Wolaita Sodo University

Not susceptible to methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a potentially harmful bacteria that is resistant to the most important antimicrobial agents. Because MRSA is so resistant to many antibiotics, it can cause illnesses by forming biofilms. The aim of this study was to assess the nasal carriage rate of biofilm-producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its associated factors among HealthCare Workers at Wachemo University Nigist Ellen Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Central Ethiopia. This cross-sectional study, carried out at Wachemo University Nigist Ellen Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Central Ethiopia from August 1 to November 30, 2023. Nasal swab samples from 294 healthcare workers (HCWs) were obtained using sterile cotton swabs. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard culture methods on Mannitol Salt and Blood Agar, while antimicrobial susceptibility testing and biofilm formation assessments followed the CLSI 2023 (M100, 33rd edition) guidelines via the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion methods. All laboratory analyses were performed in triplicate to ensure consistency. Data were double-entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and cross-checked for accuracy. Missing or inconsistent data were verified against original laboratory records and latterly then, exported to SPSS V25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied for statistical evaluation, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 regarded as statistically significant. In this study, the occurrence rates of S. aureus, MRSA, and biofilm-producing MRSA were 98 out of 294 isolated strains (33.4%), 41 out of 294 isolated strains (13.9%), and 28 out of 294 isolated strains (9.5%), respectively. The MRSA strains exhibited high sensitivity to linezolid, rifampicin, and vancomycin while showing resistance to cefoxitin, cotrimoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. A history of prior hospitalization (length of stay in the hospital) was statistically significant for the colonization of biofilm-producing MRSA, with an adjusted odds ratio of 10.00 (95% CI: 1.36-73.3; P = 0.024). MRSA and MRSA that produces biofilms were found to be 41.8% and 68.3% prevalent overall in the study area, respectively. Biofilm-producing MRSA is a potential cause of healthcare-associated diseases. Therefore, these findings emphasize the urgent need for improved infection-prevention practices and routine screening of healthcare workers to mitigate the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Female Genital mutilation (FGM) has been associated with numerous negative health effects like sexual dysfunction, chronic pain, infections, infertility, and an increased risk of maternal mortality. To date, no recognized studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have combined machine learning (ML) models with nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data to classify FGM. Therefore, this study aims to identify the most effective ML model for classifying FGM in SSA. ML offers the significant advantage of handling extremely large and complex datasets with numerous variables and interactions, providing more accurate classifications than conventional statistical methods. This study used secondary data from the DHS collected between 2015 and 2023 in 11 SSA countries. The DHS employs a cross-sectional study design. A total of 62,249 women who had at least one daughter were included in the analysis. Seven classification algorithms, including Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), XGBoost (XGB), and Naive Bayes (NB), were used to classify FGM. The RF classifier yielded the highest performance, achieving 0.85 accuracy, 0.83 precision, 0.88 recall, 0.85 F1 score, and 0.93 AUC. Random Forest (Brier score = 0.1319) and Decision Tree (0.1328) showed best calibration. The SHAP plots provide a comprehensive interpretation of the features influencing the model's classification of whether a mother reports that at least one daughter has undergone FGM. The bar plot shows the global importance of each feature, with opinion on FGM (+ 0.14), country of residence (+ 0.13), respondent's circumcision status (+ 0.11), and religious justification for FGM (+ 0.07) contributing the most on average to the classification of FGM. This study applied seven machine ML techniques to classify FGM in SSA, with the Random Forest classifier demonstrating the best performance. SHAP interpretability findings indicated that maternal opinion on FGM, country of residence, religious justifications for FGM, and the respondent's circumcision status contributed most, on average, to the classification of FGM. These results suggest that education and advocacy efforts aimed at mothers particularly those who have had FGM themselves or who believe that the practice is justified by religion should be given top priority in interventions. Implementing community engagement initiatives that challenge accepted conventions and ideas around FGM may be particularly beneficial, especially when these practices are rooted in religious or cultural justifications.

