Making Pastoralists Count: Geospatial Methods for the Health Surveillance of Nomadic Populations.

Nomadic pastoralists are among the world's hardest-to-reach and least served populations. Pastoralist communities are difficult to capture in household surveys because of factors including their high degree of mobility over remote terrain, fluid domestic arrangements, and cultural barriers. Most surveys use census-based sampling frames which do not accurately capture the demographic and health parameters of nomadic populations. As a result, pastoralists are "invisible" in population data such as the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). By combining remote sensing and geospatial analysis, we developed a sampling strategy designed to capture the current distribution of nomadic populations. We then implemented this sampling frame to survey a population of mobile pastoralists in southwest Ethiopia, focusing on maternal and child health (MCH) indicators. Using standardized instruments from DHS questionnaires, we draw comparisons with regional and national data finding disparities with DHS data in core MCH indicators, including vaccination coverage, skilled birth attendance, and nutritional status. Our field validation demonstrates that this method is a logistically feasible alternative to conventional sampling frames and may be used at the population level. Geospatial sampling methods provide cost-affordable and logistically feasible strategies for sampling mobile populations, a crucial first step toward reaching these groups with health services.

Practice analysis of junior doctors in Ethiopia: implications for strengthening medical education, practice and regulation.

BACKGROUND: A high performing physician workforce is critical to attain nationally set health sector goals. Ethiopia has expanded training of medical doctors. However, little is known about junior doctors' performance. Understanding medical practice is essential to inform medical education and practice, establish licensure examination and guide workforce management decisions. We conducted a practice analysis study to identify gaps in Ethiopian medical education and practice, and to determine composition of subjects in national licensing examination. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with national representative sample of junior doctors. After calculating a sample size of 198, we used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling method to select study participants. We collected data using a structured questionnaire comprising 222 tasks. Study participants reported in interviews on frequency of, competence at, and importance of doing each task for improved health outcome. We developed proportions, averages, graphs and tables. Using the results of practice analysis and experts' ratings, relative weights of subjects in the national licensing examination for medical undergraduates were determined. RESULTS: A total of 191 junior doctors participated. Most were males (74.6%) and had less than 2 years of experience (69.8%). Junior doctors frequently performed tasks of internal medicine and pediatrics. Their participation in obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, psychiatry and dentistry services was infrequent. Junior doctors had competency gaps to conduct clinical procedures, research and health programming tasks. Practice analysis results and expert ratings generated comparable recommendations for composition of a national licensing examination, with more than three-quarters of the items focusing on internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health. CONCLUSION: Junior doctors in Ethiopia rarely managed psychiatry, ophthalmology and dental patients. They had competence gaps in clinical procedures, research and health programming skills. The findings have implications for establishing licensing examination, and reviewing curriculum, continuing professional development, placement and rotation policy, and distribution of responsibilities.

Analysis of medical malpractice clams and measures proposed by the Health Professionals Ethics Federal Committee of Ethiopia: review of the three years proceedings.

BACKGROUND: Mediccil malpractice is professional negligence by a healthcare provider in which the treatment provided falls below the starndard and causes injury or death to the patient. OBJECTIVE: To describe the adverse medical events, claims and decisions taken by the Ethiopian Health Professionals Ethics Committee at the Federal level. METHODS: A three-year report of the Ethics Committee and relevant documents of proclamations and regulations were reviewed. RESULTS: Between January 2011 and December 2013, the committee reviewed 60 complaints against health professionals. About one third of the complaints were filed by the patients and/or their families, about 32% by the police or court and the rest were filed by Addis Ababa health bureau, health professionals and other unrelateed observers. Thirty-nine complaints were related to death of the patient and 15 complaints were about disability. Twenty-five of the claims were against Obstetric and Gynecology specialists and 9 were against general surgeons. The committee verified that 14 of the 60 claims hadethical breach and/or negligence (incompetence). The committee took reasonable time to review complaints and respond the concerned authorities. CONCLUSION: The study showed that of the total claims lower than a quarter (23.3%) were proven beyond the benefit ofdoubt. More than 3/4 (76.7) of the complaints were wrong. Hospitals should lead in preventing patient injury. Creation of more awareness among Obstetrics and Gynecology specialists, General and Orthopaedic Surgeons about medical errors is needed and special training should be given.to those joining these specialities.