Ethiopian Journal of Medical and Health Sciences

Leech infestation causing upper airway obstruction and severe anemia in a three year old child in rural Ethiopia

2023-09-28T17:29:37+03:00

Background: Leeches are hermaphrodites that rarely infest humans. When they infest humans, they most commonly enter in the endoparasite form when a human host drinks or swims in leech-infested water.

Case presentation: A three-year old female presented to Arba Minch General Hospital with three days of difficulty breathing and ten days of blood-stained saliva. She was reported to have been drinking spring water that was known to be infested by leeches. She was diagnosed with upper airway obstruction and severe anemia secondary to leech infestation by direct laryngoscopy. The leech was removed with McGill’s forceps. She was transfused with three units of whole blood and observed for 48 hours prior to discharge.

Conclusion: Although rarely seen in patients living in rural endemic areas, leech infestation should be considered in patients presenting with both upper airway obstruction and severe anemia. Increasing the availability of clean water in all rural areas is strongly recommended. Where this is not possible, the community should be educated on the importance of using boiled and filtered water for human consumption.

Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and associated factors among high school students in Hawassa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia

2024-07-26T15:46:52+03:00

Background: A crampy pain in the lower abdomen that occurs prior to or throughout the period of menstruation without any pelvic pathology is known as primary dysmenorrhea. Although primary dysmenorrhea is the most common reproductive health issue globally, there is no information on the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in this particular study population, where the study area is located. The study's objectives were to determine the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and its associated factors among high school students in Hawassa from March to April 2022.

Methods: A total of 373 high school students were participated in this cross-sectional study conducted from March to April 2022. Participants were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 25. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify associated factors.

Results: Among female students recruited for the current study, the response rate was 96.9%. The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was 67.6%. Around 30.3% reported mild-intensity menstrual pain and 63.3 complained about lower abdominal pain. 69.7% of study participants reported trouble concentrating at school as the impact of menstrual pain. Female students under the age of eighteen were fifteen times more likely to experience primary dysmenorrhea (AOR: 13.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.09, 26.303) than those age eighteen and greater. Female students whose menarche stared at the age of twelve or below were nearly eight times more likely to develop primary dysmenorrhea {AOR : 8.55; 95% CI: 4.34,16.82). Having an irregular menstrual cycle was also a determinant factor of primary dysmenorrhea (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.36, 4.83).

Conclusions: The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was found to be high. Age, age at menarche, and irregular menstrual cycle were determinants of primary dysmenorrhea.

Prevalence and factors associated with suboptimal foot self-care practices among adult diabetic patients in governmental hospitals in Hawassa city, Sidama Region, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

2024-09-30T16:28:57+03:00

Background: Diabetic foot self-care is essential in preventing foot ulcers and lower extremity amputations, two severe complications of diabetes. However, poor self-care practices are common and significantly contribute to these outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence of poor foot self-care practices and identify associated factors among adult diabetic patients in Hawassa City, Sidama, Ethiopia.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2023 among 420 diabetic patients using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using binary logistic regression in SPSS version 25. Variables with a P-value < 0.25 in bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate model. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: The response rate was 100%. One-third (33.3%) of participants exhibited poor foot self-care practices. Significant factors associated with poor self-care included being a private employee [AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08–0.89], having foot care information [AOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29–0.88], poor family support [AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.10–3.09], poor knowledge [AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.34–3.81], and alcohol consumption [AOR = 8.60, 95% CI: 2.65–27.52].

Conclusion: One-third of diabetic patients had poor foot self-care practices. Key associated factors included lack of foot care knowledge, inadequate family support, and alcohol consumption. Interventions to improve patient education and family involvement are essential to enhance foot self-care practices.

Sanitary status and associated factors among food and drink establishments in Hawassa city

2024-05-10T17:32:20+03:00

Background: Foodborne diseases are major public health issues both in developed and developing countries. Food borne illness is mostly associated with poor sanitation and hygiene environment of food outlets. However, there is limited evidence regarding the sanitary status of food and drink establishment in Hawassa city. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the sanitary status and associated factors among food and drink establishments.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to perform this study which was done from February to March 2020. All food and drink establishments in Hawassa city were eligible for the study. Hence, 388 food and drink establishments were selected via simple random sampling technique. Data were collected by five environmental health students through structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and observation checklist. Coded and cleaned data from EpiData version 3.5 were transferred to IBM SPSS version 23 for analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the sanitary status and associated factors, respectively.

Results: The overall level of poor sanitary status among food and drink establishments was 48.5%. In the multivariable analysis, private in ownership of building (AOR=1.83), manager/owner not trained about basic food safety and hygiene (AOR=5.0), monthly income of <10000 ETB (AOR=2.46), no medical checkup in past six month (AOR=5.8)] and food handler not trained about basic food safety (AOR=2.1) were the predictors of poor sanitation status.

Conclusion: Nearly half of the food and drink establishments had poor sanitary status. Hence, formal and informal training on sanitation and hygiene should be provided to managers and handers of food and drink establishments for improving the sanitary status and ultimately for reducing the occurrence of foodborne diseases.

Pattern of genitourinary tract cancers in southern Ethiopia: A retrospective document review

2024-09-24T15:28:03+03:00

Background: Genitourinary tract (urologic) cancers are substantially increasing and become a major public issue in both industrialized and developing countries. Despite the increasing burden of genitourinary tract cancer (GUTC), inadequate attention is being given for early detection and treatment services due to insufficient evidence on the burden of urologic cancer cases in Ethiopia.

Objective: To describe the epidemiologic trends of genitourinary cancer in southern Ethiopia retrospectively at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) between 2013 and 2019.

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective chart review was conducted among patients with a diagnosis of genitourinary cancer between 2013 and 2019 at HUCSH. The full review of registration record (logbook) at the unit of oncology and pathology was done and yielded a total of 207 GUT cancer cases in the given above years. The data were collected using a checklist from February to May 2020. Epi-data version 3.1 was used to enter data, and SPSS version 20 was used to analyze it. We did a descriptive and trend analysis.

Result: A total of 207genitourinary tract (GUT) cancer cases were identified at HUCSH. Among all, 165 (79.1%) were male, with male to female ratio of 3.9:1. The overall GUT cancer caseload was increasing year to year and doubled in 2019 compared to 2013 in the majority of the cancer types in this study. The most prevalent cancer cases were bladder cancer 96 (46.4%) and prostate cancer 44 (21.3%).The average time between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of bladder cancer was 18 months. In all cases of the identified GUT cancer, patients were diagnosed mostly at advanced stage III and IV. The trends of all GUT cancer were progressively increasing year to year.

Conclusion: The GUT cancer has been a great burden and highly increasing in the last 7 years with high incidence of bladder cancer types. Routine awareness creation, early detection, registration and follow up are critical to prevent or to treat cancer cases early.