Assessing the health consequences of northern Ethiopian armed conflict, 2022

• Published in: Journal of public health policy 2024-03, Vol.45 (1), p.43-57
• Main Authors: Arage, Mulugeta Wodaje, Kumsa, Henok, Asfaw, Mulu Shiferaw, Kassaw, Abebe Tarekegn, Mebratu, Ephrem, Tunta, Abayneh, Kassahun, Woldeteklehymanot, Adissu, Amanuel, Yigzaw, Molla, Hailu, Tilahun, Tenaw, Lebeza Alemu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atrocities; Breakdown; Conflict; Coping; Coping strategies; Cross-sectional studies; Data collection; Disintegration; Drugs; Equality and Human Rights; Evacuation; Evacuation of civilians; Health services; Health services utilization; Home remedies; Households; Humanitarianism; Illnesses; Infrastructure; Medical personnel; Medical Sociology; Medical supplies; Military bases; Mixed methods research; Mortality; Original Article; Population studies; Public Health; Qualitative research; Response rates; Sampling techniques; Social Justice; Social Policy; Social Sciences; Sociology
• ISSN: 0197-5897; 1745-655X; 1745-655X
• DOI: 10.1057/s41271-023-00464-z

Armed conflict is a complicated topic with multidimensional impact on population health. This study aimed to assess of the health consequences of the northern Ethiopian conflict, 2022. We used a mixed method study design with a retrospective cross-sectional study supplemented by a qualitative study conducted from May to June 2022. We interviewed 1806 individuals from 423 households and conducted 100 in-depth interviews and focused group discussion. We identified 224 people who self-reported cases of illness (124/1000 people) with only 48 (21%) people who fell ill visited a health institution. We also detected 27 cases of deaths (15/1000 people) during the conflict. The collapse of the health system, evacuation of health personnel, and shortage of medical supplies, and instability with a lack of transportation were consequences of the conflict. The northern Ethiopian conflict has greatly affected the community’s health through the breakdown of the health system and health-supporting structures. Key Messages The conflict in Northern Ethiopia has had a substantial impact on the communities health, both directly through conflict-related causalities and indirectly through the disintegration of the health system and health-supporting structures, which has severely hampered the supply and utilization of health services. The main coping strategies of patients and health providers for the breakdown of the health system included the use of traditional medications and home remedies, obtaining medications from non-conflict-affected areas, and providing home-to-home service by health providers and using available supplies. The study recommended immediate rehabilitating interventions for affected individuals and damaged health infrastructure.