Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in different types of clinical specimens among suspected COVID-19 patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Unlabelled: Although nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) are superior to saliva specimens, saliva can be used as an alternative specimen for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. Moreover, studies have reported contradicting findings on whether SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in urine or not. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of NPSs, saliva and urine specimens in suspected COVID-19 patients.

Gender disparity in health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key outcome indicator in antiretroviral therapy program. In Ethiopia, primary studies on gender disparity in HRQoL among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are conflicting, with no pooled estimation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender disparity in HRQoL among PLHA in Ethiopia.

Perceived barriers of access to health and nutrition services under drought and food insecurity emergency in north-east Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: In the face of drought and food insecurity emergency, evidence on access to health and nutrition services is important. Karamoja is one of the regions that have experienced extreme drought and food insecurity emergency in Uganda. As a part of the drought and food insecurity emergency response, World Health Organization (WHO) with Ministry of Health (MoH) has designed and implemented a qualitative study in 15 districts that have experienced drought and food insecurity emergency in north-east Uganda.

Essential health services delivery and quality improvement actions under drought and food insecurity emergency in north-east Uganda.

Background: Essential health services can be disrupted due to several naturally occurring public health emergencies such as drought, flood, earthquake and outbreak of infectious diseases. However, little evidence exists on the status of essential health services delivery under the effect of drought and food insecurity. North-east Uganda is severely affected by prolonged drought that significantly affected the livelihood of the residents.

Pulmonary tuberculosis case notification and burden of drug resistance among children under 15 years of age in Ethiopia: sub-analysis from third-round drug resistance tuberculosis survey.

Introduction: Data on the burden of bacteriologically confirmed childhood Tuberculosis (PTB) and drug-resistant TB in Ethiopia is limited due to difficulties related to its diagnosis in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB Case Notification Rates (CNRs) and the burden of Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis among children in Ethiopia.

Method: Retrospective secondary clinical and laboratory data were obtained from 3rd round national DR-TB survey which was conducted between August 2017 and January 2019.

Positivity rate, trend and associated risk factors of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among HIV-exposed infants.

Background: Mother-To-Child-Transmission (MTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) occurs during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding, and cause infection among several new-borns. However, there is limited recent evidence on the burden of MTCT of HIV in Ethiopia from a large-scale data. Thus, this study aimed to determine the positivity rate, trend and associated risk factors of MTCT among HIV-exposed infants.

Epidemiology of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To estimate the pooled proportion of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) in patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

Methods: We systematically searched articles from electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. We also searched gray literature from the different literature sources main outcome of the review was either XDR-TB or pre-XDR-TB in patients with MDR-TB.

Asymptomatic malaria and nurturing factors in lowlands of Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study.

Although asymptomatic malaria cases are reservoirs of malaria parasites, there is limited evidence on the burden and nurturing factors in malaria endemic areas during dry season. Thus, this study aims to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection and nurturing factors in endemic areas of Ethiopia during dry season.A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in malaria endemic areas in Ethiopia.

Detection of and rifampicin resistance by Xpert® MTB/RIF assay among presumptive tuberculosis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 2014 to 2021.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequencies and trends of and rifampicin resistance among presumptive tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia, who were tested using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay between 2014 and 2021.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from patient registries. Laboratory-based data were extracted from the national tuberculosis (TB) referral laboratory database.

Pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia: a laboratory-based surveillance study.

Background: The rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) has presented a substantial challenge to the national tuberculosis (TB) control program. Understanding the epidemiology of pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) could help clinicians to adapt MDR-TB treatment regimens at an earlier stage. This study aimed to assess second-line anti-TB drug resistance among MDR-TB patients in Ethiopia using routine laboratory-based data.

Effect of heat inactivation and bulk lysis on real-time reverse transcription PCR detection of the SARS-COV-2: an experimental study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of heat inactivation and chemical bulklysis on SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Results: About 6.2% (5/80) of samples were changed to negative results in heat inactivation at 60 °C and about 8.

Occurrence of asymptomatic malaria infection and living conditions in the lowlands of Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: A significant decline in malaria burden was documented in previously high burden African countries. Even though the global decline in malaria burden is significant, about 95% of it was typically found in 29 African countries and the decline was affected by COVID-19 in 2020. The considerable reduction in malaria incidence was noted due to effective prevention and treatment efforts, and rapid changes in living conditions.

Tuberculosis among refugees and migrant populations: Systematic review.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among refugees and migrant populations. These groups are among the most vulnerable populations at increased risk of developing TB. However, there is no systematic review that attempts to summarize TB among refugees and migrant populations.

Utility of line probe assay in detecting drug resistance and the associated mutations in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Molecular tests allow rapid detection of and drug resistance in a few days. Identifying the mutations in genes associated with drug resistance may contribute to the development of appropriate interventions to improve tuberculosis control. So far, there is little information in Ethiopia about the diagnostic performance of line probe assay (LPA) and the common gene mutations associated with drug resistance in extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Diagnostic accuracy of Truenat Tuberculosis and Rifampicin-Resistance assays in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Rapid and sensitive Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis closer to patients is a key global TB control priority. Truenat assays (MTB, MTB Plus, and MTB-RIF Dx) are new TB molecular diagnostic tools for the detection of TB and Rifampicin (RIF)-resistance from sputum samples. The diagnostic accuracy of the assays is needed prior to implementation in clinical use in Ethiopia.

Drug resistance and its risk factors among extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis are the world major public health issues. Although some primary studies have been reported on the burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis in extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis that attempt to summarize the available literature. Thus, we aimed to estimates the prevalence of drug-resistance in extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients and summarize the risk factors associated with the occurrence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

Case fatality rate of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality due to its contagious nature and absence of vaccine and treatment. Although numerous primary studies reported extremely variable case fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19, no review study attempted to estimate the CFR of COVID-19. The current systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to assess the pooled CFR of COVID-19.

Mycobacterial Lineages Associated with Drug Resistance in Patients with Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: In Ethiopia, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common causes of illness and death. However, there is limited information available on lineages associated with drug resistance among extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia. In this study, researchers looked into lineages linked to drug resistance in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Thyroid Profile and Factors Associated with Hypothyroidism Among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients Attending Saint Peter's Specialized Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: The emergence of MDR-TB is a global public health problem. Hypothyroidism is one of the severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in MDR-TB patients on treatment. Representative data on hypothyroidism and its associated factors among MDR-TB patients are lacking.

Incidence of Hepatotoxicity and Factors Associated During Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in People Living with HIV in Ethiopia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Hepatotoxicity is one of the risk factors associated with treatment non-adherence, which is the main risk factor for drug resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of hepatotoxicity during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among people living with HIV in Ethiopia.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between April 2007 and January 2011 at Saint Peter Specialized Hospital, Akaki and Kality Health Centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

High Inequality and Slow Services Improvement in Newborn and Child Health Interventions in Ethiopia.

Background: In the previous years, efforts have been made to reduce the inequality gap in newborn and child health interventions in Ethiopia. However, there is still limited evidence on the extent and trends of inequality on newborn and child health interventions. Thus, we aimed to assess newborn and child health interventions, inequality levels, and trends during four demographic and health survey periods based on inequality dimensions: economic status, education level, residency, and child's sex in Ethiopia.

Molecular characterization and drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is important to understand the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis (TB). However, there is limited information on molecular characteristics and drug-resistant patterns of MTB in patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to determine the molecular characteristics and drug resistance patterns of MTB in patients with EPTB in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.