Incidence of anemia and predictors among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected children on antiretroviral therapy at public health facilities of Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: multicenter retrospective follow up study.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is one of the common hematological problems among HIV-infected children. It impairs physical functioning, affects the quality of life, increases HIV progression, and decreases survival of HIV-infected children. In Ethiopia, limited studies were conducted on the incidence and predictors of anemia among HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Therefore, this study aims to assess the incidence of anemia and predictors among HIV- infected children on ART at public health facilities of Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 403 HIV- infected children who have followed at ART clinics in public health facilities of Bahir Dar City from 2010 to 2020. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study units. Data was entered using Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed using STATA 14.0. Cox proportional hazard model assumption was checked graphically and by scaled Schoenfeld residual test. Bivariable Cox-proportional hazards regression model was employed for each explanatory variable to check the association with the outcome variable. Variables with a p-value of < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were candidates to the multivariable proportional hazard model. Cox proportional hazards model was used at a 5% level of significance to identify predictors of anemia. RESULTS: The overall follow up time was 1587 person-years. The overall incidence density of anemia was 6.87 with 95% confidence interval (CI) = (5.60, 8.16) per 100 person-years. The independent predictors show an association were child age from 0.25 to 5 years adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = (1.83; 95% CI = 1.22, 2.77), World health organization clinical stage III and IV (AHR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.22, 2.67), being underweight (AHR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.01, 2.26), having fair/poor adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (AHR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.08, 2.85) and zidovidine based anti -retroviral therapy regimen (AHR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.12, 2.64). CONCLUSION: The overall incidence rate of anemia was high compared to other country reports. Age, clinical, and ART-related variables provoked the incidence of anemia. Therefore, a need to emphasize the younger age group, prevent and manage opportunistic infections of WHO clinical stage III and IV, and select and monitor appropriate ART regimen types.

Factors Associated with Delayed Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, 2019: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease if detected early enough. But several numbers of women in Ethiopia strive for treatment when the disease has extended to the last stage. Delay in diagnosis is the main reason for cervical cancer mortality in Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess factors associated with delayed diagnoses of cervical cancer in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Randomly selected 422 cervical cancer patients were interviewed and their medical records were reviewed. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between independent and outcome variables. RESULTS: A total of 410 women participated in the study with a response rate of 97.1%. The mean age of the women was 50 years (SD ±11.5). Half of the participants cannot read and write, and 66.3% of participants' income was <500 Ethiopian Birr (approximately 14 USD). Around 86.3% of the women had delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer. Women who have <500 Ethiopian Birr (14 USD) income (adjusted OR=3.79, CI: 1.48, 9.67), have no awareness of cervical cancer disease (adjusted OR=1.33, CI: 1.05, 2.71) and have no awareness about cervical cancer screening (adjusted OR=1.64, CI: 1.16, 4.07) were more likely for delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Our study reports a high prevalence of delayed diagnosis of women with cervical cancer. A high level of illiteracy, low socioeconomic status, lack of awareness, traditional healers and absence of a routine screening program were accountable for delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer. Regular cervical cancer screening and expansion, raising awareness, increasing access and improving health services for cervical cancer patients should be promoted and advocated to decrease the usual delay in cervical cancer diagnosis.