A REVIEW OF THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN GONDAR

ABSTRACT: Academic performance result measured in CGPA and ESLCE score of medical students ofGondar College of Medical Sciences was reviewed. Out of 900 students admitted from 1979 to 1987, only 530 (58.9% ) graduated. The reported attrition rate was 41.1%. Poor correlation (r = 0.32) was detected between ESLCE result and final CGPA. Difference in academic performance between males and females was observed during the early phases of medical education. The validity of the ESLCE result as a sole admission criteria is discussed. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1994; 8(1):23-28

PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LIVING IN GORGORA

INTRODUCTIONAnemia may be defined as a state in which the level of hemoglobin in the blood is below that which is expected, taking into account both age and sex (1). Patients with anemia have significant reduction of red cell mass and a corresponding decrease in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Normally blood volume is maintained at a nearly constant level, therefore anemia entails a decrease in the concentration of red cells or hemoglobin in peripheral blood. The presence of symptoms related to anemia depend partly on this severity but also on how rapidly the anemia has appeared. The purposes of this investigation were to determine the point prevalence rate of anemia among elementary and high school students and to identify important determinants of its occurrence among students residing in Gorgora (south Gonder). This study is not aimed at identifying anemia of specific causes, but will use technol-ogies appropriate to the field situation and search among risk factors known to be prevalent in the region

Establishing a multicenter longitudinal clinical cohort Study in Ethiopia: Advanced Clinical Monitoring of Antiretroviral Treatment Project

Background: The purpose of this paper is to describe the establishment of the  Advanced Clinical Monitoring of ART Project in Ethiopia for monitoring and  evaluation of the longitudinal effectiveness of the ART program and to show the opportunities it presents. This cohort was established in response to the 2005 call by WHO for establishing additional mechanisms for stronger monitoring of ART and the need for creating the platform to generate evidence to guide the care given for the ever increasing number of patients on ART in Ethiopia.Method: A participatory and multi-stage process which started from a consensus building workshop and steered by a mother protocol as well as guiding documents which dictated the degree of engagement and expectations was followed. The primary and secondary aims of the study were agreed upon. A multi-site longitudinal observational clinical cohort was established by a consortium of stakeholders including seven Ethiopian medical schools and their affiliated referral hospitals, John Hopkins University, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ministry of Science and Technology, US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control - CDC-Ethiopia, and the Federal Ministry of Health. Adult and adolescent cohorts covering the age range of 14+ years) and pediatric cohorts covering those below age 14 years were the two main cohorts. During the initial recruitment of these cohorts information was extracted from existing documents for a total of 2,100 adult participants. In parallel, a prospective cohort of 1,400 adult and adolescent patients were enrolled for ART initiation and follow-up. Using similar recruitment procedures, a total of 120 children were enrolled in each of retrospective and prospective cohorts. Replacement of participants were made in subsequent years based on lost follow up and death rates to maintain adequacy of the sample to be followed-up.Achievements: Between January 2005 and August 2013 a total of 4,339 patients were followed for a median of 41.6 months and data on demographic characteristics, baseline and ongoing clinical features, hospitalization history, medication and laboratory information were collected. 39,762 aliquots and 25,515 specimens of plasma and dry-blood-spots respectively were obtained and stored longitudinally from October 2009 to August 2013. The project created a research platform for researchers, policy and decision makers. Moreover, it encouraged local and international investigators to identify and answer clinically and programmatically relevant research questions using the available data and specimens. Calls for concept notes paired with multiple trainings to stimulate investigators to conduct analyses further boosted the potential for doing research.Conclusions: A comprehensive and resourceful mechanism for scientific inquiry was established to support the national HIV/ART program. With meaningful involvement and defined roles, establishment of a study, which involved multiple institutions and investigators, was possible. Since ACM is the largest multi-site clinical cohort of patients on antiretroviral treatment in Ethiopia---which can be used for research and for improving clinical management---considering options to sustain the project is crucial. Key Words: Ethiopia, HIV clinical cohort, Antiretroviral therapy, Establishing Longitudinal Cohort Study, ART Monitoring and Evaluatio

