Data-Exchange Between Electronic Medical Record and Viral-Load Laboratory Database Towards Improving HIV Care in Ethiopia.

Electronic viral load (VL) Test Ordering and Result Reporting System (ETORRS) was introduced to create data exchange between the existing VL database and the electronic medical record (EMR) system, with the aim of reducing laboratory test results turnaround time (TAT), improving data quality, and supporting timely clinical response for patients with high VL. This use case is an illustrative example of initiating and adopting the principles of health information exchange for a priority health program.

Use of Electronic Quality Monitoring Tool and Central Dashboard to Improve Clinical and Programmatic Decisions.

The HIV service quality improvement tool is deployed in 123 health facilities in Ethiopia. The tool uses a central dashboard for visualization and decision making at the health facility and higher levels of the health systems. The dashboard is developed on excel with analytics about HIV testing, case finding, treatment linkage and quality indicators.

Contraception and intersection with HIV services in 11 high HIV burden sub-Saharan African countries: Results from the population-based HIV Impact Assessment cross-sectional studies conducted from 2015 to 2018.

Objective: The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3.7.1 addresses the importance of family planning.

Enhancing and promoting data management and systematic monitoring for an improved HIV/AIDS programs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment findings showed that in Addis Ababa, only 65.2% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) know their status. We present the enhanced HIV/AIDS data management and systematic monitoring experience in Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau (AACAHB).

Bell's palsy in pregnancy as a prodromal sign of preeclampsia: A report of three cases, pregnancy outcome, and literature review.

Bell's palsy is a less common neurological disorder in the general population. Its occurrence during pregnancy can be used as a predictor of adverse obstetric outcomes including preeclampsia and its complications. We report cases of three pregnant women from Botswana who presented with Bell's palsy in the third trimester coexisting with preeclampsia and multiple complications.

Metabolic Control and Determinants Among HIV-Infected Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending a Tertiary Clinic in Botswana.

Purpose: We primarily aimed at determining the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and abnormal individual metabolic control variables in HIV-infected participants as compared to HIV-uninfected participants given current concerns. Our secondary objective was to determine the predictors of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic control variables among the study participants to guide future management.

Patients And Methods: A descriptive, case-matched cross-sectional study for four months from 15th June 2019 to 15th October 2019 at Block 6 Diabetes Reference Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana.

Factors Determining Treatment Success in Children with Drug-Sensitive Tuberculosis in Ethiopia: A Three-Year Retrospective Analysis.

This study in the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia assessed the outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) treatment among children younger than 15 years. Retrospective data were collected on treatment outcomes and their determinants for children with TB for the cohorts of 2012-2014 enrolled in 40 hospitals and 137 health centers. Chi-square tests, -tests, and logistic regression were used for the analysis.

Adjustments of medication dosages in patients with renal impairment in Botswana; findings and implications to improve patient care.

: Medication dosage adjustments for renally impaired patients have not been studied in Botswana. This study was conducted to determine prescribing practices among patients with renal impairment in medical wards to improve future patient care.: We conducted a retrospective study involving medical charts of patients admitted at a tertiary level hospital in Gaborone Botswana.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to TB among the general population of Ethiopia: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Ethiopia is among the high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), TB/HIV, and drug-resistant TB. The aim of this nationwide study was to better understand TB-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and generate evidence for policy and decision-making.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional TB KAP survey in seven regions and two city administrations of Ethiopia.

Improvement in tuberculosis infection control practice via technical support in two regions of Ethiopia.

Background: Globally recommended measures for comprehensive tuberculosis (TB) infection control (IC) are inadequately practiced in most health care facilities in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of implementation of TB IC measures before and after introducing a comprehensive technical support package in two regions of Ethiopia.

Methods: We used a quasi-experimental design, whereby a baseline assessment of TB IC practices in 719 health care facilities was conducted between August and October 2013.

Determinants of glycemic control among diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary clinic in Gaborone, Botswana: findings and implications.

Background And Aims: Glycemic control among patients with diabetes mellitus is associated with a marked reduction of both macrovascular and microvascular complications; however, glycemic control remains an elusive goal worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with glycemic control among patients attending a tertiary clinic in Botswana as limited information to date.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in a tertiary clinic in Gaborone, Botswana.

Comparison of the yield of tuberculosis among contacts of multidrug-resistant and drug-sensitive tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia using GeneXpert as a primary diagnostic test.

Objectives: This study compared the yield of tuberculosis (TB) among contacts of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) index cases with that in drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB) index cases in a program setting.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among contacts of sputum smear-positive new DS-TB index cases and MDR-TB index cases. After contacts were screened, GeneXpert was used for the diagnosis of TB.

