Background: Despite the rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy, virologic failure has become global public health concern and challenge, especially in developing countries. Viral load monitoring is an important approach to identify treatment failure and develop public health interventions in children receiving antiretroviral therapy. Thus, this study aims to assess the magnitude and associated factors of virological failure among children on antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 HIV-positive children on antiretroviral therapy from 2016 to 2019 in Bahir Dar Town public health facilities. Data were extracted from children’s charts using a standardized data extraction tool, adapted from ART intake and follow-up forms. Data were entered using Epi-Data Version 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS Version 25. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were done to identify factors associated with virological failure. Variables with p-values < 0.25 were fitted into the multivariable analysis. Finally, variables with p-values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant factors. Results: The period prevalence of virological failure was found to be 14.8% (95% CI: 11.5–19.3%). Opportunistic infections (AOR = 2.19, CI: 1.13–4.25), history of treatment interruption and restart (AOR = 2.21, CI: 1.09–4.54), younger age (AOR = 2.42, CI: 1.02–5.74), poor/fair ART adherence (AOR = 2.19, CI: 1.05–4.57), and advanced baseline WHO clinical staging (AOR = 2.32, CI: 1.14–4.74) were found to be factors significantly associated with virological failure. Conclusion: The magnitude of virological failure among HIV-infected children remained high. Children with poor/fair ART adherence, history of treatment interruption, advanced baseline WHO clinical staging, younger age, and opportunistic infections were significantly associated with virologic failure. Thus, special attention should be given to children who had poor/fair ART adherence and presenting with opportunistic infections.
S: Background: Burn is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disability every year in low and middle-income countries, which mainly affects those aged less than 15 years. Death from burn injuries carries the most significant losses, which often have grave consequences for the countries. Even though data from different settings are necessary to tackle it, pieces of evidence in this area are limited. Thus, this study was aimed to answer the question, what is the Magnitude of Mortality? And what are the factors associated with mortality among burn victim children admitted to South Gondar Zone Government Hospitals, Ethiopia, from 2015 to 2019?Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used to study 348 hospitalized burn victim pediatrics’, from 2015 to 2019. A simple random sampling method was used. Data were exported from Epidata to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Significant of the variables were declared when ap-value is < 0.05.Result: The mortality rate of burn victim children in this study was 8.5% (95% CI = 5.5–11.4). Medical insurance none users burn victim children were more likely (AOR 3.700; 95% CI =1.2–11.5) to die as compared with medical insurance users, burn victim children with malnutrition were more risk (AOR 3.9; 95% CI = 1.3–12.2) of mortality as compared with well-nourished child. Moreover, electrical (AOR 7.7; 95% CI = 1.8–32.5.2) and flame burn (AOR 3.3; 95% CI = 1.2–9.0), total body surface area greater than 20% of burn were more likely (AOR 4.6; 95% CI 1.8–11.8) to die compared to less than 20% burn area and burn victim children admitted with poor clinical condition at admission were four times (AOR 4.1, 95% CI = 1.3–12.0) of mortality compared to a good clinical condition.Conclusion: The mortality among burn victim children was higher than most of the studies conducted all over the world. Medical insurance none users, being malnourished, burned by electrical and flame burn, having total body surface area burnt greater than 20%, and having poor clinical condition at addition were significantly associated with mortality of burn victim pediatrics. Therefore, timely identification and monitoring of burn injury should be necessary to prevent mortality of burn victim pediatrics.
1 April 2021 in Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
Introduction: Globally, stroke is the second leading cause of death. About 70% of strokes were occurring in low- and middle-income countries, and high blood pressure is the main risk factor of stroke due to its poor recognition of stroke prevention methods. Therefore, the study aimed to assess knowledge on stroke prevention and its associated factors among hypertensive patients at Debre-Tabor General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Debre-Tabor General Hospital from February 20 to March 20/2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.2.0.0 and exported to SPSS version 25 for cleaning and analysis. A reliability test was done, and the Cronbach alpha coefficient value was 0.709. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done, and variables with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. Results: From 423 study participants, 410 of them responded completely and a response rate is 96.92%. Among the total respondents, 24.9% (95% CI: 20.7, 29.3) of participants had good knowledge of stroke prevention methods. Young age (AOR: 2.082; 95% CI (1.071, 4.049)), urban residence (AOR: 3.230; 95% CI (1.665, 6.267)), and having long followed-up duration (AOR: 3.015; 95% CI (1.870, 4.861)) were factors associated with good knowledge on stroke prevention methods. Conclusion: This study revealed that participants had poor knowledge of stroke prevention. Young age, urban residence, and having long duration hypertension follow-up were predictors of good knowledge on stroke prevention. These findings have immense importance of different stakeholders that have responsibilities on the reduction of hypertension complications characteristically stroke. Further, it is chief for health-care providers for hypertension intervention activities.
