Browsing by Author "Kassaye, Mesfin (PhD)"

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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.
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    Magnitude and Type of Physical Violence Against Married Women in Meskan and Mareko District Southern Ethiopia
    (Addis Abeba Universty, 1996-05) Deyessa, Negussie; Kassaye, Mesfin (PhD)
    The seriousness in magnitude of physical violence, and lack of information on the dimensions and context of the problem here in Ethiopia, have made this paper to be important. A cross-sectional survey and a focus group discussion were conducted in Meskanena Mareko woreda, South western Ethiopia, for a period of one month with an objective to assess the magnitude and types of physical violence against married women and its associated factors. A total of 673 married women were included in the study. The study found out the overall prevalence of physical violence on married women to be 45.0 % and 9.7 % in their lifetime and last three months, respectively. The type of physical violence most frequently observed was slapping or hitting a woman with a fist, kicking with leg, and hitting with stick or iron bar. The out comes of the physical violence ranged from small laceration to permanent damages. The study has also shown that khat chewing than not chewing (OR= 1.59, 95 % CI: 1.13, 2.23), marriage initiated by family than by self (OR= 1.94, 95 % CI: 1.14, 3.37), having history of parental spousal abuse than don't have (OR= 1.89 95 % CI: 1.37, 2.39), having social confidant than don't have (OR= 1.95, 95 % CI: 1.30, 2.97) and alcoholic than non alcoholic spouses were the most contributing factors to the increase in magnitude of physical violence against married women. We recommend policy makers to be involved to entail the problem and increase public awareness of physical violence and introduce enforcing law and other researchers to carry out an in depth study to identify circumstances of physical violence, what the community regards physical violence and to come up with further analysis in terms of spouses point of view.
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    Prevalence and Determinants of Dental Caries in Shashemene Woreda
    (Addis Abeba University, 1995-05) Andemichael, Ghirmay; Kassaye, Mesfin (PhD)
    A cross sectional community based survey to determine the prevalence of dental caries in Shashemene woreda, 250 Km. South Eastern part of Ethiopia was conducted between November 1994 and December 1994. A total of 1228 individuals, 630 (51.3%) males and 598 (48.7%) females participated in the study. The overall dental caries prevalence rate was found to be 51.4% 631 of the total 1228 people being affected, The prevalence of dental caries was found to be hgher among the rural resdents 53.7% of the total 821 people examined being affected as compared to 46 . 4% of the total 407 urban population studied respectively. Females were affected more than males, 315 (52.7%) of the total 598 and 316 (50 . 2%) of t he total 630 respectively. The difference was statistically significant OR= 1.81(1. 32 , 2. 49) .The survey also elucidated that the disease prevalence increases with age old people being affected more, only 11.8% of those aged 60 years and above being caries free. The risk factors for dental caries identified in this study were age (being old), sex residence (being rural r esident) , (being a female), low education, consumption of sweet food items, Khat chewing, presence of food remnants in the oral cavity, gi-ngivitis, cal culi and plaque. vi The study has elucidated that dental caries prevalence is high, more than half of the studied population being affected by dental caries. It seems that the "excellent Ethiopian teeth" practically is becoming a legend this days. Strengthening of health education in the health institutions and initiation of health education programme in schools, training of adequate health man power to deal with oral health problems and further studies to identify other risk factors and treatment requirement are recommended.
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    Prevalence, Attitude and Factors related to sexual violence among high school students
    (Addis Abeba Universty, 1996-05) Mulugeta, Ermias; Kassaye, Mesfin (PhD)
    Though sexual violence is increasingly being recognized as a problem in different countries there is a knowledge gap regarding this problem in Ethiopia which prompt the conduct of this study. Focused Group discussion and cross sectional school-based survey using self administered anonymous questionnaire was conducted in Addis Ababa and Western Shoa high school students from January 1 to January 15, 1996 to determine prevalence, factors related to, reported outcome and attitude of high school students towards sexual violence. A total of 2773 students were involved in the study. A prevalence rate of completed rape and attempted rape among female students was 5.2% and 10.1% respectively. Eighty nine(6.5%) of male students admitted to rape a girl while 181(13.2%) claimed to attempt rape. Sexual harassment was reported in 74.3% of female students. Unwanted pregnancy and different forms of psychiatric disturbance were reported among rape victims which signifies the role of rape in these health problems. There was significantly higher proportion of rape among female students who were aged more than 20 (OR=6.00 95% I, 27.57), from divorced family (OR=2.46 95% CI:1.31, 4.5), who were living alone (OR=4.88 95% CI:2.17,10.71), who were living with a relative (OR=2.49 95% CI:1.10, 5.46) and who had a boy friend (OR=7.86 95% CI:4.56, 13.64). There was a significantly higher proportion of committing rape among males who were living in rural areas, who were living alone and who had a girl friend (OR=0.43 95% CI:0.26-0.69; OR=2.44 95% CI:1.16, 5.02; OR=4.48 95% CI:2.82,7.11 respectively). Substance use and physical force were also contributing to the offence. On attitude towards sexual violence major proportion of students believe that it is" acceptable" to force a girl to have intercourse in certain conditions. Both the survey and focus group discussion address that sexual violence is a serious problem and not a rare event among high school students. Based on these findings it is recommended that sexual violence deserves due attention and remedial action from concerned bodies and further qualitative study is recommended to have in depth knowledge.