Management of post abortion complications in Botswana -The need for a standardized approach.

Background: Post abortion complications are the third leading cause of maternal death after hemorrhage and hypertension in Botswana where abortion is not legalized. This study aimed at assessing the management of post abortion complications in Botswana.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at four hospitals in Botswana in 2014.

Use of indicators of standards of care to improve tuberculosis program management in Ethiopia.

Background: Systematic monitoring of health programs and on-site mentoring of health workers are essential for the success of health care. This operations research was designed to measure the effectiveness of a new mentorship and supervisory tool for supervisors.

Methods: In 2011 the Help Ethiopia Address the Low TB Performance (HEAL TB) Project used WHO or national TB indicators as standards of care (SOC) for baseline assessment, progress monitoring, gap identification, assessment of health workers' capacity-building needs, and data quality assurance.

Vitamin D deficiency among smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and their tuberculosis negative household contacts in Northwest Ethiopia: a case-control study.

Background: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that increases the immunity against tuberculosis (TB), decreases the re-activation of latent TB and reduces the severity of active TB disease. Epidemiological studies on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, and its association with TB showed inconsistent results in different countries. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with TB in Northwest Ethiopia.

The yield and feasibility of integrated screening for TB, diabetes and HIV in four public hospitals in Ethiopia.

Background: Our objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of integrated care for TB, HIV and diabetes mellitus (DM) in a pilot project in Ethiopia.

Methods: Healthcare workers in four hospitals screened patients with TB for HIV and DM; patients with HIV for DM and TB; and patients with DM for TB. Fasting and random plasma glucose (RPG) tests were used to confirm the diagnosis of DM.

The experience of scaling up a decentralized, ambulatory model of care for management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in two regions of Ethiopia.

Strong strategies, including proven service delivery models, are needed to address the growing global threat of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in low- and middle-income settings. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the nationally approved ambulatory service delivery model for MDR-TB treatment in two regions of Ethiopia. We used routinely reported data to describe the process and outcomes of implementing an ambulatory model for MDR-TB services in a resource-limited setting.

High Levels of Post-Abortion Complication in a Setting Where Abortion Service Is Not Legalized.

Background: Maternal mortality due to abortion complications stands among the three leading causes of maternal death in Botswana where there is a restrictive abortion law. This study aimed at assessing the patterns and determinants of post-abortion complications.

Methods: A retrospective institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at four hospitals from January to August 2014.

Factors influencing health care workers' implementation of tuberculosis contact tracing in Kweneng, Botswana.

Introduction: TB contact tracing rates remain low in high burden settings and reasons for this are not well known. We describe factors that influence health care workers' (HCW) implementation of TB contact tracing (CT) in a high TB burden district of Botswana.

Methods: Data were collected using questionnaires and in-depth interviews in 31 of the 52 health facilities in Kweneng East Health District.

The Yield of Community-Based "Retrospective" Tuberculosis Contact Investigation in a High Burden Setting in Ethiopia.

Objective: To determine the yield and determinants of retrospective TB contact investigation in selected zones in Ethiopia.

Materials And Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted during June-October 2014.Trained lay providers performed symptom screening for close contacts of index cases with all types of TB registered for anti-TB treatment within the last three years.

The additional yield of GeneXpert MTB/RIF test in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis among household contacts of smear positive TB cases.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of GeneXpert MTB/RIF with Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) sputum smear microscopy among index TB cases and their household contacts.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among sputum smear positive index TB cases and their household contacts in Northern Ethiopia.

Results: Of 353 contacts screened, 41 (11%) were found to have presumptive TB.

A case of bilateral visual loss after spinal cord surgery.

Visual loss is a rare but potentially devastating postoperative complication of prone spinal surgery with a reported incidence of 0.017 to 0.1 percent.

Uptake of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy among Under-Five Children: TB Contact Investigation as an Entry Point.

A child's risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) can be reduced by nearly 60% with administration of 6 months course of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT). However, uptake of IPT by national TB programs is low, and IPT delivery is a challenge in many resource-limited high TB-burden settings. Routinely collected program data was analyzed to determine the coverage and outcome of implementation of IPT for eligible under-five year old children in 28 health facilities in two regions of Ethiopia.

Decentralization of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) External Quality Assurance Using Blind Rechecking for Sputum Smear Microscopy in Ethiopia.

Introduction: Ethiopia achieved a rapid expansion of TB microscopic centers for acid fast bacilli (AFB). However, external quality assurance (EQA) services were, until recently, limited to few regional and sub-regional laboratories. In this paper, we describe the decentralization experience and the result of EQA using random blinded rechecking.