Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Level and Associated Factors Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Jimma Zone Government Health Facilities, ART Clinics, South-west Ethiopia

Optimal and strict adherence to Antiretroviral Viral Therapy a need for over the long period to achieve the goals of ART and obtain maximum benefits of ART. However, PLWHA find it very difficult to take ARVs drug as precisely as they should for a number of reasons. Therefore, this study aimed at examining the level of antiretroviral therapy adherence and identifying possible associated factors for ART adherence behavior in Jimma zone government ART facilities. A facility based cross-sectional study was  conducted in the ART clinics of Jimma zone governmental health facilities in which ARV treatment supplied from November 25/2015 – February 30/2016 for a period of 4 months. 352 adult PLWHA (190 female and 162 male) ranged in age from 15-62 years (Mean=37.1, SD= 8.95), with 100% response rate, were our study participants. Binary logistic regression was used to perform bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine the association between study variables and ART adherence status. 259(73.6%) participants were adherent (>=95%) and 93(26.4%) were non-adherent (<95%) to the prescribed dose of ARV drugs over the past seven days prior to the interview. The main reasons for skipping the prescribed ARV drugs were, busyness (78.5%), having too many pills (71%), felt depressed (68.8%), taking the drugs reminded HIV infected (66.7%), did not want other see (62.4%), and felt asleep(60.2%). The last stepwise regression analysis revealed that, educational status, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, use of additional drugs and access to reliable pharmacy were significantly associated with ART adherence status. So, efforts to maximize ART adherence should focus on addressing these associated significant factors

Adolescents Antisocial Behavior and Their Academic Performance: The Case of High Schools in Jimma Town

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between antisocial behavior and academic achievement of high school students in Jimma town. Participants were 524 students 14-19 years old from government and private secondary schools. Cross sectional research designed was employed. Primary and secondary data were sources of this study. Results indicate that academic achievement was negatively associated with antisocial behavior. The result also shows that there is no significant difference between government and private schools in correlation of academic performance and antisocial behavior. The result also showed that there is a significant difference between male and female students’ academic achievement and antisocial behavior engagement, which is strong in male participants than female participants. To conclude the result showed there is a significant negative correlation between academic achievement and antisocial behavior. Therefore, the researchers recommends further studies to be conducted in the area, teachers also have to implement behavioral monitoring and modification strategies in secondary schools to minimize behavioral problem among students. Teachers, parents and other parties work together for better improvement of students’ academic and behavioral improvement

Symptoms and Underlying Factors of Psychological Distress among Inmates in Bonga Town Correctional Center, Kaffa Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Mental disorders occur frequently in the context of incarceration. Imprisonment may lead to the development of mental illness, especially psychological distress. The main purposes of this study were to investigate symptoms and underlying factors of psychological distress among inmates of Bonga Town correctional center.  Institution based cross-sectional study design was employed and 327 inmates from February to March 2017 were considered for this study. Systematic sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data was collected by using a standardized self-reported questionnaire. Analysis was done by SPSS version 20. Multiple regression was conducted to identify associated factors. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine gender difference on symptoms of psychological distress.  The finding of this study revealed symptoms of psychological distress (being tired, being nervous, being hopeless, being restless, and feel depressed) prevail among inmates of Bonga Town correctional center. The level of psychological distress according to Kessler scale ranges from mild to severe and fell under moderate level of distress (36.69%). There was significant gender difference on the symptoms of psychological distress. Hence, female inmates were more distressed than male inmates. Bonga correctional center communities should work cooperatively with Bonga G/Tsadik Shawo hospital to help inmates who were at risk.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among primary school children in Dessie City, Ethiopia.

