Introduction Community-based health insurance schemes are becoming increasingly recognized as a potential strategy to achieve universal health coverage in developing countries. Ethiopia has implemented community-based health insurance in piloted regions of the country. The scheme aims to improve the utilization of healthcare services by removing financial barriers. There is a dearth of literature regarding the effect of the insurance scheme on the utilization of healthcare services. Methods A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the south Gondar Zone. Six hundred fifty-eight participants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Data were entered into EPI data version 4.4.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the association of factors with the outcome variable. The result of the final model was expressed in terms of Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR) and 95% CI. Result Two hundred twenty-three (67.8%) and 111 (33.7%) of the respondents reported that their family members went to health institutions within three months among CBHI users and non-users respectively. The presence of under-five children (AOR = 2, 95% CI = 1.6–2.4), CBHI scheme membership times (AOR = 3, 95% CI = 2.6–3.4), household wealth index rich (AOR = 4, 95% CI = 2.3–6.3), household wealth index medium (AOR = 3, 95% CI = 1.8–5.8) and presence of chronic illness (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.2–0.8) was associated with health care service utilization. Households who were enrolled in CBHI were more likely to use healthcare services than households who were not enrolled. Conclusion and recommendation Households who were enrolled in CBHI were more likely to use healthcare services than households who were not enrolled. Therefore, health sector leaders and managers in the study area should strengthen their efforts for increasing the enrollment of the community into CBHI.

Introduction. Typhoid fever is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe, and it is a serious illness in developing countries. Typhoid fever is prevalent in Ethiopia, and the burden differs with diverse demography, environment, and climate. The study aimed to determine the incidence of typhoid fever cases by person, place, and time. Method. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the five years (2015–2019) of surveillance data of typhoid fever in the Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The data were extracted from the zonal health management information system database from May to June 2020. SPSS version 21 was used to enter and analyze the data. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the distribution of typhoid fever incidence in time, place, and personal groups. Result. A total of 36,641 individuals suffered from typhoid fever during the five years. Among these, 18,972 (51.8%) were females and 17,669 (48.2%) were males. Incidence of typhoid fever was found as follows: 216, 198, 203, 264, and 299 cases per 100,000 persons were reported during 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. Typhoid fever cases were increased by 1.4 from 2015–2019. A high incidence of cases was observed at the start of wet months. The majority of the investigated cases were identified in Kersa, 4,476 (12.2%), Gomma, 4,075 (11.1%), and Mana, 3,267 (8.9%), woredas. Of the total, 151 (0.4%) of the reported cases were admitted for inpatient care. During the five years of surveillance data, death was not reported from all woredas. Conclusion and Recommendation. Typhoid fever was a major public health problem in the Jimma Zone for the last 5 years, and it was increased through the years. Zonal health departments should strengthen the interventions focused on the woredas that had a high burden of typhoid fever at the start of the wet months.

Background The exact cause of brain tumours is still unknown, but disruptions of redox balance are thought to play a significant role in all stages of brain tumour development. However, the roles of free radical imbalance at different grades of brain tumour and degree of oxidative stress before and after surgery have not been addressed in prior studies. Aim A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the redox imbalance among confirmed brain tumour patients. Methods and results An institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 100 participants (50 brain tumour patients and 50 controls) at referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, t -test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) ( post-hoc ) analysis were used and statistical significance was declared at p ≤ 0.05. The serum oxidised glutathione and total oxidative stress were significantly higher in the serum of brain tumour patients (0.72 ± 0.03 μM/μg and 9.66 ± 1.76 μmol H 2 O 2 Eq/L, respectively) compared to the control group (0.21 ± 0.07 μM/μg and 6.59 ± 0.81 μmol H 2 O 2 Eq/L, respectively) ( p ≤ 0.05). The serum total oxidant status gradually increased as the tumour grade increased, being higher in grade four (11.96 ± 0.72) and lower in grade one (8.43 ± 1.56), and the mean differences were statistically significant ( p ≤ 0 05). A statistically significantly higher total antioxidant capacity (116.78 ± 5.03 Trolox Eq/L) was obtained in the post-surgery than pre-surgery level (79.65 ± 17.914 Trolox Eq/L) ( p ≤ 0 05). Conclusion Higher oxidant and lower antioxidant levels were found in the serum of brain tumour patients than in the control group. The post-surgery oxidant level was lower than the pre-surgery state. The findings of this study could suggest that redox imbalance may have a role in the pathophysiology of brain tumours, but further experimental studies are needed.

Introduction: Acute malnutrition is a nutritional deficiency that results either from inadequate energy or protein intake. It is more prevalent in low-and middle-income countries. Even though efforts have been carried out at the global and national level, the burden is still intolerable and it attracts the attention of the government and researchers. Hence, this study aims to assess the magnitude of acute malnutrition and its associated factors among under-five children who attended Hamusit Health Centre from 1st September to 30th January 2021. Materials and methods: This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st September to 30th January on 404 randomly selected under-five children who visited the health centre. Samples were selected using a simple random sampling technique, and the data were obtained using a pre-tested standardized questionnaire. For data entry and analysis, Epi-info 7 and SPSS 21 applications were used, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify associated factors at a 95% confidence interval. Significance was considered at p-value<0.05. Results: The present research involved a total of 404 children aged 6-59 months. The magnitude of acute malnutrition in this study was 14.4%. Children aged 6-23 months [AOR: 2.92; 95%CI (1.46, 5.85)], vitamin A supplementation [AOR: 0.49; 95%CI (0.25, 0.95)], not timely initiation of complementary feeding [AOR: 2.02; 95%CI (1.06, 3.82)] and children with diarrhea prior to two weeks of the survey [AOR: 2.47; 95% CI (1.28, 4.87)] were significantly associated with acute malnutrition. Conclusion: A significant number of children aged 6-59 months were affected by acute malnutrition. Younger children, vitamin A supplementation, not timely initiation of complementary feeding, and children with diarrhoea were other factors associated with acute malnutrition.

IntroductionTyphoid fever is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe and it is a serious illness in developing countries. Typhoid fever is prevalent in Ethiopia and the burden differs with diverse demography, environment, and climate. Efficient evidence concerning the trend of typhoid fever is important for targeted intervention in the catchment area. So, ongoing analysis of surveillance data is vital but there is no data regarding typhoid fever trend and distribution in the study area. The study aimed to determine the proportion of typhoid fever cases by person, district, and time ,and to assess the mortality rate of typhoid fever. MethodDescriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted among monthly reported typhoid fever surveillance data of 5 years (2015-2019) in Jimma Zone. The data were retrieved, analyzed, and interpreted from May 20/2019 to June 7/ 2019. The study population is estimated to be 3425206. SPSS version 21 was used to enter and analyze the data. ResultA total of 36641 typhoid fever cases were reported. The total prevalence rate during the five years was 24 cases per10,000 residents. The disease mostly occurred in March with these 7200(20%) reported during the period. The majority of the investigated cases were identified in Qarsa woreda 4476(12.2%), Followed by Gomma 4075(11.1%) and Mana 3267 (8.9%) wereda. 159 (0.4%) of the reported cases were admitted and the majority 60 (37.7%) were from Gumay wereda but there was no death from all wereda in the five years. Conclusion and RecommendationTyphoid fever was a major public health problem in the Jimma zone for the last 5 years. The highest incidence of typhoid fever cases was reported at the end of the dry season particularly in March and the distribution of cases was positively skewed to Qarsa, Gomma, and Mana wereda among the surveillance areas. Zonal health departments should strengthen the interventions focused on the wereda that had a high burden of typhoid fever at the end of the dry season.