Bahir Dar University

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is the most abundant renewable bioresource on earth that offers a promising sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical-based raw materials for the production of renewable energy. Despite its abundance and wide availability from different sources such as forest and agricultural residues, grass, and energy crops, its contribution to the energy sector remains insignificant. This could be attributed to the absence of economically feasible and industrially applicable processes and technologies for converting LCB. The pretreatment stage of LCB is the most important but a difficult process consuming about 40% of the total processing cost. Various pretreatment methods have been explored in recent years, including physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological approaches. In this regard, research is currently focused on identifying effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly pretreatment methods for converting LCB into biofuels and other biomaterials. As a result, there is growing interest in investigating recent advancements and emerging technologies in the area, as they have not been thoroughly examined in the current body of literature. The review aims to provide an overview of existing LCB pretreatment techniques, with a focus on the latest innovations. The objective is to enhance the understanding of these developments and encourage further research into new strategies to design and develop suitable and sustainable solutions for improving biomass conversion processes in biorefineries.

The increasing demand for energy and the environmental challenges posed by fossil fuel consumption prompts the exploration of clean and sustainable energy solutions. This review article focuses on the innovative approach of generating energy through the electrolysis of wastewater, which not only facilitates clean energy production but also aids in wastewater treatment. Significant advancements in electrooxidation processes for the sustainable production of hydrogen and other valuable chemicals are highlighted. This article specifically analyzes the techno‐economic aspects of electrooxidation for small molecules, including alcohol, amine, hydrazine, iodine, and urea, within the framework of wastewater treatment. Cost estimations for hydrogen and value‐added products derived from the oxidation reactions are presented, with production costs calculated at 6.37, 6.06, 2.68, 5.69, and $10.69 per kilogram of H2, respectively. However, the costs associated with alcohol oxidation reactions and urea oxidation reactions are deemed unfeasible. An analysis of profitability reveals that the oxidation processes for iodine, hydrazine, and amine wastewater generate revenue profits of 28%, 16%, and 6%, respectively.

Maize holds a key role in ensuring food security in Ethiopia, yet its productivity faces challenges due to water scarcity and soil acidity. Minimizing these problems is crucial to enhance maize yield and maintain food security. This research explored the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) combined with lime, manure, and inorganic fertilizer application on maize yield and water productivity (WP) in Koga, Ethiopia. Three levels of DI, namely 80%, 60%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), alongside 100% ETc (full irrigation) as a reference, were implemented for two consecutive seasons. Five integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) treatments were evaluated over two successive seasons: (i) combining 1.43 Mg ha-1 of lime with 3 Mg ha-1 of manure and full doses of urea (NPSB, containing 18.9% Nitrogen, 37.7% Phosphorus, 6.95% Sulphur, and 0.1% Boron), referred to as inorganic fertilizer (L1); (ii) combining 1.15 Mg ha-1 of lime with 3 Mg ha-1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (L2); (iii) combining 0.86 Mg ha-1 of lime with 3 Mg ha-1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (L3); (iv) applying 3 Mg ha-1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (M); and (v) using only full doses of inorganic fertilizer (C). Grain yield and biomass were measured at harvest from a 9 m 2 sample area in each plot, with three replicates. The combined effects of DI, liming and manuring significantly influenced average grain yield and biomass. Across all irrigation scenarios, higher grain yield and biomass production were found with treatments L1, L2, L3, and M compared to treatment C. The highest WP was found with 50% ETc under all ISFM treatments. The lowest maize yield and WP were recorded with treatment C across all irrigation levels. Manuring combined with reduced irrigation increased grain yield, biomass, and WP compared to the use of inorganic fertilizer alone at 100% ETc. The combined use of lime and manure could mitigate the negative impact of DI on yield.

