Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center Research Articles

Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Factors Among "Apparently Healthy" Urban and Rural Residents in Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundAnemia is the most frequent micronutrient deficiency; globally it has an impact on more than 2 billion people. Different studies have indicated that the prevalence of anemia varies between rural areas and urban centers. This study focused on determining the prevalence and identifying the factors associated with anemia among “apparently healthy” urban and rural residents of Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center.Methods and ParticipantsA comparative cross-sectional study was done using secondary data of Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. Data of 1,602 (1,258 rural and 344 urban) apparently healthy adults whose hemoglobin level was available were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 and separate logistic regression models; urban and rural were fitted. Statistical significance was set at p-values < 0.05 with 95% CI.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anemia was 40.9%. Anemia was higher among rural residents (46.6%) than urban residents (20.1%). In urban centers, being male (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: [1.03, 4.50]) and illiterate (AOR = 5.76, 95% [CI: 1.27, 26.07]) were significantly associated with anemia. In rural areas, being female (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: [1.27, 2.52]), presence of heart disease (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: [1.09, 6.33]), central obesity (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: [1.31, 2.57]), illiteracy (AOR = 3.62, 95% CI: [1.57, 8.35]), and primary school completion (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: [1.08, 6.73]) were significantly associated with anemia.ConclusionAccording to the WHO classification, the overall prevalence of anemia was a severe public health problem. This study also marked urban–rural variation in anemia prevalence, indicating the need for targeting specific areas for intervention. Strengthening strategies aimed at educational empowerment and nutritional education will have a contribution to combating anemia, especially in the rural kebeles of the study area.

Genotype-phenotype feasibility studies on khat abuse, traumatic experiences and psychosis in Ethiopia.

Studying the relationship between mental illnesses and their environmental and genetic risk factors in low-income countries holds excellent promises. These studies will improve our understanding of how risk factors identified predominantly in high-income countries also apply to other settings and will identify new, sometimes population-specific risk factors. Here we report the successful completion of two intertwined pilot studies on khat abuse, trauma, and psychosis at the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center in Ethiopia. We found that the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center offers a unique opportunity to collect well-characterized samples for mental health research and to perform genetic studies that, at this scale, have not been undertaken in Ethiopia yet. We also supported service development, education, and research for strengthening the professional profile of psychiatry at the site.

Factors Associated with Overweight and Central Obesity in Adults at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia: A Secondary Analysis of Data

Introduction: Overweight and obesity increase the risk of premature death and cause serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life and decrease productivity. Studies on factors associated with overweight and central obesity are lacking.Therefore; this study was undertaken to assess factors associated with overweight and central obesity in adults at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. Methods: Source of data was from a community based cross-sectional study conducted from September 2008 to January 2009 using WHO stepwise of stratified random sampling method. All study participants of age 15 to 64 years, who had anthropometric measurements were included in this study. Data were entered into the computer using EPI-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS Windows version 16.0 software. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out and p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant association. Results: Ninety six percent of study participants were included in the study. Respondents of age, 55-64 years and female sex were more likely to develop overweight and central obesity [(AOR= 8.3; 95%CI, 2.080-33.20), (AOR= 3; 95%CI, 1.37-6.98)] and [(AOR= 2.5; 95%CI, 1.71-3.670), (AOR= 12; 95%CI, 4.27-20.46)] respectively. Higher educational status, urban residence, employee and merchant were more likely to be overweight [(AOR= 6.2; 95%CI, 2.12-17.95), (AOR= 4.2; 95%CI, 2.170-8.180), (AOR= 5.9; 95%CI, 1.66-21.03) and (AOR= 5.4; 95%CI, 1.65-14.8)] respectively. But higher educational status and chewing chat were less likely to became central obese [(AOR= 0.36; 95%CI, 0.210-0.736) and (AOR= 0.44; 95%CI, 0.359-0.548)] respectively. Conclusion: Older age, female sex and higher educational status were independently associated with overweight and central obesity. Current smoker and chewing chat for central obesity and merchant, employee and urban residence for overweight were independently associated. Woreda Health Offices should encourage health facilities to promote prevention and control of overweight and central obesity among females and urban residents. Keywords: Overweight, Central obesity, Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/63-02 Publication date :June 30 th 2019

T57 - Khat abuse as risk factor for development of psychotic symptoms in trauma patients. A feasibility study for further genetico-epidemiological studies in the GGFRC, ethiopia

