Immunological Response of Hiv-Infected Children to Highly Active Antiretoviral Therapy at Gondar University Hospital, North-Western Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in children has not been well studied specially in developing countries where the burden of HIV is high. This study was aimed to assess the immunologic response of HIV-infected children to HAART at Pediatric ART Clinic Gondar University Hospital.METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pediatric ART Clinic Gondar University Hospital from March01-April 30, 2014. The study included 283 HIV-infected children who were on HAART for 6 months and above. Medical records of HIV-infected children were reviewed using pre-tested questionnaire. CD4 count/percent was collected every 6 months retrospectively. For all statistical significance tests, the cut-off value was p<0.05. Poison Regression was used for further analysis.RESULTS: The mean age of children was 6.9 years with a standard deviation of 3.4 years. The median CD4 count/percent was 232/13%, 450/21%, 540/25% and 608/27% at the time of initiation, 6, 12 and 18 months of ART, respectively. HAART initiated at higher CD4 count, good adherence and HIV status disclosure were found to have positive effects for immunological response.CONCLUSION: The study revealed that there was good Immunological response to ART, and that the  maximum response was in the 1st 6 months of ART. Low CD4 count at initiation, undisclosed HIV status and lack of good adherence were found to cause low immunological response to HAART.KEYWORDS: HAART, CD4, Immunologic respons

Institution Based Prospective Cross-Sectional Study on Patterns of Neonatal Morbidity at Gondar University Hospital Neonatal Unit, North-West Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Every year, millions of babies are born and a large proportion of them are being admitted to hospital for various indications. This study was conducted to identify the general characteristics,  disease spectrum and common causes of Neonatal morbidity and mortality at Gondar University Hospital, Neonatal Unit.METHODS: Institution based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Gondar University  Hospital (GUH), Neonatal Unit, from January 1st to March 31st, 2014. The study included 325 newborns who were admitted to the unit during the study period. The neonates were followed up using structured checklist and neonatal parameters like Neonatal sex, place of delivery, address, length of stay,  gestational age, diagnosis and discharge conditions were transcribed into an electronic database for all observations. The primary outcome measures were death and cause of death.RESULTS: A total of 325 neonates were admitted during the study period. Of these, 75.1%, 23.1%,  1.2% and 0.6% were discharged improved, died, discharged with same condition and disappeared,  respectively. Ten variables were found to have significant statistical associations with neonatal mortality after adjusting for demographic covariates: Prematurity (p < 0.001), Meningitis (p <0.001), Hemorrhagic Diseases (P <0.001), Hyaline Membrane Disease (P<0.001), Neonatal Sepsis (p <0.05), Meningitis  (<0.05), Perinatal Asphyxia (p <0.05), Neonatal Seizure (p <0.05), Home delivery (p <0.05) and  Meconium Aspiration (p <0.05).CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the common causes of neonatal mortality are almost similar with the previous evidences (problems of prematurity, Asphyxia and Sepsis).KEYWORDS: Neonatal, Morbidity, Mortality, Gonda

Time to Discharge and its Predictors among Children Aged 1-60 Months with Severe Acute Malnutrition Admitted to the Therapeutic Feeding Center in A Tertiary Hospital, North West Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment of severe acute malnutrition with medical complication and/or failed appetite test is admission in therapeutic feeding centers for stabilization. Once stabilized, patients will be linked to Outpatient treatment program for rehabilitation. Information regarding time to discharge from inpatient therapeutic feeding centers is limited in Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess the time to discharge and its predictors among children1-60 months with Severe Acute Malnutrition admitted to University of Gondar Hospital. METHODS: Hospital Based retrospective follow up study was conducted in Gondar University Hospital among 282 children aged 1-60 months admitted to inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Center from June 2018 to December 2020. Participants were selected by Simple random sampling technique. Time to discharge from inpatient treatment was estimated using Kaplan-Meir procedure and Log Rank test was used to test observed difference between covariates. Identification of predictors for time to discharge was done by Stratified cox regression model. RESULTS: Overall 282 children were studied; 242 (85.8%) were discharged improved and 40 (14.2%) were censored. The median time to Discharge was 13 days (IQR: 9-18) and the Incidence of discharge was found to be 6.4 (95% CI: 5.6-7.2) per 100 person- day observations. Kwash-dermatosis (AHR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.17-4.8), Anemia (AHR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.6), pneumonia at admission (AHR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.01-2.63) and Hospital acquired infection (AHR=4.4, 95% CI: 2.4-8.2) were predictors of time to discharge. CONCLUSION: Hospital stay at the stabilization center was prolonged. Pneumonia, anemia, kwash dermatosis and Nosocomial infections were significant predictors of time to discharge

