Use of social media for COVID-19-related information and associated factors among health professionals in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background: Social media has become an alternative platform for communication during medical crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess social media usage for COVID-19-related information among health professionals. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was conducted among 370 health professionals. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered, and pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis techniques were used to describe respondents’ social media usage for COVID-19 information and identify its associated factors. Results: About 54% (95% CI: 48–58%) of the participants had good social media usage for COVID-19-related information. Age≤30 (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.14–3.58), Wi-Fi/broadband Internet access (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.38–4.33), taking computer training (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.37–4.85), basic computer skill (AOR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.71–6.29), and usefulness of social media (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.57–8.04) were found to be the significant factors associated with usage of social media for COVID-19-related information. Conclusion: The present study confirms that more than half of health professionals had good social media usage for COVID-19-related information. This shows that social media platforms can be used as a source of COVID-19-related information for health professionals if basic computer training is offered, internet connection is available in the workplace, and the usefulness of social media is emphasized

Urban-rural inequalities and spatial arrangement of informed choice of family planning in Ethiopia: Further analysis of 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey.

BackgroundEthiopia has made satisfactory progress in improving maternal and child health over the past two decades. The introduction of family planning through informed choice is one of the main strategies to improve maternal and child health. However, this positive progress may have masked the significant urban-rural disparities in informed choice for family planning.ObjectiveTo identify factor contributing to observed urban-rural disparities and to determine the spatial distribution of informed family planning choices in Ethiopia.MethodsThe study used information from 3,511 women currently using contraceptives (rural-2685 and urban-826) as per recent Ethiopian demographic health survey cross-sectional data. Spatial and descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable logit-based decomposition analysis methods were used.ResultsThe spatial configuration of uninformed choice was clustered. The primary cluster (LLR = 34.8, p-valueConclusionThe variables being private health facility visitors, being aged between 35 and 49 years and having visited health facilities in the last one year are found to increase the gap of informed family planning choices between urban and rural residents Besides, the spatial distribution of uninformed family planning choices is non-random

Electronic Medical Record System Use and Determinants in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundThe strategic plan of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health recommends an electronic medical record (EMR) system to enhance health care delivery and streamline data systems. However, only a few exhaustive systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been conducted on the degree of EMR use in Ethiopia and the factors influencing success. This will emphasize the factors that make EMR effective and increase awareness of its widespread use among future implementers in Ethiopia. ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the pooled estimate of EMR use and success determinants among health professionals in Ethiopia. MethodsWe developed a protocol and searched PubMed, Web of Sciences, African Journals OnLine, Embase, MEDLINE, and Scopus to identify relevant studies. To assess the quality of each included study, we used the Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool using 9 criteria. The applicable data were extracted using Microsoft Excel 2019, and the data were then analyzed using Stata software (version 11; StataCorp). The presence of total heterogeneity across included studies was calculated using the index of heterogeneity I2 statistics. The pooled size of EMR use was estimated using a random effect model with a 95% CI. ResultsAfter reviewing 11,026 research papers, 5 papers with a combined total of 2439 health workers were included in the evaluation and meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of EMR usage in Ethiopia was 51.85% (95% CI 37.14%-66.55%). The subgroup study found that the northern Ethiopian region had the greatest EMR utilization rate (58.75%) and that higher (54.99%) utilization was also seen in publications published after 2016. Age groups <30 years, access to an EMR manual, EMR-related training, and managerial support were identified factors associated with EMR use among health workers. ConclusionsThe use of EMR systems in Ethiopia is relatively low. Belonging to a young age group, accessing an EMR manual, receiving EMR-related training, and managerial support were identified as factors associated with EMR use among health workers. As a result, to increase the use of EMRs by health care providers, it is essential to provide management support and an EMR training program and make the EMR manual accessible to health professionals

Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among adult chronic patients. A cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia.

BackgroundPeople with pre-existing chronic diseases are more likely to acquire COVID-19 infections, which can be fatal, and die from COVID-19 illness. COVID-19 vaccination will benefit those at a higher risk of developing complications and dying from the disease. This study aimed to determine chronic patients' willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the factors that influence their willingness.MethodAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 adult chronic patients in the University of Gondar specialized hospital outpatient departments. The participants were chosen using systematic random sampling methods with an interval of 5. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data from eligible respondents. Epi-data version 4.6 and SPSS version 25 were used for the data entry data analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between the dependent and independent factors. An odds ratio with 95 percent confidence intervals and a P-value was used to determine the association's strength and statistical significance.ResultOut of 401 respondents, 219 (54.6%) with [95% CI (49.7-59.5%)] of study participants were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Being a healthcare worker (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.24-6.96), Lost family members or friends due to COVID-19 (AOR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.21-5.00), good knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.37-4.33), favorable attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = .8.56 95% CI: 4.76-15.38), perceived suitability of the COVID-19 infection (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.62-5.33) and perceived benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.08-3.31), were found to be a significant association with the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among chronic patients.ConclusionThis study confirms that around 55% of adult chronic patients were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Providing health education for chronic patients to emphasize the knowledge and attitude of the COVID-19 vaccine and raise patients' perceived risk of COVID-19 and the benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine could be recommended to improve their willingness to COVID-19 vaccination

Intention to use wearable health devices and its predictors among diabetes mellitus patients in Amhara region referral hospitals, Ethiopia: Using modified UTAUT-2 model

Introduction: The burden of diabetes mellitus is increasing in Africa. Wearables have a proven track record of combating chronic diseases. However, little is known about patients’ intentions to use such technologies in resource-limited settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess DM patients' intentions to use wearable health devices and its predictors in Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 924 diabetes mellitus patients from May 19 to June 23, 2022, at referral hospitals in the Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data using the Kobo Collect app. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Descriptive statistics were done using SPSS version 25 software and presented using tables and pie charts. Structural equation modeling analysis with SPSS AMOS version 26 software was employed to identify predictors associated with the intention to use wearable health devices in Ethiopia. Results: A total of 883 diabetes mellitus patients, with a 95.56% response rate, participated in the study. The proportion of intention to use wearable health devices was 47.1%, 95% CI (43.7–50.5). Effort expectancy (β = 0.543, P < 0.01), performance expectancy (β = 0.306, P < 0.01), facilitating condition (β = 0.131, P < 0.05), and habit (β = 0.093, P < 0.05) had a positive direct relationship with intention to use wearable health devices. Age (β = 0.439, p < 0.001) was moderate performance expectancy, while gender (β = 0.780, p < 0.001) had moderate effort expectancy to the intention to use wearable health devices. Conclusions: Overall, diabetes mellitus patients’ intentions to use wearable health devices were promising. The intention to use wearables was positively related to effort expectancy, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and habit. Thus, increasing patient intention to utilize it could be achieved through capacity building, access to technology, and technical support. In addition, implementers should prioritize improving the availability of devices, patients' abilities, encouraging customers, to utilize the product on a regular basis by actively fostering their relationship with them, and create awareness about usefulness of wearable health devices

Spatial and multilevel analysis of sanitation service access and related factors among households in Ethiopia: Using 2019 Ethiopian national dataset.

BackgroundBillions of people have faced the problem of accessing appropriate sanitation services. This study aimed to explore the spatial distribution of households' access to sanitation services and identify associated factors in Ethiopia.MethodsThe 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey data was used with a total of 6261 weighted samples. A cross-sectional study design with a two-stage cluster sampling technique was used. Global Moran's I statistic measure, Getis-Ord Gi*, and the ordinary Kriging Gaussian interpolation were used for spatial autocorrelation, hot spot analysis, and interpolation of unsampled areas, respectively. A purely spatial Bernoulli-based model was employed to determine the geographical locations of the most likely clusters. A multilevel logistic regression model was used, and predictors with a P value of less than 0.05 with a 95% CI were considered significant factors.ResultsOverall, 19.7% of households had access to improved sanitation services in Ethiopia. Poor sanitation service access was significantly clustered, with hotspots of poor access identified in the South Nations Nationality and People's Region (SNNPR), Oromia, Amhara, and Benishangul Gumuz regions. A total of 275 significant clusters were identified. Households in the circled area were more vulnerable to poor sanitation service access. Rural households, on-premises water access, media exposure, and rich wealth status were statistically significant factors for access to sanitation services.ConclusionsAccess to sanitation services among households in Ethiopia is insufficient. The majority of the households had no access to sanitation services. Stakeholders are recommended to raise household members' awareness of sanitation services, give priority to the hotspot areas, and encourage poor households to have access to toilet facilities. Household members recommended using the available sanitation service and keeping the sanitation service clean. Households are recommended to construct clean shared sanitation facilities

Readiness to use electronic medical record systems and its associated factors among health care professionals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Electronic medical record systems (EMRs) are being incorporated into the healthcare system to modernize it, but it is also intended to save lives by promoting communication and evidence-based decision-making. Ethiopia is one of the developing nations with the lowest acceptance and utilization of EMRs, even though they are a crucial instrument for the delivery of healthcare. The pooled prevalence of readiness to use electronic medical record systems is unknown. As a result, this study assesses systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the pooled levels of readiness to use EMRs and associated factors among health professionals in Ethiopia. Method: Search engines were used to locate studies that adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols in Medline, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, African Journal Online (AJOL), HINARI, Science direct, and Web-Science (PRISMA). The STATA version 11 program was used to carry out the investigation. The heterogeneity among the included papers was evaluated using the indicator of heterogeneity (I2). A visual examination of the funnel plot was employed to investigate potential publication bias. A random-effect model meta-analysis is used to assess the pooled effect size of each study with a 95% confidence interval. Result: Three studies in total were utilized to evaluate the relationship between readiness to use an electronic medical record system and attitude. The systematic and meta-analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of readiness to use electronic medical record systems was 51.31% (95% CI: 40.54–62.07). Furthermore, participants with a positive attitude (Adjusted OR (AOR) = 2.26 (95% CI: 1.36–3.75, having computer literacy (Adjusted OR (AOR) = 2.98 (95% CI: 1.60–5.58) and having good knowledge (Adjusted OR (AOR) = 2.54 (95% CI: 1.67–3.46) were significant factors associated with readiness to use electronic medical record system among health care professionals in Ethiopia. Conclusion and recommendations: The overall pooled level of readiness of health professionals for the implementation of the EMR was found to be low. Raising the level of knowledge, attitude, and computer skills among health professionals requires comprehensive capacity-building packages for the sustainable improvement of readiness to use EMRs

Predicting healthcare professionals’ acceptance towards electronic personal health record systems in a resource-limited setting: using modified technology acceptance model

Objectives Personal health record systems allow users to manage their health information in a confidential manner. However, there is little evidence about healthcare providers’ intentions to use such technologies in resource-limited settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess predicting healthcare providers’ acceptance of electronic personal health record systems.Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 19 July to 23 August 2022 at teaching hospitals in the Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. A total of 638 health professionals participated in the study. Simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Structural equation modelling analysis was employed using AMOS V.26 software.Result Perceived ease of use had a significant effect on the intention to use electronic personal health records (β=0. 377, p&lt;0.01), perceived usefulness (β=0.104, p&lt;0.05) and attitude (β=0.204, p&lt;0.01); perceived ease of use and information technology experience had a significant effect on perceived usefulness (β=0.077, p&lt;0.05); and digital literacy (β=0.087, p&lt;0.05) and attitude had also a strong effect on intention to use electronic personal health records (β=0.361, p&lt;0.01). The relationship between perceived ease of use and the intention to use was mediated by attitude (β=0.076, p&lt;0.01).Conclusion Perceived ease of use, attitude and digital literacy had a significant effect on the intention to use electronic personal health records. The perceived ease of use had a greater influence on the intention to use electronic personal health record systems. Thus, capacity building and technical support could enhance health providers’ acceptance of using electronic personal health records in Ethiopia