Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake and determinant factors among adolescent schoolgirls in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite the ongoing global vaccination campaign aimed at preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) related health issues, the uptake of the HPV vaccine remains unacceptably low in developing regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and associated factors of HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent school girls in SSA. Electronic bio-medical databases were explored. Pooled prevalence, publication bias, meta-regression, sub-group, and sensitivity analysis were performed. The estimated pooled prevalence of HPV vaccine uptake was 28.53% [95% CI: (5.25, 51.81)]. Having good knowledge and a positive attitude was significantly associated with HPV vaccine uptake in SSA. Subgroup analysis revealed the highest uptake was 62.52% from Kenya and the lowest was 3.77% in Nigeria. The HPV vaccine uptake is low. It underscores the need for community education, school-based immunization, and education programs that promote the uptake of the vaccine to increase coverage.

Risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the selected public hospitals in southern Ethiopia, 2023.

Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal condition characterized by ischemic necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, inflammation, and invasion by gas-forming organisms, posing a significant threat to neonatal health. Necrotizing enterocolitis remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Due to limited research conducted in Ethiopia and the study area, there is a lack of information regarding the risk factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis. Therefore, the goal of this study is to fill the aforementioned gap. Objective: This study aims to identify the risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at selected general and referral hospitals in southern Ethiopia in the year 2023. Methods and materials: A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted. All neonates admitted to the NICU and diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis by the attending physician during the data collection period were considered as cases, whereas neonates admitted to the NICU but not diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis during the data collection period were considered as controls. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and record reviews using the Kobo toolbox platform. The binary logistic regression method was used to determine the relationship between a dependent variable and independent variables. Finally, a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study included 111 cases and 332 controls. Normal BMI [AOR = 0.11, 95% CI: (0.02, 0.58)], history of khat chewing [AOR = 4.21, 95% CI: (1.96, 9.06)], term gestation [AOR = 0.06, 95% CI: (0.01, 0.18)], history of cigarette smoking [AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: (1.14, 7.14)], length of hospital stay [AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: (1.43, 7.67)], and premature rupture of membrane [AOR = 3.51, 95% CI: (1.77, 6.98)] were significantly associated with NEC. Conclusion: The study identified several risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis, including body mass index, history of khat chewing, gestational age, history of cigarette smoking, length of hospital stays, and premature rupture of membrane. Therefore, healthcare providers should be aware of these risk factors to identify newborns at high risk and implement preventive measures.

Double burden of malnutrition and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Globally, malnutrition among women of reproductive age is on the rise and significantly contributing to non-communicable disease, deaths and disability. Even though the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a common problem among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there are limited studies examining the factors contributing to underweight, overweight, and obesity at the SSA level. OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with the DBM, and their relative magnitude, among women of reproductive age in SSA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTING: 33 SSA countries. PARTICIPANTS: 240 414 women of reproductive age. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: A multilevel multinomial logistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with malnutrition. The adjusted relative risk ratio with 95% CI was used to declare the statistical significance of the association. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among women in SSA were 8.87%, 16.47% and 6.10%, respectively. Women who are from rural residence and smoke cigarettes were more likely to be underweight. Conversely, women between the age of 24-34 and 35-49, who have higher education, belong to a middle and rich household, are ever married, have high parity, use contraceptives, have media exposure and smoke cigarettes were more likely to be overweight and/or obese. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study suggest that certain factors such as residence, education status, wealth, marital status, occupation, cigarette smoking, and contraceptive use have a significant assocation with malnutrition among women. Therefore, it is important for public health programs aimed at preventing the double burden of malnutrition to focus on these factors through comprehensive public awareness and cost-effective operational health interventions.

Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among 1-9 years of age children in Andabet district, northwest Ethiopia, 2023: A multi-level mixed-effect analysis.

BACKGROUND: Trachoma is the chief cause of preventable blindness worldwide and has been earmarked for elimination as a public health problem by 2030. Despite the five-year Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (SAFE)-based interventions in the Andabet district, the prevalence of trachomatous follicular (TF) was 37%. With such a high prevalence of TF, the determinant factors were not revealed. Besides, there were no reports on the overall prevalence of active trachoma (i.e.TF and or trachomatous intense (TI)). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among 1-9 years of age children in the Andabet district. METHOD: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged under nine years from March 1-30, 2023 in Andabet district, Northwest Ethiopia. Multi-stage systematic random sampling was employed to reach 540 children. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with active trachoma. We fitted both random effect and fixed effect analysis. Finally, variables with p<0.05 in the multivariable multilevel analysis were claimed to be significantly associated with active trachoma. RESULT: In this study, the overall prevalence of active trachoma was 35.37% (95% CI: 31.32%, 39.41%). The prevalence of TF and TI was 31.3% and 4.07% respectively. In the multilevel logistic regression analysis ocular discharge, fly-eye contact, latrine utilization, and source of water were significantly associated with the prevalence of active trachoma. CONCLUSION: In this study, the prevalence of active trachoma was much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold prevalence. Ocular discharge, fly-eye contact, latrine utilization, and source of water were independent determinants of active trachoma among children (1-9 years). Therefore, paying special attention to these high-risk groups could decrease the prevalence of a neglected hyperendemic disease, active trachoma.