Government of Ethiopia

BackgroundScoliosis is a progressive spinal deformity that often develops during childhood and adolescence. In Ethiopia, population-level prevalence data are scarce, and school-based screening, though practical, may overestimate cases without radiographic confirmation. Understanding its distribution and severity is critical for guiding clinical and public health strategies.ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of scoliosis among Ethiopian schoolchildren, characterize its types and severity, and examine associations with clinical and anthropometric variables.MethodsA cross-sectional school-based screening was conducted from March 2024 to June 2025 across 42 public primary schools in six regions. Children aged 6–15 years were screened using the Adam’s Forward Bend Test and scoliometer; suspected cases (ATR ≥ 7°) were referred for radiographic confirmation. Prevalence estimates and associations were analyzed using chi-square tests and t-tests. Data were analyzed in Python, with quality control ensured through standardized training, pilot testing, and double-entry verification.ResultsOf 32,000 children screened, 48 were suspected of scoliosis (0.15%; 95% CI: 0.11–0.20%), and 21 were radiographically confirmed (0.066%; 95% CI: 0.04–0.10%). Congenital scoliosis was most common (61.9%), with male predominance (69%), while idiopathic scoliosis (23.8%) was more frequent in females (60%). Neuromuscular and syndromic scoliosis were rare. Severity analysis showed male predominance in mild and very severe cases, with equal sex distribution in severe scoliosis. The mean Cobb angle was 47.4° (SD ± 28.9), most cases involved the thoracic spine (52.4%), and the rib hump was typically right-sided (61.9%). Cobb angle correlated positively with ATR (r = 0.61) and thoracic loss (r = 0.48), and negatively with age (r = –0.24) and thoracic height (r = –0.46).ConclusionThis study shows that scoliosis prevalence within the school population is low, with adolescent idiopathic cases markedly underrepresented compared to other school-based screening reports. These findings suggest that nationwide school screening programs are not recommended. Instead, efforts should prioritize strengthening diagnostic and referral pathways for clinically evident cases to ensure timely access to specialized care.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains a persistent public health and social problem among women in Africa, with severe physical, emotional, and sexual consequences that hinder well-being and socio-economic development. Despite ongoing global and regional efforts, evidence on the prevalence and determinants of IPV across East African countries is limited, fragmented, and often focused on single countries. A more comprehensive, regional-level understanding is crucial to guide targeted interventions and policies This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of IPV among married women in East Africa by (1) estimating the prevalence of physical, emotional, and sexual IPV across 12 countries, and (2) identifying individual-, household-, and community-level factors associated with IPV using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. By integrating multi-country data, the study seeks to generate region-wide evidence that can inform prevention strategies and policy responses to gender-based violence in East Africa. A nationwide community based cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 East African countries as part of the Demographic, and Health Survey (DHS) in the region. The study gathered data from 56,657 married women through structured questionnaires. Descriptive findings were presented as percentages with a 95% confidence interval. To identify factors associated with different types of IPV (physical, emotional, and sexual), a Generalized Structural EquationModel was used. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval were used to determine the significant factors related to IPV. The pooled prevalence of overall IPV in East Africa countries was 38.03% (95% CI: 33.23, 43.08). The highest prevalence of IPV was found in Uganda (53.24%), whereas the lowest was in Comoros (10%). Older age, secondary/higher education, wealth, current working status, attitude towards wife beating, husband’s educational status, husband’s current working status, and husband’s drinking alcohol were factors associated with physical violence. Regarding emotional violence, older age, primary education, wealth, media exposure, current working status, smoking cigarettes, women’s decision-making autonomy, attitude towards wife beating, husband’s education, and husband’s drinking alcohol were significant factors. Finally, regarding sexual violence, factors such as rural residence, better education, wealth, working status, women’s decision-making autonomy, husband’s education, and husband’s drinking alcohol were associated with it. The findings indicate a high prevalence of IPV among married women in East Africa. Key factors for physical violence include age, education, economic status, and attitudes toward domestic violence, while emotional and sexual violence are linked to women’s decision-making autonomy and their partners’ behaviors. To address IPV, comprehensive education and awareness programs are essential, emphasizing gender equality and healthy relationships. Additionally, policies should focus on enhancing women’s economic empowerment and decision-making autonomy, supported by community initiatives to challenge harmful norms.

