This study aims to assess the burden and predictors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among older age patients with diabetes attending comprehensive specialised hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted among older patients with diabetes using a systematic random sampling technique.

The study was conducted at five comprehensive specialised hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia from 8 May to 8 June 2023.

The study included 832 diabetic individuals aged 40 years and above.

Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and physical examinations.

In this study, a total of 832 participants were involved, with a response rate of 96.85%. The burden of AMD was 15.4% (95% CI 13.0% to 18.0%). Male sex (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.04, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.56), older age (AOR 6.91, 95% CI 3.17 to 15.08), diabetes duration of 10 and more years (AOR 3.00, 95% CI 1.91 to 4.69), higher body mass index (AOR 2.56, 95% CI 1.15 to 5.71), presence of hypertension (AOR 2.45, 95% CI 1.56 to 3.85) and family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (AOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.76) were positively associated with AMD.

This study found that the prevalence of AMD among patients with diabetes was 15.4%. Older age, male sex, longer DM duration, higher body mass index, presence of hypertension and family history of DM were significantly associated with AMD. Targeted screening of at-risk individuals for AMD, public health awareness campaigns focusing on these factors and further research to understand the burden and underlying mechanisms of these associations with AMD are recommended.

Inappropriate medication use among surgical patients poses significant risks, including antibiotic resistance, complications, mortality, increased healthcare costs and challenges in pain management. This study aimed to assess the extent of inappropriate antibiotic and analgesic prescriptions, treatment adequacy and contributing factors.

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients admitted to surgical wards in three comprehensive specialised hospitals in northwest Ethiopia.

All eligible adult patients admitted to the surgical wards during the data collection period were included in the study.

The primary outcomes were the appropriateness of antibiotic and analgesic prescriptions. To assess patients’ pain perception and the effectiveness of pain management strategies, the American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire was used. The Pain Management Index was employed to evaluate the treatment adequacy. The RAND (Research and Development)-modified Delphi method was applied to reach expert consensus on best practices for antibiotic prescribing. Additionally, the national standard treatment guideline was used to benchmark prescribing practices. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics and analgesics.

The prevalence of inappropriate antibiotics use was 67.5% and 42.2% of patients received inappropriate analgesic prescriptions. Moreover, 51.6% of patients experienced inadequate pain management. Significant factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic prescription included the presence of comorbidities (adjsuted OR (AOR) 3.34, 95% CI 1.88 to 5.92), lack of laboratory tests (AOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.43, higher number of medications (AOR 2.71, 95% CI 1.62 to 4.52) and contaminated wound class (AOR 3.13, 95% CI 1.58 to 6.20). For inappropriate analgesic prescription, pain due to disease (AOR 8.69, 95% CI 1.73 to 4.62), mixed causes of pain (AOR 7.20, 95% CI 1.43 to 6.31), head and facial pain (AOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.39) and an increased number of medications (AOR 2.75, 95% CI 1.72 to 4.41) were significant factors.

The majority of the patients admitted to surgical wards were found to receive inappropriate antibiotic and analgesic medications. Prescribers should pay attention to patients with comorbid diseases, receiving multiple medications. Additionally, routine laboratory tests are essential for guiding antibiotic therapy and improving patient outcomes in surgical wards.

This study aimed to assess high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (HPV 16/18) and its determinants among women in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

An institutional-based cross-sectional study.

The study was conducted among 337 women screened for cervical cancer in two hospitals in East Gojjam Zone from February to April 2021 gregoriean calander.

The prevalence of HPV infection was 14.2% (95% CI: 10.7% to 18.1%). The mean age of the respondents was 36.7±9.1 years. Women in the age group of 55–65 years (adjusted OR (AOR)=7.91, 95% CI: 1.95 to 32.09), early initiation of sexual intercourse (AOR=5.36, 95% CI: 1.58 to 18.13), history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (AOR=3.52, 95% CI: 1.27 to 9.72), HIV positive status (AOR=6.8, 95% CI: 1.99 to 23.54) and number of lifetime sexual partners (AOR=4.37, 95% CI: 1.15 to 17.3) were important independent factors associated with the presence of oncogenic HPV infection.

We found a relatively low prevalence of high-risk HPV infection. Age, early initiation of sexual intercourse at less than 18 years, history of STI, being HIV seropositive and multiple sexual partners were important factors for high-risk HPV infection. Women aged >46 years, women with early initiation of sex, a history of STI, being HIV positive and a history of multiple sexual partners should be encouraged to be screened and vaccinated for HPV infection. Wider-ranging studies are also needed in HPV-infected women in association with the cervical lesion.