Promising Technological Solutions for the Production of Compression-Molded Bricks in the Northern Ethiopia

The general characteristics of the Republic of Ethiopia are given. The country is currently actively developing the construction industry, and in connection with this, there is a great need for various types of wall products. This problem is especially acute in the northern Ethiopia, including in the large industrial center of Mekelle city, which is the capital of the province of Tigray. There are cement and metallurgical plants, limestone quarries and small construction industry enterprises in the vicinity of the city. Various types of natural stone are widely used in local construction: granite, basalt, sandstone, limestone, marble, quartzite. Currently, in northern Ethiopia, including the city of Mekelle, and elsewhere in Ethiopia, local natural aggregate is used to manufacture hollow cement wall blocks using simple vibratory compaction plants. A method for producing unfired wall bricks by compression molding is considered. The analysis of the local raw material sources and the prospects for the method of obtaining non-fired wall products shows that the most relevant direction in the development of the manufacture of wall products in Mekelle city is the organization of the production of non-fired bricks by compression molding based on limestone screenings from local quarries and metallurgical slags.KeywordsBricksCementLimestoneMetallurgical slagMoldingPressureTechnology

Until recently, the Ethiopian state had a historical predisposition toward a heavy-handed approach in regulating electronic communication sectors. Although rationales for prior state control of mediated public discourse were largely tied to the authoritarian design of bygone monarchical and communist regimes, the continuation of the practice by the recently dissolved Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) invites a more meticulous scrutiny. Through a systematic review of historical as well as contemporary broadcasting and telecommunication legal frameworks of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), this chapter examines the underlying rationales of state intervention as the dominant paradigm of electronic communication systems in the country despite pluralistic (both ownership and expressive rights) trends in Sub-Saharan Africa. By mapping out major electronic communication providers and their ownership model, the chapter demonstrates the gaps in some of the major broadcasting and telecommunications regulatory frameworks in FDRE and whether Ethiopia’s recent deregulation turn in the telecommunications sector and relative openness in the broadcasting environment marks a paradigm shift. The chapter highlights the limits of state vanguardism in FRDE’s democratic, developmental, and nation-building aspirations, but cautions against the dangers of unchecked free market proliferation. Emphasizing the need for the state not to abdicate its regulatory mandate in favor of corporate interests as Ethiopia embraces liberalization, privatization, and an overall tenor of laissez-faire approach toward electronic communication sectors, the chapter concludes by emphasizing the urgency of adopting policy frameworks that are constitutive, attentive to the dynamism of electronic communication, and intentional in their commitment to equitability and inclusiveness.

Exchange of notes between the government of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland and the government of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia concerning certain commercial debts (united kingdom/ ethiopia debt agreement no. 2 (1997)). Addis Ababa, 19 july 1997 and 8 october 1997 [united nations, treaty series, vol. 2038, i-35247.]

Production of bricks from waste materials – A review

Occupational injury is any personal injury that can lead to disease, disability, or death due to accidents sustained by workers while performing their work. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among workers of textile and garment factories in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia during the era of COVID-19. A cross-ectional study was conducted among 348 Textile and Garment factories in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia on September and October 2020. Data were collected using a semi-structured face-to-face interview questionnaire by trained data collectors and supervisors. Occupational injury was assessed by a yes/no question "Have you had any injury related to your occupation in the last 12 months?."Epi Data version 3.1 was used to enter data and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used for data analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the independent determinants of occupational injury, and variables with p < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The annual prevalence rate of occupational injury among textile and garment factories was 27.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.2-32.9%). Factors like being a male (AOR = 3.65; 95% CI = 1.92-6.92), job satisfaction (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.11-0.43), sleeping disorder (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI = 1.91-6.32), job stress (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.44-4.73), and safety and health training (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.22-0.74) were significantly associated with the occurrence of occupational injury. Expectedly, lockdown during COVID-19 could lead to absenteeism and reduced prevalence of occupational injuries as the outcome of this study.

