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Background Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder characterized by reduced or absent coagulation factor (F) VIII activity. The empirical evidence on the prevalence of HA in Africa has reported inconsistent findings and seems to present such a wide range of prevalence that it is hard to swiftly ascertain its average extent. Hence, this review aimed to pool the results of primary studies reporting the prevalence of HA into a single estimate in the region. Methods We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles published in EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Observational studies revealing the prevalence of HA in Africa between 2010 and 2023 were incorporated. We assessed the quality of each study using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment tool. The prevalence of HA was estimated as the cases (the sample size) per 100,000 population multiplied by 1000. To produce the pooled estimate, Der Simonian random-effects models were computed with Metaprop on the STATA command. The studies’ heterogeneity was assessed using the I-squared (I 2 ) value test and the Galbraith plot. A funnel plot was conducted to evaluate publication bias. Results Of the 337 studies accessed, we included 15 that fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The random-effect model meta-analysis demonstrated the overall pooled prevalence of HA was 6.82 cases per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval: 5.16, 8.48) with heterogeneity (I 2  = 0.00%, p  < 0.001). Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that HA is an alarming problem that may pose a future threat to public health in Africa. Given the detrimental effects of the disease on health and the complications involved, we recommended that African regions increase patient access to factor VIII medication, improve carrier detection rates, and take the initiative toward the development and access to gene therapy.

Background Maternal and child health outcomes remain pressing challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), characterized by persistently high under-five mortality and inadequate utilization of essential maternal healthcare services. While the impact of maternal education on these outcomes is well documented, the influence of paternal education remains underexplored. This study investigates the association between paternal education and maternal health service utilization, focusing on antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA), as well as child survival across 22 SSA countries. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) administered between 2013 and 2024 in 22 SSA countries. The study sample included a weighted total of 109,818 children aged 0–59 months and their mothers. Key outcomes included maternal healthcare utilization (≥ 4 ANC visits and SBA) and child survival. Paternal education was classified into three categories: no education, primary education, and secondary or higher education. Logistic and ordered logistic regression models were employed, adjusting for maternal, child, household, and regional covariates. Results Overall, 96.5% (95% CI: 96.4–96.6%) of children survived to age five, while 61.8% of mothers reported ≥ 4 ANC visits and 73.8% had skilled birth attendance. Higher paternal education was significantly associated with increased maternal healthcare utilization. Women whose partners had secondary or higher education were nearly twice as likely to attend ≥ 4 ANC visits (AOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.91–2.07) and more likely to access SBA (AOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.52–1.67) than those whose partners had no education. Marked regional and socioeconomic disparities persisted, with Southern SSA showing more favorable outcomes than Central and Eastern regions. Conclusion Paternal education is strongly associated with improved maternal healthcare utilization, which is itself linked to enhanced child survival in SSA. Although no direct relationship was found between paternal education and child survival, these findings underscore the indirect but influential role fathers play in shaping health outcomes. Targeted strategies that promote male educational attainment and actively involve fathers in maternal and child health interventions—particularly in underserved regions—are essential for reducing health disparities and improving outcomes across the region.

Background Undernutrition is a significant public health challenge and one of the leading causes of child mortality in a wide range of developing countries, including Ethiopia. Poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities commonly contributes to child growth failure. There is a paucity of information on the interrelationship between WASH and child undernutrition (stunting and wasting). This study aimed to assess the association between WASH and undernutrition among under-five-year-old children in Ethiopia. Methods A secondary data analysis was undertaken based on the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) conducted from 2000 to 2016. A total of 33,763 recent live births extracted from the EDHS reports were included in the current analysis. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between WASH and child undernutrition. Relevant factors from EDHS data were identified after extensive literature review. Results The overall prevalences of stunting and wasting were 47.29% [95% CI: (46.75, 47.82%)] and 10.98% [95% CI: (10.65, 11.32%)], respectively. Children from households having unimproved toilet facilities [AOR: 1.20, 95% CI: (1.05,1.39)], practicing open defecation [AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: (1.11,1.51)], and living in households with dirt floors [AOR: 1.32, 95% CI: (1.12,1.57)] were associated with higher odds of being stunted. Children from households having unimproved drinking water sources were significantly less likely to be wasted [AOR: 0.85, 95% CI: (0.76,0.95)] and stunted [AOR: 0.91, 95% CI: (0.83, 0.99)]. We found no statistical differences between improved sanitation, safe disposal of a child’s stool, or improved household flooring and child wasting. Conclusion The present study confirms that the quality of access to sanitation and housing conditions affects child linear growth indicators. Besides, household sources of drinking water did not predict the occurrence of either wasting or stunting. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to determine whether individual and joint access to WASH facilities was strongly associated with child stunting and wasting.

