Staff Profile Page

About

Grants and Awards

Awards • Received the 2020 Ethiopian Public Health Association Young Researcher Gold Medal Award for the outstanding performance in public health research in Ethiopia Grants • Establishing nutritional surveillance system and piloting nutrition interventions in Northwest Ethiopia, 2016-2021': a five-year project funded by the University of Gondar Grant, 2015, Principal investigator • Enhancing health extension workers capacity for promotion of maternal and child nutrition through capacity building training in Central Gondar zone: A quasi-experimental study, Funded by the International Institute of Primary Health, 2021, Co-investigator • Improving adolescent girls’ dietary practice and eating disorder through nutrition education using Pender’s health promotion model in Gondar Zuria Ditrict, 2021, Co-investigator • Vitamin-A deficiency, trachoma, and undernutrition among preschool children in Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2015: Funded by the University of Gondar, 2014, Principal investigator • Treatment outcome of patients with severe acute malnutrition in Therapeutic Feeding Centers in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Funded by the University of Gondar, 2014, Principal investigator • Dietary intake among HIV infected adults attending ART clinic in Metema Hospital, 2013: Funded by Enhanced Network for HIV Care and Support (Management Science for Health-Ethiopia): 2013, Principal investigator • Awareness, prevention and treatment of suspected child pneumonia in Ethiopia. Dissertation linked to evaluation of Optimizing Health Extension Program in four regions of Ethiopia’. PhD fellowship grant received by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2018 • Nutritional status and feeding pattern of young children in the Northwest Ethiopia, University of Gondar Grant, 2014, Co-investigator

Supervision

1. Advised more than 40 masters students enrolled in nutrition and other public health specialty tracks at the university of Gondar (>75% as primary supervisor) 2. As a primary supervisor, advised more than 15 masters students in nutrition track at Bahir Dar, Jigjiga and Kotebe Metropolitan Universities.

