Prevalence and determinant of poor treatment outcome of poisoning in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Acute poisoning is a severe medical condition that requires immediate attention, as it can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of poor treatment outcomes among patients who have been poisoned in Ethiopia. To achieve this, the researchers conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, to identify original studies that addressed the prevalence and determinants of poor treatment outcomes among patients. The search was limited to studies published until the end of December 2024, and the researchers used Endnote X-8 reference manager software to collect and organize the search outcomes, removing any duplicate articles. The study's findings were based on the analysis of 11 research articles and a total of 10,089 poisoned patients. The results showed that the pooled prevalence of poor treatment outcomes among poisoned patients was 16.13%, indicating a significant proportion of patients who experienced adverse outcomes. Further analysis revealed that patients living in rural areas and those who experienced delayed arrival at health facilities were more likely to have poor treatment outcomes. Specifically, the study found that patients living in rural areas had a nearly threefold increased risk of poor treatment outcomes (AOR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.44, 5.42), while delayed arrival at health facilities was associated with a more than sixfold increased risk (AOR: 6.15, 95% CI: 2.46, 15.34). These findings highlight the importance of prompt medical attention and access to healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas, to improve treatment outcomes for patients who have been poisoned. Overall, the study's results suggest that targeted interventions to address these determinants could help reduce the prevalence of poor treatment outcomes among poisoned patients in Ethiopia. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40234769/