Background: Even though the type, extent and reasons for self-medication practice (SMP) vary, globally self-medication (SM) is rising to relieve burdens on health services. However, inappropriate SMP results in economic wastes, damage of vital organs, incorrect therapy selection, risk of adverse drug reactions and development of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. These consequences have severe implications including legal, ethical and quality of health-care delivery. Temporal increment and high prevalence of SM among health professionals is also a major bottleneck for Ethiopia. Hence, the study aimed to assess the SM among health-care professionals (HCPs) in selected governmental hospitals of Western Ethiopia. Methods: An instiution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 338 HCPs using a pre-tested and self-adminstered questionnaries from March 1 to 25, 2018. Simple random sampling was used to select study participants and SMP (yes or no) was the outcome of the study variable. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were calculated and all results were deemed to be statistically significant when p < 0.05. Results: Among the 338 participants, 184 (54.4%) were females and the mean age of the study participants was 25±3.23 years. About 154 (45.6%) of them had work experience of less than 5 years and 49.7% were nurses by profession. The prevalence of SM was 73.4% with 3 months of recall for SM. Familiarity with medicines and ailments (46.8%) and mildness of illness (40.7%) were the most common reasons to self-medicate. The most frequently reported ailments were headache (37.1%) and gastric pain (29.8%). Analgesics (44.4%) and antibiotics (42.7%) were the most commonly used self-medicated categories of drugs. Female sex (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.13, 95% CI: 1.43-8.66), age 20-29 years (AOR=4.53, 95% CI: 1.01-14.45) and work experience of <5 years (AOR= 3.01, 95% CI: 1.32-11.71) were significantly associated with SMPs. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of SMP among HCPs. Sex, age, and work experience were significantly associated with SMPs. Hence, the use of prescription drugs without prescription should be discouraged and appropriate health education should be provided by all concerned bodies on the proper use of drugs.

Background: The introduction of Combined Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) shifted the perception of HIV/AIDS from a fatal to a potentially manageable chronic disease. As a result, patient-perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is becoming an important outcome measure among HIV infected patients. We assessed the quality of life of admitted HIV/AIDS patients and the association of socio-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of patients with health-related quality of life. Methods: Health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to May 31, 2018 in selected tertiary care hospitals of Ethiopia. HRQoL was measured at discharge using the interviewer-administered World Health Organization’s Quality of Life HIV short-form instrument (WHOQoL-HIV BREF). Data were entered into EpiData 3.2 and exported to SPSS version 21.0 for cleaning and analysis. Descriptive analytical results were reported in text and table. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of poor quality of life. Variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 in bivariate regression were considered as a candidate for multivariable regression. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors. Regression coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals together with p-value < 0.05 were used to identify independent predictor of poor QoL. Results: Majority, 56 (58.9%) of the study participants, had poor general health-related quality of life. Being unemployed (AOR: 4.1, 95% CI; (1.23, 13.64); p=0.02), lack of support from family (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: (1.05-12.6); p=0.04), and having co-morbidity (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI: (1.08, 16.65); p=0.039) were found to be independent predictors of poor quality of life. Conclusions: The study showed that the majority of the participants had poor health-related quality of life which was affected by unemployment, co-morbidity, and social support from family.

