Factors associated with tuberculosis treatment initiation among bacteriologically negative individuals evaluated for tuberculosis: An individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Globally, over one-third of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnoses are made based on clinical criteria after a negative bacteriological test result. There is limited information on the factors that determine clinicians' decisions to initiate TB treatment when initial bacteriological test results are negative.

Methods And Findings: We performed a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis using studies conducted between January 2010 and December 2022 (PROSPERO: CRD42022287613).

Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) implementations to control cholera outbreak in Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Background: Oromia regional state experiencing cholera outbreaks in a protracted pattern despite various interventions at local and regional levels. This study aimed to examine the implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities for cholera outbreak control in the region.

Methods: We conducted a quantitative and qualitative mixed-method study.

Effects of High-Intensity Motor Learning and Dietary Supplementation on Motor Skill-Related Physical Fitness in Thin Ethiopian Children Aged 5 to 7 Years: An Exploratory Pilot Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Background: Malnutrition has extensive consequences, affecting multiple levels of functioning, including motor skill impairments. However, current interventions have mainly focused on dietary treatment, often neglecting motor impairments and relying solely on clinical and anthropometric indicators to assess treatment response. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the combined effect of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) and high-intensity motor learning (HiML) on motor skill-related physical fitness in children with moderate thinness (MT).

Process Evaluation of Quality of Precancerous Cervical Lesion Screening Program in Selected Public Health Centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent disease among Ethiopian women of reproductive age and a serious gynecological malignancy affecting women regionally. About, 3,235 deaths and 4,648 new cases are reported nationwide each year. Precancerous cervical screening programs face many difficulties in settings with limited resources, despite their severity, such as a lack of medical supplies and equipment, poorly trained healthcare workers, a heavy workload for current staff, low professional compliance, and insufficient support from medical facilities.

Correlation of red blood cell parameters and platelet count among adult anemic patients attending Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Goba, Southeast Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Anemia is a worldwide public health problem and is associated with platelet disorders. The relationship between anemia and platelets is complex, with the association being either normal platelet count or thrombocytosis. Platelets are significantly decreased in patients with anemia, and thrombocytopenia has been documented in patients with severe anemia.

The effect of an interactive mobile health intervention to improve community-based essential neonatal care practices among postpartum women in northeast Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Despite global declines in child mortality rates, Africa's reduction is lagging behind other regions. Neonatal survival remains a key priority in the sustainable development agenda. Promoting neonatal care practices at the individual and community levels is essential, and technology-based interventions can effectively reach potential future mothers.

Fetal Tetra-Amelia Birth: A Case Report.

Fetal limb anomaly presentation varies greatly. It can present as amelia (complete absence of skeletal part of one or more limb), meromelia (partial absence of skeletal part of one or more limb), phocomelia (only rudimentary limb formed), and minor limb disorders like polydactyly. The complete absence of the four fetal limbs is extremely rare.

Acceptability and feasibility of integrating psychosocial stimulation interventions in the inpatient care of children with severe acute malnutrition in resource-poor settings: a qualitative study.

Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) are at risk of developmental problems. Psychosocial stimulation can improve the developmental outcomes of hospitalised children with SAM. However, the intervention has remained underutilised in health facilities in resource-poor settings.

Woody species composition and diversity of agroforestry homegardens along altitudinal gradient in southwest Ethiopia.

Homegarden agroforestry systems that integrate trees with agricultural practices are usually valued for the conservation of farm biodiversity. Despite the system having a significant conservation role, litle is known on woody species composition and diversity following the elevation belt of southwest Ethiopia. A complete enumeration of 72 homegardens (24 each from altitudinal gradient) was purposively selected for woody species inventory.

Esterase-Mediated Pyrethroid Resistance in Populations of an Invasive Malaria Vector from Ethiopia.

Background: The swift expansion of the invasive malaria vector throughout Africa presents a major challenge to malaria control initiatives. Unlike the native African vectors, thrives in urban settings and has developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides, including pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates.

Methods: Insecticide susceptibility tests were performed on field-collected mosquitoes from Awash Sebac Kilo, Ethiopia, to assess insecticide resistance levels.

Implementation research logic model in the design and execution of eHealth innovations for maternal and newborn healthcare in Ethiopia.

Background: The use of eHealth innovations is becoming increasingly important in improving health outcomes, especially for maternal and newborn health. However, planning and executing these innovations can be challenging due to their complex nature. To provide guidance and clarity on implementation approaches, researchers need to use implementation research (IR) tools.

Magnitude and correlates of internalised stigma among outpatient psychiatric service users in southeast central Ethiopia.

Background: Stigma is recognised as one of the most significant barriers to treatment for people with mental health conditions. However, limited studies are available in low-resource settings.