Despite the fact that begging is both worldwide and ancient phenomena, it is more insidious in developing countries. Regarding this, being one of the urban centers in developing countries, Mekelle city is not an exception because there are rampant incidences and practices of begging in general and itinerant begging in particular. The objective of this study, therefore, is analyzing the socio-economic characteristics of itinerant beggars in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia. Largely, qualitative research design was employed in this research to collect and analyze data. The study employed 120 samples selected using convenience sampling method and 10 interviewees from the beggardom population. Data was generated through the administration of structured questionnaire that consisted close and open ended query, qualitative in-depth interview and observation. Finally, data inquiry was analyzed using descriptive data analysis method presented in the form of tables, frequencies and percentages. The result revealed that although the itinerant beggars are characterized by socio-economic hardships, they involved in begging not because they couldn’t find other alternatives but they consider begging as a work. Thus, much more effort is needed to bring attitudinal change. Besides, an instrument should be devised on the regulation and governance of begging in general and itinerant begging in particular which can help avoid or reduce begging mainly by the non-handicapped section of the society. Keywords: Beggars, Itinerant begging, Mekelle City, Socio-economic Characteristics, Begging Strategies DOI: 10.7176/JPID/53-03 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

A majority of the commercial cement production in India is based on substitution of clinker by pozzolanic materials in the form of fly ash from thermal power plants or blast furnace slag. The present study investigates the field application of a new type of ternary blend using limestone, calcined clay and clinker with small amount of gypsum. Four different blends were manufactured under pilot scale. Two different calcined china clay was used; one with a high kaolinite content and the other with a very low kaolinite content but high iron oxide phases giving a white and red colour to the respective blends. Two different limestone with varied quality was also used. Various types of alternate building materials were produced with these four blends for roofing, walling and flooring applications. Comparative study was undertaken with Ordinary Portland and Pozzolan Portland cement locally available. It was found that with a 30 % clinker replacement by high kaolinite calcined china clay the building materials show a higher strength compared to those manufactured with normal available cement. Even the low kaolinite content clay show comparative quality with 30 % replacement. No effect on productivity of the various types of building materials were observed. A two storied demonstration building has also been constructed entirely from the new blended cements. It was concluded that it is possible to replace 30 % or even more clinker by calcined clays to produce acceptable quality building materials.

Background Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by unprovoked recurrent seizure episodes. The disease has detrimental effects on social, cognitive, psychological, and physical components of life consequently quality of life of the patients. The level of the effect of the disease on quality life is influenced by different factors including the use of antiepileptic medications. Objectives The study was aimed at assessing quality of life in patients with epilepsy and the variables affecting it in Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. Methods 175 patients with epilepsy aging 18 years old and above attending neurologic clinics of the two governmental hospitals available in Mekelle city were interviewed using standard and validated Tigrigna version of Quality of Life in Epilepsy Scale-31 (QOLIE-31). One-way ANOVA and independent t-test and analysis of covariance were used for data analysis. Result The mean age of the patients was 29.36 (standard deviation (SD) 12.77) years old, and 61% of them were males while 52% of the respondents were on phenobarbitone monotherapy. The mean total QOLIE-31 score was 77.97 (SD 20.78) with the highest subscale score for medication effects and the lowest for overall quality of life (QOL) functioning with a score of 86.2 (SD 22.12) and 70.97 (SD 26.43), respectively. The patients with high seizure frequency in the past month before the current visit had a significantly low quality of life 76.81 (SD 21.11). Conversely, patients with tertiary education and above had shown a significantly high quality of life 89.52 (SD 11.85). Conclusion The overall QOL of the patients was good. Seizure frequency and level of education were found significant predictors of QOL showing the necessity of seizure control and patient education for improving quality of life in patients with epilepsy.

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, teenage sexual activity, unintended pregnancy, and unsafe abortions among youth college students have become the most prevalent public health problems. Contraceptive misuse, low use, and a high unmet need for long-acting reversible contraceptives are attributed to the high rate of unintended pregnancy.ObjectiveTo assess the utilization status of long-acting reversible contraceptives and to explore the perceived barriers among youth female college students in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia, in 2019.MethodsAn institutional-based, concurrent, mixed cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative components was conducted among four private and two public colleges in Mekelle City from March 1 to April 30, 2019. A total of 580 female youth college students were included in the quantitative study, and six in-depth and four key informant interviews were conducted for the qualitative study. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency, and percentages. The chi-square test was done to assess the crude association between the outcome variable and independent categorical variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. In addition, ATLAS.ti qualitative software version 7.5 was used to code and analyze the qualitative data.ResultsWith a 93.8% response rate, 544 female youth college students participated, and 177 (32.5%) were sexually active. Seventy-five (42.3%) of students had a history of pregnancy, and of these, 85% of the pregnancies were unplanned. The utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives among sexually active college students was 7.3%. Qualitatively, the following themes emerged as perceived barriers to the utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives: knowledge barriers, fear of side effects, misperceptions, health providers’ approach, discrimination, and poor confidentiality.ConclusionThis study revealed low utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives among college students. The findings indicate that college students are at high risk of unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and complications.

