3 Review(s)

Kloos and Zein's excellent bibliography provides a thorough guide to an amazing amount of information. . . . With 4,614 entries, it is more than twice the size of the earlier version. Its scope includes infectious and noninfectious diseases, physical trauma, mental health, health services, maternal and child health, nutrition, and famine, including resettlement and refugees. The works are well selected, including both standard publications and less well known Ethiopian and Italian works. The broad scope makes the work useful for medical workers as well as those engaged in social or cultural research. Choice This bibliography provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive listing of published and unpublished works on health and disease in Ethiopia for the period 1940-1990. It brings together in one volume more than 4,000 citations for writings in all areas of health and disease, many of which have not been previously cited in the English-language literature on the subject. The volume's ten chapters are divided into subsections that classify major disease groups and health problems. The bibliographic entries are organized alphabetically within each chapter. Further subdivisions of the topics, including diseases and specific problems, are provided in the subject index. About half of the references deal with infectious diseases, and approximately 700 with malnutrition, nutritional deficiency diseases, famine, and supplementary feeding. An effort was made to include as many references as possible on mother and child health, health services, and traditional medicine, all extremely important, but relatively neglected subjects. While the great majority of the references cited are on Western-style medicine, many works on traditional medicine, socioeconomic problems, and famine are also included. The complexity and immensity of health problems in developing countries demand that they be understood by health officials and researchers if significant and sustained improvements in the health status of the population is to be achieved. By presenting the great bulk of the biomedical, famine, and health-related socio-economic literature, this bibliography contributes to a better understanding of both broadly based and specific health problems in one of the world's least developed countries. It will be valuable as an interdisciplinary research tool for students, senior researchers, health officials, and relief aid organizations.