COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death

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 C...

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Main Authors: Alene, Kefyalew, Gelaw, Y.A., Fetene, D.M., Koye, D.N., Melaku, Y.A., Gesesew, H., Birhanu, M.M., Adane, A.A., Muluneh, M.D., Dachew, Berihun, Abrha, S., Aregay, A., Ayele, A.A., Bezabhe, W.M., Gebremariam, K.T., Gebremedhin, T., Gebremedhin, A.T., Gebremichael, L., Geleto, A.B., Kassahun, H.T., Kibret, G.D., Leshargie, C.T., Mekonnen, A., Mirkuzie, A.H., Mohammed, H., Tegegn, H.G., Tesema, A.G., Tesfay, F.H., Wubishet, B.L., Kinfu, Y.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86477
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author Alene, Kefyalew
Gelaw, Y.A.
Fetene, D.M.
Koye, D.N.
Melaku, Y.A.
Gesesew, H.
Birhanu, M.M.
Adane, A.A.
Muluneh, M.D.
Dachew, Berihun
Abrha, S.
Aregay, A.
Ayele, A.A.
Bezabhe, W.M.
Gebremariam, K.T.
Gebremedhin, T.
Gebremedhin, A.T.
Gebremichael, L.
Geleto, A.B.
Kassahun, H.T.
Kibret, G.D.
Leshargie, C.T.
Mekonnen, A.
Mirkuzie, A.H.
Mohammed, H.
Tegegn, H.G.
Tesema, A.G.
Tesfay, F.H.
Wubishet, B.L.
Kinfu, Y.
author_facet Alene, Kefyalew
Gelaw, Y.A.
Fetene, D.M.
Koye, D.N.
Melaku, Y.A.
Gesesew, H.
Birhanu, M.M.
Adane, A.A.
Muluneh, M.D.
Dachew, Berihun
Abrha, S.
Aregay, A.
Ayele, A.A.
Bezabhe, W.M.
Gebremariam, K.T.
Gebremedhin, T.
Gebremedhin, A.T.
Gebremichael, L.
Geleto, A.B.
Kassahun, H.T.
Kibret, G.D.
Leshargie, C.T.
Mekonnen, A.
Mirkuzie, A.H.
Mohammed, H.
Tegegn, H.G.
Tesema, A.G.
Tesfay, F.H.
Wubishet, B.L.
Kinfu, Y.
author_sort Alene, Kefyalew
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description 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.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2021
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-864772021-11-23T03:08:45Z COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death Alene, Kefyalew Gelaw, Y.A. Fetene, D.M. Koye, D.N. Melaku, Y.A. Gesesew, H. Birhanu, M.M. Adane, A.A. Muluneh, M.D. Dachew, Berihun Abrha, S. Aregay, A. Ayele, A.A. Bezabhe, W.M. Gebremariam, K.T. Gebremedhin, T. Gebremedhin, A.T. Gebremichael, L. Geleto, A.B. Kassahun, H.T. Kibret, G.D. Leshargie, C.T. Mekonnen, A. Mirkuzie, A.H. Mohammed, H. Tegegn, H.G. Tesema, A.G. Tesfay, F.H. Wubishet, B.L. Kinfu, Y. epidemiology public health COVID-19 Ethiopia Female Geography, Medical Humans Male Pandemics Risk Factors 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. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86477 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044606 eng fulltext
spellingShingle epidemiology
public health
COVID-19
Ethiopia
Female
Geography, Medical
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Risk Factors
Alene, Kefyalew
Gelaw, Y.A.
Fetene, D.M.
Koye, D.N.
Melaku, Y.A.
Gesesew, H.
Birhanu, M.M.
Adane, A.A.
Muluneh, M.D.
Dachew, Berihun
Abrha, S.
Aregay, A.
Ayele, A.A.
Bezabhe, W.M.
Gebremariam, K.T.
Gebremedhin, T.
Gebremedhin, A.T.
Gebremichael, L.
Geleto, A.B.
Kassahun, H.T.
Kibret, G.D.
Leshargie, C.T.
Mekonnen, A.
Mirkuzie, A.H.
Mohammed, H.
Tegegn, H.G.
Tesema, A.G.
Tesfay, F.H.
Wubishet, B.L.
Kinfu, Y.
COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
title COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
title_full COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
title_fullStr COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
title_short COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
title_sort covid-19 in ethiopia: a geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
topic epidemiology
public health
COVID-19
Ethiopia
Female
Geography, Medical
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Risk Factors
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86477