Survival Status, Length of Stay, and Predictors of Mortality Among Neonates Admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Gurage Zone Public Hospitals.

Background: Many countries need to accelerate their progress to achieve the sustainable development goal target of neonatal death. It is still high in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the mortality predictors and length of hospital stay among Neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Gurage zone public Hospitals. Method: In this study, a facility-based retrospective follow-up study was applied among 375 neonates admitted to the NICU of selected public hospitals in the Gurage zone from June 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021. The researchers used Epi-Data entry 3.1 for the data entry and then exported it to STATA version 14 for analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to estimate and compare the survival time of categorical variables, respectively. Result: The researchers observed about 85 (22.7% with 95%CI: 18.7, 27.2) deaths from the 2305 person-days follow-up. The median survival time was 14 days. The overall incidence density rate was 36.9 per 1000 person-days observed (95%CI: 29.8, 45.6). Perinatal asphyxia (AHR: 2.9[CI: 1.8; 4.8]), cesarean section as a mode of delivery (AHR: 1.1[CI; 1.01; 1.15]), maternal age of greater or equal to 35 years (AHR: 1.1[95% CI: 1.01, 1.15]), and twin pregnancy (AHR: 2.3[95% CI: 1.2, 4.3]) were predictors of neonatal mortality. Conclusion: The survival rate of neonates was higher compared to other studies. So, to reduce the burden of neonatal mortality, health care providers should give special attention to twin pregnancies, neonates delivered via cesarean section, and neonates with a problem of perinatal asphyxia.

The magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among HIV-positive patients attending antiretroviral therapy clinics of Butajira General Hospital, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension, and its associated factors among adult HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at Butajira General Hospital, southern Ethiopia. Methods: We applied an institutional-based cross-sectional study design at Butajira General Hospital from 1 May to 1 July 2021. We used a systematic random sampling technique to select the total number of participants. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was applied to collect the data (sociodemographic characteristics, clinical-related factors, and lifestyle-related factors from the study participants. Data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by statistical package for social science version 25. We applied a multivariable logistic regression analysis model to identify variables significantly associated with hypertension. Results: The study comprised 388 participants with 39 years (10.6 SD) as the mean age of the participants. Of the total participants, 235 (60.6%) were female. In this study the magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension among HIV-positive patients was 18.8% (95% CI: 14.7%-23.2%). Having comorbidity of diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio = 5.29, 95% CI: 2.154, 12.99), habit of alcohol drinking (adjusted odds ratio = 2.909, 95% CI: 1.306, 6.481), duration of antiretroviral therapy ⩾ 5 years (adjusted odds ratio = 3.087, 95% CI: 1.558, 6.115), and age ⩾ 40 years (adjusted odds ratio = 2.642, 95% CI: 1.450, 4.813) were factors significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Conclusions and recommendations: The magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension among HIV-positive patients attending the antiretroviral therapy clinic of Butajira General Hospital is high. The findings of this study implied that HIV-positive patients attending antiretroviral therapy clinics should be monitored routinely for hypertension; especially participants aged ⩾40 years, highly active antiretroviral therapy duration ⩾5 years, having diabetes mellitus comorbidity need more attention. Primary healthcare integration is also vital to enhance the health of HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Its Predictors Among Preterm Neonates Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Gurage Zone Public Hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia, 2021.

Background: Necrotizing Enter colitis (NEC) is the most common multifactorial and devastating gastrointestinal emergency which primarily affects premature infants. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and its associated factors among preterm neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Gurage Zone hospitals. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The simple Random Sampling Technique was applied to collect the data using a structured questionnaire. Data were cleaned, checked for inconsistencies, coded and entered via EPI data 3.1, and exported to Stata version 14 for further analysis. The data were processed by Stata 14 to estimate the prevalence of necrotizing enterocolitis. Results: The prevalence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis among neonates was 28 (9.7%) 95% CI of 6. 8-13.7%. Birth weight (AOR: 7.33 95% CI (2.04: 26.38)), presence of maternal infection (AOR: 6.09, 95% CI (1.31:28.26)), length of hospital stay (AOR: 3.28, 95% CI (1.20, 8.96)), and initiating trophic feeding (AOR: 5.89, 95% CI (2.27: 15.33)) were associated with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Conclusion: The prevalence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis among preterm neonates was significant and special attention is needed for premature neonates with low birth weight and born from mothers with infection during pregnancy. Minimizing the length of hospital stay will be very useful to prevent the occurrence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.