Publication

Journal Articles in chronological order 2018 TO DATE 1. Tariku A, Berhane Y, Worku A, Biks GA, Persson LÅ, Okwaraji YB. Health post service readiness and use of preventive and curative services for suspected childhood pneumonia in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open. 2022 Apr 1;12(4):e058055. 2. Berhanu, D., Okwaraji, Y.B., Defar, A., Bekele, A., Tariku A, Lemango, E.T., Medhanyie, A.A., Wordofa, M.A., Yitayal, M., Desta, A., Gebregizabher, F.A. and Daka, D.W., 2020. Does a complex intervention targeting communities, health facilities and district health managers increase the utilisation of community-based child health services? A before and after study in intervention and comparison areas of Ethiopia. BMJ open, 10(9), p.e040868. 3. Tariku A, Okwaraji YB, Worku A, Biks GA, Åke Persson L, Berhane Y. Prevention and treatment of suspected pneumonia in Ethiopian children less than five years from household to primary care. Acta Paediatrica. 2021 Feb;110(2):602-10. 4. Atnafu A, Tariku A. Perceived Quality of Healthcare and Availability of Supplies Determine Household-Level Willingness to Join a Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research: CEOR. 2020;12:683. 5. Abebe Z, Tariku A, Bikes GA, Wassie MM, Gonete KA,Awoke T, Gebeye E, Gete AA, et.al: Poor child complementary Feeding Practices in northwest Ethiopia: Finding from the Baseline Survey of Nutrition Project, 2016: Italian Journal of Pediatrics (2019) 45:15 6. Gizaw Z, Biks GA, Yitayal M, Alemayehu GA, Alemu K, Tariku A, et al. Sanitation predictors of childhood morbidities in Ethiopia: evidence from Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Environmental health and preventive medicine. 2019;24(1):43. 7. Belay E, Handebo S, Derso T, Tariku A, Sisay M. Prevalence and determinants of pre-adolescent (5–14 years) acute and chronic undernutrition in Lay Armachiho District, Ethiopia. International journal for equity in health. 2019;18(1):137. 8. Baytekus A, Tariku A,Debie A. Clinical vitamin-A deficiency and associated factors among pregnant and lactating women in Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2019 Dec 1;19(1):506. 9. Mersha J, Tariku A, Gonete KA. Undernutrition and Associated Factors Among School Adolescent Girls Attending Schools in Mirab-Armachiho District, Northwest Ethiopia. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 2021 Jul 4;60(4):473-90. 10. Gonete KA, Tariku A, Wami SD, Akalu TY. Dietary diversity practice and associated factors among adolescent girls in Dembia district, northwest Ethiopia, 2017. Public Health Reviews. 2020 Dec;41(1):1-3. 11. Tariku A,Belew AK, Gonete KA, Hunegnaw MT, Muhammad EA, Demissie GD, et al. Stunting and Its Determinants among Adolescent Girls: Findings from the Nutrition Surveillance Project, Northwest Ethiopia. Ecology of food and nutrition. 2019;58(5):481-94 12. Wassie MM, Abebe Z, Tariku A,Gebeye E, Awoke T, Gete AT, et.al: Iodine status five years after the mandatory salt iodization legislation indicates above requirement: a cross sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia: BMC Nutrition (2018) 4:52 13. Tariku A,Gonete KA, Bikes GA, Alemu K, Belew AK, Wassie MM, et al. Household food insecurity predisposes to undiversified diet in northwest Ethiopia: finding from the baseline survey of nutrition project, 2016. BMC research notes. 2019;12(1):54. 14. Dadi AF, Dachew BA, Tariku A,Habitu YA, Demissie GD. Status of perceived social support and its associated factors among inmate prisoners in Northwest Amhara, Ethiopia. BMC Research Notes. 2019;12(1):660. 15. Mulaw T, Tariku A,TsegayeAT, Abebe Z. Effect of iron-folic acid supplementation on change of hemoglobin among visceral Leishmaniasis patients in northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective follow up study. BMC hematology. 2018;18(1):29. 16. Fekadu A, Yitayal M, Alemayehu GA, Abebe SM, Ayele TA, Tariku A, et al. Frequent Antenatal Care Visits Increase Institutional Delivery at Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System Site, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of pregnancy. 2019;2019. 17. Tsegaye AT, Tariku A,Worku AG, Abebe SM, Yitayal M, Awoke T, et al. Reducing amount and frequency of meal as a major coping strategy for food insecurity. Archives of Public Health. 2018;76(1):56. 18. Helion Belay AM, Tariku A,Woreta SA, Demissie GD, Asrade G. Anemia and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Prenatal Care in Rural Dembia District, North West Ethiopia: A cross-Sectional Study. Ecology of food and nutrition. 2019:1-21. 