Jimma

Researchers are investigating the effect of bromocriptine in women of reproductive age with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition causing enlargement and weakening of the heart's ventricles leading to heart failure. DCM can be caused by genetic factors, myocarditis, or unknown reasons and is a leading cause of heart failure especially in younger adults. Bromocriptine, which lowers prolactin levels, has shown benefits in treating peripartum cardiomyopathy, a subtype of DCM, and this study aims to see if it can help women with DCM more broadly. Participants will receive bromocriptine mesylate 2.5 mg orally once daily for 8 weeks alongside standard guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), which includes beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors. This is a randomized, open-label, placebo-controlled trial focusing on women aged 18 to 50 with ischemic or new-onset dilated cardiomyopathy. The study includes multiple assessments over several months to evaluate heart function and clinical status. During the study, researchers will monitor left ventricular function and cardiac biomarkers at 3, 6, and 9 months, along with clinical improvement tests at recruitment and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Safety and effectiveness will be evaluated through these repeated measurements and patient assessments. The trial also aims to understand the pharmacokinetics of bromocriptine in this population. Total participation spans at least 12 months with ongoing monitoring.

Researchers are monitoring the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines globally, focusing on healthcare workers, adults over 65, and schoolteachers. The study aims to estimate how common local and systemic side effects are for different COVID-19 vaccines, understand risk factors related to side effect frequency and severity, and evaluate long-term effects. It also compares the safety of various vaccines and examines how palliative drugs affect short-term side effect relief. Participants receive one or two doses of different COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Janssen, CureVac, Novavax, and Covaxin. The study has two phases: a cross-sectional survey on short-term side effects occurring within 30 days after vaccination, and a prospective cohort study assessing long-term vaccine safety and effectiveness, including after booster doses, over five years starting in 2022. Participants complete validated online questionnaires reporting side effects, their timing, duration, and intensity. Researchers collect data on local and systemic side effects up to 30 days post-vaccination and monitor long-term outcomes through yearly follow-ups. The study helps evaluate vaccine safety and supports efforts to reduce vaccine hesitancy by providing independent data on side effects and their resolution.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of chronic disease self-management education on behavioral and clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatic heart disease at Jimma Medical Center. This study uses a one-group quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test assessments to examine improvements in clinical measures and reductions in depression and anxiety among patients attending medical follow-up at the cardiac clinic. The study focuses on patients diagnosed for at least 6 months and classified as New York Heart Association function Class II or III. The intervention consists of nurse-led, multi-component chronic disease self-management education delivered face-to-face in monthly sessions over four months (at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days). Each educational session lasts 30 to 45 minutes and covers heart disease information, symptom management, medication adherence, nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management. Participants receive educational leaflets and engage in question-and-answer discussions to support self-care behaviors. Participants will undergo various assessments before and after the intervention, including blood pressure, weight, anxiety and depression levels using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and complete blood counts with detailed blood morphology exams. Measurements are taken monthly over four months. The study also tracks symptom monitoring, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes. Data analysis will compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes to evaluate the education program's impact on clinical and behavioral health indicators.

Researchers are evaluating an intervention called R-SWITCH aimed at improving treatment coverage for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children aged 6 to 59 months in Ethiopia. SAM is a serious condition with high mortality risk, yet only a small fraction of affected children currently receive outpatient treatment. The study seeks to increase identification, referral, and treatment of SAM by addressing barriers such as caregiver awareness, stigma, access issues, and health worker workload. The goals include assessing how well the intervention improves treatment coverage, understanding challenges to implementation, and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the approach. The R-SWITCH intervention uses existing community groups called Alliance for Development (AFD) to deliver a combined program involving monthly group meetings for caregivers, active and passive screening for wasting, behavior change communication on child nutrition, and promotion of health services. It includes promoting family-led mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening, introducing new screening criteria at health posts, involving fathers and community leaders to raise awareness, and strengthening follow-up and counseling during home visits for children referred, enrolled, or recovered from outpatient treatment programs (OTP). Communication between health extension workers and community groups is also enhanced. Children participating will be monitored for treatment coverage of SAM after 24 months of program implementation. The study involves screening children for SAM using MUAC, presence of edema, or weight-for-length scores and following up those in outpatient treatment. Researchers will collect data on treatment uptake, barriers, and costs. The total participation period covers children aged from 6 months up to 5 years, with ongoing community group meetings, home visits, and health post screenings to support prevention, screening, referral, and treatment over the study duration.

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.

