AAU Institutional Repository (AAU-ETD)
Addis Ababa University Institutional repository is an open access repository that collects,preserves, and disseminates scholarly outputs of the university. AAU-ETD archives' collection of master's theses, doctoral dissertations and preprints showcase the wide range of academic research undertaken by AAU students over the course of the University's long history.
How to Submit Your Work
The repository contains scholarly work, both unpublished and published, by current or former AAU faculty, staff, and students, including Works by AAU students as part of their masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral research
- All AAU faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit their work to the repository. Please contact the library at your college.
You may contact digirep@aau.edu.et.with any questions about the repository
Colleges,Institutes in AAU-ETD
Select a college,institute to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Ethiopia Field Epidemiology Training Program (EFETP) Compiled Body of Works in Field Epidemiology
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-12-12) Meseret Gebreselama; Abigiya Wondimagegnehu; Hadgu Mendefro
Background: Cholera remains a persistent public health concern in Ethiopia, particularly in regions with limited access to safe water and sanitation. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of a recent cholera outbreak at Suhul General Hospital in the North West Zone of the Tigray region. It focuses on demographic, clinical, and environmental characteristics of affected patients in order to better understand the dynamics of the outbreak. Although data on occupation and water sources were not available, these factors are critical for identifying risk groups and possible sources of contamination, especially among individuals with higher occupational exposure to unsafe water.
Method: A total of thirty-five patients admitted to or treated at Suhul General Hospital during the outbreak were reviewed. The study analyzed demographic patterns, clinical presentations, and care distribution to assess the burden and outcomes of the outbreak.
Results: The findings revealed a striking gender disparity, with 94.3% of cases occurring in males. Male patients ranged in age from 2 to 75 years, while the two female cases fell within the narrower range of 22 to 25 years. Regarding care distribution, 54.3% of patients were managed as outpatients, while 45.7% required hospitalization, highlighting considerable disease severity and increased healthcare demand. Clinically, 75% of patients exhibited some degree of dehydration, and 36.1% were classified as having severe dehydration. Furthermore, 72.2% of patients presented with both vomiting and watery diarrhea. Despite the severity of illness in some cases, all patients survived, demonstrating the effectiveness of timely therapeutic interventions.
Conclusion: This outbreak highlights the critical importance of hydration-focused therapy, which proved effective in preventing deaths. The study underscores the urgent need for routine water quality monitoring, strengthened surveillance, and efficient public health response strategies to mitigate future cholera risks in the region.
Two Years Mortality Profile of Intertrochanteric Fracture in Elderly Patients Treated with Surgery at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06-07) Habtamu Minwagaw; Mnewer Yirga
Background: .Intertrochanteric fractures are extracapsular proximal femur fractures between the greater and lesser trochanters, commonly resulting from low-energy falls in elderly patients. Intertrochanteric fractures are associated with high mortality rates; however, data on mortality profile and predictors remain scarce in Africa. Therefore, this study will investigate profile of 2 year mortality in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated by surgery
Objective: To asses two years mortality profile of intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients treated with surgery at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital from September 2020-October 2023
Methods: This is a three year retrospective study to be conducted on elderly patients who presented with intertrochanteric fracture and treated by surgery at Tikur Anbessa Hospital from September 2020-October 2023. Data will be collected from major operation theatre Logbooks and HMIS records at outpatient and inpatient departments of orthopedics and trauma surgery . Data will be collected using kobo toolbox software and analyzed with SPSS version 27. P-value < 0.05 is going to be taken as statistically significant. Results will be described in texts, tables and charts.
Workplan and budget: The research will be executed between June 2025 to December 2025 and the rough estimated budget is 25,100ETB.
Trauma Exposure and Its Association With Mental Health Outcome and Psychosocial Wellbeing among Residents and Idps in Axum During the Northern Ethiopian Conflict.
(Addis Ababa Uinverstiy, 2026) Haileleul Mekonnen
Traumatic events have a well-established impact on mental health which often leads
to psychological distress and impairment. However, in the context of the northern
Ethiopian conflict (November 2020–November 2022 G.C), the mental health
consequences for affected communities particularly in Axum is not studied well.
Objectives:
This study assessed the association of trauma exposure with mental health outcomes
and psychosocial well-being among residents and IDPs in Axum during the northern
Ethiopian conflict.
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2025 with 515
participants (340 permanent residents and 175 internally displaced persons) selected
through multi-stage systematic sampling. Data were collected using standardized
instruments, including the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), GHQ-12, WASSS,
HESPER, Brief COPE, and the Oslo Social Support Scale, all translated into Tigrigna.
Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with PTSD
severity.
Results:
Trauma exposure was nearly universal (99.8%), with 54% of participants reporting
eight or more traumatic events. The prevalence of probable PTSD was 41.9%, and
74.6% reported significant psychological distress. Functional impairment due to
emotional distress was reported all or most of the time by 31.5% of participants.
Culturally recognized symptoms such as hopelessness, inability to help others, and
meaning-making struggles were showed the strongest statistical association with
PTSD severity (β = 0.586, p < 0.001). Social support was poor in 77.5% of participants.
Avoidant coping was strongly associated with worse outcomes (β = 0.191, p < 0.001),
whereas emotion-focused coping showed a protective effect. Internally displaced
persons had significantly higher PTSD scores than permanent residents. Food related
problem (67.6%) and inadequate shelter (59.0%) were the most frequently reported
serious needs.
Conclusions:
The findings show a considerable burden of trauma and significant mental health
consequences among the study population in Axum. Culturally recognized
symptoms of distress are found to be fundamental to the expression of distress
and require specific focus in both assessment and intervention. Any community
interventions should include psychosocial care and address basic needs assessment
and prioritize internally displaced populations.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt among Patients Visiting Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital Emergency Departments, A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
(Addis Ababa Uinverstiy, 2026) Dr. Abera Berhanu
Background
Suicidal ideation and outcomes of suicidal attempts are treated in the emergency
setting, which makes it an ideal point to treat as well as prevent suicidal behaviors by
describing the target sections of a community.
Objectives
This study aimed to assess suicidal ideation and attempt magnitude in patients
visiting the emergency departments of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and
Zewditu Memorial Hospital.
Methods
The study employed a facility-based cross-sectional study design, which included
patients from the emergency departments of TASH and ZMH. The study was done
from December 2025 to March 2026. The World Health Organization Composite
International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess suicidal ideation and
attempt.
Results
A total of 316 patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A total of
5.1% and 2.2% of the participants had suicidal ideation and attempt was
respectively. Having Depression and Anxiety were found to increase risk of suicidal
ideation in the past month by 5.93 times and 38.73 times respectively.
Conclusions
In this study the suicidal ideation prevalence among ED patients was comparable
with other studies. Accordingly depression and Anxiety were shown to be factors that
increase suicidal ideation.
Recommendations
Emergency Department visit at Hospitals should be used to screen patients for
suicidal ideation as well as depression and anxiety.
Status of Integration of Ethiopian Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine: Experiences, Challenges and Suggested Solutions
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-02-10) Mediha Ahmedin; Solomon M. Abay
Background: Integration of traditional medicine into modern medicine is a process of incorporating traditional medicines, techniques and knowledge into the mainstream healthcare delivery system as well as the exposure of the practitioners of both systems to the philosophies and theories of the systems in order to provide a safe and effective preventive and curative treatment for all with utmost increase in capacity to develop new treatments. Significant numbers of Ethiopians use traditional medicine as a primary or preferred means of healthcare. Assessing the integration status of traditional medicine service, training and research into the Ethiopian primary healthcare system can be a way to assess the country’s progress regarding the issue and lay the basis for an action plan.
Objectives: The study aimed to explore the current status of integration of Ethiopian traditional medicine practice, training and research into the mainstream healthcare system and its determinants in Addis Ababa.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between October and December 2023with key informants selected using key informant sampling method from institutions including the Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa University (Colleges of Health Sciences and Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology), Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, research institutes, traditional healers’ associations and other relevant sectors in Addis Ababa. Qualitative data was categorized using open code software and analyzed thematically.
Results: Key informants responded that there are initiatives to integrate traditional medicine into primary healthcare system in Ethiopia through the development of inclusive policy, registration and periodic supervision of traditional healing practitioners and their services, provision of trainings for traditional healers to improve their service and prevent harm from use of traditional medicine, generating evidence for traditional medicine products and practices through research starting from ethnobotanical to pre-clinical validation studies and drug development from TM through clinical trials. These initiatives, however, are hindered by challenges including secrecy, lack of funding and capacity building, lack of communication among traditional healing practitioners and modern health practitioners, lack of interest of youth to become healers and lack of continuity of the research activities to reach implementation level.
Conclusion: Findings indicate that there are initiatives to integrate traditional medicine into primary healthcare system in Ethiopia especially through training and research. However, these initiatives are facing numerous challenges. Further research thus needed to identify ways that help tackle such challenges and create a conducive system for integration of traditional medicine into primary healthcare system in order to enhance the benefits of traditional medicine and minimize its shortcomings.