Prevalence, causes and outcomes of war-related civilian injuries in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region: a community-based descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE: War and armed conflicts are the major causes of mortality, morbidity and disability. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of injury, cause and its outcome among civilians during the war in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. RESULTS: A community based cross sectional study was conducted to collect data from a total of 4,381 sample households. Descriptive analysis was applied and the data are presented using frequencies, percentages, tables and statements. Of the study participants, 6.9% (95% CI: 6.2%, 7.6%) of civilians encountered any kind of war-related physical injury. About Two-third (95% CI: 59%, 73%) of the physical injuries were caused by bullet followed by heavy artillery shelling (proportion = 23%; 95% CI: 17%, 29%). Painfully, about 44% (95% CI: 37%, 50%) faced death following injuries and the other 56.2% (95% CI: 50%, 62.5%) either survived or encountered disability. Post war rehabilitation for the disabled is recommended to enable them live healthy, dignified, independent and productive citizens.

Effectiveness of Thoracic Spine Manipulation on the Management of Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

There are contradicting findings regarding the effect of thoracic spine manipulation in decreasing pain and disability in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Hence, the purpose of this review was to evaluate the current evidence on the effectiveness of thoracic spine thrust manipulation in decreasing pain intensity, and neck disability among subjects with chronic mechanical neck pain. We made a comprehensive search of literature published between 2010 and 2020 from the electronic databases of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). We adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). The methodological quality was assessed by the PEDro scale, and the level of evidence rated by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) software. Finally, a meta-analysis was done using RevMan 5.3 with a random-effects model to calculate the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals for pain and disability. Eight eligible randomized controlled trials were identified with a total of 457 participants. The quality assessment of the included studies was found to be fair in quality (mean PEDro score of 6.63/10). The overall GRADE of the review showed low to moderate level of evidence. Effect size estimates of the studies showed modest differences in pain reduction, as it revealed a significant effect in Visual Analog Scale ((VAS) 0-100mm) (MD -12.46; 95% CI: -17.29, -7.64), and Pain Numeric Rating Scale ((PNRS) 0-10 pts) (MD -0.8; 95% CI: -1.60, -0.10). The thoracic manipulation also resulted in a significant effect in decreasing neck disability, in which the mean difference in Neck disability index (NDI) showed (MD -6.46; 95% CI: -10.43 -2.50). This review suggested that thoracic spine manipulation was effective in reducing pain and neck disability in all adults with chronic mechanical neck pain compared to other interventions.

Effectiveness of Mobilization with Movement on the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Osteoarthritis is becoming a global major cause of pain and functional disability worldwide, especially in the elderly population. Nowadays, evidence shows that mobilization with movement (MWM) has a beneficial effect on knee osteoarthritis subjects. However, its adequacy remains unclear. Objective: To review the best available evidence for the effectiveness of MWMs on pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A comprehensive search of literature was conducted using the following electronic databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, and the methodological quality of the studies was appraised using the PEDro scale. It was reported according to the guideline of the PRISMA statement. Results: A total of 15 RCTs having 704 participants were included. The present systematic review suggests that there were significant differences between MWM groups and control groups in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale, and flexion range of motion. Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrated that MWM was effective to improve pain, range of motion, and functional activities in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.

Effectiveness of Ultrasound Therapy on the Management of Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.

Non-specific chronic low back pain is the most common self-reported kind of musculoskeletal ache associated with substantial health and socioeconomic problem and responsible for most years lived with a disability as compared with any other medical condition. So treating chronic non-specific low back pain is one of the main problems faced among physical therapists in the rehabilitation area. The effects of ultrasound for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain remain unknown, however it is commonly used to treat clients with low back pain in rehabilitation setting. Therefore, the main aim of this review was to evaluate the up-to-date confirmation in the efficacy of ultrasound therapy on the treatment of non-specific chronic low back pain. A comprehensive search of four computerized electronic databases was performed to identify the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy on the management of chronic non-specific low back pain. Searching was done through the Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Physiotherapy Evidence Databases (PEDro) and reported using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. The qualities of articles were appraised by the PEDro scale. The primary outcome measure visual analog scale was used. Six randomized clinical trials with a total sample size of 699 patients from the electronic database published in English were identified. In this review, the effect of UST in five articles was statically significant in reducing the visual analog scale (p<0.05) score. So this systematic review found ultrasound therapy could be an alternative treatment to reduce the intensity of pain in subjects with non-specific chronic LBP.

Physical activity and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: facility-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity (PA) has health benefits, including reducing the risk of complications during pregnancy. In Ethiopia, little is known about PA status and its determinants among pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to assess PA status and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public and private health facilities in Mekelle, Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data was collected from 299 pregnant women using a structured questionnaire. Study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A binary logistic regression was modeled to investigate the statistical significance of independent variables with PA status during pregnancy. Factors associated with PA status were estimated using adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: 79.3% of the study participants were classified as sedentary. The age group of 26-35 years (AOR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.07-6.78), attending non-formal education (AOR: 13.50, 95% CI: 2.65-68.91), and women who did not work outside the home (AOR: 5.23, 95% CI: 1.34-20.38) were significantly associated with a higher risk of sedentary activity status. Pregnant women who were married (AOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09-0.73), had two children (AOR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03-0.59), traveled an hour or more to health facilities (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11-0.89) were protected from being sedentary. CONCLUSION: Sedentary PA status was highly prevalent during pregnancy. Pregnant women in the age group of 26-35 years, with a non-formal education, and women who did not work outside the home had a greater risk of reporting being sedentary. Those who were married, had two children, and traveled an hour or more to health facilities were less likely to be sedentary. Stakeholders (Tigrai regional health bureau, Mekelle University, local NGOs working with pregnant women and societies at large) should give higher emphasis on designing appropriate strategies including educational interventions to overcome barriers to PA during pregnancy.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Academic Staff of Mekelle University, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is a leading cause of morbidity, low productivity. Thus; not only affecting the individual's quality of life; it also creates a burden in the health system and affects the productivity of their institution and the country at large. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among academic staff in developed countries ranges from 47% to 85%. However, there was a scarce of studies in developing country, particularly in the study area. PURPOSE: the aim of the research was to assess the burden of musculoskeletal pain and associated factors among Mekelle University academic staff. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An institutional based cross-sectional study was enrolled on 449 participants with a response rate of 92.2%. Multistage sampling technique was deployed to select representatives. Participants under the selected schools, institutes and departments were selected using random sampling method. Data was collected through face to face interview using structured and standardized Nordic questionnaire by trained data collectors at Mekelle University. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. In bivariate logistic regression variables which have P value of <.25 were modeled to multivariate logistic regression. Those variables with P-value of <.05 with 95% CI in multivariate model were taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: This study found that burden of musculoskeletal pain among Mekelle University academic staff in the previous 12 month was 65.2%, and in the last 7 days was 29%. Neck pain (41.5%) was most prevalent followed by low back pain (40.3%). Female gender (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.58-5.76), Body mass index ⩾25 (OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.15-11.39), working hours per day (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.54-6.38), and physical inactivity (OR = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.69-7.16), were the independent factors positevly associated with musculoskeletal pain. CONCLUSION: The burden of musculoskeletal pain among Mekelle University academic staff was common. Female gender, being overweight and obese, working >5 hours per day, and being physically inactive increase the odds of experiencing musculoskeletal pains among academicians. Therefore the university authorities and all academicians are recommended that to take preventable measures of musculoskeletal pain.