Introduction: Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is the leading occupational hazard of the 21st century, which causes the critical public health issues in the present era. In developing countries, including Ethiopia, data on the proportion and the causes of CVS are scarce among academic staff for policy conclusions. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with CVS among academic staff at the University of Gondar. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March to April, 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 525 study participants. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were then entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. The association between dependent and independent variables was computed with a binary logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of CVS was found to be 78.8% out of a total of 500 participants [95% CI (74.95, 82.30)], of which the majority (71.60%) of them were males. Using a computer for more than 9 years [AOR = 1.65, 95% CI (1.01, 2.71)], using visual display terminals [AOR = 2.63, 95% CI (1.60, 4.32)], and working in improper illumination levels (300 and >500 lux) [AOR = 2.47, 95% CI (1.47, 4.33)] increased the risk of CVS, whereas, Using eye droplets [AOR = 0.30, 95% CI (0.15, 0.58)] and taking rest breaks [AOR = 0.55, 95% CI (0.34-0.92)] were protective factors. Conclusion: This study disclosed that CVS was common among academicians. In the current study, the manifestation of CVS was affected by years of computer use, visual display terminals use, workplace illumination level, rest breaks, and eye droplets. Taking rest breaks in between the work, reducing exposure to display screens, use of eye drops, and optimizing workplace illumination levels are recommended to reduce the problem.

Background: Drinking water quality has been a major public health concern in lower and middle income countries where access to improved water supplies is limited. Ethiopia is thought to have one of the worst drinking water infrastructures in the world. This study aimed to assess the spatial variation and determinants of using unimproved sources of drinking water in Ethiopia using recent nationally representative data. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was employed with the recent EDHS data of 2019. A total of 8663 households were sampled using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method. Kuldorff’s SaTScan version 9.6 software was used to generate spatial scan statistics. ArcGIS version 10.7 software was used to visualize the spatial patterns of unimproved drinking water sources. A multilevel multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the use of an unimproved drinking water source. In the multivariable multilevel analysis, those variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered to be significant predictors of using an unimproved source of drinking water. Result: Around 31% (95% CI: 30%, 32%) of the population in Ethiopia uses unimproved sources of drinking water with significant spatial variation across the country. Households aged 41–60 [AOR = 0.69; 95%CI; 0.53, 0.89] as compared to the households aged 10–25, households having middle wealth index [AOR = 0.48; 95%CI; 0.40, 0.59], and households having a rich wealth index [AOR = 0.31; 95%CI; 0.25, 0.39] as compared to the poor households, living in high community literacy level [AOR = 0.36; 95%CI; 0.16, 0.80], living in high-level community poverty [AOR = 3.03; 95%CI; 1.32, 6.98], rural residence [AOR = 7.88; 95%CI; 2.74, 22.67] were significant predictors of use of unimproved source of drinking water. Hot spot areas of use of unimproved drinking water sources were observed in Amhara, Afar, and Somalia regions and some parts of SNNPR and Oromia regions in Ethiopia. The primary clusters were found in Ethiopia’s Somalia and Oromia regions. Conclusion: Around one third of the Ethiopian population utilizes unimproved source of drinking water and it was distributed non-randomly across regions of Ethiopia. The age of the household head, wealth status of the household, residence, community poverty level, and community literacy level were found to be significantly associated with utilizing unimproved drinking water source. State authorities, non-governmental organizations and local health administrators should work to improve the quality of drinking water particularly for high risk groups such as communities living in high poverty and low literacy, poor households, rural residents, and hot spot areas to decrease the adverse consequences of using unimproved drinking water source.

