Background: Malaria is a major global health hazard, particularly in developing countries such as Ethiopia, where it contributes to high morbidity and mortality rates. According to reports from the South Omo Zone Health Bureau, despite various interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying, the incidence of malaria has increased in recent years. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal variation in malaria incidence in the South Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using 4 years of malaria data from the South Omo Zone District Health Information Software (DHIS). The incidence rate of malaria per 1,000 people was calculated using Microsoft Excel software. Kulldorff SaTScan software with a discrete Poisson model was used to identify statistically significant spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal malaria clusters. Graduated color maps depicting the incidence of malaria were generated using ArcGIS 10.7 software.Results: Spatial clusters were identified in the districts of Dasenech (RR = 2.06, p < 0.0001), Hamer (RR = 1.90, p < 0.0001), Salamago (RR = 2.00, p < 0.0001), Bena Tsemay (RR = 1.71, p < 0.0001), Malie (RR = 1.50, p < 0.0001), Nyngatom (RR = 1.91, p < 0.0001) and North Ari (RR = 1.05, p < 0.0001) during the period from 08th July 2019 to 07th July 2023. A temporal cluster was identified as the risk period across all districts between 08th July 2022 and 07th July 2023 (RR = 1.59, p = 0.001). Spatiotemporal clusters were detected in Dasenech (RR = 2.26, p < 0.001) Salamago, (RR = 2.97, p < 0.001) Hamer (RR = 1.95, p < 0.001), Malie (RR = 2.03, p < 0.001), Bena Tsemay (RR = 1.80, p < 0.001), Nyngatom (RR = 2.65, p < 0.001), North Ari (RR = 1.50, p < 0.001), and Jinka town (RR = 1.19, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Significant spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal clusters in malaria incidence were identified in the South Omo Zone. To better understand the factors contributing to these high-risk areas, further research is needed to explore individual, household, geographical, and climatic factors. Targeted interventions based on these findings could help reduce malaria incidence and associated risks in the region.

Background: According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, unimproved drinking water sources include unprotected wells and springs, surface water (e.g., rivers, lakes), vendor-provided water, bottled water (without improved alternatives), and tanker truck-provided water. In East Africa, 68.7% of water at very high risk comes from such sources. Using unimproved drinking water sources can lead to serious health risks, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, and hepatitis. Therefore, this study aimed to map the spatial distribution of unimproved drinking water sources in the region. Methods: We analyzed recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 12 East African countries (Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). A total of 206,748 households were sampled in 12 East African countries. Data management and analysis were carried out in several stages, beginning with data cleaning, followed by statistical weighting and data merging. This was then followed by geospatial analysis and mapping, and finally, spatial cluster detection. Results: Spatial clusters of unimproved drinking water sources were identified within the study area (Global Moran’s I: 0.018, z-score: 87.10, p < 0.05). A total of 167 significant spatial windows containing primary and secondary clusters were identified. The first spatial window contained the primary clusters, while the remaining 166 spatial windows contained secondary clusters. Primary clusters were found in Madagascar and coastal Mozambique, with secondary clusters distributed across all 12 countries analyzed. Conclusions: This study identified significant clusters, hotspots, and outliers (high-high clusters) of unimproved drinking water sources across various East African countries. To address these issues effectively, priority should be given to the identified clusters, hotspots, and high-high clusters. Primary recommendations include expanding water treatment facilities, improving water distribution systems, and protecting drinking water sources. Secondary recommendations emphasize strengthening regulations, conducting research, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure sustainable access to clean water. Finally, we urge collaboration among governments, international organizations, and NGOs to enhance water infrastructure. Their efforts should focus on providing technical assistance, financial support, capacity building, project implementation, advocacy, and financing for drinking water infrastructure in the region. Further research integrating health outcome data with spatial analysis could help identify high-risk regions where the impacts of unimproved water sources are most pronounced.

