PurposeThe incidence of retinal detachment in Blacks is generally considered to be low though there are few supporting studies in Africa. This study, thus, aimed at describing the clinical profile of patients with retinal detachment in Southwest Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based study was done on all consecutive retinal detachment patients who presented to Jimma University Hospital over six months period. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect patients’ sociodemographic characteristics and clinical history. Comprehensive anterior and posterior segment eye examinations were done and risk factors were sought for. Statistical tests were considered significant if P < 0.05.ResultsA total of 94 eyes of 80 patients (1.5%) had retinal detachment (RD) and about 69% of patients were symptomatic for over a month before presentation. The mean age was 41.4 years (SD ±16.5). Fourteen patients (17.5%) had bilateral RD. At presentation, 61 eyes (64.9%) were blind from RD and 11 (13.8%) patients were bilaterally blind from RD. Rhegmatogenous RD was seen in 55 eyes (58.5%) and tractional RD in 22 eyes (23.4%). The most common risk factors were ocular trauma (32 eyes, 34.0%), myopia (23 eyes, 24.5%), posterior uveitis (13 eyes, 13.8%) and diabetic retinopathy (9 eyes, 9.6%). Most retinal breaks (25 eyes, 43.1%) were superotemporal and horse-shoe tear was the most common (19 eyes, 20.2%). Macula was off in 77 eyes (81.9%) and 38 eyes (69.1% of RRD eyes) had grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Macular status was significantly associated with PVR (P=0.011), and duration of symptoms (RR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.059-1.475, P=0.040).ConclusionsA significant numbers of patients with ocular problem had retinal detachment, and nearly two third of the patients presented late. Trauma and myopia were the most important risk factors. People should be educated to improve their health seeking behavior and use eye safety precautions to prevent ocular trauma.

BACKGROU D: Ocular trauma is an important public health hazard with enormous human, social and economical consequences. Worldwide, there are about 1.6 million blind and 19 million with unilateral visual loss people from eye injuries. A study done at a teaching referral hospital in Addis Ababa revealed 15.8% of blindness to be attributed to trauma alone. But there are no researches done on patterns of ocular trauma in the study area. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the pattern of ocular trauma among patients seen in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A 2-year retrospective review of records on 304 patients with ocular trauma seen from July 1 st , 2006-June 30 th , 2008 was done using a structured format. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 16.0. Associations between variables were checked by Chi-Square test and significance considered when p < 0.05. RESULTS: Ocular trauma accounted for 1452(6.9%) of the 21165 ocular patients seen at the outpatient department in the aforementioned 2 years period. Of the studied 304 cases, 194(63.8%) were below age 30 with mean age 25.5(SD±15.6). Male to female ratio was 3.2:1. One hundred twenty one (39.8%) patients presented to hospital in 2-7days of injury. Duration of presentation had significant association with presence of infection and other complications (p-value<0.05). The causes of injury were violence related, domestic accidents and occupational in 51(16.8%), 40(13.2%) and 36(11.8%) of cases, respectively. Closed globe injuries accounted for 138 (45.4%), open globe injuries for 69 (22.7%) and adnexal injuries constituted 93 (30.6%). Rupture of the globe was seen in 14 (4.6%) while 15 (4.9%) cases were diagnosed with endophthalmitis. CO CLUSIO S: Ocular trauma is found to be of a significant magnitude in the study area. Closed globe injuries are seen more than open globe injuries. Delay in presentation was associated with infections and other complications. We recommend preventing the injury/mechanisms to reduce occurrence of injury and promote early care seeking behavior.

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BACKGROUND: Invented nearly half a century ago, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is overwhelmingly accepted clinical skills assessment tool and has been used worldwide for evaluating and teaching learners’ competences in health care disciplines. Regardless of factors affecting the attributes, OSCE is considered as reliable and powerful tool with certain validity evidences. In spite of its advantages and various promotion efforts, the progress of OSCE implementation in Ethiopian public universities has not been satisfactory. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the experience and challenges of OSCE implementation from the perspective of clinical year-II medical students and their examiners in Ob-Gyn Department of Jimma University.METHODS: Forty-nine students and seven examiners voluntarily participated in Ob-Gyn Department where OSCE has been used as one of summative assessment methods. Qualitative study design using structured open-ended questionnaire as a tool and descriptive phenomenology as underpinning method were employed. Collaizzi’s descriptive analysis was used as phenomenological analysis approach.RESULT: Poor organization, inadequate student preparation time, and inadequate number and duration of stations were thematically emerged as umbrellas of factors negatively affecting OSCE implementation. Satisfaction with OSCE was the only theme with findings that encourage OSCE implementation.CONCLUSION: There should be team approach, shared responsibility and proper planning among faculty to minimize hindering factors of OSCE implementation. Besides faculty development on OSCE, the department should improve skill lab utilization arranging schedule for both students and faculty members to increase guided students’ exposure to simulation-based learning and ultimately enhance OSCE implementation.

BackgroundAnthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Naturally occurring human infection is rare and is generally the result of contact with anthrax-infected animals or animal products.Case presentationWe examined three patients who had contact with presumed anthrax-infected animal and/or its product and presented with preseptal cellulitis with a localized itchy erythematous papule of the eyelid and non-pitting periorbital edema, followed by ulceration and dark eschar formation. All the three patients responded to intravenous antibiotics, and the lesion resolved leaving scars which caused cicatricial ectropion in all cases.ConclusionAnthrax is a rare disease but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ulcerative (and eschar forming) preseptal cellulitis with a history of contact with anthrax-infected animals or animal products. Furthermore, cicatrization of the eyelids, one of the sequelae of periocular cutaneous anthrax, should be addressed. Urgent case report to the local zoonotic disease and infection control body and other responsible authorities is recommended.