Glycemic control in diabetes mellitus is a cornerstone in reducing morbidity and mortality of the disease. Achieving glycemic control or reducing hyperglycemia significantly decreases the microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Even though measurement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) remains the gold standard for assessment of glycemic control, there is no consensus whether fasting or postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) is a better predictor of glycemic control in resource-poor settings when HbA1c is not available. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize evidences on the significance of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, and their correlation with HbA1c. Relevant studies were identified through systematic search of online databases (e.g. EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane library) and manual search of bibliographies of the included studies. Original research papers describing the correlations or associations of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose with HbA1c were included. The MedCalc software was used for data entry and analysis. We used the random effect model to estimate the pooled correlations of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose with HbA1c. Heterogeneity assessment and robustness analysis was also performed. From total 126 articles identified, 14 articles were eligible for systemic review. Eleven of these eligible studies evaluated the correlations of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose to the standard HbA1c values and used in meta-analysis. Seven of these studies (63.5 %) found better or stronger correlations between PPG and HbA1c than fasting plasma glucose (FPG). In all the studies that estimated the relative contribution FPG and PPG to the overall hyperglycemia, decreases in PPG was accounted for greater decrease in HbA1c compared with decreases in FPG value. PPG also showed a better sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value than FPG. The pooled correlation coefficient (r) between PPG and HbA1c was 0.68 (P < 0.001, 95 % CI; 0.56–0.75) slightly higher than pooled correlation coefficient of FPG (r = 0.61(P < 0.001, 95 % CI; 0.48–0.72)). PPG has a closer association with HbA1c than FPG. Hence, PPG is better in predicting overall glycemic control in the absence of HbA1c.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR) is emerging as major challenge facing tuberculosis control programs worldwide particularly in Asia and Africa. Findings from different studies on associations of HIV co-infection and drug resistance among patients with TB have been contradictory (discordant). Some institution based studies found strongly increased risks for multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) among patients co-infected with TB and HIV, whereas other studies found no increased risk (it remains less clear in community based studies. The aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and HIV infection. Systematic review of the published literature of observational studies was conducted. Original studies were identified using databases of Medline/Pubmed, Google Scholar and HINARI. The descriptions of original studies were made using frequency and forest plot. Publication bias was assessed using Funnel plot graphically and Egger weighted and Begg rank regression tests statistically. Heterogeneity across studies was checked using Cochrane Q test statistic and I². Pool risk estimates of MDR-TB and sub-grouping analysis were computed to analyze associations with HIV. Random effects of the meta-analysis of all 24 observational studies showed that HIV is associated with a marginal increased risk of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (estimated Pooled OR 1.24; 95%, 1.04–1.43). Subgroup analyses showed that effect estimates were higher (Pooled OR 2.28; 95%, 1.52–3.04) for primary multi-drug resistance tuberculosis and moderate association between HIV/AIDS and MDR-TB among population based studies and no significant association in institution settings. This study demonstrated that there is association between MDR-TB and HIV. Capacity for diagnosis of MDR-TB and initiating and scale up of antiretroviral treatment, and collaborations between HIV and TB control programs need to be considered and strengthened.

Hypertension has been increasing in developing countries including Ethiopia. Other than smaller studies, there is no national prevalence study on hypertension in Ethiopia. These smaller studies reported varied prevalence of hypertension. This study is intended to summarize and pool the results of smaller region based studies to provide a national level estimate of the prevalence of hypertension. The studies were identified through internet search using the data base of MEDLINE/PubMed, Google scholar, EMBASE, HINARI, Cochrane library and reference lists of previous prevalence studies. We also made manual searches to identify relevant articles. Descriptive information for the original studies is presented in a table and the quantitative results were presented in forest plots. The Cochrane Q test and I² test statistic were used to test heterogeneity across studies. The Pooled estimate of prevalence of hypertension was computed by a random effects model. One hundred eight titles were identified through electronic searching using keywords. Of these, nine studies were meet the inclusion criteria. A random effect meta-analysis of the results from these 9 studies was conducted to provide an estimate of the prevalence of hypertension in the Ethiopian population. The analysis showed that the prevalence of hypertension among Ethiopian population was estimated to be 19.6 % (95 % CI: 13.7 %, 25.5 %). Subgroup analyses indicated that the prevalence of hypertension is higher in the urban population (23.7 %) than rural and urban combined (14.7 %). The prevalence of hypertension among males (20.6 %) and females (19.2 %) was similar. This study found that the prevalence of hypertension in Ethiopia is increasing. This evidence suggests that attention has to be given to primary prevention of hypertension in the Ethiopian adult population, especially in the urban population by integrating it with health extension programs.

