Abstract:
Background: Anxiety is a common condition in any chronic disease. Anxiety symptoms may
affect the patients’ ability to control their condition, their quality of life, and their overall health
levels.Despite this fact,limited research studies have been conductedin Ethiopia to address
anxiety among patients with chronic diseases.
Objective: To assessthe prevalence of anxiety and associated factors among patients with
chronic non-communicable diseases on follow up at Jimma Medical Center, Jimma, Southwest
Ethiopia;2020.
Methods:An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Medical
Centerfrom May11th to July 8th, 2020.A total of 411patients with chronic non-communicable
diseases were included through a systematic sampling technique. Anxiety was assessed using
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which is validated in Ethiopia.Data were collected using
a pre-tested based structured questionnaire through face to face interview which was prepared
originally in English and translated to Afan Oromo and Amharic language for data collection
purposes. After data collection, the data were cleaned and presented with text, graphys and
tables. Two data collectors and one supervisor were collect data after one-day intensive
training.The collected data were entered into Epi-data and transported into statistical package
for social science version 25 and bivariate was done to evaluate the relationship between single
independent vs dependent variable those variable p-values<0.25 candidate for multivariate. In
multivariate p<0.05 declared as statistical significance.
Result:The study revealed that the prevalence of anxiety was 29.9%. Being female(AOR=2.38,
95%CI(1.61-5.52), presence of co-morbid illness(AOR=4.2, 95%CI (2.18-8.06)), perceived
illness not control.(AOR=5.43, 95%CI (2.75-10.7) and physical inactivity(AOR=2.83,
95%CI(1.56-5.13)) had a statistically significant association with anxiety with p-value <0.005
Conclusion and Recommendation: Prevalence of anxiety was high. Being female, perception
that illness uncontrolled,presence of co-morbid illness, and physical inactivity were associated
with anxiety. Health care professional should provide advice to patients about the importance of
physical activities to prevent anxiety and patients with comorbidy illness and female patient
should be screened for anxiety.
