Current evidence on the association of tongue strength with cognitive decline in older adults and the known risk factors of frailty, sarcopenia and nutritional health: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Evidence suggests that the pathology underlying cognitive decline leading to dementia begins 15-20 years before cognitive symptoms emerge. Thus, identifying biomarkers in this preclinical phase is critically important. Age-related decrease in muscle mass and strength, a known risk factor for sarcopenia, frailty and cognitive decline, also affects the tongue.

Early post-stroke cognitive impairment and in-hospital predicting factors among stroke survivors in Ethiopia.

Background: In low-and middle-income countries, post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is the least investigated stroke complication that clinically is given little attention. Finding patients who are at high risk of having cognitive problems after a stroke could allow targeted follow-up and help with prognosis discussions, which would then contribute to improved treatment outcomes. The main aim of this study was to determine the incidence and predictors of PSCI among stroke survivors in Northwest Ethiopia.

Cognitive adverse effects of epilepsy and its predictors attending outpatient department of South Gondar zone hospitals, Amhara Region, Ethiopia 2020 /2021.

Background: Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disorder which is further complicated by neurobehavioral co-morbidities, cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, and social problems. However, assessments of cognitive status of epileptic patients are far too low during clinical visits. This calls for early neuropsychological assessment soon after the diagnosis of epilepsy for a better treatment plan and outcome for epileptic patients.

Epileptic seizure first aid practices of publics in Northwest Ethiopia 2021: Unsafe practices of nearly three-fourths of the community.

Background: Religious and sociocultural beliefs influence how people with epilepsy (PWE) are treated and cared for. Many communities in Africa and other developing countries, including Ethiopia, believe that epilepsy is caused by evil spirits and should be treated with herbal plants by traditional doctors and religious leaders. The combination of these sociocultural beliefs and the level of community awareness of epilepsy affect first aid practices in the management of epileptic seizures.

Risk profile, clinical presentation, and determinants of stroke subtypes among patients with stroke admitted to public referral hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia in 2021: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with a significant increase in stroke burden over the last two and half decades, especially in developing countries. African countries are undergoing an epidemiological transition from being dominated by infectious diseases to being double-burdened by non-communicable diseases, with existing infectious diseases driven by sociodemographic and lifestyle changes and a weak healthcare system. Data on the risk profile, clinical presentation, and predictors of stroke subtypes are still limited.

Determinants of postpartum depression among mothers in Debre Tabor town, North-central, Ethiopia: Community-based unmatched case-control study.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a non-psychotic depressive disorder of variable severity, and it can begin as early as 2 weeks after delivery and can persist indefinitely if left untreated. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of postpartum depression is high. There is a dearth of literature to determine factors associated with postpartum depression in Ethiopia, specifically in the study area.

Case fatality rate and its determinants among admitted stroke patients in public referral hospitals, Northwest, Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study.

According to the global burden of disease 5.5 million deaths were attributable to stroke. The stroke mortality rate is estimated to be seven times higher in low-income countries compared to high-income countries.

Evaluation of total oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity of brain tumour patients attending referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, 2020: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: The exact cause of brain tumours is still unknown, but disruptions of redox balance are thought to play a significant role in all stages of brain tumour development. However, the roles of free radical imbalance at different grades of brain tumour and degree of oxidative stress before and after surgery have not been addressed in prior studies.

Aim: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the redox imbalance among confirmed brain tumour patients.

Community-based health insurance, healthcare service utilization and associated factors in South Gondar Zone Northwest, Ethiopia, 2021: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Community-based health insurance schemes are becoming increasingly recognized as a potential strategy to achieve universal health coverage in developing countries. Ethiopia has implemented community-based health insurance in piloted regions of the country. The scheme aims to improve the utilization of healthcare services by removing financial barriers.

Internet Addiction and Its Associated Factors Among African High School and University Students: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Internet addiction is characterized by excessive and uncontrolled use of the internet affecting everyday life. Adolescents are the primary risk group for internet addiction. Data on internet addiction is lacking in Africa.

Magnitude of peripheral sensory neuropathy and associated factors among HIV/AIDS clients receiving care at public health institutions, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: In the mid-1990s, the development of combination antiretroviral therapy converted HIV infection into a chronic condition, with newly diagnosed patients now living longer than the general population. HIV affects both the central and peripheral nerve systems, resulting in a variety of clinical problems, including peripheral neuropathy, which is a common neurological consequence. Despite this, there is a scarcity of data on the extent of peripheral sensory neuropathy and its underlying factors in Ethiopia, necessitating this study.

Time to develop severe acute malnutrition and its predictors among children living with HIV in the era of test and treat strategies at South Gondar hospitals, northwest, Ethiopia, 2021: a multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Background: Although severe acute malnutrition is a major public issue among HIV infected children, there is no prior evidence in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aims to assess the time to develop severe acute malnutrition and its predictors among children living with human immunodeficiency virus in Ethiopia, 2012.

Methods: An institution based retrospective cohort study was conducted in South Gondar hospitals among 363 HIV infected children from February 10, 2014, to January 7, 2021.

Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and associated factors among adults in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diabetes has become a major public health problem, with 4.6 million deaths annually. The number of people living with undiagnosed diabetes is on the rise and has a diverse prevalence.

The state of birth asphyxia in Ethiopia: An umbrella review of systematic review and meta-analysis reports, 2020.

Background: To this date, there are 4 systematic reviews and meta-analyses studies about the burden and associated factors of birth asphyxia in Ethiopia. However, findings of these studies are inconsistent which is difficult to make use of the findings for preventing birth asphyxia in the country. Therefore, umbrella review of these studies is required to pool the inconsistent findings into a single summary estimate that can be easily referred by the information users in Ethiopia.

The role of C-reactive protein in predicting the severity of COVID-19 disease: A systematic review.

Since December 2019, coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) dispersed into 200 countries and affected more than 70 million people. The clear picture of the SARS-CoV-2 infection is still under investigation. In this review, we evaluated whether C-reactive protein biomarker is able to predict the clinical outcomes or correlated with the severity of COVID-19 disease.

Development and Validation of a Clinical Prognostic Risk Score to Predict Early Neonatal Mortality, Ethiopia: A Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve Analysis.

Background: Early neonatal death is the death of a live-born baby within the first seven days of life, which is 73% of all postnatal deaths in the globe. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic clinical risk tool for the prediction of early neonatal death.

Methods: A prospective follow-up study was conducted among 393 neonates at Debre Tabor Referral hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

The Burden of Adverse Neonatal Outcome among Antenatal Substance Users in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Substances mainly khat, alcohol and cigarette are used during pregnancy in Ethiopia. However, to this date, there is no pooled evidence about the burden of adverse neonatal outcomes among the substance users during pregnancy in the country. .

The effect of substance use during pregnancy on neonatal outcomes in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Substance use during pregnancy mainly khat chewing (20%) and alcohol drinking (18.1%) are commonly practiced in Ethiopia. However, the effect of using these substances has not been studied nationally yet.

Platelet Indices and Its Association with Microvascular Complications Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Platelet indices have been shown to be associated with complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the clinical relevance of platelet indices for assessing the risk of being microvascular complications among patients with DM is largely overlooked. Hence this study aimed to determine the association of platelet indices with microvascular complications among type 2 DM patients.

The burden of neonatal sepsis and its association with antenatal urinary tract infection and intra-partum fever among admitted neonates in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: More than one-third of the neonatal death in Ethiopia has been attributed to neonatal sepsis. However, there is no recent national evidence about the burden of neonatal sepsis and its association with antenatal urinary tract infection and intra-partum fever, which are commonly reported maternal morbidities in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the pooled burden of neonatal sepsis and its association with antenatal urinary tract infection as well as intra-partum fever in the country.

Prevalence and associated factors of birth asphyxia among live births at Debre Tabor General Hospital, North Central Ethiopia.

Background: More than one third of the neonatal deaths at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Debre Tabor General Hospital (DTGH) are attributable to birth asphyxia. Most of these neonates are referred from the maternity ward in the hospital. Concerns have also been raised regarding delayed intrapartum decisions for emergency obstetrics action in the hospital.

Spatial distribution of iron rich foods consumption and its associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia: spatial and multilevel analysis of 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey.

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies are the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies that cause serious developmental problems in the globe. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial distribution of iron rich foods consumption and its associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia.

Methods: The data retrieved from the standard Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 dataset with a total sample size of 3055 children aged 6-23 months.