ObjectiveThe main objective of this study was to investigate the magnitude and associated factors of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) at the Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System (DHDSS) site in the northwestern part of Ethiopia.DesignA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2014.SettingHDSS site, Ethiopia.ParticipantsA total population of 67 397 living in 16 053 households was included in the study.MeasuresStructured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Self-reported morbidity was used to ascertain NCD. A binary logistic regression model was employed to identify the determinants of NCDs.ResultOne thousand one hundred sixty (1.7%) (95% CI 1.62 to 1.82) participants were found with at least one type of NCD. Heart disease and hypertension which accounted for 404 (32.2%) and 401 (31.9%), of the burden, respectively, were the most commonly reported NCDs, followed by 347 (27.7%) asthma, 62 (4.9%) diabetes mellitus and 40 (3.2%) cancer cases. Advanced age (≥65 year) (adjusted OR (AOR)=19.6; 95% CI 5.83 65.70), urban residence (AOR=2.20; 95% CI 1.83 to 2.65), household food insecurity (AOR=1.71; 95% CI 1.37 to 2.12) and high income (AOR=1.28; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.59) were significantly associated with the reported history of NCDs, whereas low (AOR=0.36; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.42) and moderate (AOR=0.33; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.48) alcohol consumption, farming occupation (AOR=0.72; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.91), and work-related physical activities (AOR=0.66; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.88) were inversely associated with NCDs.ConclusionThere is a high burden of NCDs at the Dabat HDSS site. Promotion of regular physical exercise and reducing alcohol consumption are essential to mitigate the burden of NCDs. In addition, preventive interventions of NCDs should be strengthened among urban dwellers, older age people and people of higher economic status.

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and associated factors among HIV-infected adults in northwest Ethiopia.DesignHospital-based cross-sectional study.SettingHIV clinic of the University of Gondar Hospital, Ethiopia.ParticipantsAll HIV-infected adults who visited the HIV clinic from December 2013 to the end of February 2014 were the source population.MeasuresA structured and pretested questionnaire incorporating the WHO STEPwise approach was used. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to assess factors associated with DM.ResultsThe overall prevalence of type 2 DM was 8% (95% CI 5.5% to 10.5%). The prevalence of DM was higher (13.2%; 95% CI 8.0% to 18.3%) among subjects receiving pre-antiretroviral treatment (pre-ART) than among those taking ART (5.1%; 95% CI 2.6% to 7.6%). Thirteen (35.1%) of the DM cases were newly identified during the study. Obesity (adjusted OR (AOR) 6.55; 1.20 to 35.8), hypertension (AOR 3.45; 1.50 to 7.90), being in the pre-ART group (AOR 4.47; 1.80 to 11.08), hypertriglyceridaemia (AOR 2.24; 1.02 to 49.5) and tertiary-level education (AOR 11.8; 2.28 to 61.4) were associated with DM.ConclusionsOverall DM prevalence was high, particularly among subjects in the pre-ART group. More educated, hypertensive and obese HIV-infected adults were more likely to have DM as a comorbidity. Health policy and the clinical management of HIV-infected individuals should take into account the rising DM.