Ethiopia is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest burden of childhood undernutrition. Despite the high burden of this scourge, little is known about the magnitude and contributing determinants to anthropometric failure among children aged 0–23 months, a period regarded as the best window of opportunity for interventions against undernutrition. This study examined factors associated with undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight) among Ethiopian children aged 0–23 months. This study used a total weighted sample of 2146 children aged 0–23 months from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey. The data were cleaned and weighted using STATA version 14.0. Height-for-age (HFA), weight-for-height (WFH), and weight-for-age (WFA) z-scores <  − 2 SD were calculated and classified as stunted, wasting, and underweight, respectively. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for cluster and survey weights were used. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Statistical significance was declared at p  < 0.05. The overall weighted prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight respectively were 27.21% [95% CI (25.32–29.18)], 7.80% [95% CI (6.71–9.03)], and 16.44% [95% CI (14.90–18.09)] among children aged 0–23 months in Ethiopia. Female children were less likely to be associated with stunting [AOR: 0.68, 95% CI (0.54–0.86)], wasting [AOR: 0.70, 95% CI (0.51, 0.98)], and underweight [AOR: 0.64, 95% CI (0.49, 0.83)] than their male counterparts. Conversely, older children aged 12–17 months [AOR: 2.22, 95% CI (1.52, 3.23)] and 18–23 months [AOR: 4.16, 95% CI (2.75, 6.27)] were significantly at an increased odds of becoming stunted. Similarly, the likelihood of being underweight was higher in older age groups: 6–11 months [AOR: 1.74, 95% CI (1.15, 2.63)], 12–17 months [AOR: 2.13, 95% CI (1.40, 3.24)], and 18–23 months [AOR: 4.08, 95% CI (2.58, 6.44)] compared with the children younger than 6 months. Lower wealth quintile was one of the other significant determinants of stunting and underweight. The study’s findings indicated that the most consistent significant risk factors for undernutrition among children aged 0–23 months are: male sex, older age groups and lower wealth quintile. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions that address the immediate and underlying drivers of childhood undernutrition in early life, as well as targeting low-income households with male children, in order for Ethiopia to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1,2 and 3 by 2030.

Introduction Meta-analyses on breast cancer determinants in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), often produce fragmented, context-specific findings. This umbrella review provides a consolidated synthesis to identify consistent risk factors and strengthen the evidence base for guiding targeted public health strategies. Methods and materials In accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we conducted a systematic search for meta-analyses across multiple databases. Study quality was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) tool. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14, applying a random-effects model to estimate pooled effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals. Forest plots were used to visualize determinants. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots and Egger’s test, while heterogeneity was evaluated using the I-squared (I²) statistic and Galbraith plots. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess small-study effects. Results Out of 1,515 publications reviewed, 35 met the inclusion criteria. Eight determinants of breast cancer showed convincing evidence under the random-effects model: being overweight (POR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09–1.23), oral contraceptive use (POR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11–1.27), family history of breast cancer (POR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.84–2.67), age ≥ 40 years (POR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.60–2.05), smoking history (POR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.34), exposure to air pollution (POR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05), higher fruit and vegetable consumption (POR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71–0.92), and history of night work (POR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02–1.25). Conclusions This umbrella review identified eight key breast cancer risk factors. Non-modifiable factors like age ≥ 40 and family history, along with modifiable factors such as overweight, smoking, oral contraceptive use, air pollution, and night shift work, increased the odds of breast cancer. Adequate fruit and vegetable intake was linked to reduced odds, suggesting a protective effect. We recommend that public health strategies promote healthy lifestyles and target high-risk groups through early screening and awareness campaigns, using evidence-based interventions to reduce the breast cancer burden.

