Prevalence and Factors Associated with Violence; Perceived Social Support and Health Access Among People with Disabilities in Rural Districts of Southern Ethiopia: Mixed Study.

Background: Violence is a serious public health problem with far-reaching negative effects. The lack of data on disability-related violence obscures developing nations from taking the appropriate steps to mitigate it. Objective: This study sought to assess the prevalence and associated factors of violence as well as perceived social support and health access among people with disabilities in Southern Ethiopia. Methods: This cross-sectional, community-based mixed study was conducted from March 15 to May 15, 2022. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 645 participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 participants. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Qualitative data were transcribed and translated verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results: The total prevalence of any form of violence within the last year was 61.2%. Being female {AOR: 3.5; 95% CI: (1.61,7.47)}, having no formal education {AOR: 4.8; 95% CI: (1.18, 19.79)}, having a visual disability{AOR: 3.5; 95% CI: (1.61,7.43)}, strong reliance on others {AOR: 5.6; 95% CI: (1.34,23.55)}, and not joining any community group {AOR: 3.9; 95% CI: (1.36,11.35)}were associated with sexual violence. Being female {AOR: 1.9; 95% CI: (1.16, 3.04)}, having no formal education {AOR: 4.9 95% CI: (1.86, 7.78)}, and a low level of perceived social support {AOR: 3.0; 95% CI: (1.74, 5.32)} was associated with emotional violence. Belonging to the lower wealth index group {AOR: 5.4; 95% CI: (1.96, 15.16)} and reliance on others {AOR: 2.9; 95% CI: (1.54, 5.30)} were associated with physical violence. During a qualitative study there is a lack of social support and receiving wrong social support frequently, leading to isolation, depression, and violence. Additionally, access to transportation and health services is not user-friendly for such persons. Conclusion: A significant proportion of people with disabilities experience violence. The finding highlight there is a need for capacity building particularly, for women with disabilities.

Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Service Utilization Among HIV-Positive Women Aged 25 Years and Above Attending Adult ART Clinics in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus prevention are public health priorities in Ethiopia. Despite cervical cancer being preventable with the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine and cervical cancer screening, HIV-infected women still have a low rate of screening, and data are scarce in this country. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among HIV-positive women in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia, 2018. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was performed from March 1st to May 15th, 2018. We recruited 465 HIV-positive women using a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, followed by multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Crude odds ratios, adjusted odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: In this study, only 8% of HIV-positive women were screened for cervical cancer. The most frequently cited barrier by participants to getting screened was feeling healthy 282 (65.9%). Multiparity {AOR = 4.12, 95% CI = (1.70, 9.95)}, provider recommendation to get screened {AOR = 3.20, 95%CI = (1.34, 7.65)}, having good knowledge {AOR = 4.33, 95%CI = (1.66-11.29)}, and high perceived susceptibility for cervical cancer {AOR = 3.10, 95% CI = (1.31-7.33)} were the factors significantly associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cervical cancer screening service utilization was quite low. Provider's recommendation to get screened, multiparity, knowledge, and perceived susceptibility were factors strongly associated with the service utilization. There is a need of routine counseling of health care providers for all HIV-positive women to get screened. Women's lack of knowledge also needs to be addressed by informing every HIV-positive woman that they are more susceptible to cervical cancer, and that screening is critical to fighting against the disease.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Among Adults Attending Follow-Up Diabetes Clinics in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: An Unmatched, Case-Control Study.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer is a major public health problem, and among the leading causes of this complication in Ethiopian patients with diabetes. Despite the magnitude of this problem, data regarding the determinants of diabetic foot ulcers are limited. Objective: This study aimed to assess the determinants of diabetic foot ulcers among adults attending follow-up visits in diabetes clinics in the Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based case-control study was done from September 10 to December 28, 2020, in southern Ethiopia. We recruited 137 patients with diabetic foot ulcers and 408 patients without any diabetic foot ulcers using a consecutive sampling method. EpiData version 3.1.1 (EpiData Association, Odense, Denmark) and SPSS version 25 (IBM-SPSS Inc, Armonk, New York) were used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Having a low wealth index (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.177-5.662); being obese (AOR = 3.6; 95% CI, 1.380-9.547; P = 0.003), being overweight (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI, 1.480-6.436; P = 0.009), having peripheral neuropathy (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI, 1.641-9.430; P = 0.002), living with diabetes for >10 years (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.191-4.475; P = 0.013), and practicing poor diabetic foot self-care (AOR = 6.0; 95% CI, 3.156-11.312; P = 0.000) were significantly associated with having a diabetic foot ulcer. Conclusions: This study suggests there is a need for education and counseling of patients on decreasing weight and improving foot-care practice, especially in those who are economically disadvantaged, have peripheral neuropathy, and have lived with diabetes for more than 10 years. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2022; 83:XXX-XXX).

Magnitude and determinants of adequate antenatal care service utilization among mothers in Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from preventable pregnancy-related complications remains high in Ethiopia. Antenatal care remains a major public health intervention that prevents maternal and neonatal mortality. Thus, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of adequate antenatal care utilization in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 670 women. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire administered with a digital survey tool (open data kit) and directly exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Descriptive statistics followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were reported. RESULTS: The magnitude of adequate antenatal care utilization was 23.13%. Tertiary and above education (AOR,4.15;95%CI: 1.95, 8.83), having the best friend who used maternal care (AOR,2.01;95%CI: 1.18,3.41), husband support (AOR,3.84; 95%CI: 1.05, 14.08), high wealth index (AOR,3.61; 95%CI: 1.86, 6.99), follow-up in private health facilities (AOR, 2.27;95% CI:1.33, 3.88), having a history of risky pregnancy (AOR,2.59; 95%CI: 1.55, 4.35), and planned pregnancy (AOR,2.60;95% CI: 1.35, 4.99) were significant determinants of overall adequate ANC service utilization. CONCLUSION: The utilization of adequate antenatal care services is quite low. The study findings suggest that interventions should be in place to improve husband's support, social networks, and women's education. There is also a need to counsel women to utilize family planning.