PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANT FACTORS OF PODOCONIOSIS IN WONAGO WOREDA, GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN NATION NATIONALITIES PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA.

<strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: Background: Podoconiosis is one of the neglected tropical diseases which is endemic non-filarial geochemical, non-infectious diseases, and it has relation with extreme poverty. It affects people who walk by barefoot for long period of time in areas of red clay soil which originate from alkaline volcanic rocks. Most of the time, farmers, potters, goldmine workers, daily labors and wavers are exposed to podoconiosis in case of having relation with soil. The disease causes multifaceted socio economic and public health problems and Ethiopia is among the most affected countries. Objectives: The objectives of these study was to investigate the prevalence and determinant factors of Podoconiosis at Wonago Woreda, Gedeo Zone, Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples Republic of Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 in Wonago Woreda, Gedeo Zone, Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples Republic of Ethiopia. Data were collected using an interviewed administered questionnaire and observation. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants from households. SPSS version 20 software was used for further data analysis after data was collected, coded, cleaned. Descriptive statistics was used to determine prevalence of podoconiasis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were made to determine the association between podoconiosis and underlying factors.. Results: A total of 422 individuals have participated in this study with a 100% response rate. Out of these, 376(89.1%) were non-patient and 46(10.9%) were patients, the majority of them were male participant 237(56.2%). Almost two third: 245 (58%) of the participants were between age groups of 35-54 years.. The prevalence of podoconiosis diseases was found to be 46 (10.9 %). Of these, 22(5.2%) were male and 24(5.7%) were female. The majority determinants of podoconiosis were farming works 32(7.6%), daily laborer 9(2.1%), population size 4-6 were 26(6.1%) and daily/monthly income, majority respondents daily/monthly income were 25-50/750-1500 31(7.3%). Conclusion: In particular, podoconiosis diseases were the most common among farmers and people who have low income. Therefore, Health bureau should be give training for health workers regarding to recognize the community about the causes and the prevention methods of the diseases. Government should be take care to help people who infected by this diseases. Further research needed to understand the epidemiology and clear image of podoconiosis diseases based on large sample size at zonal level including all districts is necessary.