Browsing by Author "Ali, Ahmed(Prof.)"

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    Ethiopia Field Epidemiology Training Program (EFETP) Compiled Body of Works in Field Epidemiology
    (Addis Abeba University, 2019-06) Worku, Mulugeta; Ali, Ahmed(Prof.); Getachew, Sofonias(Phd fellow)
    Introduction - Measles is a highly contagious, acute, viral illness caused by a member of the genus morbilli virus of the Paramyxoviridae.. In Africa, 450 000 cases were reported and in SubSaharan Africa with 250, 000 deaths in 2009. In Ethiopia, measles cases usually come late to health facilities and often after they have developed complications. Investigation was done to verify the existence of an outbreak, to determine the magnitude and identify associated risk factors contributing for the occurrence of the outbreak. Methods - A cross-sectional descriptive study followed by a one to two unmatched case control study was conducted from January 7 to February 3, 2019. Interview using structured questionnaire was used to collect data from cases and controls. Data were managed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and Epi-Info 7.2.1.0. Results - Over the period of the outbreak, 23 measles cases were identified. The age of cases ranged from 1 to 12 years old, with median age of 5 years. Of the total cases, 13(57%) were under five years and 10(43 %) of them were above five years. The overall attack rate of the disease was 7 per 1000 inhabitants of the kebele, with no death. Having contact with a person suspected to have measles during the last weeks OR: 6.4 (95% CI, 12. 6 – 44.3) and presence of measles case in the family OR: 6.5 (95% CI, 4.4 – 13.22) were significantly associated with contracting measles. Moreover, absence of measles vaccination was a risk factor for developing measles (OR: 2.53, (95% CI 1.7 – 14.67). Conclusion and Recommendations- The outbreak occurred in a remote pocket Kebele of the Sewena District with extremely low immunization coverage. Multiple factors contributed for the occurrence of the outbreak. We recommend enhanced routine immunization service, and awareness creation to the community on mode of transmission, prevention and health seeking behavior.
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    Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Training Program (EFETP) :Compiled Body of Works in Field Epidemiology
    (Addis Abeba University, 2019-06) Kedir, Umer; Ali, Ahmed(Prof.); Yilma, Mengistu(PHD fellow)
    Despite many intervention activities undertaking prevention of communicable diseases remain a public health problem globally. The Ethiopian Government Policy gives more emphasis on prevention measures of communicable diseases. Many strategies and programs were also set to enhance disease prevention activities. Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Training Program, adapted from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is one of the programs focusing on capacity building of public health practitioners.The training enables trainers to conduct disease surveillance and implement prevention and control measures of prioritized diseases. I stayed in the Addis Ababa University, School of Public Health- Field Epidemiology TrainingProgram and at the Oromia Regional Health Bureau Field Base from October 2017 to June 2019.During my stay, I carried out two outbreak investigations, one surveillance data analysis, one surveillance system evaluation, one district health profile description, prepared two abstracts, one scientific manuscript for peer reviewed journals and one disaster situation analysis. I was also engaged in one epidemiological research proposal, one training and preparation of three weeklyepidemiologic bulletins for this residency outputs. However, I included only one weekly bulletinin this Document. We investigated two outbreaks (Measles and scabies) during this field base Residency.Additionally, we investigated also two outbreaks (Measles and food poising) which were not included in this Document. We did not include the two additional outbreaks due to similarity with previous measles investigation and food poising outbreak where I served as co-investigator with other staff. Descriptive and analytical epidemiology methods were used to describe magnitude of the diseases and identify risk factors associated with diseases. A total of 34 measles cases were reported from Goro Woreda of Bale Zone, Oromia Region in 2018. We identified that low vaccine coverage, lack of awareness, lack of belief in modern medicine and poor cold chain management for measles outbreak in the woreda. We recommended increasing community awareness on vaccination, additional second dose of measles vaccine and proper cold chain management. There were also scabies outbreaks in three Medresa/religious education sites of Ginnir Woreda,Bale Zone of Oromia Region that we investigated in February 2019. During this outbreak, a total of 102 