Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Northern Ethiopia.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common health problems worldwide and is associated with high mortality and heavy economic burdens. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Adigrat General Hospital in Northern Ethiopia.

Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2024 among 385 pregnant women.

Reference Intervals for Common Renal and Liver Function Clinical Chemistry Parameters Among Apparently Healthy Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women in South Wollo Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Northeast Ethiopia.

Background: Physiological changes during pregnancy cause alterations in concentration of biochemical analytes. Thus, locally established pregnancy-specific reference intervals are important for accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases. The objective of the study was to establish reference interval for the common renal and liver function clinical chemistry parameters among pregnant and non-pregnant women of South Wollo zone, Ethiopia.

Household knowledge, practice and treatment seeking behaviors towards cutaneous leishmaniasis in the endemic rural communities of Ganta- afeshum district, Tigrai, northern Ethiopia, 2019: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to Ethiopia. However, the prevention and control efforts of leishmaniasis remain unfocused with clear knowledge and practice gaps within the country. Thus, a house to house survey has been carried out to assess the knowledge, practice and treatment-seeking behavior of households towards cutaneous leishmaniasis in the rural communities of Tigrai region, northern Ethiopia.

Epidemiology and sex differences of podoconiosis in Ethiopia: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Podoconiosis is a poorly understood neglected tropical disease which results in a high socio-economic burden. In Ethiopia, despite the high prevalence, morbidity, and socio-economic impacts, little information is available about the disease. Thus, this review aimed to assess the effect of sex differences and pooled prevalence of podoconiosis in Ethiopia.

Assessment of knowledge, practice, and status of food handlers toward Salmonella, Shigella, and intestinal parasites: A cross-sectional study in Tigrai prison centers, Ethiopia.

Background: Unsafe food becomes a global public health and economic threat to humans. The health status, personal hygiene, knowledge, and practice of food handlers have crucial impact on food contamination. Hence, this study is aimed at assessing the knowledge, practice, and prevalence of Salmonella, Shigella, and intestinal parasites among food handlers in Eastern Tigrai prison centers, Northern Ethiopia.

Alteration of Clinical Chemistry Parameters Among Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients in Western Tigrai, Ethiopia, 2018/2019: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis causes alterations of lipid metabolism and it is associated with hypocholesterolemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia. Hepatic dysfunction and life-threatening hepatitis are associated with visceral leishmaniasis. Kidney damage is frequently associated with increased morbidity and mortality in visceral leishmaniasis patients.

Community based hematological reference intervals among apparently healthy adolescents aged 12-17 years in Mekelle city, Tigrai, northern Ethiopia: A cross sectional study.

Background: Hematological reference intervals are important in clinical and diagnostic management for the assessment of health and disease conditions. Hematological reference intervals are better to be established based on gender and age differences as these are among the main affecting factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish hematological reference intervals among apparently healthy adolescents aged 12-17 years in Mekelle City, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia, 2019.

Community based reference interval of selected clinical chemistry parameters among apparently healthy Adolescents in Mekelle City, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia.

Background: Locally established clinical laboratory reference intervals (RIs) are required to interpret laboratory test results for screening, diagnosis and prognosis. The objective of this study was establishing reference interval of clinical chemistry parameters among apparently healthy adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years in Mekelle, Tigrai, northern part of Ethiopia.

Methods: Community based cross sectional study was employed from December 2018 to March 2019 in Mekelle city among 172 males and 172 females based on Multi stage sampling technique.

Factors Affecting Quality of Laboratory Services in Public and Private Health Facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Quality laboratory service is an essential component of health care system but in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Ethiopia, laboratories quality system remains weak due to several factors and it needs more attention to strengthen its capacity and quality system.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire to assess factors affecting the quality of laboratory service at private and public health institutions in Addis Ababa.

Results: A total of 213 laboratory professionals participated in the study and 131 (61.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Blended Learning Course on Tuberculosis for Front-Line Health Care Professionals.

Objectives: To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-module blended learning course on tuberculosis diagnosis for Ethiopian health care professionals.

Methods: This implementation science research was conducted within the routine in-service training for health care professionals in Ethiopia. A combined web-based and face-to-face acid-fast bacilli microscopy course was designed and its applicability studied after 6 weeks of enrollment of 108 medical laboratory professionals.

The status of medical laboratory towards of AFRO-WHO accreditation process in government and private health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) introduces a step wise incremental accreditation approach to improving quality of laboratory and it is a new initiative in Ethiopia and activities are performed for implementation of accreditation program.

Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in 30 laboratory facilities including 6 laboratory sections to determine their status towards of accreditation using WHO AFRO accreditation checklist and 213 laboratory professionals were interviewed to assess their knowledge on quality system essentials and accreditation in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Results: Out of 30 laboratory facilities 1 private laboratory scored 156 (62%) points, which is the minimum required point for WHO accreditation and the least score was 32 (12.

Progress and Challenges for Implementation of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Policy on Biotechnology and Biosafety.

In 2001, the Meeting of the COMESA Ministers of Agriculture raised concerns that proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could impact significantly on trade and food security in the region. This triggered studies on a regional approach to biotechnology and biosafety policy in Eastern and Southern Africa. The studies and stakeholder consultations revealed that farm incomes would increase if they switched from conventional varieties of cotton and maize to genetically modified (GM) counterparts.

Antiretroviral treatment associated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia among HIV infected patients at Burayu Health Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional comparative study.

Background: The effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on glucose and lipid metabolism among sub-Saharan Africans, for whom access to antiretroviral therapy is expanding, remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess antiretroviral treatment associated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia among HIV infected patients at Burayu health center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among HIV infected adults at Burayu Health Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from September, 2011 to May, 2012.

Assessment of laboratory logistics management information system practice for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis laboratory commodities in selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Logistics management information system for health commodities remained poorly implemented in most of developing countries. To assess the status of laboratory logistics management information system for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis laboratory commodities in public health facilities in Addis Ababa.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September 2010-January 2011 at selected public health facilities.

Evaluation of the performance of CareStart Malaria Pf/Pv Combo rapid diagnostic test for the diagnosis of malaria in Jimma, southwestern Ethiopia.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CareStart Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test relative to microscopy, for the diagnosis of falciparum and vivax malaria in Ethiopia.

Methods: Two hundred and forty febrile patients visiting the Serbo health center in Jimma zone, southwestern Ethiopia, were involved in this study in 2008. Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood smears were prepared and microscopically examined under a 100x oil immersion microscope objective for Plasmodium species identification and determination of parasitemia respectively.

Nocardiosis in HIV seropositive clinically suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

To determine the frequency of nocardiosis in HIV-positive individuals clinically suspected of having tuberculosis (TB), 140 sputum samples were collected and processed by Gram stain, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining and by culture on Lowenstein Jensen medium. Four (2.85%) patients were positive for nocardia by microscopy and five (3.