Marelign Tilahun Malaju
About
Dr. Marelign Tilahun is an assistant professor of Epidemiology & Bistatistics at Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia. He received his PhD in Public Health from Bahir Dar University, in 2021; his MPH in Epidemiology & Bistatistics from University of Gonadr, Ethiopia in 2011. Dr. Marelign Tilahun has joined Debre Tabor University in 2015 through transfer from Arba Minch University. Alongside his academic duties, he was a Case Handler of Postgraduate program at Arba Minch University, for two years, coordinator of Epidemiology & Biostatistics unit for two years at Arba Minch University, Research and Publications Directorate Director for three years at Debre Tabor University. Currently, he is working as an acedamic staff with the rank of assistant professor in Department of Public Health, Debre Tabor University. He has been engaged in several research projects and community services activities and produced scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. He has been also participated and presented his research work in several national and international research conferences. His research interest includes Maternal and child Health, Mental Health, HIV/AIDS and Substance use.
WORK EXPERIENCE
• Graduate Assistant I , Arba Minch University, for one year
• Graduate Assistant II , Arba Minch University, for one year
• Lecturer , Arba Minch University, for three years
• Assistant Professor, Arba Minch University, for two years
• Assistant Professor, Debre Tabor University, for five years
• PhD holder, Assistant Professor, Debre Tabor University, for two years
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION
Past
• Coordinator, Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit, Arba Minch University, from 2012-2013.
• Case Handler, Postgraduate program, Arba Minch University, from 2014-2015.
• Research and Publications Directorate Director, Debre Tabor University, from 2016-2018.
RESEARCH INTEREST
• Maternal and child Health • Mental Health • HIV/AIDS • Quality of Life and functional status • Substance use.
Publications
1. Marelign Tilahun, Alene GD. Longitudinal patterns of the relation between anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among postpartum women with and without maternal morbidities in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-lagged autoregressive structural equation modelling. Archives of public health. 2022 Dec;80(1):1-23.
2. Marelign Tilahun, Alene GD, Bisetegn TA. Longitudinal path analysis for the directional association of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder with their comorbidities and associated factors among postpartum women in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-lagged autoregressive modelling study. Plos one. 2022 Aug 15;17(8):e0273176.
3. Marelign Tilahun Malaju. A structural equation modelling of the direct and indirect factors associated with functional status over time as measured by WHODAS-32 items among postpartum women in Northwest Ethiopia. Archives of Public Health. 2023 Mar 18;81(1):41.
4. Marelign Tilahun, Alene GD, Azale T. Longitudinal functional status trajectories and its predictors among postpartum women with and without maternal morbidities in Northwest Ethiopia: a group based multi-trajectory modelling. BMJ Global Health. 2022;7(1): e007483.
5. Marelign Tilahun, Alene GD, Azale T. Impact of maternal morbidities on the longitudinal health-related quality of life trajectories among women who gave childbirth in four hospitals of Northwest Ethiopia: a group-based trajectory modelling study. BMJ open. 2022;12(3): e057012.
6. Marelign Tilahun, Alene GD, Bisetegn TA. Longitudinal mediation analysis of the factors associated with trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among postpartum women in Northwest Ethiopia: Application of the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method. PLoS One. 2022 Apr 11;17(4): e0266399
7. Marelign Tilahun and Gistane Ayele. Factors associated with age at first sexual initiation among youths in Gamo Gofa, South West Ethiopia: a cross sectional study. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-622
8. Marelign Tilahun and Getu Degu. Assessment of utilization of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling as an intervention for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and associated factors among pregnant women in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-12-226
9. Marelign Tilahun and Getu Degu. Determinant factors of pregnant mothers’ knowledge on mother to child transmission of HIV and its prevention in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2393-12-73
10. Marelign Tilahun and Getu Degu. Partner's Reaction Towards Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV. http://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/ajmw.2013.7.1.14 11. Marelign Tilahun and Gistane Ayele. Association of Khat and alcohol use with HIV infection and age at first sexual initiation among youths visiting HIV testing and counseling centers in Gamo-Gofa Zone, South West Ethiopia. https://bmcinthealthhumrights.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-698X-13-10
12. Marelign Tilahun and Gistane Ayele. Factors associated with Khat use among youths visiting HIV testing and counseling centers in Gamo Gofa, Southern Ethiopia. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1199
13. Marelign Tilahun and Shikur Mohamed. Male Partners’ Involvement in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Associated Factors in Arba Minch Town and Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/763876/
14. Marelign Tilahun, Alene GD. Women’s expectation of partner’s violence on HIV disclosure for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in North West Ethiopia. BMC Research Notes. 2013;6(1):1-6.
