Mamushet, Yared( MD, MSC)Belachew, Ayele (MD,MPH )Alemayehu, Biniyam( MD)Mesfin, Meron2021-03-142025-01-082021-03-142025-01-082020-11https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/25472Background: Non-traumatic spinal cord injury is to a range of conditions caused by infection,autoimmune, vascular, neoplastic, metastatic, and compressive lesions. The health care option to patients with spinal cord injury, usually supportive and rehabilitative, assumes to have a longterm benefit, hence requires continuous monitoring of Quality of life as an outcome measure,with the overall goal of optimizing patient functioning and well-being. There is little information available on the quality of life in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury in Ethiopia. This study identifies the health-related quality of life in patients with non-traumatic myelopathy at two neurology referral clinics Of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and & Zewditu Memorial Hospital. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 50 patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury, using short-form -36 questionnaires to determine the Health-related Quality of life. The data was collected through face-to-face and through phoneinterviews from Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital from March 2019-October 2020. Results- The mean age of the patients was 42.5±14.33. 23(46%) of them were males and 27(54%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.1. 45(90%) patients were paraparetic and 18(36%) were bowel and bladder incontinent. The most common cause of non-traumatic myelopathy was compressive myelopathy (42%), followed by Transverse myelitis (34%). HIV myelopathy was seen in 4(8%) patients. The mean HRQOL was 37.08±25.41. 29(58%) patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury fall in the lower range of HRQOL (0-33) while 12(24%) and 9(18%) in the moderate range (34-66), and higher range (67-100) respectively. The role of physical and role emotional domains were significantly affected. The body pain domain was least affected. Patients who walk supported were found to have significantly lower HRQOL compared to those unsupported patients (OR= 0.009, 95%CI: 0.001-0.097, P-Value= 0.01). Patients with sphincter dysfunction have lower HRQOL compared to those patients with no sphincter dysfunction (OR =1.600, 95%CI: 1.223- 2.093). Unemployment was found to have a significant association with low HRQOL (OR=0.014, 95% CI 0.004-0.0092, P-value =0.0021). Conclusion -Patients with non-traumatic myelopathy have a low health-related quality of life. Walking with support, unemployed, and patients with sphincter dysfunction have low HRQOL. The role physical and role of the emotional domain were significantly affected so that physiological and emotional support should be part of the rehabilitation therapy. Government and non-government organization should involve NTSCI patients by forming platforms to suit employment of this group of patients.en-USNon-traumatic myelopathy,Quality of life, PatientsThesis