Multilevel analysis of intimate partner violence and associated factors among reproductive-age women: Kenya demographic and health survey 2022 data.

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence is a human rights violation that often involves violence against women, which appears to be the most prevalent type of abuse. Intimate partner violence is a major global public health issue that includes physical, emotional, and sexual violence. The prevalence of intimate partner violence in Africa is high. The burden of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women is high in Kenya. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the associated factors of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women at the individual and community level from the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2022 data of Kenya. METHODS: The Kenya National Demographic and Health Survey data of 2022 was used for this study. The overall sample size for this study was 14,612, which focused on women aged 15 to 49 years who had ever been partnered and responded to the domestic violence module. Multilevel logistic regression models to determine the prevalence and associated factors at the individual and community level with intimate partner violence with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR). RESULT: The overall prevalence of intimate partner violence was 41.1% with a 95% CI (40.07%, 42.60. Male-headed households, poorest and middle wealth status, partner alcohol use, separated/widowed current marital status, and low education of women were statistically significantly associated with intimate partner violence at the individual level variables in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of intimate partner violence was high. Educating women, reducing partner alcohol use, and improving the economic status of women, were crucial in mitigating the burden of intimate partner violence. The intimate partners are supposed to respect the rights of women.

Prevalence and associated factors of neurocognitive disorder among people living with HIV/AIDS in the South Gondar zone primary hospitals, North-West Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of neurocognitive disorder among people living with HIV/AIDS in South Gondar primary hospitals, North-West Ethiopia, 2023. DESIGN: Institution-based cross-sectional study design. SETTING: South Gondar primary hospitals, North-West Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: 608 participants were recruited using the systematic random sampling technique. MEASUREMENT: Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and medical chart reviews. The International HIV Dementia Scale was used to screen for neurocognitive disorder. The data were entered through EPI-DATA V.4.6 and exported to SPSS V.21 statistical software for analysis. In the bivariable logistic regression analyses, variables with a value of p<0.25 were entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors independently associated with neurocognitive disorder. Statistical significance was declared at a value of p<0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of neurocognitive disorder among HIV-positive participants was 39.1%. In multivariable logistic regression, lower level of education (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.94; 95% CI 1.29 to 6.82), unemployment (AOR=2.74; 95% CI 1.29 to 6.84) and comorbid medical illness (AOR=1.80; 95% CI 1.03 to 3.14) were significantly associated with neurocognitive disorder. CONCLUSION: HIV-associated neurocognitive problems affected over a third of the participants. According to the current study, comorbid medical conditions, unemployment and low educational attainment are associated with an increased risk of neurocognitive disorder. Therefore, early detection and treatment are essential.

Post-traumatic stress disorder in the Ethiopian population dwelling in war-affected communities: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health concern globally, particularly prevalent in populations exposed to war and conflict. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to examine the prevalence and factors associated with PTSD among the Ethiopian population residing in war-affected communities. Methods: The review was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Related eligible published articles were searched in electronic online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Google, which reported the prevalence and risk factors of PTSD among people dwelling in the war-affected area until January 2024. The relevant data was extracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 11. The estimated pooled prevalence and risk factors were estimated using a random effect model. The potential risk of publication bias was checked using a funnel plot and Egger's statistical test. Results: A total of nine published studies with 6107 participants were analyzed in this meta-analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of PTSD among people living in war-affected areas was 48.4%, with a 95% CI (37.1, 59.8). This study found a higher prevalence of PTSD among women than men. Being female (OR= 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.3), witnessing a murder of a loved one (OR= 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.5), depression symptoms (OR= 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4, 5.6), and anxiety symptoms (OR= 3.4, 95% CI: 1.4, 8.0), a close family member killed or seriously injured (OR= 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.7), a moderate and high perceived threat to life (OR= 3.4, 95% CI: 1.3, 9.1), and poor social support (OR= 4.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 18.7) were associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusion: The result of this study shows the high prevalence rate of PTSD in people living in war-affected areas. disparities in PTSD prevalence, with women being at higher risk, and identified risk factors were witnessing the murder of a loved one, experiencing depression and anxiety, and perceived threat to life. Addressing PTSD in war-affected communities requires comprehensive interventions that consider both individual and contextual factors. Systematic review registration: www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024501384.

