Change in stunting and its associated factors among children aged less than 5 years in Ethiopia using Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data from 2005 to 2019: a multivariate decomposition analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess change in stunting and its associated factors among children aged less than 5 years in Ethiopia using Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data from 2005 to 2019. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. SETTING: The study was conducted in Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: In 2005, 4586 individuals were examined, followed by 10 282 in 2011, 9462 in 2016 and 4937 in 2019. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: The primary outcome of the study was stunting, and the secondary outcome was factors associated with stunting and its change. A multilevel logistic regression model was fitted to identify individual and community-level factors associated with stunting among children aged less than 5 years. Multivariate decomposition analysis was also carried out to assess the role of compositional characteristics and behavioural change for decline in stunting among children aged less than 5 years in Ethiopia. RESULTS: Over the study period, the prevalence rate of stunting in children aged less than 5 years decreased from 47% to 37% in 2019. Differences in behavioural change among children under the age of 5 years account for 76.69% of the overall decline in stunting prevalence rate in the years 2005-2011, 86.53% in the years 2005-2016, 98.9% in the years 2005-2019, 70.34% in the years 2011-2016 and 73.77% in the years 2011-2019. Behavioural adjustments among breastfed children, diet diversity, place of delivery, ANC follow-up and region have all had a major effect on stunting prevalence rate. The wealth index, parenteral education, child's age in months, length of breast feeding and area were among the compositional change factors. CONCLUSION: A large percentage of children aged less than 5 years remains stunted in Ethiopia. Stunting was associated with alterations in the compositional and behavioural characteristics of children. Stimulating existing nutritional measures and improving the wealth index will make a significant difference in reducing stunting among Ethiopian children aged less than 5 years.

Survival time and predictors of death among HIV infected under five children after initiation of anti -retroviral therapy in West Amhara Referral Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is an infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that primarily targets an individual's immune system. In Ethiopia, nearly 24% of HIV-related deaths occur in children under the age of five. However, studies regarding the survival time of HIV-positive under-five children after anti-retroviral therapy initiation are limited with poor evidence of predictors of death. OBJECTIVE: To assess survival time and predictors of death among HIV infected under-five children after initiation of anti-retroviral therapy in West Amhara Referral Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS: A multicenter institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 432 HIV-positive under-five children on anti-retroviral therapy selected by simple random sampling from January 2010 to December 2019. A standardized data extraction tool was employed, which was adapted from anti-retroviral therapy entry and follow-up forms. The event of interest for this study is death, whereas the absence of experience of death is censored. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 14. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the survival probability. The Cox regression model was used to identify independent predictors of death. RESULTS: Among the 415 records included in the final analysis, 25 (6.02%) of the individuals were died. The incidence rate of death was found to be 2.87 per 1000 child-months (95%CI: 1.94-4.25). The cumulative survival probabilities of children after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 0.97, 0.95, 0.92, and 0.85 respectively. HIV-infected under-five children who lived in rural areas (AHR 3.32:-95% CI 1.17-9.39), with poor adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (AHR = 3.36; CI: 1.06, 10.69), without Isoniazide prophylaxis (AHR = 3.15; CI: 1.11, 8.94) and with anemia (AHR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.16, 8.03) were at higher risk of death. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Death of HIV-infected under-five children on anti-retroviral therapy is high within the first one year after enrolment. Living in rural area, had poor adherence, lacked Isoniazide prophylaxis, and anemia were predictors of death. Therefore, clinicians shall emphasize for those specific risk factors of death and take action accordingly.

