Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a well-known sight-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently, 93 million people live with diabetic retinopathy worldwide. There are insufficient studies addressing the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and risk factors in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its associated factors among diabetic patients on follow-up at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 patients. They were selected through systematic sampling. Explanatory data were extracted from medical records and interviews. Blood pressure, weight, height, and visual acuity tests were assessed. Retinal examination was performed with a Topcon TRC-NW7SF fundus camera. Data were entered in EpiData 3.1 and exported in to SPSS 20 for analyses. Binary logistic regression with 95% CIs was used for analyses. Simple binary logistic regression followed by multiple binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associated factors. Results: There were 302 patients in this study, of which 57 (18.9%) had diabetic retinopathy. Among the diabetic retinopathy patients, 75.4% had the preproliferative type. Four in ten (37.7%) of the patients had visual acuity problems. Poor glycemic control (AOR 4.58, 95% CI 1.86-11.31), > 10 years' diabetes duration (AOR 3.91, 95% CI 1.86-8.23), body-mass index >25 kg/m 2 (AOR 3.74, 95% CI 1.83-7.66), and hypertension (AOR 3.39, 95% CI 1.64-7.02) were factors significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: About a-fifth of diabetic patients had diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with glycemic control, hypertension, body-mass index, and duration of illness. Routine assessment and early control of those associated factors may be important in reducing both the prevalence and impact of diabetic retinopathy, as evidenced in the current study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional views of sexual behaviors are frequently changing a s the factors influencing them are changing. Therefore, assessing sexual practices that are not part of the tradition would be necessary. The objective of this study was to identify the types of sexual practices, their development pattern and how these development patterns expose students to sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 1986 (1612 males, 365 females, and with 9 subjects' gender not indicated) Jimma university students in August 2009 with their age ranging from 17-45 years (median = 20). Quantitative data was collected using a piloted, precoded questionnaire and qualitative data was collected from six focus group discussions. Logistic regression and descriptive statistics were computed and qualitative findings were triangulated with quantitative findings. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Practice of penile to vaginal intercourse, masturbation, kissing, oral sex, and anal sex were reported by 567 (28.9%), 688 (36.7%), 840 (42.4%), 179 (9.2%) and 83 (4.3%) of the respondents, respectively. Respondents had two years (one year with and one year without condom) of sexual experience before marriage. Sixty percent of those who had sexual experience w ere exposed to sexually transmitted infections and 46.6% were exposed to both unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Forty seven percent of those who practiced oral sex and 29% of those who practiced anal sex did not consider their acts as sexual intercourse. Conclusions: University st udents are high risk groups that need more focused research and concerted health care. The term 'sexual intercourse' should be consciously defined for its future use in Ethiopia. Furthermore, Service providers and researchers should address all types of sexual practices.

Background There is no information on the prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation in Ethiopia. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors and anticoagulant requirements of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Jimma population. Methods In a community-based cross-sectional study in 634 adult (≥40 years) Jimma population, we performed cardiovascular health examinations including a 12-lead electrocardiogram to estimate AF prevalence. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on medical history, lifestyle and use of medications. Stroke risk stratification was done using CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. We used logistic regressions to determine the potential risk factors of AF. Results The overall prevalence of AF was 4.3%. AF was associated with sex, current smoking, hypertension and BMI. Nineteen out of twenty seven participants with AF were in need of anticoagulation to prevent risk of stroke. Conclusion The prevalence of AF is high and common risk factors were sex, current smoking, hypertension, and higher BMI in this cohort. More than two-third of study participants with AF were at higher need of oral anticoagulants.

Background Diabetic retinopathy is a well-known sight–threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently 93 million people live with diabetic retinopathy worldwide. There are insufficient studies addressing on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and underlying risk factors in Ethiopia. Objective To assess prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its associated factors among diabetic patients on follow up at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, North-West Ethiopia, 2019. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 participants at Debre Markos Referral Hospital. They were selected through systematic sampling technique and those with mature cataract and critically ill were excluded. The necessary data were extracted from medical records by using pre-tested checklist. Blood pressure, weight, height and visual acuity tests were assessed. Retinal examination was performed through slit lamp biomicroscope and binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. Data were entered to epi-data 3.1 version. The data were exported into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 20) program for analyses. Binary logistic regression with 95%CI was used for analyses. A variable had p-value < 0.25 in the bivariable logistic regression was entered to multivariate logistic regression. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Result There were 302 participants included in this study, out of which 57(18.9%) had diabetic retinopathy. Among DR patients, three-fourth (75.4%) had pre-proliferative type of diabetic retinopathy. Four in ten (37.7%) of diabetic patients had visual acuity problem. Poor glycaemic control (AOR(95% CI: 4.58(1.86,11.31), having more than 10 years diabetic duration (AOR(95% CI: 3.91(1.86,8.23), body mass index > 25 kg/m2(AOR(95% CI: 3.74(1.83,7.66), and hypertension (AOR(95% CI: 3.39(1.64,7.02) were significantly associated factors with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion About one fifth of DM patients had diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with glycaemic control, hypertension, body mass index and duration of illness. Routine assessment and early control of those associated factors may be important to reduce both the prevalence and impact of diabetic retinopathy as evidenced in the current study.

BACKGROUND: Individual factors such as the value given to virginity and boy/ girl friend, and stigma attached to condom can strongly affect success in preventing early sexual initiation and in using condom consistently. To the best knowledge of the authors, no literature was available in Ethiopia on these issues until the time of this study. The objective of this study was to assess the value given to virginity, boy/ girl friend, and stigma related to condom access and use. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 1986 students in May 2009 in Jimma University using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Data were collected using piloted and pre -coded questionnaire and from six focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS for windows version 13 where descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and t-test were computed. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant and effect size was measured in Eta squared. The qualitative data findings were triangulated with the quantitative ones. RESULTS: Of 1986 respondents, 1612 (81.2%) were males, 365 (18.4%) females and 9 (0.4%) their gender not indicated. The age of respondents ranged fro m 17-45 years with median of 20 years. Virginity value-scores were significantly lower among females (p< 0.001, Eta squared= 0.023). In contrast to many males, most females appeared to be not concerned about virginity during the focus group discussions. Many respondents of both genders reported that boy/girl friend is very important in campus life. Although the stigma to condom was slightly higher among females (p< 0 .001, Eta squared= 0.009), most respondents of both genders had a stigmatizing attitude. CONCLUSION: Lower virginity value among females with high value given to boy/girl friend appeared to indicate the liberalization of sex. Liberalization of sex and stigma to condom were occurring together. Sex educators targeting university students should focus on problems of liberalized unprotected sex in relation to success in life. KEYWOR DS: virginity value, boy/ girl friend value, stigma to condom