Health-seeking behaviors and determinants among herpes zoster patients in South Wollo public hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022

Background

Health-seeking behavior towards herpes zoster is vital to find an appropriate remedy for patients and utilization of timely healthcare services can have an impact on good health outcomes. The study aimed to assess the health-seeking behavior and determinants among Herpes Zoster patients in public hospitals, South Wollo, Ethiopia.

Method

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1, 2022, to November 30, 2022. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 419 participants. Pretested, structured questionnaires and patient interviews were used to collect the data. The bivariable analysis was done and variables with p-value <0.25 were further examined using a multivariable logistic regression model. AOR with a 95 % CI and a P-value <0.05 at a 5 % level of significance were considered.

Results

About 55.6 % of patients had poor health-seeking behavior towards herpes zoster, with a response rate of 99.1 %. Distance from health facilities (AOR = 4.9; 95 % CI: 1.33-10.35), being rural residence (AOR = 0.3; 95 % CI: 0.17-0.40), being illiterate (AOR = 5.9; 95 % CI: 3.40-10.32), poor self-care adherence (AOR = 1.8; 95 % CI = 1.14-3.07), moderate depression (AOR = 7.3; 95 % CI: 4.10-11.50), moderate (AOR = 0.3; 95 % CI: 0.10-0.70) and severe anxiety (AOR = 0.1; 95 % CI: 0.01-0.63), and duration more than seven days of herpes zoster (AOR = 3.1; 95 % CI = 1.42-6.97) were statistically significant.

Conclusion

Nearly half of the study participants had poor health-seeking behavior. Being a rural resident and illiterate, poor self-care adherence, moderate and severe anxiety, moderate depression, and duration of more than 7 days were significantly associated. with health-seeking behavior towards Herpes Zoster. Proper guidance, psychological support, and awareness creation about Herpes Zoster severity and complications.

Youths with disabilities: Utilization and predictors of Youths Friendly Reproductive Health Services in Dessie City Administration, North East Ethiopia, 2021: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aims

Younger generations with disabilities are more likely to be affected and have severe difficulties receiving specific services. Ethiopia is no exception to the global trend of poverty-stricken countries with a higher frequency of illness or disability. This study aimed to assess the utilization of Youths Friendly Reproductive Health Services (YFRHS) and predictors among youths with disabilities in Dessie City, North East, Ethiopia, 2021.

Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from the literature using questionnaires. Bivariable analysis was performed for each independent variable with a p < 0.25 on the data imported to multivariate logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) at a 5% level of significance has measured the strength of association between utilization of youth-friendly reproductive services among disabilities and independent variables.

Results

Of 423 participants, 91% responded. About 42% of participants had used YFRHS. Youths in the age group of 20-24 years were 2.8 times more likely to use such services than 15-19-year-olds (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: [1.04, 7.44]). Disabled youths living alone were 3.6 times more likely to use the services than those with parents (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: [1.36, 9.35]). Youths with a visual impairment were 80% less likely to use the services than youths with hearing impairments (AOR = 0.2, 95% CI: [0.18, 0.30]), and disabled youths with poor knowledge were 90% less likely to use the services than participants with good knowledge (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI: [0.01, 0.61]) were statistically significant.

Conclusion

The utilization of YFRHS among youths with disabilities in Dessie Town was low. Participants aged 20-24 years, who lived alone, had visual impairment, and had poor knowledge, were found to be significantly associated.

Preoperative Patient Education Practices and Predictors Among Nurses Working in East Amhara Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022

Background

The time before surgery is a traumatic period for patients. Despite this fact, no research has been conducted on nurses' preoperative patient education in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess preoperative patient education practices and associated factors among nurses working in East Amhara comprehensive specialized hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 416 nurses. Pretested, structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Bivariable analysis was performed for each independent variable with a P-value < 0.25 on the data imported to multivariate logistic regression analysis. AOR with a 95% CI and a P-value < 0.05 at a 5% level of significance were considered.