This study explored the washback effect of the exit examination on student learning outcomes and teaching at Wolaita Sodo University’s School of Law in Ethiopia, using an explanatory sequential mixed-method design. Data was collected from 39 students and 22 instructors through surveys, open-ended questionnaires, and five batches of students’ academic records (2019 to 2023). The findings show that exit examinations have a significant impact on teaching practices and student learning. Instructors responded to the exit exam by redesigning teaching approaches to align with exam contents. While this alignment promoted accountability, it also imposed pedagogical constraints and heightened stress, potentially narrowing the scope of legal education. The perceived high stakes of the exit exam influenced students’ motivation and engagement. There were two salient dimensions of perception uncovered through exploratory factor analysis: (1) policy awareness and academic engagement, and (2) exam utility and affective response. The exit exams shaped students’ learning priorities and affective responses to meet the requirements. Regression analysis also confirmed that Cumulative Grade Point Average was a strong predictor of performance in the licensure and exit examinations (β = 0.519 to 0.802, p < .01), underscoring the relationship between prior academic performance and success in exit examinations. The study concludes that while exit examinations foster academic focus and curriculum coherence, they also potentially limit instructional practice and foster stress. Wolaita Sodo University should balance curriculum and assessment implementation, preserve consistency between admission, teaching, and assessment systems, and protect instructional autonomy and teacher welfare.

In Ethiopia, young people are often underserved in HIV programs, with limited access to counseling, treatment, and care. Most research on youth and HIV has focused on epidemiology and prevention among 15–24-year-olds, while little attention has been paid to the lived experiences of youth living with HIV. This study explored the lived experiences of youth living with HIV who receive services from Jimma Health Center and Jimma University Medical Center. A descriptive phenomenological design was employed to explore the experiences of purposively selected youth living with HIV, regardless of the mode of acquisition. Eleven participants (eight females and three males) were interviewed in-depth using a semi-structured guide. Data were managed and analyzed using Atlas.ti version 7.5.18, and trustworthiness was ensured through multiple validation procedures. Participants reported receiving support from families, ART clinics, and youth clubs; however, fear of disclosure and HIV-related stigma remained major challenges. Many concealed their status due to fear of rejection and discrimination. Psychological distress, including guilt, low self-esteem, and boredom with lifelong medication, was common. Coping strategies included self-concealment, religiosity, and escape avoidance. Youth living with HIV face stigma, rejection, and limited support, which hinder access to healthcare and contribute to psychological suffering. Differentiated service delivery models that address the specific needs of youth in a respectful and supportive manner are recommended to strengthen the continuum of HIV care.

Despite the rising burden of hypertension (HTN) across Africa, the rate of blood pressure (BP) control among hypertensive patients remains unacceptably low. One of the key contributors to this treatment gap is therapeutic inertia (TI) the failure to initiate or intensify therapy when clinically indicated. However, evidence on the magnitude and determinants of TI in Ethiopia remains scarce. Objective: To assess the prevalence of therapeutic inertia and identify associated factors among hypertensive patients attending the outpatient department of Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 189 hypertensive patients from August to November 2023. Participants were selected through consecutive sampling. Data were collected via interviews with patients and physicians, along with a review of medical charts. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means ± SD, and medians with interquartile ranges) were used to summarize patient characteristics. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with TI. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Of the 189 patients, 50.8% were male, with a mean age of 53.8years. The prevalence of therapeutic inertia was 58.7% (95% CI: 52.3%-65.4%). Factors significantly associated with lower odds of TI included treatment with amlodipine (AOR = 0.137; 95% CI: 0.019-0.975), use of NPH insulin (AOR = 0.174; 95% CI: 0.036-0.833), and higher diastolic BP readings (AOR = 0.910; 95% CI: 0.839-0.986). In contrast, physician-reported reasons for not intensifying treatment such as "BP being close to the target value" (AOR = 6.074; 95% CI: 1.315-28.060) and "concerns about patient adherence" (AOR = 5.487; 95% CI: 1.061-28.362) were positively associated with TI. Therapeutic inertia was observed in nearly 6 out of 10 cases of uncontrolled hypertension in this setting, highlighting a significant gap in clinical decision-making. Addressing therapeutic inertia through improved adherence to hypertension treatment guidelines and strengthened physician education may help improve blood pressure control in similar settings. Stakeholders should implement systems that support timely treatment intensification and encourage adherence to evidence-based management strategies.

