Participation: the total number of Ethiopians who participated in around 30, which is 0.27% of the total participants. Given the fact that Ethiopia takes a 1.41% share of the global population, we are underrepresented in this conference. The proportionate number should have been at least 153 participants from Ethiopia.
Cancer: as a major challenge for developing countries: although cervical cancer remains to be a major challenge for Ethiopia and the other developing countries, it has been seen that the other gynecologic malignancies are on the rise. The health system is ill prepared for provision of cancer care and it has been pointed out that, prevention activities for cervical cancer should still be our priority. Preparation for advanced cancer care was also highly recommended.
Obesity: as an emerging challenge that is following the changes in the socio-demographics of the population including the westernization of the life style of Urban women in Africa (sedentary life style, unhealthy feeding practices), obesity is destined to be a major burden. Given the fact that it is related to more than 195 health problems, the call for action was loud and clear.
ANC: anti-natal care, remains to be critical in detecting both maternal and child health issues in a timely fashion. The need for increasing the frequency of visits from 4 to 8 has been underlined. It has been pointed that the current status of ANC follow-up in Ethiopia hasn’t even made it to the previous recommendation of 4, adequately.
Infertility: multiple presentations on infertility have shown that the effectiveness of the different treatment options for infertility have limited yield; thus, it is highly recommended that those who intend to have children should be counseled to consider that at earlier age. The option of using the oocyte banks for those who want to delay child birth beyond 35 years of age, was also discussed.
Contraception: the best long acting reversible contraception remains to be intra uterine contraceptive device. The key question to ask any woman in the reproductive age group is “do you want to be pregnant right now?” if the answer is “I want to delay by more than a year” go for long acting reversible contraception, preferably IUCD.
Prematurity: as the leading cause of neonatal mortality, prematurity remains to be a major challenge to the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists. Good ANC, adequate attention to risk factors, and to causes of prematurity is highly recommended.
Violence against Physicians/HCP: this has been presented as a major threat to the profession of provision of care. Many physicians have been physically abused in different parts of the world. Governments and professional associations should work to prevent violence against physicians and other health care providers.
Evidence based practice: although the availability of evidence has shown significant improvement, its proper summarization and use for evidence has a great deal of room for improvement. Professional associations are urged to create platforms of compilation of existing evidence and prepare those in digestible ways so evidence can guide practice.
Conclusions:
Every day of the conference, there were at least 3 Ethiopia related topics/issues discussed.
This conference has signaled the fact that, Ethiopia is shifting from the “evidence consumer” category to a “research hub” with optimized evidence generation and use platforms.
Participation in the conference has increased significantly.
Recommendations:
Mini-conference: we have to create a venue (s) where the participants of the conference can share the lessons and experiences they acquired from the conference.
Options to maintain the momentum: it is highly recommended that ESOG and other organizations working on women’s health, should encourage research and the quest for evidence in women’s health.
Plan for Sydney – the 23rd congress is scheduled for 24-29, 2021 in Sydney. It is strongly recommended that Ethiopia should shoot for having triple the number of Rio participants (153 participants), in Sydney, Australia.
Request to Host the Congress: Ethiopia should request/plan to Host the 25th FIGO Conference which will take place in October, 2027.