Background Food-borne diseases are a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Ethiopia. Poor food hygiene practices primarily exacerbate food-borne illness transmission. Prior studies on the food hygiene practices among food handlers in Ethiopia were inconsistent. Therefore, this meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to estimate the pooled proportion of good food hygiene practices and identify the determinants in Ethiopia. Methods The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) instruments were used, and a systematic search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, POPLINE, HINARI, Science Direct, Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar were systematically last searched on the 24th February 2022 for relevant articles. Only the observational studies that reported the proportion of good food hygiene practices and their associated factors among food handlers were included. The quality of the included studies was assessed by two independent authors. Articles with unclear methodologies and did not report the overall proportions of good food hygiene practice were excluded. The effect estimates for pooled proportion and pooled odds ratio (POR) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined conducting using DerSimonian–Laird's random effect model. Results Among 817 retrieved studies, 23 eligible articles with a total sample size of 7153 study participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of good food hygiene practices among food handlers was 50.5% [95% CI: (41.6, 59.4%]; I 2  = 98.7%, p value = 0.001]. Food handlers with formal education (POR = 4.60, 95% CI: 3.05, 6.93), good knowledge (POR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.11), training (POR = 3.52, 95% CI: 2.35, 5.28), and a positive attitude (POR = 3.41, 95% CI: 2.52, 4.61) about food hygiene components, as well as regular medical checkups (POR = 6.75, 95% CI: 4.49) were significantly associated with good food hygiene practice. Conclusions Only half of Ethiopia's food handlers had good food hygiene practice. Implication of the study The key elements of effective food hygiene practice that will aid in the development of feasible interventions to increase food handler compliance with food hygiene components have been identified.

Perinatal mortality rate is one of indictors used to measure the quality of obstetric and pediatric services globally. Compared to developed settings, perinatal mortality rate is higher in low-income countries, indicating societal inequities in health care and a scarcity of prenatal services. It is responsible for roughly 42% of all stillbirth in Sub-Saharan Africa, and 41% of newborn death globally. Despite Ethiopia's efforts to reduce perinatal mortality by improving the quality of care for maternal and child health, perinatal mortality rate is still very high, and as to our search of pieces of literature there is no study in Emerging regions of the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the factors that contribute to perinatal mortality rate in emerging region (Afar, Gambela, Somali, and Benishangul Gumuz) of Ethiopia's. This study relied on data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). The analysis included the outcomes of 4, 070 pregnancies with a gestational age of 7 months or more. A multi-level mixed logistic regression analysis was used to examine individual and community-level predictors, accounting for the data's hierarchical structure. A statistically significant association was determined with a p-value of ≤ 0.05. Of the 4,070 (weighted) pregnancies in total, 432 (57.36%) children were born to women with a mean age of 28.68 ± 6.53 (ages ± SD). The overall perinatal mortality rate in emerging regions of Ethiopia was 36 deaths per 1,000 pregnancies. The study found that having a birth interval < 2 years (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.51, 6.59), maternal age greater than or equal to 35 (AOR = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.84, 10.14), drinking an unimproved water source (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.14, 6.27), and mothers with no education (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.86) were factors significantly associated with a high odds of perinatal mortality rate. This study revealed a higher perinatal mortality rate as compared to national average. Maternal age, drinking an unimproved water source, and birth interval were significantly associated with perinatal deaths. Despite the enhanced effort to improve maternal and child services, there is still a need for more attention to these interconnected issues helps to reduce effectively the perinatal mortality rate in emerging regions of Ethiopia. Future researchers may benefit from focusing on strong study designs to investigate further the determinants of perinatal mortality, and policymakers good to pay special attention to incorporating the findings into policy.

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, affecting approximately 60% of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Low and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Ethiopia, bear a disproportionate burden of depression among HIV/AIDS patients. Several factors, including perceived stigma, have been linked to increased depression among HIV/AIDS patients. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the pooled effect of perceived stigma on depression among HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia. For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically retrieved all relevant studies starting from January 1, 2000 to June 1, 2022 from PubMed, HINARI, and Google Scholar. This review included observational studies that reported the effect of perceived stigma on the prevalence of depression among HIV-positive adults in Ethiopia. The effect estimate of the pooled effect of perceived stigma on depression was conducted using DerSimonian-Laird's random effect model using STATA/MP version 16. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR), along with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was conducted to estimate the strength of the association between perceived stigma and depression. Eleven studies with a total of 4,153 HIV-positive adults were included for meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the odds of depression were higher among patients with perceived stigma (AOR: 3.78, 95% CI: 2.73, 5.24). The pooled prevalence of depression among HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia was 39% (95% CI: 32%, 46%) (I2 = 98%, p ≤ 0.0001). The subgroup analysis revealed that the primary studies conducted in the Oromia region had the highest pooled prevalence of depression at 48% (95% CI: 32%, 63%). The pooled estimates of the meta-analysis revealed that perceived stigma and depression were strongly associated. Stigma and depression screenings should be carried out for additional treatments and prevention, and programs supporting Ethiopia's PLWHA population should be strengthened.