Background: Internally displaced people (IDPs), uprooted by conflict, violence, or disaster, struggle with the trauma of violence, loss, and displacement, making them significantly more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence and associated factors of PTSD among IDPs in Africa.Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2008 and 2023. The search included electronic databases such as PubMed, CABI, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINHAL, and AJOL, as well as other search sources. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel, and analysis was performed using STATA 17 software. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the JBI quality appraisal tool. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors. The funnel plot and Egger’s regression test were used to assess publication bias, and I²test statistics was used to assess heterogeneity. The protocol for this review has been registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023428027).Results: A total of 14 studies with a total of 7,590 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of PTSD among IDPs in Africa was 51% (95% CI: 38.-64). Female gender (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.65–2.32), no longer married (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.43–2.43), unemployment (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.17–2.67), being injured (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.50–1.50), number of traumatic events experienced [4-7(OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.16–3.01), 8–11 (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 2.18–4.12), 12–16 (OR = 5.37, 95% CI: 2.61–8.12)], illness without medical care (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.41–2.29), being depressed (OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 2.07–3.86), and frequency of displacement more than once (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.41–2.85) were significantly associated with an increased risk of PTSD.Conclusions: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the alarming prevalence of PTSD among IDPs in Africa. Female gender, marital status, number of traumatic events, ill health without medical care, depression, and frequency of displacement were identified as significant risk factors for PTSD. Effective interventions and the development of tailored mental health programs are needed to prevent PTSD among IDPs, focusing on the identified risk factors.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a key social, economic, and public health problem in the world. The impact of LBP is given less priority and is empirically unrepresented in low- and middle-income countries as a result of the focus on more pressing and life-threatening health issues, including infectious diseases. In Africa, the prevalence of LBP is irregular and increasing among schoolteachers on account of teaching activities performed under suboptimal working conditions. Therefore, the objective of this review was to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated factors of LBP among school teachers in Africa. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed based on the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive systematic literature search focused on LBP in African school teachers was conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, and CABI databases, regardless of publication timelines, from October 20 to December 3, 2022. In addition, gray literature was searched using Google Scholar and Google Search. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel by using the JBI data extraction checklist. The overall effect of LBP was estimated using a random effect model via DerSimonian-Laird weights. The pooled prevalence and odds ratio of associated factors with 95% CI were computed using STATA 14/SE software. The I² test and Egger’s regression test were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Results: A total of 585 articles were retrieved, and 11 eligible studies involving a total of 5,805 school teachers were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall estimated pooled prevalence of LBP in African school teachers was found to be 59.0% (95% CI: 52.0%–65.0%). Being female [POR: 1.53; 95% CI (1.19, 1.98)], being older [POR: 1.58; 95% CI (1.04, 2.40)], being physically inactive [POR: 1.92; 95% CI (1.04, 3.52)], having sleep problems [POR: 2.03; 95% CI (1.19, 3.44)] and having a history of injury [POR: 1.92; 95% CI (1.67, 2.21)] were factors significantly associated with LBP. Conclusions: The pooled prevalence of LBP was high among school teachers in Africa compared to developed nations. Sex (female), older age, physical inactivity, sleep problems, and a history of previous injury were predictors of LBP. It is suggested that policymakers and administrators ought to gain awareness of LBP and its risk factors to put existing LBP preventive and control measures into action. Prophylactic management and therapeutic strategies for people with LBP should also be endorsed.

Aim: Climate change is the most pressing global challenge of the twenty-first century and has recently been declared as a public health emergency due to its widespread environmental, social, economic, and health impacts. This scoping review aims to map existing evidence on the impact of climate change on health workers. Subject and methods: We followed the JBI guidelines for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR protocol. Systematic searches were conducted in databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, ProQuest, SCOPUS, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO. Peer-reviewed articles published between 01 January 2014 and 03 May 2024 were included. The findings were presented numerically and thematically, and a narrative synthesis summarised the evidence. Results: We analysed 23 studies from different regions and identified four main areas of climate change impacts: physical health impacts, mental health impacts, occupational safety impacts, and impacts on the capacity and resilience of health workers. This review also identified barriers and challenges to health workers’ ability to respond to climate change, including time constraints, gaps in knowledge and training, strains on infrastructure and supply chains, difficulties in resource allocation, and coordination challenges between organisations. Conclusion: The review highlights the substantial physical health, mental health, and occupational safety impacts of climate change on health workers. These effects undermine the resilience of health workers and the operational integrity of health services. To increase health workers’ resilience to climate change impacts, it is essential to implement a comprehensive strategy that includes targeted training, infrastructure upgrades, policy updates, and improved inter-agency coordination.

Introduction: Work-related burnout (WRB) is the degree of physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion perceived by individuals as related to their work. Even though the condition is widespread across various occupations, teachers inevitably experience high levels of burnout in their work, which can have long-term effects on their health and well-being. However, in developing countries such as Ethiopia, the lack of reliable data on psychosocial hazards, including work-related burnout, often encumbers officials from planning preventive measures. This study investigated the prevalence and contributing factors of work-related burnout among public secondary school teachers in Gondar City, northwestern Ethiopia.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2022. A sample of 588 teachers was recruited using simple random sampling. Work-related burnout was assessed using a standardized seven-item Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with work-related burnout.Results: The overall response rate was 94.05% (N = 553). The majority of participants, 356 (64.4%), were male. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 38.74 (±7.65) years. This study demonstrated that the prevalence of work-related burnout among school teachers in the past 12 months was 37.4% (n = 207). High job demands, job stress, job dissatisfaction, low role clarity, and student demotivation were found to be the psychosocial work factors that significantly influenced the prevalence of work-related burnout among school teachers.Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of work-related burnout among public secondary school teachers. Psychosocial work factors such as job demands, job stress, job satisfaction, role clarity, and student demotivation were significant factors influencing work-related burnout. To reduce the condition, it is recommended to take measures to cope with high job demands, improve stress management skills, promote job satisfaction strategies, clarify teachers’ responsibilities, and use effective teaching practices to motivate students. In general, addressing psychosocial work factors needs to be central to efforts to prevent teacher burnout.