Harar

Researchers are evaluating the PartoMa approach, which includes locally agreed and achievable intrapartum guidelines and continuous fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring using the MOYO device, to improve decision making in intrapartum care in Eastern Ethiopia. This study focuses on laboring women delivering at two busy government hospitals, Haramaya General Hospital and Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, aiming to reduce stillbirths, birth asphyxia, and improve maternal and perinatal outcomes. The study spans from June 2023 to May 2025 and involves adaptation of guidelines to the local context alongside training healthcare providers. The study is divided into four phases: baseline assessment, co-creation of context-specific intrapartum care guidelines, implementation of PartoMa seminars and continuous FHR monitoring, and post-intervention evaluation. The PartoMa intervention includes seminars, low-dose high-frequency (LDHF) training sessions, and supportive supervision for birth attendants. After adapting the guidelines based on initial data and stakeholder input, the intervention is introduced and monitored at the study hospitals, with ongoing evaluation of training impact and care practices. Participants include women in labor and birth attendants at the study sites, who will be followed from labor onset until discharge. Researchers will assess FHR monitoring practices, guideline compliance, and maternal and child health indicators through interviews, observations, and record reviews. Primary outcomes include stillbirth and birth asphyxia rates, comparing baseline data from July to September 2023 with data from months 6 to 9 of the intervention. The study also evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of the PartoMa approach and training methods.

Researchers are investigating the use of a rapid bedside test measuring the biomarker sTREM-1 to identify children admitted to hospitals in low and middle-income countries who are at higher risk of serious complications or death. The study is part of a larger project aiming to improve risk assessment and survival in children with fever syndromes. It focuses on children aged from 1 month to under 5 years who are admitted to hospital with fever or suspected severe illness and categorized as moderate to high risk by this biomarker test. The trial is a multi-country, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the effects of oral L-citrulline supplementation versus placebo. Eligible children with moderate to high risk will receive either L-citrulline syrup or placebo twice daily for 28 days, with dosing adjusted by weight (200-300 mg/kg/day). The study is conducted in Mozambique and Ethiopia and aims to assess whether L-citrulline improves outcomes compared to placebo. Participants will be followed for six months with visits or phone contacts at days 3, 5, 7, 28, and month 6 after recruitment. Researchers will monitor adverse disease outcomes within 28 days, including death, neurological problems, kidney issues, need for organ support, shock, coma, severe respiratory distress, or hospital readmission. Safety and long-term health outcomes will also be assessed to evaluate the impact of the intervention.

Researchers are investigating the prevalence and associated factors of complications occurring in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) among surgical patients. The study focuses on understanding these complications in tertiary hospitals in Ethiopia and comparing findings with a tertiary hospital in Spain. The goal is to identify risk factors like female sex, longer anesthesia duration, and intraoperative complications to improve patient safety and healthcare quality in the perioperative setting. This observational, multicenter prospective cohort study will take place from February 15, 2025, to June 30, 2025, at four hospitals: three in Ethiopia and one in Spain. Surgical patients admitted to the PACU after procedures under general, regional, or monitored anesthesia will be included. Patients will be monitored for complications such as pulmonary issues, hemodynamic instability, temperature disturbances, and pain using questionnaires and physical examinations. Participants will be followed closely in the PACU to identify any postoperative complications within the first 8 hours after anesthesia. Data collected will help assess the rate of patients experiencing these complications. The study will provide valuable insights for hospital administrators and policymakers to enhance PACU organization and care. Participants' consent and clinical information will be recorded, with outcomes focused on improving postoperative care and patient safety.