Preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in public hospitals, eastern Ethiopia.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in public hospitals of eastern Ethiopia from 25 April to 26 May 2022. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was undertaken using a systematic sampling technique among 423 participants from patients eligible for elective surgery. The prevalence of preoperative anxiety was assessed using the state and trait anxiety inventory measurement scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive and summary statistics were computed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression were computed. The strength of the association was presented using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of preoperative anxiety among patients scheduled for elective surgery was 51.2%. Being 31-45 aged adult (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17, 0.78), having moderate (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.96) and strong social support (AOR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08), being single (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.89), listening to music (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.18, 0.74) and finding social and religious support (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.07, 0.33), and orthopedic surgery (AOR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.43) were significantly associated with lower odds of preoperative anxiety, whereas having fear of death (AOR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.64, 2.09) was significantly associated with increased odds of preoperative anxiety. Conclusion: In the current study, the magnitude of preoperative anxiety was high. Being an older adult and having social and treatment support was associated with lower odds of preoperative anxiety. In contrast, lower psychological readiness (fear of death) was associated with increased odds of preoperative anxiety. Patients should be routinely assessed for anxiety during the preoperative appointment, and the proper coping mechanisms and anxiety-reduction approaches should be used. It is also advisable that appropriate policies and procedures for reducing preoperative anxiety should be devised.

Patients' perceptions of nurses' communication in public hospitals of Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia.

Introduction: The quality of nursing care has been evaluated using patient perception. Patients' participation in nursing care and decision-making is regarded as a prerequisite for effective clinical practice; however, poor communication can lead to incorrect diagnosis and delayed, or ineffective medical treatment. Objectives: This study sought to assess admitted adult patients' perceptions of, and factors influencing, nurse communication at public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 377 admitted adult patients in Harar Town public Hospitals from 15 April to 30 May 2020. A proportionate stratified sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data through a face-to-face interview and which were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted, odds ratio and confidence intervals were calculated and statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Results: This study outlined that the overall prevalence of good perception toward nurses' communication was 41.9% (95% confidence interval = 37.1%, 46.9%). Patients whose age group were 26-35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.86), Being female patients (adjusted odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval: 1.20, 2.98), admitted in private room (adjusted odds ratio = 3.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.91, 5.51), patients who have family support (adjusted odds ratio = 2.56; 95% confidence interval: 1.16, 3.64), urban residence (adjusted odds ratio = 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.02, 0.66) and language difference (adjusted odds ratio = 0.61; 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 0.94) were statistically significant. Conclusion: This study pointed out that less than half of the study participants had good perceptions toward nurses' communication. As a result, increasing the number of health care providers who speak the same language as the patients and communication and behavioral change training must be prioritized.

Determinants of short birth interval among ever married reproductive age women: A community based unmatched case control study at Dessie city administration, Northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Short birth interval is a universal public health problem resulting in adverse fetal, neonatal, child and maternal outcomes. In Ethiopia, more than 50% of the overall inter birth spacing is short. However, prior scientific evidence on its determinants is limited and even then findings are inconsistent. METHODS: A community -based unmatched case-control study was employed on 218 cases and 436 controls. Cases were ever married reproductive age women whose last delivery has been in the past five years with birth interval of less than 3 years between the latest two successive live births whereas those women with birth interval of 3-5 years were taken as controls. A multistage sampling technique was employed on 30% of the kebeles in Dessie city administration. A pre-tested interviewer based questionnaire was used to collect data by 16 trained diploma nurses and 8 health extension workers supervised by 4 BSc nurses. The collected data were cleaned, coded and double entered into Epi-data version 4.2 and exported to SPSS version 22. Binary logistic regression model was considered and those variables with P<0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered in to final model after which statistical significance was declared at P< 0.05 using adjusted odds ratio at 95% CI. RESULT: In this study, contraceptive use (AOR = 11.2, 95% CI: 5.95-21.15), optimal breast feeding for at least 2 years (AOR = 0.098, 95% CI:0.047-0.208), age at first birth <25 years (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.282-0.761), having male preceding child (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.166-0.793) and knowing the duration of optimum birth interval correctly (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.245-0.811) were significant determinants of short birth interval. CONCLUSION: Contraceptive use, duration of breast feeding, age at first birth, preceding child sex and correct understanding of the duration of birth interval were significant determinants of short birth interval. Fortunately, all these significant factors are likely modifiable. Thus, the existing efforts of optimizing birth interval should be enhanced through proper designation and implementation of different strategies on safe breastfeeding practice, modern contraceptive use and maternal awareness about the health merits of optimum birth interval.

Anaemia and nutritional status of adolescent girls in Babile District, Eastern Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional status during adolescence plays an important role in the human lifecycle that influences growth and development and during this period nutrient needs are the greatest. The objective of this study is to assess anaemia and nutritional status of adolescent girls in the Babile district, Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: Data were collected from 547 adolescent aged 10-19 years by cross sectional study design. WHO Anthro-plus software was used to analyse Nutritional statuses of adolescents and magnitudes were determined using WHO 2007 references point. Haemoglobin was measured on site by hem cue machine. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was carried out depending on the nature of variables. RESULTS: The result of the study show that 21.6% thin, 4.8% were over weighted and 1.1% was obese, 32% were anaemic and 15% of adolescents were stunted/ short stature than normal. Nutritional status of adolescent were low both in urban and rural adolescents, but severe thinness were higher among of rural (39.3%) compared to urban (37.5%) adolescents. Factors independently associated with stunting were place of residence, father occupation source of drinking water and age of the adolescents. CONCLUSION: Nutritional status of adolescent girls contributes to the nutritional status of the community. There is a need to initiate intervention measures to improve the nutritional status of adolescent girls who are the future 'mothers-to-be'. Hence, there is a need to create awareness among adolescents and their family about nutrition and health.