The inventory management of essential medicines is a crucial aspect of health care delivery, particularly in resource-limited settings. Access to these medicines must be ensured to meet the health needs of the population, demanding effective control of their inflow, outflow, and stock levels. Poor inventory management can lead to significant disruption in the supply chain, ultimately affecting patient care and safety. The aim of this study was to assess inventory Management Performance of Essential Medicines in Public Health Facilities of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.A facility-based descriptive cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted using an observational checklist, semi-structured and structured questionnaires, and triangulation. Twenty public health facilities were randomly included in the study. The quantitative data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Out of 20 health facilities, 14 (70%) experienced stock out of 8 (66.6%) essential medicines at least once, and all health facilities experienced emergency orders of varying terms within the previous six months. The result indicated a range of reasons for stock outs of essential medicines, including insufficient medicine supply 11 (55%), stock out at re-supply point 8 (40%), drug expiration 7 (35%), and order modifications at the replenishment point 6 (30%). The mean accuracy of bin card records was 188(78.3%), whereas the mean accuracy of Report and Resupply Form reports was 87.37% with a mean discrepancy of 0.13. Of all completed Report and Resupply Form reports, 56 (93.3%) were sent on time to suppliers. Essential medicines’ inventory management performance was inadequate, characterized by prolonged stock outs, frequent emergency orders, and the need to improve storage conditions. Infrastructure-related problems, data management issues, insufficient human resource development, and the inability to integrate digital technology into the inventory management system were the key challenges identified.

Nowadays, speeding has become a primary concern globally because of its significant impact on increasing the frequency and severity of road crashes, fuel consumption, and environmental pollution. These problems have created an urgent need for advancements in managing vehicle speeds to mitigate the negative impacts of speeding. Concerning this, strategies such as setting speed limits, traffic calming measures, police enforcement, and spot speed camera enforcement (SSCE) have been widely investigated for their suitability and impacts on speed management. Although such conventional measures are effective, depending on circumstances, in reducing vehicle speed in the vicinity of the interventions, studies have shown that their impact is limited in space, leading to the problem of event migration. The promising approaches to solving such limitations are the use of variable speed limits (VSLs), intelligent traffic calming devices, sectional speed enforcement systems (SSES), and intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) systems. Despite their limitations, conventional speed management measures are continuing to be implemented predominantly around the world because of their lower initial cost of installation and implementation. This paper provides an overview of the scientific evidence regarding the impact of state-of-the-art speed management measures on speed-related outcomes. Furthermore, it presents the current progress and prospects for advancing speed management strategies to improve road safety and environmental protection.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri causes enormous yield losses on chickpeas. The study was initiated to evaluate different chickpea varieties with fungicides to manage chickpea Fusarium wilt in Northwestern Ethiopia. A two-year experiment was conducted at Teda Agricultural Research Farm, University of Gondar. A factorial combination of three fungicides (Tebuconazole, Apron Star, and Thiram) and three chickpea varieties (Natoli, Demtu, and earlier chickpea) was arranged in a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. All the data were collected following standard procedures and subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version 9.4, and for the significant treatment, means were separated via LSD. The highest incidence, 41.66%, and area under disease progress curve values of 1828% per day, low grain yield of 0.89 t ha− 1, respectively, were recorded from untreated earlier chickpea landraces. The lowest incidence values of 19.50% and area under disease progress curve values of 524%-day and high grain yield of 3.53 t ha− 1 were recorded in the Natoli variety of chickpea treated with Apron Star fungicides. Hence, resistant variety integrated with fungicides caused a significant reduction of chickpea Fusarium wilt, leading to an increase in chickpea grain yield. Experiments are needed on resistant chickpea varieties for sustainable chickpea production by reducing chickpea Fusarim wilt.

UTe2 is a recently discovered unconventional superconductor known for its unique properties, including spin‐triplet pairing and resilience to high magnetic fields. UTe₂ remains superconducting under extreme conditions, making it a promising candidate for advancing renewable energy technologies. Its potential applications include high‐efficiency power transmission, magnetic energy storage systems, and superconducting magnets for wind turbines and fusion reactors. Theoretical study of the interplay between ferromagnetism and spin‐triplet superconductivity in UTe2 is the main goal of the current research work. Utilizing the double time temperature‐dependent Green's function technique and formulating a model Hamiltonian for the system under consideration, it is possible to derive the superconducting transition temperature (TC), magnetic ordering temperature (Tm), and superconducting and magnetic ordering parameters (Δ) and (M), respectively. Subsequently, the phase diagrams of TC versus Δ, TC versus M, and Tm versus M are plotted using the experimental and theoretical values and taking into account reasonable approximations of the parameters in the obtained expressions with the help of softwares such as Python and MATLAB. Ultimately, the potential coexistence of ferromagnetism and spin triplet superconductivity in UTe2 by integrating the phase diagrams is demonstrated. The findings of this work are compatible with other experimental findings.

