Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a well-known sight-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently, 93 million people live with diabetic retinopathy worldwide. There are insufficient studies addressing the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and risk factors in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its associated factors among diabetic patients on follow-up at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 patients. They were selected through systematic sampling. Explanatory data were extracted from medical records and interviews. Blood pressure, weight, height, and visual acuity tests were assessed. Retinal examination was performed with a Topcon TRC-NW7SF fundus camera. Data were entered in EpiData 3.1 and exported in to SPSS 20 for analyses. Binary logistic regression with 95% CIs was used for analyses. Simple binary logistic regression followed by multiple binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associated factors. Results: There were 302 patients in this study, of which 57 (18.9%) had diabetic retinopathy. Among the diabetic retinopathy patients, 75.4% had the preproliferative type. Four in ten (37.7%) of the patients had visual acuity problems. Poor glycemic control (AOR 4.58, 95% CI 1.86-11.31), > 10 years' diabetes duration (AOR 3.91, 95% CI 1.86-8.23), body-mass index >25 kg/m 2 (AOR 3.74, 95% CI 1.83-7.66), and hypertension (AOR 3.39, 95% CI 1.64-7.02) were factors significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: About a-fifth of diabetic patients had diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with glycemic control, hypertension, body-mass index, and duration of illness. Routine assessment and early control of those associated factors may be important in reducing both the prevalence and impact of diabetic retinopathy, as evidenced in the current study.

Background Diabetic retinopathy is a well-known sight–threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently 93 million people live with diabetic retinopathy worldwide. There are insufficient studies addressing on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and underlying risk factors in Ethiopia. Objective To assess prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its associated factors among diabetic patients on follow up at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, North-West Ethiopia, 2019. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 participants at Debre Markos Referral Hospital. They were selected through systematic sampling technique and those with mature cataract and critically ill were excluded. The necessary data were extracted from medical records by using pre-tested checklist. Blood pressure, weight, height and visual acuity tests were assessed. Retinal examination was performed through slit lamp biomicroscope and binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. Data were entered to epi-data 3.1 version. The data were exported into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 20) program for analyses. Binary logistic regression with 95%CI was used for analyses. A variable had p-value < 0.25 in the bivariable logistic regression was entered to multivariate logistic regression. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Result There were 302 participants included in this study, out of which 57(18.9%) had diabetic retinopathy. Among DR patients, three-fourth (75.4%) had pre-proliferative type of diabetic retinopathy. Four in ten (37.7%) of diabetic patients had visual acuity problem. Poor glycaemic control (AOR(95% CI: 4.58(1.86,11.31), having more than 10 years diabetic duration (AOR(95% CI: 3.91(1.86,8.23), body mass index > 25 kg/m2(AOR(95% CI: 3.74(1.83,7.66), and hypertension (AOR(95% CI: 3.39(1.64,7.02) were significantly associated factors with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion About one fifth of DM patients had diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with glycaemic control, hypertension, body mass index and duration of illness. Routine assessment and early control of those associated factors may be important to reduce both the prevalence and impact of diabetic retinopathy as evidenced in the current study.

Introduction: Globally, it is estimated that 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment, of which around 65.2 million is due to cataract. Cataract is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, with the greatest burden found in low-income countries. That is providing recent epidemiological data is very crucial to design intervention measures. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of cataract among adults visiting ophthalmic clinic, Debre Markos comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: The sample size was calculated using single population formula and determined to be 174. All adult participants aged ⩾40 were the source population and those fulfilling the inclusion criteria were the study population. An institutional-based cross-sectional study design using a systematic random sampling technique was conducted from July to August, 2020. Semi-structured questionnaires and patients’ card were used to collect data. Data were entered into epi-data version 4.6 and the analysis was conducted using SPSS-25 software. Data were presented using graphs, tables and texts. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with cataract. Adjusted odds ratio with corresponding 95% confidence interval was computed to show the strength of association. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: From a total of 174 samples, 158 participated, giving a response rate of 90.8%. The prevalence of cataract was found to be 90 (57%). The variables—age 60–69 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.667, 95% confidence interval: (1.662, 13.101)); age 70–79 years (adjusted odds ratio = 9.583, 95% confidence interval: (2.840, 32.342)), and single marital status (adjusted odds ratio = 2.945, 95% confidence interval: (1.241, 6.989))—had a significant association with cataract. Conclusion: The prevalence of cataract was found to be very high, which needs immediate intervention. Older age and single marital status were found to be significantly associated with cataract prevalence.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is designed to assess the pooled prevalence and determine risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy in Ethiopia. Methods: International databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Publication bias was determined using the funnel plot and Egger’s regression tests. Heterogeneity between the studies included in this review was checked by I2 statistic. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled effect size. Sub-group, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Overall, meta-analysis was done using Stata version 14 statistical software. Results: Twenty-seven studies with 8946 individuals were included, the estimated pooled prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy was 40.24% (95% confidence interval = 33.8–46.6). Based on sub-group analysis, the highest prevalence was observed in the Tigray region 45.7% (95% confidence interval = 7.9–83.5), followed by Oromia region 42.2% (95% confidence interval = 28.8–55.6). Availability of latrine (odds ratio = 26.6, 95% confidence interval = 2.8–15.8), presence of animals at home (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.2–5.8), and source of drinking water (odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.3–7.5) were significantly associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the prevalence of intestinal parasites among people living with HIV/AIDS was high in Ethiopia.

ObjectiveGlaucoma is one of the common eye disorders resulting from optic neuropathy, which leads to irreversible blindness if left untreated. Poor adherence to glaucoma medical treatments typically leads to some serious consequences, such as progressive visual impairment and blindness. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to treatment and associated factors among patients with glaucoma attending at Northwest Ethiopia referral hospitals.MethodFrom March 1st to April 30th, 2019, an institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 382 consecutive glaucoma patients attending at Northwest Ethiopia referral hospitals. Data about adherence to glaucoma treatment was collected by using a standardized tool, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Each collected data set was coded and entered into Epi-Data version 4.2, and analysis was done by using STATA version 14.0 statistical software. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess the effect of an independent variable on the dependent variable. A p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered to declare a statistically significant association. The study proposal was approved by the Debre Markos University ethical review committee.ResultsAmong the study participants, 189 (49.5%) were adherent to glaucoma treatment. In this study, occupation (farmer), good knowledge, favorable attitude, a short distance from patients’ homes to hospitals, and scheduling problems for glaucoma medical follow-up visits were significant factors associated with adherence to glaucoma treatments.ConclusionThe study has identified the adherence level as being low. Patient related factors and health care system related factors were significantly associated with adherence to glaucoma treatments. Appropriate patient education and planning a patient follow-up strategy might improve patients’ adherence to glaucoma treatment. Care providers should place emphasis on the importance of adherence.