Lived experience of people on anti-retro viral therapy in the context of covid-19: A phenomenological study.

INTRODUCTION: People living with human immune virus (HIV) are confronting multiple psychosocial and economic issues influenced by the illness. People on anti-retro viral drugs (ART) were at risk for discontinuation of medications during corona viral disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 outbreak made people living with HIV (PLWH) to experience critical challenges and barriers to optimal care. The experience of people living with HIV such as stigma and discrimination, economic problem, psychosocial problem before the emergency of COVID-19 were studied but there is lack of understanding on the lived experience of people living with HIV in the context of COVID-19 in Ethiopia particularly in Tach Gayint. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of people on ART in context of COVID-19 in Tach Gayint district. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Phenomenological study design conducted with 16 study participants from March 12-April 12/2021. Data were collected using in-depth interview using interview guide and digital recorder. The investigator took note in addition to digital record. Interviews were transcribed word for word and translated conceptually. Analysis followed Reading of transcriptions, develop and apply coding, displaying data, data reduction and interpretation. Atlas.ti-7 software used to facilitate analysis. The quality of data was assured by the principles of credibility, dependability, conformability and transferability. RESULT: The study explored psychological experience, change in social interaction, and economic experience and ART drug interruption as the main themes including other sub-themes. Most participants perceived the severity of COVID-19 on them. Lack of participation in social activities due to fear of contracting and the participants experienced dying and loss of income. This extreme fear pushed some participants to interrupt their daily ART intake especially during lock down period. Personal, familial and community context contributed for these distressing experiences. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: This study reported participants' psychosocial, economic experiences including ART drug interruptions. The government should design policies and interventions to alleviate their personal, household and community problems, which were the caused for the mentioned hostile experiences.

Uptake of HIV Self-Testing and Associated Factors Among Female Sex Workers at Non-Governmental HIV Testing Facilities in Debre Markos and Bahir Dar Towns, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus self-testing (HIVST) is universally accepted as an HIV testing option to achieve the United Nations Agency for International Development first 95 goal by 2030. HIV testing coverage through voluntary counseling and testing and provider initiated testing and counseling is low among female sex workers (FSWs). However, there is no evidence on the level of HIVST among FSWs in the study area. Objective: To assess the uptake of HIVST and associated factors among FSWs at non-governmental facilities in Debre Markos and Bahir Dar towns, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 423 study participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire; entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated to assess the strength of association between independent variables and dependent variable. Bivariable logistic regression was done for each variable and those with a P-value of < 0.25% were selected for multivariable analysis. Finally, P-value < 0.05% was declared statistically significant. Results: The magnitude of HIVST uptake among FSWs was 59.3%. Time since engagement of sex work > 5 years [AOR 2.16 (95% CI: 1.158-4.013)], age of first sexual debut >19 years [AOR 3.23 (95% CI: 2.045-5.093)], previous urban residence [AOR 3.99 (95% CI: 2.58-6.18)], good knowledge towards HIVST [AOR 1.78 (95% CI: 1.066-2.964)], education status being college and above [AOR 5.6 (95% CI: 3.12-9.30)] were significantly associated factors. Conclusion: HIVST uptake among FSWs was 59.3% which is lower than expected at national level. Educational status, age at first sexual debut, knowledge towards HIVST, and time since engagement in sex work were significantly associated with HIVST uptake.

