Study Sites

Hararaghe Health Research employs its study in Hararghe Health and Demographic Surveillance System catchment area. Hararghe Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Hararghe HDSS) is one of the key HDSS sites in Ethiopia, established in 2007 to monitor and collect longitudinal data on health and demographic events in Eastern part of Ethiopia. It is part of the larger network of HDSS sites in Africa, embedded in Haramaya University and collaborates with other national and international partners. The surveillance system covers 323,058 total populations in 61,134 households in 48 kebeles under three HDSS sites namely  Kersa , Haramaya and Harar

The Kersa catchment area is connected to the Kersa HDSS, established across 24 kebeles in Kersa district, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Predominantly rural, the site includes the small towns of Kersa, Weter, and Langhe. The baseline census in 2007 recorded a population of 50,830 in 10,805 households. Currently, the population has grown to 148,925 in 27,085 households, with a birth rate of 32.38, a sex ratio at birth of 103.22, and a dependency ratio of 88.94.

The site is currently running four major studies: Child Health and Mortality Surveillance (CHAMPS), Pregnancy Surveillance, Spine bifida and Anencephaly in Ethiopia, foLate for prevenTion (SALT), Assessing Role of Micronutrient (ARM-CHAMPS). The site collaborates with seven health centers, and twenty-six health posts under the catchment. Kersa site is led by a research coordinator and supported by a multidisciplinary team of 41 members, including MITS practitioners, counselors, and a social and behavioral sciences team.

Haramaya catchment is connected to the Haramaya HDSS, established across 12 kebeles in Haramaya district, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. A baseline enumeration of the site was done in 2018 and first-round event registration started in January 2019. At the bassline, the total number of households in the HDSS is 17,461 and the total population was 99,898.  Currently, the total population is 118,207 in 20,623 households, with the birth rate of 28.72, a sex ratio at birth of 108.912, and a dependency ratio of 91.0.  Haramaya HDSS was added as HHR catchment area in June 2020, started enrolment at Haramaya General Hospital while the Social Sciences team started formative research and community engagement activities at community level.

The site is currently running three major studies: Child Health and Mortality Surveillance (CHAMPS), Pregnancy Surveillance, Spine bifida and Anencephaly in Ethiopia, foLate for prevenTion (SALT). The site works in one general hospital; Haramaya General hospital, and six public health centers allotting HHR staff 24h, 7 days in the week in the hospital. The site is led by a research coordinator and supported by a multidisciplinary team of  22 including MITS practitioners, counsellors, fieldworkers, social and behavioural science team.

The Harar HHR catchment is linked to the Harar Urban HDSS, established in July 2011 across six sub-districts and expanded to twelve kebeles in Harar city by 2015, within the Harari regional state. Currently, HHR-Harar site encompasses twelve kebeles with an estimated population of 53,764 across 26,805 households. The birth rate in this site is 15.59, with a sex ratio at birth of 100.4 and dependency ratio of 49.038.

This study site was designated as a CHAMPS-Ethiopia site in 2016, initiating mortality surveillance in February 2019. Ongoing studies at the HHR-Harar site include Child Health and Mortality Surveillance (CHAMPS), Maternal infection study (MIS), pregnancy surveillance, invasive bacterial disease (IBD), Spine bifida and Anencephaly in Ethiopia, foLate for prevention (SALT), assessing role of micronutrient (ARM CHAMPS), Neo precision studies and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The site collaborates with two public hospitals, one private hospital, and five public health centers in Harari regional state. Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital (HFCSUH) serves as the main facility. HFCUSH is a teaching referral hospital for the Eastern part of Ethiopia, including Eastern Oromia, Dire Dawa City Administration, the Somali regional state and the Harari regional state serving to approximately 20 million people.