Epidemiology of Measles in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: Analysis of Surveillance Data from 2013 to 2019

Abstract Background: Public health surveillance systems should be evaluated periodically to ensure that the problems of public health importance are being monitored efficiently and effectively. Despite the widespread measles outbreak in Ginnir district of Bale zone in 2019, evaluation of measles surveillance system has not been conducted. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of measles surveillance system and its key attributes in Ginnir district, Southeast Ethiopia.Methods: We conducted a concurrent embedded mixed quantitative/qualitative study in August 2019 among 15 health facilities/study units in Ginnir district. Health facilities are selected using lottery method. The qualitative study involved purposively selected 15 key informants. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems through face-to-face interview and record review. The quantitative findings were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and summarized by frequency and proportion. The qualitative findings were narrated and summarized based on thematic areas to supplement the quantitative findings.Results: The structure of surveillance data flow was from the community to the respective upper level. Emergency preparedness and response plan was available only at the district level. Completeness of weekly report was 95%, while timeliness was 87%. No regular analysis and interpretations of surveillance data, and the supportive supervision and feedback system was weak. The participation and willingness of surveillance stakeholders in implementation of the system was good. The surveillance system was found to be useful, easy to implement, representative and can accommodate and adapt to changing conditions. Report documentation and quality of data was poor at lower level health facilities. Stability of the system has been challenged by shortage of budget and logistics, staff turnover and lack of update trainings.Conclusions: The surveillance system was acceptable, useful, simple, flexible and representative. Data quality, timeliness and stability of the system were attributes that require improvement. The overall performance of measles surveillance system in the district was poor. Hence, regular analysis of data, preparation and dissemination of epidemiological bulletin, capacity building and regular supervision and feedback are recommended to enhance performance of the system.

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Epidemiology of Measles in Bale Zone Southeast Ethiopia: Analysis of Surveillance Data from 2013 to 2019

10.21203/rs.3.rs-583085/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Geremew Tsegaye ◽

Yenealem gezahagn ◽

Shumi Bedada ◽

Naod Berhanu ◽

Gemechu Gudina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Fatality ◽

Immunization Coverage ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

Using Data ◽

Case Based ◽

Bale Zone

Abstract Background: Measles remains causes of vaccine preventable deaths in children worldwide. Measles is under the list of weekly reportable diseases in Ethiopia; however, reported cases represent only a small proportion of the expected cases due to weak measles case-based surveillance implementation. This study was aimed to analyze seven years measles surveillance data of Bale zone in order to indicate measles epidemiology and surveillance related gaps.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from May 25-June 25/2019. Study population was all measles cases reported to Bale Zone Health Office from 2013 to 2019. Data were abstracted from seven years measles line list and case-based report by the investigator using data abstraction check list. The data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft excel, and presented in tables and graphs.Result: Overall, 4241 measles cases were reported from 2013 to 2019. Mean age of the cases were 7.15 and 2147 (50.6%) were males. The most affected age group were children under 4 years of age. The analysis indicated that the case fatality rate was 3.07/1000 population. From the total cases reported 248 (5.8%) were measles IgM confirmed. The highest prevalence rate of 141/100,000 populations was reported in 2019. Unvaccinated cases and cases with unknown vaccination status were 890 (21%) and 731(17.2%) respectively. The highest numbers of cases were reported from Ginir and Gololcha districts. Measles cases increase in autumn season of the year and reaches peak in May.Conclusion: Measles is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Bale zone due to poor immunization coverage. Its case fatality is also high excluding community deaths. From all districts included Ginir reported the highest number of cases. Improving vaccination coverage, early preparedness for annual epidemic cycle and strengthening measles case-based surveillance are important interventions to reduce measles morbidity and mortality.

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Optimal Dietary Diversity and its Associated Factors among Children Aged 6–23 Months in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: aCommunity Based Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Nutritional Health & Food Science ◽

10.15226/jnhfs.2020.001169 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Tomas Benti Tefera ◽

Mekonnen Tegegne ◽

Shumi Bedada ◽

Abebe Amare

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

Bale Zone

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Knowledge and utilization of partograph among health care professionals in public health institutions of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Public Health ◽

10.1016/j.puhe.2016.02.026 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 137 ◽

pp. 162-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Markos ◽

D. Bogale

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

Public Health Institutions ◽

Health Institutions ◽

Bale Zone

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Utilization of skilled birth attendant at birth and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last 24 months preceding the survey in Gura Dhamole Woreda, Bale zone, southeast Ethiopia

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-019-7818-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gizachew Sime Ayele ◽

Abulie Takele Melku ◽

Semere Sileshi Belda

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

Skilled Birth Attendant ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Birth Preparedness ◽

Complication Readiness ◽

Danger Signs ◽

Birth Attendance ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

Bale Zone

Abstract Background Maternal morbidity and mortality continued to be major issues in many countries. Globally a total of 10.7 million women have died between 1990 and 2015 due to maternal causes where sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for 66% of maternal death. Since most maternal deaths are avoidable; skilled attendance during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum is among the most critical interventions for improving maternal and neonatal survival. The study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of utilization of skilled birth attendant at birth among women who gave birth in the last 24 months preceding the study in Gura Dhamole Woreda, Bale Zone Southeast Ethiopia, 2017. Methods Community based cross-sectional study was implemented from March 25 to April 24, 2017 in Gura Dhamole Woreda on total of 402 study subjects who were selected by Multi-stage sampling technique. The data were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire and data was coded, entered, cleaned and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Service (SPSS) Version 20. Odds ratio with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to assess associations the dependent and independent variables. Logistic regression model was employed to identify independent predictors and variables were declared statistically significant at P value < 0.05. Result In this study only 29.2% of women were assisted by Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) during their child birth. Place of residence, mother education, travel time, joint decision on the place of delivery, ANC visit frequency, birth preparedness and complication readiness status, knowledge on obstetric danger signs after delivery and knowledge of presence of maternity waiting homes were significantly associated with SBA utilization. Conclusion Skilled birth attendant utilization in the study area was low. Strategies that improve attendance of antenatal care utilization and attention to birth preparedness and complication readiness and counseling on danger signs are recommended.

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