Pragmatism in practice: lessons learned during screening and enrollment for a randomised controlled trial in rural northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: We use the example of the Gojjam Lymphoedema Best Practice Trial (GoLBeT), a pragmatic trial in a remote rural setting in northern Ethiopia, to extract lessons relevant to other investigators balancing the demands of practicality and community acceptability with internal and external validity in clinical trials. METHODS: We explain in detail the preparation for the trial, its setting in northern Ethiopia, the identification and selection of patients (inclusion and exclusion criterion, identifying and screening of patients at home, enrollment of patients at the health centres and health posts), and randomisation. RESULTS: We describe the challenges met, together with strategies employed to overcome them. CONCLUSIONS: Examples given in the previous section are contextualised and general principles extracted where possible. We conclude that it is possible to conduct a trial that balances approaches that support internal validity (e.g. careful design of proformas, accurate case identification, control over data quality and high retention rates) with those that favour generalisability (e.g. 'real world' setting and low rates of exclusion). Strategies, such as Rapid Ethical Assessment, that increase researchers' understanding of the study setting and inclusion of hard-to-reach participants are likely to have resource and time implications, but are vital in achieving an appropriate balance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN67805210, registered 24/01/2013.

Estimating the spatial risk of tuberculosis distribution in Gurage zone, southern Ethiopia: a geostatistical kriging approach.

BACKGROUND: In low-income countries it is difficult to obtain complete data that show spatial heterogeneity in the risk of tuberculosis within-and-between smaller administrative units. This may contribute to the partial effectiveness of tuberculosis control programs. The aim of this study was to estimate the spatial risk of tuberculosis distribution in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia using limited spatial datasets. METHODS: A total of 1601 patient data that were retrieved from unit tuberculosis registers were included in the final analyses. The population and geo-location data were obtained from the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia. Altitude data were extracted from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model Version 2. Aggregated datasets from sample of 169(40%), 254(60%) and 338(80%) kebeles were used to estimate the spatial risk of TB distribution in the Gurage Zone by using a geostatistical kriging approach. The best set of input parameters were decided based on the lowest prediction error criteria of the cross-validation technique. ArcGIS 10.2 was used for the spatial data analyses. RESULTS: The best semivariogram models were the Pentaspherical, Rational Quadratic, and K-Bessel for the 40, 60 and 80% spatial datasets, respectively. The predictive accuracies of the models have improved with the true anisotropy, altitude and latitude covariates, the change in detrending pattern from local to global, and the increase in size of spatial dataset. The risk of tuberculosis was estimated to be higher at western, northwest, southwest and southeast parts of the study area, and crossed between high and low at west-central parts. CONCLUSION: This study has underlined that the geostatistical kriging approach can be applied to estimate the spatial risk of tuberculosis distribution in data limited settings. The estimation results may help local public health authorities measure burden of the disease at all locations, identify geographical areas that require more attention, and evaluate the impacts of intervention programs.

Population-based prevalence survey of tuberculosis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Population based prevalence survey is an important epidemiological index to measure the burden of tuberculosis (TB) disease and monitor progress towards TB control in high burden countries like Ethiopia. This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. METHODS: Sixteen rural and urban villages were randomly selected in a stratified multistage cluster sampling. Individuals aged 15 years and older were screened by symptom inquiry for PTB. Those individuals who were symptomatic of PTB provided two sputum samples for smear microscopy, culture and molecular typing. RESULTS: The study covering 4,765 households screened a total of 12,175 individuals aged 15 years and above. The overall weighted prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed PTB in the Tigray region of Ethiopia was found to be 216/100,000 (95% CI: 202.08, 230.76) while the weighted prevalence of smear-positive PTB was 169/100,000 (95% CI: 155.53, 181.60). The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed TB was higher amongst males (352/100 000; 95% CI: 339.05, 364.52) than females (162/100 000; 95% CI: 153.60, 171.17) and among rural (222/100,000; 95% CI: 212.77-231.53) as compared to urban residents (193/100,000; 95% CI: 183.39-203.59). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a relatively higher prevalence smear-positive PTB in the region than in a same period nationwide survey and identified a significant number of undetected PTB cases. The urgency for improved TB case detection and intensified community awareness is emphasized.