Approximately 70–75% of the costs of raising chickens are due to feeding expenses. Proteins, and energy account 95% of these costs. Soybean meal is primary protein source in chicken diets; however, it is expensive and not widely available in feed formulations. Therefore, exploring alternative protein sources like sweet lupines could be a promising option. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of substituting soybean meal with sweet lupine (lupinus angustifolius) on the performance of Sasso T44 dual purpose chicken. In the experimental treatments, soybean meal was replaced by sweet lupine at 0% (control), 15%, 25%, 30%, and 50% for T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively. A total of 180-day-old chickens with similar body weights (± 0.4 g SD) were used. A completely randomized design was employed, and the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with SAS software (version 9.1). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in DM intake, body weight, body weight gain, and the characteristics of carcass and offal as the level of partial replacement increased from T1 to T5. Based on the findings of this study, broiler chickens can be fed sweet vitabor lupine as an alternative protein source in place of soybean meal.

The increasing use of e‐textiles in healthcare, sports, and fashion has coined a new frontier of scientific innovation. However, unique compositions and embedded electronic elements of these e‐textiles pose significant challenges for end‐of‐life management, markedly in recycling and sustainable design. This review explores the landscape of recycling and sustainable design in e‐textiles, underlining the need for innovative approaches to mitigate ecological and economic impacts. By employing a systematic approach, the paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of smart textiles, recycling technologies, and shortcomings, identify the challenges, and propose future directions for sustainable smart textile waste management. Starting with an overview of smart textiles and their growing applications, the paper highlights the importance of recycling in the textile industry to address escalating e‐waste concerns. It evaluates the consequences of smart textile waste, underscoring the urgency of efficient recycling systems. Current recycling technologies are highlighted, alongside their limitations and challenges associated with material composition, inadequate separation techniques, and quality degradation. Emerging recycling technologies, such as advanced de‐embedding and separation techniques and innovative recycling processes, are presented as promising solutions to overcome traditional difficulties. The concept of sustainability in the design of smart textiles is explored, focusing on strategies to enhance recyclability and reduce environmental footprints. Additionally, the paper identifies the key challenges and barriers to recycling smart textiles, such as technological, economic, and regulatory hurdles, and proposes opportunities and future directions to foster a circular economy.

Inefficient post-harvest management, including threshing methods and storage structures in developing countries, results in considerable nutritional loss of maize grain. This study evaluates the effects of maize grain threshing conditions, methods, and storage structures on nutritional content of maize and mold growth on it. Freshly harvested maize grain was threshed using two techniques (manual and mechanical) at two moisture levels (17% and 23%). The threshed grains were then dried to a safe storage moisture level (13% w.b.) using a solar bubble dryer. The dried maize grains were stored in five types of storage bags for six months. Nutritional loss, color changes, and mold growth were measured at three-month intervals during the storage period. Data analysis conducted using Minitab revealed that the oil content, starch content, and mold growth were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by storage bag type, grain moisture content during threshing, and threshing techniques. Maize threshed at 17% moisture content retained higher fat and protein levels and exhibited lower mold growth than grain threshed at 23% moisture content. The type of storage bag also significantly affected the starch content of the maize grain. After six months of storage in woven polypropylene bags, starch content decreased by 2.79%, oil content by 6.72%, while protein content increased by 0.44%, and moisture content rose by 12.34%. Hermetic storage bags demonstrated minimal nutritional changes and mold growth. Promoting the use of mechanical threshers at optimal grain moisture levels and hermetic storage bags is essential for smallholder farmers to maintain the quality and safety of their maize grain, reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring food security.

