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Child health services and armed conflict in Tigray, North Ethiopia: a community-based study
Mache Tsadik1, Hailay Gebretnsae2, Asefa Ayalew1
1School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Tigray, 231, Ethiopia.
Insights
Armed conflict in Tigray severely impacted child health services, leaving many unvaccinated children vulnerable. Rural areas faced greater challenges in accessing healthcare, increasing childhood illnesses and mortality risks.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Armed conflict in Tigray, North Ethiopia, significantly disrupts access to essential child health services.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the specific impacts of the Tigray war on child healthcare utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of the armed conflict on the utilization of child health services in Tigray.
- To assess the impact of war on childhood immunizations and treatment-seeking behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 4,381 caregivers of children under one year old.
- Data on childhood immunizations and illness-related treatment were collected between August 4-20, 2021.
- Statistical analysis included frequency, percentage, and chi-square tests for internal comparisons.
Main Results:
- 39% of infants did not receive basic vaccines; only 20% completed all recommended vaccinations.
- Approximately 61% of children experienced at least one childhood ailment, with a higher prevalence in rural areas.
- Mothers who did not receive postnatal care accounted for over 75% of reported childhood illnesses.
Conclusions:
- A significant number of children remained unvaccinated and suffered from illnesses during the conflict.
- Rural populations experienced higher rates of childhood illness but lower utilization of health services.
- Coordinated efforts and cessation of healthcare weaponization are crucial to reduce child morbidity and mortality in Tigray.
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.
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