Background The Jimma University in southwestern Ethiopia has a unique health and demographic surveillance system called „Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center” (GGFRC) with a catchment area of about 50.000 people. In this setting, we studied the effect of khat use as risk factor for the development and the stability of psychotic symptoms among young men in the community. Our aim was to validate pilot data by testing the hypothesis, whether objective biological data on khat abuse are related in a meaningful way to behavioral self-reports of study participants and psychiatric symptom presentation assessed by trained interviewers. We assumed that khat alkaloids in urine samples of respondents are related to a higher probability of psychotic symptom presentation, especially in the subgroup with high trauma load. Furthermore, we wanted to demonstrate the reliability and validity of research methods that are necessary for future genetic epidemiological studies, i.e. the validity and reliability of pharmacological screening tests as well as assessments performed by trained local interviewers. Methods In this prospective study, trained local interviewers screened a representative cohort of young men twice within a period of nine months (T1: dry season, N=852, T3: rainy season, N=693) to determine the presence and stability of distinct psychiatric symptoms (CIDI) and to assess traumatic experiences (LEC-5). As part of the screening, urine samples were collected and analyzed for khat alkaloids by immunoassay tests for amphetamine. In a clinical validation interview (T2, N=126) mental health specialist reassessed the psychiatric symptom presentation (BPRS) in a randomly selected subgroup of 126 individuals of those persons who had been screened at T1. The validation study took also urine of this subgroup in order to validate the urine screening by a more extensive analysis of khat alkaloids (HPLC). Results Our results on the association between biological objective data and information on psychiatric symptoms assessed by interviews were related in a meaningful way: The proportion of khat-related psychotic symptoms was highest among respondents with positive khat tests and with high trauma load. This tendency was strongest during rainy season (T3) where the market availability and the use of khat was higher (Chi2 = 14.800, df 1, p Discussion By showing these meaningful variations, this pilot study suggest that important theories on the development of psychosis can be further studied in epidemiological and longitudinal designs among khat users. Our project can be seen as a pilot and feasibility study to prepare a comprehensive population-based genetico-epidemiological study on various gene-environment interactions that should be carried out in the very next future. The infrastructure of GGFRC offers us a unique opportunity to build collectives of multiple-thousand people in a shortest period of time and to perform genetic studies as they have not yet been taken in Africa in this form so far. The population is ideally suited to study the impact of polygenic risk profiles of various psychiatric disorders on behavioral traits and their interaction with environment.

Assessment of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression among Adults in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, South West Ethiopia

Depression is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease and affects people in all communities across the world. Previously conducted studies in Ethiopia have consistently shown that depression is common problem in the country. There is limited scientific data regarding the association of independent variables with depression in Ethiopia and study area. Objective: To assess prevalence and associated factors with depression among adults in Gilgel-Gibe Field Research Center. Method: Population based cross-sectional study on chronic non-communicable diseases was conducted in the study area in 2008. Data were collected from random sample of 4,371 individuals on major risk factors of these diseases. In our study we processed and analyzed these data using SPSS for windows version 16.0. Multivariate logistic regressions were carried out, association between independent variables and depression was measured using adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval and P-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Finding of the study showed that prevalence of reported and measured depression was 1.7% and 7.4% respectively. Females were 1.62 times more likely to have depression compared to males (AOR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.44). Twelve months alcohol users were 3.23 times more likely to have depression compared to non-users (AOR=3.23, 95% CI: 1.17, 8.88). Respondents having two and above chronic diseases were 2.18 times more likely to have depression compared to those free of the diseases (AOR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.15, 4.13) Conclusion: Sex, alcohol use and number of chronic diseases were found to be independent predictors of depression.

Prevalence and Risk Factors For Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Fasting Glucose among Adults Aged 15-64 Years in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia, 2013:Through a Who Step Wise Approach

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder resulting from defects in insulin action, production, or both. Despite the huge health and economic burden of diabetes mellitus, prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and pre diabetes mellitus are not well documented in Ethiopia generally and in the study area in particular. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose and their risk factors among adults 15-64 years old in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. Method and materials: The study was based on secondary data collected from late September 2008 to the end of January 2009 in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center of Jimma University according to WHO-STEP wise approach in a community setting. A total of 4371, 2653 and 1861adults in the age group of 15-64 years were included for step I, II and III respectively. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose. Results: The crude prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose among the study participants was 4.4 % [0.6% self-reported (95% CI: 0.30% 0.80%) vs 3.8% newly diagnosed (95% CI: 0.02 – 0.04)] and 9.7% [95% CI: 0.080.11] respectively. The age adjusted prevalence of DM and IFG to the standard world population was 3.7% [95%CI: 0.17-0.45] and 10.1% [95%CI: 0.32-0.67] respectively. Being male [AOR:3.0 (95%CI: 2.80-5.67)], being in the age group of 35-44 [AOR: 4.5 (95%CI: 3.05-10.23)], being current smoker [AOR:1.8 (95%CI:1.68-3.14)] and physically inactive [AOR:2.3 (95%CI:1.27-4.02)] while having central obesity [AOR: 2.5(95%CI:2.40-4.10)] and being in the age group of 55-64 [AOR:2.1(95%CI:1.69-5.23)]were independent predictors of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose respectively. Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose was higher than the previous reports in Ethiopia and hence health information dissemination on modifiable risk factors such as smoking and regular physical activities as well as screening of high risk groups to reduce the disease burden are needed.