Background Antenatal care (ANC) is vital for the health and well-being of mothers and their babies during pregnancy. It provides care, education, counseling, screening, and treatment to manage pregnancy-related complications. However, many pregnant women, especially in low-income regions like sub-Saharan Africa, do not complete recommended visits, leading to high dropout rates. Ethiopia, following WHO 2016 recommendations, has adopted an eight-contact ANC model, but still faces a 30% dropout rate. Effective ANC is crucial for reducing maternal mortality rates and ensuring positive pregnancy outcomes. Objectives The aim of the study is to identify the determinants of ANC dropout among mothers who delivered in South Mecha Woreda, North West Ethiopia, 2024. Design A community-based unmatched case–control study design was employed. Methods Study conducted from May 25 to June 25, 2024, using a structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The final sample included 111 cases and 215 controls, totaling 326 participants. Participants were selected based on the outcome variable of ANC visit dropout (mothers who did not complete the recommended four visits during pregnancy) and ANC visit completion, identified through simple random sampling. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were performed, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value used to determine significance. Results Women who could not read and write had higher likelihood of ANC drop out (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.475; 95% CI: 2.662, 13.747; p < 0.001), women from families with a monthly income of less than 3000 (AOR = 2.036; 95% CI: 1.666, 6.221; p = 0.012), women who waited more than 30 min (AOR = 5.132; 95% CI: 3.352, 12.877; p < 0.001), and dissatisfaction with the service received (AOR = 5.397; 95% CI: 1.406, 10.719; p = 0.014). Conclusion The research indicates that variables like educational level, family income, service waiting times, and satisfaction with services are significant determinants of ANC dropout rates among women in South Mecha Woreda. Women with lower levels of education and income are at a higher risk of dropping out, highlighting the necessity for focused interventions. The research underscores the need for holistic strategies to enhance maternal health and decrease ANC dropout rates.

Restoration through exclosure is an effective approach in the rehabilitation of degraded land and improves the resilience of ecosystems. Thus, the study aimed to analyze the effects of ages of exclosure on soil properties, evaluate associations between soil variables, and estimate the soil carbon and nitrogen storages in the North-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from four forest exclosure ages, viz., exclosure for 30 years (EX30), 20 years (EX20), and 10 years (EX10), and open woodland (OWL) as a control group across three slope positions (3–8%, 10–15%, and 15–30%). Seventy-two disturbed composite and undisturbed core soil samples were collected from two soil depths (0–25 cm and 20–50 cm) from all ages of exclosure. The variation and relationship in soil properties between ages of exclosure within slope positions and soil depths were analyzed using a General Linear Model (GLM) of multivariate analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and Pearson correlation. We found significant (p < 0.001) differences in clay fraction and moisture content (MC %) among exclosures, slope positions, and soil depths, while silt content varied only by exclosure ages. However, sand content and bulk density (BD) decreased significantly with exclosure ages and slope position, while soil depth affected sand content. The study found significant (p < 0.001) differences in soil pH, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Av. P), exchangeable bases (Ex. Ca²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) across exclosure ages, slope positions, and soil depths, but no effect of soil depth on pH and Av. P. The correlation and principal component analyses revealed a strong and significant relationship between the increasing exclosure ages and critical soil parameters. Positive loadings were found for moisture content, soil organic carbon, available phosphorous, pH, total nitrogen, and basic cations, particularly over twenty years of exclosure. The present study revealed significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) in soil organic carbon (SOCs) and total nitrogen (TNs) content between exclosures, slope positions, and soil depths, with exclosure over 20 years had increased soil organic carbon stocks by over 30% and nitrogen stocks by 65% compared to open woodland. In general, it can be concluded that area exclosure results in better soil quality and carbon and nitrogen stocks than open woodland. Therefore, this assessment can provide essential insights into the effectiveness of conservation efforts and land management strategies in mitigating deforestation and land degradation, and serve as a benchmark for assessing progress towards national forest restoration targets by 2030.

Abdominal surgery is associated with prolonged hospitalization, reduced physical activity levels, and prolonged bed rest. Delayed ambulation is a major problem after abdominal surgery which result in prolonged hospital stay. Ambulation was defined as delayed if the patient could not walk more than 10 m without assistance on postoperative day one within 24 h of surgery. Although abdominal surgery is performed for a variety of surgical procedures in a day to day practice the incidence and factors associated with delayed ambulation after major abdominal surgery have not been well investigated in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the incidence and factors associated with delayed ambulation after major abdominal surgery. A multicenter, prospective follow up study was conducted from March 28, to June 5, 2023, on 422 participants. Patients were taken consecutively, and data were collected by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 Software and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Both descriptive and analytic statistics were used. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used. Variables with a p-value less than < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were fitted into the multivariable analysis. Both the crude odds’ ratio (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval were calculated to show the strength of association. Variables with a p-value of < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The overall incidence of delayed ambulation after major abdominal surgery was 48.1% (95%CI:43.4–52.6). Having severe pain (AOR:3.23, 95%CI:1.09–9.55), dizziness (AOR:7.21, 95%CI:3.49–14.91), nasogastric tube (AOR:2.36, 95%CI:1.05–5.34), drain (AOR:3.27, 95%CI:1.52–7.04), fatigue (AOR:7.62, 95%CI:3.71–15.66), intraoperative fluid used > 2000 ml (AOR:2.54, 95%CI:1.03–6.24), duration of surgery > 2-hour (AOR:3.96, 95%CI:1.87–8.38) and blood loss > 500 ml (AOR:2.68, 95%CI:1.24–5.79) were significantly associated with delayed ambulation. Nearly half of the patients were unable to ambulate at postoperative day one after major abdominal surgery. Adopting a zero fluid balance approach, minimizing surgical duration and blood loss, timely removal of drains and catheters, and prioritizing postoperative pain management is recommended.

