BackgroundDiabetic sensory neuropathy is a common form of microvascular complication among diabetic patients. The swiftly growing population of people living with diabetes in Ethiopia and lack of elaborated scientific data on peripheral sensory neuropathy among diabetic population in Ethiopia prompted this work. This study was set out to assess the enormity and associated factors of peripheral sensory neuropathy among diabetes patients attending chronic illness clinic of Felege Hiwot Regional Referral Hospital, Bahr Dar, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital chronic illness clinic using Michigan neuropathy screening instrument tool for diabetic peripheral sensory neuropathy on 408 diabetic patients during 2016. Data were collected using interview, patient record review, anthropometric measurements and physical examination. Both bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with peripheral sensory neuropathy. Odds ratios with their 95% CI and P value less than 0.05 used to determine statistically significant associations.ResultsA total of 368 patients were included with the mean age of 49 ± 14.3 years. The overall prevalence of Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy was found to be 52.2%. The major associated factors identified by multivariate analysis were age >50 years: AOR: 3.0 CI [1.11, 7.89]; overweight and obese: AOR: 7.3 CI [3.57, 14.99]; duration of DM: AOR: 3.4 CI [1.75, 6.60]; not involved in physical exercise: AOR: 4.8 CI [1.90, 7.89]; male gender: AOR: 2.4 CI [1.18, 5.05].ConclusionAlmost half of the diabetic patients who attended Felege Hiwot regional referral hospital during study period were found to present with peripheral sensory neuropathy. Socio-demographic and bio characteristics like patients age, Body Mass Index, level of physical activity and marital status were significantly associated with diabetic peripheral sensory neuropathy.

BackgroundFalls among older adults is a common precipitating factor for unintentional injuries and represent a major health problem associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care cost in low-and-middle-income countries. The burden of fall in this population is well established in high-income countries and scant attention is given to this precipitating factor in low-and-middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with fall among community-dwelling older adults in Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among community-dwelling older adults of Gondar. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used across administrative areas. Six hundred and five households were selected proportionally using systematic random sampling technique. Physical measurement and face to face interview method were employed using a structured questionnaire for data collection. Data were analyzed descriptively and through uni- and multivariate logistic regression model.ResultsOne hundred and seventy (n = 170, 28.4%; 95% CI 24.7–32.1) community-dwelling older adults reported having experienced fall in the past 12 months. Sex (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.24–2.95), low educational status (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.19–4.74), uncomfortable home environment (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.34, 3.04), having diagnosed medical condition (OR = 4.659, 95% CI: 1.20–18.02), and use of medication (OR = 5.57, 95% CI: 1.19–26.21) were significantly associated risk factors of self-reported fall in the past 12 months. Most outdoor falls are associated with females and participants aged below 66 years.ConclusionIn conclusion, more than 1/4th of the community-dwelling older adults experienced at least one episode of fall and about 60% of them reported recurrent falls. Identifying risk group and risk factors that could be modified so as to prevent falls in older adults deserves attention. Outdoor falls are usually attributable to modifiable environmental aspects and improvements in outdoor environment needed.

Background: Fall is a major public health problem and potentially disabling issue. A vast burden of visually impaired live in low-middle income countries particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Limited ability to detect environmental hazards puts visually impaired at a greater risk of falls and unintentional injuries. Falls among visually impaired is associated with considerable disability, health care cost, loss of independence, and socioeconomic consequences. Ethiopia lacked estimates of fall among any vulnerable population, particularly among visually impaired people. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of falls and factors associated among adult people with medically diagnosed visual impairment in Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among visually impaired adults who attended the ophthalmology clinic at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital during the study period. Data were collected by interview method using structured questionnaires, patient medical record reviews, and physical measurements. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression model analysis was used to identify factors associated with falls. Adjusted odds ratio with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed to show the strength of association. Results: A total of 328 adults medically diagnosed with visual impairment participated in the study (97.3% response rate). The age of the participants ranged from 25 to 89 years with a mean age of (56.46 ± 14.2 years). The overall cumulative prevalence of self-reported falls among adults with visual impairment was 26.8% with 95%CI (22.7, 32.4%). The major associated factors of fall identified by multivariate analysis were; visual impairment in both eye (

Background: Axial of trunk rotation is a key distinguishing feature in the diagnosis of structural scoliosis. The non-affordability, high cost, and non-availability of clinical scoliometer device and availability of the mobile application like scoliogauge to measure the angle of this rotation has led to frequent usage. However, the reliability of such applications should be assessed on the specific population before using them for screening scoliosis. Objective: To test the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the scoliogauge mobile application in children with scoliosis. Methods: Sixty-two children with a diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis in both sexes were agreed to participate in this study. The mean age of the participant was 11.73 (±2.31) years; the mean height was 1.32 (±0.22) m and the mean weight was 31.92 (±7.82) kg. The scoliogauge measurement procedure was performed by two consultants senior musculoskeletal physiotherapists on an iPhone4 Scoliogauge. For statistical analysis, the measurements were divided by spinal levels into the upper thorax, medium thorax, lower thorax, and lumbar segments. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability. Results: The observer intra-rater reliability of axial trunk rotation of subjects measured by the scolioguage was considered excellent for the upper, lower thorax, and lumbar segments range from (ICC = 0.871 to 0.932). The inter-rater reliability of axial trunk rotation measures was considered excellent for the upper thorax segment, excellent for the lower thorax, and lumbar segments (ICC, 0.884 to 0.925), and the lowest inter-rater reliability coefficients were in the lumbar spine segments (ICC = 0.884). Conclusion: The scoliogauge application in the iphone device has respectable intra and inter-rater reliability. Though the intra and inter-rater reliability for the lumbar spine region is relatively lower compared to that of the thoracic spine region. Highlights:

Background: Deficit in cognitive impairment is the most serious of the stroke sequelae. Post-stroke cognitive impairment is associated with impaired daily living activities and decreased capacity for independent living and functional performance. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of cognitive impairment among stroke survivors at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Ethiopia's Amhara region by 2022. Methods: A multi-centered cross-sectional study was designed at an institution. During the study period. Data was gathered by conducting structured questionnaire interviews with participants and reviewing medical charts with trained data collectors. The participants were chosen using a systematic random sampling technique. The Montreal cognitive assessment basic was used to assess cognitive impairment. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the data. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to assess the fitness of the model. The AOR with a P value of 0.05 at 95% CI was reported, and variables were considered statistically significant. Results: This study enrolled 422 stroke survivors. Overall, 58.3% of stroke survivors had cognitive impairment (95% CI 53.4-63.0%). The study participants' age with AOR;), being hypertensive with AOR; 7. 52 (3.46-16.35), arriving at the hospital after 24 hours with AOR; 4.33 (1.49-12.05), less than three months after stroke with AOR; 4. 83 (3.95-12.19), dominant hemisphere lesion with AOR;) and being illiterate with AOR; were found significant factors. Conclusion:Cognitive impairment was discovered to be relatively common among stroke survivors in this study. More than half of stroke survivors who attended comprehensive specialized hospitals during the study period were found to have cognitive impairment. Age, hypertension, arriving at the hospital after 24 hours, less than three months after stroke, dominant hemisphere lesion, and illiterate educational status were all significant factors in cognitive impairment.