Welcome to Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH)

Title: MD, PhD
 

Present position: Postdoctoral research fellow at Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway. From August 20th 2007, at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
 

Institution where degree(s) were taken:
MD – University of Oslo, Norway (1989)
PhD - Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway (2002)
 

Previous research done in Haydom area (Title of PhD thesis):

• Olsen, Bjørg Evjen. Motherhood – a hazardous endeavour. Maternal deaths and urinary tract infections in pregnancy in rural northern Tanzania. [PhD thesis]. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway: 2002
• 2006: Medical students Marie Grytdal Eilertsen and Maria Øyasæther, (co-supervising) on study of HIV information in the Haydom area. Student thesis: Øyasæter M, Grytdal Eilertsen M.”Locally provided HIV-information- a study from Haydom, Manyara Region, Tanzania, 2003. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen. 2006.”
• 2004: Medical students Ole Christian Roth, Yngve Kiserud and Ole Norvald Kopperstad (co-supervisor) with material from Haydom Lutheran Hospital: Student thesis: Kiserud Y, Kopperstad ON, Roth OC. Malaria. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen. 2004.
• 2001: Medical student Ole Lervik, University of Bergen, (co-supervisor). Student thesis: Lervik,O. Too far to walk. A study of the ambulance services in the Haydom area. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, 2001.
• 1998: Medical student Anne Weddeng, University of Bergen, (co-supervisor). Student Thesis: Veddeng, Anne. Mødredødelighet I U-land. Senter for Internasjonal Helse, Universitet i Bergen. 1998.
• 1996: Medical student Anne Margrethe Vik, University of Bergen, (co-supervisor). Student thesis: Vik, Anne M. Knowledge, attitudes and practise of family planning in Tanzania. A study based on information from local health workers. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen. 1996.
   

Current research or planned research in Haydom area or related to Haydom:  

• Co-supervising NUFU PhD candidate Bodil Bø Våga from CIH and University of Stavanger, Norway. “Exploring challenges of infant feeding in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme: The case of Babati and Haydom, Tanzania” 
• Co-supervising GEGCA - NUFU PhD candidate Khadija Innocencia Yahya-Malima from CIH on HIV, syphilis and HSV2 epidemiology in an antenatal –based study and HIV prevalence in a population-based study in the Dongobesh, Basotu and Nduguti divisions. 
• Postdoctoral research on health systems/operational research related to the HIV-programme run by Haydom Lutheran Hospital and HAVACOP 
• Project application submitted for research on HIV/AIDS treatment and stigma, working through the HLH HIV/AIDS-programme. This proposal is in collaboration with the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) in Washington DC, with project leader being Laura Nyblade (PhD) at ICRW. 
• Participating in workpackages on Emergency Obstetric Care, HIV/AIDS and Generalized Health Care in EU-funded project with 11 institutions in 7 countries (Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Sweden). “Strengthening fairness and accountability in priority setting for improving equity and access to quality health care at district level in Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia. Acronym REACT – Response to accountable priority setting for Trust in heath systems “. DBL main coordinator.
   

Contact information:
e-mail: bjorg.olsen(a)cih.uib.no
Postal address: Centre for International Health
Armauer Hansen Building
University of Bergen
5021, Bergen, Norway
 

Publications:
Yahya-Malima KI. Matee MI, Evjen-Olsen B, Fylkesnes KM. High potential of escalating HIV transmission in a low prevalence setting
in rural Tanzania. BMC Public Health 2007 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/103


The silent HIV epidemic among pregnant women within rural Northern Tanzania. Khadija I. Yahya-Malima, Bjorg E. Olsen, Mecky I. Matee and Knut M. Fylkesnes. BMC Public Health 2006, 6:109 (27 Apr 2006) Pdf versjon.

Kvåle G, Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Ulstein M, Bergsjø P. Maternal deaths in developing countries: A preventable tragedy. Norsk Epidemiologi.2005; 15(2): 141-149.

