Secondary prevention of rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia: a multicenter study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ethiopia has a high acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevalence, and to our knowledge, there are no data on the status of secondary prevention in children with RHD. This study describes the status of secondary RHD prevention.

Methods

A multicenter, prospective study was performed on children aged 5-17 years with RHD in Ethiopia. Good adherence was defined as at least 80% completion of benzathine penicillin (BPG) or oral Amoxicillin within the previous year. The primary outcome measure was adherence to prophylaxis, expressed as a proportion. Socio-demographics, severity of RHD, and ARF recurrence were evaluated.

Results

A total of 337 children with a mean age of 12.9 ± 2.6 years were included. The majority (73%) had severe aortic

SUBMITTER: Belay W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8809239 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature