Pelvic Organ Prolapse and its Associated Factors Among Women: A Facility Based Cross-sectional Study.

Pelvic organ prolapse is the downward descent of female organs, including the bladder, small bowel, and large bowel, resulting in the protrusion of the vagina, uterus, or both. This disorder, exclusive to women, causes psychological trauma and social withdrawal, leading to an increased rate of gynecologic surgery. To assess the Pelvic Organ Prolapse and its associated factors among Women Visiting public Hospitals in south west Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among gynecologic patients. A total sample size of 408 was allocated to the institutions proportional to their previous month's case load. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were coded and entered into EpiData version 3.1, then exported to SPSS version 20 for descriptive and inferential analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) along with a 95% confidence level were estimated, and a P-value < .05 was considered statistically significant. Out of the intended sample size, 393 women participated in the study, resulting in a response rate of 96.3%. The overall magnitude of pelvic organ prolapse among the study participants was 19.8% (95% CI: 16.0, 24.1). Factors significantly associated with pelvic organ prolapse were place of residence (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.11, 4.40), parity (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.39, 5.72), age at first pregnancy (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.27, 4.26), and place of delivery of the first child (AOR = 4.18, 95% CI: 1.97, 8.85). The prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse is high. Place of residence, parity, age at first pregnancy, and place of delivery of the first child were factors significantly associated with pelvic organ prolapse. Therefore, different stakeholders, programmers, and implementers should take aggressive steps to prevent early pregnancy, train health professionals to encourage women to use family planning, and promote institutional delivery.

Why too soon? Predictors of time to diabetic peripheral neuropathy among newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients: a multicenter follow-up study at health-care setting of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Due to the rising number of diabetic patients, the burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is clearly posing a major challenge to the long-term viability of the health-care system. Despite this, most DPN epidemiological research in eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, has so far been limited to survey studies. Thus, we determined the incidence of DPN and its predictors among diabetic patients in tertiary health-care setting of southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective follow-up study was carried out on 567 randomly selected diabetic patients. Data were entered using Epi-Data v4.6 and analyzed using R v4.0.4. The survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier, and compared using Log-rank test between groups of categorical variables. The PHA were evaluated using the Schoenfeld residuals test. Multivariable Gompertz proportional hazard model was used to examine the predictors of DPN at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Overall, of 567 DM patients 119 developed DPN with an incidence rate of 3.75, 95%CI [3.13, 4.49] per 100 PY. About 15.13% and 69% of DPN cases occurred within 2 and 5 years of DM diagnosis, respectively. In the multivariable Gompertz PH model, being female [AHR = 1.47; 95% CI (1.01, 2.15)], T2DM [AHR = 3.49 95% CI (1.82, 6.71)], having diabetic retinopathy [AHR = 1.9 95% CI (1.25, 2.91)], positive proteinuria [AHR = 2.22 95% CI (1.35, 3.65)], being obese [AHR = 3.94 95% CI (1.2, 12.89)] and overweight [AHR = 3.34 95% CI (1.09, 10.25)] significantly predicts the future risk of DPN. CONCLUSION: Nearly, 7 in 10 of DPN cases occurred within short period of time (5 year) of DM diagnosis. Being female, T2DM, DR, positive proteinuria, obese and overweight significantly predicts the risk of DPN. Therefore, we recommend screening and early diagnosis of diabetes with its complication. While doing so, attention should be given for DM patients with DR and positive proteinuria at baseline.

Utilization of Ambulance Services and Associated Factors during Pregnancy and Labor Among Lactating Mothers in Buno Bedele Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, the use of ambulance services for urgent obstetric care improved institutional delivery and reduced maternal mortality. However, poor infrastructure, delayed response from dispatchers, and other socioeconomic factors influence service utilization. The present study assessed the utilization of ambulance services and associated factors during pregnancy and labor among lactating mothers in the Buno Bedele administrative zone of Southwest Ethiopia. Community-based cross-sectional study design with a sample of 792 lactating mothers was carried out. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, and data were collected through structured questionnaire, and focus group discussions (FGD). Among the 792 study participants, 618 (78%) had antenatal care (ANC) follow up and 705 (89%) were aware of information on the availability of free ambulance services. Eighty one percent study participants requested for ambulance services, and 576 (79%) utilized during their pregnancy and delivery periods. Awareness of free ambulance service (AOR = 3, 95% CI [1.4, 7.1], P = .006), maternal formal education (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI [1.46, 9.8], P = .006) and ANC follow up (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI [8.9, 23.3], P = .001) were identified factors responsible for enhanced ambulance services utilization in the study area. The finding of the present study revealed that pregnant women had a higher tendency to use ambulance services during their obstetric emergency. However, poor communication and road infrastructure, as well as delayed dispatcher response hampered better service utilization.

Why Syphilis Infection is High Among Pregnant Women in Refugee Camps? A Case in Ethiopia.

Background: Almost 1 million pregnant women were estimated to be infected with syphilis in 2016, resulting in over 350,000 adverse birth outcomes including 200,000 stillbirths and new-born deaths (7-9). More than half of infected pregnant women transmit the infection to their babies, resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including foetal death, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal death, and congenital infection in infants. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the syphilis status and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kule refugee camp health facilities, Gambella regional state, Southwest Ethiopia, in 2021. Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 374 pregnant women in a Kule refugee camp health facility from March 1, to July 15, 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. After the interview, 2mL of venous blood sample was drawn from each of the study participants. Then, RPR test was done. When RPR tests were positive, the study subjects were considered as syphilis positive. Results: The overall syphilis positivity rate was 11.8%. Education status (unable to read and write) [AOR 6.6; 95% CI (1.5, 29.3)], presence of other STDs [AOR 3.6; 95% CI (1.4, 8.8)], having polygamy husband [AOR 3.3; 95% CI (1.6, 6.9)] and being HIV positive [AOR=5.5; 95% CI (1.1, 27.5), P=0.04] were among factors associated with syphilis infection. Conclusions and recommendation: This study showed that there is very high syphilis prevalence and it is still a very important public health problem the study area. Therefore, syphilis screening and treatment of pregnant women towards the first ANC points and health education towards the mode of transmission and prevention of syphilis have to be strengthened.