The pooled prevalence of perinatal partner violence against postpartum women for index child: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The continuous intimate partner violence against postpartum women (perinatal partner violence) is an important indicator of severe violence. However, its prevalence estimates remain dissimilar and show a high variability for three mutually exclusive time periods for index birth: before, during, and after pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to determine pooled prevalence of continuous violence against postpartum women (VAPW) for the index child. Method: We performed a comprehensive search for PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, POPLINE, Google, and Google Scholar databases. We included studies reporting the prevalence of VAPW for index child. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software, and the forest plot was used to present the pooled estimate. Cochrane Q-statistics and І2 were used to assess heterogeneity. Funnel plots, Egger's, and Begg's tests were used to check publication bias. Result: This systematic review and meta-analysis included a total of sixteen studies with a total of 36,758 participants. The overall pooled prevalence of VAPW for the index child was 9.96% (95% CI: 8.30%, 11.59%). The pooled estimate of lifetime VAPW for index child was 29.27% (95% CI: 23.26%, 35.27%). The overall estimates of lifetime physical, sexual, and psychological VAPW were 11.35%, 6.3%, and 14.74% respectively. In Sub-group analysis, the summary estimate was higher for low-middle income countries, 35.07% (95%CI: 10.15%, 59.98%) and low-income countries, 17.40% (95% CI: 14.08%, 20.72%) than for high-income settings (3.27%, 95% CI: 2.18%, 4.37%). Conclusion: Approximately one out of every ten postpartum women experiences ongoing violence for the index child. When compared to postpartum women in high-income countries, a significant proportion of postpartum women in low- and middle-income countries experience continuous violence. This calls for a universal routine screening program in the continuum of care and working proactively on community-level intervention that prevent violence against women.

Ethiopian Medical Journal: an overview assessment of the last 50 years.

BACKGROUND: The Ethiopian Medical Journal celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. To mark this anniversary reviewing a bit of history, and addressing the current status and challenges of the Journal would therefore be appropriate. This paper attempts to highlight some important developments and give a quick3review of the papers published over the last five decades. METHODS: All the EMJ publications were retrieved using both manual and electronic searches. EMJ archives, Central medical Library of the College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University and electronic PubMed citations were used as sources of database. Design, format and layout of EMJ issues were assessed. Review of publications was done in terms of numbers, type and broad classification. Broad classifications of only original articles was made in terms of Child health, Maternal health, Infectious diseases, Non-communicable diseases, Population studies and Public health, Laboratory medicine and other Curative services. Historic photos and abstracts of selected articles are presented in this paper. RESULTS: The journal first appeared under the title in both languages Amharic [see text] and English "The Ethiopian Medical Journal", with little change in the Amharic title [see text] replaced by [see text])" on the same Volume 1, but No2. A major change on the design, layout and format was observed Volume 6, No 1, 1967. The total number of papers published in the EMJ during the last five decades, excluding abstracts printed in the journal from the annual conferences of EMA and letters to the editor were 1467. These papers were published in 49 volumes, 198 regular and 11 special or supplemental issues. Of the total papers 981 were original articles, 89 brief communications, 241 case reports 105 review articles in regular issues and about 52 were papers published in special or supplemental issues. In general, the bulk of its articles concern clinical medicine, public health and laboratory investigations and cover all of the subspecialties in medicine. Articles on infectious diseases took the highest share 27.1% of the total. Articles on HIV/AIDS and TB have shown a dramatic increase in the EMJ publications of the last two decades with annual average 1.1 and 2.8 in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively. Research papers on the chronic non-communicable diseases accounted for 11.2%. CONCLUSION: The journal played a key role in transforming medical knowledge and was a sound tool in disseminating timely and relevant information in Ethiopia and is going strong.

Risk factors of oesophageal cancer at health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Unmatched case control study.

