Treatment outcome of pneumonia and its associated factors among pediatric patients admitted to Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Despite its substantial impact, there exists a dearth of evidence regarding treatment outcomes and related factors, particularly within the Ethiopian context. This study endeavors to address these critical gaps by examining the treatment outcome of pneumonia among pediatric patients hospitalized in the Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital. Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 204 children (≤14 years of age) diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital. An interview using a structured questionnaire accompanied by a review of medical records was used to collect data from the parents/guardians. A binary logistic regression model with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify the associated factors with the outcome variable. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05 in the multivariable analysis. Result: Among the 204 children (≤14 years) included in the study, 119 (93.6%, 95% CI: 90.2-96.9) patients with pneumonia survived whereas 13 (6.4%, 95% CI: 3.1-9.7) died. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, after adjustments for potential confounders, revealed that children who had malnutrition (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI: 2.37-12.44), were unvaccinated (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI: 2.25-11.87), had altered mental states during admission (AOR = 4.49, 95% CI: 2.28-17.85), and had complicated types of pneumonia (AOR = 5.70, 95% CI: 2.98-15.09) were independently associated with mortality. Conclusion: Poor treatment outcome was 6.4% among pediatric patients admitted with pneumonia in this study setting. Being unvaccinated, malnourished, and admitted with a complicated type of pneumonia as well as having altered consciousness at the time of admission were significantly associated with poor treatment outcomes. These findings underscore the critical need to prioritize preventative measures against malnutrition and unvaccinated status in children. Early identification of such children and proper interventions are imperative to reducing such outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Unmet need for contraception among married adolescent girls and young women in Haramaya Health and demographic surveillance system, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: The prevalence of unmet need for contraception is the highest in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Contraceptive use among young married or unmarried women is lower than that among older women in developing countries. Previous studies generalized the findings to all women of reproductive age and have not investigated psychosocial factors that influence contraceptive use. This study aimed to identify factors associated with unmet need for contraception among young married women in the Haramaya Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), eastern Ethiopia. Methodology: A cross-sectional, community-based study of young married women aged 15-24 years was conducted. A simple random sampling method was used to select 550 young married women. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), factors associated with unmet need for contraception were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of unmet need for contraception was 154 (30.3%). Adolescents (15-19) (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.16-3.62), husbands' negative attitude toward contraception (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.05-4.46), and no previous use of contraception (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 2.29-6.71) were significantly and positively associated with unmet need for contraception. On the contrary, young women with secondary education or higher (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.28-1.084) were negatively and significantly associated with unmet need for contraception. Conclusion: The prevalence of unmet need for contraception among young women in Haramaya was high. Unmet need was affected by age, husbands' attitude toward contraceptives, the educational status of women, and previous use of contraception. This study underscored the need to improve girls' educational status to empower them in making contraceptive use decisions with their partners. Programs should also engage male partners who are perceived as key decision-makers when it comes to contraceptive use.

Sexual and reproductive health services utilization and associated factors among adolescents attending secondary schools.

BACKGROUND: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is referring to physical and emotional wellbeing and includes the ability to be free from unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, and all forms of sexual violence and coercion. SRH is the main services packages that prevent and reduce adolescent reproductive health risks and problems. While the government of Ethiopia has undertaken several measures to improve SRH services, there was limited data on utilization among adolescents and associated factors. OBJECTIVE: To assess utilization of SRH services and associated factors among adolescents attending secondary schools in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent students aged 15-19 years. A total of 692 adolescents were selected using a multi-stage sampling from two randomly selected secondary schools, each from rural and urban settings, in Haramaya district where 642 provided complete data and included in the analysis. A structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry was conducted using Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 16 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with school adolescents' utilization of SRH. Statistically significant associations are declared at P-value < 0.05. RESULT: A total of 642 completed the survey questionnaire, constituting a response rate of 92.7% (642/692). Male adolescents accounted 63.7% and the mean age of respondents was 17.71 years. Among those who completed the survey, 23.5% (95% CI: 20-26.8) utilized SRH services. Adolescents who were exposed to SRH information (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.22-3.6), aware of SRH service providing facility (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.12-3.0) and SRH service components (AOR = 2.76, 95%, CI: 1.53-4.97), and distance from SRH facilities (AOR = 2.28, 95%, CI: 1.13-4.62) were significantly associated with the utilization of SRH services. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-in-four secondary school adolescents (23.5%) utilized SRH services. Targeted promotion of SRH providing facilities and SRH service components aimed at awareness creation could improve adolescents' utilization of SRH services. Improved SRH services utilization among adolescents who were far from SRH services providing facilities needs further investigation.

