Background There is an alarming rise of chronic kidney disease prevalence globally associated with significant morbidity and mortality necessitating special attention as one of the major growing public health problems. Medication-related problems are common in hospitalized patients including chronic kidney disease and may lead to increase hospital stay and health care cost and augment the risk of morbidity and mortality. Objective To determine prevalence of medication-related problems and associated factors among chronic kidney disease patients admitted to Jimma University Medical Center from April to September 2018. Methods A hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted among 103 chronic kidney disease patients admitted to Jimma University Medical Center from April to September 2018. Data regarding patient characteristics, medications, diagnosis, length of hospitalization, and laboratory results were collected through review of patients' medical charts. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was utilized to assess the associations between dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance was considered at p value <0.05. Results Out of 103 chronic kidney disease patients, 81 (78.6%) of patients had MDRs, on average 1.94 ± 0.873 per patient. The rate of overall MRPs was 30.95 per 100 medication orders. The most common MRPs among CKD patients were need additional drug therapy (62 (31%)), nonadherence (40 (20%)), and dose too low (36 (18%)). The most common cause of need additional drug therapy (52 (26%)) was untreated medical conditions; nonadherence (19 (9.5%)) was mostly due to that the patient/caregiver forgets to take/give the medication, and dose too low (29 (14.5%)) was mostly due to that the dose is too low to produce the desired response. Polypharmacy (AOR = 4.695, 95% CI: 1.370–16.091), number of comorbidities (AOR = 3.616, 95% CI: 1.015–1.8741), and stage of CKD (AOR = 3.941, 95% CI: 1.221–12.715) were independent predictors for MRPs. Conclusions We have demonstrated that medication-related problems are high among chronic kidney disease patients. Marital statuses, stage of CKD, polypharmacy, and comorbidity were independent predictors for MRPs. Interdisciplinary health professionals should work to decrease the high prevalence of MRPs among chronic kidney disease patients.

Background. There is an alarming rise of chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence globally, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality necessitating special attention as one of the major public health problems. The burden of CKD disproportionately impacts low-income countries like Ethiopia where hypertension and diabetes mellitus, the two most important risk factors for CKD growth rate, are greatest. Objective. The aim of this study is to assess patient awareness, prevalence, and risk factors of chronic kidney disease among hypertensive and diabetes mellitus patients. Methods. Hospital based cross-sectional study design was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center among adult (≥18 years) hypertensive and diabetes mellitus patients. Informed written consent was obtained from each participant and data was collected by interview and chart review; blood and urine samples were collected for CKD screening. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated from serum creatinine using CKD epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, and CKD was defined using estimated GFR (e-GFR) and albuminuria. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of CKD and p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Result. Mean (±SD=standard deviation) age of participants was 54.81 ± 12.45 years and 110 (52.9%) of them were male. Only 59 (28.4%) of the participants had awareness about CKD and its risk factors. The prevalence of CKD was 26% (95% CI; 20.3%-31.8%). Factors associated with chronic kidney disease were uncontrolled blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.22,95% CI=1.01-4.76), fasting blood sugar ≥ 150 mg/dl, (AOR=3.70,95% CI=1.75-7.69), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) nonusers, (AOR=4.35 ,95% CI=1.96-10.0), poor knowledge of CKD (AOR=3.69, 95% CI=1.48-9.20), and long duration of hypertension (AOR=4.55, 95%CI=1.72-11.11). Conclusion. Our study found out low level of patient awareness and high prevalence of CKD. The predictors of CKD were uncontrolled blood pressure, fasting blood sugar> 150 mg/dl, long duration of hypertension, ACEIs nonusers, and poor knowledge about CKD.

BackgroundAntibiotics use in in children are different from adults due to a lack of data on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy and safety of drugs, different physiological spectrum, pediatrics populations being vulnerable to the majority of the illnesses, and the adverse effect of their irrational use is more serious. However, antibiotic use is not explored much in a paediatric population. The current study focused on antibiotic use among pediatric population using data from a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study collated data from 614 pediatrics patients admitted in pediatrics ward at Jimma University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe the type and pattern of antibiotics. The number of prescriptions per a patient was also compared with the WHO standard. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20 for mackintosh.ResultsAntimicrobials were prescribed for 407(86.4%) patients of which 85.9% were in the form of injectables. A total of 1241 (90%) medicines were administered parenterally followed by oral 110 (8%). The maximum number of medicines per prescription was eight for all types of drugs in general, and five for antimicrobials in particular. All antimicrobials were prescribed empirically without any microbiological evidence. Pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis were the main reasons for antimicrobial use in the ward. Out of the total of 812 antibiotics prescribed; Penicillin G crystalline was the most (20%) frequently prescribed, followed by gentamicin (19%) and ampicillin (16).ConclusionsMajority of the prescribed antibiotics were antimicrobials, and was in the form of injectables. Antimicrobials were over prescribed and the number of drugs per prescription was also far from WHO recommendation. Strict prescribing standard guidelines and treatment habits should be developed in the country, to prevent antimicrobial resistance.

This paper presents a review of relevant medicinal plants used for toothache treatment in Ethiopia. This finding is based on a review of the literature published in scientific journals. A total of 130 medicinal plants, distributed in 117 genera and 62 families, are reported in the reviewed literature. Of the 130 species of medicinal plants reported in the literature, ninety-two (70.7%) were obtained from the wild whereas twelve (9.2%) were from home gardens. Shrubs (34.6%) were the primary source of medicinal plants, followed by herbs (30%). The Asteraceae came out as a leading family with 12 medicinal species while the Fabaceae followed with nine. Some findings include the predominance of root material used (31%), followed by leaves (29%). This study demonstrates the importance of traditional medicines in the treatment of toothache in Ethiopia. It is essential for the health of users to phytochemically demonstrate the effects of medicinal plants for their possible therapeutic applications. Hence, future phytochemical and pharmaceutical studies should give due consideration on frequently reported medicinal plants in order to produce natural drugs that could be effective in toothache treatment and without side effects.

Background The lack of organ donors has become a limiting factor for the development of organ transplantation programs. Many countries are currently facing a severe shortage of organs for transplantation. Medical students, as future doctors can engage in the role of promoting organ donation by creating awareness and motivating the community to donate their organs besides their voluntary organ donation. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and willingness of undergraduate medical students’ towards organ donation at Jimma University. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 medical students from year I to internship using questionnaire in order to assess their knowledge, attitude and willingness regarding organ donation. Data collected was entered using epidata and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. Results Mean (±SD = standard deviation) age of participants was 23.48 ± 17.025 years. 57.8% of the study subjects were male. There was a statistically significant interaction effect between gender and year of study on the combined knowledge questions (dependent variables) F(25,062) = 1.755,P = 0.014, Wilk’s Λ = .033. Variables which were related to a positive attitude towards organ donation were: being of the male sex (Odds Ratio = 1.156); having awareness about organ donation (Odds Ratio = 2.602); not having a belief on the importance of burying intact body (Odds Ratio = 5.434); willingness to donate blood (Odds Ratio = 4.813); and willingness to donate organ (Odds Ratio = 19.424). Conclusion High level of knowledge but low level of positive attitude and willingness was noticed among the study participants toward organ donation.