19. Birru SM, Belew AK, Tariku A. One in three adolescent schoolgirls in urban northwest Ethiopia is stunted. Italian journal of pediatrics. 2018;44(1):32. 20. Alemayehu GA, Fekadu A, Yitayal M, Kebede Y, Abebe SM, Tariku A,Ayele TA, et al. Prevalence and determinants of contraceptive utilization among married women at Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System site, northwest Ethiopia. BMC women's health. 2018;18(1):118 21. Gonete KA, Tariku A, Wami SD, Derso T. Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among adolescent girls attending high schools in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017. Archives of Public Health. 2018;76(1):79. 22. Birru SM, Tariku A,Belew AK. Improved dietary diversity of school adolescent girls in the context of urban Northwest Ethiopia: 2017. Italian journal of pediatrics. 2018;44(1):48. 23. Mekonnen T, Tariku A, Abebe SM. Overweight/obesity among school aged children in Bahir Dar City: cross sectional study. Italian journal of pediatrics. 2018;44(1):17. 24. Biks GA, Tariku A,Wassie MM, Derso T. Mother’s Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) knowledge improved timely initiation of complementary feeding of children aged 6–24 months in the rural population of northwest Ethiopia. BMC research notes. 2018;11(1):593. 25. Takele WW, Tariku A,Wagnew F, Ekubagewargies DT, Getinet W, Derseh L, et al. Magnitude of prelacteal feeding practice and its association with place of birth in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2017. Archives of Public Health. 2018;76(1):63. 26. WorkuTakele W, Tariku A,WagnewShiferaw F, Demsie A, Alemu WG, ZelalemAnlay D. Anemia among Women Attending Antenatal Care at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017. Anemia. 2018;2018. 27. Seid E, Derseh L, Derso T, Assefa M, Gonete KA, Tariku A. Nutrient consumption and associated factors among school age children in Dewa Chefe District, northeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC research notes. 2018;11(1):669. 28. Tariku A, Berhane Y, Alemayehu Worku A, Biks GA, Lars Åke Persson LA, Yemisrach B. Okwaraji: Household socio-economic status and utilization of preventive and treatment services for childhood suspected pneumonia in Ethiopia: PLOS-one 29. Takele WW, Alemayehu M, Derso T, Tariku A. Two-thirds of pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at the University of Gondar Hospital are found with subclinical iodine deficiency, 2017. BMC research notes. 2018;11(1):738. 30. Fullman N, Yearwood J, Abay SM, Abbafati C, Abd-Allah F, Abdela J, Abdelalim A, Abebe Z, Abebo TA, Aboyans V, Abraha HN. Measuring performance on the Healthcare Access and Quality Index for 195 countries and territories and selected subnational locations: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet. 2018 Jun 2;391(10136):2236-71. 2016-2017 31. Tariku A,Alemu K, Gizaw Z, Muchie KF, Derso T, Abebe SM, et al. Mothers' education and ANC visit improved exclusive breastfeeding in Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System Site, northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0179056. 32. Abebe SM, Andargie G, Shimeka A, Alemu K, Tariku A,Wubeshet M, et al. The prevalence of non-communicable diseases in northwest Ethiopia: survey of Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System. BMJ open. 2017;7(10):e015496. 33. Abebe Z, Gebeye E, Tariku A. Poor dietary diversity, wealth status and use of un-iodized salt are associated with goiter among school children: a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):44. 34. Derso T, Tariku A,Biks GA, Wassie MM. Stunting, wasting and associated factors among children aged 6–24 months in Dabat health and demographic surveillance system site: A community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia. BMC pediatrics. 2017;17(1):96. 35. Genetu H, Yenit MK, Tariku A. Breastfeeding counseling and support are associated with continuous exclusive breastfeeding from one week to six months of age among HIV exposed infants in North Gondar zone, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. International breastfeeding journal. 2016;12(1):21. 36. Chala MB, Mekonnen S, Andargie G, Kebede Y, Yitayal M, Tariku A, et al. Prevalence of disability and associated factors in Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System site, northwest Ethiopia. BMC public health. 2017;17(1):762. 37. Derso T, Biks GA, Tariku A,Tebeje NB, Gizaw Z, Muchie KF, et al. Correlates of early neonatal feeding practice in Dabat HDSS site, northwest Ethiopia. International breastfeeding journal. 2017;12(1):25. 