Neonatal mortality during the war in Tigray: a cross-sectional community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality is among the key national and international indicators of health services. The global Sustainable Development Goal target for neonatal mortality is fewer than 12 deaths per 1000 livebirths, by 2030. Neonatal mortality estimates in the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey found 25·7 deaths per 1000 livebirths. Subnational surveys specific to Tigray, Ethiopia, reported a neonatal mortality lifetime prevalence of 7·13 deaths. Another government report from the Tigray region estimated a neonatal mortality rate of ten deaths per 1000 livebirths in 2020. Despite the numerous interventions in Ethiopia's Tigray region to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the war has disrupted most health services, but the effect on neonatal mortality is unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the magnitude and causes of neonatal mortality during the war in Tigray. METHODS: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in Tigray to evaluate neonatal mortality that occurred from Nov 4, 2020, to May 30, 2022. Among the 31 districts, 121 tabias were selected using computer-generated random sampling, and 189 087 households were visited. We adopted a validated WHO 2022 verbal autopsy tool, and data were collected using an interviewer-administrated Open Data Kit. In the absence of the mother, other respondents to the verbal autopsy interview were household members aged 18 years and older who provided care during the final illness that led to death. FINDINGS: 29 761 livebirths were recorded during the screening of 189 087 households. Verbal autopsy was administered for 1158 households with neonatal deaths. 317 neonates were stillborn, and 841 neonatal deaths were recorded with the WHO 2022 verbal autopsy tool from Nov 4, 2020, to May 30, 2022, in 31 districts. The neonatal mortality rate was 28·2 deaths per 1000 livebirths. 476 (57%) of the 841 neonatal deaths occurred at home and 296 (35%) in health facilities. A high rate of neonatal deaths was reported in rural districts (80% [673 of 841]) compared with urban districts (20% [168 of 841]), and 663 (79%) deaths occurred during the early neonatal period, in the first week of life (0-6 days). The leading causes of neonatal death were asphyxia (35% [291 of 834]), prematurity (30% [247 of 834]), and infection (12% [104 of 834]). Asphyxia (37% [246 of 663]) and infection (28% [50 of 178]) were the leading causes of death for early and late neonatal period deaths, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Neonatal mortality in Tigray is high due to preventable causes. An urgent response is needed to prevent the high number of neonatal deaths associated with the depleted health resources and services resulting from the war, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on neonatal mortality. FUNDING: UNICEF and United Nations Fund for Population Activities. TRANSLATION: For the Tigrigna translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Causes of death among women of reproductive age during the war in Tigray, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In resource-limited countries with weak healthcare systems, women of reproductive age are particularly vulnerable during times of conflict. In Tigray, Ethiopia, where a war broke out on 04 November 2020, there is a lack of information on causes of death (CoD) among women of reproductive age. This study aims to determine the underlying CoD among women of reproductive age during the armed conflict in Tigray. METHODS: This community-based survey was carried out in six Tigray zones, excluding the western zone for security reasons. We used a multistage stratified cluster sampling method to select the smallest administrative unit known as Tabiya. Data were collected using a standardized 2022 WHO Verbal Autopsy (VA) tool. The collected data were analyzed using the InterVA model using R analytic software. The study reported both group-based and cause-specific mortality fractions. RESULTS: A total of 189,087 households were screened and 832 deaths were identified among women of reproductive age. The Global Burden of Disease classification showed that infectious and maternal disorders were the leading CoD, accounting for 42.9% of all deaths. External causes contributed to 26.4% of fatalities, where assault accounted for 13.2% of the deaths. Maternal deaths made up 30.0% of the overall mortality rate. HIV/AIDS was the primary CoD, responsible for 13.2% of all deaths and 54.0% of infectious causes. Other significant causes included obstetric hemorrhage (11.7%) and other and unspecified cardiac disease (6.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of infectious diseases related CoD, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the occurrence of uncommon external CoD among women, such as assault, and a high proportion of maternal deaths are likely the result of the impact of war in the region. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these issues and prioritize sexual and reproductive health as well as maternal health in Tigray.

Maternal mortality during war time in Tigray, Ethiopia: A community-based study.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to examine the impact of war on maternal mortality following an exacerbation in the dynamics of inequality in maternal health caused by the continuing conflict. DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia, between November 2020 and May 2022. POPULATION: This study surveyed a total of 189 087 households from six of the seven zones of Tigray in 121 tabiyas from 31 districts selected. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select the districts and tabiyas. METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, reproductive-age deaths that occurred during the study period were screened. In the second phase, verbal autopsies were conducted at the screened households. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal mortality ratio level and cause-specific mortality. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the maternal mortality ratio was 840 (95% CI 739-914) per 100 000 live births. Haemorrhage, 107 (42.8%), pregnancy-induced hypertension, 21 (8.4%), and accidents, 14 (5.6%), were the main causes of mortality. Additionally, 203 (81.2%) of the mothers died outside of a health facility. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown a higher maternal mortality ratio following the dynamics of the Tigray war, as compared with the pre-war level of 186/100 000. Furthermore, potentially many of the pregnancy-related deaths could have been prevented with access to preventive and emergency services. Given the destruction and looting of many facilities, the restoration and improvement of the Tigray health system must take precedence.

Child health services and armed conflict in Tigray, North Ethiopia: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Access to basic health services, notably child health services, is severely hampered by the armed conflict in Tigray, North Ethiopia. Little is known regarding the impacts of the armed conflict during the war in Tigray on access to child health services. The current study investigates the impact of the armed conflict on the utilization of child health services in Tigray. METHODS: 4,381 caregivers from randomly recruited households (HHs) with at least one child younger than 1 year old participated in a community-based cross-sectional survey. We collected data on childhood immunizations and illness-related treatment seeking from August 4 to 20, 2021. We describe data using frequency and percentage and carry out an internal comparison among the study participants using chi-square tests. RESULTS: 4,381 children under the age of one included in the study. In total, 39% of infants received no basic vaccines, 61.3% of the children under the age of one received at least one vaccine, and 20% received all the vaccinations recommended for their age. About 61% of children were affected by at least one childhood ailments where majority of them were from rural areas. Mothers who did not seek postnatal care (PNC) were responsible for more than 75% of reported childhood illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: A sizable portion of children were unvaccinated and had at least one childhood sickness while the war was in progress. Particularly, people who live in rural areas reported a higher percentage of children's illnesses but a lower use of child health services. To lower childhood morbidity and mortality in the besieged area, such as Tigray, local to global actors need to get coordinated and warrying parties should stop weaponization of vaccination healthcare services.

Prevalence and multi-level factors associated with acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months from war affected communities of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Armed conflicts greatly affect the health, nutrition, and food security of conflict affected settings particularly children. However, no empirical data exist regarding context specific factors contributing towards acute malnutrition in the war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to identify individual and community level factors associated with acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months from armed conflict affected settings of Tigray, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,614 children aged 6-59 months in Tigray, from July 15 to Aug 15, 2021. Study participants were selected using a two-stage random sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data by interviewing mothers/caregivers. Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements were taken from upper left arm of the children using MUAC tapes. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with acute malnutrition. Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI were estimated to describe the strength of associations at p < 0.05. RESULTS: More than half (52.5%) of the sampled children were males in sex. Immediately after the first nine months into the conflict, the prevalence of severe, moderate, and global acute malnutrition was very high (5.1%, 21.8%, and 26.9%, respectively) in Tigray. The lowest and highest burden of child acute malnutrition was reported from Mekelle zone (13.3%) and Southeastern zone (36.7%), respectively. Individual-level factors such as older child age (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.18), female child sex (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.05, 1.480.95), Vitamin-A supplementation (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.65), and history of diarrhea (AOR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.02, 1.53) and community-level factors like unimproved drinking water source (AOR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.58), unimproved toilet facility (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.52), and severe food insecurity (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.16. 2.07) were significantly associated with childhood acute malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of acute malnutrition is a severe public health problem in Tigray. To prevent the untimely suffering and death of children, regular nutrition screening, speedy, and appropriate referral of all malnourished children to nutritional services and large-scale humanitarian assistance including access to food; nutrition supplies; water, sanitation and hygiene supplies; and health care in a timely manner are required. In the prevailing armed conflict, these have been very difficult to achieve. Thus, immediate international intervention is needed.