Afar Region Research Articles

THE IMPACT OF PROSOPIS JULIFLORA INVASION ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of Prosopis-Juliflora invasion on development in Ethiopia by taking Afar Regional State as Case Study. Prosopis Juliflora has become the most invasive plant in the Ethiopia. Although the social, economic and environmental impacts of Prosopis in Afar Regional State has become threatening, both the federal and regional state governments were late to start the practice of controlling and managing its spread in the region. Data for this study were collected through qualitative methods like informant interviews, observation, focus group discussions and document analysis. Ninety six participants were interviewed and eight focus group discussions were conducted. The qualitative dataset was thematically analyzed through deductive identification of themes. The researcher recommended that both the federal and regional state governments should give prior concern to the eradication of the invasive plant before it covered the whole land in the regional state.

Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the emerging arthropod-borne zoonotic viral diseases with serious public and economic significance in the livestock and human populations of East Africa. Its epidemiology is inadequately recognized in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors of RVF in domestic livestock of Amibara and Haruka districts of the Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia. A total of 736 (224 cattle, 121 goats, 144 sheep, 155 camels and 92 donkeys) blood samples were collected, and serum extracted and tested using competitive ELISA. A questionnaire survey was used to assess potential risk factors of RVF infection. The overall seroprevalence was 22.0% (162/736; 95% CI: 19.41–24.79%). The seroprevalence was significantly higher in goats (42.2%, 95% CI: 39.61–44.99%) compared to that of cattle (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.74–17.09%), sheep (21.5%, 95% CI: 18.91–24.29%), or camels (30.97%, 95% CI: 28.38–33.76%) (P < 0.001). The study showed that seropositivity for IgG antibody to RVFV infection was associated with locality and species of animal. Goats were two times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than cattle (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.462–3.574, P = 0.001). Livestock in the Kealatburi area were five times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than those in the Halidegei area (OR: 5.074, 95% CI: 3.066–8.396, P = 0.001). This study revealed that RVF is an important animal health problem in the Afar Region. Therefore, monitoring of RVF in animals, humans, and vectors along with community sensitization of high-risk populations could benefit mitigating the risk posed by the disease. Quarantine measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of RVFV introduction and dissemination among susceptible animals and ultimately transmission to humans.

AN ASSESSMENT OF CONFLICT-INDUCED INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT TRENDS AND SITUATIONS OF IDPS IN ETHIOPIA

Internal displacement has emerged as one of the world's greatest human disasters today. IDMC 2023 statistics showedthat, there are approximately 77.1 million internally displaced persons. It causes death and property damage, foodinsecurity and starvation, family disruption, psychological and physical problems on IDPs. Hence, the objective of thisstudy was to examine the prevalence of conflict-induced internal displacement in Ethiopia from 2017 to 2023, andidentify the situations of IDPs housed in IDPs camps of North-western Ethiopia (Amhara region). The data wascollected from 415 surveyed IDPs, 14 interviewee and 8 key informants. The secondary sources i.e. published articlesand IDMC data were taken. Descriptive statistics and textual analysis were used to analyse the data.The result demonstrated that, a total of 670,999; 187,592, and 1,431,682 persons were displaced within the regions andwithin the country due to the escalation of conflict before 2018, during 2018, and in 2019 respectively. This shows thatan enormous tragedy also referred to as a human catastrophe occurred in the Ethiopian historic event in 2019, withabout 1.432 million people fleeing their homes because of inter-communal violence in the country. As a result of conflictand violence, more than 2.9 million people have been internally displaced in the country since 2020. Hence, from 2008to December 2021, the overall number of internal displaced people in Ethiopia was more than 5,142,000, whereas thetotal number of IDPs due to conflict is more than 3,589,000 as of the end of 2021. As of March 2022, an estimated5,582,000 people were internally displaced within Ethiopia as a result of armed conflict and disasters, with 2,848, 0001IDPs in the Amhara, Afar, and Tigray regions. Nearly 3.9 million people living in displacement because of conflict andviolence across Ethiopia at the end of 2022. Based on the findings, a significant number of displaced people housed inIDP camps did not have shelter, shortage of food and nonfood items, rare safe drinking water sources, high sicknessand death, limited sanitation, health and hygiene services. Additionally, IDPs did not have security protection, whichprevent them from physical and psychological harms, and did not receive any protective and resilient support fromgovernment to their survival in the dwelled camp sites. In conclusion, Ethiopia represented the highest proportion ofIDPs in the global displacement numbers. Conflict-induced displaced persons housed in the camps of Amhara regionare living in desperate conditions. Therefore, federal government of Ethiopia should work towards addressing thecauses of conflict and ethnic based violence, human rights protection, and political commitment with regionalgovernments on the issues of IDPs for durable solutions.

