ABSTRACT
Background: According to the literature analysis, the majority of the studies focused primarily on public health institutions. Although assessing the compliance of healthcare workers in private and public institutions would give comprehensive evidence on existing problems and appropriate prevention method, as a result, research on adherence to standard precautions are still required. Rely on existing research, to the best of the investigator's knowledge, compliance with standard precautions in hospitals of Bahir Dar town has not been assessed. Therefore, this study will contribute to narrowing these gaps and determining the scope of problems with standard precautions. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 442 healthcare workers working in hospitals from June 10 to 30, 2021. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Pre-tested and structured questionnaires and an observational checklist were used to collect the required data. The data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to assess the association between independent and outcome variables. Odd ratios at 95% CI were used to measure the strength of the association between the outcome and explanatory variables. Finally, a P-value of <.05 was considered as a cut-off point for statistical significance. Results: Of the 442 healthcare workers who participated in the study, 41% were compliant with standard precautions. Furthermore, 68.1% and 51.8% of the respondents had good knowledge and a positive attitude toward infection prevention, respectively. Consistent water supply availability (AOR = 1.92 and 95% CI = 1.63, 6.27), and access to infection prevention guidelines (AOR = 1.73 and 95% CI = 1.08, 2.77), and availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 2.32 and 95% CI = 1.35, 3.98) were some of the factors significantly associated with health care workers' compliance. Conclusions: The current study found that only about two-fifths of the healthcare workers complied with standard precautions. The study suggests that there is a significant risk of developing an infection. Therefore, the concerned organizations; Bahir Dar Zonal Health Office, and respective sectors including Amhara Regional Health Office and the Federal Ministry of Health must take appropriate measures to improve the implementation of safety practices.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ready-to-eat foods are foods that are consumed at the point of sale or later, without any further processing or treatment. Foodborne diseases are on the rise worldwide, involving a wide range of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, and are becoming a public health problem. Therefore, this study sought to identify and determine the bacteriological quality and public health risks in ready-to-eat foods in developing countries. Methods: The studies published from 2012 to 2020 were identified through systematic searches of various electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed and MEDLINE, MedNar, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Science Direct. The articles were searched using a Boolean logic operator ("AND," "OR," "NOT") combination with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords. All identified keywords and an index term were checked in all included databases. In addition, a quality assessment is performed to determine the relevance of the article, and then the data are extracted and analyzed. Results: The current study found that the pooled prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter species, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas species, and Shigella in ready-to-eat foods was 30.24% (95% CI: 18.8, 44.65), 11.3% (95% CI: 6.6, 18.7), 9.1% (95% CI: 7.0, 11.8), 23.8% (95% CI: 17.5, 31.5), 17.4% (95% CI: 11.6, 25.31)], 26.8% (95% CI: 13.7, 45.9), 6.1% (95% CI: 2.8, 12.6), 34.4% (95% CI: 18.1-55.4), respectively. Conclusions: Most of the reviewed articles reported on various pathogenic bacterial species that are potentially harmful to human health, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat food above the maximum allowable limit. Therefore, relevant national and international organizations must take corrective measures to prevent foodborne diseases and protect human health.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Household water treatment practice or managing water at the point-of-use provides a means of improving drinking water quality and preventing diarrheal diseases. However, evidence regarding household water treatment practice and associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in Southern Ethiopia are limited. This study was, therefore, designed to assess household water treatment practice and associated factors among households in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 627 households in Southern Ethiopia. A stratified random sampling technique was used in this study and a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data about household water treatment practice and associated factors among selected households through face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests and binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the level of association. RESULTS: This study revealed that the level of household water treatment practice was 34.3% with 95% CI (30.7-38.1) and boiling was the most common method of household water treatment in the study area. Educational status of having formal education (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.34-3), withdrawing water from storage vessel by dipping (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.2-2.87) and frequency of fetching water 3 or more times and above a day (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.45-4.88) were significantly associated with household water treatment practice. CONCLUSION: Household water treatment practice is low in the study area. Educational status of having a formal education, drawing water by dipping, and those who collect their drinking water 3 or more times a day were predictors of household water treatment practice. Thus, efforts should be made to increase the level of household water treatment practice especially among those with no formal education and further studies should be conducted to understand the behavioral factors associated with household water treatment practice.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Biological deterioration of drinking water is the major cause of waterborne disease globally. However, there is a paucity of information on identifying the point where deterioration of the bacteriological quality of drinking water occurs (source or point of use) and associated factors among households in developing countries, especially in Ethiopia. METHOD: A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 425 households in Eastern Ethiopia. Households with at least one child under-five years of age were included in the study. A total of 448 Water samples (425 from households and 23 from water sources) were collected and analyzed by the membrane filtration method to identify Thermotolerant coliform. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between each independent and dependent variable. Adjusted Odd Ratios along with 95% Confidence intervals were estimated to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. RESULT: This study revealed that 21.7%; 95% CI (4.5%, 39.1%) of water sources and 83.3%; 95% CI (79.8%, 87.1%) of households' drinking water were contaminated by thermotolerant coliform. Drinking water samples from households with poor wealth index [AOR = 9.63; 95%CI (2.92, 31.69)], households with unimproved sanitation facility [AOR = 2.81; 95%CI (1.31, 6.01)], households which shares their house with animal [AOR = 3.73; 95%CI (1.66, 8.37)], households that didn't practice household water treatment [AOR = 3.42; 95%CI (1.60, 7.31)] and not washing hands before water collection [AOR = 7.04; 95%CI (2.22, 22.30)] were significantly associated with deterioration of bacteriological quality of household drinking water. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the bacteriological quality of drinking water deteriorates from source to point of use. Thus, health education programs on water, sanitation, hygienic practice must be enhanced to improve the quality of drinking water.