Community-based Urban Cohort in Addis Ababa (COMBAT)

With the aim to assess the demographic,epidemiological, socio-cultural, and economic impacts of non-communicable diseases; reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, and COVID-19, we established COMBAT (Community-based Urban Cohort in Addis Ababa), the first community-based urban cohort in Ethiopia, with multidisciplinary experts.

Through epidemiological and socioeconomic lenses, COMBAT, will help in longitudinally monitoring for NCDs, RMNCAH, and COVID-19. It is an open cohort conducted at the household (HH) level, with 4020 households randomly chosen from Addis Ababa's lowest administrative unit (Ketena) to serve as the cohort's foundation.

Home visits will occur at six-month intervals to re-interview the households' economic situation, chronic non-communicable diseases, RMNCAH indicators, and any COVID-19 or new health issues that have emerged since the previous visit, and anthropometric and biophysical measurements (weight, height, hip and waist circumference, blood glucose, and blood pressure monitoring).

Additionally, in-depth and key informant interviews with purposefully chosen household heads and other stakeholders will be undertaken to examine the socio-cultural determinants and economic implications of NCDs, RMNCAH, and COVID-19.