Prevalence of Diarrhea Disease and Associated Factors Among Children Under 5 Years in Geshiyaro Project Implementation Sites in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Globally, infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria are the leading causes of death for children under 5. Diarrheal disease is a significant public health concern and causes the death of approximately 525,000 children under the age of 5 every year. In Ethiopia, studies revealed that the prevalence of diarrhea among children under 5 years is alarming.

Diagnostic performance of particle agglutination tests against electrochemiluminescence immunoassays for the detection of anti-TP antibodies: Evaluation study.

Objectives: Although the burden of syphilis is slightly increasing worldwide, there are a limited number of rapid, simple-to-use, accurate and cost-effective diagnostic tools available. Thus, we aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of the particle agglutination (TPPA) test (hereafter called index test) against an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (hereafter called reference test). We selected the available treponemal reference test (ECLIA) to evaluate the index test (TPPA) which is not currently in use in Ethiopia.

What's happening in the kitchen? The influence of nutritional knowledge, attitudes and, practices (KAP), and kitchen characteristics on women's dietary quality in Ethiopia.

Background: Low dietary quality significantly contributes to public health risks in low-income countries. This situation is particularly concerning for vulnerable groups, such as women and children, who are at increased risk of malnutrition due to inadequate access to proper nutrition. This study aimed to assess the influence of nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and kitchen characteristics on women's dietary quality in Ethiopia.

Assessment of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Histidine-Rich Protein 2 Deletions among Asymptomatic Children and Adults in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) that detect histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) remain the mainstay of falciparum malaria diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding their test characteristics when used for surveillance in asymptomatic populations is important. We explored the rate of false-positive and false-negative mRDT results among asymptomatic persons >5 years old screened for malaria at schools and clinics in the rural Bagamoyo District using 18S ribosomal RNA real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as the reference test.

Comparative performance of microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, and multiplex real-time PCR for detection of malaria parasites among pregnant women in northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Low malaria parasitaemia is a diagnostic challenge in pregnancy, leading to false negative microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results. However, these submicroscopic or subpatent infections could cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, evaluating the diagnostic performance of microscopy, RDT, and multiplex qPCR in pregnancy is vital for informed decisions.

Prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infection and associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in Ethiopia and caused by Leishmania donovani. Although the disease manifests with significant clinical variability, a substantial number of individuals are asymptomatic. These individuals can serve as reservoirs, complicating control efforts.

Exploring survival rates in HIV-infected Ethiopian children receiving HAART: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Studies have shown a high rate of mortality among adults despite the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, long-term outcomes of HAART among children remain poorly documented in Ethiopia. This study aimed to estimate the survival rate and identify associated factors among HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy.

Assessment of antenatal care quality in Ethiopia: Facility-based study using service provision assessment data.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) coverage in low- and middle-income countries has increased in the past few decades. However, merely increasing care coverage may not enhance maternal and newborn health unless the recommended service components are also provided. Our aim was to assess the quality of ANC and its associated factors in Ethiopia.

Assessment of healthcare facilities' readiness to provide antenatal care in Ethiopia: facility based study using service provision assessment data.

Background: Readiness of healthcare facilities is essential for delivering quality healthcare services. There is limited evidence on the antenatal care (ANC) readiness of healthcare facilities in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the readiness of ANC services and its influencing factors in Ethiopian healthcare facilities.

Comparison of a non-invasive point-of-care measurement of anemia to conventionally used HemoCue devices in Gambella refugee camp, Ethiopia, 2022.

Annual surveys of refugees in Gambella, Ethiopia suggest that anemia is a persistent public health problem among non-pregnant women of reproductive age (NP-WRA, 15-49 years). Measurement of anemia in most refugee camp settings is conducted using an invasive HemoCue 301. We assessed the accuracy and precision of a non-invasive, pulse CO-oximeter in measuring anemia among NP-WRA in four Gambella refugee camps.

Regional disparities of full pentavalent vaccine uptake and the determinants in Ethiopia: Mapping and spatial analysis using the EDHS data.

Background: The full pentavalent (DPT-HepB-Hib) vaccination is the main strategy to prevent five communicable diseases in early childhood, especially in countries with huge communicable disease burdens like Ethiopia. Exploring spatial distributions and determinants of full pentavalent vaccination status in minor ecological areas in Ethiopia is crucial for creating targeted immunization campaigns and monitoring the advancement of accomplishing sustainable development goals. This study aimed to investigate the spatial disparities and determinants of full pentavalent vaccination among 12-23-month-old children in Ethiopia.

Intermittent versus daily oral iron folic acid supplementation and pregnancy outcome in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies.

Trials were inconsistent while reporting findings on the benefits of the intermittent regimen. Recent conclusive evidence to show overall effect was limited. This review compared intermittent and daily iron folic acid supplementation (IFAS) on pregnancy outcomes.

