Kersa HDSS was established in 12 sub-districts of Kersa district, Eastern Hararge, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The site is principally rural with two small towns (Kersa and Weter). The baseline census was conducted in 2007 and since then has been updated every 6 months, with registration of demographic and health events. Data are entered into the HRS-2 relational database. At baseline a total of 10 085 houses, 10 522 households and 50 830 people were registered. The sex ratio and number of persons per household were 1.0 and 5.1, respectively. At the end of 2013, the population was 60 694. Up to the end of 2013, 12 571 births and 3143 deaths were registered, respectively. Over 85% of births and deaths occurred at home. The annual net population growth ranges from 0.06 to 1.6. The majority of the population in Kersa are not working age group; hence the dependency ratio in most of the years is below 1. The total fertility rate ranges from 4.0 to 5.3. A reduction in neonatal, infant and under-five mortalities was observed. For all deaths, verbal autopsies were done. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among adults and malnutrition is the leading cause of death among children aged under 5 years. Kersa HDSS is ready to collaborate with interested researchers on health and demographic issues. For further details please visit: [ http://www.haramaya.edu.et/research/projects/kds-hrc/ ].

BackgroundHuman factor is the primary resource of health care system. For optimal performance of health care system, the workforce needs to be satisfied with the job he/she is doing. This research was aimed to assess the level of job satisfaction and associated factors among health care providers at public health institutions in Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodHealth facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 randomly selected health care providers in Harari regional state, Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected by self-administered structured questionnaires. Epidata Version 3.1 was used for data entry and analysis was made with SPSS version 17. Level of job satisfaction was measured with a multi item scales derived from Wellness Council of America and Best Companies Group. The average/mean value was used as the cutoff point to determine whether the respondents were satisfied with their job or not. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze data and odds ratio with 95 % CI at P ≤ 0.05 was used to identify associated factors with level of job satisfaction.ResultsLess than half 179 (44.2 %) of the respondents were satisfied with their job. Being midwifery in profession [AOR = 1.20; 95 % CI (1.11–2.23)], age less than 35 years [AOR = 2.0; 95 % CI (1.67–2.88)], having good attitude to stay in the same ward for longer period [AOR = 3.21; 95 % CI (1.33, 5.41)], and safe working environment [AOR = 4.61; 95 % CI (3.33, 6.92)] were found were found to be associated with job satisfaction.ConclusionsLess than half (44.2 %) of the respondents were satisfied with their current job. Organizational management system, salary and payment and working environment were among factors that affects level of job satisfaction. Thus, regional health bureau and health facility administrators need to pay special attention to improve management system through the application of a health sector reform strategy.

BackgroundIn the world, Neonatal mortality accounts for 40 % of death of children under the age of 5 years. Majority of neonatal deaths occur in developing countries outside of formal health system, among which death in the first hour of first day of their life constitute the huge bulk. This analysis is intended to estimate neonatal mortality rates and identify the leading causes of death based on the surveillance data over 6 years period in Kersa health and demographic surveillance system (Kersa HDSS) site, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsKersa HDSS is an open dynamic cohort of population established in 2007. The surveillance started after conducting a baseline census followed by population update and events registration on house-to-house visits every 6 months. Data were collected using verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaire from close relatives (usually mothers in this case) and causes of deaths were assigned by 2 to 3 physicians. This analysis was done based on 301 neonatal deaths and 10,934 live births occurred during 2008 to 2013.ResultsThe overall neonatal death rate during the study period was 27.5 per 1000 live births. Nearly all neonatal deaths (94 %) occurred at home. More than four-fifth (82.4 %) of the deaths was occurred in the first week of life. More than 80 % of the deaths were due to perinatal causes. Bacterial sepsis of the newborn accounted for 31.2 % followed by birth asphyxia and perinatal respiratory disorder (28.2 %), and prematurity (17.3 %). Higher number of death was observed in Tolla and Bereka sub-districts located at the southern parts of the study site which are away from the main road network.ConclusionThe overall neonatal mortality over 6 years is the same to the national average (27 per 1000 live births). The leading causes of neonatal death were bacterial sepsis of newborn and birth asphyxia. Community-based skilled health care delivery during birth should be emphasized.

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BackgroundIn Ethiopia, children and mothers have been facing several health problems due to poor access to modern health care facilities and lack of effective demand to utilize the available ones. In response to this, the Ethiopian government initiated the health extension program in 2003 to improve equity in access to preventive, promotive and selected curative health interventions through health extension program. However, the level of health extension service utilization is not known. Therefore, this study presents the level of health extension service utilization and associated factors.MethodsA community based cross sectional study was carried out from February to March 2012. Data was collected through face-to-face interview by using pretested structured questionnaires adopted from review of different related literatures and entered in to EPI Info version 3.5.1. Bivariate analysis between dependent and independent variables was performed. Multivariate analysis was also done to control for possible confounding variable by selecting variable which show statistically significant association (P < 0.2) in bivariate analyses to identify independent predictor factors.ResultsThe proportion of community utilization of health extension service was 39%. Age (AOR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.53-4.15), occupation (AOR = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.64-12.5), knowledge of community on health extension service (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.18-0.36), community participation in planning of health extension activities (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.15-0.33) and graduation of model family (AOR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.47-0.76) have statistically significant association with community health extension services utilization.ConclusionsThe proportion of community utilization of health extension service was low. Age, occupation, knowledge of community on health extension service, community participation in planning of health extension activities and graduation of model family were identified as the independent factors affecting the community’s utilization of health extension services.