ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Blood can only be given from generous donors. The main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) and associated factors of blood donation among health care workers in Wolaita Sodo University Teaching and Referral Hospital (WSUTRH), Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 WSUTRH health care workers. Socio-demographic characteristics and data related to the levels of KAP of participants were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using statistical package for social sciences version 20 to assess the factors associated with the practice of blood donation with p-value set at < 0.05 for statistical significance. RESULTS: Two hundred eighteen health care workers were involved in the study among which 129 (59.2%) were males and 89 (40.8%) were females. Among the study participants, 180(82.6%) had good knowledge but only 128(58.7%) were found to have a good attitude as 126(57.8%) reported that voluntary donor is the best source of blood donation. Regrettably, only 47(21.6%) of the respondents were found to practice blood donation in their lifetime. A majority (65.5%) of the participants did not donate blood as they have not been approached to do so. Knowledge and attitude levels of the participants were not found to be significantly associated with sociodemographic parameters study; but, only sex of the participants had shown statistically significant association with blood donation practice where males were more likely to donate blood than females (AOR = 2.59 (1.22-5.49)). CONCLUSIONS: The overall level of knowledge was satisfactory and the level of attitude and practice was unexpectedly low. Female respondents were found to have lesser practice towards blood donation than males. Health care workers, blood banks and the hospital are demanded to design ways to update knowledge, and build its psychological benefits and make services more accessible.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Warfarin is known for its interaction with many drugs, resulting in undesired treatment outcomes such as bleeding. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of drug-drug interactions and determinants of bleeding among inpatients on warfarin therapy. METHODS: A cohort of inpatients on warfarin treatment was prospectively followed from date of admission until discharge. The study was carried out from January to October 2013 in Ayder Referral Hospital, Northern Ethiopia. Patients on warfarin therapy during the study period and willing to participate were included as study subjects. Each concurrent medication was collected and checked for drug-drug interactions using Micromedex® online drug reference. Data were analyzed using statistical software, SPSS for windows version 16. The relationship between bleeding complications and independent variables (age, sex, residence, type and number of co-medications, dose and duration of warfarin treatment, INR value) was assessed using binary logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio, 95% confidence interval). RESULTS: Of the total 133 patients enrolled in the study, 78 (58.9%) were females. The mean age of the study participants was 40.81 ± 17.6 years. The prevalence of drug-drug interactions was 99.2%. Among these, 65 (49.2%) patients had at least one major while the others had moderate level of drug-drug interaction. Twenty two (16.5%) patients have developed bleeding complications. Increase in international normalized ratio value was found to be strongly associated with risk of bleeding (P value = 0.00; OR = 0.03 (0.00-0.46)). CONCLUSION: Drug-drug interactions with warfarin were prevalent in the study hospital. Bleeding complications due to warfarin were also high. Thus, clinicians should be aware of potential interactions and monitor patients' international normalized ratio closely.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is used to describe physical, cognitive, affective, and behavioral symptoms that occur cyclically during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and resolve quickly at or within a few days of the onset of menstruation. The primary aim of the study was to assess the prevalence, impacts and medical managements of PMS on female medical students of Mekelle University College of Health Sciences. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected female students of Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle town, northern Ethiopia from March to April 2013. A structured and pretested self-administered questionnaire was employed for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL (SPSS version 16). The criteria proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV TR) were used to diagnose PMS. RESULT: From the total population size of 608; a sample size of 258 was drawn. Age of the study participants ranged from 18 to 25 years, with mean age of 20.86 ± 1.913 years. Among the participants, 144(83.2%) have had at least one PM symptoms with their menstrual period. The prevalence of PMS according to DSM-IV was 37.0%. About 49(28.3%) reported frequent class missing, 17(9.8%) exam missing, 14(8.1%) low grade scoring and 3(1.7%) of them reported withdrawal from their learning associated with their PMS. Only 83(48.0%) participants sought medical treatment for their PMS. The treatment modalities used were pain killers, 63(36.4%), hot drinks like coffee and tea, 13(7.5%), and massage therapy and exercise, 7(4.0%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed average length of one cycle of menstruation (COR = 0.20(0.070-0.569) and academic performance impairment (AOR = 0.345(0.183-0.653) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of PMS and use of PMS treatments respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a high prevalence and negative impact of PMS on students of Mekelle University. Therefore, health education, appropriate medical treatment and counseling services, as part of the overall health service, should be availed and provided to affected women.
