About myself
I am a Professor in International health, and I have broad working experience from research and public institutions, international organisations and NGOs.
By training, I am a medical doctor with long and extensive experience in hospital work, research, disease control, management, research, research management, and teaching and work in developing countries. My professional profile includes surgery in developing countries, population studies, and control of tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS, malaria and malnutrition.
Current position:
Professor at Centre for International Health, University of Bergen
Senior Consultant (Endocrine surgery) at Haukeland University Hospital.
E-mail: bernt.lindtjorn@cih.uib.no
My web sites: emaps.uib.no thesis.uib.no lindtjorn.no
Current research projects
- Coordinator of research and intervention programme “Reducing Maternal Mortality” in south Ethiopia (2008 – 2015). A programme in cooperation with the Regional Health Bureau of South Ethiopia. Funded by NORAD and Norwegian Lutheran Mission. (see http://bernt.b.uib.no/health-work/)
- Norwegian coordinator of research programme (2007 – 2012): “Ethiopian Malaria Prediction System (EMAPS)”. Funded by NUFU and University of Bergen. (see http://emaps.uib.no/)
- Coordinator of research programme (2007 – 2011) “Preparing for tuberculosis vaccine efficacy trials: Baseline epidemiology, improved diagnosis, markers of protection and phase I/II trials (Short name: TBTrials)”. Collaboration with universities and industry in India, Denmark, Norway, South Africa and USA. Funded by AERAS and Research Council of Norway.
- Coordinator: Ongoing research in south Ethiopia on tuberculosis control control (2000 – 2013; see http://bernt.b.uib.no/my-research-areas/tuberculosis/).
- Coordinator: Ongoing research in south Ethiopia on HIV control (2000 – 2011; see http://bernt.b.uib.no/my-research-areas/hiv/).
Other works
- Coordinator of intervention programme “Reducing Maternal Mortality” in south Ethiopia (2008 – 2015). A programme in cooperation with the Regional Health Bureau of South Ethiopia. Funded by NORAD.
Work Experience
- Centre for International Health, University of Bergen: Professor, 1998 to date (http://www.uib.no/persons/Bernt.Lindtjorn#profil)
- Centre for International Health, University of Bergen: Director, 1998 – 2000 and 2004 – 2007
- European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership: Interim Executive Director (December 20, 2004 to June 20, 2005)
- European Malaria Vaccine Initiative: Contact Holder (EMVI); 2003 to February 2007
- Health work in Ethiopia: Gidole Hospital (1980 – 1982, Gidole 2008 – date), Arba Minch Hospital (1984, 2008 – date); Yirga Alem Hospital, (1978-1980; 1985-1987; 1992-1993; 2000 – 2002); Coordinator famine relief work in Ethiopia 1984-1985
- Haukeland University Hospital: Consultant Specialist in Endocrine Surgery; 1996- date
- Consultancy work in China, Mongolia, India, Angola, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan
Education
- PhD -Epidemiology. University of Bergen, 1992. Thesis: Child health and nutrition. A study from drought prone areas in southern Ethiopia.
- Medical specialist – General Surgery (Norway, 1996)
- Cand Med (Medical Degree) – Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. 1976
Supervisor (ongoing) for PhD students
- Abebe Animut (Malaria: Entomology)
- Thorleif Markussen Lunde (Malaria: epidemiology and modelling)
- Eskindir Loha (Malaria epidemiology and treatment)
- Yaliso Yaya (Maternal Mortality: Birth registry)
- Fekadu Massebo (Malaria)
- Endrias Markos (Tuberculosis control)
- Mesay Hailu (Tuberculosis control)
- Alemayehu Wolde (Respiratory infections and in-door airpollution)
- Adugna Woyessa (Addis Ababa University: Malaria epidemiology)
- Solomon Asnake (Addis Ababa University: Malaria: Entomology)
Some recent publications
Mulissa Z, Jerene D, and Lindtjørn B. Patients Present Earlier and Survival Has Improved, but Pre-ART Attrition Is High in a Six-Year HIV Cohort Data from Ethiopia. PLoS ONE 5(10): e13268. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013268
Loha, E and Lindtjørn B. Model variations in predicting incidence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria using 1998-2007 morbidity and meteorological data from south Ethiopia. Malaria Journal 2010, 9:166 (16 June 2010)