Polypyrrole–polyaniline-water hyacinth leaf protein concentrate composite for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution: kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamic studies

ABSTRACT. This work focused on the extraction of “water hyacinth leaf protein concentrate” (WHLPC) and preparation of polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole-polyaniline copolymer (PPy/PANI) coated WHLPC by in situ polymerization and investigate their application for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. After optimizing the experimental conditions like pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and initial concentration it was found that the kinetics and isotherm data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. PPy/PANI/WHLPC was found to be an efficient material compared to the other polymer-coated adsorbents with maximum adsorption capacity of 230 mg/g. The presence of counter ions ((NO3-, Cl-, HPO42-, SO42+ and HCO3- ions) slightly decreases the Cr(VI) removal efficiency PPy/PANI/WHLPC. The thermodynamic study reveals that the adsorption of Cr(VI) onto PPY/PANI/WHLPC is endothermic, thermodynamically feasible, and spontaneous. In addition, reusability of the material indicated high removal efficiency for two adsorption cycles.   KEY WORDS: Polypyrrole, Polyaniline, Protein concentrate, Water hyacinth, Chromium Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(3), 571-584.                                                               DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i3.

Amino-substituted naphthalene sulfonic acid/graphene composite as metal -free catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions

Composites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and conducting polymers synthesized from 8-amino-2-naphthalene sulfonic acid (8-ANSA), 5-amino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (5-ANSA), 2-amino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (2-ANSA), and 4-amino-1-naphthalene sulfonic (4-ANSA) were prepared for use as an electrocatalyst in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The electrocatalytic activities were examined in oxygen saturated 0.1 M KOH solution using cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry. The best performing polymer composite was found to be GC/poly(8-ANSA)/rGO, with an enhanced electrocatalytic activity over the rGO only and poly(8-ANSA) only films. More than 100 mV positive shift in the onset potential and 1.6 times increase in current density were observed. The catalytic activity of 2-ANSA, 4-ANSA, 5-ANSA, and 8-ANSA was also validated by density functional theory (DFT). Our calculations predict a much better catalytic activity for 8-ANSA than that of 2-ANSA, 4-ANSA, and 5-ANSA.               KEY WORDS: Poly(amino naphthalene sulfonic acid), Reduced graphene oxide, Oxygen reduction reaction, Electrocatalyst Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(2), 359-372.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i2.1

Transactional sex and HIV risk among adolescent schoolgirls in Ethiopia: Mixed method study

