Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences最新文献

Background: Mental illness is the second leading cause of disease burden globally, following cardiovascular diseases. Over 25% of people worldwide will experience mental illness at some point, and low-income countries contribute 12% of the global disease burden. However, data on mental disorders are scarce in low-income countries, leading to insufficient attention to mental illness prevention and treatment. This study assesses the prevalence of mental illness and its associated factors in Addis Ababa.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Addis Health and Demography Surveillance System (Addis HDSS) in Yeka sub-city, Addis Ababa, using a structured questionnaire. The prevalence of reported mental illness was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and logistic regression was employed to examine factors such as age, sex, chronic illness, physical disability, and wealth index associated with mental illness.

Results: A total of 107,494 respondents participated, with 44.6% men. The average age was 29.23 ± 18.97 years. The reported prevalence of mental illness was 1.1% (95% CI: 1.1-1.2), with 50.7% of those affected being men. Mental illness was more common in individuals aged 65 years and older. The odds of reported mental illness were higher in men (AOR 1.24; 95% CI 1.12-1.39), in those with physical disabilities (AOR 10.12; 95% CI 8.64-11.84), and in those with chronic illness (AOR 2.35; 95% CI 1.22-4.54).

Conclusion: This study adds to the limited data on mental illness prevalence in the community, highlighting it as a significant health burden. The results emphasize the need for healthcare planning focused on mental health and increased community awareness. Particular attention should be given to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, those with physical disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses.

Background: Self-rated health (SRH) status is a subjective assessment of one's health condition and can serve as a reliable indicator of a community's overall health. This study aimed to evaluate the SRH status of communities and its association with socio-demographic and health-related variables at the population level.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Addis Health and Demographic Surveillance System. SRH was assessed through a single question: "In general, would you say that your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?" These five categories were transformed into two groups: "Good SRH" and "Poor SRH." Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses examined associations between SRH status and socio-demographic and health-related characteristics.

Results: A total of 46,483 adults (aged 18 and above) were included in the study. Of these, 4,377 (9.42%) participants reported poor SRH status. Male sex (OR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80 - 0.94), higher educational level (OR 1.90; 95% CI: 1.67 - 2.17), and the highest wealth index (OR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.55 - 2.00) were significantly associated with good SRH status, while older age (OR 0.15; 95% CI: 0.12 - 0.18) and the presence of any chronic illness (OR 0.08; 95% CI: 0.07 - 0.09) were directly and significantly associated with poor SRH status.

Conclusion: Poor SRH status was more prevalent among females, older individuals, those with lower education, lower wealth index, and those with chronic illnesses. These findings highlight the need for robust health facilities and support systems for women and the elderly population.

Background: The current study was conducted to assess the common lifestyle risk factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) among patients with chronic diseases.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a valid structured questionnaire among 734 patients with chronic diseases. Patients were randomly selected from five primary health care centers in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia during January to February 2024. The study survey included a checklist of socio-demographic and lifestyle variables; the Arabic short version of the World Health Organization QoL questionnaire was used. The SPSS (version 24) was used for data analysis.

Results: A total of 734 patients (14.7% males and 85.3% females) were included. The mean age of the patients was 48.54±19 years. The total QoL and its four domains mean scores were relatively high, with no statistically significant differences were found between males and females. Statistically significant reductions in the positive (good) QoL were found in patients with obesity; patients who using butter and animal fat in cooking; and patients who eating meals out > 3 times per week (OR 0.64 CI 95% (0.325-0.891)), (OR 0.21 CI 95% (0.031-0.754)), and (OR 0.42 CI 95% (0.112-0.851)) respectively.

Conclusion: The current study shows high level (69.3%) of good QoL among patients with chronic diseases at the primary healthcare centers in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, obesity, poor cooking practices, and eating meals outside-home are the main unhealthy lifestyle factors that impaired the level of the QoL among the studied population.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition that is frequently misdiagnosed, and its prevalence is rising rapidly worldwide. Adolescent girls often lack adequate knowledge about PCOS. This study examined the prevalence of PCOS and awareness among female adolescents.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female adolescents from selected educational institutions in the north zone of Hyderabad. Institutions were carefully chosen to represent a diverse student population. Data were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. The Chi-square test of independence and logistic regression were employed to identify variables associated with PCOS knowledge levels.

