Kersa Demographic surveillance and Health Research · PDF fileKersa Demographic surveillance and Health Research Center (KDS-HRC), Haramaya University, Ethiopia 2 | Page Brief account

Kersa Demographic surveillance and Health Research Center (KDS-HRC), Haramaya University, Ethiopia

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Location: in Eastern Ethiopia

Contacts:

Site Leader

Dr. Nega Assefa (Ph.D, Reproductive Health)

Email: [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +251-256-666143 Fax: +251-256-668081

Team members:

1. Lemessa Oljira (Ph.D Candidate, Epidemiology); email: [email protected]

2. Negga Baraki (B.Sc. MPH)email: [email protected]

3. Melake Demena (B.Sc., MPH) email: [email protected]

4. Dessalew Zelalem (BA, M.Sc.-Demographer) email: [email protected]

5. Wondimye Ashenafi (B.Sc., M.Sc.-Demographer) email: [email protected]

6. Melkamu Dedefo (BA, M.Sc.-Statistician, Computer Programmer)email: [email protected]

The colored are 12 enumeration areas of Kersa DSS


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Brief account of Establishment of the Research Center

Demographic Surveillances Sites (DSS) are vital sources of health information in developing

countries. In Africa, where population level data is hardly available, such sources of information are

crucial. In Ethiopia, such registration system was started in Butajira Rural Health Project of Addis

Ababa University some 25 years back. After Butajira, Dabat Rural Health Project of Gondar

University in northern Ethiopia was established in 1996, and eventually the Gilgel Gibe project of

Jimma University in the Southwestern Ethiopia was initiated in 2005.

Learning from the three field research centers, and the contribution these sites made to the country,

in February 2007, four staff in the college of Health Sciences, Haramaya University; namely Nega

Assefa (Ph.D), Zinabu Anamo, Lemessa Oljira (Ph.D) and Tamirat Gebru (Ph.D candidate),

initiated a discussion on how to start such site in eastern Ethiopia.

After a through observation to the various districts around, the team has selected Kersa District to

be the site for DSS. In Kersa 12 Kebeles (Smallest administrative Unit in Ethiopia with average

population size of 5000 and 1000 households) were selected for the initiation of the field research

center. The composition of the Kebeles takes into account the different topography of the locality.

Accordingly 2 are Kebeles from highland, 2 are from low land and the remaining 8 are from

midland. Again, the composition takes into account the rural urban mix, as a result, two Kebeles are

towns and the remaining ten are rural Kebeles.

KDS-HRC initiators: From left to right: Tamirat Gebru, Zinabu Anamo, Nega Assefa, Lemessa Oljira


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Kersa district

Location:

Kersa is one of the 180 districts in the Oromia Region. The woreda capital is Kersa, which is 44 km

west of Harar. Harar is the oldest historical city and one of the tourist destinations in Eastern

Ethiopia.

Topography:

The district ranges from 1400 to 3200 meters above sea level. According to a survey of the land in

Kersa 28.5% is arable or cultivable, 2.3% pasture, 6.2% forest, and the remaining 56.3% is

considered built-up degraded or otherwise unusable. Chat, fruits and vegetables are important cash

crops. Coffee is also an important cash crop, covering 5,000 hectares. In the district, there are 35

rural Kebeles and 3 small towns. All the Kebeles have road access.

Population:

According to the 2007 census, the district has a total population of 172,626; out of which, 6.87 are

urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 463.75 square kilometers, Kersa has an estimated

population density of 372.24 people per square kilometer.


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Kersa field research center site

The field site has 12 Kebeles, ten are rural and two are urban (Kersa and Weter towns). By their

attitude, 2 are highland two are low land the remaining 8 are mid land. All the 12 study Kebeles have

road access during the dry season. But it is not very hard to reach to Kebeles during the rainy season

also.

All the Kebele administrative offices have land line telephone connection. In addition, especially in

towns some have telephone connection using land line but the significant numbers of residents in

the study Kebeles have mobile telephone. The two towns are supplied with 24 hour electricity. But

Lake Adele on

the way to Dire

Dawa is

adjacent to

Adele Key

Key. It is one

of the beauties

of the site.