Researchers are studying low-risk pregnant women in southwest Ethiopia to understand the progression of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during pregnancy and how it affects birth outcomes. The study focuses on identifying risk factors for MetS, its components, and their links to complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. It also explores women's knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding diet, food taboos, and cultural beliefs during pregnancy. The study will follow pregnant women from their first antenatal care visit before 15 weeks of pregnancy through to one month after giving birth. Participants will be assessed four times: at enrollment, mid-pregnancy (24 weeks), late pregnancy (36 weeks), and shortly after delivery. Data collected will include dietary habits, nutritional status, biochemical tests, body measurements, and body composition in a subset of women. Researchers will also evaluate pregnancy and birth outcomes such as newborn weight, length, head circumference, and Apgar scores. During the study, women will provide sociodemographic information and undergo regular assessments of their health and pregnancy progress. Researchers will monitor key outcomes including birth weight, infant length, gestational age at birth, and the occurrence of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes up to 28 weeks after enrollment. This comprehensive monitoring aims to identify early predictors of adverse outcomes and support prevention strategies for metabolic syndrome and related complications in this population.

A balanced diet is crucial for preschool children to support their rapid physical and cognitive growth. This research investigates the effects of a multi-component nutrition education program on the diet quality and food preferences of kindergarten students in the Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. The study uses a cluster randomized controlled trial design to address the significant gap in dietary diversity seen in the region, aiming to improve long-term health by targeting early childhood eating habits. The study involves 451 students from ten schools, divided equally into intervention and control groups. Parents in the intervention group will receive weekly nutrition education through printed leaflets and messages via Telegram, tailored to local languages and literacy levels. At the same time, children will attend bi-weekly nutrition sessions led by trained nutritionists, following WHO guidelines for their age. This intervention lasts for six months, with ongoing education for both parents and children. Participants will be assessed at the beginning and end of the six-month period using the mean School-Lunch Dietary Diversity Score to measure diet quality. Researchers will collect data through questionnaires and analyze it to compare changes between groups. The study also monitors parental consent and student attendance to ensure valid participation, aiming to understand how education influences children's dietary habits and preferences over time.

Researchers are conducting a Phase 3, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to assess whether azithromycin taken as a preventive treatment can reduce death rates in adults with advanced HIV disease. Participants eligible for the study must have confirmed HIV infection with low CD4 counts or specific treatment histories, reflecting advanced immunosuppression. The trial aims to better understand mortality outcomes related to this preventive approach in this population. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either azithromycin tablets or placebo tablets for 28 days. All participants will be followed for 24 weeks after randomization to measure the main outcome of death from any cause, with total follow-up lasting 48 weeks. The study compares the effects of azithromycin prophylaxis against an inactive placebo to evaluate its impact on survival. During the study, participants will be monitored regularly to track health outcomes, particularly mortality. They must be able to start or adjust antiretroviral therapy within four weeks of joining the trial. Researchers will closely observe for any adverse effects, treatment adherence, and overall health status throughout the follow-up period to assess the safety and effectiveness of the intervention.

Researchers are investigating the immune response specific to different strains of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers and the general population at Jimma Medical Center and St. Paul Hospital in Addis Ababa. This study focuses on how natural infection and COVID-19 vaccination affect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG antibodies and clinical protection against COVID-19. Participants will be grouped based on their previous infection and vaccination status and followed over time to understand antibody prevalence, incidence, and dynamics, as well as COVID-19 breakthrough infections. Participants will be followed every three months for up to two years. At each visit, blood samples will be taken to measure immune responses including SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG and neutralizing antibodies, along with T-cell responses. Clinical assessments for COVID-19 infections will be performed using history, PCR testing, and antibody seroconversion. A subset of samples will undergo advanced analyses such as virus neutralization assays, antibody epitope mapping, and T-cell immunity tests. The study also aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of simplified COVID-19 vaccination strategies in populations with existing natural immunity. During the study, participants will provide blood samples and health information regularly. Researchers will monitor immune responses, COVID-19 disease occurrence, and antibody levels over time. Results will help understand immune protection correlates and inform vaccination approaches in Ethiopia. The total participation duration can be up to 24 months with follow-ups every three months to assess long-term immunity and breakthrough infections.

Researchers are investigating the heart-related effects of sepsis and how these affect disease outcomes in adults at Jimma University Medical Center in Ethiopia from May 2025 to May 2026. The study focuses on adults aged 18 and older who have sepsis, including bacterial meningitis, and groups them based on whether they show signs of heart involvement. Heart involvement will be identified through symptoms, blood markers, ECG, and echocardiographic tests. The study aims to understand how persistent heart problems, physical functioning, and survival rates relate to sepsis over one year, especially in a resource-limited setting. Participants will receive standard treatment for sepsis, with one group also receiving additional care for heart failure if cardiac issues are present. Treatments follow standard medical protocols and include supportive care tailored to specific needs. The study is designed as a prospective cohort, following patients over one year, categorizing them by heart involvement status to compare outcomes. During the study, researchers will collect clinical data using structured checklists and perform various tests such as ECGs, echocardiography, and biomarker assessments. They will monitor survival and heart function at one, three, and six months after discharge and continue follow-up for a full year. Advanced statistical methods will be used to analyze survival and identify factors predicting poor outcomes related to sepsis and heart complications.