Rapid Increase in Ownership and Use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets and Decrease in Prevalence of Malaria in Three Regional States of Ethiopia (2006-2007)

Following recent large scale-up of malaria control interventions in Ethiopia; this study aimed to compare ownership and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN); and the change in malaria prevalence using two population-based household surveys in three regions of the country. Each survey used multistage cluster random sampling with 25 households per cluster. Household net ownership tripled from 19.6in 2006 to 68.4in 2007; with mean LLIN per household increasing from 0.3 to 1.2. Net use overall more than doubled from 15.3to 34.5; but in households owning LLIN; use declined from 71.7to 48.3. Parasitemia declined from 4.1to 0.4. Large scale-up of net ownership over a short period of time was possible. However; a large increase in net ownership was not necessarily mirrored directly by increased net use. Better targeting of nets to malaria-risk areas and sustained behavioural change communication are needed to increase and maintain net use

Epidemiology of Gallstone Disease in Gondar University Hospital; as seen in the Department of Radiology

Background: Gallstone disease is a world wide problem and remains to be one of the most common health problems leading to surgical intervention. The magnitude of Gallstone disease in Ethiopia is not well known. Objective: To assess the magnitude of gallbladder stones in Gondar university hospital among patients visiting at the department of radiology for ultrasound examination. Methods: A retrospective observational study design was used over the period of September 2004 to January 2006 at the department of radiology; Gondar university hospital. Patients above the age of 14 years and whose Gallbladder was examined by ultrasound were considered as the study subjects. Results: Among a total of 1603 study subjects; the proportion of patients with cholelithiasis was 5.2. Of the patients with gallstone disease 55 were females and 28 were males with a ratio of 2:1. The prevalence of cholelithiasis in the age group 35-64 was 7.3; 10.1for females and 4.8for males. The ratio of symptomatic to asymptomatic cholelithiasis was 1:1 (34/34). The prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients clinically suspected to have cholelithiasis was 27.2. Of the 68 patients with cholelithiasis; 22.1had evidences of complication; 5 (7.4) choledocholithiasis; 3 (4.4) acute cholecystitis; 4 (5.9) chronic cholecystitis; 2 with gallbladder (GB) hydrops and one patient with porcelain GB. Conclusion: The prevalence of cholelithiasis (5.2) in Gondar university hospital suggesting that cholelithiasis is not an uncommon disease in the area. A further community based and multi centered study is recommended to determine the prevalence of gallstone disease in Ethiopia