The way to

Weter town,

seen straight

far

The highland

majesty around

Gola Belina

kebele


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few areas in some Kebeles are also supplied with electricity. The water supply in the study Kebeles

are tap water, protected springs, unprotected springs, protected and unprotected well and ponds.

In the study 12 Kebeles there are 3 health centers, 10 health posts. All the Kebeles have 2-3 health

extension workers assigned to work in the Kebele. There are 18 elementary, 2 secondary 1

preparatory, 2 religious schools in the study Kebeles. There are 134 mosques, 8 churches and 6

farmers training stations in the study Kebeles.

The inhabitants of the study Kebeles makes their living principally by farming. But small trade,

government employee and daily labour are also means of living. Wheat, barley, and vegetables like

onion and garlic are the dominant crops produced at the highland Kebeles. Sorghum, maize,

potatoes are dominant crops in the midland and low land areas. Khat is the dominant cash crop

production in most of the Kebeles.

Farming is seasonal in the study Kebeles. They make production during the rainy season. But in one

of the Kebeles irrigation is a common practice, so they tend to produce three times a year, majorly

for market.

Student’s

singing squad

on typical

school day.

Tolla Kebele

elementary

school.

Sorghum, the

dominant

crop for food

production in

many of the

mid land and

low land areas

of the study

site


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Wheat, barely,

the dominant

crop for food

production

around Tolla

and Gola

Belina Kebele

Vegetables

are also

common

production

around

highland

areas, here the

farmer

working in

Khat is the

main crop

produced for

cash in many

of the mid-

land and low

land areas of

the study site.


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Vision, mission, and core objectives

Vision

The research center aspires to be a center of excellence in health science research in Ethiopia

Mission

The mission of research center is to advance research undertaking, health science education and

generating evidence for improving planning and the delivery of health service.

Core objectives

The Demographic Surveillance and Health Research Center focus is to:

1. generate up-to-date community based data including vital events;

2. conduct studies in addressing national health issue ;

3. assess trends of demographic, health and environmental changes;

4. evaluate health intervention activities;

5. enhance research culture in the learning and teaching process;

6. render support on research method and analysis for students and staff;

7. disseminate research findings to different users;

8. advocate utilization of research findings in improving health and other service delivery.

Focus research areas:

KDS-HRC undertakes researches in the following major public health areas; Child health, Maternal

health, Demographic changes, Reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and other STIs, Malaria and other

acute infectious diseases, Tuberculosis and other chronic infectious diseases, Gender related issues,

Nutrition, Water and sanitation, Vector borne diseases, Pollution, Occupational health, Mental

health, Chronic non-infectious diseases (hypertension, diabetes and etc…), Other communicable

diseases, and Health service utilization.


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Organization:

1. Main office: Located in Harar in the compound of College of Health Sciences. All the

HDSS activities are run from this office

2. Data base unit: place of data entry and storage of soft copy

3. Hard copy ware: two hard copy warehouses located in Harar, in the compound of College of

Health Sciences.

4. Kersa field coordinating office: located in Kersa town. It has office, conference room, data

entry unit, multipurpose office.

5. Sub-coordinating office: located in Weter town in the vicinity of Weter heath center.

Manpower:

Field workers:

Job Level of Education Number Placement Field site coordinator Diploma in social sciences/health

sciences 1 Kersa

Vital event supervisors TTI complete/12 grade complete 6 4 in Kersa 2 in Harar Verbal autopsy supervisors

TTI complete/12 grade complete 3 2 in Kersa 1 in Harar

Vital event data collectors

10 grade complete 22 15 in Kersa 7 in Harar

Verbal Autopsy Data collectors

10 grade complete 5 4 in Kersa 1 in Harar

Guard 6 grade complete 2 Kersa Gardner 6 grade complete 1 Kersa Cleaner 6 grade complete 1 Kersa Total 41

Office workers:

Job Level of Education Number Placement Secretary Diploma in secretarial sciences 1 Harar Data entry clerks Diploma in computer/secretarial

sciences 3 Harar

Data manager Degree in computer sciences 1 Harar Computer programmer Degree in computer sciences 1 Harar GIS technician Degree in computer sciences 1 Harar Reconciling Nurse Diploma in Nursing 1 Harar Total 8


