Causes of death among women of reproductive age during the war in Tigray, Ethiopia-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

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

Published:2024-03-13 Issue:3 Volume:19 Page:e0299650
ISSN:1932-6203
Container-title:PLOS ONE
language:en
Short-container-title:PLoS ONE

Author:

Abraha Hiluf Ebuy^ORCID,Teka Hale^ORCID,Legesse Awol Yemane^ORCID,Ebrahim Mohamedawel Mohamedniguss,Tsadik Mache,Fisseha Girmatsion,Berhe Bereket,Ayele Brhane^ORCID,Gebrekurstos Gebrehaweria,Gebremeskel Tesfit,Gebremariam Tsega,Hadush Martha Yemane,Hagos Tigist,Gebreegziabher Abraha,Muez Kibrom,Tesfay Haile,Godefay Hagos,Mulugeta Afework

Abstract

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.

Funder

United Nations Fund for Population Activities

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Reference41 articles.

1. World Health Organization Africa. Women and health: today’s evidence tomorrow’s agenda. 2009; https://screening.iarc.fr/doc/Womenandhealthreport.pdf, Accessed 17 December 2023.

2. World Health Organization. WHO report on the health of women: AIDS https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2009/november/20091109women, Accessed 22 August 2023.

3. United States Agency for International Development. Forty years into the HIV epidemic, AIDS remains the leading cause of death of women of reproductive age—UNAIDS calls for bold action. 2020; https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2020/march/20200305_weve-got-the-power, Accessed 22 August 2023.

4. World Health Organization. Women and health: today’s evidence tomorrow’s agenda. 2011; https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44168. Accessed 18 August, 2023.

5. Sexual and reproductive health in conflict areas: The imperative to address violence against women;J Cottingham;BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol,2008