Sleep quality and associated factors among university students in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis study.

Background: Poor sleep quality significantly impacts academic performance in university students. However, inconsistent and inconclusive results were found in a study on sleep among university students in several African nations. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality among university students in Africa. Methods: The databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, African Journal Online, and Google Scholar were searched to identify articles. A total of 35 primary articles from 11 African countries were assessed and included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Data were extracted by using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis. The I2 test was used to assess the statistical heterogeneity. A random effect meta-analysis model was employed with 95% confidence intervals. Funnel plots analysis and Egger regression tests were used to check the presence of publication bias. A subgroup analysis and a sensitivity analysis were done. Results: A total of 16,275 study participants from 35 studies were included in this meta-analysis and systematic review. The overall pooled prevalence of poor sleep quality among university students in Africa was 63.31% (95% CI: 56.91-65.71) I2 = 97.2. The subgroup analysis shows that the combined prevalence of poor sleep quality in East, North, West, and South Africa were 61.31 (95% CI: 56.91-65.71), 62.23 (95% CI: 54.07-70.39), 54.43 (95% CI: 47.39-61.48), and 69.59 (95% CI: 50.39-88.80) respectively. Being stressed (AOR= 2.39; 95% CI: 1.63 to 3.51), second academic year (AOR= 3.10; 95% CI: 2.30 to 4.19), use of the electronic device at bedtime (AOR= 3.97 95% CI: 2.38 to 6.61)) and having a comorbid chronic illness (AOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.08, 6.82) were factors significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusion: This study shows that there is a high prevalence of poor sleep quality among university students in Africa. Being stressed, in the second year, using electronic devices at bedtime, and having chronic illness were factors associated with poor sleep quality. Therefore, addressing contributing factors and implementing routine screenings are essential to reduce the burden of poor sleep quality. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023493140.

Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and associated factors among displaced people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The number of people who have been displaced from their homes due to violence, conflict, and natural disasters. The displaced persons are vulnerable to PTSD; however, being women, individuals with lower socio-economic status and intense exposure to physical assault are more vulnerable. The reviews stated that the pooled prevalence of PTSD among refugees in high-income countries was higher than the general population. However, there has been no review done on PTSD among displaced persons in Africa. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarise the most recent data evidence on the pooled prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and the pooled effect of associated factors on adult displaced people in Africa. Methods: We used an appropriate guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reports, which is the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). This review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023411371). The publications were identified from PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Scopus databases, and other grey searches of Google Scholar and World Health Organisation (WHO) reports. The data was extracted in Microsoft Excel, and then it will be imported into STATA 11.0 for analysis. Results: We have included 10 studies conducted in African countries with 5287 study participants. In this meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of PTSD among displaced people in Africa was 55.64 (95% CI: 42.76-68.41%). Further, in subgroup analysis regarding the study participants, the pooled prevalence of PTSD among internally displaced people and refugees was 56.35% and 54.04%, respectively. Among the associated factors, being female, unemployed, and depression were significantly related to PTSD among displaced people. Conclusions: In this review, the pooled prevalence of PTSD among displaced people in Africa was high. Demographic characteristics (female, single, and unemployed), substance use disorder, and depression were risk factors for PTSD among displaced people. This finding might help the stakeholders (mental health policy makers, administrators, and mental health professionals) to address the prevention, early screening, and management of PTSD among displaced people and to give attention to more vulnerable bodies. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023411371.

Perceived and self-stigma in people with epilepsy in East Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: People with stigmatizing conditions associated with epilepsy encounter many difficulties in their daily lives and are more likely to have low self-esteem, low levels of hope, internalize negative attitudes, decrease adherence to treatment, and experience unemployment. The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent of perceived stigma and self-stigma among people with epilepsy. METHODOLOGY: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Item Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline. PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and HINARI were major search databases. The included literature reports the prevalence of perceived stigma and self-stigma among people with epilepsy in East Africa. The quality of each study was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and data analysis was performed using STATA version 11. The pooled prevalence of perceived stigma and self-stigma was determined using a random effect model. Heterogeneity between studies was checked using the I2 statistical test. Publication bias was checked using Egger's statistical test and funnel plot. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of perceived stigma and self-stigma in people with epilepsy was 43.9 % with a 95 % CI (29.2, 58.7) and 41.2 % with a 95 % CI (12.1, 70.3), respectively. Based on the country, sub-group analysis revealed that the prevalence of perceived stigma among people with epilepsy shows a notable difference between the countries. In Ethiopia, the prevalence was 51.8 % with a 95 % CI of 29.8 to 73.8; in Uganda, 39.4 % with a 95 % CI of 27.1 to 51.3; in Tanzania, 27.4 % with a 95 % CI of 27.9 to 36.9; and in Kenya, 33.2 % with a 95 % CI of 28.2 to 38.2. CONCLUSION: Roughly 30 % of people with epilepsy experience self-stigma, while approximately 44 % of people with epilepsy experience perceived stigma. As a result, the relevant authorities ought to focus on reducing the prevalence of stigma among people who have epilepsy.

Prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia: a national-based systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Depression is a major public health problem and negatively affects the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Despite multiple studies investigating the magnitude and predictors, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia. Methods: The primary articles were searched using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and African Journal Online. A total of 10 primary articles that assessed the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia were included. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used to extract the data, which was then exported to Stata version 14 for further analysis. The statistical heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test. Due to heterogeneity, a random effect meta-analysis model was employed. Publication bias was checked through Egger's weighted regression test and funnel plot. Results: A total of 10 primary studies with 3,532 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy was found to be 41.69% (95% CI, 37.70, 45.68). The pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms was 48.61, 42.98, 40.68, 38.27, and 34.80% in Oromia, SNNPs, Amhara, Addis Ababa, and Tigray, respectively, based on a sub-group analysis per regional state. Perceived stigma (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.40, 7.80), seizure frequency (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI: 1.03, 14.09), and perceived stress (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.05, 20.06) were factors associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: We found that depressive symptoms affects at least four out of ten patients with epilepsy, indicating an immense burden. Depressive symptoms were extremely prevalent in those who had high levels of stigma, a monthly seizure frequency of once or more, and perceived stress. Therefore, physicians should take extra precautions when treating patients with epilepsy who have certain conditions. Systematic review registration: This study was registered according to The International Prospective Register of Systemic Review (PROSPERO) with the registration ID (CRD42023484308).

Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its associated factors in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Clinical research and epidemiological studies have shown that many women experience physical and behavioral symptoms that begin during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and terminate around the onset of menses; this is called premenstrual syndrome. The reviews stated that the pooled prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was around 50 percent. However, there has been no review done on premenstrual syndrome in Africa. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the most recent data evidence on the pooled prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its pooled effect of associated factors in Africa. Method: We used an appropriate guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reports, which is the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). This review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023414021). The publications were identified from PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Scopus databases, and other grey searches. The included papers were the original data that reported the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and associated factors published, in English, and papers available online from January 1, 2000, to May 30, 2023. The data was extracted in Microsoft Excel, and then it would be imported into STATA 11.0 for analysis. Results: We have included 16 studies conducted in African countries with 6530 study participants. In this meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of premenstrual syndrome among the reproductive-age participants in Africa was 46.98 (95% CI: 28.9-65.06%). Further, in subgroup analysis, the pooled prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was 57.32% in Nigeria, 43.8% in Ethiopia, and 38.6% among university students and 66.04% among secondary school students. Among associated factors, the early age of menarche was significantly related to premenstrual syndrome. Conclusion: In this review, the pooled prevalence of premenstrual syndrome in Africa was high. Among factors, the early age of menarche was a risk factor for premenstrual syndrome. This finding might help the stakeholders (mental health policy makers, administrators, and mental health professionals) to address prevention, early screening, and management of PMS among reproductive-age women, and to give attention to more vulnerable bodies. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023414021.

Psychiatric comorbidity in people with epilepsy in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric comorbidity is a double burden among people with epilepsy. Since people with epilepsy are more vulnerable to psychiatric illnesses. So, the implementation of an appropriate intervention to minimize the double burden of comorbidity is very important. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of psychiatric comorbidity among people with epilepsy in Ethiopia. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Item Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline. Searching databases were PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and HINARI.The quality of the included articles was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The pooled meta-logistic regression was computed to estimate the pooled prevalence and the risk factors with a 95% CI. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in people with epilepsy was 34.69 % (95 % CI: 29.27, 40.10). Frequent seizures (POR = 2.94: 95 % CI: 1.08, 8.00) and a history of divorce (POR = 2.00: 95 % CI: 1.09, 3.81) were associated factors of psychiatric comorbidity in people with epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity among people with epilepsy was found to be higher compared with the general population. Therefore, among people with epilepsy, parallel psychiatric evaluation is very important along with neurological evaluation.

Exposure to stress-full life events and help-seeking behaviors among reproductive-age women in Northwest Ethiopia: Community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Stressful life events are a significant public health issue worldwide. Despite its mental, psychological, and social problems, important questions about the prevalence and risk factors remained unanswered. Therefore, this study aimed to show major life events and help-seeking behaviors among women in the reproductive-age group. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted using a multistage cluster sampling technique to get a total of 845 study participants from March 20 to April 29, 2021. Exposure to stressful life events and help-seeking behavior was collected using Women's Exposure to the Stressful Life Events Test, and General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHQ) respectively. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into EPI-Info version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: The prevalence of stressful life events and help-seeking behaviors was 47.9 % and 38.7 % respectively. Reproductive-age women with poor social support (AOR = 2.392, 95 % CI: 1.422, 4.026), moderate social support (AOR = 1.861, 95 % CI: 1.341, 2.583), husband alcohol users (AOR = 1.496, 95 % CI: 1.027, 2.178), husband chat users (AOR = 2.962, 95 % CI: 1.140, 7.696), and having ever suicidal attempt (AOR = 8.702, CI: 1.719, 44.049), were positively associated with stressful life events. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of reproductive-age women had stressful life events. Thus, it is important to give serious attention to addressing those identified factors to increase public awareness, especially among husbands, their families, and elected authorities.

Common mental disorders and associated factors among Ethiopian prisoners: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Common mental disorders are a major public health concern in the world and negatively influence people's psychological, physical, economic, and overall well-being. Since prisoners live with restricted freedom and lack regular social interaction like communication with family and friends, the prevalence of common mental disorders is frequently found to be higher among prisoners compared to the general population. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of common mental disorders and their associated factors among prisoners in Ethiopia. Methods: The primary published studies were searched by using different databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, CINHAL, and African Journal Online. A total of eight primary articles that assessed the prevalence and associated factors of common mental disorders among Ethiopian prisoners were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The data were extracted using the data extraction format in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and exported to Stata version 14 for further analysis. The statistical heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 test. Due to the presence of heterogeneity among included studies, a random effect meta-analysis model was employed. Egger's weighted regression test and funnel plots were used to check the presence of publication bias. Results: A total of 8 primary studies with 3,585 study participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of common mental disorders among Ethiopian prisoners was 62.29% with a 95% CI (50.94, 73.65). The subgroup analysis based on regional state revealed that the pooled prevalence of common mental disorders in Amhara, Oromia, and the other two regions (Addis Ababa and SNNPR) was 72.4, 50.23, and 54.25%, respectively. History of mental illness (AOR = 6.21, 95% CI: 3.27, 11.80), poor social support (AOR = 3.90, 95% CI: 1.45, 10.51), and traumatic life events (AOR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.04, 12.73) were significantly associated with a common mental disorder in this review. Conclusion: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of common mental disorders among prisoners was high. Therefore, improving the delivery of mental health services in correctional institutions has a major contribution to the reduction of the disorder, and incarcerated people require more attention and early intervention for common mental disorders.

Gender-based violence and its associated factors among internally displaced women in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a common human right violence in conflict-affected communities. Women with GBV are prone to experience mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. However, there is a paucity of evidence as to what extent the problem is affecting internally displaced women (IDW) in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of GBV and its associated factors among IDW in Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among IDW residing at three humanitarian sites from May to June 2022 in Northwest Ethiopia. Study participants were selected using a stratified simple random sampling technique from the three sites. GBV was assessed using a 6-item Assessment Screen to Identify Survivors Toolkit questionnaire for Gender-based violence (ASIST-GBV). Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. All variables with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were defined to have a statistically significant association with GBV at a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Of 424 approached candidates, 412 (97.2%) of them participated in the study. A one-year prevalence of GBV was 37.9% (95%CI = 33.2-42.6) among IDW in Northwest Ethiopia. The mean age of the participants was 31.3 (± 7.6) years. Young women, 18-24 years old (AOR = 3.52, 95%CI = 2.15-5.34, p ≤ 0.001) and 25-29 years old (AOR = 2.41, 95%CI = 1.57-3.24, p ≤ 0.001) had a statistically significant association with GBV. Moreover, having no social protection (AOR = 3.18, 95%CI = 2.65-6.22, p ≤ 0.001), being current alcohol user (AOR = 2.54, 95%CI = 1.22-4.78, p ≤ 0.001) and being single in marital status (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.18-2.87, p < 0.01) showed a statistical association with GBV. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of GBV among IDW in Northwest Ethiopia which indicates that IDW are prone to GBV. We call for immediate action and special attention to young women in conflict-affected parts of Ethiopia. It is crucial to establish a system that ensures the safety, security, and well-being of women in humanitarian settings.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among adults exposed to stress in Ethiopia: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective: Post-traumatic stress disorder is a complex psychiatric disorder that develops after exposure to traumatic events, such as violent physical assaults, accidents, rape, natural disasters, and conflicts, stranger than usual human experiences. The typical presentation of intrusive thoughts, the persistence of the trauma, the avoidance of pertinent stimuli, emotional numbness, and physiological hyperarousal are the characteristics of this anxiety symptom. Despite the presence of a study conducted on this problem, the pooled effect, particularly in Ethiopia, is not known; therefore, this study assessed the allover burden of post-traumatic stress disorder. Method: The available study was extracted and conducted on post-traumatic stress disorder and its associated factors in Ethiopia by three independent authors. The data were analyzed by using STATA version 11 after extraction was done on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled effect size of post-traumatic stress disorder and its effect in the previous studies with 95% confidence intervals. Funnel plots analysis and Egger regression tests were conducted to detect the presence of publication bias. A subgroup analysis and a sensitivity analysis were done. Result: Thirteen (13) studies were included with a total of 5874 study participants in this meta-analysis and systematic reviews. The pooled prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in Ethiopia was 39.28% with a 95% confidence interval (26.54, 52.01). Poor social support (adjusted odds ratio = 2.86; 95% confidence interval (1.81, 4.53)), being female (adjusted odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval (1.53, 2.34)), presence of previous mental illness (adjusted odds ratio = 4.72; 95% confidence interval (2.62, 8.36)), and witness (adjusted odds ratio = 2.01; 95% confidence interval (1.30, 3.11)) were associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusion: The burden of post-traumatic stress disorder in this meta-analysis and systematic review is high; therefore, immediate intervention is needed for those specific traumatized individuals.