Introduction: Though there are studies on the various forms of adverse birth outcomes particularly in developing countries, there is limited information on determinant maternal and fetal factors of adverse birth outcomes at Dessie referral hospital including north east Ethiopia. Objective: To assess adverse birth outcomes and associated factors among delivered mothers in Dessie referral hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study design was conducted in Dessie referral hospital from February 30-March 30, 2017. Random sampling technique was used and 462 sample size was deployed. The collected data was checked; coded and entered to Epi info 7.3 and exported to SPSS version 20 for further analysis. Bivariate logistic regression model used to determine the independent association of dependent and independent variables on the bases of COR; 95 percent of confidence level and significance level of 0.25 Those variables which had significance level of less than 0.25 transferred to multivariable logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression also used to control the possible effects of confounder variables on the basis of AOR; 95 percent of confidence level and significance level of 0.05. Result: A total of 462 delivered mothers participated in this study which yields 100% response rate. The study finding showed that the proportion of adverse birth outcome among the study participants was 32.5%. Out of 462 births 8.2% were still birth, 16.7% were low birth weight, 15.2% preterm and 8.4% were with visible birth defects. Mothers who didn’t attend antenatal care were 4 times more likely to have adverse birth outcome when compared to those who attended antenatal care follow up, [AOR=4.01, 95% CI(2.8,8.3 )]. Similarly, mothers with hemoglobin level less than 11 mg/dl were encountered adverse birth outcomes 3 times more when compared to those with hemoglobin level greater or equal to 11 mg/dl [AOR=3.04, 95% CI(1.62, 5.71)]. The presence of any form of pregnancy complication to current pregnancy were 3 times more likely to result in adverse birth outcomes as compared to no complication [AOR=2.9, 95% CI (1.64, 5.15)]. Conclusion and Recommendation: proportion of adverse birth outcome among the study participants was high. Lack of antenatal care, hemoglobin level, and pregnancy complications, middle upper arm circumference, were predictors of adverse birth outcomes. Increasing antenatal care uptake, prevention and treatment of chronic medical illness, and anemia and improvements in quality of maternal health services require strict attention.

BackgroundIodine deficiency disorder is the leading cause of mental retardation and poor economic performance in developing countries. Worldwide, universal salt iodization has been implemented to eliminate iodine deficiency. However, the adequacy of iodine in salts needs close monitoring to meet its intended goal and this study was aimed at investigating the adequacy of iodine in dietary salt at household level in Dessie and Combolcha Towns.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was employed at household level in Dessie and Combolcha towns from January to February, 2017. Data were collected from 753 households using systematic sampling technique. The adequacy of iodine in salt was analyzed using rapid testing kit. Socio-demographic and economic, dietary sources, labeling, packaging, storage and cooking methods of household’s characteristics were collected via questionnaire developed using open data kit tool and STATA version 12 was used for further statistical analysis. Ordinal Logistic regression was performed to assess associations between explanatory variables and the response variable.ResultsNearly one-thrid (31.2%) of the households used inadequate iodized salt, which was below the World Health Organization recommendation level (≥15 ppm at the household level). Most of the respondents from Combolcha town (64.6%) were affected by inadequate use of iodized salt as compared to Dessie Town residents (22.2%). Being Dessie resident (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.31–4.90), households with better socioeconomic status (OR = 2.54; 95% CI:1.10–5.87), site of labeling and packing (salt from open market (OR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.04–0.23) and no exposure to sunlight (OR = 2.54; 95% CI:1.31–4.91) were the predictors of adequacy of iodized salt at household level.ConclusionsAvailability of adequately iodized salt at the household level in the study area was low. There should be regular quality control and regulatory enforcement of salt iodization at production, labeling and packaging sites of small scale industries and at household level.

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Background Treatment failure among the population on second line antiretroviral therapy is a major public health threat. In Ethiopia there has been limited research done on second line treatment failure. Objective To identify determinants of virologic failure among adults on second line antiretroviral therapy in six public hospitals of Wollo, Amhara regional state, northeast Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based unmatched case–control study was conducted from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 on a total of 377 clients in six public hospitals of Wollo, Amhara regional state, northeast Ethiopia. Clients whose viral load result >1,000 copies/mL in two consecutive results at least 3 month apart were cases, while ≤1,000 copies/mL were controls. The sample size was calculated by using Epi-Info version 7. Cases (94) and controls (283) were selected using a simple random sampling method in a ratio of cases-to-controls of 1:3. The model fitted and binary logistic assumptions were fulfilled with 95% confidence level and P -values<0.05 were taken as statistically significant. Results Virologic failure was predicted by poor adherence (AOR=6.060, 95% CI=2.837–12.944), not disclosing their HIV status (AOR=4.178, 95% CI=1.431–12.198), OI (AOR=4.11, 95% CI=1.827–9.246), CD4 count <100 cells/mm 3 (AOR=3.497, 95% CI=1.233–9.923) and 100–350 cells/mm 3 (AOR=5.442, 95% CI=2.191–13.513), low BMI <16 kg/m 2 (AOR=7.223, 95% CI=2.218–23.520), and young age 15–29 years (AOR=2.898, 95% CI=1.171–7.170). Conclusion and Recommendations Determinants of second line ART virologic failure were patients who had poor adherence to ART, not disclosed, opportunistic infection, low CD4 counts <350 cell/mm 3 , low BMI (<16 kg/m 2 ), and young age 15–29 year patients. Social support, disclosing their HIV status, and getting early treatment for any opportunistic infection is crucial to patients.

Background Opportunistic infections are the major causes for morbidity and mortality due to HIV infections. Despite advances in HIV diagnosis and management, the incidence of opportunistic infections remains high. This study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of opportunistic infections among persons living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective follow-up study was conducted on 354 samples of adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The data collection format was taken from national antiretroviral intake and follow-up forms. Epi-data Version 4.6.1 and STATA Version 16 software were used for data entry and data analysis respectively. The Cox-proportional hazards regression model was fitted. Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to estimate opportunistic infections-free survival time. Both bi-variable and multivariable Cox-proportional hazard regression analysis were done to identify predictors of opportunistic infections. Results Of the total 354 peoples living with HIV, 114 (32.2%) developed OI, with an incidence rate of 13.5 per 100 person-year (95% CI: 10.8–15.6). Advanced World Health Organization clinical disease stage (IV) (AHR: 2.1 (95% CI: 1.16, 3.8)), being bedridden (AHR: 1.66 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.65)), poor adherence (AHR: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1–2.63), and low CD4 count (AHR: 1.92 95% CI: 1.14–3.22) were significant predictors of OIs. Conclusion Opportunistic infection among HIV/AIDS continues to be a significant public health concern in Ethiopian health care setting. Our results indicate that the incidence of OI is high. Besides, Stage IV HIV status, being bedridden, low CD4 count and poor adherence independently predicts an increased incidence/decreased survival time of OIs among PLWHIV. Early care-seeking and initiation of HAART and continuous follow-up of patients to take their drug timely are essential to curb the incidence of opportunistic infections and improve overall health. Further research on this area is highly recommended.