Diagnostic value of long noncoding RNAs as biomarkers for Ankylosing Spondylitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) presents as a debilitating form of arthritis with potential for severe damage. In chronic cases, patients may experience progression to ankylosis and spinal immobility, significantly diminishing their quality of life. Given these challenges, there is a pressing need to explore novel diagnostic targets.

Prevalence and predictors of parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against human papillomavirus in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major health burden, especially in developing countries. Primary prevention through HPV vaccination has demonstrated excellent efficacy in preventing r cervical cancer incidence. Parental willingness on behalf of their daughters plays a crucial part in deciding whether they should get an HPV vaccine or not, which determines the vaccine coverage.

Predictors of inadequate minimum acceptable diet among infants and young children in Ethiopia: a multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Background: Inadequate minimum acceptable diet is the cause of poor physical and mental development and poses a significant burden among infants and young children aged between 6 and 23 months. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the factors contributing to inadequate minimum acceptable diet among infants and young children in Ethiopia.

Method: The 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey dataset, with 1,463 weighted samples of children aged 6-23 months, was used.

Long-term effects of metformin on offspring health: A review of current evidence and future directions.

Metformin is widely prescribed for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovary syndrome, and gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. Its use is driven by factors including oral administration, lower patient and health system burden and cost, and benefits including lower risk of excess gestational weight gain and hypoglycemia compared with insulin. Metformin use appears safe in pregnancy; however, there remain concerns regarding long-term effects of intrauterine metformin exposure on offspring health.

Predictors of anemia among HIV-infected children in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anemia continues to be one of the common complications among HIV-infected children. In Ethiopia, though there is a systematic review and meta-analysis study on anemia among HIV-infected children, it only disclosed the effect Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment on HIV/AIDS-anemia comorbidity, and yet, the meta effect of other potential factors such as type of ART, presence of opportunistic infection, advanced stage of HIV/AIDS, and cotrimoxazole therapy on HIV/AIDS-anemia comorbidity have not been explored in the previous review. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the factors associated with anemia among HIV-infected children.

The Burden of Asymptomatic Malaria Infection in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Exploring Barriers to Elimination and Prevention.

Background: Malaria remains a major public health problem that continues to cause death in under-five children nearly every minute. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the pooled prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic malaria in children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Relevant studies were retrieved from Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, Gray Literature, Embase, and African Online Journal databases published between 2014 and 2024.

Role of digital technology in epidemic control: a scoping review on COVID-19 and Ebola.

Objective: To synthesise the role of digital technologies in epidemic control and prevention, focussing on Ebola and COVID-19.

Design: A scoping review.

Data Sources: A systematic search was done on PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, Google Scholar and a direct Google search until 10 September 2024.

Geo-spatial analysis of high-risk fertility behaviors and child stunting in Ethiopia.

Background: The process of childbirth involves significant risks, particularly when certain high-risk fertility behaviors (HRFBs) are observed. HRFB of birth includes maternal age below 18 years or above 34 years at the time of childbirth, having a child born after a short birth interval (24 months), and having a high parity (more than three children). The majority of child stunting cases were linked to high-risk reproductive practices.

Incidence of lost to follow up among HIV-positive children on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: At the end of 2022, globally, only 46% of children (aged 0-14 years) on ART had suppressed viral loads. Viral load suppression is crucial to reduce HIV-related deaths. To suppress the viral load at the expected level, children must be retained in ART treatment.

Changes in selected hematological parameters in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that causes hyperglycemia and various life-threatening health problems. Although hematological parameters play a significant role in the progression and pathogenesis of diabetes, many studies have explored contradictory findings. Therefore, this evidence-based study aimed to determine the pooled mean difference of white blood cell and red blood cell parameters in diabetic patients in order to investigate hematological dysfunctions in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites among Children under Five Years of Age Attended at Bachuma Primary Hospital, West Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In regions of the world with low resources, such as Ethiopia, intestinal parasite diseases are still highly prevalent, especially in children. Poor personal and environmental hygiene, as well as unsafe and low-quality drinking water, are the main causes of this. This investigation aimed to determine the frequency of intestinal parasites and risk factors among children under 5 years age at Bachuma Primary Hospital in 2022.