Hematological reference intervals are important in clinical and diagnostic management for the assessment of health and disease conditions. Hematological reference intervals are better to be established based on gender and age differences as these are among the main affecting factors. The aim of this study was to establish hematological reference intervals among apparently healthy adolescents aged 12-17 years in Mekelle City, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia, 2019. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 249 adolescents aged 12-17 years from December 2018 to May 2019. About 4ml of blood sample was collected from each study participant using vacutainer tube containing K2EDTA. Hematological parameters were analyzed using Sysmex KX-21N hematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation Kobe, Japan). Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Both parametric and non-parametric analyses were used to calculate the median and 95% of reference intervals. The 97.5th and 2.5th percentiles were calculated using descriptive statistics for the upper and lower reference limits of the study participants. Differences in reference intervals between male and female participants were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Among the 249 participants 122 (49%) were males and 127 (51%) were females with the median age of 14.5 (range 12 to 17) years were recruited in this study. The median and the 95% reference intervals of hematological parameters were determined. The 95% RIs were: Red blood cells (1012/Liter) 4.6-5.9 (Males) and 4.3-5.6 (Females), White blood cells (109/Liter) 2.9-9.6 (Males) and 3.4-10.2 (Females), Hemoglobin (g/dl) 12.6-17.1 (Males) and 12-15.4 (Females), Platelets (109/Liter) 138-364 (Males) and 151-462 (Females). Almost all of the hematological parameters showed significant differences (p<0.05) across gender. The hematological reference intervals established in this study showed a difference based on gender. We suggest preparing and using distinct local reference intervals for males and females separately.

Food safety knowledge, attitude and practices of street food vendors and associated factors in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia

Most communities, rural or urban, have taboos regarding foods to avoid during pregnancy, and most have local explanations for why certain foods should be avoided. Such taboos may have health benefits, but they also can have large nutritional and health costs to mothers and fetuses. As such, understanding local pregnancy food taboos is an important public health goal, especially in contexts where food resources are limited. Despite this, information regarding food taboos is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed food taboos, related misconceptions, and associated factors among pregnant women in Northern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study of 332 pregnant women in antenatal care (ANC) follow-up at selected private clinics in Mekelle city, Tigray, Ethiopa, recruited between April and May, 2017. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we assessed whether respondents' observed food taboos, what types of foods they avoided, their perceived reasons for avoidance, diversity of respondents' diets during pregnancy, and respondents' socio-demographic characteristics. After reporting frequency statistics for categorical variables and central tendencies (mean and standard deviation) of continuous variables, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the socio-demographic factors and diet diversity associated with food taboo practices. Around 12% of the pregnant women avoided at least one type of food during their current pregnancy for one or more reasons. These mothers avoided eating items such as yogurt, banana, legumes, honey, and "kollo" (roasted barley and wheat). The most common reasons given for the avoidances were that the foods were (mistakenly) believed to cause: abortion; abdominal cramps in the mother and newborn; prolonged labor; or coating of the fetus's body. Maternal education (diploma and above) (AOR: 4.55, 95% CI: 1.93, 10.31) and marital status (single) were found to be negatively associated (protective factors) with observances of pregnancy food taboos. Approximately 79% of respondents had pregnancy diets that were insufficiently diverse, although we did not find any statistical evidence that this was associated with adhering to food taboos. The misconceptions related to pregnancy food taboos should be discouraged insofar as they may restrict women's consumption of nutritious foods which could support maternal health and healthy fetal development. Health providers should counsel pregnant women and their husbands about appropriate pregnancy nutrition during ANC visits.