Background and Aims Traditional uvulectomy is prevalent in Ethiopia, and is most commonly performed on children under 5 years old with a particular focus on infants under 6 months. The practice continues to be a significant issue in Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the proportion of traditional uvulectomy and its associated factors among caregivers of children under 5 years old visiting Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital (TGSH) in Northwest Ethiopia in 2023. Methods An institutional‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from October 1 to December 30, 2023, at TGSH. A total of 402 caregivers with children under 5 years old were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Both Bivariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify associated factors. Variables with a p‐value less than 0.25 in the bivariable Logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable analysis. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p‐values < 0.05 were used to determine significant associations. Results The proportion of traditional uvulectomy was 46%. Approximately 97.3% of the procedures were performed on children under 6 months of age. Caregivers who could not read and write were 1.85 times more likely to practice uvulectomy than those who could read and write (AOR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.39–6.27). Caregivers from rural areas were 2.81 times more likely to practice than caregivers from urban areas (AOR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.63–5.68), those without ANC follow‐up were 5.20 times more likely to practice uvulectomy compared to caregivers who had ANC follow up (AOR: 5.20, 95% CI: 2.06–8.63), those had no information about harmful effects of traditional uvulectomy were 2.43 times more likely to practice uvulectomy than their counterparts (AOR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.24–4.55), and those who had witnessed good outcome of traditional uvulectomy were 6.05 times more likely to practice uvulectomy (AOR: 6.05, 95% CI: 3.64–12.11). Conclusion The Proportion of traditional uvulectomy remains high in the study area, and it is associated with factors such as illiteracy, lack of ANC follow‐up, rural residency, lack of awareness about the harmful effects of uvulectomy, and witnessing positive outcomes. Immediate actions should include increasing awareness through ANC counseling and educating caregivers on the risk of uvulectomy. Long‐term solutions could involve policy changes and community‐based interventions aimed at reducing the practice and its associated risks.

In this research, the mechanical and physical properties of hybrid aloe vera (AV) and raffia palm (RP) fibers-reinforced polyester composite materials were characterized. The AV fiber was extracted using water retting technique from the stem of the AV plant, and the RP fiber was extracted using mechanical retting technique by hammering manually form petiole of the RP plant. These fibers were treated with an alkaline solution, and the composite materials were developed using a hand lay-up technique. The weight percentages (wt.%) of AV and RP fibers were varied from 0 to 30 wt.%, while maintaining a constant 70 wt.% polyester matrix content. A fixed ply angle arrangement of 0°, 90°, 45°, −45°, 90°, 0° was used for all samples. When the weight percentage amount of RP fiber increased, the increments of tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength were observed; however, these properties decreased as the weight percentage of AV fibers increased. The maximum tensile, compressive, and flexural strengths were observed on the sample S-5 (0% AV/30% RP/70% polyester matrix), with values of 120.4, 131.13, and 201.4 MPa, respectively. Sample S-4 (10% AV/20% RP/70% polyester matrix) exhibited the maximum impact strength of 1.21 J/mm². Unlike the tensile, compressive, and flexural strength properties, the impact test findings were not significantly influenced by the hybridization of AV and RP fibers. The water absorption test revealed that the sample S-1 (30% AV/0% RP/70% polyester matrix) had the lowest water absorption value of 1.91 wt.%, while the maximum water absorption (3.15 wt.%) was observed on the S-5 sample. In general, by hybridizing RP and AV fibers, it was possible to develop a composite material with moderate mechanical properties and moisture resistance.