Dyslipidemia and Its Associated Factors Among -Infected Patients Attending at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, North-West Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Dyslipidemia refers to a lipid profile disturbance due to decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. infection can lead to some appetite-related disorders that may cause deregulated absorption of nutrients in the digestive system, contributing to changes in serum lipids. The purpose of this study is to assess dyslipidemia and its associated factors among -infected patients attending at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Trend Analysis and Forecasting the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in Ethiopia Using Box-Jenkins Modeling Procedure.

Introduction: COVID-19, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, is spreading rapidly across the world, and the severity of this pandemic is rising in Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to analyze the trend and forecast the spread of COVID-19 and to develop an appropriate statistical forecast model.

Methodology: Data on the daily spread between 13 March, 2020 and 31 August 2020 were collected for the development of the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms and Its Associated Factors Among Residents of Gondar Town During the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: An acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID) was identified in late 2019. COVID-19 triggered a wide range of psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. However, studies on mental health status in developing countries including Ethiopia related to COVID-19 are very limited.

Total Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Errors and Evaluation of the Analytical Quality Control Using Sigma Metric for Routine Clinical Chemistry Tests.

Background: Currently, the use of clinical laboratory tests is growing at a promising rate and about 80% of the clinical decisions made are based on the laboratory test results. Therefore, it is a major task to achieve quality service. This study was conducted to assess the magnitude of errors in the total testing process of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory and to evaluate analytical quality control using sigma metrics.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Prevention and Early Detection of COVID-19 and Associated Factors Among Religious Clerics and Traditional Healers in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study.

Background: COVID-19 control measures efforts are affected by the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the public, particularly religious clerics and traditional healers, who have close contact and are widely accepted by a significant number of community members.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 and its associated factors among religious clerics and traditional healers in Gondar town. Study participants who met our inclusion criteria were selected using a simple random sampling technique.

Extra-Analytical Clinical Laboratory Errors in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Clinical laboratory testing is a highly complex process involving a different procedure. Laboratory errors may occur at any stage of the test process, but most errors occur during extra-analytical phases. The magnitude of clinical laboratory errors, in particular extra-analytical errors, was inconsistent in different studies.

Knowledge and Practices towards Prevention and Early Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease and Associated Factors among Hypertensive Patients in Gondar Town, North West Ethiopia.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a global health problem with serious adverse effects, including kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Improving awareness and practice on the impact, prevention, and early detection of chronic kidney disease will reduce the significant economic and public health burden.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine knowledge and practice towards prevention and early detection of chronic kidney disease and its associated factors among hypertensive patients in Gondar town in 2019.

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus, Prediabetes and Its Associated Factors in Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is becoming an epidemic public health problem in developing countries such as Ethiopia. As the International Diabetes Federation indicates, the number of adults living with diabetes globally has been increasing from time to time. If early screening and follow-up are done, diabetes is a manageable disease.

Gonadal and Cortisol Hormone Profile among Male Chronic Khat, Marijuana, and Heroin Abuses.

Background: Drugs of abuse could interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, causing impaired functions of the gland and associated functions of target organs. Drugs of abuse tend to cause changes in the endocrine system, and these changes could be physiological, molecular, biochemical, genetic, and cellular.

Method: A case-control study design was conducted from a total of 171 male consented study participants (148 drug abusers and 23 controls).

Thyroid Dysfunction and Cytological Patterns among Patients Requested for Thyroid Function Test in an Endemic Goiter Area of Gondar, North West Ethiopia.

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is the most common endocrine disorder in clinical practice, and about half of the population with thyroid dysfunction remains undiagnosed. There is a fairly wide spectrum of thyroid dysfunction, which can be identified by patterns of thyroid function test results. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among the population varies in different studies.

The Prevalence of Malaria among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Malaria during pregnancy remains a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical countries. Moreover, malaria is increasingly associated with unwanted pregnancy outcomes such as an increased risk of abortion, stillbirth, premature delivery, and low-birthweight infants. Since pregnant women are most vulnerable to malaria, implementation of the appropriate prevention and control measures among this group is very important.