Background: Disability is the social outcome of unfavorable interactions between individuals’ impairments, on the one hand, and inaccessible physical spaces, disenabling cultural environment and negative attitudes towards disability and persons with disabilities, on the other. Despite the fact that it directly affects 15% of Ethiopians as well as families and communities, policy-relevant studies on disability and the conditions of persons with disabilities are lacking. The Dabat Demographic Health Surveillance System (DHSS) was established to collect vital statistics in Dabat district, Amhara region. But it did not collect data on disability types, causes and community responses. With this drawback in DHSS, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence, types and major causes of severe disability in Dabat district. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed and covered 17,000 households residing in 13 Kebeles of Dabat district. The study was conducted in 2018 utilizing the modified 12-item World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) and 7-item WHO Minimal Generic Set of Domains of Functioning and Health to collect data on disability in the district. The data were organized and presented as frequencies and percentages in table and figures. Relevant variables were used to construct a logit model that predicts the likelihood of disability whereby P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: This study found that the overall prevalence of disability in Dabat district was 2.14% [95% CI: 2.03, 2.24]. About 8.3% of households reported at least one member with disability. Visual impairment was the most commonly reported impairment (51%) while 8.19% had multiple impairments. Eighty-three percent of immediate the causes of disability were modifiable – specifically, illness (36.93%), injury (17.81%), and congenital (10.86%). The aged [AOR=1.0; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.04], those unable to read or write illiterate [AOR=1.57; 1.15, 2.14], the unmarried/single [AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 185,2.47] and the separated [AOR=2.78; 95% CI: 4.14,6.19] were more likely to risk disability in the population.Conclusion: This study reported an increased likelihood of impairment among those with advanced ages. The proportion of households with PwDs was also high. While most disabilities were visual, there were significant numbers with mobility impairments and hard of hearing. Most school-age PwDs did not complete secondary education, while employment was significantly limited. The findings indicated that most causes of disability were reversible if impairments were screened or identified early and preventive or medical treatments were sought. Without undermining the role of specialized medical treatments, this study underlines the significance of early screening and preventive community interventions through CBR programs and rehabilitation workers in lowering disability rates in the district.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of fatigue and the factors associated among adult people living with HIV attending antiretroviral therapy clinic in Gondar town, Ethiopia.DesignCross-sectional.SettingGovernmental health facility that provides HIV care in Gondar town.Outcome measureFatigue is defined by nine items version Fatigue Severity Scale.ParticipantsAdult (aged 18 and above) people living with HIV in Gondar town (n=392).ResultA total of 408 HIV seropositive adults were approached for consent, among which 392 participants consented to participate in this study, with a response rate of 96.1%. The mean age of the participants was 40.5±8.5 years. The prevalence of HIV-related fatigue was 53.3% and about 66% of women living with HIV experienced fatigue. The factors associated with fatigue experience were; female gender (adjusted OR (AOR): 2.61, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.3), being married (AOR: 0.18, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.9), low income (AOR: 7.1, 95% CI 4.6 to 22.15), unemployed (AOR: 2.79, 95% CI 1.19 to 9.84), parity (AOR: 4.87, 95% CI 2.18 to 17.9), being anaemic (AOR: 12.45, 95% CI 5.6 to 41.01), depression (AOR: 4.51, 95% CI 1.91 to 11.20), mild weight loss (AOR: 4.2 95% CI 2.56 to 13.9) and moderate weight loss (AOR: 5.1, 95% CI 1.85 to 16.12), respectively.ConclusionThe findings of this study revealed that experiencing fatigue is quite common among adult people living with HIV. It is important for the healthcare professionals and people living with HIV to understand; the possible causes of fatigue, remedies and ways to reclaim energy. The predisposing factors and complications that cause fatigue should be aggressively diagnosed and treated by the clinicians. Further qualitative studies exploring the reasons for experiencing HIV-related fatigue might help designing interventions.

Back ground- globally it is likely that 387 million people have DM and this number expected to increase to 592 million by the year 2035. WHO estimated the number of cases of diabetes in Ethiopia to be about 800thausadns in 2011 and expected that it would increase to about 1.8 million by the year 2030. Psychosomatic and sexual dysfunctions are one among different complication that DM patients come across during their disease course. Therefore this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated with erectile dysfunction among adult men DM patients in Ethiopia.Method-An institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted among male DM patients at Gondar university referral hospital chronic illness clinic. Single population proportion sampling technique was used. 367 were selected proportionally using systematic random sampling technique. Face to face interview method was employed using a structured questionnaire for data collection. Data were analyzed descriptively and through bi-and multivariate logistic regression model.Result-The prevalence rate is 53.1%. The mean age of the respondents was 54.12(SD+16.5112) years age from 21-90 years. Majority of the respondents 158(43.1%) were Orthodox followers followed by Muslim, 113(30.8%), Protestant 55(15.0%) and Catholic 41(11.2%). the median monthly salary was 2000 Ethiopian Birr. BMI of most respondents was within the range of 18.5-24.9. ED was significantly associated with Age, Duration of DM and Alcohol.Conclusion- Finding of this study indicated that ED is a major public and self issue with its multi-factorial among male DM. The evidence from this study found that being aged, alcoholic and longer duration of DM was significantly associated with ED.Key words- Erectile dysfunction, prevalence, male DM patients, Gondar University Referral Hospital.