Anaemia has prevailed as a mild to severe public health problem in Ethiopian women of reproductive age. Many studies carried out on anaemia have been limited to subnational assessments and subgroups of women. The effects of potential factors thought to affect anaemia and severity levels of anaemia have not been well considered. Therefore, this study identifies individual, household and community level factors associated with anaemia among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia applying multilevel ordinal logistic regression models. Proportional odds assumption was tested by likelihood ratio test. About 35.6% of the variation on anaemia was due to between household and community level differences. Pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.82, 2.91), HIV (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.76, 3.25), giving birth once (AOR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.40), giving birth more than once (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.71), living with five or more family members (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.47), living in poorest households (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.2, 1.61) and rural area (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.92) were associated with greater odds of more severe anaemia compared with their respective counter parts. Secondary and above education (AOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.97) and use of pills, implants or injectable (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.77) were associated with lower odds of more severe anaemia. Anaemia prevention and control programmes need to be strengthened for women living with HIV/AIDS and during pregnancy. Household poverty reduction and social protection services need to be strengthened and integrated in anaemia prevention and management activities in women.

Background: Unsuppressed viral load count in patients on anti-retroviral therapy is linked to poorer survival and increased transmission of the virus. Despite efforts made in Ethiopia, the viral load suppression rate is still low. Objective: To estimate time to viral load suppression and predictors of viral load suppression among adults on anti-retroviral therapy in Nigist Elen Mohamed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, 2022. Materials and Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 297 adults on anti-retroviral therapy from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The data were analyzed using STATA 14. Cox regression model was used. The adjusted hazard ratio with 95% CI was estimated. Results: A total of 296 records of patients on anti-retroviral therapy were included in this study. The incidence of viral load suppression was 9.68 per 100-person months. The median time for viral load suppression was 9 months. Patients with baseline CD4 ≥ 200 cell/mm³ (AHR: 1.87; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.63), who had no opportunistic infections (AHR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.52), who were on WHO clinical stage-I or II (AHR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.18, 3.79) and who have taken tuberculosis preventive therapy (AHR = 2.24; 95% CI = 1.66, 3.02) had higher hazards of viral load suppression. Conclusion: The median time for viral load suppression was 9 months. Patients who had no opportunistic infection, with higher CD4 count, on WHO clinical stage-I or II, who have taken tuberculosis preventive therapy had higher hazards of viral load suppression. Careful monitoring and counseling of patients with CD4 levels lower than 200 cells/mm3 are necessary. Careful monitoring and counseling of patients in advanced WHO clinical stages, with lower CD4 count levels and with opportunistic infections is crucial. Strengthening the provision of tuberculosis preventive therapy is warranted.

Background: Severe pneumonia is still the greatest infectious cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five around the world. Each night spent in the hospital raises the chance of bad drug responses, infections, and ulcers by 0.5%, 1.6%, and 0.5%, respectively. In Southern Ethiopia, as well as the research area, little is known regarding death and recovery time from severe pneumonia and their determinants. Objective: To determine time to recovery from severe pneumonia and its predictors among children 2– 59 months of age admitted to pediatric ward of Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: A facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among children 2– 59 months of age. Three years’ medical records, from January 2017 to December 2020, were reviewed. A total of 280 children with severe pneumonia were included. In the case of survival time, median was calculated. Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to estimate recovery time from severe pneumonia, and the independent effects of covariates on recovery time were analyzed using multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model. Results: The median time to recovery was 4 days (interquartile range = 3, 5). The incidence rate of recovery was 24.16 per 100 person-days. Underweight (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.38– 0.80), age group 12– 35 months (adjusted hazard ratio= 2.0, 95% CI=1.30– 3.30), treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin (adjusted hazard ratio= 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13– 0.80), and antibiotic change (adjusted hazard ratio= 0.34, 95% CI = 0.21– 0.53) were statistically significant predictors of time to recovery from severe pneumonia. Conclusion: The median length of stay in the hospital was short (4 days [interquartile range =3, 5]). Time to recover from severe pneumonia was significantly influenced by being underweight, age, antibiotics administered first, and antibiotic change. Measures such as providing nutritious meals to children and ensuring that underweight children are properly managed should be bolstered.

Background: Pneumonia is a major reason for hospital admission among children, particularly in resource-poor areas. A hospital stay (length of stay) alone is found to contribute for 46.8% of a household cost for single episode of severe pneumonia. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of recovery from severe pneumonia and predictors among children 2–59 months of age admitted to pediatric ward of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (ACSH). Methods: A retrospective facility-based cohort study was conducted among under-five-year-old children admitted in ACSH. Three years medical records from July 7, 2015 to July 6, 2018 were reviewed. A total of 285 children with severe pneumonia admitted to pediatric ward of ACSH were included. Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve was used to estimate recovery time. The independent effects of covariates on recovery time are analyzed using multivariate Cox-proportional adjusted model. Result: The median survival time was four days (95% CI = 3.732 – 4.268). The incidence of recovery was 92.3%. Co-morbidity (AOR: 3.47, 95%CI, 2.21, 5.4), malnutrition (AOR = 1.9, 95%CI, 1.2, 3.1), duration of chief complaint (AOR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.54, 0.94), and vaccination (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI, 0.13, 0.81) were significant predictors of time to recovery from severe pneumonia. Conclusion: High recovery rate and short length of hospital stay was observed in this study. Increased duration of chief complaint, presence of co-morbidity, being malnourished, and vaccination were factors that associated with time to recovery. Therefore focuses have to be given in increasing the community’s health seeking behavior to visit health facility early and especial attention should be given for children with co-morbidity, malnutrition, and unvaccinated children.

Background: The world is currently facing a pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). It has caused significant morbidity and mortality. So far little is known about recovery time (prolonged hospital stay) from Covid-19 and its determinants in Ethiopia as well as in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine time to recovery from Covid-19, and identify predictors of time to recovery among patients admitted to treatment centers of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Methods and Materials: A facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among Covid-19 patients admitted to care centers of SNNPR from May 30, 2020 to October 15, 2021. A sample of 845 patients was included in the study. Summarization of the data was done using mean (standard deviation) and median (inter quartile range). Kaplan–Meier Survival Curve was used to estimate recovery time from Covid-19 and the independent effects of covariates on recovery time was analyzed using multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model. Results: The incidence density of recovery was 8.24 per 100 person-days (95% CI: 7.67, 8.85). The overall median recovery time was 10 days (IQR: 8– 16 days). Critical stage of Covid-19 (aHR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.29), severe stage of Covid-19 (aHR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.56), mechanical ventilation (aHR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.56) and treatment center (aHR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.90) were significant predictors of recovery rate among Covid-19 patients. Conclusion: The median time to recovery from Covid-19 was relatively short. The incidence density of recovery was 8.24 per 100 person-days. The hazard of recovery was lower for patients at higher levels of Covid-19 severity and for patients in need of mechanical ventilation. Early identification of severity levels of the patients is required at the time of admission. Special attention, critical follow–up and management is warranted for patients at higher levels of Covid-19 severity.

Background. Among those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, depression is one of the most prevalent mental health issues. Despite its high incidence, depression goes undiagnosed and untreated in the majority of HIV/AIDS patients, which has a negative impact on how well they adhere to their antiretroviral regimen. Objective. To assess the magnitude of depression and associated factors among people attending antiretroviral therapy in public health facilities of Hosanna town, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at public health facilities of Hosanna town from June 6 to July 6, 2019, among people living with HIV/AIDS aged 18 years and older who were on ART. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 392 participants. Data were collected using a pretested and standardized structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Variables having a value less than 0.2 in bivariate analysis were entered into the multiple logistic regression model. Odds ratio with 95% CI was computed, and variables with value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significantly associated with depression. Result. The prevalence of depression among HIV patients was 37.8%. Being female ( , 95% CI (1.21, 3.84)), not disclosing their HIV status ( , 95% CI (1.57, 4.89)), rural dwellers ( , 95% CI (1.58, 4.57)), poor ART adherence ( , 95% CI (1.10, 3.24)), having HIV-perceived stigma ( , 95% CI (1.01, 2.88)), and poor social support ( , 95% CI (1.11, 3.09)) were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion. The magnitude of depression was high among PLWHIVs. Being female, rural dwellers, not disclosing HIV status, poor ART adherence, HIV-perceived stigma, and poor social support were significantly associated with depression. Enhancing adherence, counseling, and linking those patients who had poor social support to the concerned relatives for care and support is recommended. Providing health education both at the facility level and at the community level may reduce stigma and subsequently depression. Encouraging disclosing HIV status may help to prevent depression.