductive age women who have used long-acting family planning for more than a year (cases) and 290 households with married reproductive age women who have never used long-acting family planning (controls) were selected by systematic random sampling in each kebele (the smallest administrative units of Ethiopia). RESULT: In this study, 145 cases and 290 controls participated. Independent positive predictors of utilization of long-acting family planning among married women reproductive age were: primary education level [AOR = 6.99, 95% CI 3.7-13.7], first discussion with providers [AOR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.6-4.5], told what to do if they experience the side effect [AOR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-5.9], know the source of long-acting family planning methods [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.01-5.82] and discussion with health professionals [AOR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.2-3.5]. Encouraging women education at least at primary level and advocating the minimal side effect of long-acting contraceptive are recommended to improve long-acting family planning utilization.

Determinants of adherence to anti-hypertensive medications among adult hypertensive patients on follow-up in Hawassa Referral Hospital: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is a global challenge which accounts for high morbidity and mortality rates in the world. The availability of effective anti-hypertensive medications does not result in a good outcome in controlling blood pressure which points towards poor adherence. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the determinants of adherence to anti-hypertensive medication among hypertensive patients on follow-up in Hawassa Referral Hospital. METHODS: Institution-based case-control study was conducted on a sample of 289 clients from February to May 2018. Census was conducted on 1600 clients to select cases and controls. Then, systematic random sampling was used to select study subjects, and adherence was measured by Morisky medication adherence scale. The associations of variables were analyzed using bivariable followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The respondent's adherence to medication was found to be 67% as measured by Morisky medication adherence scale. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that medication adherence was found to be better in younger age (<45) (AOR = 3.8), clients living in urban areas (AOR = 6.84), those clients who had good knowledge (AOR = 3.13), those with no co-morbidities (AOR = 3.14) and patients who controlled their blood pressure (<140/90) (AOR = 2.35). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of medication adherence was found to be low, and hence educational interventions focusing on factors promoting adherence and patients' health support should be implemented.

Risk of HIV and associated factors among infants born to HIV positive women in Amhara region, Ethiopia: a facility based retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The estimated HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Ethiopia is 1.2 percent and unfortunately one of every 3 children born to these women gets infected with HIV. Elimination of these mother-to-child transmissions (MTCT) of HIV is possible through HIV testing during pregnancy and taking antiretroviral medications. However, only 24 percent of the pregnant women living with HIV have yet received the medication needed to prevent the transmission of HIV. Hence, there exists a concern that the rate of HIV infection among infants born to HIV positive mothers is increasing. This study assessed the prevalence of HIV infection and associated factors among infants born to women living with HIV, in South Gondar zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility based document review was conducted upon 434 charts. The study participants were HIV exposed infants enrolled from January to December 2012. The data were reviewed from all the 17 health facilities which were providing PMTCT services in the zone. The study included 434 HIV exposed infants having an HIV Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result. The data were collected using structured data extraction tool. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the putative association of independent variables with the outcome variable. Significance was taken at a P value<0.05 and 95% confidence level. RESULT: The prevalence of HIV among HIV exposed infants was 10.1% (95% CI=7.3-13%). Delayed diagnosis (AOR=2.7, 95% CI=1.3, 29.4), mixed infant feeding (AOR=8.8, 95% CI=4.5, 22.8), failure to receive either antiretroviral therapy or prophylaxis during pregnancy or breast feeding (AOR=21.6, 95% CI=14.5, 39.8) and shorter duration of HIV treatment (AOR=12, 95% CI=(4.2, 45.0) were the factors that increase the risk of mother- to- child transmission of HIV. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HIV infection among HIV exposed infants is strikingly high. Inadequate use of antiretroviral therapy and skilled delivery care were the factors that enhance mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Integrated and audience specific education and promotion for seeking obstetric care and HIV services is instrumental to curb the devastating consequences of HIV on pregnant women and their newborns.