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Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of gender-based violence affecting women and girls worldwide and is exacerbated in humanitarian settings. There is evidence that neighborhood social processes influence IPV. Perceived neighborhood social cohesion (P-NSC)—a measure of community trust, attachment, safety, and reciprocity—may be protective against women's experience of and men's perpetration of IPV and controlling behaviors. Methods: A quantitative social network study, comprised of individual verbally-administered surveys, was conducted in Bokolmayo refugee camp in Dollo Ado, Ethiopia in 2019. In total, 302 Somali refugees (147 women and 155 men), sampled using snowball sampling, participated in the data collection. Logistic regression was used to examine P-NSC and its association with IPV to inform an IPV and HIV prevention intervention. Results: Low P-NSC and men's perpetration of physical IPV in the past month were strongly associated (adjusted AOR = 23.6, 95% CI: 6.2–89.9). Low P-NSC, conversely, was associated with decreased odds of women's experiences of controlling behaviors by an intimate partner in the past year (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.0–0.5). Women's experiences of other forms of IPV, including physical, sexual, and emotional IPV within the past year, were not associated with P-NSC in adjusted models; P-NSC was significantly associated with all forms of IPV in unadjusted models. Conclusion: Social cohesion programs and other neighborhood approaches to improve P-NSC should be explored as potential avenues to prevent and reduce IPV, with a focus on male IPV and controlling behavior perpetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia there is a severe shortage of child mental health professionals. Identification and intervention for young children's mental health problems is crucial to improve developmental trajectories and reduce the severity of emotional and behavioral disorders. Teachers can play an important role in early problem detection. This role is particularly impactful in developing countries with limited mental health care resources. However, teachers' knowledge about mental health varies dramatically. This study tested the influence of a training intervention to improve teachers' ability to accurately identify preschool children's emotional and behavioral problems in 24 schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sensitivity and specificity of teacher identification, and overall agreement with an established measurement criterion (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) were examined 2 years following training compared to preintervention baseline, and a nonintervention control group of 12 schools. Results indicate that the teacher training was significantly associated with more accurate identification of children's problems.

Aims: This study aims to assess the dynamics of in-school adolescents' mental health problems in Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia for a year. Materials and methods: Using multistage sampling technique, we conducted a year-long longitudinal study at three public high schools between March 2020 and 2021. Three hundred fifty-eight in-school adolescents were chosen by systematic random sampling for the baseline assessment, and 328 completed the follow-up assessment. We used self-administered, adolescent version of SDQ-25 Questionnaire to collect the data. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and McNemara's Chi-squared tests were used to examine the median difference and distribution of mental health problems between times one and two. Random-effects logistic regressions on panel data was used to identify factors associated with mental health problems. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The magnitude of overall mental health problems at baseline assessment was 20.11% (95% CI: 16–25), with internalizing problems accounting for 27.14% (95% CI: 23–32) and externalizing problems accounting for 7.01% (95% CI: 4.6–10.3). At the follow-up assessment, these proportions rose to 22.56% (95% CI, 18–27) for overall problems and 10.3% (95% CI, 7.7–14.45) for externalizing problems. On other hand, internalizing problems decreased unexpectedly to 22.86% (95% CI, 18.6–27.7) at follow-up assessment. Internalizing problem scores at time two were significantly lower than baseline among older adolescents, girls and those with average wealth index in our study cohort. Conclusions: The prevalence of mental health problems were high among the study cohort. The proportion of overall problems and externalizing problems has increased over time, indicating a deterioration in the mental health of the study cohort. However, the decrease in internalizing problems among older adolescents, girls, and those with an average wealth index is a positive sign. The findings highlight that tailored interventions are required to reduce externalizing problems and maintain the decrease in internalizing problems. These interventions should target middle-aged and male adolescents from low-income families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To adapt an evidence-based psychological intervention for pregnant women experiencing depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural Ethiopia. We conducted a desk review of contextual factors in Sodo, Ethiopia, followed by qualitative interviews with 16 pregnant women and 12 antenatal care (ANC) providers. We engaged stakeholders through participatory theory of change (ToC) workshops, to select the intervention and articulate a programme theory. We used "ADAPT" guidance to adapt the intervention to the context, before mapping potential harms in a "dark logic model". Brief problem-solving therapy developed for South Africa was the most contextually relevant model. We adapted the delivery format (participants prioritised confidentiality and brevity) and training and supervision (addressing IPV). Consensus long-term outcomes in our ToC were ANC providers skilled in detecting and responding to emotional difficulties and IPV, women receiving appropriate support, and emotional difficulties improving. Our dark logic model highlighted the risk of more severe IPV and mental health symptoms not being referred appropriately. Although intervention adaptation is recommended, the process is rarely reported in depth. We comprehensively describe how contextual considerations, stakeholder engagement, programme theory, and adaptation can tailor psychological interventions for the target population in a low-income, rural setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Depression is associated with negative social, economic, and family outcomes and the majority of individuals with depression in low and middle income countries (LMICs) are untreated. A critical first step in bridging the treatment gap is accurate, feasible, and culturally appropriate screening to identify those who need treatment. The WHO's Perceived Well-Being Index (WHO-5) well-being instrument can potentially meet the screening needs of LMICs in primary care and community-based settings. This study tested the feasibility and validity of this tool to identify depression among adult parents of young children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Successful identification and treatment of depression in parents extends benefits to children and families. Method: The WHO-5 was translated to Amharic and administered to 849 adults and compared with simultaneous administration of the well-established PHQ-9 instrument. Feasibility was assessed and analyses evaluated frequency of positive screens for depression, internal consistency, sensitivity and specificity of the WHO-5, and sociodemographic correlates of depression. Results: The prevalence of probable depression was similar as assessed by the PHQ-9 (17.3%) and the WHO-5 (18.5%). The internal consistency of the WHO-5 was strong (Cronbach's alpha = .83). WHO-5 agreement with the PHQ-9 was moderate; sensitivity and specificity were strong. Correlates of depression included unemployment and financial status. Discussion: The study provides promising evidence to support use of the WHO-5 to identify depression in Ethiopia. Feasibility was good, and it was culturally and linguistically acceptable. The results suggest that minimally trained community health and education workers in countries like Ethiopia could use the WHO-5 effectively in primary health and education settings. Keywords: depression screening, WHO-5, Ethiopia, According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability around the world (Friedrich, 2017). As the number of people suffering from depression increases, the economic, social, [...]