Objectives: To assess the magnitude of internalised stigma and associated factors among people with mental health conditions attending tertiary outpatient psychiatric services in Ethiopia.

Effect of tropical climates on the quality of commonly used antibiotics: the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Medicine quality can be influenced by environmental factors. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with tropical climates, storage facilities of medicines in healthcare settings and homes may be suboptimal. However, knowledge of the effects of temperature and other climatic and environmental factors on the quality of medicines is limited.

Effectiveness of targeted social and behavior change communication on maternal health knowledge, attitudes, and institutional childbirth: a cluster-randomized trial in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Maternal mortality remains a critical global health challenge, with 95% of deaths occurring in low-income countries. While progress was made from 2000 to 2015, regions such as Ethiopia continue to experience high maternal mortality rates, impeding the achievement of the sustainable development goal to reduce maternal deaths to 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) intervention to improve maternal health behaviors.

A review on emerging pharmaceutical residues in Ethiopia: occurrence, ecotoxicological aspects, and regulatory concerns.

Background: Pharmaceuticals are expected to improve human and animal health, but improper management and regulation have led to adverse effects such as reproductive disorders, antibiotic resistance, and biodiversity loss in ecosystems. Their presence in the environment poses significant risks, including a reduction in biodiversity, reproductive issues, and the development of antimicrobial resistance. This review aims to examine the occurrence and sources of pharmaceuticals in the environment and their ecotoxicological and regulatory aspects, with a focus on Ethiopia.

Significantly improving the solubility and anti-inflammatory activity of fenofibric acid with native and methyl-substituted beta-cyclodextrins via complexation.

The solubility of commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs has become a significant concern in contemporary medicine. Furthermore, inflammatory arthritis stands out as the most prevalent chronic inflammatory disease globally. The disease's pathology is characterized by heightened inflammation and oxidative stress, culminating in chronic pain and the loss of joint functionality.

Health commodity management information system (Dagu-2 Software) implementation status in public health facilities of South-western Oromia, Ethiopia: a mixed method study.

Background: To ensure the complete traceability of healthcare commodities, robust end-to-end data management protocols are needed for the supply chain. In Ethiopia, digital tools like Dagu-2 are used in the lower levels of the healthcare supply chain. However, there is a lack of information regarding the implementation status, factors, and challenges of Dagu-2, as it is a recent upgrade from the offline Dagu-1 application.

Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among Sudanese refugees at Bambasi Camp in northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Refugees encounter a variety of traumatic events throughout their migratory process and in the camp, which increase their risk of developing mental illnesses. Even though depression and anxiety are the most frequent after a stressful life event, there is limited information on Sudanese refugees. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms at the Bambasi Camp in northwestern Ethiopia.

Magnitude of non-communicable disease screening and factors associated with awareness among reproductive age women in Gofa and Basketo zones, Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasing at an alarming rate in Ethiopia. NCDs affect reproductive-age women and cause significant threats to future generations. Screening is an important aspect leading to early diagnosis, treatment and preventing the risk of complications and future mortality.

Design and numerical simulation of CuBiO solar cells with graphene quantum dots as hole transport layer under ideal and non-ideal conditions.

The simulation of ideal and non-ideal conditions using the SCAPS-1D simulator for novel structure Ag/FTO/CuBiO/GQD/Au was done for the first time. The recombination of charge carriers in CuBiO is an inherent problem due to very low hole mobility and polaron transport in the valence band. The in-depth analysis of the simulation result revealed that Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) can act as an appropriate hole transport layer (HTL) and can enhance hole transportation.

Biological and residual activity of candidate larvicide formulation, SumiLarv 2MR, against an exotic invasive mosquito Anopheles stephensi Liston, 1901 (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ethiopia.

The study evaluated the efficacy and residual activity of SumiLarv 2MR, SumiLarv 0.5G, and Abate 1SG (used as a positive control) against Anopheles stephensi larvae in Awash Subath Kilo, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia, using a semi-field experimental setup. Plastic containers with capacities of 100L and 250L were used to assess the residual efficacy of SumiLarv 2MR.

Optimal design of tilt integral derivative controller for a boost converter based on swarm-inspired algorithms.

This article proposes a novel dual-loop control (DLC) method with a Tilt Integral Derivative (TID) Controller for output voltage regulation and inductor current regulation in a boost converter. The TID controller is designed with the aid of swarm inspired algorithms, particularly Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) and Salp Swarm Optimization (SSO). The TID Controller is a robust, and feedback type of controller and belongs to the family of fractional order controllers.

Treatment Pattern and Outcome of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer in Resource-Constrained Countries: Experience at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Purpose: Management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) includes neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by total mesorectal excision. Recently, total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) has gained attention. In developing countries, patients with rectal cancer often present at advanced stages.