Vulvovaginitis is common in women of reproductive age group characterized by purulent white discharge. The incidence of vulvovaginitis has risen recently due to the resistance of Candida species to commonly used antifungal agents and recurrent infections. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and antifungal susceptibility patterns of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women attending Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023 to August 2023. Using systematic random sampling, 317 pregnant women participated in the study. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Chromogenic Candida Differential Agar were used to isolate and identify Candida species from clinical samples. Antifungal susceptibility was performed using a modified disc diffusion method. Epi data version 4.6 was used for data entry and Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 25 was used for statistical analysis. A P-value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant. The prevalence of vaginal candidiasis was 26.8% (95%, CI 21.9–31.72%). History of using contraceptives (AOR = 5.03, 95%CI, 1.21–11.37), past vaginal candidiasis (AOR = 6, 95%CI, 1.61–12.92), pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (AOR = 4.24, 95%CI, 1.23–14.14), diabetic mellitus (AOR = 2.17, 95%CI, 1.02–4.64), history of antibiotic use (AOR = 3.55, 95%CI, 1.67–12.75), pregnant women in third trimester (AOR = 8.72, 95%CI, 1.30–23.07), were the significantly associated factors for vaginal candidiasis. The study revealed that itraconazole, amphotericin B, and miconazole were the most effective antifungal drugs for all Candida isolates. The present study has identified a high prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women. The isolated Candida species showed resistance to fluconazole, ketoconazole, and clotrimazole. Therefore, healthcare providers should increase awareness of the risks of Candida infections to reduce Candida species among pregnant women. Physicians should prescribe suitable medications based on antifungal drug test outcomes to treat pregnant women with vaginal candidiasis.

Background. The contamination of raw milk depends on the number and type of organisms that can cause health risks, which can be judged by the presence of microorganisms and bacterial pathogens. This study evaluated bacterial contamination, the risk factor, and drug sensitivity patterns. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out on conveniently selected 95 milk producers. Data were collected using the structured pretest questionnaire and the observation control list. Subsequently, 15 to 20 ml of milk samples were taken for laboratory analysis. The milk samples have been diluted and continuously inoculated on the number of standard plates and the blue Eosin methylene germs for the total number of bacteria and coliforms counted. Biochemical and drug sensitivity tests have been done. The version 21 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for analysis. Analysis of the associated factors using binary logistical regression analysis and a value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results. The total bacteria (TBC) and coliform count (CC) average with the standard deviation were 7.57 ± 0.83 log10 and 6.54 ± 1.53 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. The prevalence of raw milk contaminated with TBC and TCC was 84 (88.4%) and 75 (78.9%), respectively. Lack of handwash practice before milking (AOR = 2.4 [95% CI: 0.35–16.4]) and using unclean milk containers (AOR = 7.47 [95% CI: 0.0023–28.64]) were found to be significantly associated with bacterial contamination of raw milk. The bacteria isolated were E. coli (30.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (16.7%), and Salmonella spp. (1.2%). Among isolated bacteria, 76.3% were extensive drug resistant, 13.2% were multidrug resistant, and 2.6% were resistant to all drugs tested in the current study. Conclusion. Guaranteed appropriate hygiene exercise during time of milking and clean containers reduced milk contamination. Doctors should consider resistance to drugs during the treatment of patients with milk disease.