Slum areas in Ethiopia have high poverty status. In addition, they possess poor water and sanitation accesses such as unsafe drinking water, a lower number of sanitation facilities and poor hygienic conditions. These scenarios are important in the occurrence of diarrhea among under five children’s. However, there are many studies conducted on diarrhea among under five children in Ethiopia, unfortunately, the majority usually didn’t give enough coverage for the burden of diarrhea among under five children in slum areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diarrhea and associated factors among under five children in slum areas of Gondar City. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in slum areas of Gondar City among under five children from March 28 to April 28, 2023. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to collect a sample of 836 through interview-administered methods using a structured data collection tool. The collected data was manually checked for completeness, coded, and entered into EPI Info version 7.1.5.2 software. It was then exported to Stata version 14.1 software for descriptive analysis, as well as bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses, to identify factors associated with diarrhea among under five children. The prevalence of diarrhea among under five children at 95% confidence interval was 24.64% (CI 21.71–27.56). Mothers/caretakers age < 25 years (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.16–3.06), mothers/caretakers age between 28 and 31 years (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.08–3.05), mothers/caretakers who had no formal education (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.86–5.41), mothers/caretakers who had primary education (AOR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.09–2.57), income level between 4877 and 5643 Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.04–3.15), family size greater than five (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.00–2.36), flies around the house (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.38–3.73), playground not clean (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.62–4.50), breastfed for ≥ 1 year (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.41–0.97), mothers/caretakers who did not wash their hands before food preparation and eating (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.39–3.58), mothers/caretakers who did not wash their hands after visiting latrine (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.07–2.38) were significantly associated factors with diarrhea among under five children in slum areas of Gondar City. The study indicates that the prevalence of diarrhea was higher among under five children in slum areas of Gondar City. The Gondar City Administration Education Bureau should give great emphasis on improving mother’s and caretaker’s education. In addition, the Gondar City Administration Health Bureau should educate mothers and caretakers about breastfeeding, sanitation, and hygiene in the slum areas of Gondar City.

One-third of the population in sub-Saharan Africa does not have access to adequate hygiene and sanitation facilities. Many still lack decent and functional toilets, impacting health, dignity, and development. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the geographical distribution and factors associated with unimproved sanitation facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. This study used Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 500,845 households within 20,492 clusters across 34 sub-Saharan African countries, which were weighted, cleaned, and analysed using STATA version 17. Spatial analyses were conducted using ArcGIS software version 10.7 and Kulldorff’s SaTScan software version 10.1. Multilevel analysis was employed to identify contributing factors, with associations presented as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (p < 0.05). Significant spatial clustering and hotspots of unimproved sanitation facilities were identified within sub-Saharan Africa. The magnitude of unimproved sanitation facilities in sub-Saharan Africa was 48.88% (95% CI: 48.74–49.02%). The magnitude of unimproved sanitation was lowest in Malawi at 16.70% and highest in Chad at 88.52%. Several individual and community level factors were significantly associated with the utilization of unimproved sanitation facilities. At the individual level, female-headed households and those with access to improved drinking water source were less likely to use unimproved sanitation. In contrast, households headed by individuals aged 11–35 and 36–50 years, divorced households, and households with more than four members were associated with greater use of unimproved sanitation facilities. Additionally, households in the poorest, poorer, middle, and richer wealth categories were also associated with a greater use of unimproved sanitation facilities. Furthermore, households with water sources located in the yard/plot and off-premises had higher odds of using unimproved sanitation. At the community level, rural residence and lack of media exposure were associated with greater use of unimproved sanitation facilities. Unimproved sanitation facilities remain a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, with significant regional disparities and a 48% magnitude. Addressing this issue requires targeted government policies, financial support for sanitation infrastructure, improved water supply, hygiene awareness campaigns, increased media exposure, and better sanitation facilities in rural areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) as a primary strategy for malaria control during pregnancy. Despite these recommendations, ITN utilization among pregnant women in endemic regions, particularly East Africa, remains lower and inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis comprehensively examined individual studies to provide a more robust and reliable estimate of ITN utilization among pregnant women in the region. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of ITN utilization among pregnant women in East Africa. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify studies on insecticide-treated bed net utilization among pregnant women in East Africa. We searched the Medline/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Science Direct, Epistemonikos, Google Scholar, and Google manual databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. We used predefined inclusion criteria to screen identified studies. Heterogeneity across the studies was evaluated via Cochrane Q test statistics and the I2 test. A random effects model was computed to estimate the pooled prevalence of ITN utilization among pregnant women in East Africa. After a systematic review of 11,509 studies, 35 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The findings from the 35 studies revealed that the pooled prevalence of ITN utilization among pregnant women in East Africa was 51.6% (95% CI: 42, 61). Subgroup analysis revealed that the highest prevalence of ITN utilization was observed in South Sudan (89%), and the lowest was in Sudan (12%). This review revealed that a significant proportion of pregnant women in East Africa did not use ITNs. In addition, there was significant variation in ITN utilization among pregnant women across East African countries. These findings indicate a need for tailored interventions to address these disparities.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain a significant public health challenge, particularly among school-aged children in low- and middle-income coun