Assessing the health consequences of northern Ethiopian armed conflict, 2022.

Armed conflict is a complicated topic with multidimensional impact on population health. This study aimed to assess of the health consequences of the northern Ethiopian conflict, 2022. We used a mixed method study design with a retrospective cross-sectional study supplemented by a qualitative study conducted from May to June 2022. We interviewed 1806 individuals from 423 households and conducted 100 in-depth interviews and focused group discussion. We identified 224 people who self-reported cases of illness (124/1000 people) with only 48 (21%) people who fell ill visited a health institution. We also detected 27 cases of deaths (15/1000 people) during the conflict. The collapse of the health system, evacuation of health personnel, and shortage of medical supplies, and instability with a lack of transportation were consequences of the conflict. The northern Ethiopian conflict has greatly affected the community's health through the breakdown of the health system and health-supporting structures.

Predictors of antipsychotics switching among ambulatory patients with schizophrenia in Ethiopia: a multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: A change of therapy from one to another antipsychotic medication is currently the main challenge of therapy. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of antipsychotic medication switches and determinants among patients with schizophrenia in Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Multi-center hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at five Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals found in Northwest Ethiopia from April 30, 2021, to August 30, 2021. Data were extracted from both patients' medical charts and interviews. Data were entered into Epi-data software version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with medication regimen switch. The level of significance of the study was kept at a p-value of 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. RESULT: A total of 414 patients are involved in the study, and 188 (45.5%) of patients switched antipsychotics within one year. The unavailability of the medication is the commonest reason for switching. Being male [AOR = 2.581, 95% CI (1.463, 4.552)], having relapse [AOR = 2.341,95% CI (1.169,4.687)], history of hospitalization in the past year [AOR = 3.00,95% CI (1.478,5.715)] and taking typical antipsychotics [AOR = 3.340, CI (1.76, 6.00)] had a significant association with antipsychotics switching. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There is a high prevalence of antipsychotic switches among schizophrenia patients. Prescribers need to be careful while dosing, selecting, and switching antipsychotics, hence may help reduce discontinuation and unnecessary switch and thus achieve optimal clinical management.

Availability and stock-out duration of essential medicines in Shegaw Motta general hospital and Motta Health Centre, North West Ethiopia.

Essential medicines are those that meet the population's most pressing healthcare needs. As a result, they should always be available in sufficient quantities and the proper dosage forms within health facilities. The study aimed to determine the availability and stock-out duration of essential medicines in Shegaw Motta General Hospital and Motta Health Centre. Descriptive study was conducted at Shegaw Motta General Hospital and Motta Health Centre. The data were collected from June-20 to July-20, 2021 G.C. Fifteen essential medicines from both health facilities' tracer drug lists were reviewed. The frequency and percentage of availability and stick-out duration were calculated, and the results were briefly described in the text and displayed in tables. The average availability of essential medicines on the day of the survey was 80% and 93.3% in Shegaw Motta general hospital and Motta health center, respectively. Besides, 60% and 20% of the essential medicines were stocked out at least once in the last six months (before the data collection period) in the hospital and health center, respectively. The average stock-out duration in the last six months period (before the data collection period) was 38.8 days (ranges from 10 days to 157 days) in the hospital and 11.2 days in the health center. Ferrous salt + folic acid 150mg + 0.5mg and Medroxy Progesterone injection were the medicines with the longest stock-out duration in Shegaw Motta general hospital and Motta health center, respectively.The average availability of essential medicines was fairly high both in the hospital and health center. In comparison to the hospital, the health center had better availability and a shorter stock-out duration. Over the last six months, a significant percentage of essential medicines were stocked out at the hospital.