Blomberg B, Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Langeland N, Gasheka P, Jureen R, Kvåle G, Midtvedt T. Antimicrobial resistance in urinary bacterial isolates from pregnant women in rural Tanzania: implications for public health. Scand J Infect Dis 2005;37(4):262-8.

Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Lie RT, Bergsjø P, Gasheka P, Kvåle G. Risk factors for maternal death in the highlands of rural northern Tanzania. (In manuscript).

Hinderaker SG, Olsen BE, Bergsjø PB, Gasheka P, Lie RT, Havnen J, Kvåle G.Avoidable stillbirths and neonatal deaths in rural Tanzania. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2003; 110:616-623.

Hinderaker SG, Olsen BE, Bergsjø PB, Gasheka P, Lie RT, Kvåle G. Perinatal mortality in northern rural Tanzania. J Health Popul Nutr 2003 Mar; 21(1):8-17.

Olsen, Bjørg Evjen. Motherhood – a hazardous endeavour. Maternal deaths and urinary tract infections in pregnancy in rural northern Tanzania. [PhD thesis]. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway. 2002.

Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Bergsjø P, Lie RT, Olsen OHE, Gasheka P, Kvåle G. Causes and characteristics of maternal deaths in rural northern Tanzania. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2002; 81:1101-1109.

Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Lie RT, Bergsjø P, Gasheka P, Kvåle G. Maternal mortality in northern rural Tanzania; assessing the completeness of various information sources. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2002; 81:301-307.

Hinderaker SG, Olsen BE, Lie RT, Bergsjø P, Gasheka P, Bondevik GT, Ulvik R, Kvåle G. Anemia in pregnancy in rural Tanzania: associations with micronutrients status and infections. Eur J Clin Nutrition 2002; 56: 192-199.

Hinderaker SG, Kruger C, Olsen BE, Naman N, Bergsjø P, Olsen OHE. Continuously low HIV-seroprevalence in pregnant women in a rural area in Tanzania. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2001; 80: 1152-1153.

Hinderaker SG, Olsen BE, Bergsjø P, Lie RT, Bergsjø P, Gasheka P, Kvåle G. Anemia in pregnancy in highlands of Tanzania. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2001; 80: 18-26.

Haug, Hilde; Olsen, Bjørg Evjen; Kvåle, Gunnar; Austveg, Berit; Sundby, Johanne; Steen, Sissel Hodne. Internasjonalt arbeid og norsk kompetanseprofil innenfor feltet reproduktiv helse. Oslo: NORAD 2001. (Translated: International work and Norwegian profile of competence within the field of reproductive health)

Olsen, Bjørg Evjen. Maternal Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oslo: NORAD 2000.

Olsen, Bjørg Evjen; Jareg, Pål. GAVI Operations – An Update. Report from the Briefing on GAVI Operations and Country Support for Immunization 29-30 August, WHO, Geneva. Oslo: NORAD 2000.

Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Kazaura M, Lie RT, Bergsjø P, Gasheka P, Kvåle G. Estimates of maternal mortality by the sisterhood method in rural northern Tanzania; a household sample and an antenatal clinic sample. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2000; 107:1290-1297.

Olsen BE, Hinderaker SG, Lie RT, Gasheka P, Bærheim A. Bergsjø P, Kvåle G. Diagnosis of urinary tract infections among pregnant women in rural Tanzania; prevalences and correspondence between different diagnostic methods. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2000; 79: 729-736.
 

