Escalating the limit of median survival time and predictors of mortality among preterm neonates in Northwest Ethiopia, 2021: a 1-year prospective follow-up study

Objectives
To examine the survival rate and predictors of mortality among preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit at South Gondar public hospitals, 2021.

Design
Prospective follow-up study.

Setting
South Gondar public hospitals, Northwest, Ethiopia.

Participants
We recruited 283 preterm neonates who were admitted at neonatal intensive care unit at selected hospitals from 15 February 2020 to 22 January 2021.

Outcome measures
The primary outcome measure of this study was the survival rate of preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit. Moreover, the study assessed the predictors for the occurrence of mortality by the Cox-proportional hazard model. Data were entered into Epi data V.4.2 and exported to Stata V.14 statistical software for analysis. The log-rank test determines the survival difference between predictor variables.

Results
A total of 283 preterm neonates, 61 died during the follow-up. Born from antepartum haemorrhage mother (adjusted HR (AHR)=2.2 (95% CI 1.10 to 4.37)), being small weight for gestational age (AHR=4.6 (95% CI 2.22 to 9.53)), not having kangaroo mother care practice initiated (AHR=2.7 (95% CI 1.39 to 7.74)), hypothermia (AHR=4.0 (95% CI 1.96 to 8.30)) and perinatal asphyxia (AHR=3.9 (95% CI 1.97 to 7.94)) were significant predictors of preterm neonate mortality.

Conclusion
In this study, the preterm neonates survival rate (78.4%) and the median survival time (21 days) were found to be low. Preventing and managing the predictors, including an antepartum haemorrhagic mother, small weight for gestational age, hypothermia and prenatal asphyxia, is crucial. In addition, more emphasis should be placed on initiating universal kangaroo mother care practice soon after birth to increase the survival of preterm neonates.

Leggi
Dicembre 2022

Patients awareness of their rights, associated factors and its practice by health professionals from a patient perspective among elective surgical patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study, 2021

Objectives
To assess the patients’ awareness of their rights, associated factors and the practice of these rights by the medical team from the patients’ perspective at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital.
Design
An institution-based prospective cross-sectional study was carried out.

Setting
The research was conducted from January to May 2021 in a specialised hospital in central Ethiopia.

Participants
392 people who had elective surgery were included in this study; 217 men and 175 women responded. Systematic random sampling was employed to choose the research subjects, and K (skip interval) was calculated using the 3-month surgical waiting list at the hospital. Patients under the age of 18, those with severe illnesses, those who were not inpatients, and those who had diagnosable mental conditions were not eligible.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
A structured questionnaire was administered in a face-to-face interview by trained data collectors after surgery at the surgical ward and analysed by using SPSS V.24. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were used to identify the associated factors. A p

Leggi
Novembre 2022

Utilisation of cervical cancer screening and factors associated with screening utilisation among women aged 30-49 years in Mertule Mariam Town, East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia, in 2021: a cross-sectional survey

Objective
To assess the practice of cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among women aged 30–49 years.

Design
Community-based cross-sectional survey.

Setting
Mertule Mariam Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 1 May–20 June 2021.

Participants
Women aged 30–49 years who were living in the study area were eligible for inclusion. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A total of 488 respondents participated in the study. Data were collected by using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Data were entered into EpiData V.3.1 and then exported to SPSS V.25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done.

Outcome measures
Prevalence of cervical cancer screening and factors associated with screening utilisation.

Results
The prevalence of cervical cancer screening was found to be 14.1%. Age (≤16 years) at first sexual intercourse (adjusted OR 14.89, 95% CI 6.21 to 35.74), history of sexually transmitted disease (11.65, 4.56 to 29.78), having multiple sexual partners (11.65, 4.56 to 29.78), having good knowledge about cervical cancer screening (4.72, 2.33 to 9.56) and having a family history of cervical cancer (4.72, 2.33 to 9.56) were statistically significantly associated factors for utilisation of cervical cancer screening.

Conclusion
Utilisation of cervical cancer screening was low in Northwest Ethiopia. Educational status, age at first sexual intercourse, history of multiple sexual partners, sexually transmitted disease, family history of cervical cancer and knowledge about cervical cancer screening were significant factors for utilisation of cervical cancer screening.

Leggi
Novembre 2022

Reported Awareness and Adoption of 2021 eGFR Equations Among US Clinical Laboratories, March 2022

This study includes clinical laboratories that participated in the first general chemistry proficiency testing survey in 2022 to assess awareness and adoption of new equations from the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) that eliminated race-adjustment factors, including one based on creatinine and one based on creatinine and cystatin C.

Leggi
Novembre 2022