Browsing by Author "Dejene, Michael"

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    Assessment of the knowledge and practice of Health Extension Workers regarding the medicine they handle, in selected districts of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-04) Shuke, Ayalnesh; Gedif, Teferi (PhD); Dejene, Michael
    The involvement of the CHW (community health workers) in drug provision has increased the availability of essential drugs lowest feasible cost to the population at the peripheral level. Some experts remain cautious about this approach, because of concerns that allowing CHWs to distribute anti-infective will increase the inappropriate use of drugs and accelerate the development of drug resistance. So this thesis assessed the knowledge and practice of HEWs regarding the medicines they handle in Sidama Zone. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2011 to January 2012. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a total of 55 HEWs available in the health posts (HP).Thirty HPs were selected from 3 districts. Medical record review was also made. Results showed that only 36.4% respondents were aware of the correct adult doses of Chloroquine and 29% and 40% of the respondents could not tell the dose of Coartem® and Chloroquine without referring to the treatment guideline, respectively. Fifty-two(94.5%) of the respondents did not knew the drug interaction between Coartem® and oral contraceptives and only 12.5% of the respondents were aware of food requirement while taking Coartem®. Only 3.6% and 29(52.7%) of HEWs reported correct doses of Amoxicillin and Cotrimoxazole, respectively. Of a total of 356 prescriptions, 50(14%) were not consistent with recommended guidelines. Therefore, the Zonal health department/ Woreda Health Office should organize refresher trainings for the HEWs to improve their knowledge about doses, drug interactions and contraindications of antimalarial drugs and antibiotics. And they should also encourage the consistency of the HEWs practice to the recommended guidelines regarding appropriate treatment choices.
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    Health and Health Related Problems of the Elderly, in Daile Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
    (Addis Abeba Universty, 1995-05) Dejene, Michael; Kassaye, Mesfin (PhD)
    There are no studies dealing with the health problems of the elderly In Ethiopia. A cross sectional survey was conducted in Daile Woreda, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia from September to December 1994 to determine the health and related problems in the elderly. One thousand and fifty three elders whose age 60 years and above were selected using multistage sampling procedure and included in the study. The male to female ratio of the study subjects was 1: 1.l7 with a mean age of 70.4 and standard deviation of ± 9.6 years. Eighty seven percent of the study subjects claimed that they were members of social and/or reI igious groups and only 1. 6 % of them I ive alone. Thirty seven percent of the study subjects were taking some forms of modern medication at the time of the interview and 9% of them had a hospital visit in the past one year. Headache, heart burn, problem of mastication and joint pain were found to be the most frequent reported ill health problems. Significant association was observed between certain disease complaints with that of female sex and increasing age. Significant number of elders who were divorced (OR=5.04, CI, 1.30, 19.55) and widowed (OR=12.35 , CI ,2.38, 64.11) are found to be psychotic. Thirty five percent and 16% of the elders were found to be impaired in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) respectively. This impairment is found to be significantly associated with increasing age, in males for IADL (OR=1.95, CI, 1.40,2.72) and in widowed elders (OR= 1.96, CI, 1.34, 2.87) for IADL and (OR=1.77, CI , 1.10,2.85) for ADL. Though the reported prevalence of symptoms of ill health and disability is high , the elders ability to work and support themselves and their families, their living in the extended family and their participation in certain social and/or religious organization was found to be encouraging. Further studies are recommended for identification of specific disease entities causing the largest prevalence of ill health.