Determinants of cutaneous leishmaniasis among students in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia: A case-control study.

Background and Aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of leishmaniasis that causes skin lesions on exposed parts of the body. It is endemic in over 170 districts and highly prevalent in the northern and southern parts of Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the determinants of CL among students of Wegeltena secondary school in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: This unmatched case-control study was conducted from January 4 to 20, 2021 at Wegeltena secondary school. Cases were students who had an active lesion of CL and controls were students who had never been infected with CL (no active lesions). A simple random sampling technique was utilized to select participants in the control group. Data were collected by using a pretested, interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed and variables were declared determinants of CL at a p value of <0.05. Results: A total of 225 students (58 cases and 167 controls) participated in the study. The mean age of cases and controls was 18.6 (SD ± 0.99 years) and 18.5 years (SD ± 1.17 years), respectively. In this study, 74.1% of cases and 51.5% of controls have been living in rural areas. Furthermore, being male (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.94-8.69), rural residents (AOR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.33-6.52), living in areas where caves (AOR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.24-10.59), nearby forest (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI: 1.42-11.51), and hyrax available (AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.16-5.08) were significantly associated with CL. Conclusion: In our study, sociodemographic and environmental factors were found to be determinants of CL. Therefore, reducing outdoor activities, wearing protective clothes, use of insecticide-treated nets, and destruction of sand fly breeding sites shall be implemented targeting the rural population that resides in areas where forests, caves, and hyraxes are prominent.

Knowledge, Practice and Associated Factors of Health Care Workers on Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in South Wollo Zone Public Hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia.

Introduction: Health care providers are responsible for inserting and maintaining urinary catheters. Hence, it is very important that health care professionals need to be skillful and knowledgeable to prevent urinary tract infection for those patients undergoing indwelling catheter. Thus, this study aimed to assess knowledge, practice and associated factors of health care workers on prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in South Wollo zone public hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed by using a simple random sampling technique among 413 health care workers. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and were exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Bivariable logistic regression analyses were performed, and variables with P-value less than 0.25 were fitted to multivariable logistic regression. In multivariable regression analysis, variables having p-value <0.05 were declared as significant factors for outcome variable. Results: Out of the total 413 health care workers, 298 (72.2%) had adequate knowledge and 233 (56.4%) had adequate level of practice towards catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention. Received training [AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.404-3.889] and being bachelor degree holder [AOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.084-3.359] were significantly associated with adequate knowledge. On the other hand, being master and doctor [AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.768-12.56], adequate level of knowledge [AOR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.785-4.723], received training [AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.315-3.338] and work experience ≥20 years [AOR = 5.82, 95% CI: 1.497-22.69] were significantly associated with adequate level of practice. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of health care workers had inadequate knowledge and practice towards catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention. Therefore, health care workers should strictly follow infection prevention guidelines and should update their knowledge and practice by taking short and long term training.

Case of multiple furuncular myiasis in Northeast Ethiopia.

Human myiasis is a neglected disease caused by parasitic infestation of the skin, cavities, and other body parts by larvae (maggots) of a wide variety of dipteran flies. Here, we present a case of multiple furuncular myiasis caused by Cordylobia anthropophaga in a 61-year-old woman from Northeast Ethiopia.

Knowledge, attitude and prevention measures of students towards cutaneous leishmaniasis in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease which causes significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the main form of leishmaniasis that affects the skin. Knowledge and perception of people about leishmaniasis has a great impact to prevent the disease in endemic areas. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and preventive measures of Wegeltena secondary school students towards CL in Delanta district, one of the endemic areas in Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 4 to 20, 2021 at Wegeltena secondary school in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia. A pre-tested, interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to measure the degree of association between outcome and independent variables. Statistically significant association with the outcome variables was declared at a p-value of <0.05. RESULTS: A total of 388 students were participated in the study. In overall, 27.6% and 34.5% of participants had good knowledge and favorable attitude towards CL, respectively. Being grade 12 (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.23-5.29) and dwelling in urban areas (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.09-2.89) were determinants of good knowledge. However, female sex (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.21-3.18) and had good knowledge about CL (AOR = 3.75; 95% CI: 2.26-6.21) were significantly associated with favorable attitude of respondents towards the disease. CONCLUSION: In this study, nearly three-fourth of participants had poor knowledge about CL and two-third of them had unfavorable attitude towards the disease. Level of education and residence were determinants of respondents' knowledge about CL. Moreover, sex and level of knowledge about CL were determinants of respondents' attitude towards the disease. Therefore, an intensified health education program shall be implemented in schools that are found in endemic areas.