Spatial variation and predictors of missing birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) messages in Ethiopia

Background The Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) message is one of the prenatal care packages targeted at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by avoiding unnecessary delays during labor and delivery. There is limited evidence in Ethiopia that has looked at the spatial variation of missing BPCR messages and potential predictors. Hence, this study aimed to identify spatial predictors missing BPCR messages at the national level. Methods The study was based on analysis of 2016 Ethiopia Demographic Health Survey data, using a weighted sample of 4771 women. Arc-GIS version 10.7 and SaTScan version 9.6 statistical software were used for the spatial analysis. To explore spatial variation and locate spatial clusters of missing BPCR messages, the Global Moran’s I statistic and Bernoulli-based spatial scan (SaTScan) analysis were carried out, respectively. Hotspot (Getis-OrdGi*) analysis was conducted to identify Hotspots and Cold spotsof missing BPCR messages. Finally, spatial regression were carried out via ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression to identify predictors of hotspots for missing BPCR messages. Results The overall prevalence of missing BPCR messages in Ethiopia was found to be 44.0% (95%CI: 42.6, 45.4%), with significant spatial variation across regions (Moran’s I = 0.218, p-value&lt;0.001) and seven most likely significant SaTScan clusters. The vast majority of Somali, central Afar, and Gambella regions were identified as statistically significant hotspots. Living in the poorest wealth quintile, having only one ANC visit, lack of access to listening to the radio, facing difficulty in accessing money, not having a mobile phone, and being not covered by health insurance were identified as significant spatial predictors of missing BPCR messages. Conclusion The level of missing BPCR messages during pregnancy was found to be high in Ethiopia, with significant local variation. As a result, policymakers at the national level and local planners should develop strategies and initiatives that enhance women’s economic capacities, health-seeking behavior, and media exposure. Furthermore, the regional authorities should focus on strategies that promote universal health coverage through enrolling citizens in health insurance schemes.

Shotgun Metagenomics-Guided Prediction Reveals the Metal Tolerance and Antibiotic Resistance of Microbes in Poly-Extreme Environments in the Danakil Depression, Afar Region.

The occurrence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental microorganisms, particularly in poly-extremophilic bacteria, remain underexplored and have received limited attention. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ARGs and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in shotgun metagenome sequences obtained from water and salt crust samples collected from Lake Afdera and the Assale salt plain in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia. Potential ARGs were characterized by the comprehensive antibiotic research database (CARD), while MRGs were identified by using BacMetScan V.1.0. A total of 81 ARGs and 39 MRGs were identified at the sampling sites. We found a copA resistance gene for copper and the β-lactam encoding resistance genes were the most abundant the MRG and ARG in the study area. The abundance of MRGs is positively correlated with mercury (Hg) concentration, highlighting the importance of Hg in the selection of MRGs. Significant correlations also exist between heavy metals, Zn and Cd, and ARGs, which suggests that MRGs and ARGs can be co-selected in the environment contaminated by heavy metals. A network analysis revealed that MRGs formed a complex network with ARGs, primarily associated with β-lactams, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. This suggests potential co-selection mechanisms, posing concerns for both public health and ecological balance.

Spatial variation of premarital HIV testing and its associated factors among married women in Ethiopia: Multilevel and spatial analysis using 2016 demographic and health survey data.