Background: Oesophageal carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in Ethiopia. Its occurrences vary among regional states of the country. The identification of local risk factors of oesophageal cancer will make it simple to design a focused intervention. On local risk factors, there is, however, a shortage of empirical evidence. Therefore, the aim of study was to identify local risk factors. Methods: An unmatched case control study design was employed. From February 2019 to August 2020, 338 histologically confirmed cases and 338 controls were recruited consecutively from six health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital city. To collect data from the cases and the controls, face to face interviews were conducted. Epi-info version 7 was used to enter and cleaned data, and SPSS version 23 was used to analyze it. The odds ratio was calculated based on hierarchal model multivariable logistic regression, and statistically significance was declared at p-value of <0.05. Results: The mean (SD) age of the cases and the controls was 54.3 ± 12.5 years old and 40.2 ± 13.7 years old, respectively. The odds of oesophageal cancer was significantly higher among older ages (OR =11.0, 95% CI [6.60, 20.91]), rural residents (OR = 4.2, 95% CI [1.04, 16.80]), and those who had history of smoking (OR =1.3, 95% CI [1.12, 1.60]), khat chewing (OR = 4.0, 95% CI [2.50, 6.60]), raw meat consumers (OR = 2.6, 95% CI [1.75, 3.90]). Increasing monthly income (OR = 0.2, CI 95% [0.09, 0.49]) and a habit of eating fruits or vegetables (OR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.32, 0.76]) were associated with lower risks. Conclusions: Tobacco smoking, khat chewing, age, residency, and red raw meat consumption were discovered to be positive predictors of oesophageal cancer, whereas fruit or vegetable consumption and higher monthly income were discovered to be inversely associated. It is advised to avoid the use of khat and tobacco, as well as to avail fruits and vegetables in dish.

Hyperglycemic Crisis Characteristics and Outcome of Care in Adult Patients without and with a History of Diabetes in Tigrai, Ethiopia: Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare hyperglycemic crisis characteristics and outcomes of care in adult patients without and with a history of diabetes in Tigrai, Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective record review of diabetes patients, 196 without and 393 with a history of diabetes who had been treated in the medical wards from September 1/2017 to August 31/2018, aged 18 years and above was included. An independent-samples t-test/Mann-Whitney tests, χ2-test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 25.0. RESULTS: Patients without history of diabetes were younger [43.9±12.6 vs 48.4±14.9], more rural residents [53.1% vs 30.3%], lower proportion of type 2 diabetes [38.3% vs 53.7%], hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state [15.8% vs 31.8%], with lower mortality rate [8.7% vs 15.5%] compared to with a history of diabetes. A higher mortality reported in rural residents [13.5% vs 3.3%; without vs 21.8% vs 12.8%; with history], and lower urine ketones [1.9± 1.3 vs 2.8± 1.1; without vs 1.6± 1.2 vs 2.2± 1.0; with a history] compared to their counterparts in both patients, respectively. Rural residents [AOR (95% CI); 3.1 (1.8, 5.4)]; medical history of stroke [AOR (95% CI); 2.7 (1.3, 5.6)]; type 2 diabetes [AOR (95% CI); 2.3 (1.1, 4.7)], hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state [AOR (95% CI); 2.4 (1.1, 5.4)]; and with a history of diabetes [AOR (95% CI); 2.0 (1.04, 3.8)] were significantly associated with mortality, but polydipsia [AOR (95% CI); 0.47 (0.27, 0.81)] was preventive. CONCLUSION: This finding suggests that rural residents, medical history of stroke, type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, and with a history of diabetes were independent predictors of mortality while polydipsia was preventive. Therefore, the need for more public health awareness campaigns, screening for people having known risk factors, and expansion of diabetes care services to the primary health care units is a fundamental measure.

Urban-Rural Differences in the Trends of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Among Adults Who Received Medical Treatment from Public Hospitals in Resource-Poor Community Tigray, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: This study carried out to describe urban-rural differences in the trend of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among adults who have received medical treatment from public hospitals over the last five years. METHODS: The trends of adult diabetes assessed from September 1, 2013, to August 31, 2018, using hospital-based retrospective medical records of 299,806 adult patients in the adult medical outpatient and emergency units. Data were collected using a uniform data abstraction format. An extended Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test of the linear trend used to examine the trend over time. RESULTS: Of the total 299,806 adult patients, 3056 (1.02% (95% CI: 0.98-1.06)) patients were confirmed diabetes patients. The overall trend in the proportion of diabetes had increased from 6.8 to 14.3 per 1000 adult patients. The trend of type 1 diabetes increased for both urban from 1.0 to 2.2 per 1000 adult urban residents and rural from 1.2 to 2.6 per 1000 adult rural residents, with statistically a significant increase (χ2= 9.1, P=0.002) and (χ2=17.8, P<0.001) for linear trend, respectively. The trend of type 2 diabetes increased for both urban from 6.9 to 14.0 per 1000 adult urban residents and rural from 4.0 to 9.5 per 1000 adult rural residents, with a statistically significant increase (χ2=68.4, P<0.001) and (χ2=74.2, P<0.001) for linear trend, respectively. The higher increase in the proportion of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes observed among women patients. CONCLUSION: The trend in the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes increasing for both urban and rural residents, with a higher increase observed among women. These findings highlight health-care professionals and policymakers to design effective public health policies to treat each type of disease.