Results: Three hundred eighty-two female adolescents participated. The mean age was 18.19 years (±0.92 SD). Forty-four participants were diagnosed with PCOS (11.5%), and 17.3% were suspected PCOS. Over 89% of participants demonstrated good knowledge across various PCOS domains. A significant association was found between the level of education and learning about PCOS (p=0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between the level of study and knowledge scores (p=0.05). Bivariate and multivariate logistic analysis revealed that university girls [AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: (1.12-3.25)] and those with PCOS [AOR: 6.8, 95% CI: (1.4-32.4)] were more knowledgeable than their counterparts with lower education levels and without PCOS, respectively.

Conclusion: While knowledge of PCOS among female adolescents was generally good, the disease burden was high. Targeted counseling and lifestyle management interventions are essential to prevent long-term complications of PCOS.

Background: Hospitals play a crucial role in local and national responses to various emergencies and disasters, including outbreaks of communicable diseases. This study aimed to investigate the disaster response capabilities of hospitals and to explore solutions for improving their response processes to infectious disease pandemics (IDPs) in Iran.

Methods: This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design (quantitative and qualitative). In the quantitative phase, we assessed the response levels of reference hospitals (government, military, and private) in Kerman City, Iran, in 2023. This assessment utilized a researcher-designed questionnaire to evaluate the hospitals' capacity to admit pandemic patients. In the qualitative phase, we explored solutions to enhance the response processes of hospitals to IDPs through semi-structured interviews and a conventional qualitative content analysis approach.

Results: The quantitative results indicated that the overall response level of hospitals to IDPs, with a mean score of 152.88±18.28, was moderate. The qualitative findings identified four main categories and nine subcategories of solutions to improve hospitals± response processes to IDPs.

Conclusion: Hospitals are vital in providing quality healthcare during emergencies. Lessons learned from our institution's response to the COVID-19 pandemic will guide more efficient services and preparedness for future emergencies. Given the novel nature of the COVID-19 virus and the potential for similar pandemics in the future, a structured framework is needed to manage epidemic disasters effectively.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The cost of managing CKD is high, yet there is limited information available regarding this burden in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 100 CKD patients at the Renal Unit of a hospital between July and December 2019. Data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Frequencies, means, percentages, standard deviations, medians, and interquartile ranges were used for data analysis. ANOVA and chi-square tests were also employed to assess correlations.

Results: The mean total monthly cost of treatment was 135,199 ± 81,060 Naira ($417 ± 250), with direct and indirect costs averaging 127,565 ± 76,139.8 Naira ($393 ± 235) and 8,309 ± 16,735 Naira ($26 ± 52), respectively. Direct costs accounted for 94% of the total illness cost, with hemodialysis alone representing 86.1% of the total cost. There were no significant differences in treatment costs across socioeconomic classes. Out-of-pocket spending accounted for 88% of healthcare expenses.

Conclusion: The cost of CKD management is high, with hemodialysis comprising the majority of the cost. Most patients pay out of pocket It is recommended that a comprehensive health insurance scheme be implemented, especially to cover hemodialysis treatment.

Background: Effective transportation of blood is essential for ensuring accessible and high-quality blood for transfusion. However, vibration can have a negative impact on blood quality, leading to the loss of erythrocytes and hemoglobin. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of different vibration exposures for 15 minutes on erythrocyte, haemoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels of blood samples.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on blood donors at the Semarang, Central Java, unit vehicle of the Indonesian Red Cross. Blood samples were collected from donors and exposed to different vibration frequencies for 15 minutes. The erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels of the blood samples were then measured. Tests were carried out on three treatment groups, namely control, 6 Hz vibration, and 11 Hz with 30 bags of blood tested with each treatment group of 10 samples.

