The Dabat Research Center (DRC), also known as the Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Dabat HDSS) site, was established in 1996. The HDSS site covers three geo-climatic zones (ደጋ/cold, ወይናደጋ/temperate and ቆላ/hot). During the first census in 1996, all households were numbered and information on all individuals living in these households was collected. Surveillance continued until 2004 and then interrupted due to financial shortage until August 2007. Then, the second census was conducted in February 2008. In this re-census, a total of 9,533 households was included in the surveillance with a population of 45,912 from 10 randomly selected urban and rural Kebeles/ቀበሌዎች (the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia). Since, 2008, data on pregnancy observation, birth, death, marital status changes, and migration have been collected on biannual basis.
In 2014, another re-census was done aimed to reconcile the routine biannual population updates. In addition, three new Kebeles (one from urban and two from rural) were added into the Dabat HDSS Site. Currently, a total of 13 Kebeles (4 urban and 9 rural),17,000 households and a total population of 70,000 are under follow-up. In the future, we are planning to include three more urban kebeles from Gondar City to enhance geographical representativeness.
Figure: Map of Africa (top-left), Ethiopia showing regional states and six HDSS sites(bottom-left), Dabat District showing Kebeles (top-right), and HDSS site Kebeles (bottom-right). Read more
