Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious and disabling complication of diabetes mellitus that consists of lesions in the deep tissues resulting in lower extremity amputations. The incidence of diabetic foot ulcers has increased due to an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus. This study assessed the knowledge and practice of diabetic foot self-care among diabetic patients attending Dessie referral hospital. Methods: A facility-based explanatory sequential mixed method was used from April 03/ 2019 to May 09/2019. The quantitative method employed an institutional-based crosssectional study design using a structured questionnaire. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were made using the statistical package for social sciences version 20. Then, a phenomenological study was employed among key informants and content analysis was performed. Results: Sixty-eight (19.8%) of patients with diabetes developed complication, among them 97 (28%) had foot ulcer. Nearly two-third (217 (61.3%): 95% CI (57.6-68.3%)) and 134 (39%; 95% CI:34.3-45.1%) of patients with diabetes had good knowledge and practice on diabetic foot self-care, respectively. Diabetic nephropathy ((AOR): 0.03, 95% CI (0.00-0.27)) was associated with knowledge on foot self-care. Practice of foot self-care was associated with female ((AOR: 2.07, 95% CI (1.04-4.12)), age 21-30 ((AOR: 6.42, 95% CI (1.54-26.8)), 31-40 years ((AOR: 7.4, 95% CI (1.42-39.05)), 41-50 years ((AOR: 8.4, 95% CI (1.4-50.6)), single ((AOR: 0.35, 95% CI (0.150-0.81)), living in rural ((AOR: 0.31, 95% CI (0.18-0.545)) and no comorbidity ((AOR: 0.406, 95% CI (0.18-0.88)). Key informants were not compliant, confused and negligent to foot self-care. Conclusion: Nearly two-third and more than one-third of patients with diabetes had good knowledge and practice on diabetic foot self-care, respectively. Patients lack proper knowledge regarding self-care and how it is practiced. Patient education and proper management of diabetic foot ulcers are recommended to reduce, delay, or prevent complications.

Background: Tracer drugs are the representative of essential medicines and satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population. Managing tracer drugs through logistics management information systems is a strategy to enhance their smooth flow for continuous provision of quality health service. This study assessed the availability of tracer drugs and implementation of their logistic management information system in public health facilities of Dessie, NorthEast Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from September 15-30, 2017, in all public health facilities of Dessie. The data were collected by reviewing tracer drugs logistic formats and conducting physical inventory. Key informant interview was employed to all pharmacy heads and store managers. Data analysis was done using statistical package for social science version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: Twelve tracer drugs were managed by health facilities. The overall mean availability, mean duration, and average frequency of stock out of tracer drugs (last 6 months) were 74.7%, 48.8 days, and 1.43, respectively. In eight health facilities, logistic records were available, but all health facilities did not use stock cards. Also, 3 out of 9 used the health commodity management information system. On average, 77.8% of the tracer drugs had bin cards, of which, 86% were updated. The discrepancy between physical count and stock keeping records was ranged from 0% to 100%. The causes of stock out were inadequate supply, lack of recording forms, and their inconsistent use. Conclusion and Recommendations: The availability of tracer drugs was less than the recommended percent, and inadequate supply, poor availability and use of recording forms were the reasons for stock out. Thus, health facility managers and pharmacy heads should work in harmony to ensure uninterrupted supply and implement a logistic management information system.

Background Effective management of the vaccine cold chain system at all levels is one of the crucial factors for maintaining vaccine potency. Vaccines require more complex handling and storage requirements due to increased temperature sensitivity and complicated immunization schedules. This urges adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of vaccinators and vaccine handlers’ in public health facilities. Methodology An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of 127 vaccinators and vaccine handlers in public health facilities of Oromia Special Zone, from September 1 to 30, 2019. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and a structured observation checklist. Descriptive and inferential statistics were made using the statistical package for social sciences version 20. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were taken as statistically significant. Result The response rate was (96.94%). Sixty-eight (53.5%; 95% CI: 46.5%, 61.4%), 58 (45.7%; 95% CI: 37.8%, 53.5%) and 62 (48.8%: 95% CI; 41.7%, 56.7%) vaccinators and vaccine handlers had satisfactory knowledge, positive attitude and good practice respectively. Receiving training on cold chain management had a statistically significant association with the level of knowledge on cold chain management (AOR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.04–8.88). Conclusions More than half of vaccinators and vaccine handlers had satisfactory knowledge, while below half of vaccinators and vaccine handlers had a positive attitude and good practice. The determinants of knowledge in cold chain management were receiving training on cold chain management. Providing regular technical support and on the job training on vaccine cold chain management will improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice of vaccinators and vaccine handlers.

Introduction: Self-medication is an important part of daily self-care, without the supervision of health professionals. It is commonly practiced by pregnant women all over the world and may result in maternal and fetal risks. Hence, this study assessed self-medication practices and associated factors among pregnant women attending Kemisie General Hospital. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire on pregnant women who were attending antenatal care at Kemisie General Hospital. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Results: Among 223 pregnant women, 60 (26.9%; 95% CI: 20.9%, 32.9%) and 111 (48.9%; 95% CI: 43%, 58%) practiced self-medication on conventional and herbal medicine, respectively. The predictors of self-medication of conventional medicine among pregnant women were prior experience to the drug (P-value: 0.

Introduction: Despite self-medication empowers patients in making decisions about the management of minor illnesses independently, the prevalence among health care professionals has sharply increased throughout the world. Self-medication has negative consequences on both the health care professionals themselves and health care delivery. Hence, this study assessed self-medication practices and associated factors among health care professionals at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire among health care professionals working at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from October 10 to 25, 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select 227 study participants. Multivariate logistic regression was computed using the statistical package for social sciences version 20 and variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were taken as statistically significant. Results were presented in the form of tables and graphs. Results: Among 227 health professional, 164 (72.2%; 95% CI: 66.0%, 77.7%) practiced self-medication. Of these, 107 (65.2%; 95% CI: 57.3%, 71.8%) stated the negative consequence of self-medication. Drug resistance 96 (89.7%) and adverse drug reaction 95 (88.8%) were reported as a consequence. The predictor of self-medication among health professionals was the pharmacy profession (AOR: 11.88, 95% CI (1.38-102.38)). The most common disease conditions for practicing self-medication were headache 153 (93.3%), respiratory tract infection 116 (70.7%) and gastrointestinal symptoms 103 (62.8%). Pain killers 154 (93.9%), antibiotics 122 (74.4%), and antacid 101 (61.6%) were frequently used for selfmedication and health professionals got the medicines from drug retail shops 130 (79.3%) and workplace 104 (63.4%). Mild disease condition 128 (78%), time-saving 124 (75.6%), and accessibility 97 (59.1%) were the reasons for self-medication. Conclusion: More than two-thirds of health professionals practiced self-medication and reported the negative consequence of self-medication. The predictor of self-medication was the pharmacy profession. The provision of appropriate health education was recommended for promoting rational medication use.