Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, which is rising in the low and middle income countries (LMICs). There are various studies with inconsistent findings that are inconclusive for policy makers and program planners. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at estimating the pooled prevalence of MetS and its components in LMICs. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in international databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE (Elsevier), Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science direct (Elsevier), Food Science and Technology Abstracts (FSTA), Global Health and Medline, and other sources (World Cat, Google Scholar, and Google). The pooled estimates were computed in the random effect model. The pooled prevalence was computed using the three diagnostic methods (IDF, ATP III and de Ferranti). Publication bias was verified using funnel plot and Egger’s regression test. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed to identify the possible sources of heterogeneity among the included studies. Result: In this study, 142,142 children and adolescents from 76 eligible articles were included to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS and its components in LMCIs. MeTs among overweight and obese population was computed from 20 articles with the pooled prevalence of 24.09%, 36.5%, and 56.32% in IDF, ATP III and de Ferranti criteria, respectively. Similarly, a total of 56 articles were eligible to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS in the general population of children and adolescents. Hence, Mets was found in 3.98% (IDF), 6.71% (ATP III) and 8.91% (de Ferranti) of study subjects. Regarding the components of MetS, abdominal obesity was the major component in overweight and obese population and low HDL-C was the most common component in the general population. This study also revealed that males were highly affected by MetS than females. Conclusion: This study illustrates that MetS among children and adolescents is an emerging public health challenge in LMICs, where the prevalence of obesity is on the move. Preventive strategies such as community and school based intervention need to be designed. Promoting physical activities and healthy eating behaviors could avert this problem.

The diagnoses of active smear negative PTB, remains difficult. As a result, treatment is often carried out empirically relaying on clinical criteria. The distribution and magnitude of smear negative PTB, smear negative MDR-TB and associated factors in the same day diagnosis strategy are not clearly known in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of TB, MDR-TB and associated risk factors among presumptive smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Analytic cross sectional study design was used. A total of 418 smear negative presumptive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled from selected health facilities since August 01, 2017 to January 5, 2018. Sputum samples were examined by Ziehl Neelsen microscopy, Xpert MTB/RIF assay and Culture. Drug susceptibility testing was performed by line probe assay and BACTEC MGIT 960 system. These laboratory tests were performed in Ethiopian Public Health Institute, National TB Reference Laboratory. Data was analyzed by SPSS Ver.20. From the total of 418 enrolled patients, 27 (6.5%) were Xpert MTB/ RIF and 26 (6.4%) were culture confirmed smear negative PTB patients. The positivity rate among male and female was 10.2 and 3.5% (p = 0.005) respectively. From 26 culture positive isolates 3 (11.54%) were MDR TB; from MDR-TB confirmed isolates 2/23 (8.7%) were among new and 1/3 (33.3%) was among retreatment smear negative presumptive pulmonary TB patients. All Rifampicin resistant smear negative pulmonary TB isolates by Xpert MTB/ RIF assay were found to be MDR TB and 7/26 (26.9%) isolates were INH mono resistant. History of migration found to be a potential factor for developing smear negative pulmonary TB. In this study a significant proportion of smear negative pulmonary TB was diagnosed. Furthermore, a high smear negative multi drug resistant (MDR) TB and other mono drug resistant TB prevalence was confirmed. Due to the limitations of smear microscopy which is used as a primary diagnostic tool, these TB strains are missed to be diagnosed and transmission continues in the community.

To assess poor treatment outcomes and its predictors among drug-resistant tuberculosis patients treated in Ethiopia. Data were searched from both electronic databases and other sources. From the whole search, 404 articles reviewed and 17 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria included in the analysis. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was followed and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist used for assessing the quality. Risk of bias assessed using forest plot and Egger's regression test. Data were analyzed using STATA version 15 and Review Manager Software version 5.3. The overall pooled proportion of poor treatment outcome and mortality was 17.86% and 15.13% respectively. The incidence density rate of poor treatment outcome and mortality was 10.41/1000 person-months and 9.28/1000 person-months respectively. Survival status and successful treatment outcomes were 76.97% and 63.82% respectively. HIV positivity, non-HIV comorbidities, clinical complications, extrapulmonary involvement, undernutrition, anemia, treatment delay, lower body weight, and older age were the predictors of poor treatment outcome. Better survival and treatment success rates noted in Ethiopia as compared to the global average. The majority of the poor treatment outcomes occurred within the intensive phase. Early initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment would be important for successful treatment outcomes.

Neural tube defects remain a major problem in developing countries, but there are limited comprehensive national reports to date in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of neural tube defects and associated factors in Ethiopia. Electronic databases and other sources were used to retrieve studies. Fifteen out of 862 studies were included in the final analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of neural tube defects among children in Ethiopia was 63.3 cases per 10 000 children. The pooled prevalence of spinal bifida, anencephaly, and encephalocele was 41.09, 18.90, and 1.07 per 10 000 children, respectively. Previous family history and unplanned pregnancy were risk factors for neural tube defects. Folic acid supplementation during the first trimester of pregnancy was found to be protective. Neural tube defects are widespread in Ethiopia. Hence, fortification of food with folic acid or folic acid supplementation during childbearing age is recommended.

