Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine (Jul 2023)

From Neglected to Public Health Burden: Factors Associated with Podoconiosis in Resource Limited Setting in Case of Southwest Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

  • Debele GR,
  • Shifera E,
  • Dessie YL,
  • Jaleta DD,
  • Borena MU,
  • Kanfe SG,
  • Nigussie K,
  • Ayana GM,
  • Raru TB

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 49 – 60

Abstract

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Gebiso Roba Debele,1 Eyasu Shifera,1 Yohannes Lulu Dessie,2 Debela Dereje Jaleta,2 Megersso Urgessa Borena,3 Shuma Gosha Kanfe,4 Kabtamu Nigussie,5 Galana Mamo Ayana,5 Temam Beshir Raru5 1Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia; 2Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia; 3Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Shashemene Campus, Madda University, Shashemene, Ethiopia; 4Department of Health Informatics, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia; 5College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gebiso Roba Debele, Email [email protected]: Even though podoconiosis can cause physical, financial, and social impairments, it is commonly overlooked by organizations, and one-fourth of the predicted worldwide burden will fall on Ethiopia. In spite of this, there are only a few attempts for prevention and control in certain areas in Ethiopia. Updated statistics on prevalence and contributing factors could make local efforts at prevention, control, and rehabilitation more effective. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of podoconiosis and its associated factors among Ilu Aba Bor zone residents, South West Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 491 participants from March 25 to April 25, 2022. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6.0, then exported to SPSS version 25 for final analysis. In the bi-variable regression, variables with P-values less than 0.25 were included in the multivariable model. Finally, multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with podoconiosis at a 5% level of significance.Results: In this study area, podoconiosis prevalence was found to be 5.7% [3.6– 7.2]. In multivariable regression model, lower tertile wealth status [AOR=2.09; (95% CI (1.384, 5.343)], no formal education [AOR=2.23; (95% CI; 1.179– 3.820)] and average distance to reach water source to home [AOR=2.061; (95% CI: 1.78– 7.35)] were significantly associated podoconiosis.Conclusion and Recommendation: According to this study, one in every seventeen individuals had podoconiosis, which is a significant prevalence when compared to earlier studies. Podoconiosis was observed to be associated with factors like wealth status, educational attainment, and distance from water source. To address this public health issue, strong preventive and therapeutic treatments should be used.Keywords: prevalence, factors, podoconiosis, Ilu Aba Bor zone

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