Introduction: Neonatal care in low-resource settings is hindered by shortages of trained staff, inadequate infrastructure, and limited equipment and medications that compromise the management of common neonatal conditions and reduce the quality of care. Our aim was to describe the collaborative efforts between the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS), Doctors with Africa Collegio Universitario Aspiranti Medici Missionari (CUAMM), the Ethiopian Pediatrics Society (EPS), and the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to assess resuscitation and respiratory care practices in Ethiopian neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)s, identify gaps, and guide targeted interventions. Methods: A 50-item survey was distributed to 48 Ethiopian NICUs. Based on the survey results, a national workshop in Addis Ababa and a neonatal resuscitation “Train the Trainers” course were scheduled. In parallel, funds were allocated to initiate renovations and equipment upgrade at two selected sites. Results: The survey showed that most units lacked essential resuscitation equipment. Noninvasive respiratory support mainly relied on homemade continuous positive airway pressure systems; mechanical ventilators were available in <40% of units. Caffeine was rarely used, and surfactant was unavailable. The national workshop led to a document shared with the FMoH outlining priorities for subsequent training and resource strengthening. Newly trained instructors conducted four local neonatal resuscitation courses, training 150 healthcare providers. Facility upgrades addressed water, power, medical gas systems, and refurbishment of deteriorated areas. Conclusions: The survey revealed major gaps in neonatal care in Ethiopia. Collaborative efforts by AICS, UENPS, CUAMM, EPS, and FMoH helped reinforce key infrastructures and promote delivery room and respiratory care.

Soil erosion and sedimentation, intensified by climate change, pose significant ecological and socioeconomic challenges globally. This study investigates the hydrological and ecological impacts of sedimentation in Ethiopia’s Burji-Kelale Sediment-Dammed Lake, formed at the confluence of the Haro, Upper Segen, and Turkute Rivers. The lake’s formation and ongoing degradation are closely linked to severe soil erosion driven by deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, and vegetation loss in the surrounding watershed. The primary objective is to quantify long-term soil erosion rates and assess their impact on lake sustainability and agricultural productivity. Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, the study analyzes soil erosion patterns from 2002 to 2023. Results indicate an average annual soil loss of 8.2 t ha−1 yr−1, with maximum losses reaching 1694 t ha−1 yr−1. The watershed experiences an estimated total soil loss of approximately 3.06 million tons annually. A notable sedimentation event occurred in 2012/13, when accelerated erosion led to excessive deposition, obstructing river flow and forming the sediment-dammed lake. The findings underscore a rising trend in erosion, correlating with expanding cultivation and diminishing vegetation cover. To address these challenges, the study recommends erosion control strategies such as interconnected pond systems, large-scale reforestation, and integrating modern and Indigenous land management practices. These approaches are essential to enhance ecosystem resilience and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Burji-Kelale Sediment-Dammed Lake and its surrounding watershed.

The highlands of Ethiopia are a well-known example of severely degraded landscapes in Africa, with concerns for food shortages. The Ethiopian Highlands Reclamation Study (EHRS) has documented the rates, underlying causes, and costs of land degradation, which resulted in intensive conservation and restoration efforts over the past decades. Despite the extensive effort devoted to the problem, the actual extent of conservation and restoration work has not been adequately quantified and documented. This prompted a crucial inquiry into the current environmental status to quantify the biophysical impacts of 20 years of Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) and restoration in the Ethiopian highlands. Quantitative data on the extent of conservation and restoration measures implemented were generated through a systematic analysis of metadata obtained from Ethiopia’s watershed database, maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), with field validation in 56 sample watersheds. The analysis of change in land use/land cover (LU/LC) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was employed to examine the extent of vegetation restoration and forest cover change in the Ethiopian highlands from 2002 to 2022. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) was utilized for acquiring and processing satellite image data. The potential soil loss across different land-use types was quantified using the InVEST-SDR (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs Sediment Delivery Ratio) model, combined with other biophysical data disaggregated by physiographic regions to capture diversities in the biophysical settings. Erosivity, erodibility, digital elevation model, vegetation cover, and land management factors were the input data used for the InVEST-SDR model. The results showed that Ethiopia has achieved unprecedented progress in reversing land degradation over the past two decades, with nearly 28 million hectares of degraded landscapes treated through community mobilization and flagship programs. The forest area has increased from about 2.6 million ha in 2002 to 5.9 million ha in 2022. Conversely, the total area of bare land was reduced from 2.5 million hectares in 2002 to 830,000 hectares in 2022. Similarly, the average soil erosion rate on cultivated fields declined from 69 ton/ha in 2002 to 35 ton/ha in 2022, reflecting the cumulative impact of extensive land restoration and soil and water conservation interventions implemented across the Ethiopian highlands. These benefits underscore the effectiveness of combining community-led restoration, bottom-up conservation efforts with top-down policy support. Numerous Sustainable Development Goals, such as Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15), can be achieved in part thanks to Ethiopia’s experience. Future research should focus on detailed watershed-level studies to study agro-ecological variations in conservation outcomes, conduct cost–benefit analyses of water and soil conservation measures, and implement long-term vegetation monitoring and socio-economic surveys to enhance community-led restoration efforts.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-025-14914-6.

