ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Prolonged use of computers led users to risk of computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS is one of the occupational health problems. The aim of this study was to assess CVS and associated factors among secretaries working in government ministry offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected using interviewer administered pretested structured questionnaire and ophthalmic examinations. A total of 455 secretaries were participated in the study. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate determinants associated with CVS. Variables with p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of CVS among secretaries working in ministry offices in Addis Ababa was 68.8%. The main reported symptoms were blurred vision (36.9%), eye strain (32.1%), redness of the eye (27.3%) and headache (26.4%). Average monthly income (AOR=0.453, 95% CI: 0.235-0.874), habit of frequent voluntary blinking (AOR=0.313, 95% CI: 0.150-0.655), taking regular breaks between work (AOR=0.279, 95% CI: 0.078-0.996), using computer eye/glasses/spectacles (AOR=0.451, 95% CI: 0.245-0.830), sources of light at work place (AOR=0.009, 95% CI: 0.001-0.076), using an antiglare filter (AOR=0.216, 95% CI: 0.117-0.401) and knowledge (AOR=0.212,95% CI:0.115-0.389) were significantly associated with CVS. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of CVS among secretaries was high. Average monthly income, habit of voluntary blinking, taking regular break, using computer spectacles, sources of light at work place, using an antiglare filter and knowledge were significantly associated with CVS. The findings suggest the need for adjusting exposure time to computers and increase awareness on safety measures and regular eye screening.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Municipal solid waste collection is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. It exposes the workers to physical, biological, and chemical hazards, and occupation-related morbidities. In developing countries, municipal solid waste management-related occupational morbidities are not properly addressed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate occupational health conditions and associated factors among municipal solid waste collectors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 576 municipal solid waste collectors in Addis Ababa from August 2019 to September 2019. To select the study participants, a multistage sampling technique was used. The data were collected by using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. The association between the dependent and independent variables was analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis at 95% confidence interval and variables with P-value<0.05 were considered as statistically significant to the dependent variable. RESULTS: A total of 576 municipal solid waste collectors participated in the study, which makes the response rate 96.9%. Among the total municipal solid waste collectors, 295 (51.2%) of them had occupational health symptoms. Work experience (AOR=1.86, 95% CI=1.01-2.18), family size (AOR=1.76, 95% CI=1.15-2.71), personal protective equipment (AOR=2.31, 95% CI=1.32-4.04), and working hours per day (AOR=1.76, 95% CI=1.22-2.68) were significantly associated with occupational health conditions. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of occupational health symptoms among municipal solid waste collectors in Addis Ababa was high. Work experience, working hours per day, type of PPE, and family size were significantly associated with occupational health conditions. Therefore, providing appropriate and full body cover personal protective equipment, giving training, monitoring working hours, and conducting studies including medical evaluation is crucial.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Human immune deficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has been a major public health problem globally as well as in Africa including Ethiopia. To prevent HIV effectively, condoms must be used regularly and consistently. When HIV positive individuals have sex without condom, they can easily transmit the vuirus to a seronegative partner. Condom utilization may be affected by various factors. Therefore, the findings from this study will give an opportunity to understand condom utilization and the barriers to condom use. OBJECTIVE: To assess condom utilization and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS attending anti-retro viral treatment (ART) clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 677 people living with HIV/AIDS attending ART clinics in Addis Ababa from February 1, 2019 to March 30, 2019. The sampling technique was three-stage sampling and finally, the study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were coded, cleaned and entered in to EPIData version 3.4, and analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. The association between the dependent variable and independent variables was analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: About 677 HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART at health centers participated in the study. From the total participants, 306 (45.2%) utilized a condom in the last six months. Sex (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.02; 95%CI=1.34-3.05), marital status (AOR=0.39; 95%CI=0.19-0.77 and (AOR=0.48; 95%CI=0.24-0.94), employment status (AOR=0.27; 95%CI=0.12-0.59), type of partner (AOR=0.15; 95%CI=0.05-0.48 and AOR=0.46; 95%CI=0.27-0.79), condom access (AOR=3.97; 95%CI=2.04-7.75), disclosure of HIV status (AOR=0.21; 95%CI=0.14-0.33) and attitude towards condoms (AOR=3.76; 95%CI=2.49-5.65) had significant association with condom utilization. CONCLUSION: Condom utilization was found to be low among people living with HIV/AIDS attending ART clinics in Addis Ababa. This finding indicates that high concern shall be given to minimize the gap. Sex, marital status, employment status, disclosure of HIV status, condom access, type of partner and attitude towards condoms were significantly associated with condom utilization. Hence, continuous condom provision, promotion, demonstration, and awareness creation are vital.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: In the health sector, questions are being raised about the possible threats to the accepted principles of ethics such as autonomy, beneficence, non malfeasance and justice in the delivery of health care. There is limited information in Ethiopia regarding to practice of code of ethics among medical doctors. Hence, this study aimed to assess practice of code of ethics and associated factors among medical doctors working in governmental and private hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution based cross sectional quantitative study triangulated with qualitative study was conducted among 500 medical doctors working in governmental and private hospitals and three key informants from Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority and Ethiopian Medical Association in Addis Ababa from May 8, 2017 to June 30, 2017. Data were collected using pretested self-administered structured questionnaire and semi-structured questionnaire. Binary Logistic Regression and Content Analysis methods were used for the quantitative and qualitative data analysis respectively. RESULTS: The study showed that only 152 (30.4%) of medical doctors had good practice of code of ethics. The odds of having good practice of code of ethics among medical doctors in the age group of 25-29 years were 2.749 times the odds of those in the age group of 30-34 years (AOR = 2.749, 95% CI: 1.483, 5.096), medical doctors working in governmental hospitals were 65.4% less likely to have good practice of code of ethics compared to those working in private hospitals (AOR = 0.346, 95% CI: 0.184, 0.652), knowledgeable medical doctors were 83.5% more likely to have good practice of code of ethics compared to those who were not knowledgeable about code of ethics (AOR = 1.835, 95% CI: 0.999, 3.368), and the odds of having good practice of code of ethics among medical doctors with favourable attitude were 7.404 times the odds of those with unfavourable attitude towards code of ethics (AOR = 7.404, 95% CI: 4.254, 12.887). Furthermore lack of motivation, unfavorable working environment, working at various health facilities simultaneously, public awareness, taking courses on medical ethics, lack of unethical conduct reporting and complaint handling system, incompetence of medical doctors, and weak collaboration among key stakeholders were identified as determinants of practice of code of ethics. CONCLUSIONS: Only 30.4% of medical doctors had good practice of code of ethics. This indicates that practice of code of ethics among medical doctors in Addis Ababa is poor. The factors associated with practice of code of ethics were age, type of hospital, knowledge, attitude, lack of motivation, unfavorable working environment, working at various health facilities simultaneously, public awareness, medical ethics course, lack of unethical conduct reporting and compliant handling system, incompetence of medical doctors and weak collaboration among key stakeholders. Hence, awareness creation and attitudinal change on code of ethics by continuous training, implementation of integrated medical ethics course, enforcement of code of ethics and continuing professional development (CPD) implementation are important.
