Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among pregnant mothers in the Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 479 pregnant women visiting governmental and private health facilities in the Gedeo zone from January to April 2019. We selected study participants using systematic random sampling techniques. The Eugene strip test was used to determine hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant mothers. We collected the status of HIV of the pregnant women from the records. Other variables were collected from the mothers using interviewer-administered questionnaires. We used binary and multivariable logistic regression for the analysis. An adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to determine the association between HBsAg sero-positivity and various factors. A P-value of less than .05 was considered significant. Results: This study revealed that the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant mothers was 9.2% in Gedeo Zone. A previous history of blood transfusion [AOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 2.1, 12.5], a previous history of hospital admission [AOR = 3, 95% CI: 1.4, 6.6], a history of having an abortion [AOR = 4.1, 95 % CI: 1.5, 11.7], the age of the pregnant women [AOR = 5.1, 95 % CI: 1.5, 18.0], and their HIV status [AOR = 8.1, 95 % CI: 1.9, 36.0] had a statistically significant association with HBsAg sero-positivity. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection was found to have higher endemicity (9.2%) in Gedeo Zone which is higher than the national pooled prevalence which was 4.75%. The health facilities must implement early initiation of antenatal care services which incorporate the prevention and control of HBV in the Gedeo Zone.

Safe and adequate quantity of water is crucial for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures during the prevention of COVID-19. Rainwater harvesting could be an optional water source to fulfill or support the emergency water demand in areas where there is abundant rainfall. The study aimed to assess the rainwater harvesting potential and storage requirements for households and selected institutions and to determine its adequacy to satisfy the emergency water demand for the prevention of COVID-19 in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia. Rainwater harvesting potential for households and selected institutions were quantified using 17 years’ worth of rainfall data from the Ethiopian Meteorology Agency. To address the rainfall variability, we computed the confidence limits of monthly harvest-able rainwater potential using confidence intervals about the mean as well as confidence intervals using Coefficient of Variation (COV) of monthly rainfall. The storage requirements were also estimated by considering the driest and west seasons and months. The average annual rainfall in Dilla town was 1464 mm. Households with a roof area of 40 m 2 and 100 m 2 have the potential to harvest 7.2-39.66 m 3 and 19.11-105.35 m 3 of rainwater respectively. Similarly, the rainwater harvesting potential for the selected institutions was in the range of 34524.5-190374.5m 3 , 4070.8-14964.8 m 3 , 1140.4-6288.6 m 3 , 4561.7-25154.3 m 3 , 5605.8-14152.8 m 3 , and 402.4-2219.1 m 3 of rainwater for colleges, vocational schools, secondary schools, primary schools, Dilla University Referral Hospital and health centers respectively. These institutional rainwater harvesting potentials can address, 24-132.2, 222.4 -817.8, 59.4-327.3, 34.6-190.9, 94.5-238.5, and 28.2-155.7 % of the colleges, vocational schools, secondary schools, primary schools, Dilla University referral hospital, and Rainwater can be an alternative water source for the town in the fight against COVID-19. Further applied researches must be conducted that can address the rainwater quality and treatment for ease of use.

Rainwater harvesting could be an optional water source to fulfil the emergency water demand in different setups. The aim was to assess if the rainwater harvesting potential for households and selected institutions were sufficient to satisfy the emergency water demand for the prevention of COVID-19 in Dilla town, Southern, Ethiopia. Rain water harvesting potential for households and selected institutions were quantified using 17 years’ worth of rainfall data from Ethiopian Metrology Agency. With an average annual rainfall of 1464 mm, households with 40 and 100 m2 roof sizes have a potential to harvest between 15.71-31.15 m3 and 41.73-82.73 m3 of water using Maximum Error Estimate. Meanwhile 7.2-39.7 m3 and 19.11-105.35 m3 of water can be harvested from the same roof sizes using Coefficient of Variation for calculation. Considering mean monthly rainfall, the health centres and Dilla University can attain 45.7% and 77% of their emergency water demand, while the rest of the selected institutions in Dilla Town can attain more than 100 % of their demand using only rainwater. Rain water can be an alternative water source for the town in the fight against COVID-19.

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem worldwide which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among pregnant mothers in Gedio Zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in governmental and private health facilities in Gedeo zone from January to April 2019. The study participants were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Eugene strip test was used to determine hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant mothers. The status of HIV was collected from the records. Other variables were collected from the mothers using interviewer administered questionnaires. Logistic regression was used for the analysis. Adjusted Odds Ratios and their 95% Confidence Interval were calculated to determine association between HBsAg Sero-positivity and various factors. A p-value less than 0.05 were considered as significant. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 25 statistical software. Results: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus among pregnant mothers was 9.2% in Gedio Zone. Previous birth at health institution [AOR=4.4, 95% CI: 1.7, 11.2], blood transfusions [AOR=4.4, 95% CI: 1.8, 10.5], previous history of Hospital admission [AOR=3.3, 95% CI: 1.5, 7.5], ear piercing practice [AOR=5.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 29.0], current Gestational age [AOR=3.6, 95% CI: 1.2, 11.2], and HIV status of the mother [AOR=6.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 30.0] had statistical significant association with HBsAg Sero-positivity. Conclusions: Hepatitis B virus infection was found to have higher endemicity (9.2%) in the Gedio Zone. History of blood transfusion, hospital admissions, ear piercing, being HIV positive, gestational age and institutional delivery were significant predictors for HBsAg sero-positivity. Early initiation of antenatal care service that integrate awareness creation about the risks of hepatitis B infection and mother to child transmission of the disease must be implemented by the health facilities in Gedio Zone.

Rainwater harvesting could be an optional water source to fulfil the emergency water demand in different setups. The aim was to assess if the rainwater harvesting potential for households and selected institutions were sufficient to satisfy the emergency water demand for the prevention of COVID-19 in Dilla town, Southern, Ethiopia. Rain water harvesting potential for households and selected institutions were quantified using 17 years’ worth of rainfall data from Ethiopian Metrology Agency. With an average annual rainfall of 1464 mm, households with 40 and 100 m2 roof sizes have a potential to harvest between 15.71-31.15 m3 and 41.73-82.73 m3 of water using Maximum Error Estimate. Meanwhile 7.2-39.7 m3 and 19.11-105.35 m3 of water can be harvested from the same roof sizes using Coefficient of Variation for calculation. Considering mean monthly rainfall, the health centres and Dilla University can attain 45.7% and 77% of their emergency water demand, while the rest of the selected institutions in Dilla Town can attain more than 100 % of their demand using only rainwater. Rain water can be an alternative water source for the town in the fight against COVID-19.