Abstract:
Background: The prevalence of pressure ulcers can range anywhere from 0% to over 38%
depending on the sector, from general or University Hospitals to home care to nursing homes..
Objective: To assess prevalence and associated factors of pressure ulcer among adult inpatients
in Wolaitta Sodo University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia 2015.
Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was employed in Wolaita Sodo University
Teaching Hospital. The total sample size is 239 and participants were selected by using
systematic sampling technique from each ward. Data were collected by face to face interview
using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi Data version 3.1,
edited and cleaned for inconsistencies and data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Simple
and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the final predictors of
pressure ulcer development.
Results: A total of 32 pressure ulcers were detected in 239 patients, with the prevalence of
13.4%.The prevalence of pressure ulcer was higher in male respondents 17 than in female
respondents 15. This is because of most of the respondents were males. The application of the
multiple logistic regression technique showed that the presence of pressure ulcer were
significantly associated with Diabetes (AOR=4.116;95%CI=2.135,6.884), absence of change of
patientspositionbynurses(AOR=3.20;95%CI=1.34,6.23),bedriddenpatients(AOR=3.01;95%CI=1.
30,4.456),Antidepressantusers(AOR=6.016;95%CI=1.420,6.652),durationofhospitalstay>=21day
s(AOR=4.67;95%CI=1.98,12.00),Verylimitedsensoryperception(AOR=2.773;95%CI=1.244,4.64)
activitystatus(bedbound)(AOR=2.34;95%CI=3.24,4.13)andfrictionandshearproblems(AOR=2.2;
95%CI=1.85, 15.79).
Conclusion: The prevalence of pressure ulcer was high among hospitalized patients. Prolonged
length of stay in hospital, problem of sensory perception, activity status, and general condition of
the patients, patient’s principal diagnosis, and medications in use, change of patient’s position
and friction and shearing forces were significantly associated with the presence of pressure ulcer
Recommendations: Nursing director should facilitate and strengthen the staffs to use pressure
ulcer preventive devices. Nurses should practice change of patient’s position every 2hours