Time to diabetic neuropathy and its predictors among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Amhara regional state Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: A retrospective follow up study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy is the primary cause of foot ulcers and amputations in both industrialized and poor countries. In spite of this, most epidemiological research on diabetic neuropathy in Ethiopia have only made an effort to estimate prevalence, and the information underlying the condition's beginning is not well-established. Therefore, determining the time to diabetic neuropathy and its variables among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at the Compressive Specialized Hospitals of the Amhara region was the aim of this study. METHODS: An institutional-based retrospective follow-up study was undertaken among 669 newly recruited adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were diagnosed between the first of March 2007 and the last day of February 2012. Patients with diabetic neuropathy at the time of the diagnosis for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), patients without a medical chart, patients with an unknown date of DM diagnosis, and patients with an unknown date of diabetic neuropathy diagnosis were excluded from the study. All newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients aged 18 years and older who were enrolled from 1st March 2007 to 28th February 2012 in selected hospitals were included in this study. Cox proportional hazard model was fitted to determine predictors of time to diabetic neuropathy, and the Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to assess the cumulative survival time. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significance at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The restricted mean survival time of this study was 179.45 (95% CI: 173.77-185.14) months. The overall incidence rate of diabetic neuropathy was 2.14 cases per 100 persons-years. Being aged > 60 years [AHR = 2.93(95% CI: 1.29-6.66)], having diabetic retinopathy [AHR = 2.76(95% CI: 1.84-4.16)], having anemia [AHR = 3.62 (95% CI: 2.46-5.33)], having hypertension [AHR = 3.22(95% CI: 2.10-4.93)], and baseline fasting blood sugar > 200 mg/dl [AHR = 2.56(95% CI: 1.68-3.92)] were the predictors of diabetic neuropathy. CONCLUSION: The risk of occurrence of diabetic neuropathy among type two diabetes mellitus patients was high in the early period. Age > 60 years, diabetic retinopathy, anemia, baseline fasting blood sugar level > 200 mg/dl, and hypertension were the main predictors of incidence of diabetic neuropathy. Therefore, early detection and appropriate interventions are important for patients with old age, diabetic retinopathy, anemia, hypertension, and FBS > 200mg/dl.

Data quality and associated factors of routine health information system among health centers of West Gojjam Zone, northwest Ethiopia, 2021.

Background: Data quality is a multidimensional term that includes accuracy, precision, completeness, timeliness, integrity, and confidentiality. The quality of data generated by a routine health information system (RHIS) is still very poor in low- and middle-income countries. There is a paucity of studies as to what determines data quality in health facilities in the study area. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the magnitude of the quality of routine health information system data and its determinants among health centers. Methods: A facility-based quantitative study design triangulated by the qualitative method was conducted. A total of 314 health professionals from 32 health centers were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. Data were gathered using a standardized checklist, interviewer-administered questionnaires, and key informant interview guidelines. Descriptive statistics were used to describe variables and binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with data quality using STATA version 14. Variables with p-value <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered to a multivariable logistic regression analysis. P-values <0.05 at 95% confidence intervals (CI) were taken to be statistically significant. A manual analysis was conducted for the qualitative data collected from purposively selected key informants. Results: The study found that the overall data quality at the health centers of West Gojjam Zone was 74% (95% CI 68-78). The complexity of the routine health information system format [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.8; 95% CI 1.7-8.5], problem-solving skills for RHIS tasks (AOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.2-6.4), and knowing duties, roles, and responsibilities were significantly associated with data quality (AOR 12; 95% CI 5.6-25.8), and lack of human resources, poor feedback mechanisms, delay in completing data records, lack of data use, and inadequate training on health information systems were barriers affecting data quality. Conclusions: The level of data quality among public health centers in the Amhara region was lower than expected at the national level.

Second Dose Measles Vaccination Utilization and Associated Factors in Jabitehnan District, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Herd immunity against measles is essential to interrupt measles transmission, and this can only be attained by reaching at least 95% coverage for each of the 2 doses of measles vaccine provided in infancy and early childhood age group. It is important to provide everyone with 2 doses of the measles vaccine in order to effectively safeguard the population. Despite this, little is known about the second dosage of the measles vaccine utilization status and the factors that affect it. Therefore, this study aimed to assess second dose of measles vaccination utilization and its associated factors among children aged 24-35 months in Jabitehnan district, 2020. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted at Jabitehnan District, Northwest Ethiopia, from September 1st, 2020 to October 1st, 2020. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 845 mothers/caregivers who had children aged 24-35 months. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was fitted to identify the determinant factors of second dose measles vaccination utilization. Finally, the statistical significant variables were declared by using 95% CI and P value less than .05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The Hosmer and Lemeshow test was used to check the model's fit to the data, and the variance inflation factor was used to assess multi-collinearity. Results: The overall second dose of measles vaccination utilization was 48.1%, (95% CI: 44.7-51.6). Mothers with primary school education (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.15-3.17), information about MCV2 (AOR = 6.53, 95% CI: 4.22-10.08), distance from vaccination site (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.46-5.14), knowledge about immunization (AOR = 1.935, 95% CI: 1.29-2.90), and favorable attitude about immunization (AOR = 5.19, 95% CI: 3.25-8.29) were significantly associated factors with second dose of measles vaccination utilization. Conclusion: Second dose measles vaccination utilization in the district was lower than the national target. Maternal education, distances from vaccination site, information about MCV2, and knowledge about immunization were significantly associated variables with second dose measles vaccination utilization. Therefore, in order to increase the utilization of the second dose of the measles vaccine, improved health education and service expansion to difficult-to-reach areas are required.