Background. The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in an unprecedented public health challenge worldwide. Despite urgent and extensive global efforts, the existing evidence is inconclusive regarding the medications used for the treatment of COVID-19. Purpose. To generate an up-to-date evidence for the clinical safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) with or without azithromycin (AZ) among patients treated for COVID-19. Data Source. PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, LITCOVID, Web of Science, SCOPUS, BioRxiv, Embase, MedRxiv, and Wiley online library were searched from 2019/12/30 to 2020/05/23. Study Selection. Three investigators assessed the quality of the studies. Data Extraction. Data about study characteristics, effect estimates, and the quality of the studies were extracted by two independent reviewers and cross-checked by the third reviewer. Data Synthesis. The data of 6,782 (HCQ group, 3623; HCQ + AZ group, 1,020; control group, 2139) participants were included. HCQ was compared with standard care for virologic efficacy, disease progression, mortality, and adverse effects. HCQ was also compared with HCQ + AZ for QTc prolongation, admission to the intensive care unit, and mortality. The study found HCQ did not alter the rate of virologic cure (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.39–1.56) and the risk of mortality (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 0.66–2.39). The pooled prevalence for mortality was 5.8% (95% CI: 0.9%–10.8%). Moreover, HCQ did not impact disease progression (OR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.36–2.29) but resulted in a higher risk of adverse effects (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.15–4.8). HCQ was also compared against HCQ + AZ, and no difference was observed in QTc prolongation above 500 ms (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.54–2.28), admission to the intensive care unit (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.52–1.63), and mortality (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.55–1.43). However, in the analysis of single-arm studies, about 11.2% (95% CI: 7.0%–15.5%) of patients have developed an absolute increase of QTc greater than 500 ms, and 4.1% (95% CI: 1.1%–7.1%) of patients discontinued their medication. Conclusion. This meta-analysis and systematic review, which included a limited number of poorly designed studies of patients with COVID-19, revealed HCQ is intolerable, unsafe, and not efficacious. Similarly, HCQ + AZ combination was not different from HCQ alone in curbing mortality and ICU admission.

Background: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to achieve and/or maintain penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Few studies have examined the prevalence of ED among men diabetic patients in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of ED among diabetic patients in a tertiary hospital of Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on male diabetic patients on follow-up at the diabetic clinic of Jimma Medical Center (JMC), Southwest Ethiopia. Results: 350 male diabetic patients were enrolled in the study. The mean (+SD) age of the study participants was 47.9 (+12.2) years. The majority, 212 (60.4%) of the diabetic patients had varying degrees of ED and almost all, 207 (97.6%) of the patients were not treated for ED. Independent predictors of ED were older age (AOR: 4.6; 95%CI: [2.84, 7.55]; p<0.001) and longer duration of diabetes (AOR: 3.5; 95%CI: [2.12, 5.70]; p<0.001). Conclusion: This study confirmed a high prevalence of ED in diabetic male patients in Jimma Medical Center (JMC). Periodic assessment and management of ED should be a routine part of the diabetic care, particularly for those aged above 40 years and living with diabetes mellitus for many years.

Background. Nonadherence to lifestyle modification recommendations is a major challenge in the management of diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted to measure the prevalence and predictors of nonadherence to diet and physical activity recommendations among type 2 diabetes patients (T2D). Methods. A cross-sectional study involving 322 type 2 diabetes patients was conducted from April 1 to June 30, 2019. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured and pretested questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical characteristics were collected. Descriptive analytical results were reported in text, tables, and figures. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of nonadherence to diet and physical activity. Variables with p value ≤0.25 in bivariate logistic regression were considered as candidates for multivariable regression. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals together with p value <0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. Result. The rate of nonadherence to physical activity and diet was 64.3% and 36%, respectively. Female gender (AOR: 2.6, 95% CI [1.52–4.56]), age > 60 years (AOR: 2.9, 95% CI [1.12–7.42]), being illiterate (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI [1.86–9.73]), diabetes duration of >5 years (AOR: 2.5, 95% CI [1.42–4.41]), and lack of social support (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI [1.42–4.35]) were independent predictors of nonadherence to physical activity recommendations. Factors associated with nonadherence to dietary recommendations were being male (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: [1.35–5.65]), age > 60 years (AOR = 6.3, 95% CI: [2.21–18.17]), khat chewing (AOR = 8.0, 95% CI: [3.86–16.7]), lack of social support (AOR = 15.26, 95% CI = [7.45–32.8]), and doctor’s instructions or advice regarding diet (AOR = 8.9, 95% CI = [4.26–18.9]). Conclusion. The rate of nonadherence to diet and physical activity recommendations was high in the study area. Predictors of nonadherence to physical activity are female gender, age > 60 years, being illiterate, diabetes duration of >5 years, and lack of social support. Predictors of nonadherence to diet are being male, khat chewing, lack of social support, and doctor’s instructions or advice regarding diet.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from impairment in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It is responsible for a wide range of acute and chronic complications. In this study, we aimed to assess acute complications of diabetes and its predictors among adult DM patients at Jimma Medical Center (JMC), southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study involving 348 diabetic patients was conducted from February to May 31, 2019 at JMC. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of acute complications of diabetes. Variables with P≤0.25 on bivariate logistic regression were considered candidates for multivariate regression. ORs and 95% CIs with P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 348 patients, 225 (64.7%) were male, and the mean age of study participants was 46±15.5 years. Most (281, 80.7%) had type 2 DM. More than two-thirds (240, 69%)had diabetes duration of <5 years. During the study period, 92 (26.4%) patients developed acute complications of diabetes. Of these, 68 (73.9%) had diabetic ketoacidosis, 21 (22.8%) a hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, and three (3.3%) hypoglycemia. Presence of comorbidity (AOR 5.6, 95% CI 2.80-11.19), type 1 DM (AOR 9.3, 95% CI 4.36-19.82), uncontrolled blood glucose (AOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.05-3.45), and lack of access to a health facility within a reasonable distance (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.11-3.45) were independent predictors of acute complications of diabetes. Conclusion: The magnitude of acute complications among DM patients at JMC was high. Comorbidity, type 1 DM, uncontrolled blood sugar, and lack of access to a health facility within a reasonable distance were independent predictors of acute complications. Clinicians should follow up this subgroup of DM patients closely.

Background Significant numbers of chronic obstructive respiratory disease patients are readmitted for Acute Exacerbation (AE) within 30 days of discharge. And these early readmissions have serious clinical and socioeconomic consequences. The objective of our study was to determine the rate of readmission within 30 days of discharge and it's predictors among patients treated for acute exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A prospective cohort study involving 130 patients (asthma = 59, COPD = 71) was conducted from April-September, 2019, in Jimma Medical Center (JMC), SouthWest Ethiopia. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and drug-related data were recorded at admission and during hospital stay. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for readmissions following an AE of asthma and COPD. Results During the study period, 130 (male, 78(60%)) patients were admitted with AE of asthma and COPD. The median age was 59(IQR, 50-70) years. Of 130 patients, 21(18.10%) had a new AE of asthma and COPD that required hospitalization in the 30 days after discharge. The overall median survival time to 30-day readmission was 20 days (IQR, 16-29). Multivariate analysis revealed prolonged use of oxygen therapy (AHR = 4.972, 95% CI [1.041-23.736] and frequent hospital admissions (AHR = 11.482 [1.308-100.793]) to be independent risk factors for early readmissions.

Background Clinicians use sputum culture conversion as an interim indicator of the efficacy of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment and to determine treatment duration. Yet, limited studies have been published in Ethiopia. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of delayed culture conversion among patients receiving MDR-TB treatment at selected treatment centers in Ethiopia. Patients and Methods A multi-center observation study was conducted among MDR-TB patients in South and Southwestern Ethiopia from April 14 to May 14, 2019. The data of patients treated from January 2013 to July 2019 were reviewed using a data abstraction tool. The data were analyzed. Descriptive statistics was computed using SPSS version 21 software program. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of delayed culture conversion. Hazard ratios with a two-sided p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Of 200 included MDR-TB patients, 108 (54%) were males. Majority,159 (79.5%) of the patients had a culture conversion time of less than two months, while 15 (7.5%) had delayed culture conversion (greater than 120 days). Patient’s registration group (after loss to follow- (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=16.215, 95% CI [3.839, 68.498]), after treatment failure (AHR=12.161, 95% CI [2.516, 58.793]), history of previous TB treatment (AHR=4.007, 95% CI [3.115, 62.990])) and low BMI (AHR= 1.257; 95% CI [0.725,1.547] were identified as a risk factors for delayed culture conversion. Conclusion Our finding showed that nearly 80% of the patients achieve sputum culture conversion by the second month of treatment. Delayed culture conversion was more likely among patients with malnutrition (BMI<18.5kg/m 2 ), after treatment failure, previous TB treatment, and after lost to follow-up.