Honorary Research Fellow
BSc, MPH, PhD
Dr Kefyalew Alene is a spatial epidemiologist working on infectious diseases including tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries. He is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Curtin University, with joint appointments as Honorary Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute, Australia. He is a recipient of the 2020 Emerging Leadership Investigator Grant from the Australia National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). His research project focus on designing an innovative approach for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public health interventions to help control and ultimately eliminate tuberculosis in high-burden countries.
He was a visiting Research Fellow at the Australian National University (ANU), and an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia. He received his PhD from the ANU in 2019. His PhD research focussed on the spatial epidemiology of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia and China.
- Projects
-
Publications
January 2022
The impact of ethnic minority status on tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment delays in Hunan Province, China
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major public health challenge in China. Understanding TB management delays within the context of China’s unique ethnic diversity may be of value in tackling the disease. This study sought to evaluate the impact of ethnic minority status on TB diagnosis and treatment delays.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentJanuary 2022Global distribution of human hookworm species and differences in their morbidity effects: a systematic review
The global distribution and morbidity effects for each specific hookworm species is unknown, which prevents implementation of the optimum intervention for local hookworm control.
Published research P4 Respiratory Health for Kids Geospatial Health and DevelopmentJanuary 2022Risk factors associated with unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Hunan Province, China
Globally, China has the third highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases despite high rates (85.6%) of effective treatment coverage. Identifying risk factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes is an important component of maximising the efficacy of TB control programmes.
Published research Infectious Diseases P4 Respiratory Health for Kids Geospatial Health and DevelopmentFebruary 2022Spatial codistribution of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in Ethiopia
HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria are the three most important infectious diseases in Ethiopia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the spatial codistribution of these diseases is critical for designing geographically targeted and integrated disease control programmes. This study investigated the spatial overlap and drivers of HIV, TB and malaria prevalence in Ethiopia.
Published research Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Geospatial Health and Development MalariaJune 2022Treatment Outcomes among Pregnant Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
The management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) during pregnancy is challenging, yet no systematic synthesis of evidence has accurately measured treatment outcomes.
Published research Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Geospatial Health and DevelopmentJune 2022Mapping BCG vaccination coverage in Ethiopia between 2000 and 2019
The Bacille-Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccination remains the primary strategy to prevent severe disseminated TB in young children, particularly in high TB-burden countries such as Ethiopia. Accurate knowledge of vaccination coverage in small geographical areas is critically important to developing targeted immunization campaigns. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distributions and ecological level determinants of BCG vaccination coverage in Ethiopia.
Published research Immunisation Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentAugust 2022Spatiotemporal mapping of malaria incidence in Sudan using routine surveillance data
Malaria is a serious threat to global health, with over 95 % of the cases reported in 2020 by the World Health Organization in African countries, including Sudan. Sudan is a low-income country with a limited healthcare system and a substantial burden of malaria.
September 2022Effectiveness of public health interventions in reducing the prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini: a protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis
The carcinogenic liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is a major public health problem in the Mekong basin region. The liver flukes can induce cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer that causes a significant burden of mortality and economic loss. Various public health interventions have been conducted to reduce opisthorchiasis but the prevalence of O. viverrini remains high in endemic regions.
Published research Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Geospatial Health and DevelopmentSeptember 2022Effects of zinc and vitamin A supplementation on prognostic markers and treatment outcomes of adults with pulmonary tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Undernutrition is a major risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), which is estimated to be responsible for 1.9 million TB cases per year globally. The effectiveness of micronutrient supplementation on TB treatment outcomes and its prognostic markers (sputum conversion, serum zinc, retinol and haemoglobin levels) has been poorly understood.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentNovember 2022Spatial distribution of rotavirus immunization coverage in Ethiopia: a geospatial analysis using the Bayesian approach
Rotavirus causes substantial morbidity and mortality every year, particularly among under-five children. Despite Rotavirus immunization preventing severe diarrheal disease in children, the vaccination coverage remains inadequate in many African countries including Ethiopia.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentNovember 2022Effects of climatic factors on COVID-19 transmission in Ethiopia
Climatic conditions play a key role in the transmission and pathophysiology of respiratory tract infections, either directly or indirectly. However, their impact on the COVID-19 pandemic propagation is yet to be studied.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and Development COVID-19 Respiratory viral infectionsFebruary 2021COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death
COVID-19 has caused a global public health crisis affecting most countries, including Ethiopia, in various ways. This study maps the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Thirty-eight potential indicators of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection, case severity and likelihood of death, identified based on a literature review and the availability of nationally representative data at a low geographic scale, were assembled from multiple sources for geospatial analysis. Geospatial analysis techniques were applied to produce maps showing the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death in Ethiopia at a spatial resolution of 1 km×1 km.
