Medhin Mehari

BACKGROUND: Flour mill workers are at high risk of developing respiratory symptoms due to exposure to flour dust in their working environment. Exposure to flour dust linked with the development of chronic respiratory disorders. However, very little evidence has been available on the respiratory symptoms of exposed workers in large-scale flour mill factories. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess chronic respiratory health symptoms and associated factors among flour mill workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 424 randomly selected workers from Addis Ababa flour mill factories. Respiratory health symptoms were assessed using an American Thoracic Society standard questionnaire customized with local context. Data were checked for completeness and Epi-Info V. 7.2 and SPSS V.21 statistical software were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify variables associated with chronic respiratory health symptoms. Variables that had significant association were identified based on adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p <0.05. Data were presented using tables, texts and figures. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic respiratory health symptoms among flour mill factory workers was 58.3% (95% CI: 53.7-63.4). Chronic respiratory health symptoms were significantly associated with age group (AOR=1.95, 95% CI; 1.17-2.79 and AOR=12.3, 95% CI; 4.39-34.6), monthly income (AOR=1.68, 95% CI; 1-2.79), work experience (AOR=2.58, 95% CI; 1-6.62), past dust exposure (AOR=1.86, 95% CI; 1.08-3.2) and utilization of respiratory protective equipment (AOR=2.29, 95% CI; 1.27-4.13). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Chronic respiratory health symptoms were highly prevalent among flour mill factory workers. Supportive supervision and cooperation between Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, flour mill managers and workers are needed to reduce exposure and improve working environment.

Introduction: The development of modern automated machines in industries has considerably decreased the physical burden of workers in addition to increasing the productivity of the industries resulting in noise pollution. Noise exposure above the limit value of 90 dB (A) is known to cause temporary hearing loss among exposed workers. Materials and Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed for a total of 406 study participants using a simple random sampling technique from January 15 to April 30, 2019. The data collection methods were observational checklist and a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EpiData software version 4.2 and exported to SPSS software version 21 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic analyses wwere used to identify the associated factors. Statistical significance was declared using a 95% confidence interval and a p -value of less than 0.05. Results: A total of 388 study participants were included in the study with a response rate of 95.6%, of which 254 (65.5%) were females. The overall temporary hearing loss among the textile factory workers was found to be 49% with COR=1.53; 95% CI (1.15– 2.03). The workers from the spinning department were 2.38 times more likely to develop temporary hearing loss after exiting from work than workers from the dyeing department (95% CI= (1.16– 4.90). Similarly, workers from the knitting department were 3.67 times more likely to develop temporary hearing loss after exiting from work than workers from the dyeing department (95% CI=1.42– 9.47). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the workforce in the spinning and knitting departments of the textile factory had a high prevalence of temporary hearing loss than the workers in dyeing and garment working sections. Therefore, the textile factory should provide hearing protection devices to the workers. Keywords: noise exposure, temporary hearing loss, Ayka Addis

BACKGROUND: Globally, wasting in children aged 6-59 months remains a critical public health challenge, experiencing significant regional and socioeconomic variations, and is most prevalent in low and middle-income countries where resources are limited. However, there is a scarcity of evidence related to wasting among 6-59 months aged children after the cessation of hostility in Northern Ethiopia, Tigray, particularly in Adigrat town. Hence, this study aimed to assess the postwar wasting and related factors among 6-59 months aged children in Adigrat town, Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 325, 6-59 months aged children from January 8 to February 20, 2025. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and Mid-Upper Arm circumference direct measurements were used for data collection. Epi data version 4.4.2 was used for data entry and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were done for the frequency. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with wasting of 6-59 months aged children. A p-value of < 0.05 along with a 95% confidence interval was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of wasting among 6-59 months aged children was found to be 17.5% (95% CI, 13.5-21.8), with 12.3% being moderately and 5.2% severely wasted. Squeezing out first milk [AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.471-6.998], not still breastfeeding [AOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.295-7.729], and consuming only cereals [AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.162-10.676] were found to be more likely of wasting among the children aged 6-59 months compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of 6-59 months aged children were wasted. Squeezing out initial milk, not still breastfeeding, and consuming cereals solely were all strongly linked to wasting among the children. Supporting and enhancing child feeding policies and practices that support healthy supplemental feeding practices as well as exclusive breastfeeding.