Epidemiology of Non-communicable Disease Risk Factors Among Adults Residing in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Centre, Jimma, South West Ethiopia

Background: Burden of Chronic non-communicable diseases are increasing rapidly in developing countries and different Risk factors are contributing to the high burden of Non-communicable diseases in developing countries. Tobacco is most common risk factor and responsible for about 4.9 million deaths each year. Alcohol consumption is the leading risk factor for mortality in developing countries. Physical inactivity is also leading causes of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and about 1.9 million deaths are attributed to physical inactivity Worldwide. Hypertension is a growing public health problem. Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion individuals have Hypertension, and approximately 7.1 million deaths per year are attributed to hypertension. This study tried to determine the prevalence of the selected non-communicable disease risk factors among adults at Gilgel Gibe field Research centre of Jimma University, Southwest Ethiopia. Method: - Data were extracted from a population-based survey of chronic Non-communicable Diseases at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, southwest Ethiopia which was conducted from September 2008 to January 2009. A data of 4273 individuals were included in the analysis. The Interview was used to collect data on sociodemographic and selected behavioural variables. Blood pressure was taken three times for each individual and the average was taken to classify the individuals to hypertensive or not. Data were analysed using SPSS for windows version 15. Descriptive and analytical analysis was conducted. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05 at 95% of CI. The Results: - The prevalence rate of hypertension based on blood pressure measurement was 82 (3.2%). The prevalence of alcohol consumption, low-level physical activity & smoking was 7.0%, 9.0% and 9.4 % respectively. Conclusion: - The prevalence of NCD Risk factors among the study subjects was high. These findings are crucial for evidence based decision making. This finding will also give baseline information for researchers and other stakeholders to conduct further studies.

Risk Factors for Hypertension among Adults. An Analysis of Survey Data on Chronic Non-Communicable Disease at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, South West Ethiopia

Background: Population based survey study on hypertension risk factors among adults in Ethiopia are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess hypertension risk factors (socio-demographic and behavioural) among adults aged 15-64 years, at Gilgel gibe field research center, 2013. Methods: An analysis of population based cross-sectional survey data on chronic non-communicable diseases was carried on, between March and May 15, 2013 at the Field Center. Four thousand & fifty five individuals (hypertensive=303, non-hypertensive=3752) were involved for analysis. Principal investigator together with data miner extracts the required data. Bivariate analysis of the association between the explanatory and outcome variable were carried out and assessed using Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval; variables in a binary screening found at p-value ≤ 0.25 candidate, and then Multiple logistic regression analysis employed to find out significant socio-behavioural factors associated with being hypertensive, employing Statistical Program for Social Science version 20.0. Result: Four thousand and fifty five (90.7%) out of the planned sample engross in the analysis (hypertensive =7.5%; women 179 (4.4%; Non-hypertensive = 92.5%). And the age groups of 45-54 years were substantial number of suffering hypertension 67(7.8%). Female, able to read and write only, alcohol binge women and vigorous recreational exercise were predictors of hypertension. Men and urban residents were less likely to be hypertensive (Odd Ratio =0.74 and, 0.82, respectively). Current Khat chew was highest among hypertensive (Odd Ratio =1.07(95%CI: 0.84-1.36). Reported risk factor: low fruit &/ or vegetable serve was the highest both in normotensive (42%) & 43% in hypertensive, and total level of physical inactivity was the lowest among hypertensive (1.7%), and current alcohol consumption 5.5% among normotensive. The results of bivariate analysis illustrated female, alcohol binge women and vigorous exercise in leisure were statistically significant with Odd Ratio of (1.35, 6.12 and 2.03) times more likely hypertensive, respectively. Then multivariate analysis, denote the Odd Ratio value of being female was 1.32, able to read and write only 1.60, binge women 6.78 and vigorous recreational activity 2.61 times more likely to have the disease, in the current study. Conclusion & Recommendation: Socio-behavioural risk factors for hypertension were common, so provision of health education & setting up of and strength a surveillance system for hypertension and its risk factors and further extended studies including biological risk factors; is necessary to reduce the burden of hypertension, in the survey population.