The proportion of chronic kidney disease and its associated factors among adult diabetic patients at Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is defined as a progressive loss of kidney function occurring over several months to years. Programs to detect chronic kidney disease, linked to comprehensive primary and secondary Prevention strategies are rare in our country. This study aimed to assess the proportion of chronic kidney disease and its associated factors among adult diabetic patients. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used. Adult Diabetic Patients (≥18 years of age) coming to the medical outpatient clinic were considered as study participants and they were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were checked for completeness, then entered into Epi Data 3.1, and exported to SPSS Version 24 for analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, crosstab, and median were utilized. chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration equations for calculating estimated glomerular filtration rate Simple binary logistic regression was conducted to identify candidate variables for multiple binary logistic regression at a p-value of <0.2. Those variables whose P-value <0.05 in multiple binary logistic regression were considered as significantly associated variables with chronic kidney diseases. Result: A total of 329 individuals were participating in the study. Of which 199 (60.5%) were males. The median age of participants was 39 (IQR; 28: 56) years. Of the total participants, 125(38%) had no formal education. The proportion of chronic kidney disease was 16.7% (95% CI: 12.8%-21%), The study also found that older age (AOR = 3.02; 95%CI: 1.37, 6.69), pre-existing hypertension (AOR = 4.85; 95%CI: 2.07, 11.3), current systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg (AOR = 6.33, 95%CI: 3.34, 11.99), and presence of Albuminuria (AOR = 2.98, 95%CI: 1.26, 7.09) were associated with chronic kidney disease. Conclusions: The proportion of CKD among diabetic patients in Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital was relatively high as compared to other studies. Health care professionals should consider strict follow-up for older age patients, patients with co-morbidities like hypertension, and for those patients with Albuminuria.

Derivation and Validation of a Risk Score to Predict Mortality of Early Neonates at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: The END in NICU Score.

BACKGROUND: Early neonatal death is death of infants in the first week of life. And 34% to 92% of neonatal deaths happen within 7 days of postnatal period. Thus, the early neonatal period is the most critical time for an infant, requiring different strategies to prevent mortality. Among strategies, deriving and implementing early warning scores is crucial to predict early neonatal mortality earlier upon hospital admission. OBJECTIVE: To derive and validate a risk score to predict mortality of early neonates at Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital neonatal intensive care unit, Bahir Dar, 2021. METHODS: The document review was conducted from February 24, to April 08, 2021, on all early neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. The total number of early neonates included in the derivation study was 1100. Data were collected by using checklists prepared on EpiCollect5 software. After exporting the data to R version 4.0.5 software, variables with (p < 0.25) from the simple binary regression were entered into a multiple logistic regression model, and significant variables (p < 0.05) were kept in the model. The discrimination and calibration were assessed. The model was internally validated using bootstrapping technique. RESULTS: Admission weight, birth Apgar score, perinatal asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, mode of delivery, sepsis, and gestational age at birth remained in the final multiple logistic regression prediction model. The area under curve of receiver operating characteristic curve for early neonatal mortality score was 90.7%. The model retained excellent discrimination under internal validation. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value, negative predictive value of the model was 89.4%, 82.5%, 55.5%, and 96.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The derived score has an excellent discriminative ability and good prediction performance. This is an important tool for predicting early neonatal mortality in neonatal intensive care units at admission.

Survival Time and Associated Factors Among Adults Living with HIV After Initiation of HAART in South Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy consistently improves the survival of people living with HIV and contributes to preventing the development of new infections. Studies of antiretroviral therapy programs in Africa have shown a high mortality rate during the first 6 months after initiation of HAART in rural health facilities. This study looks at survival time and associated factors among adults with HIV in south Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective cohort study design was conducted using patient records among 746 adults living with HIV/AIDS. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select respondents after proportional allocation was made for all health facilities included in the study. Epi-info version 7 and STATA 12 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate mean survival time and a life table was used to estimate survival probability after initiation of HAART. RESULTS: A total of 746 respondents were followed for a median of 60 months. There were 102 (13.67%) deaths yielding an overall mortality rate of 2.59/1,000-person year observation (95% CI=0.02136-0.031736). Age of respondents >43 years (AHR=2.790; 95% CI=1.495-5.206), bedridden (AHR=9.57; 95% CI=3.87-23.64), past TB treatment (AHR=0.86; 95% CI=0.46-0.609), baseline WHO stage IV (AHR=3.02; 95% CI=1.77-5.18), pneumonia after ART start (AHR=3.6; 95% CI=1.4-9.2), INH prophylaxis (AHR=2.58; 95% CI=1.232-5.188), ambulatory functional status (AHR=5.86; 95% CI=2.67-12.86), and disclosure status (AHR=0.423; 95% CI=0.261-0.685) were significant predictors for survival time after initiation of HAART among adults living with HIV. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate was highly (13.67%) observed in the early phase of antiretroviral treatment. Being ambulatory and bedridden, age of respondents >43 years, past TB treatment, baseline WHO stage IV, pneumonia after HAART, INH prophylaxis, and disclosure status were independent predictors of mortality.