15. Tadele Lamore, Marelign Tilahun, Wanzahun Godana. Determinants for Refusal of Provider Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling among Adult OPD Clients in Kachabira District Health Centers, South Ethiopia: Institution based Unmatched Case Control Study. Health Syst Policy Res. 2017, 4:2. doi: 10.21767/2254-9137.100072
16. Worku Animaw, Wondimagegn Taye, Behailu Merdekios, Marelign Tilahun and Gistane Ayele. Expanded program of immunization coverage and associated factors among children age 12 – 23 months in Arba Minch town and Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 2014. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/464
17. Alemu Tamiso, Behailu Merdekios, Marelign Tilahun. Factors Associated with Men’s Awareness of Danger Signs of Obstetric Complications and Its Effect on Men’s Involvement in Birth Preparedness Practice in Southern Ethiopia. Advances in Public Health, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/386084
18. Alemayehu Bekele, Marelign Tilahun and Aleme Mekuria. Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Health Institutions of Arba Minch Town, Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Anemia, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1073192
19. Direslgne Misker, Eskezyiaw Agidew, Marelgn Tilahun and Habtamu Mellie. Time to increase WHO clinical stage of people living with HIV in public health facilities of Arba Minch town, south Ethiopia. Clinical Medicine Research, 2014. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20140305.11
20. Shikur Mohammed, Marelign Tilahun, Mesfin Kote, Mohamedaman Mama and Dessalegn Tamiru. Validation of Health Extension Workers Job Motivation Scale in Gamo-Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2015/250610/
21. Shikur Mohammed, Marelign Tilahun and Dessalegn Tamiru. Morbidity and associated factors of diarrheal diseases among under five children in Arba-Minch district, Southern Ethiopia. Science Journal of Public Health 2013; 1(2):102-106
22. Ejigu AA, Assefa M, Marelign Tilahun, Zewdu FT. Pandemic influenza outbreak detection and response in Farta district, South Gondar zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2016. International Research in Medical and Health Sciences. 2018;1(1):16-20.
23. Gistane Ayele, Marelign Tilahun, Behailu Merdikyos, Worku Animaw, Wondimagegn Taye. Prevalence and associated factors of home delivery in Arbaminch Zuria district, southern Ethiopia: Community based cross sectional study. Science Journal of Public Health, 2015. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150301.12.
Presentations
• Titled “Determinant factors of neonatal danger signs and level of knowledge of mothers who gave birth at health facility and at home in South Gondar Zone” At Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia.
• Titled “Male Partner’s Involvement in Maternal Health Care Services and Associated Factors in South Gondar Zone” At Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia.
• Titled “Determinant factors of neonatal danger signs and level of knowledge of mothers who gave birth at health facility and at home in South Gondar Zone” At Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia.
• Titled “Association of Khat and alcohol with HIV infection and age at first sexual initiation among youths visiting HIV counseling and testing centers in Gamo-Gofa Zone, South west Ethiopia” At Arba Minch University, Ethiopia.
• Titled “The longitudinal joint trajectories of maternal depression and anxiety and its predictors among postpartum women in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A group based joint-trajectory modeling” At Amhara Public Health Institute and Bahir Dar University College of Medicine and Health Sciences (APHI-BDU-CMHSs) Joint international Conference, Ethiopia.
