To understand some of these figures it should be noted that one in four Ethiopian women die during pregnancy or childbirth, a figure exacerbated by the fact that only 6% of all births are attended to be a suitably qualified and knowledgeable health professionals, partly because those who do get educated move abroad to earn their money. For example, there are more Ethiopian trained doctors living in Chicago than in the whole of Ethiopia.

This lack of suitably qualified adults in all aspects of Ethiopian society is reflected in the general cultural aversion to education by society. Although children are expected to complete eight years of primary education, two years in lower secondary school and the same again in higher secondary school, in reality most people in Ethiopia would prefer their children to work rather than attend school and by doing so complete household chores and contribute to the family income. This is even more true in rural areas when attendance rates are much lower than in urban areas. This is reflected in literacy rates of 50% for males dropping to just 35% for females.

As such 44% of all Ethiopian children grow up in poverty and few of them can expect to see their fiftieth birthday. For those who do manage to survive there are the ongoing issues of food security with around five million Ethiopians in chronic food shortage.