Africa is the most severely affected area, accounting for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 85% of new HIV-infected adolescents and 63% of all new HIV infections are accounted for by women. Ethiopia has achieved a 50% incidence rate reduction. However, mortality rate reduction is slow, as the estimated prevalence in 2021 is 0.8%. In sub-Saharan Africa, heterosexual transmission accounts for the majority of HIV infections, and women account for 58% of people living with HIV. Most of these transmissions took place during marriage. Thus, this study aimed to explore the spatial variation of premarital HIV testing across regions of Ethiopia and identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 10223 weighted samples were taken from individual datasets of the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. STATA version 14 and ArcGIS version 10.8 software's were used for analysis. A multilevel mixed-effect generalized linear model was fitted, and an adjusted prevalence Ratio with a 95% CI and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare significantly associated factors. Multilevel models were compared using information criteria and log-likelihood. Descriptive and spatial regression analyses (geographical weighted regression and ordinary least squares analysis) were conducted. Models were compared using AICc and adjusted R-squared. The local coefficients of spatial explanatory variables were mapped. In spatial regression analysis, secondary and above education level, richer and above wealth quintile, household media exposure, big problem of distance to health facility, having high risky sexual behaviour and knowing the place of HIV testing were significant explanatory variables for spatial variation of premarital HIV testing among married women. While in the multilevel analysis, age, education level, religion, household media exposure, wealth index, khat chewing, previous history of HIV testing,age at first sex, HIV related knowledge, HIV related stigma, distance to health facility, and community level media exposure were associated with premarital HIV testing among married women. Premarital HIV testing had a significant spatial variation across regions of Ethiopia. A statistically significant clustering of premarital HIV testing was observed at Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, North Tigray and some parts of Afar and Amhara regions. Therefore area based prevention and interventional strategies are required at cold spot areas to halt the role of heterosexual transmission in HIV burden. Moreover, the considering the spatial explanatory variables effect in implementations of these strategies rather than random provision of service would make regional health care delivery systems more cost-effective.

A multivariate decomposition analysis of modern contraceptive utilization among married women in the emerging region of Ethiopia (2000–2019)

Ensuring universal access to family planning services is a proven strategy to improve reproductive health as well as economic development. Assessing the trend and identifying the factors for the change in modern contraceptive utilization is crucial to design effective measures, but trend analysis was not conducted previously. Thus, this study aimed to assess the trend and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization change among married women in emerging regions of Ethiopia. This study used the 2000 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey and the 2019 Ethiopia Min Demographic and Health Survey datasets for analysis. A total of 2555 and 1916 married women in the 2000 and 2019 surveys were included in the analysis, respectively. The data were analyzed using Stata version 17.0. Logit-based decomposition analysis was executed to identify factors for modern contraceptive utilization change. Statistical significance was declared at a P value of less than 0.05. The trend of contraceptive utilization change increased from 6.26% in 2000 to 21.97% in 2019. About − 65.87% and 165.87% of the change in contraceptive utilization was due to changes in composition and behavior, respectively. The change in composition was due to the change in the composition of women according to religion, educational status, region, and the number of living children. The change in behaviors of not educated women, rural women, Muslim women, and those who resided in the afar region was the source of change in modern contraceptive utilization. Modern contraceptive utilization has increased in the last two decades. The change in modern contraceptive utilization is due to changes in population composition and behavior. Interventions targeting uneducated and rural women are vital to increasing contraceptive utilization. Strategic interventions are also required for the Somali regions of Ethiopia.

The Link between Overweight/Obesity and Noncommunicable Diseases in Ethiopia: Evidences from Nationwide WHO STEPS Survey 2015.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Each year, 15 million adults die from NCDs; more than 85% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income nations. Evidence indicates that overweight and obesity are the main risk factors for NCDs. Although the literature indicates that the burden of NCDs is increasing in Ethiopia, no research has been conducted to demonstrate a link between overweight/obesity and NCDs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the association between overweight/obesity and the common NCDs while adjusting for other important factors. We analysed data from the 2015 Ethiopia WHO STEPS survey, which was conducted in 2015. A total weighted sample of 9,800 participants (15-69 years) was included. The relationship between nutritional status and NCDs was assessed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models while adjusting for covariates. Among the 9,800 participants, 2053 (21% with (95% CI: 19.8-22.1) had hypertension and 1368 (14% with (95% CI: 13.1-15.0) had high cholesterol levels. According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, being overweight/obese (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.7-2.3), alcohol consumption, received lifestyle advice, being female, living in urban areas, increased age, having government occupation, and living in SNNP region were positively associated with hypertension. While being underweight (AOR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5-0.7), living in the Afar, Somali, and Tigray regions were negatively associated with hypertension. Being overweight/obese (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7), being female, having older age, and living in Somali region were positively associated with a high cholesterol level. Whereas being underweight (AOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9), received lifestyle advice, reside in rural areas, being farmer, student, and housewife, and living in Gambela region were negatively associated with a high cholesterol level. This study found a statistically positive association between the common NCDs, namely, overweight/obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels. Our findings imply that there is a need for effective interventions to prevent overweight/obesity by encouraging people to increase physical activity, minimize sedentary behavior, and maintain a healthy dietary pattern in order to reduce the risk of hypertension and high cholesterol levels.