scabies cases and no deaths were reported from January 2019 to February 2019. Lack of safe water, overcrowding, long duration contact and students movements from one Medresa to others might be attributed factors for scabies outbreak. We recommended provision of safe and adequate water, avoiding contact with someone with symptoms, active case search and early treatment and separate rooms for students/deresa.Surveillance data analysis of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) for consecutive four years (2006– 2009 E.C) was conducted in Bale Zone of Oromia Region. The cases were increasing throughout those years especially during 2008 E.C due to ElNino with decreasing deaths. We identified that strong screening and case management contributed for the increasing number of cases and declining deaths. I conducted surveillance system evaluation in Akaki Woreda, Finfinne Special Surrounding Zoneof Oromia Region in 2018. During this evaluation, the overall surveillance system and selected disease (malaria) was assessed. The system was simple, flexible, useful, sensitive and complete but, not timely, stable and representative.Health profile description was carried out in Sinana district, Bale Zone, Oromia Region from February to March 2018. Low coverage of infrastructures, high prevalence of communicable diseases such as diarrhea and acute upper respiratory infections and low maternal health serviceswere noted. prepared scientific manuscript for peer reviewed journals on measles outbreak investigation and response in Goro Woreda, Bale Zone of Oromia Region.Two abstracts were prepared for scientific conference submission; Measles Outbreak Investigation and Intervention in Goro Woreda of Bale Zone and Severe Acute Malnutrition(SAM) data analysis in Bale Zone, Oromia Region.Disaster situation analysis was conducted at IDP sites in Begi woreda of West Wellega Zone,Oromia Region in July 2018 to assess situation, identify humanitarian needs and give public health intervention. Diarrhea and other communicable diseases were anticipated to be a major
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    Magnitude and associated factors of depression and anxiety among people with hypertension in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Hospital based study.
    (Addis Abeba University, 2020-11) Asmare, Yonatan; Ali, Ahmed(Prof.); Belachew, Ayele (MD, MPH)
    Background: Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for global mortality, being highly prevalent in low and middle income countries. Among people with chronic illnesses, like hypertension, the burden of depression and anxiety are higher. Presence of depression and anxiety among hypertensive patients lead to lack of adherence to treatment and poor compliance to lifestyle adjustments, which increase patient’s risk of morbidity and mortality. Unlike in high income countries, there is paucity of information on the burden of depression and anxiety among hypertensive patients in low income countries. Objectives: To assess proportion and factors associated with depression and anxiety among hypertensive patients attending selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in three randomly selected public hospitals. Through a systematic random sampling, a total of 416 hypertensive patients visiting anti-hypertensive clinics with in the study period of the selected hospitals participated in the study. Data were collected through structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer. Depression and anxiety were assessed through Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The collected data were cleaned, edited and entered in to epi-data version 3.1. Descriptive and bivariable and multivariable logistic analysis were done by using the statistical software, SPSS version 25. Results According to the study, the prevalence of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety and depression were found to be 37.8%, 29.5% and 16.5% respectively. Factors found to have significant association with depression were female sex, presence of chronic comorbid illnesses, longer duration of hypertension, current alcohol drinking, family history of depression, marital status and uncontrolled blood pressure. Factors found to have significant association with anxiety were female sex, presence of chronic comorbid illnesses, longer duration of hypertension, current alcohol drinking, retired and non-paid job. Factors which were found to have significant association with comorbid anxiety and depression were female sex, presence of chronic comorbid illnesses, longer duration of hypertension, family history of depression, ever alcohol drinking. Conclusion Higher proportion of depression and anxiety were observed in public health hospitals in Addis Ababa. They are also significantly associated with socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics. Clinicians should consider mental health status of hypertensive patients.