Diagnostic accuracy of serological rk-39 test for visceral Leishmaniasis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar, is a vector-borne tropical disease caused by a group of intracellular hemoflagellate protozoa belonging to the family of Trypanosomatide and the genus Leishmania. The disease is distributed around the world and transmitted via the bite of infected female Phlebotomine sandflies, and there is variation in the diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled global sensitivity and specificity of the rk-39 test and to evaluate if there is a difference between the different parts of the world. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis have been conducted on the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy. After setting eligibility criteria, literature was searched in four databases and one searching engine. Articles were screened, critically appraised, and extracted independently by two reviewers, and any disagreements were resolved with the involvement of a third person. The quality of the included studies had been assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS 2) tool. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were determined by bivariate random effect analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed by Higgins's I2, and when it was present, mitigation was conducted by using sensitivity analysis. RESULT: A total of 409 studies were identified, and finally 18 articles were eligible for the review with a total sample size of 5, 253. The bivariate random effect meta-analysis of the 7 diagnostic accuracy studies showed a pooled sensitivity of 0.89 (0.76-0.95) and specificity of 0.86 (0.72-0.94). The +LR was 6.32 (95% CI: 2.85-14.02), the-LR was 0.13 (95% CI: 0.06-0.30), and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 47.8 (95% CI: 11.3-203.2). Abdel-Latif (2018) was both an outlier and influential for sensitivity, and Walter (2011) was both an outlier and influential for specificity, and removing them from sensitivity and specificity, respectively, was beneficial for reducing the heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Rk-39 is found to have highly accurate measures in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Both sensitivity and specificity were found to be highly accurate in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.91 (0.88-0.93) and a pooled specificity of 0.89 (0.85-0.91). ETHICAL CONSIDERATION: As we will use secondary data for the systematic review and meta-analysis, ethical concerns are not necessary.

Evaluation of Grain-Filling-Related Traits Using Taichung 65 x DV85 Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines (TD-CSSLs) of Rice.

Grain yield of rice consists of sink capacity and grain filling. There are some genes known to contribute to sink capacity, but few genes associated with grain filling are known. We conducted a genetic analysis on yield-related traits by using a chromosome segment substitution line population that have introgression from DV85, an aus variety of rice, in the background of T65, a japonica variety. Refined whole-genome genotypes of the 43 TD-CSSLs were obtained by genotyping-by-sequencing. The effects of previously detected quantitative trait loci (QTLs), qNSC1 and qNSC2, were confirmed by the amount of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) at 5 days after heading (DAH). The CSSL for qSWTR11, the QTL for decrease in shoot weight during the maturity stage, showed the highest NSC at 5 DAH and lowest at 35 DAH. The brown rice yield of these lines were not stably significant. Most of the sink-related traits correlated between the 2 tested years, but most of the grain-filling traits did not show correlation between the 2 years. Correlation analysis revealed that the sink capacity is stable and primarily determines the yield, and grain filling is more affected by the environment. In addition, biomass production before heading and during the maturity stage contributes to higher yield in TD-CSSLs, and the amount of translocation of stem reserve does not affect much to the yield. We conclude that higher NSC at the heading stage and rapid decrease in shoot biomass during the maturity stage did not directly contribute to the yield formation in the japonica genetic background.

Survival Analysis and Its Predictors Among Hemodialysis Patients at Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College and Myungsung Christian Medical Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021.

Background: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the most prominent conditions causing chronic kidney disease and eventually end-stage renal disease. Renal replacement therapy, particularly hemodialysis (HD), is the mainstay of treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the overall survival status of HD patients and potential survival predictors at Saint Paul hospital millennium medical college (SPHMMC) and Myungsung Christian Medical Center (MCM) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on HD patients at SPHMMC and MCM general hospital from January 1, 2013 to December 30, 2020. Kaplan Meier, Log-rank, and Cox proportional regression models were used for the analysis. Estimated risks were reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals and P<0.05 was considered as having a significant association. Results: A total of 128 patients were included in the study. Median survival time was 65 months. The predominant co-morbid condition was found to be diabetes mellitus with hypertension (42%). The total risk time for these patients was 143,617 person years. The overall incidence rate of death was 2.9 per 10,000 person years (95% CI=2.2-4). Patients who developed blood stream infection were 2.98-times more likely to die than those without infection. Those using an arteriovenous fistula were 66% less likely to die than those using a central venous catheter. Additionally, patients treated in a government-owned facility were 79% less likely to die. Conclusion: The study identified that the median survival time of 65 months was comparable with developed nations. Significant predictors of death were found to be blood stream infection and type of vascular access. Government-owned treatment facilities showed better patient survival.