Datiko DG, Lindtjørn B. Mortality in successfully treated TB patients in southern Ethiopia: retrospective post-treatment follow up study. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2010, 14 (7): 866-871
Datiko DG, Lindtjørn B. Cost and cost-effectiveness of smear-positive tuberculosis treatment by health extension workers in southern ethiopia: a community randomized trial. PLoS One. 2010;5(2):e9158. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00913172)
Datiko DG, Lindtjørn B. Tuberculosis recurrence in smear-positive patients cured under DOTS in southern Ethiopia: retrospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 2009, 9:348
Molla, M, Berhane, Y and Lindtjørn B. Perception of Ethiopian Youth regarding Their Risk of HIV: A Community-based Study among Youth in Predominately Rural Butajira. Ethiopian Journal of Reproductive Health , 2009,3(3): 44:51
Bikilla AD, Jerene DS, Robberstad B and Lindtjørn B. Cost-effectiveness of anti-retroviral therapy at a district hospital in southern Ethiopia. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2009, 7:13doi:10.1186/1478-7547-7-13
Mitike Molla, Maria Emmelin, Yemane Berhane, and Bernt Lindtjørn. Youth in rural Ethiopia hesitate to seek health services for sexually transmitted infections: A mixed method research in Butajira, Central Ethiopia. African Journal of AIDS Research 2009, 8(2): 135–146
Datiko DG, Lindtjørn B. Health Extension Workers Improve Tuberculosis Case Notification and Treatment Success in Southern Ethiopia: A Community-Randomized Trial PLoS ONE 2009; 4(5): e5443. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005443. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00803322.
Bikilla AD, Jerene DS, Robberstad B and Lindtjørn B.. Cost estimates of HIV care and treatment with and without anti-retroviral therapy at Arba Minch Hospital in southern Ethiopia. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2009, 7:6 doi:10.1186/1478-7547-7-6
Molla M, Byass, P: Berhane Y, Lindtjørn B. Mortality decreases among young adults in south-central Ethiopia. Ethiop J Hlth Dev 2008; 22: 218-225.
Molla M, Berhane Y, Lindtjørn B. Traditional values of virginity and sexual behaviour in rural Ethiopian youth: results from a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2008;8:9.
Datiko DG, Yassin MA, Chekol LT, Kabeto LE, Lindtjørn B. The rate of TB-HIV co-infection depends on the prevalence of HIV infection in a community. BMC Public Health. 2008;8:266.
Jerene D, Endale A, Lindtjørn B. Acceptability of HIV counselling and testing among tuberculosis patients in south Ethiopia. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2007;7:4.
Shargie EB, Lindtjørn B. Determinants of treatment adherence among smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Southern Ethiopia. PLoS Med. 2007;4:e37.
Kloos H and Lindtjørn B. The HIV/aids epidemic in a least developed country: Ethiopia. Human Ecology Review, 2007; 14 (1): 39 – 55.
Demissie M, Omer OA, Lindtjørn B, Hombergh J. 2006 “Tuberculosis” in Berhane Y, Hailemariam D and Kloos (Eds) The Epidemiology and Ecology of Health and Disease in Ethiopia. Page 409-434. Addis Ababa: Shama Books
Jerene D, Naess A, Lindtjørn B. Antiretroviral therapy at a district hospital in Ethiopia prevents death and tuberculosis in a cohort of HIV patients. AIDS Res Ther. 2006;3:10.
Jerene D, Endale A, Hailu Y, Lindtjørn B. Predictors of early death in a cohort of Ethiopian patients treated with HAART. BMC Infect Dis. 2006;6:136.
Shargie EB, Mørkve O, Lindtjørn B. Tuberculosis case-finding through a village outreach programme in a rural setting in southern Ethiopia: community randomized trial. Bull World Health Organ. 2006;84:112-9.
Shargie EB, Yassin MA, Lindtjørn B. Prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in a rural district of Ethiopia. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2006;10:87-92.
Shargie EB, Lindtjørn B. DOTS improves treatment outcomes and service coverage for tuberculosis in South Ethiopia: a retrospective trend analysis. BMC Public Health. 2005;5:62.
Jerene D, Lindtjørn B. Disease progression among untreated HIV-infected patients in South Ethiopia: implications for patient care. MedGenMed. 2005;7:66.
Shargie, Estifanos Biru; Yassin, Mohammed Ahmed; Lindtjørn, Bernt. Quality control of sputum microscopic examinations for acid fast bacilli in southern Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development 2005;19(2):104-108.