BackgroundIntestinal parasitosis is a major public health problem that affects the health of primary school children in low- and middle-income countries where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions are deficient. Since there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and associated factors of this problem among primary school children in Dessie City in Ethiopia, this study was designed to address these gaps.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 stratified-sampled primary school children in five primary schools at Dessie City from April to June 2018. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, an observation checklist and laboratory analysis of stool samples. Stool specimen from each study participant was collected using clean, properly labeled and leak-proof stool cup. A portion of stool from each study participant collected sample was processed using saline wet mount technique and examined by microscope. The remaining specimens were preserved with 10% formalin and transported to Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital laboratory to be processed by using formol-ether concentration technique. Then, slide smears were prepared from each processed stool specimen and finally, it was microscopically examined with 10x as well as 40x objectives for the presence or absence of intestinal parasites. Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis were determined using binary logistic regression model at 95% CI (confidence interval). Thus, bivariate (COR [crude odds ratio]) and multivariable (AOR [adjusted odds ratio]) logistic regression analyses were carried out. From the multivariable analysis, variables having a p-value of less than 0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary school children.Main findingsThe overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was found to be 16.0% (95% CI: 12.5-19.4%), of these, 50.8% were positive for protozoa, 32.2% for helminth infections and 16.9% for double co-infections. Entamoeba histolytica was the most prevalent parasite (29.2%), followed by Giardia lamblia (21.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (18.5%), Hymenolepis nana (9.2%) and Enterobius vermicularis (4.6%). Prevalence rates were similar among government (16.3%) and private (15.7%) school children. Water consumption was less than 5 liters per capita per day in 4 of the 5 schools. Thirty-eight (9.3%) of primary school students reported that they practiced open defecation. About two-thirds (285, 70.0%) said they always washed their hands after defecation. Mother's education (illiterate) (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.20-9.37), father's education (illiterate) (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.40-10.82), fathers who could read and write (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.25-7.86), handwashing before meal (sometimes) (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.11-4.17) and poor knowledge of WASH (AOR = 9.3; 95% CI: 2.17-16.70) were statistically associated with presence of intestinal parasitic infections.ConclusionWe concluded that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in the study area among Grades 4-8 primary school children had public health significance. Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary school children's were illiterate mothers and fathers, irregular handwashing of children before meals, and poor knowledge of WASH. Health education to improve students' WASH knowledge and mass deworming for parasites are recommended as preventive measures; and improvements to the quality of WASH facilities in primary schools are strongly recommended to support these measures

Progress in health among regions of Ethiopia, 1990-2019: a subnational country analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

BACKGROUND: Previous Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) studies have reported national health estimates for Ethiopia. Substantial regional variations in socioeconomic status, population, demography, and access to health care within Ethiopia require comparable estimates at the subnational level. The GBD 2019 Ethiopia subnational analysis aimed to measure the progress and disparities in health across nine regions and two chartered cities. METHODS: We gathered 1057 distinct data sources for Ethiopia and all regions and cities that included census, demographic surveillance, household surveys, disease registry, health service use, disease notifications, and other data for this analysis. Using all available data sources, we estimated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), total fertility rate (TFR), life expectancy, years of life lost, years lived with disability, disability-adjusted life-years, and risk-factor-attributable health loss with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for Ethiopia's nine regions and two chartered cities from 1990 to 2019. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, cause of death ensemble model, Bayesian meta-regression tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, and other models were used to generate fertility, mortality, cause of death, and disability rates. The risk factor attribution estimations followed the general framework established for comparative risk assessment. FINDINGS: The SDI steadily improved in all regions and cities from 1990 to 2019, yet the disparity between the highest and lowest SDI increased by 54% during that period. The TFR declined from 6·91 (95% UI 6·59-7·20) in 1990 to 4·43 (4·01-4·92) in 2019, but the magnitude of decline also varied substantially among regions and cities. In 2019, TFR ranged from 6·41 (5·96-6·86) in Somali to 1·50 (1·26-1·80) in Addis Ababa. Life expectancy improved in Ethiopia by 21·93 years (21·79-22·07), from 46·91 years (45·71-48·11) in 1990 to 68·84 years (67·51-70·18) in 2019. Addis Ababa had the highest life expectancy at 70·86 years (68·91-72·65) in 2019; Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz had the lowest at 63·74 years (61·53-66·01) for Afar and 64.28 (61.99-66.63) for Benishangul-Gumuz. The overall increases in life expectancy were driven by declines in under-5 mortality and mortality from common infectious diseases, nutritional deficiency, and war and conflict. In 2019, the age-standardised all-cause death rate was the highest in Afar at 1353·38 per 100 000 population (1195·69-1526·19). The leading causes of premature mortality for all sexes in Ethiopia in 2019 were neonatal disorders, diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory infections, tuberculosis, stroke, HIV/AIDS, ischaemic heart disease, cirrhosis, congenital defects, and diabetes. With high SDIs and life expectancy for all sexes, Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, and Harari had low rates of premature mortality from the five leading causes, whereas regions with low SDIs and life expectancy for all sexes (Afar and Somali) had high rates of premature mortality from the leading causes. In 2019, child and maternal malnutrition; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; air pollution; high systolic blood pressure; alcohol use; and high fasting plasma glucose were the leading risk factors for health loss across regions and cities. INTERPRETATION: There were substantial improvements in health over the past three decades across regions and chartered cities in Ethiopia. However, the progress, measured in SDI, life expectancy, TFR, premature mortality, disability, and risk factors, was not uniform. Federal and regional health policy makers should match strategies, resources, and interventions to disease burden and risk factors across regions and cities to achieve national and regional plans, Sustainable Development Goals, and universal health coverage targets. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation