TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 in Ethiopia
T2 - A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
AU - Alene, Kefyalew Addis
AU - Gelaw, Yalemzewod Assefa
AU - Fetene, Dagnachew Muluye
AU - Koye, DIgsu N.
AU - Melaku, Yohannes Adama
AU - Gesesew, Hailay
AU - Birhanu, Mulugeta Molla
AU - Adane, Akilew Awoke
AU - Muluneh, Muluken Dessalegn
AU - Dachew, Berihun Assefa
AU - Abrha, Solomon
AU - Aregay, Atsede
AU - Ayele, Asnakew Achaw
AU - Bezabhe, Woldesellassie M.
AU - Gebremariam, Kidane Tadesse
AU - Gebremedhin, Tesfaye
AU - Gebremedhin, Amanuel Tesfay
AU - Gebremichael, Lemlem
AU - Geleto, Ayele Bali
AU - Kassahun, Habtamu Tilahun
AU - Kibret, Getiye Dejenu
AU - Leshargie, Cheru Tesema
AU - Mekonnen, Alemayehu
AU - Mirkuzie, Alemnesh H.
AU - Mohammed, Hassen
AU - Tegegn, Henok Getachew
AU - Tesema, Azeb Gebresilassie
AU - Tesfay, Fisaha Haile
AU - Wubishet, Befikadu Legesse
AU - Kinfu, Yohannes
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/2/18
Y1 - 2021/2/18
N2 - Background COVID-19 has caused a global public health crisis affecting most countries, including Ethiopia, in various ways. This study maps the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Methods Thirty-eight potential indicators of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection, case severity and likelihood of death, identified based on a literature review and the availability of nationally representative data at a low geographic scale, were assembled from multiple sources for geospatial analysis. Geospatial analysis techniques were applied to produce maps showing the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death in Ethiopia at a spatial resolution of 1 km×1 km. Results This study showed that vulnerability to COVID-19 infection is likely to be high across most parts of Ethiopia, particularly in the Somali, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions. The number of severe cases of COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalisation and intensive care unit admission is likely to be high across Amhara, most parts of Oromia and some parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region. The risk of COVID-19-related death is high in the country's border regions, where public health preparedness for responding to COVID-19 is limited. Conclusion This study revealed geographical differences in vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. The study offers maps that can guide the targeted interventions necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
AB - Background COVID-19 has caused a global public health crisis affecting most countries, including Ethiopia, in various ways. This study maps the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Methods Thirty-eight potential indicators of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection, case severity and likelihood of death, identified based on a literature review and the availability of nationally representative data at a low geographic scale, were assembled from multiple sources for geospatial analysis. Geospatial analysis techniques were applied to produce maps showing the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death in Ethiopia at a spatial resolution of 1 km×1 km. Results This study showed that vulnerability to COVID-19 infection is likely to be high across most parts of Ethiopia, particularly in the Somali, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions. The number of severe cases of COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalisation and intensive care unit admission is likely to be high across Amhara, most parts of Oromia and some parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region. The risk of COVID-19-related death is high in the country's border regions, where public health preparedness for responding to COVID-19 is limited. Conclusion This study revealed geographical differences in vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. The study offers maps that can guide the targeted interventions necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
KW - epidemiology
KW - public health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101204923&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044606
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044606
M3 - Article
C2 - 33602713
AN - SCOPUS:85101204923
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 11
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 2
M1 - e044606
ER -