Background Despite the benefits of evidence-based self-care behaviors in the management of hypertension, hypertensive patients have low rate of adherence to the recommended self-care behaviors. Studies related to self-care behaviors among hypertensive patients are limited in Ethiopia. Objective To assess the rate of adherence to self-care behaviors and associated factors among hypertensive patients. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted at the cardiac clinic of Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital among ambulatory hypertensive patients. Self-care behaviors were assessed using an adopted Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (H–SCALE). Data were collected through patient interview and review of medical records. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of self-care behaviors. Result A total of 276 patients were included in the study. The majority of the participants were nonsmokers (89.9%) and alcohol abstainers (68.8%). Less than half of the participants were adherent to the prescribed antihypertensive medications (48.2%) and recommended physical activity level (44.9%). Moreover, only 21.45% and 29% were adherent to weight management and low salt diet recommendations, respectively. Our finding indicated that rural resident (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21–0.97), comorbidity (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08–0.31), and negative medication belief (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.14–0.46) were significantly associated with medication adherence. Female sex (AOR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23–0.92), old age (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06–0.60) and lack of knowledge on self-care behaviors (AOR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03–0.57) were significantly associated with adherence to weight management. Female sex (AOR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.03–3.75) and lack of knowledge on self-care (AOR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03–0.16) were significantly associated with adherence to alcohol abstinence. Female sex (AOR: 6.33, 95% CI: 1.80–22.31) and khat chewing (AOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03–0.24) were significantly associated with non-smoking behavior. There was also a significant association between female sex and physical activity (AOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.12–0.40). Conclusion The rate of adherence to self-care behaviors particularly weight management, low salt intake, physical exercise, and medication intake was low in our study. Elders, females, khat chewers, rural residents, and patients with negative medication belief, comorbidity, and inadequate knowledge of SCBs were less adherent to self-care behaviors compared to their counterparts. Therefore, health care providers should pay more emphasis to patients at risk of having low self-care behaviors.

Epilepsy is a major public health problem worldwide. Despite multiple drug therapies, people with epilepsy continue to have frequent seizures. There is a dearth of data on epilepsy treatment outcome and associated factors in our setting. Therefore, the aim of this was to assess treatment outcome and associated factors among epileptic patients on follow up at the neurologic clinic of Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected epileptic patients. Data were collected through patient interview and review of medical records. Epilepsy treatment outcome was evaluated in terms of seizure control status in the last one year follow up period. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of treatment outcome. A total of 270 patients were included. Of whom, 46.6% had controlled seizures. Whereas, 38.5%, 8.8%, and 5.9% had experienced seizure attacks 1–5 times, 6–10 times, and greater than 10 times, respectively. Alcohol consumption [adjusted odds ratio [(AOR): 14.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.25–68.11], negative medication belief [AOR: 3.0, 95%CI: 1.31–6.71], low medication adherence [AOR:11.52, 95%CI: 3.25–40.82], and presence of comorbidities [AOR: 10.35, 95%CI: 4.40–24.40] were predictors of uncontrolled seizure. Our finding revealed that more than half of the epileptic patients had uncontrolled seizure. Epileptic patients with a negative medication belief, comorbidities, low medication adherence, and those who consume alcohol were more likely to have uncontrolled seizure. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to these patients.

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The chemical composition of the leave extracts of Phyllanthus amarus (Schum and Thonn) of the family Euphorbiaceae from Nigeria was analyzed by GC-MS. The extracts were also examined for their potential to inhibit the growth of clinical isolates following standard procedure. The major compounds identified in the hexane extract are a flavonoid, flavone 4',5,7-triethoxy-3,3',6-trimethoxy (20.23%) and a triterpenoid 17-(1,5-Dimethylhexyl)-6-hydroxy-5-methylestr-9-en-3-yl acetate (19.02%) while bufalin (18.71%) and tetratetracontane (12.91%) were the major compounds detected in the methanol extract. Steroidal triterpenoids are the major compounds present in the extracts as it accounted for 47% of the total detectable content in the hexane extract and 52% in the methanol extract. The steroidal triterpenoids which exist primarily as acetate in the hexane extract include cycloeucalenyl acetate, ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol acetate, macdougallin, 17-(1,5-Dimethylhexyl)-6-hydroxy-5-methylestr-9-en-3-yl acetate, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol while the methanol extract contains 6,7-epoxypregn-4-ene-9,11,18-triol-3,20-dione, 11,18-diacetate, bufalin, olean-13(18)-ene, methyl ursolate, barringenol R1 and 7,8-epoxylanostan-11-ol,3-acetoxy. Hexane extract of the plant exhibited antifungal activity on Candida albicans while methanol extract revealed significant antibacterial activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at all concentrations of the extract between 12.5 and 100 mg/mL, the activity being comparable to the standard antibacterial drug, Oxacillin. The leaves of Phyllanthus amarus is a potential source of steroidal triterpenoids which could serve as biomarker for the plant species. The extracts of the plant may also serve as a natural source of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of some microbial infections.

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