The Effectiveness of Radio Talk Shows by UNICEF Ethiopia in Increasing Knowledge and Changing Attitudes and Behaviors Around Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, and Gender Equality

Female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage (CM), and gender inequality are some practices that are discriminatory and abusive to women and deny them the potential to live better and more inclusive lives. UNICEF in collaboration with other partners have initiated radio talk shows (RTS)in SNNP, Oromia, Somali, and Afar regions with the aim of addressing these issues. This evaluation study assessed the effectiveness of these shows on these matters. The study used a cross-sectional survey approach blended with key informant interviews to interrogate the issue at hand. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to identify 458 subjects to participate in the study. The study found that not many people have been reached by the radio talk shows. Those reached had acquired knowledge/enlightenment and attitude change that is positive towards lowering cases of FGM, CM, and gender inequality. The study thus found radio talk shows to be effective in increasing knowledge and attitude that could bring about social behavior change. It was recommended that UNICEF to scale up RTS into unreached areas to expand the reach hence the impact of the shows on FGM, CM, and gender equality.

Geospatial Overlap of Undernutrition and Tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

Undernutrition is a key driver of the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, yet there is limited understanding regarding the spatial overlap of both diseases. This study aimed to determine the geographical co-distribution and socio-climatic factors of undernutrition and TB in Ethiopia. Data on undernutrition were found from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Data on TB were obtained from the Ethiopia national TB prevalence survey. We applied a geostatistical model using a Bayesian framework to predict the prevalence of undernutrition and TB. Spatial overlap of undernutrition and TB prevalence was detected in the Afar and Somali regions. Population density was associated with the spatial distribution of TB [β: 0.008; 95% CrI: 0.001, 0.014], wasting [β: -0.017; 95% CrI: -0.032, -0.004], underweight [β: -0.02; 95% CrI: -0.031, -0.011], stunting [β: -0.012; 95% CrI: -0.017, -0.006], and adult undernutrition [β: -0.007; 95% CrI: -0.01, -0.005]. Distance to a health facility was associated with the spatial distribution of stunting [β: 0.269; 95% CrI: 0.08, 0.46] and adult undernutrition [β: 0.176; 95% CrI: 0.044, 0.308]. Healthcare access and demographic factors were associated with the spatial distribution of TB and undernutrition. Therefore, geographically targeted service integration may be more effective than nationwide service integration.

Assessment of malaria prevention knowledge, attitude, and practice and associated factors among households living in rural malaria-endemic areas in the Afar Pastoral Region of Ethiopia.

Malaria morbidity has reduced significantly in most regions of Ethiopia, but it is still a serious issue in the northeast, particularly in the Afar region. The study aimed to evaluate household heads' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward malaria prevention and its associated factors in rural Ada'ar woreda district in the Afar region. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 households living in Ada'ar woreda district. A systematic sampling technique was used to select households. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used to interview randomly selected adult household heads. Frequency and percentage were computed. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between independent and dependent variables. Statistical significance was considered to be a p-value <0.05. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of household heads had good knowledge of malaria prevention, and 46.9% had a positive attitude toward it. About 17.3 and 56.9% of study participants had good malaria prevention practices and good healthcare seeking behaviors, respectively. Illiterate (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.49-4.63) and low-income (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2-5.6) participants were more likely to have poor knowledge of malaria prevention (malaria signs and symptoms, malaria transmissions, and malaria prevention methods). Married participants (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.02-6.29) and illiterates (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.69-4.73) had negative attitudes toward malaria prevention. Household heads with poor knowledge of malaria prevention had 85% higher rates of practicing poor malaria prevention methods (regular bed nets used; AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.2-2.8). Young adults (18-25 years) were more likely to have poor healthcare seeking behaviors (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.73-7.1), while pastoralists had a lower likelihood (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.28-0.8). Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward malaria prevention remain a problem in malaria-endemic rural areas of the Afar region of Ethiopia. There is a need for the implementation of interventions that will focus on increasing knowledge of malaria prevention and encouraging positive attitudes toward it, as well as promoting regular bed net usage and healthcare seeking behaviors.