Results

Only 38.5% of nurses were found to have good practices for preoperative patient education, with a response rate of 98%. Nurses with 6 years of work experience (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.692-5.874), adequate time (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.119-4.889), training (AOR = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.548-11.796), age 25-29 (AOR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.070-0.331), age 30-34 (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.137-0.479), and knowledge (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 2.222-6.273) were significantly associated.

Conclusion

Preoperative patient education practices among nurses were poor. Work experience, knowledge, training, and adequate time were found to be significant. Organize preoperative patient education programs for nurses that share experiences and provide ongoing training.

Refractive errors and associated factors among patients visiting BoruMeda Hospital's secondary eye Unit in Dessie Town, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

In Ethiopia, refractive error is the second leading cause of vision impairment and the third main cause of blindness. Because refraction services are scarce and difficult to obtain, many people with refractive error live with impaired vision or blindness for the rest of their lives.

OBJECTIVE

The primary goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of refractive errors and associated factors among patients who visited Boru Meda Hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2018, all patients who visited Boru Meda Hospital's secondary eye unit were deemed our source population; the sample frame was the secondary eye unit outpatient departments register. To select samples, simple random sampling was used. Data was entered by using Epi-data version 3 and analysed with Statistical Package for Social Science 20. Tables and graphs were used to display descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. At p < 0.05, statistical significance was inferred.

RESULTS

Refractive error was detected in 42 (18.3%) of study participants. The average age was 46.69 ± 20.77. There were 136 men and 93 women in this group (59.4 and 40.6%, respectively). Myopia was the most frequent refractive defect, accounting for 52.4% of all cases.

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION

Refractive error is a widespread problem in our study area that affects people of all age groups. We recommend patients to have screening on regular basis so that refractive anomalies can be detected early.

Determinant factors for the occurrence of tuberculosis after initiation of antiretroviral treatment among adult patients living with HIV at Dessie Referral Hospital, South Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia, 2020. A case-control study

Introduction

Globally, tuberculosis takes the first rank for the ill-health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Despite the favorable outcome of antiretroviral therapy, the risk of tuberculosis remains higher among HIV patients. This obliges to identify factors for its occurrence and further prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis. There is a contradiction between different studies and studies conducted in Ethiopia studied poorly the association between adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral load with tuberculosis. Studies conducted in the study area were limited to cross-sectional study design. Therefore, this study claimed to identify factors determining the occurrence of tuberculosis after initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

This study was conducted at Dessie Referral Hospital by using a case-control study design on a sample of 565 with a control: case ratio of 3:1. Participants from controls were selected by systematic random sampling and from cases by consecutive random sampling. The data were collected by interviewing through structured questionnaires and from the medical record. The data were entered into Epi data version 3.1. In the multivariable analysis, variables with a P-value of ≤0.05 were anticipated as independent determinant factors.

Result

Patients without separate kitchen (AOR: 3.547, 95% CI: 2.137, 5.888), having opportunistic infection (AOR: 3.728, 95% CI: 2.058, 6.753), CD4 count of <350 cells/mm3 (AOR: 3.383, 95% CI: 1.520, 7.528), baseline WHO stage III (AOR: 3.321, 95% CI: 1.688, 6.534) or IV (AOR: 2.900, 95% CI: 1.251, 6.722), don’t taking IPT (AOR: 3.701, 95% CI: 2.228, 6.147) and those who were poorly adherent (AOR: 2.626, 95% CI: 1.272, 5.423) or moderately adherent (AOR: 3.455, 95% CI: 1.885, 6.335) to anti-retroviral therapy were more likely to develop tuberculosis after anti-retroviral therapy initiation.

Conclusion

Poor housing conditions, having an opportunistic infection, low CD4 count, starting ART at the advanced HIV stage, don’t take IPT, and being poorly adherent to antiretroviral therapy were associated with the occurrence of TB after initiation of ART. The institution should screen for TB as early as possible and strictly follow their drug adherence.