Research
Quality of Life Assessment among Adult Epileptic Patients Taking Follow Up Care at Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, South West Ethiopia: Using Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31instrument
Introduction: Epilepsy is neurological disorder which affects patient’s quality of life and their close social networks. Thus, this study assessed quality of life and associated factors among adult epileptic patients taking follow up care at Jimma University Medical Center from March 1 – 1 May, 2015. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was used. A total of 314 epilepsy patients already receiving antiepileptic drugs for at least 3 months were randomly selected and interviewed. Quality of life in epilepsy inventory-31instrument was used to measure health quality of life. T-test, one way Anova and Pearson correlation were used to compare means and association between dependent and outcome variables. Multiple Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between health related quality of life and explanatory variables. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in this study. Result: From the total study participants, 304 (96.8 %) were interviewed. The average total Quality of life score of domains/subscales was; Seizure worry (50.8±19.9); Overall Quality of life (59.8±20.0); Emotional wellbeing (59.1 ±14.8), Energy/fatigue (59.9 ±13.6), Cognitive function (56.0 ±15.5), Medication effects (61.5±19.4), Social functioning (63.6 ± 17.7) and total (Overall) quality of life (58.8±10.6). Sex, Residence of the client, occupational status, performing regular exercise, Doing daily activities independently, Sleep pattern, Frequency of Anti Epileptic drugs taken/day, Side effect of the treatment, age of the patient when Anti Epileptic drugs started, current co-morbidities and Level of anxiety and depression was significantly associated with at least one of the seven domains of Quality of life score. Conclusion and Recommendation: Being female, Rural residence, Taking AEDs several times per day, becoming older age, side effect of treatment, current comorbidity with anxiety and depression and other disease, and also those wi
Determinants of Delay in Malaria Treatment Seeking for Under-Five Children with Malaria Attending Health Centers of Bench-Maji Zone, South-Western Ethiopia. Case-Control Study
Abstract- Introduction: Malaria has continued to be a public health problem in the World today despite concerted efforts aimed at its control and elimination. Prompt diagnosis and timely treatment of malaria within 24 hours after onset of first symptoms can reduce illness progression to severe stages, and therefore, decrease mortality. Thus the current study assessed determinants of delayed malaria treatment seeking for under-five children with malaria attending health centers of Bench-Maji zone from March 1 � June 30/2016. Methods: Community based Unmatched Case control study design with a total sample size of 354 identified using systematic sampling. Cases were under- five children who had confirmed Malaria and Sought treatment after 24 hrs of developing sign and symptom, and controls were under-five children who had clinical malaria and came for treatment within 24 hrs of developing sign and symptom. The association between the outcome variable and the explanatory variables was analyzed by multiple Logistic regressions. The strength of association was interpreted using odds ratio and confidence interval. The P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in this study. Result: The study was carried out on 326 under-five children with confirmed malaria with the response rate of 92.1%. Among them, 132 (40.5%) cases and 194 (59.5%) were controls which show cases to control ratio was 1:1.5. The annual income of the caretaker, Number of under-five children, having information about malaria, perceived distance and cost of transport to the health center are significantly associated with malaria treatment seeking among under-five children. Conclusion and Recommendation: Most under-five children seek malaria diagnosis and treatment earlier (within 24 hrs). Malaria control programmed should focus on increasing access to public health facilities through the expansion of infrastructures such as road and health centers, and also emphasis should be given on f