BACKGROUND: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) refers to physical and emotional wellbeing and includes the ability to be free from unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, and all forms of sexual violence and coercion. Components of the SRH services are important to reduce adolescent reproductive health risks and problems. This paper reports on the frequency of in-school adolescents who utilized SRH services and the factors that determined it. METHODS: we collected data from 642 in-school secondary school adolescents, aged 15­19 years, in Haramaya district, East Ethiopia. The data were collected from two schools, one from rural and the other from urban areas, using lottery method from the available schools in the district. A face-to-face interview was conducted to obtain data from the adolescents in the selected secondary schools. RESULT: Out of 642 in-school adolescents, 23.5% utilized SRH services in Haramaya District. Adolescents who previously received SRH information, who knew SRH services providing facility, aware of SRH service components, and those who live not close to the SRH facilities were utilized the SRH services more often compared to their friends. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-in-four secondary school adolescents (23.5%) utilized SRH services. Targeted promotion of SRH providing facilities and SRH service components aimed at awareness creation could improve adolescents' utilization of SRH services.

Health status of street children and reasons for being forced to live on the streets in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia. Using mixed methods.

INTRODUCTION: In Ethiopia, more than four million children are anticipated to live under particularly difficult circumstances. Street children are subject to violence, a lack of health care, and a lack of education. Which denies them the right to live in a secure environment and exposes them to different health problems. Currently, little is known about the prevalence of Streetism, including health conditions. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the health status of street children and determinants of Streetism. METHODS: Mixed methods (sequential) were employed from February 1 to 28, 2021. Quantitative cross-sectional study design and phenomenological qualitative designs were applied. Overall, 220 street children were involved in the study. The most common reason that forced the children to resort to a street way of life is to look for a job and quarreled with parents. The data were collected using interviews methods. Chi-square test and multiple binary logistic regression were applied to examine the variations among variables with the health status of street children. Qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. RESULTS: The study included a total of 220 street children. As to the quantitative study, the majority of study participants (92.73%) drank alcohol regularly. Depression (39.22%) and peer pressure (43.14%) were the most common initiation causes of drinking alcohol. According to a qualitative study report, "Street children are mostly affected by the communicable disease" and… They are addicted to substances like benzene" which had a profound effect on their health." Furthermore, the study discovered a statistically significant association between respondents' health status and sociodemographic characteristics (age and educational status), job presence, and drug use. CONCLUSION: This study identified the factors that drove street children to live on the streets, such as the inability to find work and disagreements with their parents. The majority of the street children were affected by preventable and treatable diseases. Unfortunately, almost all street children reported drinking alcohol, which exposed them to a variety of health problems. In general, the study discovered that street children require immediate attention. Decision-makers and academicians should collaborate to develop a plan for these children's health and social interventions.

Perceived Self Efficacy in Implementing COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among Residents of Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has now become a major international public health concern and a major challenge for the entire world. Poor adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures continues to be a challenge in managing COVID-19 pandemics, including in Ethiopia. As a result, the current study sought to identify the determinants of community adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among the adult population of Harari Regional State in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia from January 5 to 30, 2021. All adults above the age of 18 who lived in Harari Regional State's selected kebeles were eligible to participate in the study. A systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participants. The study included a total of 1,320 participants. Pre-tested, structured, and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data, which was then analyzed using STATA version 16 software. The consent was obtained from each individual and concerned body. Binary logistic regression was used to find the correlation between community adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and sociodemographic, knowledge, self-efficacy, and risk perception. A P-value of 0.05 was used as the statistical significance cut-off point. Results: One thousand two hundred fifty-five (1,255) people took the survey, yielding a 95.1 % response rate. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures resulted in a mean cumulative score of 29.8. Six hundred eight (48.5%) of the participants had good adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, whereas 647 (51.5%) did not. The researchers also discovered a statistically significant link between participants' residence, educational status, risk perception, income, and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Conclusion: Appropriate implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures among community members is required to manage or control pandemics and reduce health-related consequences associated with COVID-19 pandemics. The current study, on the other hand, discovered that nearly half of the study participants had poor adherence. As a result, in order to manage this pandemic, the relevant organizations, including the government and non-governmental organizations, must take appropriate and timely measures.