Level of Glaucoma Drug Adherence and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Glaucoma Patients Attending Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic optic nerve disease, often asymptomatic in an early stage, which is usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Good adherence to ocular hypotensive agents is essential to control the intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage. There is limited information on glaucoma drug adherence and associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of glaucoma drug adherence and associated factors among adult glaucoma patients attending Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Felege Hiwot specialized Hospital from March 2019 to May 2019. A systematic random sampling method was used to select 402 study participants. A structured questionnaire was prepared, and adherence was assessed by using self-report questions. The collected data were entered into Epi data version 4.2.2.1 and exported into Statistical Package for Social Science version 23 for analysis. Tables, graphs, frequency, mean, and standard deviation were used for descriptive statistics. Variables with a p-value of <0.2 in the bivariable logistic regression were entered in the multivariable logistic regression, and variables with a p-value of <0.05 under multivariable analysis were taken as statistically significant factors for glaucoma drug adherence. RESULTS: Among a total of 390 study participants, 212 (56.2%) were adherent to their topical medication. Early glaucoma (AOR=2.8: 95% CI =1.29-5.91), normal vision (AOR=1.9: 95% CI=1.15-3.09), urban residence (AOR=1.6: 95% CI=1.03-2.51), family support (AOR=1.7: 95% CI=1.06-2.76) and information from pharmacist (AOR=1.8: 95% CI=1.11-2.99) were significantly associated with adherence. CONCLUSION: The level of glaucoma drug adherence was 56.2% among patients attending Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital. Early glaucoma, normal visual acuity, family support, information on medication from the pharmacist, and urban residence were positively associated with adherence.

Determinants of virological failure among adults on first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy at public health facilities in Kombolcha town, Northeast, Ethiopia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify determinants of virological failure among HIV-infected adults on first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy at public health facilities in Kombolcha town, Northeast, Ethiopia, in 2019. METHODS: An unmatched case-control study was conducted from April to May 2019. About 130 cases and 259 controls were selected by simple random sampling. Data were extracted from charts of patients using a structured checklist. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify possible factors. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was used to check the model. Finally, independent predictor variables of virological failure were identified based on adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI and a p value of 0.05. RESULTS: The odds of virological failure were 2.4-fold (AOR=2.44, 95% CI 1.353 to 4.411) higher in clients aged <35 years compared with older clients, fivefold (AOR=5.00, 95% CI 2.60 to 9.63) higher in clients who did not disclose their HIV status, threefold (AOR=2.99, 95% CI 1.33 to 6.73) higher in clients with poor adherence, and 7.5-fold (AOR=7.51, 95% CI 3.98 to 14.14) higher in clients who had recent CD4 count of ≤250 cells/mm3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: This study revealed that age, marital status, occupation, disclosure status, baseline functional status, missed clinic visit, current antiretroviral therapy regimen, adherence to treatment and recent CD4 count were significantly associated with virological failure. Therefore, adherence support should be strengthened among clients. Missed clinic visits should also be reduced, as it could help clients better adhere to treatment, and therefore boost their immunity and suppress viral replication.