Time to recovery of neonatal sepsis and determinant factors among neonates admitted in Public Hospitals of Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Time to recovery is an indicator of the severity of sepsis, and risk factors varied significantly according to study population and settings. Moreover, published literature regarding the time to recovery of neonatal sepsis is scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the time to recovery of neonatal sepsis and determinant factors among neonates admitted in the Public Hospitals of Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based prospective follow-up study design was conducted among 631 neonates with sepsis. A structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. The median time to recovery, life-table, the Kaplan Meier curve, and the log-rank test were computed. Both bi-variable and multivariable Cox regression models were applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: Of all septic neonates, 511 successfully recovered. They were followed for a total of 4,740-neonate day's observation and the median time to recovery was 7 days (IQR = 5-10 days). After adjusting for covariates, intrapartum fever (AHR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.99), induced onset of labor (AHR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.94), chest indrawing (AHR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.46, 0.99), late onset sepsis (AHR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.40, 0.75), non-oral enteral feeding (AHR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.50), assisted with bag and mask (AHR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.56, 0.93), normal birth weight (AHR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.94), gestational age of 37-42 weeks (AHR = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.32, 2.84), septic shock (AHR = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.39), infectious complications (AHR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.61), being in critical conditions (AHR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.52, 0.89), and early recognition of illness (AHR = 1.83, 95%CI: 1.27, 2.63) were independently associated with the time to recovery of neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The time to recovery of this study was moderately acceptable as compared to the previous studies. The above-mentioned factors could be used for the early identification of neonates with sepsis at risk for protracted illness and it could guide prompt referral to higher centers in primary health sectors. This also will provide prognostic information to clinicians and families as longer recovery time has economic and social implications in our country.

A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol on stunting and its determinants among school-age children (6-14years) in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, stunting is a common public health problem among school-age children. Even though several studies were conducted in different parts of the country, the national pooled prevalence of stunting and its determinants not estimated. Therefore, this study intends to determine the pooled prevalence and determinants of stunting among school-age children in Ethiopia. METHODS: This review protocol is registered at PROSPERO with Registration number: CRD42020160625. Online databases (Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Science direct), Google, Google Scholar, and other grey literature will be used to search articles until June 2020. The quality assessment will be performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. The analysis will be organized and presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. The presence of heterogeneity among studies will be examined using a chi-squared test on Cochran's Q statistic with a 5% level of statistical significance, subgroup analyses, and meta-regression will be performed to investigate sources of heterogeneity. To identify influential studies, sensitivity analysis will be conducted. Presence publication bias will be examined by observing funnel plots. The presence of a statistical association will be declared at a p-value <0.05 with the 95% CI. DISCUSSION: Stunting is a major public health problem in Ethiopia, which affects the health of children. So, designing and implementing different nutritional strategies and promoting healthcare services is extremely mandatory to overcome stunting problems in the country. To understand this, estimating the prevalence of stunting at the national level and determining the pertinent common determinants using high-level evidence is fairly imperative. Therefore, this study will offer a summarizing finding.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Violence against Hospital Staff at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background. Violence at the workplace has become an alarming phenomenon worldwide. The real size of the problem is largely unknown and recent information shows that the current knowledge is only the tip of the iceberg. The enormous cost of violence at the workplace for person and community at large is becoming more apparent. It could be physical, sexual, and verbal in nature and could be actual or threatened. Objectives. To access prevalence and associated factors of violence against hospital staff at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods. An institution based cross-sectional study was employed in 2017. The data were collected using Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study Questionnaire from 496 participants. Participants had been selected using simple random sampling technique and data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1, and SPSS version 21 was used for Analysis. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Result. From 496 staff intended to have participated in this study, complete data were obtained from 435, making a response rate of 87.7%. This research showed high prevalence of violence and we have got that staff had been exposed to physical violence 36.8%, verbal violence 62.1%, and sexual violence 21.8 % over the past year, respectively. Age, sex, and contact with the patient were statistically significant variables (p < 0.05). Conclusion and Recommendation. According to this study, majority of AMSH staff were violated by the patient they care.

