Knowledge, Attitude and Associated Factors of Monkeypox Infection Among Healthcare Workers in Injibara General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Fighting health threats, especially the rise of new infectious diseases, is one of the main responsibilities of healthcare workers. However, their knowledge and attitudes toward monkeypox have not yet been assessed. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and factors associated with monkeypox infection among healthcare workers at Injibara General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1-30, 2022. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed. The degree of association was interpreted using an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value < 0.05. Results: Among the 200 healthcare workers who participated, 38.5% (95% CI: 32.5%-45%) and 62% (95% CI: 55-68.5%) had good knowledge and positive attitudes regarding monkeypox respectively. Having a master's degree or above (AOR = 11.25: 95% CI: 2.03-62.33), being vaccinated against COVID-19 (AOR = 2.60: 95% CI: 1.37-4.94), and having access to information about monkeypox (AOR = 3.37: 95% CI: 1.33-8.50) were the factors associated with good knowledge. Furthermore, a positive attitude was significantly associated with being 30 years of age or older (AOR = 2.95: 95% CI: 1.55-5.60) and having access to information about monkeypox (AOR = 4.14: 95% CI: 2.06, 8.30). Conclusion: Both good knowledge and positive attitudes were relatively low among healthcare workers. Factors such as age, education level, COVID-19 vaccination status, and access to information about monkeypox were significantly associated with the knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers. To enhance the knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers, hospitals should consider offering educational upgrades, hosting educational events like seminars, conferences, webinars, and campaigns, and ensuring comprehensive coverage of the topic in medical curricula.

Predictors of prolonged hospitalization among children aged 2-59†months with severe community-acquired pneumonia in public hospitals of Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia: a multicenter retrospective follow-up study.

Background: Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children aged under 5 years in Ethiopia. Prolonged hospitalization of severe community-acquired pneumonia is a significant problem in resource-limited countries. This study seeks to provide insights that can help improve the management and outcomes of severe community-acquired pneumonia, which is particularly important in the context of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, where access to quality healthcare services is limited, and childhood pneumonia is a significant health challenge. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of prolonged hospitalization among children aged 2-59 months admitted with severe community-acquired pneumonia between 1 January 2016 and 30 December 2020 in the public hospitals in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia. Method: A retrospective follow-up study design was conducted among randomly selected samples of 526 children. Data were entered into EPI data version 4.6 and analyzed using STATA version 14.0. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to identify the independent predictors of prolonged hospitalization, and variables with a p-value <0.05 in the multivariable model were considered statistically significant. Results: The median hospital stay was 5 days (interquartile range 2-8 = 6). Approximately 149 (28.93%) children had prolonged hospitalization (>5 days) and the recovery rate from severe community-acquired pneumonia was 19.69 per 100 person-day observations. The significant predictors of prolonged hospitalization were as follows: having facility referral sources [0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.63-0.98]; a nutritional status of wasting (0.64, 95% CI, 0.44-0.94); anemia (0.65, 95% CI, 0.46-0.90); no identified hemoglobin level (0.53, 95% CI, 0.41-0.70); no identified blood film (0.65, 95% CI, 0.53-0.80); no chest x-ray investigation (0.81, 95% CI, 0.65-0.99); pulmonary effusion (0.31, 95% CI, 0.15-0.66); and late presenters to hospital (0.67, 95% CI, 0.53-0.84) at admission. Conclusions: The median length of stay in hospital was delayed compared to other studies. Wasting, late presenting to hospital, pulmonary effusion, anemia, absence of investigations of hemoglobin level, chest x-ray, and blood film at admission time were factors that significantly prolonged the hospitalization time. Hence, attention should be given to the prevention of malnutrition and anemia in children, increasing early health-seeking behavior in the community. Attention should be given to complications such as pleural effusion, and investigations, such as chest x-ray, hemoglobin levels, and blood films, should be performed when the child is admitted.

Incidence and predictors of hyperglycemic emergencies among adult diabetic patients in Bahir Dar city public hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021: A multicenter retrospective follow-up study.

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome are the two commonly known life-threatening hyperglycemic emergencies of diabetes mellitus. Despite the growing hyperglycemic emergency impact among adult patients with diabetes, its incidence and predictors have not been well studied in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of hyperglycemic emergencies among adult patients with diabetes. Method: A retrospective follow-up study design was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 453 adult patients with diabetes. Data were entered into EPI data version 4.6 and analyzed using STATA version 14.0. A Cox-proportional hazard regression model was fitted to identify the independent predictors of hyperglycemic emergencies, and variables having a p < 0.05 in the multivariable model were considered statistically significant. Result: Among the total adult patients with diabetes included in the study, 147 (32.45%) developed hyperglycemic emergencies. Hence, the overall incidence of hyperglycemic emergencies was 14.6 per 100 person-years observation. The incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis was 12.5 per 100 person-years (35.6 and 6.3 among T1DM and T2DM, respectively). The incidence of the hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome was 2.1 per 100 person-years (0.9 and 2.4 among T1DM and T2DM, respectively). The overall median free survival time was 53.85 months. Type 1 diabetes mellitus [AHR = 2.75, 95% CI (1.68, 4.51)], diabetes duration of ≥ 3 years [AHR = 0.33, 95% CI (0.21, 0.50)], recent acute illness [AHR = 2.99, 95% CI (2.03, 4.43)], presence of comorbidity [AHR = 2.36, 95% CI (1.53, 3.63)], poor glycemic control [AHR = 3.47, 95% CI (2.17, 5.56)], history of medication non-compliance [AHR = 1.85,95% CI (1.24, 2.76)], follow-up frequency of 2-3 months [AHR = 1.79,95% CI (1.06, 3.01)], and without community health insurance [AHR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.14, 2.35)] were significant predictors of hyperglycemic emergencies. Conclusion: The incidence of hyperglycemic emergencies was high. Therefore, giving greater attention to patients with identified predictors could decrease the occurrence of hyperglycemic emergencies and related public health and economic impacts.

Determinants of hypertension among diabetes patients attending selected comprehensive specialized hospitals of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia: An unmatched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension is a worldwide public health problem causing significant morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. Despite the increasing burden of hypertension among patients with DM, data on determinants of hypertension among patients with DM in the Amhara region of Ethiopia is scarce. Hence, this study identified determinants of hypertension among people with diabetes attending chronic disease follow-up clinics in the Amhara region of comprehensive specialized hospitals in Ethiopia. METHOD AND MATERIALS: An institutional-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 470 individuals with diabetes in the Amhara region's comprehensive specialized hospitals (Debre Berhan, Felege Hiwot, and Dessie Comprehensive specialized hospital). A multistage sampling technique was used to select participants for this study. We collected the data using standard questionnaires (short form of international physical activity questionnaire, Morisky medication adherence scale, patient health questionnaire, perceived dietary adherence scale, Oslo social support questionnaire, and alcohol use disorder identification test), physical measurements, and data extraction checklists. A multivariable binary logistic regression was fitted to identify determinants of hypertension, and we presented the findings using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: 235 cases and 235 controls participated in this study. The median (IQR) age for the cases was 60 (52-66 = 14), and the mean age (± SD) for the controls was 51.72 (± 12.51). The significant determinants of hypertension with AOR [95% CI] were a lower level of physical activity: 1.82 [1.00, 3.31], depression: 2.00 [1.24, 3.21], family history of hypertension: 2.13 [1.34, 3.37], not having diabetic health education: 1.87 [1.18, 2.96], a longer duration of diabetes: 1.99 [1.05, 3.79], and poor glycemic control: 1.57 [1.01, 2.45]. CONCLUSION: In this study, determinants that increase the risk of hypertension among people with diabetes mellitus were older age, physical inactivity, depression, family history of hypertension, not having diabetic health education, a longer duration of diabetes, and poor glycemic control.

Attrition rate and its predictors among adults receiving anti-retroviral therapy following the implementation of the "Universal Test and Treat strategy" at public health institutions in Northern Ethiopia. A retrospective follow-up study.

Introduction: Since 2016, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health has adopted a "Universal Test and Treat" strategy to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this test and treat era, access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has been rapidly expanded. On the other hand, poor retention of patients on ART remains a serious concern for reaching ART program goals. Thus, this study is targeted at investigating the attrition rate and its predictors among HIV-positive adults following the implementation of the "test and treat" strategy in Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 1048 HIV-positive adults receiving ART at public health institutions in Bahir Dar city, Northern Ethiopia. Data were extracted from randomly selected patient charts, entered into Epidata 4.6 and exported to Stata 14.2 for analysis. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate individuals' attrition-free probability at each specific point in time. Both bivariable and multivariable cox regression models were fitted, and variables with a P-value of <0.05 in the multivariable model were considered as significant predictors of attrition. Results: A total of 1020 (97.3%) study participants were included in the final analysis. The attrition rate of individuals was 15 per 100 person-years of observation (95% CI: 13.5-16.9 per 100 PYO). World Health organization (WHO) stage III/IV clinical diseases (Adjusted hazard ratio/AHR/1.75 (95% CI:1.24-2.48)), Not disclosing HIV-status (AHR 1.6 (95% CI: 1.24-2.05)), rapid initiation of ART (AHR 2.05 (95%CI:1.56-7.69)), No history of ART regime change (AHR2.03 (95% CI: 1.49-2.76)), "1J (TDF_3TC-DTG)" ART regimen (AHR 0.46 (95%CI: 2.18-3.65)), and Poor ART adherence (AHR2.82 (95%CI: 2.18-3.65)) were identified as significant predictors of attrition rate of HIV positive adults. Conclusion: Following the implementation of the universal test and treat area, the attrition rate of adults living with (HIV) found to be high. Due attention shall be provided to those individuals who didn't disclose their status, were initiated into ART within seven days, had WHO stage III/IV clinical disease, had poor adherence history, had no regimen change, and are not on 1J (TDF_3TC-DTG) ART regimen type.

Nutritional Status and Its Determinants among Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in cancer patients. It has an impact on all aspects of the patient's life such as increasing the risk of infection, treatment toxicity, hospital stay, and health-care costs. Factors influencing the nutritional status of adult cancer patients undertaking chemotherapy treatment in Ethiopia have not been thoroughly investigated. As a result, the purpose of this study is to assess the nutritional status and its determinants among adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the nutritional status and its determinants among adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Oncology Treatment Center, from January to May 2021. The data were gathered through a face-to-face interview and chart review method. Epi Data 4.6 was used to enter the data, which was then exported to SPSS version 25 for statistical analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between nutritional status and potential risk factors. A P value less than 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Result: This study revealed that 48.1% of participants have some level of malnutrition. Lowest wealth index AOR 0.06 (0.016-0.2), food insecurity AOR 0.1 (0.05-0.24), vomiting AOR 0.2 (0.110-.444), poor appetite AOR 0.2 (0.11-0.44), no diarrhea AOR 2.6 (1.34-5.00), and poor functioning AOR 0.3 (0.2-0.54) were significantly associated with good nutritional status. Conclusion and Recommendation. The prevalence of malnutrition among adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at HUCSH was high. Wealth index, food security, poor appetite, diarrhea, and performance status were significantly correlated with the nutritional status of the patients. To improve the patient's nutritional status, economic support, early nutritional screening, and assessment, management of chemotherapy-induced symptoms should be considered.