Effect of maternity waiting homes use on maternal and perinatal birth outcomes and its challenges in Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Women's death due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth is still high. Maternity waiting homes are one of the strategies to reduce it. However, there is limited evidence on the effect of using maternity waiting homes on birth outcomes, particularly in this study area. Therefore, this study was aimed to estimate the effect of staying in maternity waiting homes use on maternal and perinatal birth outcomes and its challenges in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia 2018. Methods: Institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted. Data were collected using structured questionnaire interviews, in-depth interview and chart reviews. Propensity score matching analysis was used to estimate the effect of maternity waiting homes use on birth outcomes. Propensity score matching analysis was used to match potential differences in background characteristics that affect pregnancy outcomes between comparison groups. We used thematic analysis for qualitative data. Result: A total of 548 pregnant mothers (274 stayed in maternity waiting homes 274 did not stay) took part in this study. The proportion of adverse birth outcomes of mothers who stayed in maternity waiting homes were 15(5.5%) which is lower than those who didn't stay 35 (12.8%). After matching with baseline covariates, mean difference of adverse maternal birth outcomes, the difference between didn't use maternity waiting home and used was 10.4%, at (t = 3.78) at 5% level of significance. Similarly, the mean adverse perinatal birth outcomes difference between mothers who didn't use MWHs and used was 11% (t = 4.33). Conclusions: Maternity waiting home showed a significant positive effect on birth outcomes. Mothers who stayed in the maternity waiting homes had low adverse maternal and perinatal birth outcomes compared to non-users. Accommodations and quality health care services were the challenges mothers faced during their stay in the maternity waiting homes. Therefore, all concerned bodies should give attention accordingly to maternity waiting home services to reduce adverse birth outcomes through the strengthening of the quality of health care provided.

Intention to voluntary blood donation among private higher education students, Jimma town, Oromia, Ethiopia: Application of the theory of planned behaviour.

BACKGROUND: Blood is an important and crucial component in the management of patients presenting with severe accident injuries, surgical conditions, malignancies, pregnancy-related complications, and other medical conditions. OBJECTIVES: To assess intention to voluntary blood donation among private higher education students in Jimma Town, South West Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study with quantitative methods was conducted in private higher education students in Jimma town. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. First, a simple random sampling technique was used to select departments in each private higher education institution. Seven departments were included in the study and after proportionally allocated in each department, a total of 595 were participated in the study, producing a response rate of 98%. The data was collected using self-administered structured questioners with 3 trained data collectors. Multivariable linear regression analysis was done to assess association between the independent variables and dependent variable. RESULTS: The mean score for intention of the respondents to donate blood voluntarily was 15.41 out of 25 with standard deviation of 4.42.The TPB variables explained 61.3% of the variance of intention to donate blood. Direct perceived behavioral control (ß = 0.745, P < 0.001), direct attitude (B = 0.295, P<0.001) and direct subjective norm (ß = 0.131, P< 0.001) were significant predictors of the intention. CONCLUSION: Respondents' intentions are mainly determined by perceived barriers and, subjective norms, the attitude of respondents towards voluntary blood donation.