Abstract: Background: A road traffic accident is an incident on a way or street open to public traffic, resulting in one or more persons being killed or injured, and involving at least one moving vehicle..Ethiopia, a developing country in Africa, has witnessed a number of the most risky roads in the world and has followed to overtake a determined road spreading out guiding principle in the past 15 years. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of Road Traffic Accidents in Chuko town, Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia from March 27 to April 4, 2009 E.C. Method: Community based cross sectional study was done in Chuko Town with a total sample size of 422 from March 27 to April 4, 2009 E.C. The quantitative data was checked, edited, and entered to SPSS software version 20. The study employed logistic regression and chi-square analysis models. Data from qualitative was analyzed manually then triangulated with the quantitative one. The result is presented using descriptive statistics using tables, graphs and charts. Result: A total of 422 respondents participated in our study with 100% respondent rate. Among them, 244 (57.8%) were male and the rest 178 (42.2%) were female. Among the participants recruited on data collection, 99(23.5%) of them had previous history of RTA. Concerning the causes of RTA, 141(33.4%) majority of them were caused by poor road condition followed by 119(28.2%) by over speed. The results from FGDs and interviews showed that the Town has traffic flow and motor bikes were most common causes of the accident. It also revealed that the Road and Traffic Office had worked on public education even if it’s not enough. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study found out that RTA is big problem of the Town and the Town is experiencing it. The most common cause of RTA is poor road condition and Motor Bikes are most commonly involved in the accident. Legalizing Motor Bikes, public meeting and improving the road condition are among the recommendations given to various groups.

Background: Injuries and violence pose a major public health and developmental problem globally. Each year over 5 million people around the world die as a result of injury. Injuries are ranked among the leading cause of death and disability particularly in low income and middle income countries where they are growing insignificance, largely as a consequences of epidemiologic, demographic and socioeconomic transitions. Moreover, it is in these very setting that the vital statistics and routine health information are often seriously lacking. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of trauma cases visited at emergency OPD of DURTH and to describe the magnitude and pattern of injury. Methods: Health institutional based cross sectional study was conducted at emergency OPD from APRIL 20, 2008-MAY 20, 2008 E.C and the data was collected using questionnaires by using convenience sampling technique. All injury cases come to EOPD was studied. A questioner was used to collect the data and the data entered to computer and was analysed by using SPSS version 20. Ethical clearance was obtained from Rift valley University Hawassa campus before the study conducted and the hospital management. Result: 128 patients were visited EOPD of DURH during the study period. The commonest mechanism of injury was RTA, 42(32.8%), followed by falling related injury and cut by sharp instruments, 22(17.2%), 20(15.6%) respectively. More males had RTA, cut and falling related injuries compared to females. The commonest outcomes which resulted in severe injuries were RTA, stab and falling related injuries. Conclusion: The magnitude of injury in the hospital was considerably high. Appropriate prevention strategies should be designed and implemented against RTA, falling related injury and cut by sharp instruments.

Abstract: Background: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is the most significant route of HIV infection in children and by far the largest source of HIV infection in children below the age of 15 years. Objectives: the aim of this study was to assess current practices and future intention of lactating mothers on VCT and infant feeding in relation to prevention of MTCT of HIV in DURH. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional quantitative survey was conducted from February, 1 to February 10 2008 E.C using standardized questionnaire, among lactating mothers in DURH selected using probability proportional to size. Non probability conveniences (purposive) sampling technique was used .The data was exported in to SPSS software version 20 and analyzed. Official written letter of cooperation were secured from DURH to the concerned body, and verbal consents of the study participants was obtained. Finally the result was presented by using tables and charts. Result: A total of 271 (100%) mothers participated in the study. The majority of the study participants were in the age group of 25 to 34 (61.8%) years. The majority were married 219 (80.8%), house wives in occupation, 113 (41.7%), and had Grade 7-12 that 69 (25.5%) attended high school education. There was statistically association between knowledge and the respondents’ educational status (p=0.037), association between attitude towards VCT and the respondents’ educational status (p=0.010), as well as between attitude towards VCT and occupation (p=0.021) and there was statistically association between practice towards VCT and the respondents’ religion (p=0.019), as well as between practice towards VCT and monthly income (p=0.041). Conclusion and Recommendation: The findings from this study in relation to prevention of HIV transmission revealed that mothers had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS and on MTCT and PMTCT. The study participants also have good attitude towards VCT which may have a contribution to intention of the mothers to have HIV test. Therefore to increasing utilization of PMTCT, infant feeding and VCT it requires to address reinforce the importance of exclusive breast feeding during antenatal and postnatal follow up, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) service shall be accessed to some groups of the community such as housemaid and housewives as much as possible to get information utilize the services, and establish communication/ referral network between health facilities and organizations working on HIV/AIDS.