Cancellation of elective surgery and associated factors among patients scheduled for elective surgeries in public hospitals in Harari regional state, Eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundCanceling elective surgeries is a significant problem in many hospitals leading to patient dissatisfaction, increased costs, and emotional trauma for patients and their families. Despite this, there is limited information about the cancellation of elective surgeries in Ethiopia, mainly in the study area.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the magnitude of cancellation and associated factors among patients scheduled for elective surgeries in public hospitals in the Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, from 1 August to 30 August 2021.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 378 patients scheduled for elective surgeries. Data were gathered using a non-random sequential sampling approach. In addition, a structured face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire was employed. The gathered information was input into Epidata version 3.1 and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Software version 26. To find the variables associated with the cancellation of elective surgeries, binary and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were conducted. In the binary analysis, all variables with a p-value of less than 0.25 were included in the multivariable analysis. Finally, a 0.05 p-value with a 95% confidence interval and an adjusted odds ratio was used to declare a significant association.ResultsThis study included 378 patients scheduled for elective surgeries. Among those, 35.2% of the surgeries were canceled (95% confidence interval: 29.4–39.6). Being female (adjusted odds ratio: 2.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.44–4.203), lack of formal education (adjusted odds ratio: 2.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.15–3.58), place of residence (adjusted odds ratio: 1.70; 95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.81), increase in blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio: 5.09; 95% confidence interval:1.90–13.59), and ophthalmologic surgery (adjusted odds ratio: 3.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.41–10.0) were factors associated with the cancellation of elective surgeries.ConclusionIn this study, nearly one third of scheduled elective surgery was canceled. The primary contributing variables to the surgery cancellations were being female, lack of formal education, place of residence, ophthalmologic surgery, and increased blood pressure. Therefore, timely evidence-based reporting through the supervision team was advised to decrease cancellations

Prevalence of trachoma at sub-district level in Ethiopia : determining when to stop mass azithromycin distribution

To eliminate blinding trachoma, the World Health Organization emphasizes implementing the SAFE strategy, which includes annual mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin to the whole population of endemic districts. Prevalence surveys to assess impact at the district level are recommended after at least 3 years of intervention. The decision to stop MDA is based on a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation follicular (TF) among children aged 1-9 years below 5% at the sub-district level, as determined by an additional round of surveys limited within districts where TF prevalence is below 10%. We conducted impact surveys powered to estimate prevalence simultaneously at the sub-district and district in two zones of Amhara, Ethiopia to determine whether MDA could be stopped.; Seventy-two separate population-based, sub-district surveys were conducted in 25 districts. In each survey all residents from 10 randomly selected clusters were screened for clinical signs of trachoma. Data were weighted according to selection probabilities and adjusted for correlation due to clustering.; Overall, 89,735 residents were registered from 21,327 households of whom 72,452 people (80.7%) were examined. The prevalence of TF in children aged 1-9 years was below 5% in six sub-districts and two districts. Sub-district level prevalence of TF in children aged 1-9 years ranged from 0.9-76.9% and district-level from 0.9-67.0%. In only one district was the prevalence of trichiasis below 0.1%.; The experience from these zones in Ethiopia demonstrates that impact assessments designed to give a prevalence estimate of TF at sub-district level are possible, although the scale of the work was challenging. Given the assessed district-level prevalence of TF, sub-district-level surveys would have been warranted in only five districts. Interpretation was not as simple as stopping MDA in sub-districts below 5% given programmatic challenges of exempting sub-districts from a highly regarded programme and the proximity of hyper-endemic sub-districts

Summary of survey findings and recommended programmatic strategy for trachoma elimination in South Wollo and South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia.

<p>*Sub-district evaluation unit (EU).</p>‡<p>Interpretation of WHO guidelines.</p

Distribution of trachomatous inflammation folliclar (TF) among children aged 1–9 years in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.

<p>Data are stratified by <i>woreda</i> and evaluation unit.</p

Administrative levels and respective population structure of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.

<p>Administrative levels and respective population structure of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.</p

Sample description in South Wollo and South Gondar by <i>woreda</i> (district) and sub-district evaluation unit (EU).

<p>*Sub-district evaluation unit (EU).</p><p>** excluding 1.8% and 0.4% of households in South Wollo and South Gondar for which consent was not given.</p

Surveyed communities in South Gondar and South Wollo zones of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.

<p>Surveyed communities in South Gondar and South Wollo zones of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.</p

Prevalence of active trachoma and clinical signs among children aged 1–9 years in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.

<p>Data are shown for the years 2003, 2006, and 2010–2011.</p