The burden of visual impairment among Ethiopian adult population: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment is a public health problem in both developing and developed countries, especially, in developing countries where most visually impaired communities are found. Knowledge of the pooled prevalence of visual impairment among adults is useful in planning, preventive programs and the provision of eye-care services for communities. METHODS: Original observational studies published in English were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Eleven studies with a total sample size of 8,161 study participants were included. PubMed/Medline, HINARI, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and African Journals Online databases were used to search for published articles. Data were extracted on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using Revman 5.4.1 Software. Meta-analysis of further pooled prevalence estimates using the inverse variance heterogeneity model. The pooled estimate of visual impairment in the current review was estimated using a random-effects model. Forest plots were used to illustrate heterogeneity and to quantify the pooled prevalence of visual impairment. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Visual impairment was defined as a presenting visual acuity of less than 6/18 in the betting-seen eye. RESULTS: A total of 538 studies were identified from several Databases and digital libraries, of which eleven articles were selected for the final meta-analysis. Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies, suggesting a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of visual impairment. The prevalence of visual impairment in Ethiopia ranges from 10.3% in Addis Ababa central Ethiopia to 37.58% in the Northern Ethiopia. The pooled prevalence of visual impairment in the current review was 22% (95% CI: 17%-27%; I2 = 97%) using a random-effects model. There was also evidence of symmetry in the funnel plots. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated a greater burden of visual impairment among Ethiopians in various study populations. Further, intervention strategies are required to reduce the burden of visual impairment and improve quality of life.

Determinants of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Adults in Dill-Chora Referral Hospital, Dire Dawa, East Ethiopia.

Introduction: Ethiopia has been exhibiting trends that are shifting the populace's way of life toward urbanization. As a result, the country's primary focus is on treating infectious diseases, whereas chronic noncommunicable diseases receive less attention. Type 2 diabetes has emerged as a major noncommunicable disease that is endangering African nations' economic, social, and cultural underpinnings. There has been research mostly on prevalence, factors associated, and glycemic control of diabetes but not adequate on the causes of T2DM in Ethiopia, particularly in the study region. Objective: To identify the determinants of type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults at Dill-Chora hospital, from August 30 to October 30, 2021. Methods: An unmatched case-control study was carried out at Dill-Chora referral hospital using face-to-face interviews. The data was collected, cleaned, coded, and entered to epi data version 3.1 before being exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The analyses used were descriptive and logistic regression. Results: The study included 331 individuals, 113 cases and 218 controls. Cigarette smoking (AOR: 3.15, 95% CI: 1.24-7.96), extra salt consumption (AOR: 5.52, 95% CI: 2.33-13.05), low fruit consumption (AOR: 5.28, 95% CI: 2.12-13.16), infrequent physical activity (AOR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.65-8.39), waist to hip ratio (AOR: 18.88, 95% CI: 7.35-48.42), and triglyceride level (AOR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.34-6.32) were strongly linked to the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusion and Recommendation: This study discovered a variety of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including triglyceride levels, fruit consumption, smoking, increased salt consumption, irregular exercise, and waist to hip ratio. By focusing preventative efforts on these risk factors, the occurrence of type 2 diabetes may be reduced. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus screening is crucial, particularly in those with a high waist-to-hip ratio, a smoking history, and high triglyceride levels.

Preparedness toward COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among health care workers in Dire Dawa Hospitals, Eastern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers are at the frontline of the response against the COVID-19 outbreak. Poor preparedness and infection prevention practices among health care workers compound the hazard and occurrence of COVID-19 hospital transmission. Thus, the study aimed to assess preparedness toward COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among health care workers in Hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 June to July 10 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 423 health care workers. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome variable, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that the proportion of health care workers' preparedness toward the COVID-19 pandemic was 40.9% (95% CI: 36.2-45.9). Working in a public hospital (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.6-4.3), being unafraid of transmitting COVID-19 to patients (Adjusted odds ratio/AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.2-10.0), feeling safe at the workplace (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.7-6.4)), satisfied with the infection control policy (AOR = 6.0, 95% CI: 2.3-15.0), and not feeling anxious about the likelihood of COVID-19 spread (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4) were significantly associated with COVID-19 preparedness. CONCLUSION: The majority of the health care workers were not prepared for COVID-19 pandemics. Feeling safe at the workplace scared of transmitting COVID-19 to patients, satisfied with the infection control policy, and feeling anxious concerning the likelihood of COVID-19 were factors associated with health care workers' preparedness to COVID-19. The current awareness creation training, including motivational and psychological preparation for all health care workers, is mandatory, regardless of their profession or working place.

Minimum Dietary Diversity Practice and Associated Factors among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Malnutrition because of poor dietary diversity contributing to child morbidity and mortality. Two-thirds of child mortality occurs within the first 2 years. However, there is limited data related to dietary diversity among children aged 6 to 23 months in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess dietary diversity and factors among children aged 6 to 23 months in the study setting. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study conducted on 438 children aged 6 to 23 months in Dire Dawa, 1-30/02/2019. Simple random sampling was used to select study subjects. Data collected using a structured and pretested interview administered questionnaire. Data entered using EpiData 4.2 and analyzed with SPSS Version 22. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associated factors. Adjusted odd-ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) used, and P-value <.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The overall minimum dietary diversity practice was 24.4% (95% CI: 20.3, 28.5). Maternal education [AOR 2.20; 95% CI: 1.08, 4.52], decision-making [AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.19, 5.29], antenatal care [AOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.99], postnatal care [AOR = 6.4; 95% CI: 2.78, 14.94] and facility delivery [AOR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.35, 5.25] were maternal factors. Moreover, child's age [AOR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.39, 5.83], and child's sex [AOR = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.64, 4.94] were infant factors. Conclusion: One-fourth of children practiced minimum dietary diversity. Child's age, birth interval, postnatal care, antenatal care, child's sex, mothers' decision-making, mothers' education, and place of delivery were significant predictors. Therefore, maternal education, empowering women, and improve maternal service utilization are crucial to improving dietary diversity.