Establishment of Normal Reference Intervals for CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + , and CD4 + to CD8 + Ratio of T Lymphocytes in HIV Negative Adults from University of Gondar Hospital, North West Ethiopia

Background. Reference values for the CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + , and CD4 + to CD8 + ratio T lymphocyte subsets are adopted from textbooks. But for appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients, correct interpretations of the laboratory results from normal reference interval are mandatory. This study was, therefore, planned to establish normal reference interval for T lymphocytes subset count and CD4 + to CD8 + ratio. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on apparently healthy adult individuals who visited voluntary counseling and HIV testing clinic Gondar University Hospital from April to May, 2013. Whole blood was analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (BD FACS, San Jose, CA) machine to enumerate the T-cell subpopulations. Results. Out of the total 320 study participants, 161 (50.3%) were men and 159 (49.7%) were women. The normal reference intervals were (655-2,823 cells/ L), (321-1,389 cells/ L), and (220-1,664 cells/ L) for CD3 + , CD4 + , and CD8 + T lymphocyte subsets, respectively, and CD4 + to CD8 + ratio was 0.5-2.5. Conclusion. The overall CD3 + T lymphocytes reference interval in the current study was wide; low CD4 + T lymphocytes, CD4 to CD8 ratio, and high CD8 + T lymphocytes values were observed

A randomised controlled feasibility trial of a BabyWASH household playspace: the CAMPI study

Background Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions should support infant growth but trial results are inconsistent. Frequently, interventions do not consider behaviours or transmission pathways specific to age. A household playspace (HPS) is one intervention component which may block faecal-oral transmission. This study was a two-armed, parallel-group, randomised, controlled feasibility trial of a HPS in rural Ethiopia. It aimed to recommend proceeding to a definitive trial. Secondary outcomes included effects on infant health, injury prevention and women’s time. Methods November 2019−January 2020 106 households were identified and assessed for eligibility. Recruited households (N = 100) were randomised (blinded prior to the trial start) to intervention or control (both n = 50). Outcomes included recruitment, attrition, adherence, and acceptability. Data were collected at baseline, two and four weeks. Findings Recruitment met a priori criteria (≥80%). There was no loss to follow-up, and no non-use, meeting adherence criteria (both ≤10%). Further, 48.0% (95% CI 33.7−62.6; n = 24) of households appropriately used and 56.0% (41.3−70.0; n = 28) cleaned the HPS over four weeks, partly meeting adherence criteria (≥50%). For acceptability, 41.0% (31.3−51.3; n = 41) of infants were in the HPS during random visits, failing criteria (≥50%). Further, the proportion of HPS use decreased during some activities, failing criteria (no decrease in use). A modified Barrier Analysis described good acceptability and multiple secondary benefits, including on women’s time burden and infant injury prevention. Interpretation Despite failing some a priori criteria, the trial demonstrated mixed adherence and good acceptability among intervention households. A definitive trial to determine efficacy is warranted if recommended adjustments are made

Risk factors and transmission pathways associated with infant Campylobacter spp. prevalence and malnutrition: A formative study in rural Ethiopia

Early infection from enteropathogens is recognised as both a cause and effect of infant malnutrition. Specifically, evidence demonstrates associations between growth shortfalls and Campylobacter infection, endemic across low-income settings, with poultry a major source. Whilst improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) should reduce pathogen transmission, interventions show inconsistent effects on infant health. This cross-sectional, formative study aimed to understand relationships between infant Campylobacter prevalence, malnutrition and associated risk factors, including domestic animal husbandry practices, in rural Ethiopia. Thirty-five households were visited in Sidama zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ region. Infant and poultry faeces and domestic floor surfaces (total = 102) were analysed for presumptive Campylobacter spp. using selective culture. Infant anthropometry and diarrhoeal prevalence, WASH facilities and animal husbandry data were collected. Of the infants, 14.3% were wasted, 31.4% stunted and 31.4% had recent diarrhoea. Presumptive Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 48.6% of infant, 68.6% of poultry and 65.6% of floor surface samples. Compared to non-wasted infants, wasted infants had an increased odds ratio (OR) of 1.41 for a Campylobacter-positive stool and 1.81 for diarrhoea. Positive infant stools showed a significant relationship with wasting (p = 0.026) but not stunting. Significant risk factors for a positive stool included keeping animals inside (p = 0.027, OR 3.5), owning cattle (p = 0.018, OR 6.5) and positive poultry faeces (p<0.001, OR 1.34). Positive floor samples showed a significant correlation with positive infant (p = 0.023), and positive poultry (p = 0.013, OR 2.68) stools. Ownership of improved WASH facilities was not correlated with lower odds of positive stools. This formative study shows a high prevalence of infants positive for Campylobacter in households with free-range animals. Findings reaffirm contaminated floors as an important pathway to infant pathogen ingestion and suggest that simply upgrading household WASH facilities will not reduce infection without addressing the burden of contamination from animals, alongside adequate separation in the home

Sanitary condition and hygienic practice of street food vendors in selected towns of Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study addressing public health concern

