Prevalence of gallstone disease in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Gallstone disease is a prevalent global health issue, but its impact in Africa remains unclear. This study aims to summarise and synthesise available data on the prevalence of gallstone disease across populations in Africa.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis, reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.

Review on the impact behavior of natural fiber epoxy based composites.

The growing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly materials has spurred interest in natural fiber epoxy composites as a viable substitute for synthetic-based composites. Impact strength is a crucial mechanical property for structural applications and plays a key role in successfully utilizing natural fiber epoxy composites. This comprehensive review explores the impact strength characteristics of different natural fiber epoxy composites by examining the latest research and advancements in the field.

Computer Vision Identification of Trachomatous Inflammation-Follicular Using Deep Learning.

Purpose: Trachoma surveys are used to estimate the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) to guide mass antibiotic distribution. These surveys currently rely on human graders, introducing a significant resource burden and potential for human error. This study describes the development and evaluation of machine learning models intended to reduce cost and improve reliability of these surveys.

Prevalence and pattern of congenital clubfoot among less than 5-year-old children in Ethiopia; cross-sectional based study.

Background: Clubfoot is one of the most common congenital malformations, but it is also one of the most neglected public health problems among less than five-year-old children, mainly in middle- and low-income countries. Approximately 80% of clubfoot cases are found in low- and middle-income countries. In this study setting, no epidemiological studies have been conducted to assess clubfoot deformity.

Photographic grading to evaluate facial cleanliness and trachoma among children in Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Background: Promotion of facial cleanliness is recommended for the elimination of blinding trachoma, largely because of observational studies that have found an association between various measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. However, when a field grader assesses both facial cleanliness and trachoma, associations may be biased. Assessment of photographs of the face and conjunctiva by masked graders may provide a less biased estimate of the relationship between facial cleanliness and trachoma.

Mapping geographical inequalities of incomplete immunization in Ethiopia: a spatial with multilevel analysis.

Background: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective interventions, averting 3.5-5 million deaths every year worldwide. However, incomplete immunization remains a major public health concern, particularly in Ethiopia.

Individual and community level factors associated with sexually transmitted infections among men in Tanzania: insights from the Tanzania demographic and health survey of 2022.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections continue to be a significant public health issue on a global scale. Due to their effects on reproductive and child health as well as their role in facilitating the spread of HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections impose a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. In addition, stigma, infertility, cancer, and an increased risk of HIV are the primary impacts of STIs on sexual and reproductive health.

The prevalence of substance use disorders among people in Norwegian, Danish and Swedish prisons: A multi-national cohort study, 2010-19.

Aims: We estimated the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish prison populations and compared the prevalence of SUDs in the national prison populations with country-specific general population prevalence rates.

Design: A multi-national cohort study using data from the National Prison Registries linked to the National Patient Registries in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Setting And Participants: We used data from the PriSUD-Nordic study, including national prison populations aged 19 years and older in Norway (2010-19), Denmark (2010-18) and Sweden (2010-13).

Met and unmet prison-based treatment needs for people who are incarcerated with a history of substance use disorder: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUD) are highly prevalent among incarcerated people. However, in some prisons, only a small percentage of those who need treatment receive it. The aims of this study were to examine coverage of treatment for SUD in Danish prisons and assess whether treatment differed by substance class.

Chronic constipation and its associated factors in patients with type-2 diabetes: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Diabetes is one of the global public health concern and constipation is frequently seen among gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes. Despite the fact that constipation is common, doctors and/or patients disregard it. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and contributing factors of constipation in patients with diabetes.

Pregnancy complications in last pregnancy and mothers' long-term cardiovascular mortality: does the relation differ from that of complications in first pregnancy? A population-based study.

Background: Women who experience complications in first pregnancy are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Little corresponding knowledge is available for complications in later pregnancies. Therefore, we assessed complications (preeclampsia, preterm birth, and offspring small for gestational age) in first and last pregnancies and the risk of long-term maternal CVD death, taking women´s complete reproduction into account.

Cause-Specific Mortality among Patients in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Multiple Settings: A Prospective Comparative Cohort Study.

Introduction: Among people receiving current or previous opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), the leading cause of premature death is an opioid overdose. However, other causes of mortality remain high in this group. An understanding of causes of deaths across multiple settings can be useful in informing more comprehensive prevention responses.

Determinants of knowledge of the highest conception probability period among reproductive age women in Low-Income African countries: A multilevel analysis based on the recent Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Adequate knowledge about the highest conception probability period in the reproductive cycle allows individuals and couples to attain or avoid their fertility probabilities. Poor knowledge of conception probability period leads to undesirable outcomes like unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, and abortion. Determinants of knowledge of highest conception probability period were not well studied on economically disadvantaged countries.

A vigilant observation to pregnancy associated listeriosis in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The burden of human listeriosis, an emerging food-borne illness would be higher in Africa due to poor food processing practices. The severity of the disease and the high case fatality rate make human listeriosis an important public health problem. Besides, pregnant women and their fetuses are at higher risk of gaining human listeriosis.

Undernutrition and associated factors among internally displaced lactating mothers in Sekota camps, northern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Undernutrition is the term used to describe when a person consumes insufficient amounts of nutrients and energy to meet their needs for maintaining health. Despite substantial progress, undernutrition remains a serious public health concern in many low and middle-income nations, including Ethiopia. Women and children are, in reality, the most nutritionally vulnerable individuals, particularly in times of crisis.

Childhood vaccination practices and associated factors among mothers/caregivers in Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Incomplete immunization and non-immunization increase the risk of disease and death among children. This study aims to assess childhood vaccination practices and associated factors among mothers and caregivers in Debre Tabor town, Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted between February 30 and April 30, 2022.

Does previous circumcision and wealth index influence women's attitude to discontinue the practice of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) in Ethiopia?

Introduction: understanding women's attitudes towards female genital mutilation is an important step towards eliminating this practice. We used the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data set to examine the relationship between wealth index, and previous history of circumcision on women's opinions whether female genital mutilation (FGM) should be continued or stopped in Ethiopia.

Methods: Data from 6984 women aged 15-49 years were extracted from the 2016 Ethiopia EDHS data set.

Uptake of premarital HIV testing and associated factors among women who had autonomous versus non autonomous marriage in Ethiopia: A nationwide study.

Background: Premarital HIV testing offers an opportunity where prospective couples can know their HIV status before marriage to prevent both heterosexual and vertical transmission of HIV. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether there is any significant difference in the prevalence of premarital HIV testing among women who had autonomous versus non-autonomous marriage, and to investigate the factors associated with premarital HIV testing among women who had autonomous versus non-autonomous marriage in Ethiopia.

Methods: Data were extracted from 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey dataset and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.

Association between health insurance enrolment and maternal health care service utilization among women in Ethiopia.

Background: Health insurance was considered as the third global health transition which can increase access to health care services by eliminating monetary obstacles to maternal health care use, particularly in emerging nations. Hence, this study aimed to assess the association between health insurance enrolment and maternal health care service utilization among women in Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data set.

A retrospective cohort study of medication dispensing at pharmacies: Administration matters!

Background: Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) for opioid use disorders may be delivered at treatment clinics or dispensed from pharmacies, however the type of delivery may be associated with different risks and benefits. The aim of the study was to investigate whether dispensing of methadone or buprenorphine at pharmacies during treatment for opioid use disorders was associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using a national, linked, population-level data set from Denmark.