Head of Department's Message

Name: Bruck Tesfaye

Mobile phone: +251913279855/+251923342550
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College/Institute: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Health Sciences, Wallaga University
 Department/Team: Pediatrics and Neonatal Nursing
 Field of Specialization:

• BSc in Nursing
• MSc in Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing

The Department of Pediatrics and Neonatal Nursing at Wallaga University is dedicated to addressing Ethiopia’s urgent need for child and newborn health professionals. Health is humanity’s greatest asset, and the well-being of children is the foundation of a nation’s future. Yet, Ethiopia, like many African countries, faces a shortage and inequitable distribution of trained pediatric and neonatal nurses.

Studies highlight critical gaps: only 12.9% of nurses in Ethiopia are pediatric specialists, knowledge and practice in pediatric pain management remain inadequate, and most hospitals lack sufficient neonatal intensive care staff. These challenges contribute to high rates of preventable neonatal and childhood illness and mortality. Our department is committed to closing these gaps by training competent, compassionate, and innovative pediatric and neonatal nurses, while also advancing research, technology, and community service.

We call upon governmental and non-governmental partners, academic institutions, and development organizations to collaborate with us in strengthening child and newborn health services across Ethiopia. Together, we can ensure that every child survives, thrives, and reaches their full potential.

“Caring for children today, building a healthier Ethiopia tomorrow.”

With my best regards,

Research Interest:

Neonatal, Pediatrics, Maternal, and Health-Related Topics.       

