BackgroundHypertension self-care practice is essential for blood pressure control and reduction of hypertension complications. Nevertheless, we know little concerning hypertension self-care practice in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess hypertension self-care practice and associated factors among patients in public health facilities in Dessie town, Ethiopia.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 309 hypertensive patients (mean age 58.8 years, 53.4% women) completed the interviewer-administered questionnaire in Amharic language. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22.ResultThe mean score for hypertension self-care was 37.7 ± 8.2 and 51% scored below the mean. Divorced participants (AOR = 0.115, 95% CI = 0.026, 0.508, p-value < 0.01) and those who lack source of information (AOR = 0.084, 95% CI = 0.022, 0.322, p-value < 0.01) were less likely to have good self-care practice. But, participants who had convenient place for exercise (AOR = 2.968, 95% CI = 1.826, 4.825, p-value < 0.01), who had good social support (AOR = 2.204, 95% CI = 1.272, 3.821, p-value < 0.01), who had traditional clergy-based teaching (AOR = 2.209, 95% CI = 1.064, 4.584, p-value < 0.05), and who had good self-care agency (AOR = 1.222, 2.956, p-value < 0.05) were more likely to have good self-care practice.ConclusionMost of the study participants reported poor self-care practices. Factors associated with hypertension self-care practice are marital status, education, source of self-care information, place for exercise, social support, and self-care agency. Targeted interventions are needed to improve hypertension self-care practice.

BackgroundDiabetes, a rising global health problem, requires continuous self-care practice to prevent acute and chronic complications. However, studies show that few diabetes patients practice the recommended self-care in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with self-care practice among adult diabetes patients in public hospitals of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 257 diabetes patients (mean age 42.9 ± 14.6 years, 54.1% male) completed the survey in Afan Oromo and Amharic languages. A questionnaire consisting standardized tools was used to collect the data. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 21.ResultsThe mean score for diabetes self-care was 39.8 ± 9.5 and 45.5% of the participants scored below the mean. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that having higher diabetes knowledge (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.22, 4.80), self-efficacy (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.64, 6.62), social support (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.37, 5.96), secondary school education (AOR = 6.0, 95% CI = 1.90, 18.85), and longer duration of diabetes (AOR = 5.55, 95% CI = 2.29, 13.44) were important predictors of good diabetes self-care practice.ConclusionThe diabetes education programs should use strategies that enhance patients’ diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, and social support. Patients with recent diabetes diagnosis need special attention as they may relatively lack knowledge and skills in self-care. Further studies are needed to elucidate pathways through which diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, social support, and health literacy affect diabetes self-care.

Background: Most patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) have high number of comorbid chronic conditions that can affect their self-care abilities. Guidelines for diabetes self-care behaviors are disease specific with little attention given to managing T2D with other comorbidities. Identifying comorbidities that either improve or potentially diminish the individual’s capacity to perform effective self-care behaviors is essential to enhance clinical outcomes. One such framework conceptualizes comorbidities as concordant or discordant with diabetes pathophysiological pathways and care goals. Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the role of diabetes-concordant and discordant chronic conditions on the performance of self-care behaviors in adults with T2D. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to identify published English language articles through the following five electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, and EMBASE. Quantitative studies published from March 2006 to April 2018 were included. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institutes Critical Appraisal Tools (JBI-CAT) and rated using Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies (QATQS). Results: The initial database search identified 1,136 articles but only 33 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included. The most common concordant comorbidity was hypertension while depression was the most common discordant condition. Adherence to medications was the most frequent diabetes self-care behavior reported and tended to be higher among concordant comorbidities. The findings showed mixed results concerning the effect of some concordant comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, retinopathy, and heart failure on diabetes self-care behaviors. But, there is agreement across studies that diabetes-discordant comorbidities have a more detrimental effect on self-care behaviors. Conclusions: Concordant comorbidities may improve diabetes self-care, but the evidence is inconclusive. Future research using well designed studies are needed to examine the complex relationship between diabetes self-care and comorbidities.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of type 2 diabetes resulting from long-term accumulated damage to retinal blood vessels. It is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in adults with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and associated factors among type 2 diabetes patients visiting Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2018. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire and direct eye examination with Topcon Retinal Camera. Data was analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 22. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of diabetic retinopathy. Statistical significance was determined using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Result: A total of 191 type 2 diabetes patients, mean age of 57 ± 10.1 years, participated in this study. From this, 98 (51.3%) had diabetic retinopathy. Multiple logistic regression model revealed that male were about 11 times (AOR=11.248, 95%CI=1.816, 69.689) more likely to have diabetic retinopathy. Participants who visited diabetes clinic every month were about 37 times (AOR=0.027, 95%CI=0.003, 0.0253), those with HbA1c ≤ 7% were 10 times (AOR=0.099, 95%CI=0.020, 0.485), and those without comorbid hypertension were 31.3 times (AOR=0.032, 95%CI=0.006, 0.167) less likely to have diabetic retinopathy. There was a 1.13 times increase in prevalence of diabetic retinopathy for a 1 year increase in the type 2 diabetes duration (AOR=1.126, 95%CI=1.022, 1.242). Conclusion: Our study showed the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 51.3%. Male sex, clinic visits every 6 months, longer duration of diabetes, HbA1c>7%, and comorbid hypertension were independently associated with diabetic retinopathy. Timely screening for diabetic retinopathy and continuous diabetes self-management education are warranted.

This focused ethnographic study explores and describes the conceptions of care among family caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Leininger's theory of culture care diversity and universality is the conceptual anchor of this ethnographic study. Using semistructured interviews and participant observation, 6 key informants and 12 general informants were interviewed in their home in Amharic language. Data were analyzed in Amharic using Leininger's phases of ethnonursing analysis for qualitative data and then translated to English. Four major themes representing family caregivers' conceptions of care were identified: nourishing the PLWA while struggling with poverty, maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene of the person and surroundings, comforting the PLWA, and sacrificing self to sustain the PLWA. Valuable data were gathered about the family caregivers' conceptions of care. Nurses can use this knowledge to design and provide culturally congruent care to family caregivers and PLWAs in the community.