Mining for fossil fuels and minerals generates spoil heaps and open pits, which have significant environmental impacts in addition to their economic contributions. Afforestation of these disturbed areas can improve soil properties, thereby increasing the functionality and resilience of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the extent of changes in soil properties following afforestation varies depending on the methods used for tree introduction. There is a need for knowledge on the effects of afforestation on soil properties, especially in post-mining Techonosols. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the effects of three afforestation methods, succession on barren spoil top (SBT), succession on reclaimed topsoil (STS), and plantation on reclaimed topsoil (PTS), on soil properties in a coal post-mining site. Soil samples were collected from 30 randomly established plots (10 × 10m) for physical and chemical analyses, focusing on the upper layer (0-10cm depth). The collected samples were analyzed for soil texture, bulk density (BD), porosity, air capacity, capillary water capacity (CWC), moisture content (MC), exchangeable base cations (Ca2⁺, Mg2⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺), total organic carbon (SOCt), SOC fractions, total nitrogen (Nt), and total sulfur (St). The results showed that PTS had significantly higher CWC, Nt, Ca2⁺, K⁺, occluded light fraction of carbon (ColF), and mineral-associated carbon fraction (CMAF) compared to SBT. These improvements highlight the effectiveness of active reclamation in enhancing soil structure stability, nutrient retention, and long-term carbon stabilization, critical elements for post-mining ecosystem restoration. In contrast, SBT had greater porosity, Mg2⁺, and free light fraction of carbon (CflF) than STS. In addition, SBT had greater St compared to STS and PTS. This indicates that both natural succession and active restoration contribute to soil change through different mechanisms. Therefore, the choice between afforestation strategies should depend on factors such as restoration objectives, topsoil availability, and resource constraints, as active restoration is labor-intensive and costly.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been associated with components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including glucose intolerance, weight gain, and dyslipidemia. However, with the advent of newer agents such as dolutegravir (DTG), evidence on the burden of MetS remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS and its determinants among people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving DTG-based ART at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (DMCSH), Northwest Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022, among 422 randomly selected participants using face-to-face interviews, anthropometric assessments, medical chart reviews, and biochemical measurements. MetS was defined based on the 2009 harmonized criteria. Epi-Data version 4.6 and SPSS version 26 were used for data entry and statistical analysis, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with MetS. A statistical significance was decided at P ≤ 0.05. The prevalence of MetS was 27.7% (95% CI: 23.7-32.2), with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (60.9%) was the most prevalent component. In adjusted analysis, alcohol use (AOR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.02-3.6), inadequate physical activity (AOR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.08-2.67), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 (AOR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.1-2.76), and CD4+ T-cell count ≥500 cell/mm3 (AOR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.1-2.73) were significantly associated with MetS. Overall, our study showed that MetS (27.7%) was relatively common among PLWH receiving DTG-based ART. Alcohol use, inadequate physical activity, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, and CD4 T-cell count ≥500 cell/mm3 were significantly associated with MetS. Routine clinical monitoring and assessment of all MetS components are recommended for PLWH receiving DTG-based ART, with particular attention to those who consume alcohol, have inadequate physical activity, elevated BMI, or higher CD4+ T-cell count.

Drought in the Hamessa watershed may result from water scarcity brought on by extended periods of decreased rainfall as a result of climate change. However, so far hydrological drought analysis was not done in this watershed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate hydrological drought in the Hamessa watershed under climate change. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model the watershed, and SWAT‐CUP (Calibration and Uncertainty Procedures) was used for sensitivity, calibration and validation of the model. A watershed’s drought conditions and areas that are susceptible to drought are determined by the standard precipitation index (SPI) and the streamflow drought index (SDI). The long‐term and short‐term temperature projections under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios show an increase over the current period. In the meantime, precipitation forecasts indicate a decline in both scenarios for the years 2040–2072. The model’s performance reveals that R 2 , NSE, and PBIAS were 0.79%, 0.78%, and 1% during calibration and 0.76%, 0.78%, and 6.1% during validation, respectively. These showed that the outputs from simulations and observations agreed very well. The watershed is currently experiencing mild, moderate, severe, and extreme drought events, according to the results of the SDI and SPI. In the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, droughts are predicted to occur in the years 2040–2060 and 2061–2072. The results indicated that the watersheds were highly vulnerable to severe and extreme drought. Consequently, in order to alleviate drought in the watershed, drought‐mitigating structures are required like the construction of reservoirs and water harvesting structures.