Background. Young people in Sub-Saharan Africa are affected by HIV pandemic to a greater extent than elsewhere. Transactional sex among adolescent school girls with older men commonly called “sugar daddies” is one of the major factors fueling the spread of the infection due to the extended sexual network. Thus, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with transactional sex among adolescent girls and “sugar daddies” in relation to HIV/AIDS. Methods. Mixed method cross-sectional study was done among 620 female students in Hawassa town, South Ethiopia, from September 2010 to May 2011. A structured questionnaire and in-depth interview check list were used to collect the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Survey participants were selected randomly from five preparatory schools whereas ten in-depth interview participants were recruited by a snowball sampling technique from the same schools. Data were entered using Epi-Info and analyzed by SPSS. A descriptive statistics followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with transactional sex with “sugar daddy’’. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were reported. We used OpenCode software for coding and categorizing the in-depth interviews and quotes that represent the informants opinion were used to support the quantitative findings. Results. A substantial number of female students, 71(11.5%), reported to have had transactional sex with older men. Most of the respondents who dated “sugar daddies” (93%) had multiple sexual partners concurrently and sequentially, and among them, only 22.7% had consistent condom use. Girls who were in older age group [OR (CI) 6.87 (3.48-13.58)], who had lost both parents [OR (CI) 2.99 (1.14-7.84)], had perceived less economic status [OR: 25.41; 95% CI: 7.80-82.76] and engaged in substance abuse [OR (CO) 5.8 (2.1-15.77)] had higher odds of practicing transactional sex with “sugar daddies”. In-depth interviewed participants also revealed that they were involved in transactional sex for monetary while having concurrent and subsequent sexual network with their schoolmates and other young partners. Conclusion. Transactional sex among female students was high, and the sexual network they had with the young men put young people in the network at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, HIV prevention programs shall focus on transactional sex among adolescent school girls to halt transmission of HIV among the generation

Risk Factors of Underweight in Children Aged 6–59 Months in Ethiopia

Background. Undernutrition in early childhood has irreversible and long-lasting implications. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing risk factors of child undernutrition. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 642 households with mothers to children pairs aged 6–59 months selected by a multistage systematic random sampling method. Child anthropometric measurements on weight were recorded using standardized and calibrated weighing scales. Weight-for-age was compared to the 2007 WHO growth reference by WHO Anthro software. Data were entered using Epi-Info and analyzed using SPSS. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between underweight children and their predictors; both crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were reported. Results. One-fourth (25%) of the children were underweight. Child age (AOR: 2.36), gender (AOR: 1.82), illness (AOR: 0.09), maternal decision making power (AOR: 0.07), maternal education (AOR: 0.19), employment/occupation (AOR: 5.29), and household income (AOR: 4.16) were found to be independent and significant predictors of underweight children. Conclusion. Significant proportion of the children were underweight. Maternal decision-making power persists as a strong predictor of children’s weight. Therefore, intervention programs focusing on improving mothers’ decision-making power on child nutrition would contribute to the efforts towards alleviating the problem

Adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution using lignin from Hagenia abyssinica

The adsorption of lead(II) ions from aqueous solution onto alkali lignin extracted from Hagenia abyssinica was investigated by electrochemical methods. The effect of solution pH, lignin dosage and contact time were investigated at room temperature in a batch system. Adsorption equilibrium was approached within 80 min. The adsorption kinetics data were described by pseudo-second-order kinetics model, while the equilibrium data were well fitted using the Freundlich model. A maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 80.41 mg g-1 of the dry weight of lignin

Factors Affecting the Presence of Adequately Iodized Salt at Home in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia: Community Based Study

Background. Universal use of iodized salt is a simple and inexpensive method to prevent and eliminate iodine deficiency disorders like mental retardation. However, little is known about the level of adequately iodized salt consumption in the study area. Therefore, the study was aimed at assessing the proportion of households having adequately iodized salt and associated factors in Wolaita Sodo town and its peripheries, Southern Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 10 to 20, 2016, in 441 households in Sodo town and its peripheries. Samples were selected using the systematic sampling technique. An iodometric titration method (AOAC, 2000) was used to analyze the iodine content of the salt samples. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi Info version 3.5.1 and SPSS version 16, respectively. Result. The female to male ratio of the respondents was 219. The mean age of the respondents was 30.2 (±7.3 SD). The proportion of households having adequately iodized salt was 37.7%, with 95% CI of 33.2% to 42.2%. Not exposing salt to sunlight with [OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 2.14, 6.57], higher monthly income [OR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.97–7.01], and formal education of respondents with [OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.70] were found associated with the presence of adequately iodized salt at home. Conclusion. This study revealed low levels of households having adequately iodized salt in Wolaita Sodo town and its peripheries. The evidence here shows that there is a need to increase the supply of adequately iodized salt to meet the goal for monitoring progress towards sustainable elimination of IDD