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Prevalence and Factors Associated with Dysphagia among Stroke Patients in Public and Private Hospitals of Hawassa, Ethiopia

Bedilu Deribe and Sailaja Busi

Background: According to center for disease control and prevention, stroke is one of the top ten causes of death in Ethiopia (CDC report 2013). Despite this fact the attention given to this fatal disorder is inconsiderable. Many complications commonly occur following acute stroke.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is identification of prevalence and major factors associated with dysphagia among stokes patients attending public and private hospitals in Hawassa city.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted. Gugging bed side swallowing screen tool was used to determine dysphagia. For clinical and socio-demographic variables, pretested data collection questioner was employed. Before the data collection, ethical clearance letter was sought from the university ethical board. Pretest of the tool was conducted in Kuyera hospital. The data collection took place from March/ 10/2017 to August/10/2017. Before actual data analysis the data was entered in to Epi-data then exported to SPSS Version 20 for actual data analysis. Logistic regression was used for analytical analysis. Variables with P value less than 0.25 in univariate analysis were candidates for multivariate data analysis.

Results: 209 stroke patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 60.97 ± 12.14 years. Male stroke patients account 59.3%. The Prevalence of dysphagia in this study area was 43%. Patients from urban area five times more likely to develop difficulty of swallowing (AOR 5.3, 95% CI1.228, 12.7) Comorbidity is also one of these factors which have association with dysphagia. Patients without comorbidity were 83.5% less likely to have difficulty of swallowing. (AOR 0.165, 95% CI 0.051, 0.524) cigarette smokers were 9 times more likely have difficulty of swallowing (AOR 9.04, 95% CI1.419, 57.707).

Conclusion: The prevalence of dysphagia was almost similar to other studies which implemented bedsides swallowing screening methods. Place of residence, comorbidiy and cigarette smoking were factors associated with dysphagia.