Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Training Program (EFETP) Compiled Body of Works in Field Epidemiology
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2016-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: .Louse- borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is an acute febrile illness caused by Borrelia recurrentis and is transmitted by body lice, (Pediculus humanus corporis). In February, 2016 a LBRF outbreak was reported from Mekele and we investigated the outbreak to confirm it, identify risk factors, and implement public health control measures.
Methods: Controls were chosen by individual matching to cases on age group, and sex (1:2, or 21 cases and 42 controls) to control confounding factors; investigation was conducted from 8th-25th, February 2016. All cases 21(100%) were reported from Mekele and a predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection .Data were checked for completeness, coded and analyzed using SPSS version 21. P < 0.05 was considered significant for comparison.
Results: We identified a total of 21 LBRF cases and no deaths (CFR=0.0%) Mean age of 16.9- year [ranging: 15 - 20-year]. All cases 21(100%) were males street or homeless people with overall AR=8/100,000 Population. Multivariate analysis showed that more than six people sleeping to gather or mass sleeping [Adjusted Odds Ratio [(AOR) =15.9, 95% CI (4.793_60.155)] with P-value 0.002 were independent risk factors for LBRF among streets or homeless males in Mekele city.
Conclusions:-In Mekele, LBRF is still an important health problem. Poor personal hygiene among street, overcrowding (close contact), not taking bath and lack of alternative clothes might contribute to increase the magnitude of the outbreak. Therefore, health education should be delivered towards LBRF prevention in the city.
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Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Training Program (EFETP)