Cautions for Use of Victoria Birth Simulator

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152411/1/Victoria_Birth_Simulator_Use_Cautions.pd

Magnitude of Schistosoma mansoni and intestinal helminthic infections among school children in Wondo-Genet Zuria, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April, 1994 to determine the prevalence of S. mansoni and other intestinal helminths among students of Wondo-Genet Zuria Elementary and Junior Secondary Schools, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A questionnaire was used to list each of the study subjects and Formol-ether concentration method was used to analyze stool samples collected. From a total of 520 students examined 465 (89.4%) were positive for different intestinal helminthiasis while 157 (30.2%) were positive for S. mansoni. The infection rate among the study group is discussed and possible recommendation is made for future action. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(2):125-129

Experience and Challenges of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): Perspective of Students and Examiners in a Clinical Department of Ethiopian University

BACKGROUND: Invented nearly half a century ago, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is overwhelmingly accepted clinical skills assessment tool and has been used worldwide for evaluating and teaching learners’ competences in health care disciplines. Regardless of factors affecting the attributes, OSCE is considered as reliable and powerful tool with certain validity evidences. In spite of its advantages and various promotion efforts, the progress of OSCE implementation in Ethiopian public universities has not been satisfactory. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the experience and challenges of OSCE implementation from the perspective of clinical year-II medical students and their examiners in Ob-Gyn Department of Jimma University.METHODS: Forty-nine students and seven examiners voluntarily participated in Ob-Gyn Department where OSCE has been used as one of summative assessment methods. Qualitative study design using structured open-ended questionnaire as a tool and descriptive phenomenology as underpinning method were employed. Collaizzi’s descriptive analysis was used as phenomenological analysis approach.RESULT: Poor organization, inadequate student preparation time, and inadequate number and duration of stations were thematically emerged as umbrellas of factors negatively affecting OSCE implementation. Satisfaction with OSCE was the only theme with findings that encourage OSCE implementation.CONCLUSION: There should be team approach, shared responsibility and proper planning among faculty to minimize hindering factors of OSCE implementation. Besides faculty development on OSCE, the department should improve skill lab utilization arranging schedule for both students and faculty members to increase guided students’ exposure to simulation-based learning and ultimately enhance OSCE implementation

Effectiveness and Key Success Factors for Implementation of Problem-Based Learning in Debre Tabor University: A Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND፡ Problem-based learning has been adopted as a core educational strategy for education of health professionals in more than a dozen of higher education institutions in Ethiopia. Debre Tabor University College of Health Sciences (DTUCHS) is one of the adopters. However, its effectiveness has not been researched yet. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess the quality of PBL implementation, its effectiveness in developing desired student learning outcomes and factors that facilitate or impede PBL implementation.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in DTUCHS from May to June 2018. We collected quantitative data from students and tutors using self-administered questionnaire. We complemented this with key informant interviews with academic leaders. We computed descriptive statistics from quantitative data while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis.RESULTS: A total of 308 students, 42 tutors and 8 academic leaders were included in the study. Students, tutors and academic leaders perceived that PBL was effective in developing knowledge, problem-solving skills, self-directed learning skills and collaboration competencies. The implementation process showed the existence of clear objectives, appropriate cases, and reasonable workload. Students rated tutors' performance positively, and tutors also rated student learning affirmatively. However, unlike tutors, students thought that the assessment of student performance in PBL was not appropriate. The factors that facilitated PBL implementation were students' and tutors' buy-in, clear curriculum design, adequate infrastructure, commitment to hire more faculty and develop their teaching skills continuously and strong coordination and monitoring.CONCLUSION: The findingsof our study support the introduction of PBL in a resource-constrained setting. Students, tutors and academic leaders perceived PBL to be effective in achieving desired student learning outcomes. Its implementation was considered consistent with the principles of PBL. Respondents identified the presence of enabling factors to implement PBL in Debre TaborUniversity (DTU)

Therapeutic efficacy of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in children

No Abstract Available Ethiop.J.Health Dev. Vol.19 (1) 2005: 11-1

Application of Response Surface Methodology in Food Process Modeling and Optimization

Modeling and optimization is an important task in food manufacturing. It enables one to understand and describe processes which in turn help establish quantified relationship between input and output variables. Modeling and optimization help to make informed decision on a process with the objective of improving efficiency and minimizing cost while maintaining quality. Response surface Methodology (RSM) has been employed in modeling and optimizing several food processing operations including baking, cooking, roasting, drying, extrusion, fermentation and many others. Moreover, RSM has been extensively used in product formulation and ingredient optimization. This chapter describes the application of RSM in food process modeling and optimization. The steps to be followed, the experimental designs that can be used and the interpretation of response surfaces developed are described. Moreover, selected application of RSM in food process modeling and optimization are reviewed and presented

Progress towards the 2020 fast track HIV/ AIDS reduction targets across ages in Ethiopia as compared to neighboring countries using global burden of diseases 2017 data