Background. In this globalized and high-tech era, the computer has become an integral part of daily life. A constant use of computer for 3 hours and more per day can cause computer vision syndrome (CVS), which is one of the leading occupational hazards of the 21st century. The visual difficulties are the most common health problems associated with excessive computer use. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of CVS among instructors working in Ethiopian universities. Methods. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 university instructors in Ethiopia from February 02 to March 24, 2021. A structured and self-administered questionnaire prepared by Google Forms was shared among instructors through their e-mail addresses, Facebook, and Telegram accounts. Data cleanup and cross-checking were done before analysis using SPSS version 23. A multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with CVS using p value <0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Results. Of the total 416 participants, about 293 (70.4%) were reported to have CVS (95% CI: 65.9–74.5%), of which 54.6% were aged 24–33 years. Blurred vision, pain in and around the eye, and eye redness were the main symptoms reported. Working in third-established universities (AOR = 8.44, 95% CI: 5.47–21.45), being female (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.28–5.64), being 44 years old and above (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.31–5.70), frequently working on the computer (AOR = 5.51, 95% CI: 2.05–14.81), and sitting in bent back position (AOR = 8.10, 95% CI: 2.42–23.45) were the factors associated with computer vision syndrome. Conclusions. In this study, nearly seven-tenths of instructors in Ethiopian universities reported having symptoms of computer vision syndrome. Working in third-generation universities, being female, age, frequently working on the computer, and sitting in bent back position were statistically significant predictors in computer vision syndrome. Therefore, optimizing exposure time, addressing ergonomic hazards associated with computer usage through on-the-job and off-the-job training, and making the safety guidelines accessible for all university instructors would be critical to address the problem.

Unsafe disposal of children's stool makes children susceptible to fecal-oral diseases and children remain vulnerable till the stools of all children are disposed of safely. There is a paucity of data on spatial distribution and factors associated with unsafe child stool disposal in Ethiopia. Previous estimates, however, do not include information regarding individual and community-level factors associated with unsafe child stool disposal. Hence, the current study aimed (i) to explore the spatial distribution and (ii) to identify factors associated with unsafe child stool disposal in Ethiopia. A secondary data analysis was conducted using the recent 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data. A total of 4145 children aged 0-23 months with their mother were included in this analysis. The Getis-Ord spatial statistical tool was used to identify high and low hotspots areas of unsafe child stool disposal. The Bernoulli model was applied using Kilduff SaTScan version 9.6 software to identify significant spatial clusters. A multilevel multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with unsafe child stool disposal. Unsafe child stool disposal was spatially clustered in Ethiopia (Moran's Index = 0.211, p-value< 0.0001), and significant spatial SaTScan clusters of areas with a high rate of unsafe child stool disposal were detected. The most likely primary SaTScan cluster was detected in Tigray, Amhara, Afar (north), and Benishangul-Gumuz (north) regions (LLR: 41.62, p<0.0001). Unsafe child stool disposal is more prevalent among households that had unimproved toilet facility (AOR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.17-2.02) and those with high community poorer level (AOR: 1.74, 95%CI: 1.23-2.46). Higher prevalence of unsafe child stool disposal was also found in households with poor wealth quintiles. Children belong to agrarian regions (AOR: 0.62, 95%CI 0.42-0.91), children 6-11 months of age (AOR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.52-0.83), 12-17 months of age (AOR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.54-0.86), and 18-23 months of age (AOR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.45-0.75) had lower odds of unsafe child stool disposal. Unsafe child stool disposal was spatially clustered. Higher odds of unsafe child stool disposal were found in households with high community poverty level, poor, unimproved toilet facility, and with the youngest children. Hence, the health authorities could tailor effective child stool management programs to mitigate the inequalities identified in this study. It is also better to consider child stool management intervention in existing sanitation activities considering the identified factors.