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Population Size and Pyramid

Characteristics September 2007 August 2011

Population 53,482 58,027

Total Male 27,015 29,334

Total Female 26,467 28,693

10 5 0 5 10

0- 4 5- 9

10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-74

75+

Percentages

KDS-HRC-Aug-2011

Males Females

Basic demography

August 2008 August 2009 August 2010 August 2011 Population 54,495 54,881 55,794 58,027

Birth 1456 1561 1972 1105 Crude Birth rate per thousand population 26.7 28.4 35.3 19.0 Death 456 479 386 412 Crude death rate per thousand population 8.4 8.7 6.9 7.1 In migration 11 33 112 87 In migration rate per thousand population 0.2 0.6 2.0 1.5

Out migration 313 490 522 207 Outmigration rate per thousand population 5.7 8.9 9.4 3.6


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Collaborators:

s.no Collaborator Type of collaboration

1 Ethiopian Public Health Association

(EPHA)

Technical, Financial support, supervision

2 US Center For Disease Control (CDC) Technical, Financial support, supervision

3 Brown University Technical (Statistical analysis and Policy brief

development)

4 Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) Technical, Output usage (Potential)

5 Oromia Regional Health Bureau Technical, Output usage (Potential)

6 Harari Regional Health Bureau Technical, Output usage (Potential)

7 Eastern Hararge Health office Technical, Output usage

8 Kersa District Technical, Output usage

9 Packard foundation Financial support (Development of policy

Briefs)

10 Butajira Rural Health Program (AAU) Technical, data sharing

11 Gilgel Gibe Field Research site (Jimma

University)

Technical, data sharing

12 Dabat Field Research (Gondar University ) Technical, data sharing

13 Arba Minch Zuria DSS (Arba Minch

University)

Technical, data sharing

14 Kilte Awlalo DSS (Mekele University) Technical, data sharing


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Some of the Published Articles:

1. Nega A. Yemane B., Alemayehu W., Amy T., The hazard of pregnancy loss and stillbirth among

women in Kersa, East Ethiopia: A follow up study(2012),

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2012.06.002

2. Nega A., Yemane B., Alemayehu W., Wealth Status, Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)

and Antenatal Care (ANC) Are Determinants for Low Birth Weight in Kersa, Ethiopia. PLoS

ONE 7(6): e39957. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039957.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039957

3. Wondimu S., Nega A., Mengistu W., Arja R., Female genital mutilation: prevalence, perceptions

and effect on women’s health in Kersa district of Ethiopia. International Journal of Women’s

Health 2012:4 45–54. http://www.dovepress.com/female-genital-mutilation-prevalence-

perceptions-and-effect-on-women39-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH-recommendation1

4. Nega K., Yemane B., Alemayehu W.,Predictors of unintended pregnancy in Kersa, Eastern

Ethiopia, 2010., Reproductive Health 2012, 9:1. http://www.reproductive-health-

journal.com/content/9/1/1

5. Gobena T, Berhane Y, Worku A. Low long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) use among

household members for protection against mosquito bite in kersa, Eastern Ethiopia. BMC

Public Health. 2012 Oct 29;12(1):914. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23107071

6. Bezatu Mengistie, Yemane Berhane and Alemayehu Worku. Predictors of Oral Rehydration

Therapy use among under -five children with diarrhea in Eastern Ethiopia: a community based

case control study. BMC Public Health 2012, 12:1029. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-1029. Published:

24 November 2012. http://www.biomedcentral/1471-2458/12/1029

7. Bizatu Mengistie1, Negga Baraki. Community based assessment on household management of

waste and hygiene practices in Kersa Woreda, Eastern Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2010;

24(2):103-109. http://ejhd.uib.no/ejhd-v24-

n2/103%20Community%20based%20assessment%20on%20household%20management%20of

%20wa.pdf

8. W. Shanko, M. Wolday, N. Assefa, A.R. Aro. Domestic violence against women in Kersa,

Oromia region, Eastern Ethiopia. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal EMHJ • Vol. 19 No. 1

• 2013

9. Nega Assefa*, Yemane Berhane, Alemayehu Worku, Pregnancy rates and pregnancy loss in

Eastern Ethiopia. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2013; DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12097

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Kersa Demographic surveillance and Health Research · PDF fileKersa Demographic surveillance and Health Research Center (KDS-HRC), Haramaya University, Ethiopia 2 | Page Brief account