Public stigma against family members of people with mental illness: findings from the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center (GGFRC), Southwest Ethiopia

BackgroundPublic stigma against family members of people with mental illness is a negative attitude by the public which blame family members for the mental illness of their relatives. Family stigma can result in self social restrictions, delay in treatment seeking and poor quality of life. This study aimed at investigating the degree and correlates of family stigma.MethodsA quantitative cross-sectional house to house survey was conducted among 845 randomly selected urban and rural community members in the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia. An interviewer administered and pre-tested questionnaire adapted from other studies was used to measure the degree of family stigma and to determine its correlates. Data entry was done by using EPI-DATA and the analysis was performed using STATA software. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analysis was done to identify the correlates of family stigma.ResultsAmong the total 845 respondents, 81.18% were female. On a range of 1 to 5 score, the mean family stigma score was 2.16 (±0.49). In a multivariate analysis, rural residents had significantly higher stigma scores (std. β = 0.43, P < 0.001) than urban residents. As the number of perceived signs (std. β = -0.07, P < 0.05), perceived supernatural (std. β = -0.12, P < 0.01) and psychosocial and biological (std. β = -0.11, P < 0.01) explanations of mental illness increased, the stigma scores decreased significantly. High supernatural explanation of mental illness was significantly correlated with lower stigma among individuals with lower level of exposure to people with mental illness (PWMI). On the other hand, high exposure to PWMI was significantly associated with lower stigma among respondents who had high education. Stigma scores increased with increasing income among respondents who had lower educational status.ConclusionsOur findings revealed moderate level of family stigma. Place of residence, perceived signs and explanations of mental illness were independent correlates of public stigma against family members of people with mental illness. Therefore, mental health communication programs to inform explanations and signs of mental illness need to be implemented.

Public stigma against people with mental illness in the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center (GGFRC) in Southwest Ethiopia.

BackgroundPublic understanding about mental illnesses and attitudes towards people with mental illness (PWMI) play a paramount role in the prevention and treatment of mental illness and the rehabilitation of PWMI. The aim of this study was to measure public stigma against PWMI and the factors associated with stigma in the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center (GGFRC) in Southwest Ethiopia.MethodsThis community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2012 among 845 randomly selected respondents by using the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale, an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was entered with EPI-DATA and then exported to STATA for analysis. Simple descriptive and linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of stigma against PWMI.ResultsOf the total of 845 respondents, 68.17% were from rural districts. The mean stigma score was 2.62 on a 5-point score. The majority of the respondents (75.27%) believed that mental illness can be cured. Stress, poverty, and rumination were the most often perceived causes of mental illness. Rural residents had significantly higher stigma scores (std. β = 0.61, P<0.001). A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between the level of education and degree of stigma (std. β = −0.14, P<0.01), while higher income was significantly associated with more stigma (std. β = 0.07, P<0.05). Respondents with higher scores for perceived supernatural causes (std. β = −0.09, P<0.01) and perceived psychosocial and biological causes (std. β = −0.14, P<0.001) had significantly lower stigma levels.ConclusionsThe study found a more undermining but less avoidant attitude towards PWMI. Rural residents showed higher levels of stigma. Stigma against PWMI was lower in people with an explanatory concept about the causes of mental illness and a higher level of education. Information, education, and communication about the causes, signs, and nature of mental illnesses would help to reduce stigma.

Determinants of infant mortality in community of Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia: a matched case control study.

BackgroundInfant mortality accounts for almost 67 percent of under-five child mortality that occurs globally. An understanding of factors related to infant mortality is important to guide the development of focused and evidence-based health interventions to reduce infant deaths. But no community based studies have been conducted to identify determinants of infant mortality in Ethiopia for the past two decades. The purpose of this study is to identify determinants of infant mortality in community of Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community based matched case–control study was conducted. The study covered 133 infants who died during infancy between January 2010 and February 2011 in the study area. For each case, a control with approximately same date of birth and survived his/her first year of live and alive at time data collection was selected. Conditional logistic regression method was used to identify determinant factors of infant mortality using Epi-info 3.5.1 statistical software.ResultsAccording to the final logistic regression model, not attending antenatal care follow-up [AOR=2.04, 95% CI:(1.04,4.02)], not using soap for hand washing before feeding child [AOR=2.50, 95% CI: (1.32,4.76)], negative perceived benefits of mother to modern treatment and prevention [AOR=2.76, 95% CI: (1.21,6.09)], small birth size [AOR=2.91, 95% CI: (1.01,8.46)] and high birth order with short birth interval [AOR=3.80, 95% CI: (1.20,11.98)] were found to be independent determinants of infant mortality.ConclusionsAntenatal care follow-up, hand washing habit with soap before feeding child, birth size, perceived benefits of mothers to modern treatment, birth order and preceding birth interval were determinants of infant mortality.