Introduction The ultimate goal of primary health care (PHC), as a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, is to achieve the highest level of health by bringing health services closer to the users. This entails that PHC should be viewed as the all-inclusive strategy to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) of the sustainable development goals (SDG). Ethiopia has been implementing PHC since the Alma-Ata Declaration. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released a PHC Monitoring Framework to support the monitoring of progress in PHC implementation. However, an evidence gap highlights the need for studies investigating PHC progress towards UHC using this progress monitoring framework. This study aims to evaluate Ethiopia’s PHC system using the WHO PHC monitoring framework and identify successes and challenges towards UHC and health security. Method This scoping review was conducted and structured based on Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. We searched five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL) and hand-searched for relevant articles. We used the WHO PHC monitoring conceptual framework to summarise findings qualitatively. We reported our findings using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. Results We included a total of 110 papers – 56 cross-sectional/national surveys, 19 qualitative studies, 16 mixed-method studies, five fiscal/cost/formative or project model analyses, three ecological/ethnographic studies, three longitudinal/quasi-experimental studies, and two each of implementation/participatory research, cohort studies, and case studies. The Ethiopian PHC system has achieved encouraging success in improving healthcare access and coverage, driven by growing political and leadership commitments through implementing a national health extension package (HEP), service integration and multisectoral approaches to achieve UHC. However, Ethiopia’s efforts to achieve UHC have faced many challenges, including inadequate service integration, lack of resources and budgets, uneven distribution of health workers and infrastructure, gaps in priority setting, service innovation, stakeholder engagement and funding PHC research. These are affecting access to affordable care and hindering the progress towards UHC. Conclusion Ethiopia’s PHC system has achieved significant progress in expanding infrastructure and improving access to health services towards UHC. However, challenges remain, particularly in underserved rural areas, with inequitable access, weak governance, and limited integration of essential services. Hence, by improving resource allocation, addressing rural inequities, systemic and infrastructural challenges and fostering stronger governance and service integration, Ethiopia can further improve and build on the successes of the PHC system, making it more resilient and better equipped to meet the health needs of its population.

Introduction Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the cells of the uterine cervix. The oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main causative agent of cervical cancer. Effective HPV screening program can lead to a significant reduction in the morbidity and mortality associated with this cancer. Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of OncoE6™ cervical test kit for cervical precancer and cancer in Amhara Regional State, northwest Ethiopia. Methods An institute-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Felege Hiwot Compressive Specialized Hospital which is found in Bahir Dar, Amhara Regional state. A total of 297 samples were collected. A sterile, disposable speculum was inserted, without lubricant, and two swabs were taken using the “Tipped Polyester” (Dacron) swab provided with the Onco E6™ kit. Swabs taken were tested for onco E6 proteins testing as per the manufacturer’s protocol and pap smear for cytology test. A punch of biopsy was also taken for histopathological diagnosis. Data for all samples were collected using pre-prepared excel database for onco E6 test, pap cytology and punch histopathology. All the data were coded and entered into Epi-info and transported to SPSS version 26.0 software package for analysis. Results Out of 56 (18.86%) participants who tested positive on the histo-pathological diagnosis, Onco E6 was positive in 32 (57.14%), negative in 24 (42.85%). Of 241 participants who tested negative on the histo-pathological diagnosis, Onco E6 was positive in 5 (2.07%) and negative in 236 (97.9%). OncoE6™ cervical test kit had a sensitivity of 57.14% (95% CI: 43.22%–70.29%) and specificity of 98% (95% CI: 95.23%–99.32%) with positive predictive value of 86.6% (95% CI: 71.36%–95.53%), negative predictive value of 90.76% (95% CI: 86.49%–93.93%), and accuracy of 90.18% (95% CI: 86.21%–93.31%). Conclusion The HPV 16/18 OncoE6™ Cervical test kit test had sub-optimum sensitivity and high specificity for detection of cervical precancer and cancer cases. The sensitivity of the kit could be increased by incorporating other more prevalent genotypes like genotype 52, 58, 31 and 35. The HPV16/18-E6 test could be used either as primary screening tool or in conjunction with other diagnostic methods.

