Abstract:
Background: Acute poisoning causes significant patient morbidity and mortality globally.
However, little is known about this issue in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess acute poisoning immediate treatment outcome and its associated factors
among poisoned patients attending at emergency department of public hospitals in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia 2021/22.
Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted on 374 patients presented
with acute poisoning condition to emergency departments of five randomly selected public
hospitals in Addis Ababa. Data were collected by trained data collectors with face to face exit
interview by using structured questionnaire and phone call made for those unstable relative of
deceased patients. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 26 and summarized
using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage and mean. Bivariate and multivariate logistic
regression analysis were done to identify factors associated with acute poisoning immediate
treatment outcome and the strength of association was measured by 97% CI and statistical
significance declared at p-value < 0.03. Data were presented by using texts, tables and graphs.
Study result: Of the three hundred seventy four acutely poisoned patients, majority 348 (93%)
survived and the rest 26 (7%) patients died. Acute poisoning happened mainly among 16-30
years of age group, 218(58%). Ops and Rat poisoning were the most common and fatal toxic
substances used consecutively. Staying in Hospital for ≤ 48 hours [AOR (97% CI) = 7.7 (1.9-
31.7)], receiving reassurance and advice from health care providers [AOR (97% CI) = 18.7 (4.6-
74.5)] and taking rat poisoning substance [AOR (97% CI) = 0.147 (0.026-0.818)] were
significantly associated with acute poisoning outcome.
Conclusion and recommendation: Productive age group was suffering from acute poisoning
dominantly and Ops were the most frequently used poisoning agents. Staying in hospital for ≤48
hours, taking rat poisoning substance and getting reassurance and advice from health care
providers were determinants of patient survival. Thus different stakeholders have to pay more
attention to the area in planning: comprehensive health care services, prevention and control
strategies of poisoning on this age group and the poison substances used
