The magnitude of disability in patients with schizophrenia in North West Ethiopia: A multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess the magnitude of disability and its associated factors among patients with schizophrenia in North West Ethiopia in selected hospitals, 2019. Design: Multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study. Setting: Gondar, Felege Hiwot, and Debre Tabor hospitals. Participants: We recruit 420 participants for interviews using a systematic random sampling technique. Measurement: We collect the data by face-to-face interview. Disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale 2.0. Coded variables were entered into Epi data V.4.4.2 and exported to SPSS V.24 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions with OR and 95% CI were employed. Result: A total of 423 participants were interviewed, with a response rate of 99.3%. The magnitude of disability in this study was 41.7 % (95 %CI: 36.9, 46.4). Current use of alcohol (AOR = 2.47,n95CI; 1.36,4.48), being jobless (AOR = 3.27, 95CI; 1.80, 5.93), had negative symptoms (AOR = 13.05,95CI, 7.58,22.45), had 5 and more years of illness (AOR = 2.75,95CI; 1.29,5.86), and had 5 and more years of untreated psychosis (AOR = 3.78,95CI, 1.85,7.75) were predictors of disability. Conclusion and recommendation: The magnitude of disability in this study was 41.7 %. Avoidance of alcohol usage, early initiation of treatment, creating job opportunities, and giving special emphasis to patients having negative symptoms is recommended.