Prevalence of S. mansoni Infection and Associated Risk Factors among School Children in Guangua District, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Four hundred twenty-two participants were selected. Data was collected through observation and interview with structured questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected and examined using two-slide Kato-Katz method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression was fitted for analysis. Variables with p value <0.25 in the univariate logistic regression analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model. Those with <0.05 were identified as significantly associated risk factors. To assure the quality of the data, training was given for data collectors and supervisors, and the tools were pretested on 5% of the sample size. Results: 404 (95.7%) school children were enrolled in the study. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 12.6%. School children in the age group 5-9 years old (AOR (95% CI): 22.27 (3.70-134.01), p = 0.001), age group 10-14 years old (AOR (95% CI): 4.58 (1.14-18.42), p = 0.032), grade levels 5-8 (AOR (95% CL): 14.95 (4.297-52.03), p = 0.001),who swim frequently (AOR (95% CI): 11.35 (2.33-55.33), p = 0.003), and those who cultivate near the irrigation area (AOR (95% CI): 7.10 (2.31-21.80), p = 0.001) were significantly associated with high risk of S. mansoni infection. Conclusion and Recommendation. From the finding of the current study, it can be concluded that the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in the study area is relatively high. Age of fourteen and younger years old, swimming in the river, and irrigation practice were the main risk factors of S. mansoni infection. Thus, therapeutic interventions as well as health education are desirable.

Spatial variation and level of compliance on COVID-19 prevention strategies in Amhara region, Ethiopia: observational survey

Background: The novel Coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In Ethiopia, The COVID-19 pandemic was expanding geopgraphically overtime. Understanding the spatial variation of the pandemic and the level of compliances towards COVID-19 prevention strategies is important to guide focused prevention and control efforts. Aim: This study aimed to explore the level of compliance and spatial variation in COVID-19 prevention strategies in major cities and towns in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Methods: A community based observational survey was conducted from June 25 to August 10, 2020, in 16 selected cities and towns of the Amhara region. The level of compliance with hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask utilization as per the WHO recommendations were observed from 6,002 individuals and 346 transport services. Getis-Ord Gi* statistics were used to identify hot spot areas with a low level of compliance with COVID19 preventive strategies. Spatial interpolation was performed to predict the level of compliance for un-sampled areas in the region. Results: The practice of hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask utilization were 12.0%, 13% and 26%, respectively. COVID-19 prevention strategies were found to be spacially non-random in Amhara region (Global Moran's I = 0.23, z-score = 9.5, P-value < 0.001). Poor (Hot Spot Areas) COVID-19 Prevention practices were spatially clustered at Northern Amhara (Metema, Gondar, and Woghemira town) and Western Amhara (Moarkos, Enjibara, And Bahir Dar town).Southern (Shewa Robit, and Kemissie Twon) and Eastern (Dessie, Kombolcha, Wolidiya, and Kobo) parts of the Amhara region were spatially clustered as cold spots (better practice) for COVID19 prevention strategies. With regards to the practice of COVID19 prevention strategies, practices were low in northern and northwestern parts of the region ( 5%), whereas this was found to be much higher in the southern part of the region (41%). Conclusion: The level of compliance with regards to hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask utilization exhibit spatial variation across the region. Continuous community-based education using different modalities are necessary to increase the practice of hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask utilization

Sexually transmitted diseases among female commercial sex workers in Finote Selam town, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) are considered a high-risk group for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), yet the reported prevalence varies in studies around the world. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and associated factors of STDs among female sex workers. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among female sex workers in Finote Selam town. A total of 389 sex workers were studied using census method. Data were collected using an interview with structured questionnaires. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20 software package. RESULTS: The findings of this study showed that the overall prevalence of STDs was 20.6%. The reported prevalence of genital discharge, ulcer, and bubo was 15.9%, 15.2%, and 11.6%, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, respondents who did not use a condom were about four times at higher risk of STDs than those who were using a condom consistently (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.812, 9.139). Respondents who experienced condom breakages were more than 12 times more likely to report STDs than those who never experienced condom breakages (AOR = 12.291, 95% CI: 5.701, 26.495). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that one in five commercial sex workers in Finote Selam town had STDs. Sex without a condom and condom breakage during sexual intercourse showed a significant association with STDs. Therefore, the Woreda Health Office in collaboration with nongovernmental organizations in the area should work on safe sex promotion to enhance consistent condom use and reduce condom breakage through continuous education among commercial sex workers.

Prevalence and determinants of acute diarrhea among children younger than five years old in Jabithennan District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2014.

BACKGROUND: Despite the global decline in death rates of children younger than five years old, the risk of a child dying before turning five years of age remains highest in the WHO African Region. The problem of child death in Ethiopia is worse, with an Ethiopian child being 30 times more likely to die by his/her fifth birthday than a child in Western Europe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with diarrhea among children younger than five years old. METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with mothers who had children younger than five years old from April to June 2014. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select eligible women. The data were coded, entered, cleaned and analyzed with the SPSS software package, version 16. RESULTS: he data of 775 mothers were included in the analysis, and 21.5% of the children had diarrhea in the two weeks before the survey. The main factors affecting the occurrence of diarrhea were residence (Odds ratio (AOR) = 11.29, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 3.49-36.52), sex (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI:1.28-4.93), methods of complementary feeding (AOR = 50.88, 95% CI: 23.85- 108.54), types of water storage equipment (AOR = 19.50, 95% CI: 8.11-46.90), and cleansing materials used to wash hands (AOR = 5.53, 95% CI: 2.19-13.99). CONCLUSION: Approximately one-fifth of the children included in the study reported diarrheal disease. Residence, sex of the child, type of water storage container, methods of complementary feeding, and cleansing materials to wash the hands were the most important variables that affected the occurrence of diarrhea in children. Therefore, families, the government and nongovernmental organizations working in the area must cooperate in interventions and prevention to minimize the risk of disease.