Herbal medicine has historically played an important role in healthcare in Ethiopia. However, its use in prehospital settings, where individuals self-administer herbal remedies before seeking formal healthcare, is not well understood. There is limited evidence of its prevalence, factors associated with its use, and potential safety implications. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of prehospital herbal medicine use, identify determinants, and explore potential safety risks among patients admitted to Jimma Medical Center (JMC) in Southwestern Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 217 patients admitted to the medical wards of Jimma Medical Center (JMC) between June and September 2021. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire. And a literature review was conducted to evaluate the potential toxicity and herb-drug interactions associated with the herbal medicines used by the patients. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, while bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with pre-hospital herbal medicine use. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of prehospital herbal medicine use was 34%. Most patients (78.7%) did not inform healthcare providers about their herbal use. Additionally, prehospital herbal medicine usage is influenced by age (AOR = 0.281, 95% CI: 0.115–0.683), secondary educational level (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.101–6.485), and lack of insurance coverage (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.083–4.004). This indicates that demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors jointly influence prehospital herbal medicine use. The study also found that Ocimum gratissimum, Ruta chalepensis, Croton macrostachyus, Zingiber officinale, Eucalyptus globulus, Echinops kebericho, and Carica papaya were the most utilized herbal medicines in the studied area. Furthermore, the literature review revealed potential herb-drug interactions and toxicity risks, especially with Zingiber officinale, Carica papaya, Eucalyptus globulus, and Ruta chalepensis. Prehospital use of herbal medicines was relatively high and often undisclosed to healthcare providers, raising safety concerns due to potential toxicities and herb-drug interactions. Age, education, and insurance status significantly influenced herbal medicine use. These findings emphasize the need for healthcare providers to proactively inquire about herbal medicine use during patient assessments, as well as for community awareness programs promoting the safe use of herbal remedies.

Despite the proven efficacy of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), adequate awareness and positive perception among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain poorly understood, limiting uptake. Existing studies are largely country-specific, focus on limited socio-demographic factors, and rarely leverage advanced analytical methods to identify key determinants. This study addresses these gaps by applying machine learning to population-based surveys across multiple SSA countries. We analyzed nationally representative surveys from eight SSA countries conducted between 2021 and 2024, including 123,132 HIV negative women aged 15–49 years. Primary outcomes were adequate awareness and positive perception of PrEP. Predictor variables included socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral factors, healthcare utilization, and contextual features. Data preprocessing included multiple imputation, one-hot encoding, and min–max scaling. Recursive feature elimination and correlation analysis guided feature selection. Five machine learning models—KNN, XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, and Gradient Boosting—were trained and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC AUC. SHAP values provided interpretable insights. Only 14.9% of women demonstrated adequate awareness and positive perception of PrEP, with marked variation across countries (5.6% in Tanzania to 73.6% in Lesotho). Younger age (15–24 years), lower education, limited media exposure, and minimal healthcare engagement were strongly associated with inadequate awareness. CatBoost outperformed other models (accuracy 0.91, F1-score 0.88), followed by XGBoost (accuracy 0.89, F1-score 0.86). SHAP analysis confirmed age, education, media exposure, healthcare visits, and marital status as the most influential predictors. Adequate awareness and positive perception of PrEP among women in SSA remains inadequate and unevenly distributed, highlighting urgent gaps in education and outreach. Machine learning effectively identifies key drivers, enabling targeted interventions to improve PrEP uptake across diverse socio-demographic contexts. These findings can inform country-specific PrEP awareness campaigns and policy strategies to enhance HIV prevention efforts. Not applicable.

This study used cross-sectional data from Ethiopian News Agency employees to examine the effect of living in a rental house on household welfare. The data were obtained from 134 households (67 of which were renters and 67 of which were owners). The households were classified as poor or non-poor based on the poverty line, which was established by the World Bank for household expenditure. Descriptive and binary logistic regression were employed in the study to assess the effects. The finding of the study demonstrated that the average monthly household food and nonfood expenditure per adult, possession of essential household material, consuming a variety of foods, and room occupancy status of a house renter are significantly low compared to house owner-employees. The probability of living below the poverty line is more than twice as high for renter households compared to homeowner households. 33% of the studied employees who are living in rented houses are considered to be living under poverty shelter. The result of the binary logistic regression also showed that living house, household size, and dependency ratio negatively affect the household welfare status, while marital status, age, income, and saving positively affect household welfare. The study suggests several recommendations for the government, including expanding the number of housing construction projects, providing subsidies to home builders, empowering mortgage banks for constructing public housing, and also enacting and implementing policy for setting and managing rental houses.