Cervical cancer is the predominant form of cancer in Ethiopia, accounting for the majority of malignant cases. Women account for two-thirds of cancer-related deaths in the country. Cervical cancer screening (CCS) can help prevent disease development, but screening rates are unacceptably low. The greatest number of women were in the most vulnerable group, and the availability of wheal data on their use of CCSs was limited. This study aimed to evaluate the use of CCS and the factors that influence its use among HIV-positive women receiving antiretroviral therapy at public health facilities. This study used a cross-sectional study design. A total of 396 (97.5%) HIV-positive women participated in this study between March 10 and May 30, 2023. Participants enrolled in public health facilities in Asella town were selected through systematic random sampling, and data were collected through on-site interviews using a pretested, structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science, Version 26. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the determining factors. The findings from this study indicated that 30.3% of individuals used cervical cancer screening services. Those women who had knowledge about cervical cancer had a 2.54 times greater likelihood of receiving CCS than those who were not informed (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = (2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42–4.56). Women with a history of sexually transmitted diseases were twice as likely to use CCS as those without such a history (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.13–3.73). Furthermore, women with a positive attitude towards CCS were found to be significant predictors of utilisation, showing a greater than threefold greater likelihood of using these services (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.78–5.81). The proportion of HIV-positive women who underwent cervical cancer screening (CCS) was significantly lower than the recommended guideline of 80%. To enhance the uptake of screening among women with HIV, healthcare professionals should focus on enhancing awareness about cervical cancer, improving attitudes towards CCS, and advancing knowledge about the disease. Healthcare providers’ collaboration with both government and nongovernmental stakeholders plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of accessibility and attendance at screening services.

Background: Globally, HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are a leading cause of death if they occur as comorbidities in affected individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the collaboration between TB and HIV control activities by determining the co-morbidity rate in Oromia Region, Ethiopia, during the period 2009-2015. Methods: A retrospective health facility-based study was conducted. Data were collected from health facilities implementing the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) strategy in the region. A structured World Health Organization (WHO) reporting format was used as the data collection tool. Pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART)/voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) and TB unit registers were considered as the data sources. Data were collected quarterly and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. The odds ratio was used to assess statistical differences among variables. Results: A total of 115 268 TB patients were counselled and tested for HIV during the study period. Among the patients tested, 60 086 (52.1%) were male, of whom 13 680 (11.8%) were found to have an HIV infection. Among TB patients who were co-infected with HIV, there were slightly higher odds of HIV infection in females than in males (odds ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.17). Between 2009 and 2013, about 56% of TB and HIV co-morbid patients were put on co-trimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) and 35% on ART. HIV infection occurred predominantly within the age group of 25-34 years (31%). On the other hand, 197 152 HIV-infected patients were screened for TB symptoms and 8.4% were found to have active TB. The odds of having TB among males who were initially infected with HIV were higher as compared to females (odds ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.27-1.37). Conclusions: The prevalence of TB and HIV co-morbidity was 11.8% at TB clinics in the region. Low proportions of co-infected patients were put on CPT and ART. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the WHO recommended TB and HIV collaborative activities in the region to reduce the burden of comorbidity and mortality. (c) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Preventing HIV infections remains a key objective for global health initiatives. However, monitoring new infection rates and long-term prevalence trends is

Background: To improve the iodine status and growth of children was not documented in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the effects of nutrition behavior communication change (BCC) on improving iodine status and growth of children 6 to 59 months. Methods: A community cluster randomized trial with a single treatment arm was conducted from February 2018 to April 2020. “Kebeles” [lower administrative units] were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control cluster. Mothers and their paired children were randomly selected from kebeles. Anthropometry data and urine samples were collected at baseline and end-line surveys. Percentile rank and Independent t-test were used to determine the difference between arms. Finally, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) is used to isolate independent predictors. Results: At baseline, 97.83 % (n = 812) mothers/ caregivers and paired children were enrolled for the trial study, but at the end-line, 88.05% (n =715) of children completed the intervention. Iodine deficiency prevalence was higher (11.82%, n = 96) at baseline and reduced to 6.15 % (n =44) at the end-line. The growth defect among children was 41 %( n = 332) at the baseline and declined to 28.67 %( n=205) at the end-line, while among interventions reduced by more than two times (39% to 12.81%). At the baseline, the median UIC among the intervention group was 106.0µg/L and increased to 207.190µg/L. The prevalence of iodine deficiency among intervention was 14.29% (n = 58) at the baseline and lowered to 3.45% (n=14) at the end-line, but a slight increment observed among control from 9.36% to 9.71% at end-line. The end-line median UIC was very high (210.56µg/L ± 150 compared to the baseline median UIC (107µg/L ± 8.66). Most (43.6%) of the intervention group found in the 4th and 5th percentile ranks factions of UIC by Height (Ht) mean differences. Being an intervention group increased Ht by 10.85cm (β =10.85, Std. E = 0.33). Likewise, for 1µg/l UIC change a 1cm (β = 1.0, p = <0.05) Ht change predicted at the end-line. Conclusions: Findings from this trial enhance nutrition behavior communication to improve the iodine status and growth of young children in the community. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the level of iodine deficiency disorders in the community.