Predictors of unmet need for family planning among all women of reproductive age in Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Contraception is a good indicator of the extent to which couples have access to reproductive health services. Survey data on unmet need can provide overall direction by helping to pinpoint the obstacles in society and weaknesses in services that need to be overcome. This study is significant as it provides strong policy recommendations for the design and implementation of economic and non-economic interventions into family planning utilization by all eligible women. OBJECTIVE: To Identify Predictors of Unmet Need of Family Planning in Ethiopia. METHODS: A national level survey by performance monitoring and accountability (PMA 2020), which conducted between March and April 2016 among 7552 all women of 15-49 years were utilized. Stata® version13 were used for survey data for analysis using weighted frequency to give equal chances for enumeration areas represented. Binary and multivariate logistic regression employed. P-value < 0.05 were used to declare independent predictors of unmet need for family planning in Ethiopia. RESULT: 7494 women responded to the interview giving response rate of 99.2%. Overall unmet need for family planning was 1, 214 (16.2%) of which 772 (10.3%) was for spacing and 450 (6.0%) for limiting. Overall unmet need was 540 (7.2%) in urban and 1431(19.1%) in rural areas of the Ethiopia. Statistically significant predictors with this were found to be women's age 0.73 AOR [95% C.I 0.6-0.9], being lower wealth 0.22 AOR [95% C.I 0.07-0.6] as compared to lowest, parity 2.1 AOR [95% C.I 1.4-2.9], number of children at first use of contraceptive 1.1 AOR [95% C.I 1.03-1.19], having final say with provider 0.03 AOR [95% C.I 0.003-0.23] as compared with own decision making. CONCLUSION: Unmet need of family planning in Ethiopia was generally high especially with significant disparity in residence and regional states. Socio-demographic factors (age and wealth status) and obstetric factor (parity) were found to be significant factor. Informed decision making for provision of contraceptives and enhancing women's awareness starting their childbearing life with family planning were recommended.

Intention to seek help for depression and associated factors among residents of Aykel town, Northwest Ethiopia: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is the leading cause of disability at a population level and globally 350 million people are suffering from depression. Despite a high prevalence and serious consequences, people with depression are reluctant to seek help and a large proportion remains untreated. The aim of this study was to assess intention to seek help for depression and associated factors among residents of Aykel town, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: This cross-sectional population based study included 832 participants. We used a major depressive disorder case vignette and general help-seeking questionnaire (GHSQ) to assess intention. Study participants selected by multistage cluster sampling technique. Face-to-face interview used to collect data. We performed adjusted multiple linear regression analyses to identify factors for intention to seek help. RESULTS: The mean score on intention to seek help from any health professionals was 3.72 (SD = 1.23) with a range of (1 "very unlikely" to 5 "very likely"). Majority of the respondents had an intention to visit health professionals to get a remedy for their illness depicted in the vignette. The proportion of those who had an intention to seek help from any health professionals if they were having depression was 71.2%. Favorable attitude towards seeking professional help for depression positively associated with an intention to seek help with (unstandardized ß = 0.03, 95% CI (0.01, 0.05), p-value < 0.001). Other factors positively associated with an intention to seek help for depression were age (ß = 0.02, CI (0.01, 0.03) p < 0.001), and perceived need of treatment for depression (ß = 0.19, CI (0.01, 0.38), p < 0.05). Poor social support was negatively associated with an intention to seek help for depression (ß = - 0.39 CI - 0.68, - 0.10, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that over two-third of the respondents reported that they were likely or very likely to seek help from health professionals if they were having depression. Increased age, favorable attitude to depression, and perceived need for treatment were factors for intention to seek help. Interventions focusing on awareness creation and attitude change towards depression are necessary.

Perception regarding the causes of schizophrenia and associated factors among Feresbet district residents: a community based study.

