Horn African Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences

Mortality rate and Its predictors among acutely poisoned patients admitted to North Shewa Zone public hospitals, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Senait Ababu — 2025-08-17

Background: Poisoning is a serious medical emergency that has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. People of all nations are frequently exposed to poisoning. The magnitude is higher in developing countries. Nevertheless, there is no well-organized poison control center, screening, or confirmatory tests in low-income countries. Moreover, there is currently a lack of data concerning the survival status of patients after acute poisoning in Ethiopia. There is also limited evidence on factors associated with mortality among poisoned patients. Thus, this study aimed to determine the factors associated with mortality among acute poisoned patients at North Shewa Zone Public Hospitals, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess the factors associated with mortality in acutely poisoned patients at North Shewa Zone Public Hospitals, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2024.

Method: An institutional-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 268 acutely poisoned patients admitted to North Shewa Zone Public Hospitals and whose treatment outcomes registered from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2024. The data were collected by reviewing the medical records of the patients. The collected data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to assess the factors associated with death due to acute poisoning. The final results of the associations are presented as the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results: A total of 268 medical records of poisoned patients were reviewed retrospectively. Of the total admitted patients 260 (97.1%) had complete recorded information. The mortality rate in the current study was 16.2% (95% CI: 11.9–20.8). Being a rural dweller [AOR = 2.2 95% CI 2.5 –6.3], poisoning intentionally [AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 2.5–11.2), being unconscious [AOR = 6.1 95% CI: 8.3–17.2] and time of arrival >2 hours [AOR = 8.8 95% CI: 8.3–14.2] were independently and significantly predicted mortality rate of mortality.

Conclusion: Poisoning-related mortality rate was considerable in the study area. Interventions that targeted rural communities, those self-poisoned and unconscious during admission, and late time of rival to the hospital are vital to reduce mortality related to poisoning. manner of poisoning, time of arrival and level of consciousness were found to be independent

HIV self-testing: Knowledge and attitude of Healthcare workers towards its recommendations in Ethiopia

Dursa Hussein — 2025-08-17

Background: Effective Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention strategies require healthcare workers (HCWs) to understand and recommend HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) to patients. However, there is limited evidence on HCWs' knowledge and attitudes toward HIVST in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards HIVST and associated factors among HCWs in public hospitals of the North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the North Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, from March 01 to April 01, 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 413 participants. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. EpiData version 3.1 was used for data entry, and SPSS version 24.0 software was used for data analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant in multivariable binary logistic regression.

Results: A total of 413 participants enrolled in this study with a response rate of 97.8%. Overall, 54.5% (95% CI: 49.4–59.8) of the participants had high knowledge and 54.2% (95% CI: 49.4, 59.1) had good attitude towards HIVST recommendations. In addition, ever tested for HIV/AIDS (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3–7.2) and received training in the area of HIV/other STIs (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.01–2.3) were significantly associated with the knowledge of HIVST. While knowledge of HIVST (AOR = 2.3, 95%CI: 1.5–3.3) and received training in the area of HIV/AIDS/, other STIs (AOR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3–2.9) were significantly associated with the attitude towards the recommendation of HIVST.

Conclusions: The knowledge and attitudes of HCWs regarding HIVST were found to be comparably low. It is essential to develop and implement comprehensive training programs for HCWs that cover HIVST procedures, benefits, and counselling techniques.

Unilateral twin pregnancy in Uterus didelphys of multigravida woman concomitant with placenta previa: A Case Report

Yohannes Dabalo — 2025-08-17

Background: Uterus didelphys, also known as a double uterus is a rare Müllerian duct anomaly (MDA). This case report presents a unique instance of uterus didelphys in a multigravida woman who also had placenta previa. Remarkably, she carried her twin pregnancy to full term and delivered via Cesarean section.

Case: A 32-year-old woman, gravida VII, para V, abortion I with a gestational age of 40 weeks and five days based on a reliable last normal menstrual period (LNMP) presented to Salale University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

She reported experiencing vaginal bleeding and a pushing-down sensation for the past two hours. An obstetric ultrasound revealed a live twin intrauterine pregnancy. Both twins were in cephalic presentation, and the placenta was posterior, completely covering the internal cervical os (placenta previa). A Pfannenstiel incision was performed, revealing an intact, gravid uterus on the left side with a well-formed lower uterine segment, and a separate, empty uterus on the right side. Each uterus had a single fallopian tube and ovary. The uterine cavities were distinct, each with its own cervix, which both opened into a single vaginal canal. A lower uterine segment transverse cesarean section was performed, resulting in the delivery of two female twins weighing 1600g and 1700g, respectively. The postoperative period was smooth.

Conclusion: This case report contributes to the existing literature on the management of a very rare obstetric condition. Timely identification of uterus didelphys is crucial for providing comprehensive care throughout pregnancy and delivery, thereby mitigating potential adverse outcomes. Consequently, prioritizing the availability of obstetric ultrasound at health centers is essential for identifying the various types and anatomical variations of uterus didelphys during antenatal care (ANC) follow-up. This will enable healthcare providers to effectively prepare and advise pregnant women.

Prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in Nekemte town, Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Biniyam Aberra — 2025-08-17

Background: Pregnant women in developing countries, including Ethiopia, are suffering from undernutrition because of their physiological requirements. However, little information is known about undernutrition and major influencing factors among pregnant women in the study area. Thus, this study was planned to assess undernutrition (mid-upper arm circumference) and its main associated factors among pregnant women in Nekemte town, Western Oromia, Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Nekemte town from June 8 to July 12, 2023. A simple random sampling method was used to select 579 study participants. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the degree of association between dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: Pregnant women who had mid-upper arm circumference less than 23 cm were 22.8%. Variables such as household food insecurity (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2–3.2), poor dietary intake (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5–3.8), poor wealth index (AOR = 4.6; 95% CI, 2.9–7.3), history of abortion (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5–5.6), and family size > 5 (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.6–4.0) were significantly associated factors with undernutrition.

Conclusions: The prevalence of poor mid-upper arm circumference in this study was lower compared to previous studies reported from Ethiopia. The intervention that targets household food insecurity, poor dietary intake, poor economic status, history of abortion, and large family size are required to ensure the nutritional status of pregnant women.

Time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition and associated factors among under-5 children in public Health Centers in Jarso District, East Ethiopia: Retrospective Cohort Study

Ararso Hordofa Guye — 2025-08-17

Background: Severe acute malnutrition affects about 20 million children under five worldwide, and it increases the risk of morbidity and mortality with infectious diseases. Despite its therapeutic interventions, Ethiopia has the highest rate of child mortality which is about 28% of all child fatalities among under-five children. Thus, this study aimed to determine the median time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition and associated factors among children admitted to health centers in Jarso District, East Ethiopia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Jarso District from March 01 to April 30, 2022, with a total sample size of 440. The pretested tools were used to collect the data. The nutritional recovery time was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the significance of the observed difference in recovery time between various groups of predictor variables was assessed using the Log-rank test. Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors.

Results: The nutritional recovery rate was 82.7%, and the median recovery time was 28 days (95% CI: 24.98–31.02). Age <24 months (AHR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.78–0.99), daily weight gain <8 g/kg/day (AHR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91-0.96), not fully vaccinated (AHR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.21), presence of pneumonia (AHR =0.93, 95% CI: 0.89–0.97), presence of stunting (AHR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98), presence of shock (AHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93-0.98), and children received vitamin A (AHR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.15) were the significant predictors of nutritional recovery time.

Conclusion: The nutritional recovery rate and median recovery time were found to be within the acceptable range of the minimum standard specified by the international standards value. Interventions that targeted young age children, poor daily weight gain, not fully vaccinated, pneumonia infection, stunted children, children with shock, and lack of vitamin A supplementation are required to shorten time to recover from severe acute malnutrition among under-5 children.

Africa should leverage the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the fight against communicable diseases

Fanuel Songwe — 2025-08-17

Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Therapy Adherence and Associated Factors among Adults on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, 2022

Tadesse Nigussie — 2025-08-17

Background: Adherence to cotrimoxazole prophylactic medication is indispensable for adequately controlling viral load and lowering opportunistic infections linked to HIV/AIDS. However, the degree of adherence to cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among individuals with HIV in Ethiopia is not well recorded. Thus, the current study sought to determine adherence to cotrimoxazole prophylaxis therapy and associated factors among adults receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Lemi Kura Sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 356 adults on HAART from May 20 to July 5, 2022. Participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. The data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of participants, while a logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with the dependent variable. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significantly associated with adherence.

Results: The level of adherence to cotrimoxazole prophylaxis therapy (CPT) was 159 (46.1%). Being pregnant [AOR, 8.9, 95% CI; (4.1–16.5)], having a single marital status [AOR=2.8, 95% CI; (1.3–5.9)], initiating CPT concurrently with ART [AOR=4.9, 95% CI; (1.7–14.5)], and duration of CPT more than 3 months [AOR=3.8, 95% CI; (1.6–10.9)] were significantly associated with non-adherence.

Conclusion: The non-adherence level to CPT in the study area was found to be high, with 53.9% of individuals on HAART being non-adherent. Interventions targeting the timing and duration of CPT initiation, individuals with a single marital status, and those who have been on CPT for more than three months are crucial to reduce non-adherence.

Efficacy and Safety of Malaria Vaccines: Can Ethiopia Introduce Them?

Dr Habteyes Tola — 2025-08-17

Malaria is causing significant health problems across the world. Sub-Saharan Africa is among the parts of the world which are significantly affected. Ethiopia is one of the countries where malaria remains a major public health concern, despite ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease in high-burden districts. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended RTS,S/AS01 for use in combination with other malaria control interventions in children living in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission. This vaccine has demonstrated reasonable effectiveness against clinical malaria and has demonstrated acceptable safety. The malaria vaccine is 26.7% effective in children aged 6–12 weeks and 45.7% effective in children aged 5–17 months. This effectiveness was measured 18 months after they received the third dose. R21/Matrix-M is the second malaria vaccine that was recently recommended by the WHO. It has shown high efficacy (74% with a low dose and 77% with a high dose of adjuvants) and a favorable safety profile. It is also recommended by the WHO for routine childhood immunization. The introduction of WHO-recommended malaria vaccines into national routine immunization programs is crucial to reduce the incidence of malaria cases and deaths among children in endemic areas.