Science Journal of Public Health

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Factors Associated with Lymphoedema Management Success Among Podoconiosis Patients in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Received: 05 June 2017    Accepted: 21 June 2017    Published: 30 August 2017
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Abstract

Podoconiosis is non-filarial elephantiasis of lower legs which predominantly affects barefooted people. In later clinical stages, the disease manifests lymphoedema of the lower legs with mossy and nodular changes to the skin. The disease progressively disables patients when they are continuously exposed to irritant soils. The present study aimed to assess factors associated with lymphoedema management success among podoconiosis patients. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2014 among podoconiosis patients. A two-stage sampling technique was employed to randomly select a total of 845 study subjects from 4 districts of Wolaita zone. To collect data, interviewer administered questionnaire was used along with observation. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to select the candidate and the predictor variables respectively. Majority (71.2%) of the study subjects managed their lymphoedema successfully. Three fourth of the study participants were adhered to the stepwise lymphoedema management procedures. Acute dermato lymphangio adenitis (acute attack), was manifested rarely among 61.4% of the subjects after completion of the treatment. Patients' adherence to stepwise treatment procedures, completion of treatment regimen, duration of follow-up, attitude towards lymphoedema management, age and literacy were found to be the main predictors of lymphoedema management success. The present study assessed main factors associated with lymphoedema management success in podoconiosis. Duration of treatment follow-up, adherence to stepwise treatment procedure, completion of treatment, attitude on disease management and community perceptions towards patients were the main factors associated with successful lymphoedema management. Strict supervision and follow-up of patients to reinforce the home-based lymphoedema care is a vital precondition to successfully manage lymphoedema. Furthermore, longitudinal studies have to be conducted to bring a better lymphoedema management scenario with a higher success rate.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 5, Issue 5, September 2017)
Page(s) 392-400
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Podoconiosis, Elephantiasis, Lymphoedema management, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

References
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Author Information
  • Biomedical Science Division, Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia

  • School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia

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    Bereket Alemayehu, Mihiretu Alemayehu. (2017). Factors Associated with Lymphoedema Management Success Among Podoconiosis Patients in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Science Journal of Public Health, 5(5), 392-400. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16

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    Bereket Alemayehu; Mihiretu Alemayehu. Factors Associated with Lymphoedema Management Success Among Podoconiosis Patients in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Sci. J. Public Health 2017, 5(5), 392-400. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16

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    AMA Style

    Bereket Alemayehu, Mihiretu Alemayehu. Factors Associated with Lymphoedema Management Success Among Podoconiosis Patients in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Sci J Public Health. 2017;5(5):392-400. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16,
      author = {Bereket Alemayehu and Mihiretu Alemayehu},
      title = {Factors Associated with Lymphoedema Management Success Among Podoconiosis Patients in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {5},
      number = {5},
      pages = {392-400},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170505.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20170505.16},
      abstract = {Podoconiosis is non-filarial elephantiasis of lower legs which predominantly affects barefooted people. In later clinical stages, the disease manifests lymphoedema of the lower legs with mossy and nodular changes to the skin. The disease progressively disables patients when they are continuously exposed to irritant soils. The present study aimed to assess factors associated with lymphoedema management success among podoconiosis patients. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2014 among podoconiosis patients. A two-stage sampling technique was employed to randomly select a total of 845 study subjects from 4 districts of Wolaita zone. To collect data, interviewer administered questionnaire was used along with observation. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to select the candidate and the predictor variables respectively. Majority (71.2%) of the study subjects managed their lymphoedema successfully. Three fourth of the study participants were adhered to the stepwise lymphoedema management procedures. Acute dermato lymphangio adenitis (acute attack), was manifested rarely among 61.4% of the subjects after completion of the treatment. Patients' adherence to stepwise treatment procedures, completion of treatment regimen, duration of follow-up, attitude towards lymphoedema management, age and literacy were found to be the main predictors of lymphoedema management success. The present study assessed main factors associated with lymphoedema management success in podoconiosis. Duration of treatment follow-up, adherence to stepwise treatment procedure, completion of treatment, attitude on disease management and community perceptions towards patients were the main factors associated with successful lymphoedema management. Strict supervision and follow-up of patients to reinforce the home-based lymphoedema care is a vital precondition to successfully manage lymphoedema. Furthermore, longitudinal studies have to be conducted to bring a better lymphoedema management scenario with a higher success rate.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Factors Associated with Lymphoedema Management Success Among Podoconiosis Patients in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia
    AU  - Bereket Alemayehu
    AU  - Mihiretu Alemayehu
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    AB  - Podoconiosis is non-filarial elephantiasis of lower legs which predominantly affects barefooted people. In later clinical stages, the disease manifests lymphoedema of the lower legs with mossy and nodular changes to the skin. The disease progressively disables patients when they are continuously exposed to irritant soils. The present study aimed to assess factors associated with lymphoedema management success among podoconiosis patients. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2014 among podoconiosis patients. A two-stage sampling technique was employed to randomly select a total of 845 study subjects from 4 districts of Wolaita zone. To collect data, interviewer administered questionnaire was used along with observation. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to select the candidate and the predictor variables respectively. Majority (71.2%) of the study subjects managed their lymphoedema successfully. Three fourth of the study participants were adhered to the stepwise lymphoedema management procedures. Acute dermato lymphangio adenitis (acute attack), was manifested rarely among 61.4% of the subjects after completion of the treatment. Patients' adherence to stepwise treatment procedures, completion of treatment regimen, duration of follow-up, attitude towards lymphoedema management, age and literacy were found to be the main predictors of lymphoedema management success. The present study assessed main factors associated with lymphoedema management success in podoconiosis. Duration of treatment follow-up, adherence to stepwise treatment procedure, completion of treatment, attitude on disease management and community perceptions towards patients were the main factors associated with successful lymphoedema management. Strict supervision and follow-up of patients to reinforce the home-based lymphoedema care is a vital precondition to successfully manage lymphoedema. Furthermore, longitudinal studies have to be conducted to bring a better lymphoedema management scenario with a higher success rate.
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