Purpose . Neonatal sepsis contributes substantially to neonatal mortality and morbidity and is an ongoing major global public health problem particularly in developing countries. A significant proportion of mothers give birth in primary health care, but studies regarding neonatal sepsis and its associated factors among admitted neonates are limited to the hospital which may not be generalized to the primary health care unit. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the proportion of neonatal sepsis and associated factors in the study areas. Objective . To assess the magnitude of neonatal sepsis and its associated factors among neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of Hawzen Primary Hospital, Eastern Zone, Tigray, North Ethiopia, 2020. Methods . An institution‐based cross‐sectional study design was carried out among 290 study participants in Hawzen Primary Hospital in January–March/2020. A systematic random sampling method was applied to select the study participants, and pretested and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The collected data were coded, entered, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Binary logistic regression analyses with a confidence interval of 95% were used to select determinant factors. Statistically significant factors were identified using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Statistical significance was determined at p value &lt;0.05. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to see the association of the variables at a p &lt; 0.05. Results . In this study, the overall proportion of neonatal sepsis was (60.2%) 95% CI (56, 68)]. Birth asphyxia [AOR = 2.04; 95%CI (1.07, 3.93)], maternal age of 15–19 [AOR = 2.00; 95% CI (1.81, 11.93)], duration of labor greater or equal to 24 hours [AOR = 3.00; 95% CI (2.67, 14.21)], history of oxygen administration [AOR = 2.37; 95% CI (1.18, 4.75)], neonatal age of greater or equal to seven days [AOR = 4.0595% CI (1.07 , 3.93 ) , and home delivery [AOR = 5.00; 95% CI (2.34, 18.92)] were the predictor variables for neonatal sepsis. Conclusion . In this study, neonatal sepsis was high. Birth asphyxia, intranasal oxygen administration, age of the mother, home delivery, and duration of labor were associated with neonatal sepsis.

Abstract Background:Kangaroo mother care (KMC) practice ‘is the early, prolonged and continuous skin-to skin contact between the mother and her low birth weight baby that practiced in the hospital and after early discharge until at least the 40 th weeks of postnatal period with exclusive breast feeding and proper follow-up’. Low birth weight is an underling factor in 60-80% of all neonatal deaths. Therefore, this study aimed to assess kangaroo mother care practice and its associated factors among post natal mothers who gave birth in public hospitals of Eastern and Central zone, Tigray, North Ethiopia.Methods:An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in Eastern and central zone of Tigray Region from March –August/2019. A total of 411 study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Binary and Multiple logistic regression analysis were used to see the association of independent variables to the outcome variable at a P&lt;0.05 using SPSS version 20.0 software.Results:A total of 397 study participants were included in the study with a response rate of 96.6%. Of these, the mean age of the respondents was 27.4(±5.7). More than half (54.4%) of mothers were practiced KMC to their low birth weight baby. Mothers age [AOR (95%CI):0.21(0.05,0.95)], occupational status of mothers [AOR (95%CI): 0.11(0.04,0.34)], occupational status of fathers [AOR (95%CI): 4.1(1.54,11.07)], monthly income[AOR(95%CI): 0.27(0.09,0.76)], place of delivery [AOR(95%CI):0.29(0.11,0.76) and complications of newborn baby at birth [AOR(95%):3.1(1.21,8.09)] were the factors significantly associated with kangaroo mother care practice.Conclusion:There was low proportion of mothers practiced kangaroo mother care to their low birth weight baby. Hence, health care providers should demonstrate for family members and mothers on how to practice kangaroo mother care immediately after delivery in health institution and to be continued at home.