Browsing by Author "MELKAMU UGAMO (BSC)"

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    DETERMINANTS OF PODOCONIOSIS IN NORTHERN ZONE OF SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA: AN UNMATCHED CASE- CONTROL STUDY
    (Hawassa University, 2024-06) MELKAMU UGAMO (BSC)
    Background: Podoconiosis is a type of elephantiasis caused by long-term barefoot exposure to red clay soil. It is a debilitating disease that leads to disability and stigma. Despite the widespread prevalence of podoconiosis, the determinants of it remain largely unexplored, especially within the context of the Sidama region. The findings will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the determinants, facilitate the development of targeted prevention strategies in the specified region, and bridge the existing knowledge gap pertaining to determinants in southern Ethiopia. Objective: To identify the determinants of podoconiosis in the Northern Zone of Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia, in 2024. Methods: An unmatched case-control study design was employed in selected districts within the northern zone of the Sidama Region. The cases comprised 191 randomly selected individuals with clinically confirmed podoconiosis and a negative filarial test. The controls consisted of 383 randomly selected individuals who exhibited no signs or symptoms of podoconiosis. Data were collected through structured interviews conducted using the KoBo mobile application. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between potential determinants of podoconiosis. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05. The magnitude of the association was presented using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 574 (191 cases and 383 controls) participants were included in the study. Age ≥50 years (AOR=2.61; 95% CI: 1.22, 5.58), no formal education (AOR=3.04; 95% CI: 1.06, 7.73) , primary education (AOR=3.67; 95% CI: 1.32, 10.20), not wearing shoes (AOR=4.10; 95% CI: 1.72, 9.79), having unclean feet (AOR=4.80; 95% CI: 2.84, 8.11), purchasing no or a pair of shoes in a year (AOR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.48-4.61), poor knowledge (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI: 2.14, 5.78) and negative attitude (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.11-2.94) were significantly associated with podoconiosis. Conclusions: The study identified older age, lower educational attainment, not wearing shoes, poor foot hygiene, buying no shoes or a pair of shoes in a year, poor knowledge, and poor XIII attitude as significant factors for podoconiosis. Multifaceted interventions on awareness- creation education, consistent shoe use and foot hygiene, and changing attitudes towards podoconiosis are crucial to mitigating this neglected tropical disease in endemic regions.