The occurrence of urinary tract infection and determinant factors among diabetic patients at Dessie Referral Hospital, South Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic patients have a higher tendency of developing all infections, especially infections of the genitourinary tract. Urinary tract infections cause considerable disorders in diabetic patients, and if complicated, can cause renal failure. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of diabetes mellitus-associated urinary tract infections increased from 7.1% in 2005 to 33.9% in 2019. The successful management of patients suffering from urinary tract infections in diabetic patients depends upon the identification of risk factors. This study aimed to determine the magnitude and factors affecting the urinary tract infections among diabetic patients which enable professionals to prevent infections and manage them effectively. METHODS: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 365 diabetic patients selected by systematic sampling technique from March to April 2020. Data were collected by trained BSc nurses via face-to-face interview and patient chart review. Urine microscopy was done to diagnose urinary tract infections. Data were coded and entered using Epi data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 26 for analysis. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in bivariable logistic regression were included multivariable logistic regression and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The magnitude of urinary tract infections was 22.3% (95% confidence interval: 18–27). The odds of being infected by urinary tract infections were significantly higher in diabetic females (adjusted odds ratio: 2.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.40–4.32), duration of diabetes mellitus diagnosis of ⩾5 years (adjusted odds ratio: 1.98; 95% confidence interval: 1.05–3.72), with comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio: 4.87; 95% confidence interval: 2.76–8.59) and khat chewer (adjusted odds ratio: 1.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.04–3.24) compared with their counter. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Urinary tract infections were high among diabetic patients. Predictors like sex, duration of diagnosis, comorbidity, and khat chewer were found to be associated with urinary tract infections. Improvement of the regular screening of patients with diabetes mellitus for urinary tract infections will provide more effective measures in prevention and management.