Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and their associations with overweight/obesity and impaired blood glucose among diabetic patients in Eastern Ethiopia: Institutional-based study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its associations with overweight/obesity and impaired blood glucose among diabetic patients in Eastern Ethiopia. Method: A total of 644 diabetic individuals were included in the study through systematic random sampling techniques. The Michigan neuropathy screening instrument was used to evaluate the presence of diabetic neuropathy. Data were presented using narrative, figures, and tables from the results of statistical analysis. The descriptive result was reported using frequency (percentage) for categorical variables and mean ± SD for continuous measures, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was 47.8% (95% CI: 43.9%-51.7%). Low monthly income (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.73), history of khat chewing (AOR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.907), impaired blood glucose (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.63, 1.94), physical inactivity (AOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.36), and raised body mass index (AOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.99) were factors significantly associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the value of early diabetic peripheral neuropathy detection and the widespread presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy risk factors in diabetes patients. Any initiative intended to lessen the burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathy-related morbidity and high health care costs must be implemented as a strategy.

Burden of lower respiratory infections and associated risk factors across regions in Ethiopia: a subnational analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases 2019 study.

OBJECTIVE: This analysis is to present the burden and trends of morbidity and mortality due to lower respiratory infections (LRIs), their contributing risk factors, and the disparity across administrative regions and cities from 1990 to 2019. DESIGN: This analysis used Global Burden of Disease 2019 framework to estimate morbidity and mortality outcomes of LRI and its contributing risk factors. The Global Burden of Disease study uses all available data sources and Cause of Death Ensemble model to estimate deaths from LRI and a meta-regression disease modelling technique to estimate LRI non-fatal outcomes with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI). STUDY SETTING: The study includes nine region states and two chartered cities of Ethiopia. OUTCOME MEASURES: We calculated incidence, death and years of life lost (YLLs) due to LRIs and contributing risk factors using all accessible data sources. We calculated 95% UIs for the point estimates. RESULTS: In 2019, LRIs incidence, death and YLLs among all age groups were 8313.7 (95% UI 7757.6-8918), 59.4 (95% UI 49.8-71.4) and 2404.5 (95% UI 2059.4-2833.3) per 100 000 people, respectively. From 1990, the corresponding decline rates were 39%, 61% and 76%, respectively. Children under the age of 5 years account for 20% of episodes, 42% of mortalities and 70% of the YLL of the total burden of LRIs in 2019. The mortality rate was significantly higher in predominantly pastoralist regions-Benishangul-Gumuz 101.8 (95% UI 84.0-121.7) and Afar 103.7 (95% UI 86.6-122.6). The Somali region showed the least decline in mortality rates. More than three-fourths of under-5 child deaths due to LRIs were attributed to malnutrition. Household air pollution from solid fuel attributed to nearly half of the risk factors for all age mortalities due to LRIs in the country. CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, LRIs have reduced significantly across the regions over the years (except in elders), however, are still the third-leading cause of mortality, disproportionately affecting children younger than 5 years old and predominantly pastoralist regions. Interventions need to consider leading risk factors, targeted age groups and pastoralist and cross-border communities.

Cancer care in Needle Hospital, Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Somaliland is an autonomous region in the northern part of Somalia that declared its independence in 1991. It is a low-income country (LIC) with a population size of 5.7 million with a gross domestic product per capita of $775. Health services are delivered by public, private and non-governmental organisations. The public health care system in Somaliland is facing huge challenges. Seven percent of the population suffers from non-communicable diseases, but data on cancer incidence and mortality are not available. Much of the emphasis in public health has been placed on primary care and maternal and child health. There is still a large gap in cancer prevention, early detection and screening in the country. Additionally, there is no cancer registry or published data on cancer. Currently, there are a few private hospitals that provide chemotherapy services in Somaliland of which Needle Hospital is one. Services provided in this hospital include medical oncology for all solid tumours, palliative care, follow-up and cancer health education. The hospital provides services for patients from Somaliland and neighbouring countries including Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia. As a new oncology clinic in an LIC, the clinic is facing many challenges, like the absence of a multidisciplinary tumour board, presentation of patients at the advanced stage of tumours and poor cancer awareness in the general population.