BabyWASH and diarrhea prevention practices following multimedia educational intervention in hard-to-reach areas of the Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia: a mixed-method endline evaluation

BackgroundWater, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, which are specifically targeted towards young children—known as “BabyWASH”—reduce exposure to environmental contamination and prevent microbial burden in their play and feeding environments. The purpose of this endline study was to evaluate the effectiveness and potential sustainability of a multimedia educational intervention in influencing key BabyWASH and diarrhea prevention practices in four hard-to-reach woredas (i.e. administrative districts) of the Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia.MethodsA mixed-method, comparative cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 457 household surveys, 16 key informant interviews, and 8 focus group discussions. The multimedia educational intervention comprised: broadcasting radio talk shows and radio spot messages, capacity-building training for community health workers and community leaders, community mobilization campaigns, and the distribution of promotional print media materials. Propensity score matching analysis was used to estimate the effect of the multimedia educational intervention on key BabyWASH and diarrhea prevention attitudes and practices, which was then triangulated with qualitative findings.ResultsThe multimedia intervention had a significant positive impact on good BabyWASH and diarrhea prevention practices, including appropriate practices of child feces disposal (t-test = 5.17; p < 0.001), handwashing with soap or ash (t-test = 8.85; p < 0.001), maintaining separate playgrounds for young children (t-test = 2.83; p < 0.001), washing of child’s body, hands, and faces (t-test = 15.78; p < 0.001), and food hygiene practices (t-test = 2.74; p < 0.05). The findings of the qualitative assessment also revealed that the multimedia intervention packages and the approaches used were successful in influencing key BabyWASH and diarrhea prevention behaviors in the intervention implementation woredas. In addition, providing capacity building training to local actors and community leaders and recording radio talk shows and sharing them with community members were recognized as effective intervention implementation strategies.ConclusionThe endline evaluation found that the multimedia educational intervention improved awareness, perception, and practice of BabyWASH and diarrhea prevention behaviors in intervention woredas compared to control woredas. Sanitation and hygiene promotion interventions in pastoralist settings can be effective when using locally and contextually appropriate intervention strategies. However, considerations for integrating both behavioral and structural components in WASH interventions is essential.

Geospatial variations and determinants of contraceptive utilization among married reproductive age women in Ethiopia: spatial and multilevel analysis of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2019.

Contraception is the most effective method of preventing unwanted pregnancies and their associated disadvantages. It is critical to recognize one's desire to utilize contraceptives before drafting and implementing a good family planning program, especially in developing nations like Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify the geospatial variations and determinants affecting the utilization of contraceptives among married reproductive age women in Ethiopia. This study was based on an extensive national survey, the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A total weighted sample of 5,743 married reproductive-age women was included. Because of the hierarchical nature of the DHS data, a spatial analysis multilevel logistic regression model was used to study individual and community-level factors that may influence contraceptives. The Bernoulli model was used by applying Kulldorff methods using the SaTScan software to analyze the purely spatial clusters of contraceptive usage. ArcGIS version 10.3 was used to visualize the distribution of contraceptives. A 95% confidence interval and a p-value of less than 0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. The overall utilization of contraceptives was discovered at 41.25% (39.98, 42.53). Participants age range of 25-34 years [AOR = 0.80, CI: (0.66, 0.96,)] and 35-49 years [AOR = 0.50, CI 95%:(0.66, 0.96)] times less likely to use contraceptives than 15-24 years old respectively. Having primary [AOR = 1.47, CI 95%: (1.25, 1.73)], secondary [AOR = 1.42, CI 95%: (1.09, 1.83)] and higher education level [AOR = 1.92, CI 95%: (1.41, 2.60)], middle wealth [AOR = 1.48, CI 95%: (1.14, 1.90)], richer [AOR = 1.41, CI 95%: (1.07, 1.86)] and richest [AOR = 2.17, CI 95%: (1.52, 3.11)], having 1-4 ANC follow up have [AOR = 1.60, CI 95%: (1.26, 2.03)], gave birth at age of 35-44 [AOR = 0.29, CI 95%: (0.22, 0.37)], having 3-5 children [AOR = 1.26, CI 95%: (1.03, 1.52)], being from community of high level women education [AOR = 1.61, CI 95%: (1.21, 2.15)] were associated positively. Participants from Amhara, Oromia, Benishangul and SNNPR regions have revealed [AOR = 2.40, CI 95%: (1.53, 3.77)], [AOR = 1.64, CI 95%: (1.05, 2.56)], [AOR = 1.62, CI 95%: (1.01, 2.62)] and [AOR = 2.04, CI 95: (1.31, 3.19)], in contrast, Somali and Afar regions have shown [AOR = 011, CI 95%: (0.05, 0.22)] and [AOR = 0.31, CI 95%: (0.18, 0.54)] times less likely to use contraceptive services than Tigray Region respectively. The spatial analysis of contraceptive usage discovered that the northern, central and southern parts of the country had higher utilization of contraceptives than the eastern and northeastern of the country. The study revealed that contraceptive usage among married women is comparatively low, with wide regional variation. Raising awareness among mothers about the importance of antenatal care and assisting mothers who are financially disadvantaged or do not have access to health facilities will aid in providing better family planning services. Improving contraceptive information dissemination at community and regional levels is key to averting potential barriers.