Published research Infectious Diseases Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentFebruary 2021Risk factors for COVID-19 infection, disease severity and related deaths in Africa: A systematic review
The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa.
Published research Child Epidemiology Geospatial Health and DevelopmentMarch 2021Improving Influenza Vaccination in Children With Comorbidities: A Systematic Review
Children with medical comorbidities are at greater risk for severe influenza and poorer clinical outcomes. Despite recommendations and funding, influenza vaccine coverage remains inadequate in these children. We aimed to systematically review literature assessing interventions targeting influenza vaccine coverage in children with comorbidities and assess the impact on influenza vaccine coverage.
Published research Influenza Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentApril 2021Spatial clustering of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Hunan province, China: an ecological study
This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Hunan province, China. An ecological study was conducted using DR-TB data collected from the Tuberculosis Control Institute of Hunan Province between 2012 and 2018.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentJune 2021Spatiotemporal patterns of tuberculosis in Hunan province, China
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a bacterial pathogen worldwide. China has the third highest TB burden in the world, with a high reported burden in Hunan Province (amongst others). This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of TB and identify socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental drivers in Hunan Province, China. Numbers of reported cases of TB were obtained from the Tuberculosis Control Institute of Hunan Province, China.
Published research Infectious Diseases Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesJuly 2021The prevalence of tuberculosis, malaria and soil-transmitted helminth infection in minority indigenous people of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria and soil-transmitted helminthiasis continue to impose a significant global health burden and socio-economic impact. Globally, minority indigenous people are disproportionately affected by poverty and are shown to experience a disparate burden of disease and poorer health outcomes than the comparative majority population.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentSeptember 2021Tuberculosis related disability: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The sustainable development goals aim to improve health for all by 2030. They incorporate ambitious goals regarding tuberculosis (TB), which may be a significant cause of disability, yet to be quantified. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the prevalence and types of TB-related disabilities.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and DevelopmentNovember 2021The prevalence of soil transmitted helminth infections in minority indigenous populations of south-east asia and the western pacific region: A systematic review and meta-analysis
By mapping land use under projections of socio-economic change, ecological changes can be predicted to inform conservation decision-making. We present a land use model that enables the fine-scale mapping of land use change under future scenarios.
Published research Geospatial Health and DevelopmentDecember 2021The prevalence of tuberculosis and malaria in minority indigenous populations of South- East Asia and the Western Pacific Region: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Infectious diseases have been shown to disproportionately affect indigenous populations. Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria continue to impose a significant burden on humanity and are among the infectious diseases targeted within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Published research Infectious Diseases P4 Respiratory Health for Kids Geospatial Health and DevelopmentDecember 2021The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: A scoping review of preparedness, impact and response
The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in both developed and developing nations alike. Africa has one of the weakest health systems globally, but there is limited evidence on how the region is prepared for, impacted by and responded to the pandemic.
Published research Geospatial Health and Development COVID-19December 2020Poor treatment outcomes of children on highly active antiretroviral therapy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
While access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for children with HIV has expanded and the use of HAART has substantially reduced the morbidity and mortality of children due to HIV, poor treatment outcomes among children with HIV are still a major public health problem globally. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to quantify treatment outcomes among children with HIV.
Published research Infectious Diseases Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesOctober 2020Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major global public health concern. However, there is a dearth of literature on whether MDR-TB and its medications impact maternal and perinatal outcomes, and when such evidence exists the findings are conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of MDR-TB and its medications during pregnancy on maternal and perinatal outcomes.
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and Development -
Education and Qualifications