Background The overall well-being, sense of stigmatization, and treatment outcome of persons with vitiligo are largely dependent on their social acceptance and this is linked with perception and attitude of this disease in a given population. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge and attitude of the public towards vitiligo. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-reported questionnaire distributed to adults living in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia from August to November 2019. Individuals who were 18 to 65 years of age and not suffering from vitiligo were included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire that contains a demographic, knowledge, and attitudes parts was used to collect data. Data were entered using Epi Data® version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS® version 21. Results Of the total 368 subjects, 300 completed the questionnaires giving 81.5% response rate. The mean age was 30 ± 8.3 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1.14 : 1. Friends or families were reported as the most common source of information (70%) about vitiligo. The overall vitiligo knowledge was sufficient in 68.3% of the participants. Higher vitiligo-related knowledge scores were recorded by people older than 30 and below 50, those of secondary school graduated or more, urban-dwellers, persons who had heard about vitiligo, and persons having families or friends affected by vitiligo. Attitudes towards vitiligo were positive in 43.3% of participants. This was more prevalent among employed persons, those of secondary school graduated or more, and persons having families or friends affected by vitiligo. Moreover, sufficient knowledge was significantly related to positive attitudes towards the disease (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Even though the majority of the respondents had sufficient knowledge, we still found misconceptions and negative attitudes towards vitiligo. Therefore, it is still crucial to educate the public about vitiligo to ultimately improve the well-being of patients with vitiligo.

Background: Occupational injuries are important public health problems that comprise a major part of injury burden in Ethiopia. The present study investigates the magnitude and associated factors with occupational injuries among small-scale industry workers in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia in 2013. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 774 small-scale industry workers from March to April 2013. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study participant’s. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on the occurrence of occupational injuries and allied factors. Data was analyzed using STATA software version 12. Bi-variate and multivariate analysis was carried out to ascertain the association between dependent and independent variables. Results: A total of 758 (97.9%) small-scale industry workers were interviewed. A one-year prevalence rate of at least one occupational injury among the small-scale industry workers was 58.2%. Use of personal protective equipments [AOR=3.43, 95%CI: 2.39-4.94], age of respondent’s [AOR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.25], number of years worked in the same job [AOR=2.89, 95%CI: 1.88-4.43], number of hours worked per week [AOR=2.73, 95%CI: 1.92- 3.87], and the job category; metalworkers [AOR=3.17, 95%CI: 2.07-4.85] and wood workers [AOR=2.34, 95%CI: 1.39-3.92] were found to be significantly associated factors with occupational injury among small-scale industry workers. Conclusion: This study concludes that the prevalence of occupational injuries among small-scale industry workers was considerably high. Hence, promoting occupational safety and health through appropriate prevention programs and provision of comprehensive occupational health and safety services with the provisions of personal protective devices, and focused interventions for young, less experienced, workers who work for extended hours (>48 hours per week) and workers working on metal and wood works are highly advised.

BackgroundHematological reference intervals are important in clinical and diagnostic management for the assessment of health and disease conditions. Hematological reference intervals are better to be established based on gender and age differences as these are among the main affecting factors.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to establish hematological reference intervals among apparently healthy adolescents aged 12–17 years in Mekelle City, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia, 2019.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 249 adolescents aged 12–17 years from December 2018 to May 2019. About 4ml of blood sample was collected from each study participant using vacutainer tube containing K2EDTA. Hematological parameters were analyzed using Sysmex KX-21N hematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation Kobe, Japan). Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Both parametric and non-parametric analyses were used to calculate the median and 95% of reference intervals. The 97.5th and 2.5th percentiles were calculated using descriptive statistics for the upper and lower reference limits of the study participants. Differences in reference intervals between male and female participants were evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U test.ResultAmong the 249 participants 122 (49%) were males and 127 (51%) were females with the median age of 14.5 (range 12 to 17) years were recruited in this study. The median and the 95% reference intervals of hematological parameters were determined. The 95% RIs were: Red blood cells (1012/Liter) 4.6–5.9 (Males) and 4.3–5.6 (Females), White blood cells (109/Liter) 2.9–9.6 (Males) and 3.4–10.2 (Females), Hemoglobin (g/dl) 12.6–17.1 (Males) and 12–15.4 (Females), Platelets (109/Liter) 138–364 (Males) and 151–462 (Females). Almost all of the hematological parameters showed significant differences (p<0.05) across gender.ConclusionThe hematological reference intervals established in this study showed a difference based on gender. We suggest preparing and using distinct local reference intervals for males and females separately.