In-patient surgical mortality in Tikur Anbessa Hospital: a five-year review.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge neither hospital nor population-based data is available about mortality patterns in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes the patterns of deaths that occurred in hospital under the care of surgical team, during the 5-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a hospital based retrospective cross sectional analysis of mortality among surgical patients admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital (TASTH), Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the period between January 2002 and December 2006. The monthly activity reports, death registry sheets and death certificate of deceased patients from all surgical wards were analyzed using computer based statistical software SPSS version 11.0. Difference in proportions were examined using Chi-square test with its conventional criterion for statistical significance (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The study reviews 694 deaths from 9991 surgical admissions, and 9860 procedures at TASTH over the 5-year period. There were 6.9% overall deaths among the admissions and 7.0% per procedure. The postoperative mortality rate was 4.5% (443/9860). The male-to-female ratio was 2.9:1. The mean age was 41 [Standard Deviation, 17.38] years. Four hundred fifty-two (15.7%) patients admitted on emergency basis and 242 (3.4%) of elective admissions died while in hospital surgical care (p < 0.0001). About 56% of deaths resulted from non-traumatic causes whilst 44% from traumatic causes. Similarly operative deaths were observed in 443 (63.8%) while nonoperative mortality in 252 (32.2%). Among patients with trauma, isolated head injury (59.2%) was major cause of death (p < 0.0001), while, of the non-traumatic admissions, malignancy accounted for 164 (42.1%) of the deaths, When specialties are compared, significant number, 234 (34.4%) of the deaths belong to neurosurgery unit (p < 0.0001) followed by general surgery. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, more men died than women did, more patients admitted on emergency basis died than patients admitted on elective basis (p < 0.0001). Although, the overall mortality rate of 7% and postoperative death rate of 4.5% is acceptable, it could have been reduced significantly had there been appropriate setting to manage trauma cases. Trauma and Neurosurgical cares are yet to develop and need special attention.

Spatial and space-time clustering of tuberculosis in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Spatial targeting is advocated as an effective method that contributes for achieving tuberculosis control in high-burden countries. However, there is a paucity of studies clarifying the spatial nature of the disease in these countries. This study aims to identify the location, size and risk of purely spatial and space-time clusters for high occurrence of tuberculosis in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia during 2007 to 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15,805 patient data that were retrieved from unit TB registers were included in the final analyses. The spatial and space-time cluster analyses were performed using the global Moran's I, Getis-Ord [Formula: see text] and Kulldorff's scan statistics. RESULTS: Eleven purely spatial and three space-time clusters were detected (P <0.001).The clusters were concentrated in border areas of the Gurage Zone. There were considerable spatial variations in the risk of tuberculosis by year during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that tuberculosis clusters were mainly concentrated at border areas of the Gurage Zone during the study period, suggesting that there has been sustained transmission of the disease within these locations. The findings may help intensify the implementation of tuberculosis control activities in these locations. Further study is warranted to explore the roles of various ecological factors on the observed spatial distribution of tuberculosis.

A rural Ethiopian population undergoing epidemiological transition over a generation: Butajira from 1987 to 2004.

AIMS: To describe the epidemiological development of a rural Ethiopian population from 1987 to 2004 in terms of mortality and associated sociodemographic factors. METHODS: A rural population comprising 10 communities was defined in 1987 and has since been followed by means of regular household visits. After an initial census, births, deaths and migration events were recorded, together with key background factors, on an open cohort basis. Over 97,000 individuals were observed during a total of over 700,000 person years. RESULTS: The initial population of 28,614 increased by an average of 3.64% annually to 54,426 from 1987 to 2004, and also grew older on average. Birth and mortality rates fell, but were still subject to short-term variation due to external factors. Overall mortality was 13.5 per 1000 person years. Increasing mortality in some adult age groups was consistent with increasing AIDS-related deaths, but a new local hospital in 2002 may have contributed to later falls in overall mortality. Sex, age group, time period, literacy, water source, house ownership and distance to town were all significantly associated with mortality differentials. CONCLUSIONS: This population has undergone a complex epidemiological transition during a generation. Detailed long-term surveillance of this kind is essential for describing such processes. Many factors that significantly affect mortality cannot be directly controlled by the health sector and will only improve with general development.