Ethiopian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program Compiled Body of Works in Field Epidemiology

Abstract

Summary Foreword Despite many collaborative efforts of governmental and non-governmental intervention activities preventable communicable diseases are still a public health problem national and globally. The Ethiopian government policy is more emphasis on prevention measures of communicable and non communicable diseases. Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Training Program that adapted from the USA enables trainers to conduct disease surveillance and implement prevention and control measures of prioritized diseases. I started studying field epidemiology in November 2016 and completed in October 2019 at St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College Public Health Department, Field Epidemiology Training Program. I was in FMOH for the field residence attachment and for the second year field residency my attachment was at EPHI. During my stay, I carried malaria outbreak investigations, Tetanus surveillance data analysis, malaria surveillance system evaluation, Kolfe Keraniyo woreda 13 health profile description, submitted two abstracts for conferences and presented both, scientific manuscript for peer reviewed journals prepared, conducted epidemiological research on head injury, one training and research proposal prepared on AMR and sent for small grant computation and participated in EVD preparedness in the second year of my attachment at EPHI. I investigated malaria outbreak during field base residency. Descriptive and analytical epidemiology methods were used to describe magnitude of the diseases and identify risk factors associated with diseases. A total of 2,395 confirmed malaria cases were reported from Awash Fentale woreda Afar region from July to October 2018. We identified that low ITNs utilization, stagnant water, uncovered plastic household water containers and the presence of similar symptoms and signs at home were contributed for malaria outbreak in the woreda. We recommended proper ITNs utilization, strong environmental management and regular indoor chemical spray for malaria prevention. Surveillance data analysis of non-neonatal tetanus by using five-year data was conducted nationally at FMOH. Despite limited resources control and prevention of tetanus had been on the right track that results in declining of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of tetanus cases had been declining since 2014. Still the incidence is higher than other African countries. Age groups >=15years account more than 60% of the tetanus case with uniform sex distribution and had the highest mortality rate with male predominance. I conducted Malaria surveillance system evaluation at Asayta and Awash Fental woredas of Afar region. Overall, from our assessment, the malaria surveillance system appeared weak and it didn’t produce data which is useful for decision. The performance of the system didn’t contribute to reduce malaria morbidity in Awash Fentale and Asayta woredas. Health profile description was carried in Kolfe Keraniyo sub city, woreda 13, Addis Ababa 2018. Most of the socio economical aspect of the woreda13 is (in terms of educational, safe water and Economical status) in similar with other woredas within Addis Ababa and it is the reflection of the current city status. contraceptive acceptance rate and ANC (the total expected pregnancies attended 4th ANC) were below the national figure. Children were at high risk acquiring infectious diseases like Measles infection. I prepared scientific manuscript for peer reviewed journals on Malaria outbreak investigation and management Awash Fentale woreda 2018. Two abstracts were prepared for scientific conference submission; Malaria outbreak investigation and management in Awash Fentale Woreda, Afar region 2018 was presented in EFELTP 3rd Annual Scientific Conference and Trends in Non Neonatal Tetanus Morbidity and Mortality, Ethiopia- September 2012- August 2016 was presented in International Conference on (Re-) Emerging Infectious Diseases, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 2018. Epidemiological research project on Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Head Injury among Trauma Patients of Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma Hospital, Ethiopia June 16 to July 16, 2019 was conducted and the result shows that prevalence of head injury was high among working age illiterate and unemployed individuals the cause being RTA and this magnifies the possible socioeconomic impact of head injury as the productive age group of the society is primarily affected. I prepared research proposal on Inappropriate use of antibiotics and Its Associated Factors among Residents of Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia-August 2019 for small grant computation at Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene