Prevalence of low back pain and its determinant factors among prehospital healthcare providers working in ambulance service centres in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024: a cross-sectional study design.

Background: Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Low back pain (LBP) is a discomfort in the spinal area around the 12th rib and the inferior gluteal folds with or without radiation to the lower extremities. It is a widespread public health problem throughout the world, especially a prominent problem for healthcare providers working in prehospital areas.

Knowledge and utilization of obstetric ultrasound and associated factors among pregnant mother in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Obstetric ultrasound (US) is a non-invasive imaging method that employs sound waves to explore the abdominal and pelvic areas of a pregnant woman. It is recommended to have at least two ultrasound scans during pregnancy, one in the first trimester and another in the second trimester, to identify potential complications and improve perinatal outcomes. While this practice is widely implemented in developed nations, its utilization in many African countries remains suboptimal.

The role of IgA and IgG in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: A cross-sectional study in Ethiopia.

Introduction: Despite the high global prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in humans, most infected individuals achieve a stable immunological equilibrium, without showing clinical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). Although the role of antibodies in TB is assumed to be relatively small compared to cell-mediated immunity, their role in TB has been documented in a few recent studies.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we quantitated antibody responses to Mtb antigens, lipoarabinomannan (LAM), and heparin-binding hemagglutinin adhesin (HBHA) by determining antigen-specific immunoglobulin A(IgA) and G(IgG) secretion levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum and saliva of pulmonary TB patients (PTB), their household contacts (HHC), and community controls (CC) (determined by QuantiFERON TB Gold assay QFT- test result).

Association between women empowerment and contraceptive utilization in Ethiopia.

Background: Women's empowerment is essential for achieving sustainable development goals. It involves enabling women to take control of their lives by giving them the agency, resources, and opportunities they need to make their own choices and reach their full potential. If more women are empowered to use modern contraceptives, greater reductions in maternal mortality will follow.