1 November 2021 in Vascular Health and Risk Management
Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death globally and is a major cause of disability worldwide. It is a preventable and treatable disease by the prevention of modifiable risk factors and early recognition of warning signs, respectively. Objective: To assess knowledge on stroke warning signs and associated factors among hypertensive patients at South Gondar Zone Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in South Gondar Zone Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from June 1– 30, 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used and data were collected through face to face interviews. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.6.0.0 and exported to SPSS version 25 for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used and variables with p < 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and fifty-three hypertensive patients completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 100%. Among the total respondents, 15% (95% CI: 10.7, 19.4) of participants had good knowledge of stroke warning signs. Younger age (AOR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.18, 6.74), urban residence (AOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.04, 8.11), being educated (AOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.09, 6.23) and having long duration hypertension follow up (AOR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.25, 5.81) were significantly associated with good knowledge of stroke warning signs. Conclusion: This study revealed that participants had poor knowledge of stroke warning signs. Younger age, urban residence, being educated and having long duration hypertension follow up were predictors of good stroke warning signs knowledge. Health information dissemination needs to be strengthened for hypertensive patients, particularly for older, rural residents, the non-educated and those having short duration of hypertension follow up.
Background: Malnutrition associated with HIV infection is a complex condition, with HIV-positive children having a higher mortality rate than HIV-negative children, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in children. Data from a variety of situations are needed to counter this, but the evidence is limited, especially for the nutritional status of HIV-infected children. Therefore, this study aims to assess the magnitude of underweight and factors associated with it in children receiving antiretroviral therapy. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-positive children in South Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometry measurement. Data were coded and entered into Epi-Data Version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 25. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with nutritional status and variables with p-values ˂0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant factors. Results: Of 406 participants, 379 participant were included in the study, which corresponds to a response rate of 93.3%. About one-third (36.4%) of the caregivers were not first relatives and 162 (42.7%) were unable to read and write. Of the study participants, 101 (26.6%) had a CD4 count below the normal threshold. Ninety (23.7%) of those questioned did not follow any nutritional advice from health care workers. In this study, the prevalence of underweight was 106 (28%). In the multivariable analysis being younger age, having low CD4 count, having recurrent diarrhea, and having poor adherence to dietary advice was significantly associated with being underweight. Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of underweight among HIV-positive children in south Gondar is significantly high. Therefore, HIV-positive pediatrics who are young, have low CD4 counts, have recurrent diarrhea, and do not adhere to dietary recommendations need to detect and monitor nutritional problems promptly.
1 April 2021 in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
Introduction: Burns can have a considerable negative impact on physical and psychosocial functioning that affects the quality of life. The physical and psychological manifestations may compromise the quality of life of burned patients. The aim is to assess health-related quality of life and associated factors among burn patients at Amhara regional state governmental referral hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 01 to July 15, 2020, in Amhara National regional state governmental referral hospitals. Systematic random sampling technique was used, and data were collected using structured Burn Specific Health Scale Brief Questionnaire through face-to-face interview and document review from patients time since burn 15 days and above. Data were entered into Epidata, and analysis was done by SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were computed, and binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered statistically significant. Results: Of 423 study participants, 95.7% responded completely. Among the respondents, 58.8% (group mean and median of 18.38 and 21) for physical domain and 57% (group mean and median of 44.73 and 53) for generic domains had a poor health-related quality of life. Overall poor health-related quality of life was 57.5% with a mean of 63.12. Third-degree burn, exposed burnt body part, total body surface area burned ≥ 20%, having an amputation and having a co-morbid illness with (P = 0.001) were associated with poor health-related quality of life. Conclusion and Recommendation: This study revealed that more than half of the burn survivors had poor health-related quality of life. There shall be strengthened long-term physical and psychosocial domains (generic) intervention for burn survivors by giving more concern for those with the identified risk factors.