Disease Burden among Homeless Individuals with Low Living Standards at Bule Hora Town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Poverty is inability to attain minimum standards of living. Possibility of disease load is the effect of a health problem as measured by economic cost, death, injury, or other health indicators.

Objective: Objective of the research is to find out the disease burden among individuals with low living standards.

Materials and Methods: Community based random sample study was conducted among 121 homeless individuals between the age group of 15-45 years in BuleHora town. The questionnaire was given to collect data by interviewing them. In low-income nations; communicable disease accounts for more than 60 percent across many countries. On the basis of stratified sampling technique 4 kebele were selected and by using simple random technique 121 respondents were selected. The data was analyzed by finding the frequency, percentage of demographic characteristics, availability of basic amenities, and disease burden among homeless.

Results: The results showed that out of 121 respondents 112 (92.5%) of them are males and 9 (7.5%) of them are females. The most prevalent disease reported was malaria (34.68%) followed by headache (8.3%) and common cold (5.78%). All participants reported that they prefer modern medicine when they are sick and none of them reported to go for traditional healer for treatment. Among the total, 79.35 % of them visited clinics or hospitals and 20.65 % buy drugs from pharmacy.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the study proved that low living standards increase the disease burden among the homeless of BuleHora town and poor individuals were the most to be carriers of the disease. It impact on the nutritional status, hygienic condition as well on the access to health services of the homeless individuals.