Modelling the epidemiological and economic impact of digital adherence technologies with differentiated care for tuberculosis treatment in Ethiopia.

Background: Digital adherence technologies (DATs) with associated differentiated care are potential tools to improve tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes and reduce associated costs for both patients and healthcare providers. However, the balance between epidemiological and economic benefits remains unclear. Here, we used data from the ASCENT trial to estimate the potential long-term epidemiological and economic impact of DAT interventions in Ethiopia.

Facilitators and barriers to uptake of digital adherence technologies in improving TB care in Ethiopia: A qualitative study.

The role of digital adherence technologies (DATs) in improving tuberculosis (TB) treatment adherence is an emerging area of policy discussion. Given that the directly observed therapy (DOT) has several shortcomings, alternative approaches such as DATs are vital to enhancing current practices by rendering person-centered models to support the completion of TB treatments. However, there is a lack of evidence that informs policy and program on facilitators and barriers to the uptake of DATs in the context of country-specific real-world situations.

Estimated timing of the first menstrual period and dietary and nutritional correlates of menarche among urban school-going adolescents in four sub-Saharan African sites.

Characterizing the timing of menarche and the factors that are associated with it is important for understanding a population's reproductive health needs and long-term health trajectories. We estimated the age at the menstrual onset among adolescent girls and the association between dietary and nutritional factors and menarche in four sub-Saharan African urban sites. We used cross-sectional school-based data from 2307 female adolescents aged 10-14 years collected by the Africa Research, Implementation Science, and Education (ARISE) Network in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Khartoum, Sudan; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

School health and nutrition environments: A multicountry survey in five countries of sub-Saharan Africa region-Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Schools are increasingly regarded as a key setting for promoting the health, well-being, and development of children and adolescents. In this multicountry cross-sectional survey, we describe the health, nutrition, and food environments of public primary schools in five urban settings in Africa region: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Durban; South Africa, Khartoum, Sudan; and, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We evaluated the school health and nutrition (SHN) environments in three main areas: (1) the availability of health-related policies, guidelines, and school curricula, (2) the provision of health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in schools, and (3) the school food environments and eating habits of adolescents.

Balanced Energy Protein Supplementation in Pregnancy: Adherence and Acceptability among Pregnant Women in Rural Ethiopia.

Background: Balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation in pregnant women in low-and middle-income countries may reduce the risk of stillbirth and low birth weight.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the adherence to and acceptability of a corn-soy blend (CSB) BEP product among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia.

Methods: This formative study was conducted from October to November 2018 among pregnant women in the rural Amhara region of Ethiopia prior to initiation of a clinical effectiveness study (ISRCTN: 15116516).

Achieving equitable leadership in Global Health partnerships: barriers experienced and strategies to improve grant funding for early- and mid-career researchers.

Unlabelled: Calls to decolonize global health have highlighted the continued existence of colonial structures in research into diseases of public health importance particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A key step towards restructuring the system and shaping it to local needs is equitable leadership in global health partnerships. This requires ensuring that researchers in LMICs are given the opportunity to successfully secure grant funding to lead and drive their own research based on locally defined priorities.

Feasibility and acceptability of the smart pillbox and medication label with differentiated care to support person-centered tuberculosis care among ASCENT trial participants - A multicountry study.

Introduction: Digital adherence technologies (DATs) can offer alternative approaches to support tuberculosis treatment medication adherence. Evidence on their feasibility and acceptability in high TB burden settings is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among adults with drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB), participating in pragmatic cluster-randomized trials for the Adherence Support Coalition to End TB project in Ethiopia (PACTR202008776694999), the Philippines, South Africa and Tanzania (ISRCTN 17706019).

Key correlates of exclusive breastfeeding at three timepoints: Evidence from Ethiopia.

Aim: To compare factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) within 1 h of birth, within 3 days, and within the first 6 months post-birth.

Methods: We used multivariate logistic regression models and data from "The Alive and Thrive Phase 2 Amhara Baseline Survey 2015" from Ethiopia ( = 3113).

Results: Giving colostrum was strongly associated with EBF at all three time points, controlling for multiple confounders.

Risk factors for poor engagement with a smart pillbox adherence intervention among persons on tuberculosis treatment in Ethiopia.

Background: Non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment increases the risk of poor treatment outcomes. Digital adherence technologies (DATs), including the smart pillbox (EvriMED), aim to improve treatment adherence and are being widely evaluated. As part of the Adherence Support Coalition to End TB (ASCENT) project we analysed data from a cluster-randomised trial of DATs and differentiated care in Ethiopia to examine individual-factors for poor engagement with the smart pillbox.

Evaluating the equity impact and cost-effectiveness of digital adherence technologies with differentiated care to support tuberculosis treatment adherence in Ethiopia: protocol and analysis plan for the health economics component of a cluster randomised trial.

Background: Tuberculosis remains a leading infectious cause of death in resource-limited settings. Effective treatment is the cornerstone of tuberculosis control, reducing mortality, recurrence and transmission. Supporting treatment adherence through facility-based observations of medication taking can be costly to providers and patients.

Correlates of internalizing and externalizing problems among school-going young adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mental health in adolescence is important for health and well-being throughout the life course, but evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa is sparse. This study aimed to assess the correlates of internalizing, externalizing and cumulative problems among early adolescents. This study used cross-sectional survey data from 3516 school-going adolescents in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Access to digital media and devices among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A multicountry, school-based survey.

Digital technologies provide unprecedented opportunities for health and nutrition interventions among adolescents. The use of digital media and devices among young adolescents across diverse settings in sub-Saharan Africa is unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the use of digital media and devices and the socioeconomic determinants of use among young adolescents in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania.

Burden and contributing factors to overweight and obesity in young adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents has increased globally, including in low- and middle-income countries. Early adolescence provides an opportunity to develop and encourage positive health and behavioural practices, yet it is an understudied age group with limited information to guide and inform appropriate interventions. This study aims to determine the prevalence of overweight/obesity in young adolescents, aged between 10 and 14 years attending public schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and to explore the contributing factors.

Adolescent health and well-being in sub-Saharan Africa: Strengthening knowledge base and research capacity through a collaborative multi-country school-based study.

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), adolescents make up around one-quarter of the population who are growing up in a rapidly urbanizing environment, with its associated risks and benefits, including impacts on health, psychosocial development, nutrition, and education. However, research on adolescents' health and well-being in SSA is limited. The ARISE (African Research, Implementation Science and Education) Network's Adolescent Health and Nutrition Study is an exploratory, school-based study of 4988 urban adolescents from five countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Food environment around schools and adolescent consumption of unhealthy foods in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Adolescent diets may be influenced by the retail food environment around schools. However, international research to examine associations between the proximity of retail food outlets to schools and diet provides equivocal support for an association. This study aims to understand the school food environment and drivers for adolescents' consumption of unhealthy foods in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Burden and determinants of anaemia among in-school young adolescents in Ethiopia, Sudan and Tanzania.

Anaemia among adolescents is a global health problem. However, evidence regarding its burden and risk factors, particularly for younger adolescents and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), remains scarce. We aimed to assess the prevalence and potential determinants of anaemia among urban and semi-urban in-school young adolescents in Ethiopia, Sudan and Tanzania.

Stunting and thinness in school-attending adolescents in Addis Ababa.

Background: Adolescent population Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) is uncommon in low-income settings. Though Global Diet Quality Score is a good measure of dietary diversity, it has not been used in assessing nutritional outcomes among adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess school-attending adolescents stunting and thinness status and associations with global diet quality scores in Addis Ababa.

Association between sexual and reproductive health education in peer group and comprehensive knowledge of HIV among adolescent girls in rural eastern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study examined the association between sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in peer-group discussion and comprehensive knowledge of HIV among young adolescent girls in rural eastern Ethiopia.

Design: The study analysed data from a large quasi-experimental study involving 3290 young adolescent girls aged 13-17 years. The intervention targeted adolescent girls aged 10-14 years.

Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study: protocol of a pragmatic clinical effectiveness study to improve birth outcomes in Ethiopia.

Introduction: The WHO Nutrition Target aims to reduce the global prevalence of low birth weight by 30% by the year 2025. The Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study will test the impact of packages of pregnancy interventions to enhance maternal nutrition and infection management on birth outcomes in rural Ethiopia.

Methods And Analysis: ENAT is a pragmatic, open-label, 2×2 factorial, randomised clinical effectiveness study implemented in 12 rural health centres in Amhara, Ethiopia.

Associations of percentage energy intake from total, animal and plant protein with overweight/obesity and underweight among adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objective: This study investigated associations between types and food sources of protein with overweight/obesity and underweight in Ethiopia.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional dietary survey using a non-quantitative FFQ. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between percentage energy intake from total, animal and plant protein and BMI.

Why Syphilis Infection is High Among Pregnant Women in Refugee Camps? A Case in Ethiopia.

Background: Almost 1 million pregnant women were estimated to be infected with syphilis in 2016, resulting in over 350,000 adverse birth outcomes including 200,000 stillbirths and new-born deaths (7-9). More than half of infected pregnant women transmit the infection to their babies, resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including foetal death, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal death, and congenital infection in infants.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the syphilis status and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kule refugee camp health facilities, Gambella regional state, Southwest Ethiopia, in 2021.