BACKGROUND: A wide variety of beliefs exist in the public towards schizophrenia. Community perception about the causes of schizophrenia can affect the way of seeking help, treatment outcomes, and community integration of individuals with schizophrenia. Therefore, assessing the community perception and associated factors about the causes of schizophrenia is vital. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Feresbet district residents through a multi- stage sampling technique. A causal model questionnaire for schizophrenia (CMQS) was used to assess the perceived causes of schizophrenia. The collected data were explored to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bi-variable and multi variable logistic regression were computed to identify factors associated with the traditional perception about the causes of schizophrenia and the level of significance were determined at a P- value < 0.05 with 95% CI. RESULTS: Out of the total study participants, about 73.7% had the traditional perception regarding the causes of schizophrenia. According to multivariate analysis, female sex, no formal education, age ≥ 25 years, living in the extended family system, and being unemployed had a significant association with the traditional perception of the cause of schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional perception of the cause of schizophrenia is higher than the bio-psycho-social view. Female sex, no formal education, age ≥ 25 years, living in an extended families and unemployed had a significant association with the traditional perception of the causes of schizophrenia. Therefore, giving special attention to females, uneducated and unemployed individual is crucial. In addition, older age and individuals living in extended family system need attention regarding the possible causes of schizophrenia.

Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors among HIV-Positive Youth Attending ART Follow-Up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Depression is most frequently and highly occurring common mental disorder in HIV/AIDS patients especially youth living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among youth living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attending Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) follow-up at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among youth living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attending Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) follow-up at public hospitals Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016. Method. In a cross sectional study, 507 HIV-positive young people from public health hospitals were recruited by systematic random sampling technique. Beck Depression Inventory-II was used to assess depressive symptoms. Morisky medication adherence rating scale, social support rating scale, and HIV stigma scale were the instruments used to assess the associated factors. Results. Prevalence of depressive symptoms among HIV-positive youth was 35.5% (95% CI:31.3, 39.6). In multivariate analysis, age range between 20 and 24 years with (AOR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.33,3.62), history of opportunistic infection (AOR=1.94, 95% CI:1.15,3.27), poor medication adherence (AOR=1.73, 95%CI:1.13,2.64, low social support (AOR=2.74, 95%CI:1.13,2.64), moderate social support (AOR=1.75 95% CI: 1.03,2.98), and stigma (AOR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.35,3.14) were associated with depressive symptoms. The results suggest that prevalence of depressive symptoms among HIV-positive youth was high. Prevention of opportunistic infection, stigma, and counseling for good medication adherence are necessary among HIV-positive youth.

Assessment of sexual dysfunction and associated factors among patients with schizophrenia in Ethiopia, 2017.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is remarkably prevalent amongst psychiatric patients than general population. This might be due to either the nature of the illness itself or the unwanted effect of the medication they are taking for the illness which limits the capability of forming interpersonal and sexual relationships. This issue is rarely raised in developing countries, and the aim of this study was to assess magnitude and factors contributing to sexual dysfunction among patients with Schizophrenia. METHOD: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital from January to June 2017. The sample required for this study was determined by using single population proportion formula and the final sample size was 423; and systematic random sampling was used to select participants. We used Change in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire to measure sexual dysfunction. The collected data was cleaned, interred in to Epi data and transferred to SPSS version 20 for farther analysis. The OR with 95% CI was used to measure association and P-value < 0.05 was used as statistically significant. RESULT: A total of 422 patients with Schizophrenia were involved in the study. The prevalence of General Sexual dysfunction was 82.7%; and in male and female patients the prevalence was 84.5 and 78.6% respectively. Marital status (Unmarried, Divorced and widowed, history of relapse and poor quality of life were associated significantly to global sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of Sexual dysfunction was found to be high among patients with schizophrenia and it is associated with different factors like unmarried, divorced, widowed, relapse and poor quality of life. Treating physicians should be conscious to sexual dysfunction during evaluation and treatment of patients with Schizophrenia. Special attention should be given to single, divorced, widowed patients and patients with history of relapse to improve quality of life of this patients.

Prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorder and Associated Factors among Cannabis Young Adult Users at Shashemene Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis users are at high risk of developing cannabis use disorder which is a problematic pattern of cannabis use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of cannabis use disorder and associated factors among young adults using cannabis at Shashemene Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Shashemene Town, from May to June 2016. Young adults aged 18-25 who use cannabis and are permanent residents of Shashemene were included in the study. Using single proportion formula, 423 participants were selected using exponential discriminative snow ball sampling. RESULT: This study revealed that the magnitude of cannabis use disorder was 42.2%. The most contributing factors that remained to be statistically significant with cannabis use disorder were common mental disorder (AOR = 2.125, 95% CI: 1.218, 3.708), current cigarette smoking (AOR = 6.118, 95% CI: 2.13, 17.575), and current use of shisha (AOR = 4.313, 95% CI: 2.427, 7.664). CONCLUSION: The magnitude of cannabis use disorder among young adults using cannabis was high.