• Titled “The Direct and Indirect Causal Mechanisms of the Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Postpartum Women as Measured by WHOQOL-BREF-26 items: Application of a structural equation modelling.” At Amhara Public Health Institute and Bahir Dar University College of Medicine and Health Sciences (APHI-BDU-CMHSs) Joint international Conference, Ethiopia.
Journals Reviewed
• BMJ Open • Scientific Reports • BMC Public Health • BMC Psychiatry • BMC Health services reasrch • BMC Research Note • BMC Womens Health • PlosONE • Heliyon • Journal of Midwifery
COMMUNITY SERVICES
• Investigation and potential risk assessment of drought stricken Districts in south Gondar Zone
• Investigation and control of flue like influenza outbreak emerged in south Gondar zone
• Independent Monitoring of Polio and Measles National Immunization Day (NID) in Ethiopia from April 24 to May 10, 2016 under direct financial cooperation agreement with WHO- Ethiopia at Debre Tabor University.
• Data Management and Software applications
• Fundamental of Public Health
COURSES TEACHING
• Fundamental of Biostatistics • Advanced Biostatistics • Statistical modeling • Fundamental of Eidemiology • Advanced Epidemiology • Nutritional Epidemiology • Spatial Epidemiology • Research Methodology • Data Management and Software applications • Fundamental of Public Health
SUPERVISION
Primary Supervisor (LL.M) 1. Fekadu babu [Incidence and factors associated with loss to follow up in the ART program of Debre Tabor specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, 2023.], 2023
2. Endalew Alelign [Prevalence and Factors Associated with Extramarital Sex among men in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia 2023.], 2023
3. Ayenew Simon [Outcome and associated factors among under five children uncomplicated SAM], 2023
4. Birhanu Nega [Prevalence and associated factors of trachoma among women in model and non-model kebeles’ of farta woreda, Northwest Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-sectional study], 2023.
5. Tadele Molla [Prevalence of occupational health hazards and associated factors among health care workers in selective south godor zone hospitals, amhara ethiopia 2023], 2023.
6. Antehunegn Tewabe [Respiratory symptoms, lung function and associated factors among women biomass fuel exposure and electricity users in debre tabor town,northwest Ethiopia, 2023], 2023.
7. Tadele Lamore [Determinants for refusal of provider initiated HIV testing among adult OPD clients in Kachabira district Health centers, South Ethiopia: Institutional based unmatched case control study], 2023.
8. Abdela Alte [Knowledge towards emergency contraceptives and associated factors among female high school and preparatory students in jinka town, south omo zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia], 2014.
9. Alemayehu Bekele [Prevalence of Anemia and associated Factors among Pregnant Women attending Ante natal Care (ANC) in Health institutions of Arba Minch Town, Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia], 2014. 10. Zeleke Girma [Assessment Of Birthpreparedness Among Antenatal Clients In Selected Ruralhealthcenters In Kucha Woreda, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia], 2014.
11. Nuredin Nassir [Assessment Of Adherence Withantiretroviral Therapyand Associated Factors Among Adult Hiv Patients In Arba Minch Hospital, Southern Ethiopia], 2014.
12. Abeshaw Ayele [Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Intimate Partner Physical Violence Against Women In Tocha District, Dawuro Zone, South West Ethiopia], 2014.
13. Belay Abera [Student Satisfaction And Associated Factors With Health Service Delivery At Arba Minch University Student Clinic, Snnpr, Ethiopia], 2014.
14. Ozian Zekiros [Treatment outcome of tuberculosis patients under directly observed treatment at Arba Minch Hospital, Gamo Gofa Zone, South West, Ethiopia], 2014.
15. Andarge Mekonnen [Assessment of the utilization of insecticide treated net and factors affecting the utilization of ITN in Mirab_Abaya woreda,Gamo Gofa Zone South Ethiopia], 2014.
Other Skills
• Basic MS Office Applications, Epidata, EpiInfo, SPSS, Stata, SmartPLS, R,ArcGIS, Jamovi, Jasp,NCSS/PASS, Atlas, Nvivo, EndNote.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
• Member of the Ethiopian Public Health Association (2019)
• Lifetime Member of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society Association (2019)