Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Social Status of Patients with Neurolathyrisim in Delanta, Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Neurolathyrism, a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder associated with the consumption of the legume Lathyrus sativus, is a significant public health challenge globally, with a particular prevalence in various regions of Ethiopia. This research investigated the prevalence, associated factors, and social status of patients afflicted by neurolathyrism, specifically focusing on the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Objective of the study: To assess the prevalence, associated factors and social support status of patients with neurolathyrism in Delanta district, Ethiopia. Methodology: A community-basedcross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2022 among 480 randomly selected individuals in the Delanta district in the Amhara region. A multistage sampling technique was employed. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire after providing written informed consent from each participant. The collected data were cleaned and analyzed using the statistical software Epi version 7.2 and SPSS version 26.0, respectively. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were used. Statistical significance was determined using a P value <0.05. Associations were measured by odds ratios (ORs). Predictors of nonadherence were identified using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Factors with a P value of 0.2 or less in the bivariable analysis were selected for further multivariable analysis and entered into a logistic regression model. Results: Of the 470 individual study participants, 56 (11.9%) reported having neurolathyrism, and at the population level, the prevalence of neurolathyrism in the Delanta district was 6.6%. Age (AOR = 4.87 (CI 1.765-13.443), male sex (AOR = 23% (CI 0.003, 0.302), and educational status (AOR =33.8% (CI 0.025–4.498)) were the individual-level variables; family size (AOR = 30.8 (CI 0.139-0.682) and farm land lease (AOR = 29.3 (CI 0.106–0.811) were the household-level variables found to have significant associations with neurolathyrism. Seventeen-thirds (73%) of the neurolathyrism patients discontinued school because of a lack of support; among them, 21.4% were divorced after the disease. Conclusion In conclusion, our study has illuminated a concerning reality—the prevalence of neurolathyrism is notably high within the population under investigation. This finding underscores the pressing need for immediate attention and targeted interventions to address the burgeoning impact of this neurodegenerative disorder. The elevated prevalence rates identified in our study underscore the urgency of adopting a multifaceted approach to mitigating the risk factors associated with neurolathyrism. Considering that a significant number of victims suffer from irreversible damage from the disease in different seasons, policies and programs should focus on the prevention of lathyrism. Government officials should pronounce the problem as a major national public health problem and include it in the disease reporting system of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.