Participatory rangeland management: A vehicle for pastoralist women’s empowerment in Ethiopia

Pastoralist tenure systems are highly complex. Where customary institutions are functioning well, pastoralist women access and use resources as a member of a pastoralist group. Although policy and legislation call for more equity across societies, providing individual titles to women is not necessarily the answer. Strengthening women’s rights within the collective society while also supporting women’s capacities and abilities to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes and hold leadership positions will support more sustainable gender equality outcomes. Participatory rangeland management (PRM) is an approach developed in Ethiopia in 2010 that was then piloted by non-governmental organisations in several parts of the country in a bid to improve the security of tenure and good governance of rangelands, more inclusive participation of pastoralists in decisions pertaining to their lands and improve rangeland productivity. While not an explicit aim, it also sought women’s empowerment as part of the participatory process. A review of PRM implementation in Oromia and Afar regions, Ethiopia, showed that in the majority of cases, women participated equally with men in the PRM process. Women’s and men’s opinions on the involvement and satisfaction of PRM implementation activities were compared favourably. Overall, community members believed that PRM has improved women’s roles in rangeland management leadership and decision-making processes and their access to rangeland resources, thereby encouraging a transformative process of improving gender equality and women’s empowerment in pastoralist societies. This article considers the implications of these results for pastoral women and to what degree they have contributed to their empowerment. A conceptualised women’s empowerment framework is used for the analysis.

Postpartum depression and associated factors in Afar Region, northeast Ethiopia

BackgroundTo effectively address the burden of postpartum depression (PPD), it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of its magnitude and the factors associated with it in the pastoral and hot region of the Afar Region. This will help identify the progress made thus far and highlight areas that require further attention to accelerate efforts toward reducing the impact of PPD. Notably, no previous study has examined the prevalence and associated factors of PPD specifically in pastoral communities within Ethiopia, including the Afar Region. Accordingly, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of PPD among postpartum women in the Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia. MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Awsi Rasu Zone of Afar Regional State from June to July 2021. The study employed a systematic random sampling method to select a total of 302 postpartum mothers who had visited the Expanded Program of Immunisation (EPI) clinics in public health facilities within the Awsi Rasu Zone of the Afar Region. The measurement of PPD was performed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Multivariable binary logistic regression modelling was used to investigate associations between sociodemographic, obstetric and health service, and psychosocial factors with PPD. ResultsThe overall prevalence of PPD was 37.4% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) from 32.0% to 43.0%. Postpartum women who attained high school education were associated with a lower odds of PPD compared to those who did not attain formal schooling (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.82). Postpartum women with a family history of mental illness (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.24, 4.41), those who had trouble in infant feeding (AOR = 4.26; 95% CI: 2.32, 7.83), and those who experienced intimate partner violence (AOR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.58, 6.04) were positively associated with PPD. ConclusionThe results of our study revealed that the prevalence of PPD in the Awsi Rasu Zone of the Afar Region is higher than both the national and global averages. The findings also highlighted the need for targeted interventions addressing the needs of pastoral postpartum women who experience various stressors, such as feeding difficulties and intimate partner violence.

