The Effect of Armed Conflict on Treatment Interruption, Its Outcome and Associated Factors Among Chronic Disease Patients in North East, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2022.

Background: The health services delivery system is debilitated in conflict setting areas due to damage of health facilities and attack on health care providers. Armed conflict is a complex phenomenon which causes a large amount of death and disability worldwide. However, there is lack of information towards treatment interruption among chronic disease patients in conflict areas. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of armed conflict induced treatment interruption and its outcome among chronic disease patients. Methods: A mixed cross sectional study design was conducted on a total of 399 sample size at North Wollo and Waghimra zone hospitals. To select study participants a consecutive sampling method was used. Multiple logistic regressions were computed to evaluate the association and thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Results: From the total 399 study participants, 264 (64.6%) study participants interrupted their medication. Treatment interruption is significantly associated with poor service availability and perceived high stress. Conclusion: War has detrimental health effects, both immediate and long term, on populations. Treatment interruptions due to armed conflict were caused by poor health care access, lack of medications and lack of transport and displacement of hospital staff, insecurity and fear. Treatment interruption results in morbidity, mortality, lifelong complications, disability, psychological and economic impact.

Self-medication practices among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication is a worldwide issue that requires special attention due to the potentially harmful effects it can have not only on pregnant women but also on the fetus. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the magnitude of self-medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women following antenatal care (ANC) in primary healthcare settings in the North Wollo Zone of Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 395 pregnant mothers who attended ANC follow-up in selected health centers in the North Wollo Zone of Ethiopia from April 20 to May 20, 2021. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to enroll participants. A face-to-face structured interview was conducted to collect the data. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with self-medication practice. A p value < 0.05 at the 95% confidence level was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of a total of 444 participants approached, 395 (89%) participated in the study. Of these, 44.6% reported practicing self-medication during the current pregnancy. Age < 35 (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.02-9.15; p = 0.032), rural residence (AOR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.43-10.19; p = 0.017), and previous medication use (AOR = 5.02, 95% CI 1.24-12.93; p = 0.015) were found to have a significant association with self-medication practice. CONCLUSION: Self-medication was highly prevalent among pregnant women in the study setting and result indicates need for critical action. Younger rural women with a history of self-medication use should be provided counselling to find a prescription medication, and measures are needed to minimize self-medication related harm in pregnant women.