High-risk birth, fertility intention, and unmet need in Addis Ababa

Abstract: In 1993 a survey was conducted to examine family planning knowledge, attitude and use in Addis Ababa. One of the objectives of the survey was to look at those women who were exposed to high-risk birth (HRB), their contraceptive behaviour and the unmet HRB need for family planning. About 88 % of the women were found to be exposed to at least one bio-demographic risk factor. Most of the women in the high risk category (70.6 %) were exposed to high parity, followed by old age (56.6 %) and closely spaced births (15.2 %). A substantial number of women falling in the too old and too many bio-demographic risk categories expressed a desire to stop childbearing compared to women at no risk. Women in the too frequent category of high-risk birth significantly expressed a desire to space the next birth for at least two years when compared to those women who were not at risk of close birth spacing. The unmet HRB need among married women was 60 % which is 10% higher than the conventional unmet need for family planning. Contraceptive prevalence among high-risk women was found to be 26% with 18% of them in need of a better family planning method. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998;12(2):103-109

Demographic Data for Development: Ethiopia

This case study from Ethiopia is one of four looking at data for social and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. The case studies identified activities to enhance data demand, utilization, and quality in each of the focus countries. They involved interviews with key stakeholders to solicit their views on country-level data needs, utilization, access, and demand. Recent emphasis on programs for poverty reduction and improved development have highlighted the need for data to identify the specific problem areas and assess the progress of new initiatives. The main sources of data are the census; Demographic and Health Surveys; Welfare Monitoring Surveys; and Household Income, Consumption, and Expenditure Surveys. The Ethiopian case study sought a broad range of views from individuals working for the government, nongovernmental organizations, development partners, civil society organizations, and academia/researchers. The entities represented data users and producers. The discussion in this final report synthesizes the multifaceted views of those interviewed, and highlights lessons that can be learned from the opinions shared

AIDS and college students in Addis Ababa: A study of knowledge, attitude and behavior

Abstract: To assess the knowledge, attitude and behavior of college students towards acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 1214 students from six colleges in Addis Ababa were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. The results indicated that, although college students in general are well informed about AIDS, there are gaps in their knowledge of some vital information. A relatively low level of awareness about some vital information about the risk factors and the modes of transmission of AIDS was revealed by the study. Similarly, poor attitude and practice towards protection from AIDS was also documented. However, their attitude towards the disease and their protective behaviors did not match the relatively high level of knowledge they have about the disease. Sex, religion, or being in one faculty or another did not show significant difference. But, knowledge about AIDS was found to increase with age. The results of this study were almost similar to the studies conducted on college students of other countries. Four hundred seventy four (39%) students considered themselves as a high risk group and 219 (18%) believed that AIDS is not their problem. More than 315 (30%) admitted that they have one or more lovers and the highest proportion 802 (66%), reported that they did not use condom at all. Radio and television, followed by the print media were the students' best sources of information on AIDS. It is concluded that although college students would have a relatively better access to information on AIDS, compared to the general population, this does not seem to have brought about the necessary behavioral changes required for protection against AIDS. Therefore, the need for offering a more focused AIDS education to college students, much more than what is being currently done through general public information, is justifiable. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(2):115-123

Establishing ranges of clinical normal limits and comparison with adopted limits for adult population

Abstract: It is important to know the normal limits for each test in each laboratory. In most cases the normal limits established by others have been adopted and used as reference values. In view of this an attempt is made in this paper to establish ranges of clinical normal limits for adults. Eight determinations SGOT, SGPT, ALP, BILD, BILT, FBS, UREA, and CREATININE were included in the study. Normal limits were established based on a validated statistical method. Comparision was made with adopted normal limits in use in laboratories. For most tests notable differences in limits, particularly from the side of abnormal values, have been observed which resulted in high misclassification of laboratory test values. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(2):97-101

RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CERVICAL CARCINOMA:1988-1992

INTRODUCTIONCarcinoma of the cervix is one of the most frequently seen malignant neoplasms in the female genital tract (1).The disease is unknown in virgins, of very low incidence in Jews, intermediate in frequency in Muslims and high among Caucasians and African races. The average age is 48 years, the range being 20-80 years (1).The Pathology Section of NRIH receives biopsy specimens from five hospitals in Addis Ababa and from one or more hospitals of seven administrative regions, namely from three hospitals, in Wollega, one hospital in Arsi, two hospitals in Tigray and one hospital in Eritrea