Background Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3, targets to eliminate HIV from being a public health threat by 2030. For better tracking of this target interim Fast Track milestones for 2020 and composite complementary measures have been indicated. This study measured the Fast Track progress in the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia across ages compared to neighboring countries. Methods The National Data Management Center for health’s research team at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute has analyzed the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 secondary data for the year 2010 to 2017 for Ethiopia and its neighbors. GBD 2017 data sources were census, demographic and a health survey, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, antiretroviral treatment programs, sentinel surveillance, and UNAIDS reports. Age-standardized and age-specific HIV/AIDS incidence, prevalence, mortality, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), incidence:mortality ratio and incidence:prevalence ratio were calculated with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results Ethiopia and neighboring countries recorded slow progress in reducing new HIV infection since 2010. Only Uganda would achieve the 75% target by 2020. Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda already achieved the 75% mortality reduction target set for 2020. The incidence: prevalence ratio for Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda were  1 due to high incidence. The HIV incidence rate in Ethiopia was dropped by 76% among under 5 children in 2017 compared to 2010 and the country would likely to attain the 2020 national target, but far behind achieving the target among the 15–49 age group. Conclusions Ethiopia and neighboring countries have made remarkable progress towards achieving the 75% HIV/AIDS mortality reduction target by 2020, although they progressed poorly in reducing HIV incidence. By recording an incidence:prevalence ratio benchmark of less than 0.03, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda are well heading towards epidemic control. Nonetheless, the high HIV/AIDS mortality rate in Ethiopia for its incidence requires innovative strategies to reach out undiagnosed cases and to build institutional capacity for generating strong evidence to ensure sustainable epidemic control.publishedVersio

Practice analysis to validate Master of Public Health core competencies and identify education gaps in Ethiopia: a national cross-sectional study

Introduction: Competency-based education has the potential to transform education and health outcomes. The taskforce for strengthening public health education drafted core competencies for Master of Public Health (MPH) education in Ethiopia. This study aims to validate the draft MPH core competencies and identify education gaps. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 with public health professionals who hold an MPH degree. The required sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula. Study participants were selected from the different regions using a convenience sampling technique. They were asked to make judgments about the 127 draft competencies organized in 11 domains. For each competency statement, respondents answered four basic questions: 1) How important is the accurate and timely performance of the competency on population health outcomes? 2) How often do you perform the task? 3) How comfortable are you in performing the task? 4) When and where were you trained to perform the task? We collected data using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis involved calculating proportions for each competency, followed by generating an average percentage for each competency domain. Results: A total of 350 public health professionals from academia and practice participated in the study. Over 90% of respondents said that the draft public health core competencies were important for improving population health outcomes. More than one-third of the respondents indicated they performed the public health competencies rarely. A further 8.3% to 27.6% said they had never performed the public health competencies in their career. Although most respondents said they were competent, one-sixth to one quarter admitted a lack of capability in the domains of financial planning and management, cultural competence, policy and program, leadership and systems thinking, and education and training. Pre-service education was the most frequent setting for learning public health competencies. However, between one quarter and one third did not have any opportunity to learn some competencies, especially in the domains of cultural competence, financial planning and management, leadership and systems thinking, policy and program, communication skills, and education and training. Public health competency domains with high ‘not trained’ responses also drew high ‘not capable’ and high ‘never performed’ responses. Conclusions: The draft MPH core competencies are applicable to Ethiopia. The substantial education gaps found in our study warrant re-designing the MPH curriculum. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2020; 34(Special issue 1):16-24] Keywords: Master of Public Health (MPH); essential competencies; postgraduate education; public health; competence gap

Gaps in public health training in Ethiopia: Insights from a qualitative study

Background: The challenges public health encounters in the 21st century in relation to social, economic, political and climatic dynamism are widely documented. Endeavors are under way at different levels to contain the challenges and ensure healthy living. However, the extent to which public health training is aligned with the demands of the century remains unclear. This study aims to explore efforts made by public health training institutions in Ethiopia to equip public health professionals with competencies that meet contemporary expectations, gaps and suggestions. Methods: Sixteen public health experts who hold advisory and decision-making positions in the public health sector, local and international development partners and public health training institutions of higher learning were purposively selected to participate in the study. A key informant interview technique was employed to collect data on what are perceived to be the gaps in public health graduates’ competencies, and suggested improvements. A topic guide was developed to elicit the competences of graduates, identify gaps in their competences, and extract suggestions on how to fill those gaps so as to contribute to the development of public health endeavours. Interviews were held at a time and place of convenience for the experts. Data collected were categorized under key themes: training, research, and future directions. Under each of these themes, knowledge and skills on leadership and management, community practice, design and conduct of problem-solving research were specified to compile and interpret the data. Efforts were made to faithfully represent the opinion of participants, and verbatim quotes of dominant opinions were collected without identifiers. Findings: There were four participants from training institutions, seven from public sector organizations, and five from development partners. The findings reveal the limitations of graduates to be able to take up public health functions. It was unanimously agreed that irrespective of the level of training, graduates need time to acquaint themselves with what is expected of them as a professional. It was found that public health graduates at master’s and PhD level failed to fit into the existing system fast enough to take on leadership responsibilities. Participants unanimously argued that public health training encounters major challenges in empowering students with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet contemporary public health challenges. The problem of a curriculum that does not change in line with changing public health needs, the lack of competence of teaching staff, lack of contemporary references, and lack of time and money to engage students in community practice, were identified as major drawbacks in training. The fact that the curricula of the different schools of public health were adapted from the same sources and has not been revised to fit the demands of the day was particularly emphasized by participants from universities. Students’ skill in planning and conducting problem-solving research, and skills to mobilize and engage the community to recognize and solve their own problems, were reported as limited, irrespective of the level of training and management. Conclusions: Public health training in Ethiopia is perceived to have major limitations, particularly where graduates, irrespective of their level of training, fail to contribute to public health functions. Curricula are not revised to meet current demands. This calls for concerted action by the education and health sectors and like-minded stakeholders to improve the curricula for the different levels of training in public health education. [Ethiop.J. Health Dev. 2020; 34(Special issue 1):4-10] Keywords: Public health training, public health competencies, community practice, problem-solving researc