In many settings, ongoing measles transmission is maintained due to pockets of un- or under-vaccinated individuals even if the critical vaccination threshold is reached nationwide. Therefore, assessing the underlying gaps in measles susceptibility within a population is essential for vaccination programs and measles control efforts. Recently, there have been increased efforts to use geospatial and small area methods to estimate subnational measles vaccination coverage in high-burden settings, such as in Ethiopia. However, the distribution of remaining susceptible individuals, either unvaccinated or having never previously been infected, across age groups and subnational geographies is unknown. In this study, we developed a dynamic transmission model that incorporates geospatial estimates of routine measles vaccination coverage, available data on supplemental immunization activities, and reported cases to estimate measles incidence and susceptibility across time, age, and space. We use gridded population estimates and subnational estimates of routine and supplemental measles vaccination coverage. To account for mixing between age-groups, we used a synthetic contact matrix, and travel times via a friction surface were used in a modified gravity model to account for spatial movement. We explored model fitting using Ethiopia as a case study. To address data-related and statistical challenges, we investigated a range of model parameterization and possible fitting algorithms. The approach with the best performance was a model fitted to case notifications adjusted for case ascertainment by using maximum likelihood estimation with block coordinate descent. This strategy was chosen because many data observations (and likely presence of unquantified uncertainty) yielded a steep likelihood surface, which was challenging to fit using Bayesian approaches. We ran sensitivity analyses to explore variations in vaccine effectiveness and compared patterns of susceptibility across space, time, and age. Substantial heterogeneity in reported measles cases as well as susceptibility persists across ages and second-administrative units. These methods and estimates could contribute towards tailored subnational and local planning to reduce preventable measles burden. However, computational and data challenges would need to be addressed for these methods to be applied on a large scale.

Background Obstetric complications are a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low-resource settings such as many countries in Africa. Intensive care units offer specialized care for women with severe obstetric complications, which require advanced monitoring and therapeutic interventions. Despite the critical importance of ICU care, there is a paucity of comprehensive data on obstetric ICU admissions and outcomes in Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the proportion of obstetric admissions and maternal mortality in the intensive care unit in Africa. Objective To assess the proportion of obstetric admissions and maternal mortality in the intensive care unit in Africa. Methodology The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2020) guidelines were followed in reporting the study’s findings. Articles searched; from PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Repository, and African Journals Online were systematically searched for reports of obstetric admission in the intensive care unit, either pregnant or up to 6 weeks postpartum. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tool was used to evaluate each article’s quality. The Stata 17 software was used to compute the analysis. The heterogeneity of the studies was detected using the Cochran Q test and I² test statistics, which were considered significant at p < 0.05. The random effect model of analysis was used with evidence of heterogeneity. Egger’s test at p < 0.05 was used to check the evidence of publication bias within the studies. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were done. Result Eleven studies were included in this study with a total of 10,190 mothers admitted to the intensive care unit. The overall pooled proportion of obstetric intensive care unit admissions in Africa was 17.22% (95% CI; 12.97–21.47; I² = 97.63%). This translates to roughly 17 out of every 100 ICU admissions being for obstetric complications. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 42.96% (95% CI: 27.3, 58.56) and obstetric hemorrhage 24.15% (95% CI: 18.12, 30.18) were the common indications for obstetric admission in the intensive care unit.. Maternal mortality among ICU-admitted patients reached a concerning 30.69% (95% CI: 23.16, 38.22; I²= 93.34%). This means that, nearly one in three women admitted to the ICU for obstetric complications died. Conclusion In Africa, the proportion of obstetric admissions and maternal mortality in the intensive care unit is significant. This high percentage of obstetric admissions and maternal mortality in the ICU highlights the necessity to enhance emergency obstetric care services and invest in the development of well-equipped obstetric ICUs to reduce maternal mortality. Registration CRD42024516612.

This study sought to explore the professional knowledge competence (PKC) of teachers responsible for teaching CED in the West Gojjam administrative zone of Ethiopia, taking into account some selected demographic factors. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse quantitative data collected from 260 CED teachers working in government middle-level schools. The findings revealed that male teachers had better competence in content knowledge (CK) compared to female teachers, with a very small effect size (d = 0.18). A statistically significant difference was found among teachers’ PKC and CK scores based on teaching experience, with F (3, 253) = 1.92, p = .029, and F (4, 255) = 3.00, p = .019, respectively. Experienced teachers demonstrated better CK and PKC than novice teachers. Thus, it can be concluded that gender influences teachers’ CK, while years of teaching experience impact both teachers’ CK and overall PKC. The study suggests providing female and inexperienced teachers with more comprehensive support, including peer cooperation, mentorship, training, and professional development programs, to help enhance their content knowledge.