Estimation of child mortality in Addis Ababa

Abstract: Estimation of mortality level in children below the age of five may have profound impact on a number of demographic parameters. Childhood mortality data are also useful in assessing the impact of child survival programs and identifying child populations that are at risk. In March 1993 a survey was conducted to assess the child mortality rate in Addis Ababa. In the study a sample of 548 ever married women were interviewed regarding the number of children ever born, surviving and dead. A variant of the original Brass estimation procedure (Trussell's method) which is based on data classified by duration of marriage is applied. Accordingly, the under-five mortality rate (q5) is estimated to be 114 per 1000. The results, therefore, suggested that under five mortality rate remains high in Addis Ababa. Integrated maternal and child health intervention programmes have to be strengthened in order to reduce this high level of child mortality rate.[Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1995;9(3):140-145

Assessment of unmet needs and the demand for family planning in Addis Ababa

A study was conducted to asses Unmet needs for FP in Addis Ababa. The city was categorized, for the Purpose of the study, in to two: inner which is densely Populated and periphery which is relatively sparsely Populated. Five kebeles from each category and hundred households from each kebele were selected randomly. A pretested questionnaire was administered through female enumerators, trained for this purpose. Among the interviewed (1(KX) women) the total number with unmet needs were 56.9% (559 women) of which 52.3% (523 women) Want to limit and 4.6% (46 women) Want to space their birth. The unmet need for limiting is higher at older age than at younger; in the case of spacing it is the vise versa. Unmet need was higher among the illiterate than among those with elementary, high school education and above. More than half of the women (56.9% ) were with Unmet needs, while the proportion of women who are currently using any type of contraceptive (CP) method was found to be 21.6%. This means that if the unmet need was to be satisfied, the prevalence may rise up to 78% -the total demand for family planning. A logistic and log linear analysis (using GLIM and SPSS/PC) was done in order to control confounders. And it was found that age, knowledge about CP and level of' education are the most important factors affecting Unmet need for FP and there was no significant interactive effect

Unmet need and the demand for family planning in Addis Ababa

Abstract: A study was conducted in 1993 to estimate the unmet need for family planning service in Addis Ababa. The city was categorized for the purpose of the study, based on population density. Five kebeles were selected from each category and one hundred households from each kebele and a total of seven hundred fifty women were included. Among the interviewed, the total unmet need was 49% (368), of which 43.7% (328) want to limit and 5.3% (40) want to space. The prevalence of contraceptive use (met need) was 21.6% (162), indicating a great deal of potential users and the need for appropriate method to reach them. It was found that age, knowledge about contraception and level of education of respondents were the most important factors affecting unmet need and there was no significant interactive effect. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1995;9(1):41-45

Evaluation of five commercial assays for detecting HIV 1 & 2 antibodies, Addis Ababa

Abstract: The major operational characteristics of five commercially available assays for the detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV1 & 2) were evaluated. Four Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent assays (ELISAs) and one simple immuno-dot assay with visual reading, were assessed using a panel of 265 sera (18.8% hospital suspected patients, 18.8% commercial sex-workers (CSW), 31.5% blood donor sample (BDS), and 30.9% of them were scholarship winners (SSW)). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, test efficiency, delta (δ) values (for the four ELISAs) were determined. All the assays had higher sensitivities (98.7100%), specificities (97.2-99.1%), and test efficiencies (98.1-99.6%). Higher positive and negative delta (δ+,δ -) values, +1.17 and –0.99, were observed for ICE*HIV 1-0-2 and Vironostika Uniform II PLUS O, respectively. HIV-SPOT HIV 1 & 2 showed highest value of ease of performance and suitability for small blood bank collection centers. Results of this study showed that the test efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity of the test kits were excellent as compared to the reference test. Further studies on cost-effectiveness and evaluation of newly arrived test kits before use at different levels are recommended. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(3):175-180

Demographic and Health-related Risk Factors of Subclinical Vitamin A Deficiency in Ethiopia

The study was conducted to determine the demographic and health-related risk factors of subclinical vitamin A deficiency in Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from 996 children in 210 clusters across the nation for analysis of serum retinol. Interviews were conducted with the respective mothers of the 996 children on presumed risk factors of vitamin A deficiency. A higher subclinical vitamin A deficiency was associated with: not receiving vitamin A supplement over the year, having been ill during the two weeks preceding the survey, no or incomplete vaccination, belonging to a mother with high parity, and low levels of awareness of vitamin A. Moreover, being from Muslim household was strongly associated with higher levels of subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Among the risk factors identified, low levels of vaccination, high parity, and low levels of maternal awareness of vitamin A contributed to higher risks of vitamin A deficiency among Muslim children. The findings underscore the need for creation of strengthened awareness of family planning and importance of vitamin A, promotion of vaccination and child health, intensification of vitamin A supplementation, and in-depth investigation on factors contributing to increased vulnerability of Muslim children