The weekly disease surveillance system (WDSS) serves as a precursor to possible public health emergencies. The Meda Welabu Woreda Bale Zone in Ethiopia has reporting rates of 87% overall timeliness and 88% completeness in 2023, falling short of the 100% objective. Low reporting rates could mean that epidemics in the province are only discovered later. In the Meda Welabu Woreda Bale Zone of Ethiopia, the study was carried out to assess the WDSS maternal and perinatal death surveillance response (MPDSR). Using the most recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria for assessing public health monitoring systems, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional analysis. Data from the health workers were gathered through key informant interviews and questionnaires given by the interviewer. Using checklists, the availability of resources was evaluated. Twenty-two health personnel and twelve Health Extension Workers were questioned; of them, 15 (44%) were females. Nurses made up 18 (53%) of the health personnel. Only sixteen (47%) of the respondents were aware of the WDSS goals, compared to thirty-four (53%) who were aware of the deadlines for submitting data to the next level. A total of eight (24%) responders received training in using the WDSS. 26(76%) respondents said they would be willing to continue participating in the WDSS, whereas 6 (18%) respondents said they had analyzed the data from the WDSS. Of the health facilities, seven (50%) reported having issues with the district public health emergency officer. However, low attention to immediately report on maternal and perinatal death (42.9%). It was concluded that the WDSS was adaptable, reasonable, and easy to use. That was erratic and premature, though. We suggest that healthcare professionals in the province receive training on maternal and perinatal death surveillance response. In Meda Welabu Woreda Bale Zone conducted an evaluation in 2023 of the weekly disease surveillance system, maternal and perinatal death surveillance response. Launched in 1998, the system tracks weekly trends of diseases under surveillance to provide an early warning of any dangers to public health, but maternal and perinatal death surveillance were included on 2013. On the other hand, in 2023, the overall completion and timeliness of reports was 88%, falling short of the 100% aim. Low rates of reporting could mean that outbreaks and quality of service in the province were discovered later than expected. Using current centers for disease control criteria and interviewer-administered data, a descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Depression and burnout are common among healthcare workers (HCWs) and negatively affect their wellbeing and the quality of the service they provide. However, the burden of depression and burnout among health extension workers (HEWs) in Ethiopia and their relationship has not been documented well. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and burnout among HEWs in Ethiopia and to investigate the relationship between these conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a cross-sectional study design and collected data from 584 rural and 581 urban HEWs in Ethiopia, as part of the 2019 national health extension program assessment. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Burnout Self-Test were used to screen HEWs for depression and burnout, respectively. We used descriptive statistics to estimate the magnitude of depression and burnout, and logistic regression to examine their relationship. RESULT: Based on PHQ-9 cutoff scores of 10, the prevalence of major depression was 16.5% among rural and 8.9% among urban HEWs, whereas burnout risk was 39.8% among rural and 12.6% among urban HEWs. The odds of having depression among HEWs with burnout risk was relatively higher compared to those without burnout risk [For rural HEWs, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) is 11.88 at a 95% confidence interval (CI; 5.27, 26.80), and for urban HEWs, the AOR is 11.49 at a 95% CI (5.35, 24.63)]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression and burnout is high among HEWs in Ethiopia, with a significant rural–urban difference, and burnout is a significant predictor of depression. Mental health interventions that enable prevention, early detection, and management are needed especially for rural HEWs who are in charge of preventive health service delivery for the disadvantaged rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major worldwide health challenge, and addressing this challenge requires high-quality data. This analysis uses a large-scale survey of 5033 households in rural Ethiopia in which both men and women were surveyed about past-year IPV in order to quantify the degree of discordance, including both husband only reporting and wife only reporting, for multiple forms of IPV (emotional, physical, and sexual). In addition, logistic regression is employed to analyze the effects of demographic characteristics and individual norms and behaviors on the probability of discordant reporting. The results suggest that almost half of households (44%) are characterized by discordant reporting in at least one dimension of IPV. Given the high level of discordance, 61.4% of households report any physical and/or sexual IPV using the household-level measure, compared to a rate of 41.9% from the women's data only. In addition, men who report more gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors (failing to concur with justifications for IPV, reporting higher support for gender equitable norms, and reporting a higher level of female engagement in decision-making and intrahousehold task-sharing) are more likely to be members of wife only reporting households: that is, they are less likely to report perpetration of IPV. Women who report more gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors, by contrast, are more likely to be members of husband only reporting households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]