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Introduction Uncontrolled blood pressure contributes a huge contribution to many hypertension-related complications and it is one of the unbeaten problems for patients taking antihypertensive drugs. The association of social support and other factors with uncontrolled blood pressure during the covid-19 pandemic is not well investigated. Therefore, this study explored the determinants of blood pressure control status during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with hypertension who were on an antihypertensive treatment. Method A cross-sectional study was done from March to May 2021 among adults aged 18 or more patients with hypertension for three months or more on treatment in Dessie City. An interview-administered questionnaire was done using simple random sampling from hypertension follow-up register for 380 patients with hypertension. Blood pressure measurement was taken from their arm using a stethoscope and mercury sphygmomanometer at a sitting position with 90-degree back support. Uncontrolled blood pressure was also computed either the systolic or diastolic blood pressure greater than or less than the limit of uncontrolled blood pressure with regarding the age and diabetic status of patients. The perceived social support-related questionnaire was adopted from the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) -12 item checklist. It was sum-up and transformed into three categories using tertile of their computed raw scores. The adjusted prevalence ratio with a 95 percent confidence interval (CI) was used to calculate the strength of the association between uncontrolled blood pressure and independent predictors using log-binomial regression analysis. A P-value less than 0.05 was declared as statistically significant in multivariable log-binomial regression analysis. Result A total of 360 study participants were included in this study. The prevalence of uncontrolled blood measures in patients with hypertension with a 95% CI was 55.8(50.7, 61.0). In a multivariable analysis adjusted prevalence ratio with 95% CI for poor medication adherence 1.86(1.59,2.19), being male 1.35(1.11,1.64), secondary education 0.52(0.35,0.77), and low social support 1.24(1.01, 1.54) were the predictors of uncontrolled blood pressure. Conclusion Uncontrolled blood pressure for patients with hypertension on treatment is higher during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being male, poor medication adherence, educational status and low social support are factors that contribute to uncontrolled blood pressure.

Introduction Hypertension is one global public health emergency disease, and is one of the most critical factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, arrhythmias, heart failure, and renal diseases. Hypertension affects quality of life of patients, however there is limited evidence on the factors that affect health related quality of life among hypertensive patients. As a result, the purpose of this study is to look into factors that affect the health-related quality of life of adult hypertensive patients. Methods An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dessie City public health facilities from March to April 2021 with the total samples size of 376 hypertensive patients. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select study participants. World health organization health related quality of life 26 items were used to measure outcome variable. Simple linear regression analysis was done and forwarded to multivariable linear regression analysis at p-value<0.2. In multivariable linear regression analysis variables whose p-value less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval with unstandardized β-coefficient were declared as statistically significant. Results A total of 360 hypertensive patients were included in the study. The mean scores of physical, psychological, social and environmental domains were 42.93, SD (18.86), 51.78, SD (20.40), 57.31, SD (20.20) and 48.15, SD (16.26), respectively. Age, duration of antihypertensive treatment, low social support, physical inactivity, co-morbidity, being widow, khat chewing, and being single had a significant association with lower health related quality of life. Conclusion and recommendations The health-related quality of life of hypertensive patients were found low in all domains. The findings indicate the necessity for health professionals, government, non-governmental organizations and community to pay more attention to patients’ quality of life, seeking changes in the therapeutic approach in general.

Background The fee waiver system is one of the components of the 2004 health care financing reform in Ethiopia. It is a system for granting access to health services to those who are unable to pay. The utilization health services among fee waiver beneficiaries remain low and unevenly distributed. This study aimed to assess the utilization of health services and associated factors among fee waiver beneficiaries in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed in Dessie City from March 23 to April 23, 2021. The study was conducted among 407 fee waiver beneficiaries. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Both bi-variable and multi-variable binary logistic regressions were performed. Significant factors for the outcome variable were identified at 95% CI with a p-value < 0.05. Results The overall health service utilization among fee waiver beneficiaries was found to be 62.4% (95% CI: 58.1–67.2). Being an urban resident [AOR:2.83, 95% CI:1.26–6.32], having a merchant occupation [AOR:0.20, 95% CI:0.05–0.80], having an average monthly income of 500–1000 birr [AOR:3.22, 95% CI:1.06–6.90], having a chronic disease [AOR:8.36, 95% CI:4.47–15.62], and perceiving the severity of illness as mild [AOR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.81] were found to be statistically associated factors with health service utilization. Conclusions The fee waiver beneficiaries were not fully utilizing health services at public health facilities. Being an urban resident, being a merchant, having an average monthly income of 500–1000 birr, having a chronic disease, and perceived severity of illness were significantly associated with health service utilization. As a result, boosting income-generating strategies and urbanizing rural parts of the city may improve health service utilization among fee waiver beneficiaries.

Introduction: Obstructed labor is still the major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and adverse birth outcomes in low-income countries. This study aims to assess obstructed labour and associated factors among laboring women in Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 183 labouring mothers at Mekane Selam Primary Hospital in Northeast, Ethiopia. A random sampling method was employed to recruit a sampled chart from labour and delivery register through lottery methods. The adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to calculate the strength of the association between obstructed labour and independent predictors. Variables with P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Result: The prevalence of obstructed labour was 14.8% [95% CI: 9.9-19.8], which significantly associated with primiparity [AOR =14.79, 95% CI: (1.78, 122.69)], mothers who stayed from 12-24 hours and >24 hours before visiting hospital [ AOR =5.908, 95% CI (1.438, 24.275)], [AOR=8.49, 95% CI:(1.045, 69.001], respectively and mothers who got intervention in > 8 hours after arrival in health setting [AOR=6.40, 95% CI (1.310, 31.229). Conclusion: Obstructed labour was high among mothers who gave birth at Mekane Selam General Hospital. Factors like time of arrival to intervention, parity, and duration of labour before visiting the hospital (12-24 Hrs’ and >24 hrs) were significantly associated with obstructed labor in multivariable analysis. Government and health professionals should emphasize system of prevention and reduction of these risk factors.