Publications by authors named "Alemseged Abdissa"

Background: Impaired fetal and accelerated postnatal growth are associated with cardiometabolic disease. Few studies investigated how recovery from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with childhood cardiometabolic risk.

Objective: We evaluated cardiometabolic risk in SAM children treated through community-based management, relative to controls, 5-year post-recovery.

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Background: Childhood is a period marked by dynamic growth. Evidence of the association between childhood linear growth and school achievement comes mostly from cross-sectional data. We assessed associations between birth length, childhood linear growth velocities, and stunting with school achievement.

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Background: Klebsiella bacterial strains harboring Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) enzymes are the primary culprits behind neonatal sepsis globally. These strains significantly impact clinical outcomes due to their multi-drug resistance patterns in local healthcare settings. In response to this spiraling threat, we studied the prevalence and clinical implications of ESBL-encoding genes in neonates hospitalized with confirmed sepsis.

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Objective: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) renders many bacterial infections untreatable and results in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding antibiotic use in clinical settings including hospitals is critical to optimize antibiotic use and prevent resistance.

Design: Hospital antibiotic point prevalence survey (PPS).

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An integrated care pathway to manage small and nutritionally at-risk infants under 6 months (u6m) and their mothers (MAMI Care Pathway) is consistent with 2023 WHO malnutrition guidelines and is being tested in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in Ethiopia. To optimise trial implementation, we investigated contextual fit with key local stakeholders. We used scenario-based interviews with 17 health workers and four district managers to explore perceived feasibility.

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Maternal/caregivers' mental health (MMH) and child nutrition are both poor in low- and middle-income countries. Links between the two are plausible but poorly researched. Our aim was to inform future malnutrition management programmes by better understanding associations between MMH and nutritional status of infants aged under six month (u6m).

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Diarrhea claims >500,000 lives annually among children under five years of age in low- and middle-income countries. Mortality due to acute diarrhea (<7 days' duration) is decreasing, but prolonged (7-13 days) and persistent (≥14 days of duration) diarrhea remains a massive challenge. Here, we use a case-control study to decipher if fecal gut microbiota compositional differences between Ethiopian children with acute (n=554) or prolonged/persistent (n=95) diarrhea and frequency-matched non-diarrheal controls (n=663) are linked to diarrheal etiology.

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We determined the dengue virus (DENV) serotypes and genotypes in archived serum samples that were collected during the 2014-2016 and 2021 dengue outbreaks in Dire Dawa City and the Somali region in Ethiopia. DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1) was predominant followed by DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2). Thirteen of the DENV-1 strains were assigned to Genotype-I, while the remaining two were found to be Genotype-III.

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Article Synopsis
  • Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for various infections, particularly in surgical sites, and this study focused on characterizing strains that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and are resistant to carbapenems.
  • A multicenter study in Ethiopia identified a variety of Acinetobacter species using advanced microbiological techniques, revealing high rates of ESBL and carbapenem resistance among isolates from surgical site infections.
  • Results indicated that 93% of isolates produced ESBL enzymes, with higher prevalence of resistance genes found through whole genome sequencing, emphasizing significant public health concerns regarding antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter species across different hospitals.
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To improve a community's awareness and attitude towards cervical cancer, strong evidence is needed to inform contextually appropriate policies. This study aims to explore community awareness about cervical cancer from the perspective of women, men and health extension workers (HEWs). The research was conducted from May to July 2021 in Jimma, Ethiopia.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cervical cancer is a major health issue in Ethiopia, largely caused by persistent infections from human papillomaviruses (HPV).
  • A study in Bahir Dar found a strong association between specific high-risk HPV types, particularly HPV-16, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), indicating a significant cancer risk.
  • Given that current vaccines only cover a limited percentage of prevalent HPV types, the study suggests Ethiopia considers introducing a nonavalent vaccine to better address this public health challenge.
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Background: The safety and efficacy of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) for treatment of childhood severe pneumonia outside tertiary care hospitals is uncertain. We did a cluster-randomised effectiveness trial of locally made bCPAP compared with WHO-recommended low-flow oxygen therapy in children with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia in general hospitals in Ethiopia.

Methods: This open, cluster-randomised trial was done in 12 general (secondary) hospitals in Ethiopia.

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Background: Variability in body mass index (BMI) (kg/m) trajectories is associated with body composition and cardiometabolic markers in early childhood, but it is unknown how these associations track to later childhood.

Objectives: We aimed to assess associations of BMI trajectories from 0 to 5 y with body composition and cardiometabolic markers at 10 y.

Methods: In the Ethiopian infant anthropometry and body composition (iABC) birth cohort, we previously identified 4 distinct BMI trajectories from 0 to 5 y: stable low BMI (19.

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Article Synopsis
  • Research mentorship is crucial for advancing science, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), but effective strategies for cultivating it are limited.
  • A global qualitative synthesis, commissioned by WHO/TDR, incorporated data from an open call and a scoping review to identify practical strategies for enhancing mentorship in health research.
  • Key strategies identified include recognizing mentorship as a team responsibility, leveraging existing resources, using digital tools for mentorship matching, promoting a culture of mentorship, and encouraging peer mentorship among researchers at similar career stages.
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Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a common cause of severe surgical site infections (SSI). The molecular epidemiology of MRSA is poorly documented in Ethiopia. This study is designed to determine the prevalence of MRSA and associated factors among patients diagnosed with SSI.

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Giardia duodenalis is a common pathogenic intestinal protozoan parasite with high prevalence in developing countries, especially among children. The distribution of giardia assemblages among humans and their clinical relevance remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and assemblage of Giardia among children under 5 years of age in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia.

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Background: Globally, surgical site infections (SSI) are the most commonly reported healthcare-associated infections.

Methods: A multicentre study was conducted among patients who underwent surgical procedures at four hospitals located in Northern (Debre Tabor), Southern (Hawassa), Southwest (Jimma), and Central (Tikur Anbessa) parts of Ethiopia. A total of 752 patients clinically studied for surgical site infection were enrolled.

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Background: Short-term anthropometric outcomes are well documented for children treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM). However, anthropometric recovery may not indicate restoration of healthy body composition.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate long-term associations of SAM with growth and body composition of children 5 y after discharge from community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM).

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Background: Institutional research mentorship is a form of mentorship whereby institutions foster mentor-mentee relationships. Research mentorship improves research effectiveness and supports relationships. However, resources are needed in order to institutionalize research mentorship tailored to low- and middle- income countries (LMICs).

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Introduction: Evidence gaps limit management of small and/or nutritionally at-risk infants under 6 months and their mothers, who are at higher risk of death, illness, malnutrition and poor growth and development. These infants may be low birth weight, wasted, stunted and/or underweight. An integrated care model to guide their management (MAMI Care Pathway) is being tested in a randomised controlled trial in Ethiopia.

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Background: World Health Organization/Tropical Disease Research (WHO/TDR) has enduring investment in transfers of skills critical to sustaining resilient health research systems through postgraduate training, clinical research and development fellowship (CRDF), bioethics, and grants to neglected tropical disease research. TDR has a long history of partnership with Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) in Ethiopia. The collaboration started with individuals and lead to institution survival and success.

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Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to explore and synthesize the available literature on health research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Introduction: Research mentorship is broadly considered a useful strategy to improve research capacities and research outputs. Existing literature and guidance on research mentorship have focused on high-income countries and assumed resource-rich environments.

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Background: COVID-19 pandemic caused by extended variants of SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 350 million people, resulting in over 5.5 million deaths globally. However, the actual burden of the pandemic in Africa, particularly among children, remains largely unknown.

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