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Tuberculosis among Adult Household Contacts of Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Treated in Public Health Facilities of Haramaya District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Background. Tuberculosis is an infectious airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It still remains a major public health problem which affects all age groups. Risk of exposure is higher in household contact than members of the general population. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of tuberculosis among adult household contacts of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Haramaya district, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia from February to March, 2019. Method. A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted. A total of 454 study participants were selected using systematic sampling method from all adult household contacts of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated from July 2017 to December 2018. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire; and laboratory examination was processed using fluorescent smear microscope. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the infection of pulmonary tuberculosis and a statistically significant association was declared at P-value < 0.05. Result. The overall prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among adult household contacts was 7.8% (95% CI: 5.8–10.0). The risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts were eating meals less than three times per day (AOR = 4.31; 95% CI: 1.61, 11.55), drinking raw milk (AOR = 4.12; 95% CI: 1.43, 11.90), having family history of tuberculosis with more than one index case (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.02, 6.92), living in poor ventilated houses (AOR = 4.02; 95% CI: 1.38, 11.76), and living in inadequate size of living room (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.30, 8.86). Conclusion. In this study, the prevalence of tuberculosis among adult household contacts of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis is high. Eating meals less than three times per day, drinking raw milk, living in poor ventilated houses, and inadequate sizes of the rooms were identified as contributing factors. Therefore, we recommend that the transmission of tuberculosis can potentially be reduced by a better contact tracing and treatment strategies along with appropriate health education

Causes of Death among Children Aged 5 to 14 Years Old from 2008 to 2013 in Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Kersa HDSS), Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND:The global burden of mortality among children is still very huge though its trend has started declining following the improvements in the living standard. It presents serious challenges to the well-being of children in many African countries. Today, Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for about 50% of global child mortality. The overall objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and distribution of causes of death among children aged 5 to 14 year olds in the population of Kersa HDSS using verbal autopsy method for the period 2008 to 2013. METHODS:Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System(Kersa HDSS) was established in September 2007. The center consists of 10 rural and 2 urban kebeles which were selected randomly from 38 kebeles in the district. Thus this study was conducted in Kersa HDSS and data was taken from Kersa HDSS database. The study population included all children aged 5 to 14 years registered during the period of 2008 to 2013 in Kersa HDSS using age specific VA questionnaires. Data were extracted from SPSS database and analyzed using STATA. RESULTS:A total of 229 deaths were recorded over the period of six years with a crude death rate of 219.6 per 100,000 population of this age group over the study period. This death rate was 217.5 and 221.5 per 100,000 populations for females and males, respectively. 75% of deaths took place at home. The study identified severe malnutrition(33.9%), intestinal infectious diseases(13.8%) and acute lower respiratory infections(9.2%) to be the three most leading causes of death. In broad causes of death classification, injuries have been found to be the second most cause of death next to communicable diseases(56.3%) attributing to 13.1% of the total deaths. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:In specific causes of death classification severe malnutrition, intestinal infectious diseases and acute lower respiratory infections were the three leading causes of death where, in broad causes of death communicable diseases and injuries were among the leading causes of death. Hence, concerned bodies should take measures to avert the situation of mortality from these causes of death and further inferential analysis into the prevention and management of infectious diseases should also be taken

Cause Specific Death rates per 100,000 populations for major causes of death by year among children aged 5 to 14, Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.

<p>Cause Specific Death rates per 100,000 populations for major causes of death by year among children aged 5 to 14, Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.</p

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and place of death of the deceased by year among 5 to14 year olds, Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.

<p>Socio-Demographic Characteristics and place of death of the deceased by year among 5 to14 year olds, Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.</p

Broad causes of death by year among 5–14 year old children, Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.

<p>Broad causes of death by year among 5–14 year old children, Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.</p

Top 10 causes of death among children 5–14 year of age in Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.

<p>Top 10 causes of death among children 5–14 year of age in Kersa HDSS, 2008–2013.</p