Predicting binge drinking among university students: Application of integrated behavioral model.

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking is a pattern of harmful use of alcohol and it is defined as four drinks for women and five drinks for men in about 2 hours. This behavior causes public health problems like damaging different body organs. OBJECTIVE: To assess binge drinking and associated factors among Bahir Dar University students in Northwest Ethiopia. METHOD: A cross sectional study was conducted in November 2017. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 422 participants. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Linear and Logistic regression models were used to predict the role of explanatory variables on behavioral intention and binge drinking, respectively. Independent variables with a p-value of <0.05 at 95% confidence interval were considered as statistically significant in the final model. RESULT: A total of 413 students participated in this study and 33.4%(95% CI: 28.3-38.9) were engaged in binge drinking. Experiential attitude, instrumental attitude, and self-efficacy were found to be significant predictors of intention to binge drinking (p<0.05). Experiential attitude, environmental constraint, injunctive norm, and knowledge predictors were significantly associated with binge drinking (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that one-third of the students practiced binge drinking. This behavior was associated with experiential attitude, injunctive norm, environmental constraints, and knowledge factors. Additionally, experiential attitude, instrumental attitude, and self-efficacy constructs had explained behavioral intention. This implies focusing on the abovementioned determinant factors is imperative while designing intervention strategy.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Factors Associated With It Among Adults of West Gojjam: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, indicating great clinical attention. However, much less attention has been given to metabolic syndrome in the study area. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors in the adult population of West Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in West Gojjam from September 15 to October 20, 2018. A total of 627 participants were randomly selected. The data were collected using the WHO STEP-wise approach for non-communicable diseases by contextualizing the instrument based on the study questions. The collected data were entered into and analyzed in SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the dependent variable. The odds ratio was used to measure the strength of association between variables. For all statistical significance tests, the cut-off value set was p < 0.05 with CI of 95%. RESULTS: In the studied region, high prevalence of metabolic syndrome at 17.3% is documented. In the final model, age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.02, CI: 1.01-1. 05), occupation (AOR = 2.97, CI: 1.25-7.04), a moderate or high level of physical activity (AOR = 0.28, CI: 0.14-0.56 and AOR = 0.42, CI: 0.18-0.97) and type of oil used for cooking (AOR = 2.62, CI: 1.87-7.86) are significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this study is high, and it is determined by age, occupation, physical activity and type of oil used for cooking. Designing an intervention which focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle like physical activity and using oils which are liquid at room temperature to prevent the risk of major non-communicable diseases is needed.

Health-related quality of life of patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, North West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic non-communicable disease with considerable impact on health status and quality of life. It has a profound effect on quality of life in terms of social and psychological as well as physical well-being. This study was conducted to assess health related quality of life among patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes. RESULT: A cross-sectional study design was conducted from April to May, 2015. World Health Organization quality of life-BREF tool was used for collecting the data. A total of 344 patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes were involved in the study. The overall health related quality of life mean score of the study participants was 52.6 ± 12.1 SD. Social domain has higher mean score (57.8 ± 14.8 SD). Educational status, marital status, occupation, duration of the diabetes and diabetes related complications had statistically significant association with health-related quality of life. An intervention that give special attention to the breaking of the cycle of low occupational status and literacy; and which encourage patients with type 2 DM to have good control of their diabetes and prevent complication should be implemented to improve their quality of life.

Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and associated factors among diabetic men attending the diabetic clinic at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia, 2016.

OBJECTIVE: Even though several scholars have conducted study in different part of the world on erectile dysfunction in patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, it's magnitude vary among their finding with the range between 20 and 90%. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and associated factors among diabetic clients. RESULTS: A cross sectional study was conducted from January 2016 to March, 2016. Systematic random sampling technique was used. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and level of erectile dysfunction was measured using the international index of erectile function. A total of 422 diabetic patients were participated with 100% response rate. The proportion of erectile dysfunction was 85.5% and it was significantly associated with higher age (AOR: 6.46, 95% CI 2.55-16.44) and Diabetic complication (AOR: 3.97, 95% CI 1.06-17.36). Therefore, screening for ED in diabetic patients, particularly for those who are in advanced age and living with DM for more than 10 years is needed for it's early detection, prevention and management.

Testicular self examination among Bahir Dar University students: application of integrated behavioral model.

BACKGROUND: Though the incidence of Testicular cancer among young is rising, little attention is given to promoting testicular self-examination which is recommended for its early prevention in developing countries. This study aimed to assess testicular self-examination and associated factors among Bahir Dar University students using integrated behavioral model. METHODS: Cross sectional study was conducted among Bahir Dar University students in September, 2016. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 884 participants. Data was collected using self-administer questionnaire, entered into EPI Data 3.1 and exported to SPSS 21 for analysis. Path analysis was done using STATA 14.2 to check causal effect of integrated behavioral model constructs on testicular self-examination. Internal reliability of the items was checked using Cronbach's alpha. Multivariable linear and Logistic regression were used to predict the role of independent variable on Intention and TSE respectively. Findings with p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval were considered as statistically significant in the final model. RESULTS: Only 11.8% of the students practiced testicular self-examination in the previous year. Experiential and Instrumental attitude, Perceived control and Self-efficacy were significantly predicted behavioral intention with ß coefficient 0.33, 0.12, -0.08 and 0.36. Students' academic unit [OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15-0.63], educational status of student's father AOR = 2.25; CI: 1.15-4.44] and [AOR = 3.00; CI: 1.36-6.64], Intention [OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.31], Know-how of TSE [OR = 3.35, 95% CI:1.94-5.80] and knowledge [AOR = 3.93; CI: 2.30-6.72] were the significant predictors of testicular self-examination. The finding of path analysis also demonstrated as Experiential and Instrumental attitude, Perceived control and Self-efficacy have significant effect on intention with path coefficient of 0.33, 0.12, -0.07 and 0.36. Intention, Knowledge and Know-how have effect on testicular self-examination with path coefficient of 0.2, 0.36 and 0.22 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Magnitude of testicular self-examination is low among university students and it is a product of the type of the college, family educational status, intention, Know-how and knowledge. So, behavior change communication strategy that focus on these behavioral factors should be designed and implemented to improve students' regular practice of testicular self-examination.

Hypnotic effect of the essential oil from the leaves of Myrtus communis on mice.

BACKGROUND: Myrtus communis has been suggested as a sleep aid in unconventional medicine. Moreover, previous studies have also indicated its sedative- and hypnotic-like activity. In this study, the hypnotic effect of M. communis was investigated. METHODS: Essential oil (EO) of M. communis (600, 800, and 1,000 mg/kg) was given orally to Swiss albino mice of both sex, and the hypnotic effect was evaluated. In addition, the EO of M. communis (500, 600, 800, and 1,000 mg/kg) was administered orally to Swiss albino mice of both sex 60 minutes prior to pentobarbital injection (50 mg/kg). Latency to sleep and sleep duration were recorded. The effect of the EO on motor coordination and muscle relaxation was evaluated using chimney and traction tests, 60 and 90 minutes after administration of the respective doses of the EO, respectively. RESULTS: There was no induction of hypnosis as the presence of the righting reflex was intact. However the EO prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and there was also 50% negative response on the chimney and traction test in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The EO of M. communis did not produce a hypnotic effect, but it potentiated a hypnotic effect with significant central nervous system depressant activity.