38. Tariku A,Bikis GA, Woldie H, Wassie MM, Worku AG. Child wasting is a severe public health problem in the predominantly rural population of Ethiopia: A community based cross–sectional study. Archives of Public Health. 2017;75(1):26. 39. Muchie KF, Alemu K, Tariku A,TsegayeAT, Abebe SM, Yitayal M, Tarikuet al. Rural households at risk of malaria did not own sufficient insecticide treated nets at Dabat HDSS site: evidence from a cross sectional re-census. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):888. 40. Derso T, Abera Z, Tariku A. Magnitude and associated factors of anemia among pregnant women in Dera District: a cross-sectional study in northwest Ethiopia. BMC research notes. 2017;10(1):359. 41. Bayu B, Tariku A,Bulti AB, Habitu YA, Derso T, Teshome DF. Determinants of virological failure among patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a case–control study. HIV/AIDS (Auckland, NZ). 2017;9:153. 42. Tariku A,Biks GA, Derso T, Wassie MM, Abebe SM. Stunting and its determinant factors among children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia. Italian journal of pediatrics. 2017;43(1):112. 43. Derso T, Tariku A,Ambaw F, Alemenhew M, Biks GA, Nega A. Socio-demographic factors and availability of piped fountains affect food hygiene practice of food handlers in Bahir Dar Town, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC research notes. 2017;10(1):628. 44. Abebe Z, Tariku A,Gebeye E. Availability of adequately iodized in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health. 2017;75(1):33. 45. Tariku A,Biks GA, Wassie MM, Worku AG, Yenit MK. Only half of the mothers practiced early initiation of breastfeeding in Northwest Ethiopia, 2015. BMC research notes. 2017;10(1):501. 46. Ferede AT, Dadi AF, Tariku A,Adane AA. Prevalence and determinants of active trachoma among preschool-aged children in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia. Infectious diseases of poverty. 2017;6(1):128. 47. Ayana D, Tariku A,Feleke A, Woldie H. Complementary feeding practices among children in BenishangulGumuz Region, Ethiopia. BMC research notes. 2017;10(1):335. 48. Yenit MK, Genetu H, Tariku A. Infant feeding counseling and knowledge are the key determinants of prelacteal feeding among HIV exposed infants attending public hospitals in Ethiopia. Archives of Public Health. 2017;75(1):23. 49. Abay A, Yalew HW, Tariku A, Gebeye E. Determinants of prenatal anemia in Ethiopia. Archives Of Public Health. 2017;75(1):51. 2013-2015 50. Hailu S, Wubshet M, Woldie H, Tariku A. Iodine deficiency and associated factors among school children: a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia. Archives of Public Health. 2016;74(1):46. 51. Sisay W, Edris M, Tariku A:Determinants of timely initiation of complementary feeding among mothers with children aged 6–23 months in Lalibela District, Northeast Ethiopia, 2015. BMC Public Health 2016, 16(1):884. 52. Mitiku A, Ayele TA, Assefa M, Tariku A:Undernutrition and associated factors among adults living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia: an institution based cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health 2016, 74(1):33. 53. Tariku A,Fekadu A, FeredeAT, Abebe SM, Adane AA: Vitamin-A deficiency and its determinants among preschool children: a community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia. BMC Research Notes 2016, 9(1):323. 54. Tariku A,Biks GA, Wassie MM, Gebeyehu A, Getie AA: Factors associated with prelacteal feeding in the rural population of northwest Ethiopia: a community cross-sectional study. International breastfeeding journal 2016, 11(1):1. 55. Tariku A,Woldie H, Fekadu A, Adane AA, FeredeAT, Yitayew S: Nearly half of preschool children are stunted in Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health 2016, 74(1):1. 56. Fentahun W, Wubshet M, Tariku A:Undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in East Belesa District, northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. BMC public health 2016, 16(1):506. 57. Biks GA, Tariku A,Tessema GA: Effects of antenatal care and institutional delivery on exclusive breastfeeding practice in northwest Ethiopia: a nested case–control study. International breastfeeding journal 2015, 10(1):1. 58. Alemayehu M, Koye DN, Tariku A, Yimam K: Prevalence of active trachoma and its associated factors among rural and urban children in Dera Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study. BioMed research international 2015, 2015. 59. Woldie H, Kebede Y, Tariku A: Factors Associated with Anemia among Children Aged 6–23 Months Attending Growth Monitoring at Tsitsika Health Center, Wag-Himra Zone, Northeast Ethiopia. Journal of nutrition and metabolism 2015, 2015.