Other Publications:

• Co-authoring and co-editing Haydom Lutheran Hospital 50 Year Jubilee. Jubilee Symposium Summary: government and voluntary agencies – how to meet the challenges of holistic health care in rural Tanzania. 14th-16th January, 2005.
• Co-authoring and co-editing Annual report 2004 and statistics. Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Mbulu district, Tanzania
• Bjørg Evjen Olsen and Sven Gudmund Hinderaker - Poster series with 4 large posters presenting all major results of the Reproductive Health Project in Hanang and Mbulu Districts. Posters presented to Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Mbulu, Tanzania:

1.           Research on Reproductive Health in Mbulu and Hanang Districts
2.           Pregnancy-related challenges to mothers and infants
3.           Perinatal and neonatal deaths
4.           Motherhood- a hazardous endeavour; Maternal deaths (Poster)

• Hinderaker, Sven Gudmund; Olsen, Bjørg Evjen (equal authorship). Reproductive Health Project. Research on Reproductive Health in Mbulu and Hanang districts. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway and Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Tanzania. Centre for International Health; Bergen. 2004.(Hefte)
• Olsen, Bjørg Evjen. Maternal Mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Article in NIHA-nytt. Nr.1 April 2001.

Professional presentations:

13.08.06 -18.08.06 Abstract on CD-rom at 16th International AIDS Conference,
Toronto, Canada. “HIV/AIDS programme at a remote rural hospital
in Tanzania”
 

07.03.06– 09.03.06 Presentation of 2 papers at 21st Annual Joint Scientific Conference, National Institute of Medical Research, Arusha, Tanzania. Theme: “Health Research Priorities in Tanzania: Meeting the Millennium Development Goals” 
Papers:
1. Reduction of maternal mortality as a priority for health systems: a study from rural northern Tanzania    

2. HIV/AIDS Programme at Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Manyara Region, Tanzania
 

02.09.2004 Guest lecture and presentation (notes) of PhD research on “Maternal mortality in northern rural Tanzania” at Center for Population Control, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
 

April 2003 Presentation (notes) of PhD research on maternal mortality at Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics (Kvinneklinikken), Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
 

November 2002 Presentation (part 1 and part 2) of PhD research work at Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Tanzania.
 

12.11.02- 15.11.02 Poster presentation at Forum 6, Global Health Forum- Helping correct the 10/90 Gap, in Arusha, Tanzania. “Motherhood, a hazardous endeavour –maternal mortality in northern rural Tanzania.”
 

06.11.00-08.11.00 NUFU Dissemination Workshop, KCMC Moshi, Tanzania – Presentation of paper ” Maternal mortality in northern rural Tanzania”. Paper and slides.
 

May 2000 1st Annual Students’ Conference CIH, Bergen - Presentation of paper ”Estimating maternal mortality in rural northern Tanzania using the sisterhood method; estimates from a household sample and an antenatal clinic sample”
 

June 1999 Lecture on “Health Research in Foreign Cultures” for Dr.Polit. research candidates, Institute for Community Medicine, University of Bergen
 

April 1998 Joint presentation with Sven Gudmund Hinderaker of research project on ”Reproductive Health Project in Mbulu and Hanang districts in Tanzania”, at the Centre for International Health, University of Bergen. Poster and report.

Presentation of Research Work in Non-Scientific Media
UIB-Magasinet, nr.2, 1998, ”Reproduktiv Helse i Tanzania – Forskere og Leger” (Reproductive Health in Tanzania – Researchers and Doctors), where the Reproductive Health Project in Hanang and Mbulu districts in Tanzania is presented. Poster and report.
 

NRK 1 television 16.11.97 and 21.05.98, ”Dr. Olsen’s Mirakel” programme on the work being done at Haydom Lutheran Hospital, where part of the Reproductive Health research project and the Mother and Child Health Care is presented as well.
NRK P2 Radio, ”Sånn er Livet”, 27.04.98, programme on “Maternal mortality in Developing Countries”
 

Work dissemination:
Lectures and 4 posters with main results, at Haydom Lutheran Hospital and presentations at national conferences in Tanzania. Distributed copies of the PhD dissertation, pamphlet with main results, and follow up publications to COSTECH, Haydom Lutheran Hospital staff and project assistants, other health facilities in research area, health and government authorities on national, regional, district, ward, village and sub-village level, Tanzanian academic institutions and NGOs.