BackgroundHealthcare waste management options are varying in Ethiopia. One of the first critical steps in the process of developing a reliable waste management plan requires a widespread understanding of the amount and the management system. This study aimed to assess the health care waste generation rate and its management system in some selected hospitals located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodsSix hospitals in Addis Ababa, (three private and three public), were selected using simple random sampling method for this work. Data was recorded by using an appropriately designed questionnaire, which was completed for the period of two months. The calculations were based on the weights of the health care wastes that were regularly generated in the selected hospitals over a one week period during the year 2011. Average generation indexes were determined in relation to certain important factors, like the type of hospitals (public vs private).ResultsThe median waste generation rate was found to be varied from 0.361- 0.669 kg/patient/day, comprised of 58.69% non-hazardous and 41.31% hazardous wastes. The amount of waste generated was increased as the number of patients flow increased (rs=1). Public hospitals generated high proportion of total health care wastes (59.22%) in comparison with private hospitals (40.48%). The median waste generation rate was significantly vary between hospitals with Kruskal-Wallis test (X2=30.65, p=0.0001). The amount of waste was positively correlated with the number of patients (p < 0.05). The waste separation and treatment practices were very poor. Other alternatives for waste treatment rather than incineration such as a locally made autoclave should be evaluated and implemented.ConclusionThese findings revealed that the management of health care waste at hospitals in Addis Ababa city was poor.

Background: Anemia is the most common hematologic abnormality in HIV patients and is associated with disease progression and decreased survival. This study aims to describe the prevalence and predictors of anemia in HIV positive patients at the time of ART initiation at public health facilities of Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 411 adults (≥15 years) HIV positive patients with complete information on hemoglobin levels and CD4 count and clinical characteristics registered from 2006 to 2013 were assessed for anemia prevalence and risk factors at the ART clinic of the Arba Minch hospital and health center. The measurements of Hemoglobin and CD4 + T cell count were performed using standard methodology at baseline of ART initiation. Results: A total of 411 HIV positive patients (195 males and 216 females) with a mean ± SD age of 33.9 ± 9.0 years were assessed. Hemoglobin levels were between 6.0 and 16.5 mg/dL. The overall prevalence of anemia at the time of ART initiation was 52.3%; with 28.1%, 22.9% and 1.3% mild, moderate and severe anemia respectively. The overall prevalence of anemia was 62.4% A. G. Alamdo et al. 1658 among males and 46.7% among females (P < 0.001). An increased risk of anemia was seen in males (adjusted OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.77 -4.35); low CD4 cell counts (adjusted OR = 3.48, 95% CI = 2.09 -5.79); and history of TB (adjusted OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.28 -6.54). Conclusions: Anemia in HIV-positive patients was highly prevalent at the time of ART initiation. Male gender, low CD4 count and history of TB were associated with higher risk of baseline anemia.

BackgroundSevere Acute Malnutrition (SAM) remains a major cause of child mortality. To improve the management and survival of children the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the protocol for the management of SAM. The protocol suggested the integration of psychosocial stimulation as part of the medico-nutritional care process to prevent the long-term adverse developmental impact of the SAM. However, there is little scientific evidence behind the recommended stimulation intervention.MethodA parallel-group cluster-randomized controlled trial will be conducted among 144 children with SAM age 6–59 months in Southern Ethiopia. The study will have two groups where: children with SAM admitted in the intervention health facilities will receive psychosocial stimulation in addition to the routine inpatient care and for 6 months after discharge. Children with SAM admitted in the SC of the control health facilities will receive the routine inpatient care without psychosocial stimulation and home-based follow up for 6 months after discharge. All mothers/ caregivers will also receive uniform health education on child health-related issues. The primary outcome of the study will be child development while the secondary outcomes will include child growth and treatment outcome. All outcomes will be assessed four times: at enrollment, upon discharge from the SC, at 3 and 6 months of follow up. The data will be analyzed using STATA Version 15 Statistical Software. The anthropometric Z-scores and percentile of the median will be calculated child using WHO Anthro Version 3.2.2 Statistical Software. To assess the overall effect of the intervention by controlling other potential contributing factors, a generalized linear mixed model will be used.DiscussionThe present study will have an important contribution in generating supplementary evidence regarding the effect of psychosocial stimulation interventions on the development and growth outcomes of children with SAM. The study will further address the impact of the intervention on treatment outcome indicators that are still under-researched areas requiring new scientific evidence.Trial registrationPan African Clinical Trials Registry -PACTR201901730324304. Registered 25 November 2018, https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=5739

Background: There are two approved non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretroviral drugs; namely Nevirapine (NVP) and Efavirenz (EFV). Nevirapine and EFV have comparable clinical efficacy when administered in combination regimens. But there is a lack of recent evidence showing the effect of NVP and EFV-based ARTs on immunological responses in HIV infected individuals in Ethiopia in general and Addis Ababa in particular. Methods: Retrospective cohort study design was used to compare immunological response rate of NVP and EFV based HAART regimen in Addis Ababa. Four hundred ninety two HIV infected patients who started HAART in ten selected health facilities were included in the study. Rate of immunologic response was examined at the 6 th , 12 th , 18 th , and 24 th months of follow-up period. The time required to get immunological response was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Adjusted hazard ratio was calculated with a 95% confidence interval by Cox proportional hazards model to determine the rate of immunological response. To ascertain the association, bivariate and multi variable Cox proportional hazard model was used. Statistical significance was considered with two sides P-value of 0.05. Results: The mean CD4 count ranged between 132.2 cell/µl at baseline and 302.3 cell/µl at the end of the follow-up period. This change was significant at 95% of CI but did not show significant differences among the comparison group. The median time to get immunological response was 18 (75% percental 12) months. At the end of the follow-up period, 73.2% (76.6% for NVP and 69.8% for EVF P-value 0.13) of the study population had immunological response. Conclusion: As a conclusion, there was a robust and sustained CD4 response and the effect of NVP and EFV based ART on change of mean CD4 count and immunological response was comparable and effective. Initiation of ART with high baseline CD4 count, in combination of IPT and with either NVP or EFV based NNTI was recommended.

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