BACKGROUND: The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved the life expectancies of children and adolescents living with HIV, leading to an increased number transitioning to adult care. However, there has been a lack of studies in Ethiopia focusing on factors influencing the success of this transition. Therefore, this study aimed to determine predictors of a successful transition from pediatric to adult HIV clinics among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in health facilities in southern Ethiopia.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included 337 adolescents and young adults who transitioned to adult-oriented HIV care. Successful transition was defined as having a viral load of less than 1000 copies/ml and maintaining care during the first year post-transition. Patients\' antiretroviral therapy (ART) cards and monitoring charts were reviewed. Secondary data analysis was conducted using a multivariable binary logistic regression model to identify predictors of a successful transition. Using the variance inflation factor, we checked for multi-collinearity between variables and assessed model fitness with the Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P-value ≤ 0.05 measured the strength of association and statistical significance.
RESULTS: Of 337 participants, 230 (68.25%) successfully transitioned (95% CI = 63.25, 73.25). Transitioning at age 18 or older (AOR = 4.25; 95% CI = 2.29, 7.87), residing in an urban area (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.04, 3.02), and being on antiretroviral therapy for more than two years (AOR = 4.25; 95% CI = 1.17, 4.94; P < 0.017) were identified as positive predictors and opportunistic infection (AOR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.15, 0.75; P < 0.008) was identified as a negative predictor for a successful transition from pediatric to adult ART clinic.
CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the challenges faced by HIV patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care, with less than 70% successfully navigating this critical phase. Factors such as age at transition, residence, duration of ART, and the presence of opportunistic infections were identified as key predictors of successful transition. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored interventions, including standardized transition plans that address age and urban/rural disparities, to enhance transition outcomes for adolescents and young adults living with HIV in the region.

UNASSIGNED: In combination with HIV infection, malnutrition is a complicated medical condition with high morbidity and mortality rates in affected children due to a variety of socioeconomic and medical etiological variables. To combat this, information from a range of contexts is required, but there is little evidence, particularly about the nutritional status of under 15 living with HIV in impoverished communities such as conflict affected areas. Therefore, in this study the magnitude and related factors of stunting among under 15 children antiretroviral therapy at public health facilities was assessed.
UNASSIGNED: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among under 15 children living with HIV in conflict-affected zones of Southern Ethiopia. After providing written informed consent to study participants, data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with nutritional status, using SPSS Version 25.
UNASSIGNED: Of the 401 participants, 197 (49.1%, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.54) had height-for-age z-score ≤ -2. In the multivariable analysis, larger household size (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04-2.40), dietary diversity (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.07-2.96) and having a history of recurrent diarrhea (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.07-3.59) were significantly associated with chronic under nutrition.
UNASSIGNED: The prevalence found in this study was high when compared with the stunting target set in SDG, which states to end all forms of malnutrition In order to mitigate the negative health effects of diarrhea during HIV therapy, extra attention needs to be paid to facilitate timely detection and on-going monitoring. Nutrition programs in conflict-affected areas need to consider households with larger family sizes and/or routinely having fewer food groups.

UNASSIGNED: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) continues to be a public health problem. Globally in 2019, a total of 465,000 people developed rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB), of which 78% had MDR-TB. There is a paucity of evidence on the determinants of MDR-TB in southern Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the determinants of MDR-TB in southern Ethiopia.
UNASSIGNED: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in southern Ethiopia. The cases were all MDR-TB patients attending TB clinics, and controls were all patients who were declared as cured or treatment completed. The cases were selected by consecutive sampling, and a simple random sampling technique was used for controls. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify determinants of MDR-TB. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed, and statistical significance was declared at a P-value less than 5%.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 191 participants, 67 cases, and 124 controls were included. TB patients facing social stigma (AOR = 8.9, 95% CI: 2.3-34.6), living in a household with one room (AOR = 12.3, 95% CI: 2.3-63.5), and two rooms (AOR = 9.7, 95% CI: 1.7-54.8), having the previous history of TB treatment (AOR = 11.8, 95% CI: 2.9-47), having baseline body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5Kg/m2(AOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.2-16.8), and having pulmonary TB (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI: 1.33-19.8) were determinants of MDR-TB.
UNASSIGNED: In this study, TB patients facing social stigma, living in one- and two-roomed houses, having a previous history of TB treatment, having low baseline BMI and pulmonary type of TB had higher odds of MDR-TB. Therefore, health workers in TB control programs should include mental health services in the TB care protocol, and priority should be given to malnutrition screening as a first-line diagnosis, nutritional supplements, and health education about proper housing.