Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Associated Factors Among HIV-Infected Children in Public Health Institutions of Adwa, Axum, and Shire Towns of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision was among the major challenge of treatments. Maintaining the optimal level of adherence among children living with HIV/AIDS is a pivotal step towards achieving treatment success. However, there are limited studies on child's ART adherence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and associated factors among HIV-infected children in health institutions of Adwa, Axum, and Shire towns, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children in between February and April, 2016. A total of 255 children who were taking antiretroviral therapy in the randomly selected three health facilities from Adwa, Axum and Shire towns were included. Data were collected using pretested and structured questionnaires using a face-to-face interview. The collected data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected children. Results: A total of the 255 study participants were included in the study. The level of ART adherence among HIV-positive children was 212 (84.8%). Knowledge of caregivers about ART treatment (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.18, 6.53), occupational status (AOR = 4.78, 95% CI: 1.26, 18.91), appointment to ART less than two months (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.21, 7.70) and use of memory aids (AOR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.73, 12.13) were independently associated with adherence to ART. Conclusion: The level of adherence to antiretroviral therapy was low. Healthcare providers should reinforce adherence intervention and counseling sessions during follow-up and address the proper use of medication reminders to help children take their drugs appropriately.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Suicidal Ideation Among Adult Eritrean Refugees in Northern Ethiopia.

Background: The present study assessed the prevalence of and factor associated with suicidal ideations among adult Eritrean refugees in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 400 adult refugees living in the Mai-Aini refugee camp in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia from September 2019 to May 2020. The response variable was suicidal ideation and was measured using World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative Version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We applied bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine predictors for suicide ideations. Odds ratios and p-values were determined to check the associations between variables, and a p-value <0.05 was considered as a cut-off for statistical significance. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideations was 20.5% (95% CI: 16.4%, 24.5%). Having previous history of trauma [AOR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.4, 4.5], a history of chronic illness [AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.5], a family history of mental disorder [AOR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.3, 7.06], and history of post-traumatic stress disorder [AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 2.8, 11.5] were significantly associated with suicidal ideations. Conclusions: This study showed that during the stay in the refugee camp, there was a high prevalence of suicide ideations compared to the prevalence of suicide ideations among the general populations of Ethiopia, Europe, and China, and the lifetime pooled prevalence across 17 countries. Having previous history of trauma, a history of chronic illness, a family history of mental disorder, and history of post-traumatic stress disorder were the factors statistically associated with the suicidal ideation.

Mental distress and associated factors among Aksum University students, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Mental distress is becoming a common health problem in Ethiopia. The prevalence of mental distress is higher among university students than the general population. However, there is inadequate information in this regard in Ethiopia situations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among regular undergraduate students in Aksum University, North Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study was carried out among 919 students from May 10 to 20, 2016. Students were selected by stratified multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EPI-INFO version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with mental distress among university students. RESULTS: The prevalence of mental distress was nearly four in ten (39.6%) students. Being female sex (AOR =1.7, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.34), low social support (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.97, 4.72), freshman students (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.71), having had conflict with friends (AOR = 1.5,95% CI: 1.03, 1.90), financial problem (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.59, 2.92), family history of mental disorder (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.37, 3.21), scoring lower grade (AOR = 1.51,95% CI: 1.03, 1.61), argument with instructors (AOR = 1.52,95% CI: 1.12, 2.07) and field of study (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.37) were significantly associated with mental distress. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the magnitude of mental distress among Aksum University students was high. Several social and economic factors were significantly associated with mental distress of the students. Therefore, mental distress needs special focus and timely corrective action by policy makers, university officials, and other concerned stakeholders.

Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy and associated factors among children at the University of Gondar Hospital and Gondar Poly Clinic, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional institutional based study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in suppressing viral replication and delaying the progress of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is related to optimal adherence. Adherence is a challenge in all HIV infected people on ART. It is especially a concern in children because of factors relating to children such as age, disclosure status of HIV sero status, and understanding of the medication. This study assessed the level of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among children in Gondar University Hospital and Gondar Poly Clinic, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Institutionally based cross-sectional study design was conducted from January-to March 2012. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants and a total of 342 study subjects were included in the study. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify associated factors with adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were computed to determine the level of significance. RESULTS: The overall ART adherence among children was found to be 90.4%. Age of the child [AOR = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.46)], disclosure of the child's HIV status to the child [AOR = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.32)], and knowledge of caregivers about ART medication [AOR = 4.7 (95% CI (3.7, 5.6)], were independently associated with adherence. CONCLUSION: Adherence rate to ART was found to be high. Disclosure of the child's HIV sero status to the child, the age of the child and the knowledge of the caregivers towards ART were factors associated with adherence.