Results: The results showed that vibration had a significant impact on the integrity of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in whole blood The group exposed to 6 Hz vibration had significantly lower erythrocyte levels than the control group and the group exposed to 11 Hz vibration. The hemoglobin levels after treatment also varied significantly between treatment cohorts, with significantly lower hemoglobin levels observed in the 11 Hz vibration group compared to both the control group and the 6 Hz vibration group. In addition, there was a significant difference between the LDH levels of the various groups following treatment.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggested that vibration can have a negative impact on blood quality, leading to the loss of erythrocytes and hemoglobin. To protect blood product integrity and reduce the risk of transfusion-related losses, it is essential to implement appropriate vibration mitigation strategies during blood product transport.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the earliest chronic complications of diabetes, with a worldwide prevalence ranging from 35% to 90%. This study aimed to assess the current prevalence and related factors of ED in individuals with diabetes.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 participants. A validated questionnaire, including the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), was utilized. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The strength of the association was determined using odds ratio (OR) with a 95% CI.

Results: The mean age of respondents was 54.45 ± 13.19 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 12.89 ± 8.98 years. Among the 269 respondents, 243 (90.3%) experienced varying degrees of ED. Statistically significant positive associations were identified for patients with a longer duration of diabetes (adjusted OR [AOR]: 19.10CI: 2.35-155.31), microvascular complications (AOR: 6.75,CI:1.55-29.17), insulin therapy (AOR: 4.76,CI: 1.34-17.07), comorbidities (AOR: 8.77,CI: 3.06-25.17), and medications other than those for diabetes (AOR: 4.62,CI: 1.16-18.45). Notably, 82.2% had never discussed ED with their physicians.

Conclusion: The prevalence of ED among diabetic patients is alarmingly high. This study identified significant positive associations between ED and factors such as diabetes duration, microvascular complications, insulin therapy (with or without oral agents), comorbid conditions, and the use of non-diabetes medications. Therefore, screening, treatment, and addressing key determinants of erectile dysfunction should be integrated into diabetes care.

Background: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve, often associated with increased intraocular pressure. Untreated damage from glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss, making it one of the leading global causes of blindness. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and associated factors in adult glaucoma patients.

Methods: An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 423 glaucoma patients selected by systematic random sampling from May 15 to June 30, 2022, at the University Gondar, Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and a review of medical records. Descriptive statistics were summarized by frequency, percentage, and summary statistics. Binary logistic regression was performed, and variables with a P value <0.05 in the multivariable model were considered significantly associated.

Results: This study found visual impairment in 77.6% (95% CI: 74.2%-82.9%) of adult participants with glaucoma. Female gender (AOR=2.45, 95% CI=1.18-3.48), rural residence (AOR=2.45, 95% CI=1.91-3.33), primary open-angle glaucoma (AOR=1.83, 95% CI=1.35-2.97), advanced-stage glaucoma (AOR=2.54, 95% CI=1.05-6.17), and longer duration of diagnosis (AOR=3.89, 95% CI=2.29-6.58) were significantly associated with visual impairment in adult glaucoma patients.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that visual impairment was significantly higher in adult glaucoma patients. Female gender, rural residence, primary open-angle glaucoma, advanced stage glaucoma, and longer duration of diagnosis were significantly associated with visual impairment in adult glaucoma patients.

Background: Prognostic ratings are essential for making quick clinical decisions. In patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score is often used to predict in-hospital mortality. Hematological indices are strongly correlated with the likelihood of adverse outcomes in ACS patients, given the systemic hypoxemia and inflammation linked to its pathophysiology. This study aimed to assess the relationship between hematologic indices and the GRACE risk score in ACS patients.

Methods: We consecutively recruited patients diagnosed with ACS at Jimma Medical Center (JMC) from May 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023. We performed biochemical analyses and complete blood counts, calculating GRACE scores. We correlated two continuous parameters and evaluated GRACE risk score independent predictors using multivariate linear regression analysis.

Results: A total of 110 patients were included, with 74 (67.3%) being men. The mean age was 56 (±11) years. Significant correlations were found between red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit, and platelet count with worse GRACE risk scores (r = 0.569, P

Conclusion: This study revealed significant differences in hematologic parameters among ACS patients with varying GRACE risk scores. Increased RDW and MPV were identified as independent predictors for high GRACE risk scores.