Study Examines Uptake of Rheumatic Heart Disease Prophylaxis in Ethiopia
Rheumatic heart disease remains an important cause of preventable illness in Ethiopia, and regular benzathine penicillin G injections can prevent recurrent acute rheumatic fever and further heart-valve damage, though maintaining injections over many years can be challenging.
A multicentre cross-sectional study examined 400 people with rheumatic heart disease attending three referral hospitals in Ethiopia to determine how consistently they received prescribed benzathine penicillin G injections and to identify factors associated with higher uptake.
Approximately three-quarters received at least 80% of their prescribed injections during the preceding year. Lower uptake was particularly associated with living farther from the follow-up facility, living in non-urban areas, longer duration of prophylaxis and frequent injection pain, while family support was associated with higher uptake.
Participants with higher uptake reported fewer recurrent acute rheumatic fever manifestations during the preceding year, although the study design cannot establish that higher uptake caused this difference.
The findings suggest that maintaining long-term prophylaxis depends on both healthcare accessibility and the cumulative burden of treatment. Improving access to safe delivery, injection acceptability, reliable supply, longitudinal follow-up and sustained patient and family support may strengthen rheumatic heart disease control in Ethiopia.
Source: PLOS (Public Library of Science) · PLOS (Public Library of Science)
