Hypertension and its associated factors in Hosanna town, Southern Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among residents of Hosanna town in Hadiya Zone. Results The overall prevalence of hypertension was 30% among the study participants. Out of the study participants who were identified as being hypertensive, only 24.6% knew their hypertensive status. The odds of being hypertensive is significantly higher among males when compared to females (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.9, confidence interval (CI) 1.14–3.23) and married participants as compared to their unmarried counterparts (AOR 4.1; CI 1.10–16.18). High prevalence and increased risks for hypertension were noted among the study participants in the study area. The experiences of aerobic physical activities were reported only in 22.9% of the study participants. These evidences may suggest the need for urgent interventions

Effectiveness of couple education and counseling on knowledge, attitude and uptake of cervical cancer screening service among women of child bearing age in Southern Ethiopia: A cluster randomized trial protocol.

BackgroundCervical cancer occurred nearly in 570 000 women and 311 000 women died from the disease worldwide in 2018. Of the new cases diagnosed globally in 2012, approximately 85% of the burden took place in low- and middle-income countries. Human Papilloma virus is the necessary cause for the development of cervical cancer and the majority of these infections resolves naturally but progress to precancerous lesions whenever there is persistence and delay in treatment. Majority of the cervical cancer cases, over 80% in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia, have been detected at a late stage mainly due to poor early preventive measures. Therefore, utilization of early preventive measures could increase timely detection and treatment of precancerous changes and significantly reduce morbidity & mortality due to advanced disease.MethodsIn this interventional study we will randomly assign 16 clusters (kebeles) in to the intervention and the control arm using block randomization. The study will employ a cluster randomized controlled trial. Women are eligible to participate in this study when they satisfy certain eligibility criteria; being in the age range of 30-49 years, no history of hysterectomy, did not receive cervical cancer or pre-cancer treatment and non-pregnant. Home based couple education and counseling will be provided to the eligible participants within the intervention group, while the control group receives standard of care. Base line and end line surveys will be completed by interviewing 288 eligible women to evaluate the effect of couple education and counseling on the knowledge, attitude and cervical cancer screening uptake. Generally the intervention lasts for six months. The results of baseline & end line surveys will be compared between the groups to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Blinding is not possible due to the clustering of the trial arms.DiscussionFindings of the study will inform the regional or national scale up of the intervention modality to achieve the screening targets set by the Ethiopian government and world health organization.Trial registrationPACTR, PACTR202108529472385. Registered on 05 August 2021, https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=16037

Women’s and health professionals’ perceptions, beliefs and barriers to cervical cancer screening uptake in Southern Ethiopia: a qualitative study

AbstractCervical cancer remains a public health problem worldwide. Screening for cervical cancer is poorly implemented in resource-limited settings. In Ethiopia, evidence from the community and health professionals regarding implementation of the screening programme is lacking. The objective of this study was to explore women’s and health professionals’ perceptions, beliefs, and barriers in relation to cervical screening in Southern Ethiopia. Five focus group discussions among women and six key informant interviews with health professionals were conducted from June to July 2022 to gather the required data from a total of 42 participants. The participants were purposively selected from a diverse group to ensure varied viewpoints. Data were collected through group discussions and face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview sessions were tape-recorded. The data were analysed using a thematic approach. Women demonstrated a low level of awareness and perceived risk. Also, the perceived benefit of screening for cervical cancer during healthy periods was low. Individual and system-level barriers to screening include low awareness, stigma, poor perceptions towards health screening and causes of cervical cancer, low risk perception and competing domestic priorities, shortage of trained human and other resources, human resource turnover, low implementation and lack of close follow-up of screening programmes. In summary, lack of awareness, misconceptions, and poor perceptions were common. Screening implementation and uptake were low due to individual, psychosocial, and system-related barriers. Therefore, behavioural change communication and system-strengthening efforts need to be in place to effectively tackle the observed gaps

Knowledge, attitude and practice for cervical cancer prevention and control among women of childbearing age in Hossana Town, Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia: Community-based cross-sectional study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer which Ethiopia put a strategic goal to reduce its incidence and mortality by 2020. Lack of knowledge and poor attitude towards the disease and risk factors can affect screening practice and development of preventive behavior for cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, practices and factors for each domain for cervical cancer among women of child bearing age in Hossana town, Southern, Ethiopia.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Community based cross sectional study was carried out in June 2015. A total of 583 participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to gather the data. Data were entered in to Epi Info software version 3.5.4 and exported to SPSS version 16 for descriptive and logistic regression analysis.</p><p>Results</p><p>Two hundred seventy (46.3%) of the respondents had poor comprehensive knowledge. Only 58 (9.9%) of participants had been screed for the cervical cancer before the survey. Two hundred three (34.8%) of participants had negative attitude towards selected proxy variables. Not having health seeking behavior for cervical cancer [AOR: 5.45, 95% CI: (1.18, 30.58), P <0.031], had not ever received information about cervical cancer and its prevention [AOR: 2.63, 95%CI: (1.78,8.84), P < 0.018] and not actively seeking health information about cervical cancer [AOR: 6.25, (95%CI: (1.26, 31.06) P < 0.025] were significantly associated factors with poor knowledge. Poor knowledge score was associated with poor attitude [AOR: 56.51, 95%CI: (23.76, 134.37), P <0.001]. Had not ever received information about the disease from any source [AOR: 45.24, (95%CI: (11.47, 178.54), P <0.001] was significantly associated factor with not to be screened for the disease.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study highlighted the importance of awareness creation, increasing knowledge, promoting active searching for health information and experiences of receiving information from any information sources regarding cervical cancer. Therefore, it will be essential to integrate cervical cancer prevention strategies with other reproductive health services at all level of health care delivery system.</p></div

Major reasons for not seeking health for cervical cancer among respondents.

<p>Major reasons for not seeking health for cervical cancer among respondents.</p

Factors tested for association with screening practices for cervical cancer among the respondents in Hossana town Hadiya Zone, June, 2015.

<p>Factors tested for association with screening practices for cervical cancer among the respondents in Hossana town Hadiya Zone, June, 2015.</p

Knowledge of respondents about risk groups, risk factors, signs and symptoms and methods of prevention of cervical cancer in Hossana town, Hadiya Zone, June 2015.

<p>Knowledge of respondents about risk groups, risk factors, signs and symptoms and methods of prevention of cervical cancer in Hossana town, Hadiya Zone, June 2015.</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents of health seeking behavior in Hossana town Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia, June 2015.

<p>Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents of health seeking behavior in Hossana town Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia, June 2015.</p

Attitude of respondents about perceived susceptibility and severity, benefit of screening and prevention of cervical cancer in Hossana town, Hadiya Zone, June 2015.

<p>Attitude of respondents about perceived susceptibility and severity, benefit of screening and prevention of cervical cancer in Hossana town, Hadiya Zone, June 2015.</p

Factors tested for association with cumulative knowledge score about cervical cancer among the respondents in Hossana town Hadiya Zone, June, 2015.

<p>Factors tested for association with cumulative knowledge score about cervical cancer among the respondents in Hossana town Hadiya Zone, June, 2015.</p