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

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

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

Therapeutic efficacy of mefloquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine for the treatment of uncomplicated pasmodium falciparum malaria in children, Metehara town, Southeast Ethiopia

Background: The development of resistance by P. falciparum to most drugs used in prophylaxis and therapeutics underscores the need to investigate the sensitivity of local parasite isolates to the currently available standard antimalarial drugs. Objective: To assess parasitological resistance and therapeutic efficacy of mefloquine (MQ) and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) in children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Metehara town, southeast Ethiopia. Methods: The therapeutic responses to MQ and SP were examined using the World Health Organization 14-day in vivo test protocol. A total of 119 children that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were assigned to the MQ (n=59) or SP (n=50) treatment group. The patients were followed up for 14 days, and clinical and parasitological outcomes were assessed. Results: The 14-day clinical and parasitological cure rates in children treated with MQ were found to be 100% (55/55) with no recrudescence until day 14. In the SP group, the clinical cure and failure rates were found to be 78.9 % (45/57) and 12% (7/57) respectively. Out of the patients with clinical failure in the SP group, one child was classified as early treatment failure and six had late treatment failure. The incidence of parasitological resistance was 21.1 % (8 patients with RI and, 4 patients with RII). MQ was faster in fever and parasite clearance rate by day 2 (76.4%) and day 3 (98.2%) than in the SP group (64.9% day 2 and 91.2% day 3). Gametocyte carrier rate following therapy was significantly lower in those treated with MQ than in those receiving SP; 1.8% with MQ had gametocytes by day 14 compared to 50.9 % with SP (P

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

Unwanted Pregnancy and Associated Factors among Pregnant Married Women in Hosanna Town, Southern Ethiopia

Of an estimated 210 million pregnancies that occur in the world each year, 38% are unplanned, out of which 22% end in abortion. In Ethiopia, the estimates of unintended pregnancy indicate that it is one of the major reproductive health problems with all its adverse outcomes. Women risk their lives in by seeking illegal abortions following unintended pregnancies. Thus, this study aims to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and associated factors among pregnant married women residing in Hossana, Southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study involving both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods was carried out in Hossana from April 02 to 15, 2011. 385 pregnant married women randomly selected from the census were included for the quantitative data and took in-depth interviews for the qualitative. Descriptive, binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 16. Out of the total pregnancies, 131 (34%) were unintended and 254 (66%) were reported to be intended. A history of previous unintended pregnancy, the husband not wanting to limit family size, a desire for at least two children, the number of pregnancy 3–4 and parity of 5 and above were factors significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. With over one third of pregnancies unintended, having a previous unintended pregnancy, the number of previous pregnancies, and husbands’ disagreement over family size, and the desired number of children are factors that reproductive health programs should aim to focus on to reduce unintended pregnancy