Effective Coverage of Modern Contraceptive Use in Ethiopia: An Ecological Linking Analysis of Service Provision Assessment and National Health Equity Surveys.

The increase in contraceptive prevalence rate (crude coverage) in Ethiopia over the past two decades does not necessarily reflect service quality, and although the proportion of women with unmet needs has decreased, it remains unacceptably high. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the effective coverage (EC) of modern contraceptive methods in Ethiopia, considering the quality of care. We used nationally representative surveys, such as health facility surveys (Ethiopia Service Provision Assessment, 2021/22) and household surveys (National Health Equity Survey, 2022/2023).

Phenotypic drug resistance and genetic mutations linked to resistance among extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia: Insights from Whole Genome Sequencing.

Globally, drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is responsible for 13% of mortality attributable to antimicrobial resistance. In Ethiopia, extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is a significant public health challenge, and drug resistance (DR) in EPTB is often overlooked. In a cross-sectional study conducted between August 2022 and October 2023, we aimed to explore the magnitude of phenotypic drug resistance and identify genetic mutations linked to resistance using 189 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates cultured from extrapulmonary clinical specimens.

Geographical equity in Ethiopian infant feeding practices: a secondary analysis of a birth cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the geographical equity in Ethiopian infants' exclusive breastfeeding at 5 months and dietary diversity at 12 months and whether social factors explained the spatial inequities.

Design: Secondary analysis of a birth cohort study.

Setting: Analysis of data from the Ethiopian Performance Monitoring for Action panel study conducted from July 2020 to August 2021 in five regions (ie, Oromia, Amhara, Afar and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples regions and the Addis Ababa City administration).

Maintaining essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa during COVID-19: A qualitative study.

Background: Worldwide, health systems have been challenged by the overwhelming demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ethiopia, maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to preventing severe outcomes and protecting the gains made over the past years in the health sector. This project aims to explore the health system's response to maintaining essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Developing a comprehensive framework for evaluating public health emergency management program implementation: A scoping review.

Objectives: Public health emergencies and disasters highlight gaps in health systems' emergency preparedness capabilities. Developing robust public health emergency management (PHEM) programs is crucial yet challenging. Existing assessment tools are limited in scope or lack standardized measurement.

Technical evaluation of the InBios Strongy Detect IgG ELISA assay for the diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection.

Background: Strongyloidiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the soil-transmitted helminth Strongyloides stercoralis, recently included in the 2030 targets of the World Health Organization for the control of STHs. Assessment of infection prevalence is fundamental for decision-making about the implementation of control programs, but diagnostic assays to be applied in such context require evaluation. Seroassays based on recombinant antigens, which could be produced in a standardized and scalable manner, are particularly appealing for use in control programs.

Epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance profile, associated risk factors and management of carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in children under 5 with suspected sepsis in Ethiopia.

Background: Early detection and treatment of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) could reduce the risk of developing life-threatening sepsis in childhood. However, little is known about sepsis caused by CRKP in children under-5 in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance profile, associated risk factors and management of CRKP in children under-5 with sepsis in Ethiopia.

Associations of early childhood exposure to severe acute malnutrition and recovery with cardiometabolic risk markers in later childhood: 5-year prospective matched cohort study in Ethiopia.

Background: Impaired fetal and accelerated postnatal growth are associated with cardiometabolic disease. Few studies investigated how recovery from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with childhood cardiometabolic risk.

Objectives: We evaluated cardiometabolic risk in children with SAM treated through community-based management, relative to controls, 5-y postrecovery.

Expediting pathogen genomics adoption for enhanced foodborne disease surveillance in Africa.

The role of genomics in public health surveillance has been accentuated by its crucial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential in addressing global disease outbreaks. While Africa has made strides in expanding multi-pathogen genomic surveillance, the integration into foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance remains nascent. Here we highlight the critical components to strengthen and scale-up the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in foodborne disease surveillance across the continent.

Bioprospecting secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties from soil bacteria in high-temperature ecosystems.

Background: The ongoing emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens necessitate urgent solutions. Natural products from bacterial sources are recognized as a promising source of antibiotics. This study aimed to isolate and characterize soil microorganisms from extremely hot environments and to screen their secondary metabolites for antibacterial activity.

Leveraging machine learning models for anemia severity detection among pregnant women following ANC: Ethiopian context.

Background: Anemia during pregnancy is a significant public health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings. Machine learning (ML) offers promising avenues for improved anemia detection and management. This study investigates the potential of ML models in predicting anemia severity among pregnant women attending Antenatal Care (ANC) visits in Ethiopia.

Sero-prevalence of human brucellosis and associated factors among febrile patients attending Moyale Primary Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2023: Evidences from pastoralist community.

Background: Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease often contracted through contact with animals and consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Despite being the most common cause of non-malarial acute febrile illness brucellosis is often misdiagnosed in healthcare setups. The global incidence of Brucella infection is reported to be over 2 million cases annually.