Background: Anemia is a major global public health public health problem in the early stages of childhood, particularly in developing countries. In Africa, anemia causes higher morbidity and mortality among children less than five years old, especially in Ethiopia. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children under five years old attending Bule Hora General Hospital, West Guji Zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Bule Hora General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia from October to November 2020. A convenience sampling technique was used to include 375 under five children enrolled in the study. The pretested structure questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of study individuals after taking appropriate written informed consent. Then, a venous blood sample was collected from each child and analyzed for hemoglobin determination using a Cell-DYN 1800 machine. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors of anemia. A P value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia among under five children was 13.2% (50) [95% CI=5.2– 21.2%] of them anemic children, 11.1% (1) had mild anemia, and 33.3% (3) had moderate anemia and 55.6% (5) had severe anemia. In this study, anemia was significantly associated with recent intestinal protozoan infection [AOR=2.13, 95% CI=1.35– 9.270], malaria infection [AOR=5.42, 95% CI=0.307– 11.034] and soil-transmitted helminths infection [AOR=6.09, 95% CI=2.047– 27.54]. Conclusion: Anemia among under five children in this study was found to be a mild public health problem. It could be managed by preventing malaria infection, intestinal protozoa and soil-transmitted helminthic infection.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major threats to global health, affecting millions of people each year and causing morbidity and mortality. The risk of acquiring chronic HVV infection varies with age, with 90% of infections acquired during the perinatal period. Despite many studies, there is little evidence of this virus in the Borena Zone. Objectives: This study was done to assess seroprevalence HBVinfection and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at selected Borena Zone public hospitals from June 1 to September 30, 2022. Methods: A cross-institutional study was conducted on 368 randomly selected pregnant women who received antenatal care at Yabelo General Hospital and Moyale Primary Hospital. Data on sociodemographic and HBV-related factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. A 5 mL blood sample is then taken and tested using a diagnostic method, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, data were entered using Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 and Stata version 14 for analysis. Independent predictors were identified using logistic regression analysis and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of HBV infection was 21 (5.7%) (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.74-8.61). History of hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.44, 95% CI, 1.07-11.09), traditional tonsillectomy (AOR = 4.16, 95% CI, 1.29-13.40), history of sexually transmitted infection (AOR = 5.99, 95% CI, 1.81-19.85), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (AOR = 8.28, 95% CI, 1.66-41.41), and alcohol drinking (AOR = 5.08, 95% CI, 1.49-17.31) were independent predictors of HBV infection. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a moderate prevalence of HBV in selected public hospitals in the Borena Zone. History of hospitalization, traditional tonsillectomy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and alcohol use was significantly associated with HBV infection. Therefore, there is a need to conduct health education and more community-based research on disease transmission routes.

Anemia adversely affects children’s mental, physical and social development, particularly in Africa. In the early stages of life, it leads to severe negative consequences on the cognitive, growth and development of children. This study aimed to assess anemia and associated risk factors among children under-five years old in the West Guji Zone, southern Ethiopia, from October to November 2020. A hospital-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Bule Hora General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. A convenience sampling technique was used to include 375 under-five children enrolled in the study. The pretested structure questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of study individuals after taking appropriate written informed consent. Then, a venous blood sample was collected from each child and analyzed for hemoglobin determination using a Midray BC 3000 Plus machine. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors of anemia. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of anemia among under-five children was 13.2% (50) [95% CI = 5.2–21.2%]. Among anemic children under-five years of age, 12% (6) had mild anemia, 32% (16) had moderate anemia and 56% (28) had severe anemia. In this study, anemia was significantly associated with a history of intestinal protozoan infection [AOR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.28–10.42], malaria infection [AOR = 5.01, 95% CI = 0.18–11.44] and soil-transmitted helminths infection [AOR = 6.39, 95% CI = 1.75–29.08]. The prevalence of anemia among under-five children was found to be low in the study area; however, the majority of anemic children were in a severe stage. It could be managed by preventing malaria infection, intestinal protozoa and soil-transmitted helminthic infection.

Background and Aim: Milk consumption plays a great role in the nutrition of consumers and the income of producers as well as vendors, but their bacteriological quality causes loss of those benefits. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the bacteriological quality, associated factors and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among raw milk of producers and vendors in Gomole district, Borena zone, South Ethiopia, from March 1 to April 30, 2019. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 purposively selected study participants. Pretested structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used to collect data. Then, 15 to 20 mL of milk samples were collected from producers and vendors for laboratory analysis. Standard plate count agar and eosin methylene blue agar were used for total bacterial count and total coliform count, respectively. Bacterial isolation from poor-quality milk was performed with biochemical tests and antimicrobial susceptibility tests using Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method. After completeness checking, the data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Chi-square (χ²) was used to analyze association factors, and a p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall means ± standard deviation of the total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count (TCC) were 7.75 ± 0.882 and 6.69 ± 1.545 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. The mean TBC was significantly different between producers’ and vendors’ milks t = 2.1 (P < 0.001). The proportions of raw milk TBC and TCC of poor quality were 90% and 80%, respectively. Poor hand washing practices before milking, water source and cleanliness of milk containers were associated with poor milk quality. The isolated bacteria were E. coli (30.8%), S. aureus (17.9%) and Salmonella spp. Out of the bacterial isolates, 80.4% were extensive drug resistant, 14.3% were multidrug resistant, and 5.4% were resistant against all antimicrobials used in this study. Conclusion: Ensuring proper hygienic practices during milking, storage and transportation to reduce milk contamination.