Biochemical profile at gilgel gibe field research center, southwest ethiopia.

The biochemical reference ranges currently used in developing countries are derived from data collected from populations living in developed countries. However, it is a fact that there is considerable variation in biochemical reference intervals by several variables. Moreover, reference ranges provided by different laboratory manuals and books do not also solve this problem. Biochemical profile at population level is scanty in the Ethiopian situation. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the biochemical profiles for general population in community settings. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center (GGFRC) from late September 2008 to end of January 2009. The study setting included both rural (majority) and urban dwellers. A total of 1,965 (955 men and 1010 women) individuals aged 15-64 years were included. Fasting blood glucose was determined immediately at field. Blood sample was collected by vacutainer tube without anticoagulant and transported to Jimma University Specialized Hospital laboratory for determination of total cholesterol, triglycerides, total serum protein, blood urea nitrogen, creatnine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 16.0 and STATA 11. The mean total cholesterol value for both sexes was 141.0 mg/dl with higher values for women at different age strata. The mean FBS level of the study population was 96 mg/dl. The mean values for blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid were 14.1 mg/dl, 0.86 mg/dl and 4.4 mg/dl. The mean level of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase of the study population were 27.2 U/L and 31.2 U/L, respectively. All biochemical values in this study except for blood urea nitrogen were not different from values in other reports. Even though our finding showed similar ranges with reported values, there might be a variation in values across the country. Therefore, we recommend conducting similar nationally representative study to validate the current finding.

Caregivers\' knowledge about childhood malaria in Gilgel Gibe field research center, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Malaria morbidity and mortality reduction in children greatly depends on caregivers’ knowledge about childhood malaria. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess caregivers' knowledge about malaria in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2005. A Sample of 588 households having children between the ages of 2-59 months were randomly selected from urban, semi-urban and rural strata proportional to their size. Caregivers of the children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Findings: Of 572 interviewed caregivers, most of them (70.1%) spontaneously mentioned mosquitoes as the cause of malaria in children while half of them (51.9%) had non-biomedical perceptions as causes of the disease. Among the symptoms of malaria in children, fever was mentioned spontaneously by most (86.2%) of the caregivers. The three most commonly perceived preventive measures of malaria for children were cleaning the surrounding (43.7%), keeping personal hygiene (35.7%), and mosquito net usage (35%). Urban or semi-urban residence, lower income and having formal education were found to be associated with good knowledge about childhood malaria. Conclusion: This study identified misperceptions regarding the cause and low level of awareness about childhood malaria among caregivers. These issues need to be addressed through tailored health promotion activities to prevent and control childhood malaria. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2008;22(1):49-54]

Determinants of under-five mortality in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia

Background: In developing countries like Ethiopia where there is no vital events registration system and laboratory diagnosis is lacking, causes of death in under-five children and its determinants could not be well known. The objective of this study was to investigate causes of death and its determinants in under-five children in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. Methods: A case-control study was conducted from December 12 to 27, 2005. Cases of under-five children who died between August 27, 2004 and September 22, 2005 and controls of alive children with the same age (+/-2 months) as cases were identified by a survey as the study population. Data were collected by trained enumerators using structured questionnaire adopted from World Health Organization (WHO). Causes of death were determined using the expert algorithm based on verbal autopsy data. Results: Neonatal and infant mortality rates were respectively 38 and 76.4 per 1000 live births. The two most common causes of death during neonatal period were prematurity (26.4%) and pneumonia (22.6%). Whereas the top causes of death in post-neonatal period were pneumonia (42%), malaria (37%) and acute diarrheal diseases (30%). Maternal education, practice and perception of mothers on the severity of illness and benefits of modern treatment were found to be independent predictor of child survival. Conclusion: Neonatal causes, pneumonia, malaria and diarrheal diseases were the major killers of under-five children in Ethiopia. In this study, practice of mothers and perceived benefits on the modern treatment are identified as the key predictors of child survival which are amenable to future intervention. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 21 (2) 2007: pp. 117-124