List of Publications

1. BT Legesse, NM Abera, TG Alemu, KA Atalell (2023). Incidence and predictors of mortality among neonates with respiratory distress syndrome admitted at West Oromia Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022. Multi-centred institution based retrospective follow-up study. PLOS ONE, 18 (8), e0289050. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289050
2. BT Legesse, WT Wondie, GD Gedefaw, YT Workineh, BL Seifu (2024). Coutilisation of oral rehydration solution and zinc for treating diarrhoea and its associated factors among under-five children in East Africa: a multilevel robust Poisson regression. BMJ Open, 14 (3), e079618. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079618
3. BT Legesse, WT Wondie, WM Mekonen, GB Mekonnin (2025). Predictors of mortality among neonates admitted with hypothermia and respiratory distress syndrome at West Oromia tertiary hospitals, Retrospective Follow-up Study, 2023. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 31 (3), 101673. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101673
4. GB Dibera, MA Yizengaw, GL Yadeta, DD Iticha, B Gamachu, BT Legesse (2024). Clinical characteristics and outcomes of traumatic brain injury in patients admitted to surgical ward of Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: a prospective observational follow-up study. BMJ Open, 14 (2), e080598. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080598
5. GD Gedefaw, AG Abuhay, AT Abate, WT Wondie, ZA Gebreegzabiher, ... (2024). Incidence of acute kidney injury and its predictors among neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit of, Northwest Ethiopia comprehensive specialized hospitals, 2023. BMC Pediatrics, 24 (1), 717. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-05147-6
6. DT Kubura, GB Mekonnen, HD Nigisi, T Shibiru, BT Legesse (2025). Incidence and predictors of mortality among children admitted to intensive care unit in tertiary hospitals of West Oromia, Ethiopia. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 83, 160-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2025.05.001
7. BL Seifu, BT Legesse, TZ Yehuala, BF Kase, ZA Asmare, GF Mulaw, ... (2024). Factors associated with the co-utilization of oral rehydration solution and zinc for treating diarrhea among under-five children in 35 sub-saharan Africa countries: a generalized linear mixed-effect modeling with robust error variance. BMC Public Health, 24 (1), 1329. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18827-w
8. WT Wondie, BT Legesse, GB Mekonnen, GT Degaga, AB Zemariam, ... (2023). Incidence and predictors of respiratory distress syndrome among low birth weight neonates in the first seven days in Northwest Ethiopia Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals. BMJ Open, 13 (11), e079063. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079063
9. BL Seifu, KU Mare, BT Legesse, TM Tebeje (2024). Double burden of malnutrition and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis. BMJ Open, 14 (2), e073447. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073447
10. GD Gedefaw, AG Abuhay, YS Endeshaw, MA Birhan, ME Ayenew, ... (2024). Incidence and predictors of acute kidney injury among asphyxiated neonates in comprehensive specialized hospitals, northwest Ethiopia, 2023. Scientific Reports, 14 (1), 16480. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66242-3
11. BL Seifu, HA Asebe, BT Legesse, GF Mulaw, TM Tebeje, KU Mare (2024). Prognostic factors of first intimate partner violence among ever-married women in Sub-Saharan Africa: Gompertz gamma shared frailty modeling. PLOS ONE, 19 (5), e0303187. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303187
12. BL Seifu, GA Tesema, T Tebeje, BT Legesse, TZ Yehuala, AG Wuneh, ... (2024). Determinants of normal haemoglobin concentration among under-five children in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Positive deviance inquiry using cross-sectional study design. BMJ Open, 14 (4), e074477. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074477
13. GB Mekonnen, BT Legesse, FD Baye, WT Wondie (2025). Incidence of tuberculosis and its predictors among children on antiretroviral therapy in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: a multicentre institution-based retrospective follow-up study. BMJ Open, 15 (2), e093808. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093808
14. GB Mekonnen, FD Baye, G Kerebeh, MM Fekadie, YT Kassie, TA Demile, ... (2024). Predictors for the incidence of pneumonia among HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy in Amhara Regional State Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Ethiopia: a multicenter study. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 50 (1), 165. DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01695-w
15. TB Itana, A Tadelle, BT Legesse, AM Hailu, ST Abebe (2024). Circadian blood pressure variability and associated factors among chronic kidney disease patients at Nekemte Town public Hospitals, West Oromia, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 14 (8), e083014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083014
16. WM Mekonen, WE Ebi, BW Efa, AZ Kumbi, GG Tolera, AT Haile, BM Jima, ... (2025). Nurses knowledge about and attitude toward pediatrics pain management in public hospitals in Nekemte City, Ethiopia 2023. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 84, 74-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2025.05.013
17. WT Wondie, CA Wubneh, BT Legesse, ST Mamo, YT Tsehay, ... (2025). Incidence of early neonatal sepsis and its predictor among low birthweight neonates in Northwest Ethiopia Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, A retrospective follow-up study, 2024. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 31 (3), 101636. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101636
18. GB Mekonnen, BA Tilaye, FD Baye, D Kefale, M Ewunetu, TM Aytenew, ... (2025). Incidence and predictors of lost to follow up among children receiving antiretroviral therapy: a competing risks regression model. Scientific Reports, 15 (1), 17447. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02645-0
19. GD Gedefaw, AG Abuhay, DT Daka, WT Wondie, AT Gonete, FB Getaneh, ... (2025). Author Correction: Time to recovery and its predictors among neonates undergone phototherapy at Comprehensive Specialized hospitals of the Northwest Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 15, 15106. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-02595-2
20. GB Mekonnen, WT Wondie, BT Legesse, NM Abera, AG Abuhay, ... (2025). Recovery rate of severe acute malnutrition and its predictors among children admitted to therapeutic feeding unit in Northcentral Ethiopia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98582-z
21. GB Mekonnen, S Mulatu, BT Legesse, MA Messelu, FD Baye, BA Tilaye, ... (2025). Incidence of mortality and its predictors among HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in Amhara region: a multicenter retrospective follow-up study. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 51 (1), 68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01872-5
22. DT Daka, B Wakuma, W Etafa, D Temesgen Chewaka, A Zewdie, ... (2025). Community-based newborn care utilization and associated factors in Nekemte City, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. BMC Pediatrics, 25 (1), 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05337-2
23. WT Wondie, CA Wubneh, BT Legesse, GB Mekonen, AB Zemariam, ... (2025). Mortality and predictors among HIV-TB co-infected patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 20 (1), e0317048. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317048
24. GD Gedefaw, AM Lakew, ZA Gebreegzabiher, DT Daka, MK Hailu, ... (2024). Number of Seizures and Associated Factors Among Neonates with Perinatal Asphyxia Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Selected Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals of Ethiopia. Research and Reports in Neonatology, 97-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/RRN.S451450
25. GD Gedefaw, AG Abuhay, DT Daka, WT Wondie, AT Gonete, FB Getaneh, ... (2024). Time to recovery and its predictors among neonates undergone phototherapy at Comprehensive Specialized hospitals of the Northwest Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 14 (1), 31665. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80964-4
26. GD Gedefaw, DT Worku, ME Ayenew, AT Abate, BT Legesse (2024). Congenital Plasmodium vivax in a 3-day-old neonate: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 18 (1), 558. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-024-04879-4