Objective: Epidemiological studies have indicated that dietary patterns during pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW). However, the results of these studies are varied and inconsistent. The present study aimed to assess the association between dietary patterns and the risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Seven databases were searched for articles. Two reviewers performed the study selection and data extraction. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled effect sizes of eligible studies.Setting: Studies conducted all over the world were incorporated.Subjects: The review focused on pregnant women.Results: A total of twenty-one studies were identified. Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern (intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains) was significantly associated with lower odds (OR; 95 % CI) of pre-eclampsia (0·78; 0·70, 0·86; I²=39·0 %, P=0·178), GDM (0·78; 0·56, 0·99; I²=68·6 %, P=0·013) and PTB (0·75; 0·57, 0·93; I²=89·6 %, P=0·0001).Conclusions: Our review suggests that dietary patterns with a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish are associated with a decreased likelihood of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Further research should be conducted in low-income countries to understand the impact of limited resources on dietary intake and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Geographic access to obstetric care facilities has a significant influence on women’s uptake of institutional delivery care. However, this effect was not consistent across studies. Some studies reported that geographic access to obstetric care facilities had no influence on the use of facility delivery. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized and pooled the influence of geographic access on institutional delivery service uptake in low and middle-income countries. Multiple combinations of search terms were used to search articles from six databases and a hand search of reference lists performed. We included observational studies conducted in low and middle-income countries which reported the influence of geographic access on delivery care use. The pooled effects of geographic access on institutional delivery care use were calculated using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval. In this study a total of 31 studies were included. Among these studies, 15 met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analyses, while the remaining 16 were summarized using qualitative synthesis. Studies included in the analysis where women had to walk 60 minutes or less to access a health facility delivery were significantly heterogeneous. Having access to obstetric care facilities within five kilometres was significantly associated with institutional deliveries (pooled OR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.82, 2.82). Similarly, a travelling time of 60 minutes or less was significantly associated with higher odds of health facility delivery (pooled OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.97, 5.53). Every one-hour and one-kilometre increase in travel time and distance, respectively, was negatively associated with institutional delivery care use. Geographic access measured in either physical distance and/or travel time was significantly associated with women’s use of facility delivery. The greater the distance and/or travel time to obstetric care facilities, the greater the barrier and the lesser the service uptake.

Hepatitis B (HB) is a serious infection that affects liver and caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). HB is a serious global public health problem and the health professionals are most at risk. It is contagious and easy to be transmitted from one infected individual to another by blood to blood contact, mother to child, unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of eating utensils and other barber shop and beauty salon equipment. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and practices about transmissions and prevention of hepatitis B among medical and health science students on clinical attachment in Haramaya University. A cross sectional study was conducted among 322 health science and medical students who are starting clinical attachment (year II, III, IV, V and IV) from February 1–15, 2013. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Out of 322 distributed questionnaires, 322 were returned with a response rate of 100.0%. Majority of the students (91%) were in the age group 20–24 and 232 (72%) of the respondents were male. Majorities (95.3%) of students were not fully vaccinated against Hepatitis B and 48.4% of the students were not aware about the availability of post exposure prophylaxis for HB. Mean scores for knowledge and practice were 11.52±2.37 and 2.76±1.1 respectively. Significant and positive linear correlations between knowledge-practice (r = 0.173, p = 0.002) was observed. Study department was significantly associated with mean knowledge and practice of study respondents. This study indicates that lack of awareness about Hepatitis B, its route of transmission and modes of prevention among the medical students entering into the profession. Similarly, 95.3% the students were not fully vaccinated against Hepatitis B, which makes them vulnerable to the disease.