Abstract
Background The war in Tigray has caused significant damage to the
region’s healthcare facilities. This study aimed to assess the extent of
the war’s impact on healthcare facilities in the Eastern Tigray Zone.
Methods A mixed research strategy was used, with both quantitative
and qualitative approaches. Primary data were collected through
questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and observations,
while secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished
documents. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling
method. The collected data were analyzed using a linear regression model
to determine the statistical significance of the findings. Results
The study found that the impact of the war on healthcare
facilities was high to very high, with 97.9 percent of the damage
attributed to the war. Of the 177 healthcare facilities in the Eastern
Tigray Zone, 29 (16.4 percent) were severely affected, and 118 (66.66
percent) were totally damaged. This indicates that 83 percent of the
health system in the region was damaged. The linear regression model
showed that the war explained 55.8 percent of the observed health
facility damage. Conclusions The damage to health facilities in
the Eastern Tigray Zone has led to the complete collapse of the health
system at the zone level. The urgent need for reconstruction and
restoration of health facilities is highlighted to provide essential
health services to the affected population. The government and concerned
individuals must take immediate action to address this critical
situation and help mitigate the negative impact of the war on the health
of the people in Tigray.