Background: Street foods are ready-to-eat foods prepared and/or sold by vendors and hawkers in public places such as streets and plazas. Despite being widely available and affordable, they pose a significant public health risk. Objective: This study aims to assess the hygienic practices of street food vendors, sanitary condition of their stalls and associated factors in selected towns of Ethiopia. Method: Community-based Cross-sectional study design was used from December 2022 to January 2023 in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Hawassa, and Jimma towns of Ethiopia. A total of 1168 street food-vending stalls were determined using a single population proportion formula. Proportional allocation to the total population of the towns was used to assign the number of street food vending stalls to each town and sub cities. The interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were run using statistical Package for Social Sceinces (SPSS) V-23. Result: The study included 926 street food vendors from Addis Ababa, 84 from Dire Dawa, 99 from Hawassa, and 59 from Jimma. The majority of respondents (86%) were female, with a mean age of 31.26. 60% of respondents were married, and 57% had completed primary school. 18% of street food vendors prepared their food on the street, with no shelter or shade. The overall good hygienic practices of the street food vendors were 16% while the good sanitary status of the vending stalls was 6.8 %. Sex, work experience, receiving training on food safety, having medical checkup, availability of hand washing facilities, and having good knowledge on food safety were predictors of good hygienic practice. Conclusion: Most of the street food vendors had poor hygienic practices as well as their vending stalls had poor sanitary conditions. Hence, encouragement and support for street food vendors to have improved water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in the vicinity, along with strict regulations, will help the vendors provide safe food to consumers, thereby protecting the public's health

Establishment of Normal Reference Intervals for CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+ to CD8+ Ratio of T Lymphocytes in HIV Negative Adults from University of Gondar Hospital, North West Ethiopia

Background. Reference values for the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+ to CD8+ ratio T lymphocyte subsets are adopted from textbooks. But for appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients, correct interpretations of the laboratory results from normal reference interval are mandatory. This study was, therefore, planned to establish normal reference interval for T lymphocytes subset count and CD4+ to CD8+ ratio. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on apparently healthy adult individuals who visited voluntary counseling and HIV testing clinic Gondar University Hospital from April to May, 2013. Whole blood was analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (BD FACS, San Jose, CA) machine to enumerate the T-cell subpopulations. Results. Out of the total 320 study participants, 161 (50.3%) were men and 159 (49.7%) were women. The normal reference intervals were (655–2,823 cells/μL), (321–1,389 cells/μL), and (220–1,664 cells/μL) for CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets, respectively, and CD4+ to CD8+ ratio was 0.5–2.5. Conclusion. The overall CD3+ T lymphocytes reference interval in the current study was wide; low CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4 to CD8 ratio, and high CD8+ T lymphocytes values were observed

Vitamin D deficiency among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients and their household contacts: a comparative cross-sectional study

Recent studies suggest that the incidence and severity of tuberculosis is associated with low levels of vitamin D. Even though individuals living in Ethiopia have a high exposure to sunlight which is a source of vitamin D, tuberculosis is still one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of vitamin D deficiency in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients, household contacts and community controls in Gondar, Ethiopia

Who takes the medicine? Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Southern Ethiopia

Background: Treatment adherence is critical for the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV. There is limited representative information on ART drug adherence and its associated factors from Southern Ethiopia. We aimed at estimating the level of adherence to ART among people living with HIV and factors associated with it in 20 randomly selected ART clinics of Southern Ethiopia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we interviewed consecutive HIV patients on first-line antiretroviral regimen attending the clinics in June 2014 using a pretested and structured questionnaire. For measuring adherence, we used 4-day recall method based on “The AIDS Clinical Trial Group adherence assessment tool”. Patients were classified as “Incomplete adherence” if they missed any of the doses in the last 4 days. Data were singly entered using EpiData and descriptive analysis, and unadjusted odds ratios were calculated using EpiDataStat software. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using Stata v12.0. Results: Of 974 patients interviewed, 539 (56%) were females, and mean age was 35 years. The proportion of patients with incomplete adherence was 13% (95% confidence interval: 11%–15%). In multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with incomplete adherence included young age, being Protestant Christian, consuming alcohol, being single, and being a member of an HIV association. Psychosocial factors like stigma, depression, and satisfaction to care were not associated with incomplete adherence in the current context. Conclusion: The overall adherence to ART was good. However, there were certain subgroups with incomplete adherence who need special attention. The health care providers (especially counselors) need to be aware of these subgroups and tailor their counseling to improve adherence among these groups. Exploratory qualitative studies may help uncover the exact reasons for incomplete adherence

sj-docx-1-smo-10.1177_20503121221125142 – Supplemental material for Sexual violence and adverse reproductive health outcomes among youth females in North Shoa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-smo-10.1177_20503121221125142 for Sexual violence and adverse reproductive health outcomes among youth females in North Shoa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study by Mathewos Mekonnen, Kemal Jemal, Ayele Tilahun, Asfaw Getaye, Kumera Bekele, Dejene Hailu, Dejene Edosa, Elsabeth Legesse, Tadesse Nigusie, Moges Beya and Teshale Mulatu in SAGE Open Medicine</p