The Prevalence and factors associated with sonographic Liver Changes among Healthy Adults in Adjumani District

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 2% of the deaths in Uganda are a result of liver diseases. In Adjumani district, a rural district in the West Nile region, a substantial number of people seeking health services have Hepatitis B viral infection and liver diseases. However, data on sonographic liver changes, an early marker of liver disease, and the associated factors are lacking. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with sonographic liver changes among healthy adults in Adjumani district. Methods and materials: This was a cross-sectional population-based study. The study population included 278 healthy adults aged 18 to 75 years who were selected using a structured questionnaire that was administered by trained research assistants. Sonographic liver changes were measured using shape, echogenicity, echo texture, margin smoothness, vasculature, nodularity of the liver surface, and ascites. Data from 263 participants were entered in Epi-Info version 3.0 and analysed using STATA version 15 at a 5% significance level using quantitative methods of data analysis. Results There was a high (19.8%) of sonographic liver changes in Adjumani district. The study’s most prevalent sonographic liver change was abnormal liver echogenicity. In males aged 50 years and above, females who reported frequently using herbal medicines were significantly associated with liver changes. Significance The study determined the prevalence and some of the factors associated with sonographic liver changes in Adjumani district, which may be employed to inform context-specific interventions for addressing liver diseases in the study area