Background: Even though the lives of millions have been saved in the past decades, the mortality rate in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis is still high. Different factors are associated with this mortality. However, there is no comprehensive global report addressing these risk factors. This study aimed to determine the predictors of mortality using data generated at the global level.Methods: We systematically searched five electronic major databases (PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science), and other sources (Google Scholar, Google). We used the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools to assess the quality of included articles. Heterogeneity assessment was conducted using the forest plot and I²heterogeneity test. Data were analyzed using STATA Version 15. The pooled hazard ratio, risk ratio, and odd’s ratio were estimated along with their 95% CIs.Result: After reviewing 640 articles, 49 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The predictors of mortality were; being male (HR = 1.25,95%CI;1.08,1.41,I²;30.5%), older age (HR = 2.13, 95%CI;1.64,2.62,I²;59.0%,RR = 1.40,95%CI; 1.26, 1.53, I²; 48.4%) including a 1 year increase in age (HR = 1.01, 95%CI;1.00,1.03,I²;73.0%), undernutrition (HR = 1.62,95%CI;1.28,1.97,I²;87.2%, RR = 3.13, 95% CI; 2.17,4.09, I²;0.0%), presence of any type of co-morbidity (HR = 1.92,95%CI;1.50–2.33,I²;61.4%, RR = 1.61, 95%CI;1.29, 1.93,I²;0.0%), having diabetes (HR = 1.74, 95%CI; 1.24,2.24, I²;37.3%, RR = 1.60, 95%CI;1.13,2.07, I²;0.0%), HIV co-infection (HR = 2.15, 95%CI;1.69,2.61, I²; 48.2%, RR = 1.49, 95%CI;1.27,1.72, I²;19.5%), TB history (HR = 1.30,95%CI;1.06,1.54, I²;64.6%), previous second-line anti-TB treatment (HR = 2.52, 95% CI;2.15,2.88, I²;0.0%), being smear positive at the baseline (HR = 1.45, 95%CI;1.14,1.76, I²;49.2%, RR = 1.58,95%CI;1.46,1.69, I²;48.7%), having XDR-TB (HR = 2.01, 95%CI;1.50,2.52, I²;60.8%, RR = 2.44, 95%CI;2.16,2.73,I²;46.1%), and any type of clinical complication (HR = 2.98, 95%CI; 2.32, 3.64, I²; 69.9%). There are differences and overlaps of predictors of mortality across different drug-resistance categories. The common predictors of mortality among different drug-resistance categories include; older age, presence of any type of co-morbidity, and undernutrition.Conclusion: Different patient-related demographic (male sex, older age), and clinical factors (undernutrition, HIV co-infection, co-morbidity, diabetes, clinical complications, TB history, previous second-line anti-TB treatment, smear-positive TB, and XDR-TB) were the predictors of mortality in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. The findings would be an important input to the global community to take important measures.

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 overwhelmed tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control, resulting in a decrease in TB detection rate and an increase in TB deaths. Furthermore, the temporary immunosuppressive effects, lung inflammation, and the corticosteroids used to treat COVID-19, may play a direct role in immunosuppression, leading to reactivation of either previous infection or latent TB or the development of new TB. Thus, the aim of this study was to review TB incidence in individuals who recovered from COVID-19.Methods: We conducted a systematic search of available databases for previously published studies that reported TB in COVID-19 survivors. The PRISMA checklist was used to guide the review, and the JBI checklist was used to evaluate the study’s quality. The descriptive data were summarized.Results: Data were extracted from 21 studies conducted in 13 countries having 33 cases. The median age was 44 years (range; 13.5–80), and more than half (18, 54.5%) were males. Twelve patients immigrated from TB endemic settings. All 17 patients assessed for HIV were seronegative, and all 11 patients assessed for BCG vaccination status were vaccinated. The majority (20, 69%) of patients had some type of comorbidity with diabetes (12/29) and hypertension (9/29) being the most common. Four patients (30.77%) had a history of TB. Corticosteroids were used to treat COVID-19 in 62.5% (10) of individuals. Dexamethasone, remdesivir, azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, and enoxaparin were the most commonly used drugs to treat COVID-19. The most common TB symptoms were fever, cough, weight loss, dyspnea, and fatigue. Twenty, eleven, and two patients developed pulmonary, extrapulmonary, and disseminated/miliary TB respectively. It may take up to seven months after COVID-19 recovery to develop tuberculosis. Data on the final treatment outcome was found for 24 patients, and five patients died during the anti-TB treatment period.Conclusion: Tuberculosis after recovering from COVID-19 is becoming more common, potentially leading to a TB outbreak in the post-COVID-19 era. The immunosuppressive nature of the disease and its treatment modalities may contribute to post COVID-19 TB. Thus, we recommend a further study with a large sample size. Furthermore, we recommend feasibility studies to assess and treat latent TB in COVID-19 patients residing in TB endemic counties since treatment of latent TB is done only in TB non-endemic countries.