Perception of COVID-19 Prevention Methods Efficacy and Intention to Use Among Patients with Chronic Disease in Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Multicentered Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been increasing dramatically. COVID-19 precaution measures are essential for highly susceptible groups. However, it was not known previously to what extent chronic disease patients were perceived to know about the efficacy of prevention measures. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess perception of patients with chronic disease toward the efficacy of COVID-19 preventive measures and their intention to carry out those measures. METHODS: A multicentered institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 patients attended in selected hospitals of Dessie town from July 21 to August 5, 2020. Hospitals were selected using the lottery method and systematic random sampling was utilized to select study participants. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data and the tool had four dimensions which include sociodemographic, clinical profile and risk assessment, perceived efficacy of prevention measures, and patient's intention to carry out measures. In multivariable analysis, variables were declared statistically significant at a p-value of <0.05. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of participants was 48.2 years (SD ±15.8 years) and 52.1% were females. In overall, 42.1% of participants had low perception on the efficacy of prevention measures and 28.3% had low intention to carry out measures. In this study, young adults (AOR=2.48; 95%CI: 1.42-4.31), male gender (AOR=2.75; 95%CI: 1.73-4.37), low literacy (AOR=3.42; 95%CI: 1.47-7.94) and face mask nonusers (AOR=1.64; 95%CI: 1.03-2.61) were significantly associated with low perceived efficacy of COVID-19 prevention methods. CONCLUSION: In this study, a significant proportion of patients had low perception about the efficacy of COVID-19 prevention measures and nearly one-third of them had low intention to carry out prevention measures. Therefore, health education programs about efficacy of preventive measures should be provided by health professionals targeting high risk groups.

Low Blood Donation Practice of Health Sciences College Students in Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Blood transfusion is a basic and an emergency intervention in health care facilities which has a great role in reducing significant morbidity and mortality. However, there is a major shortage of blood and blood products in developing countries including Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess practice of blood donation and associated factors among health science college students in Dessie town, northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among health science college students from May to June 2019. A pre-tested and self-administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis model was applied to identify independent predictors of blood donation practice at the level of significance below 0.05. RESULTS: Overall, 12.4% (95% CI: 9.5-15.5) of participants had been donated blood at least once in their lifetime. However, 59.2% of participants have willingness to donate blood in the future. In this study, older age (≥25years) (AOR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.18-4.46), had family history of blood transfusion (AOR=3.55, 95% CI: 1.71-7.36), had knowledge (AOR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.04-4.17) and favorable attitude (AOR=2.41, 95% CI: 1.01-5.75) about blood donation were significantly associated with practice of donating blood. CONCLUSION: In this study, blood donation practice of health sciences college students was found to be low. Age, family history of blood transfusion, knowledge and attitude towards blood donation were independent predictors of blood donation practice. Therefore, Red Cross societies, Dessie town health office, health science colleges and other stakeholders should enhance the awareness of college students regarding the importance of donating blood.

Hypertension in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: With prolonged survival and aging of persons with HIV on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), hypertension has emerged as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. However, little is known about the burden of this comorbid condition among adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among HIV-infected patients receiving ART in Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the ART clinic of Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia, between January and May 2018. HIV-infected patients who were on ART for at least 12 months were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from each participant. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) of ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of ≥90 mmHg or a reported use of antihypertensive medication. Univariable and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with hypertension. RESULTS: A total of 408 patients were studied with a mean (±SD) age of 37 ± 10.3 years, and 66.9% were female. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.7% (95% CI, 25.3-35.0%). Nearly 75% of the patients with hypertension were previously undiagnosed. In a univariate analysis, older age, male gender, a family history of hypertension, duration of HIV infection, duration on ART, high body mass index, low CD4 count, diabetes, and renal impairment were associated with hypertension. Multivariate analysis revealed older age (AOR = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.13-3.83), male gender (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.01-2.65), longer duration on ART (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.14-3.20), high body mass index (AOR = 3.32; 95% CI, 1.13-9.77), and diabetes (AOR = 2.76; 95% CI, 1.29-5.89) as independent risk factors of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is highly prevalent among HIV-infected patients on ART attending our clinic in Northeast Ethiopia but is mostly undiagnosed. These findings highlight the need for integrating hypertension management into routine HIV care to prevent adverse outcomes and improve health of people living with HIV on ART.