Diversity and abundance of birds in dumpsites of Afar region, Ethiopia: implication for conservation

BackgroundDumpsites play key role in conservation of birds. A study was conducted to assess the diversity and abundance of birds in dumpsites of Afar region, Ethiopia from August, 2019 to March, 2020, covering both the wet and dry seasons. A total of nine dumpsites that contain domestic wastes found in different towns of Afar region were selected. Point count technique was employed to identify and count the birds. Shannon-Weiner diversity index was used to estimate species diversity and Two-way ANOVA was used to test birds’ species richness and abundance variation across dumpsites and seasons.ResultsA total of 48 bird species consisting of one endemic and 10 globally threatened species were recorded. Red-billed Quelea, Marabou Stork and Egyptian Vulture were the most abundant species. There was a significant difference in bird species richness and abundance among dumpsites (F = 8.44, df = 8, P < 0.05) and F = 15.507, df = 8, P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, a significant difference in abundance was also observed between the two seasons (F = 19.339, df = 1, P < 0.05). The highest species diversity (H’ = 3.18) was observed during wet season in Abala and Afambo dumpsites and the highest species evenness (E = 0.86) was observed during dry season in Afdera.ConclusionBird species diversity and abundance among dumpsites was high, and man-made disturbance are main threats for conservation of birds in the area. Therefore, conservation measures are needed to maintain survival of birds mainly the globally threatened species. Moreover, proper management of dumpsites is vital to support the waste dependent birds.

Trend analysis of malaria in urban settings in Ethiopia from 2014 to 2019

BackgroundUrbanization generally improves health outcomes of residents and is one of the potential factors that might contribute to reducing malaria transmission. However, the expansion of Anopheles stephensi, an urban malaria vector, poses a threat for malaria control and elimination efforts in Africa. In this paper, malaria trends in urban settings in Ethiopia from 2014 to 2019 are reported with a focus on towns and cities where An. stephensi surveys were conducted.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted to determine malaria trends in urban districts using passive surveillance data collected at health facilities from 2014 to 2019. Data from 25 towns surveyed for An. stephensi were used in malaria trend analysis. Robust linear models were used to identify outliers and impute missing and anomalous data. The seasonal Mann-Kendal test was used to test for monotonic increasing or decreasing trends.ResultsA total of 9,468,970 malaria cases were reported between 2014 and 2019 through the Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) system. Of these, 1.45 million (15.3%) cases were reported from urban settings. The incidence of malaria declined by 62% between 2014 and 2018. In 2019, the incidence increased to 15 per 1000 population from 11 to 1000 in 2018. Both confirmed (microscopy or RDT) Plasmodium falciparum (67%) and Plasmodium vivax (28%) were reported with a higher proportion of P. vivax infections in urban areas. In 2019, An. stephensi was detected in 17 towns where more than 19,804 malaria cases were reported, with most of the cases (56%) being P. falciparum. Trend analysis revealed that malaria cases increased in five towns in Afar and Somali administrative regions, decreased in nine towns, and had no obvious trend in the remaining three towns.ConclusionThe contribution of malaria in urban settings is not negligible in Ethiopia. With the rapid expansion of An. stephensi in the country, the receptivity is likely to be higher for malaria. Although the evidence presented in this study does not demonstrate a direct linkage between An. stephensi detection and an increase in urban malaria throughout the country, An. stephensi might contribute to an increase in malaria unless control measures are implemented as soon as possible. Targeted surveillance and effective response are needed to assess the contribution of this vector to malaria transmission and curb potential outbreaks.

The practice of fiscal decentralization at local level in Ethiopia: Evidence from Oromia and Afar Regional States

The practice of fiscal decentralization at local level in Ethiopia: Evidence from Oromia and Afar Regional States

Influence of Lateral Plume Channel on the Evolution of Rift Arms of the Afar Triple Junction: Constraints From 3‐D Gravity Interpretation

AbstractThe Afar region presents a unique example of a juvenile R‐R‐R triple junction with the arms evolved to various stages of maturity. The lithosphere in this area has been modified heterogeneously by the nearby Afar mantle plume. To gain a comprehensive and consistent understanding of the link between crustal geometry and geodynamics of the region and facilitate comparisons across different tectonic elements, we developed a high‐resolution crustal thickness map of the region that resolves major tectonic features. The calculation involved a well‐constrained 3‐D inversion of upper mantle‐corrected crustal Bouguer gravity anomalies computed with the help of tomography‐derived densities. Our results match earlier localized crustal thickness estimates, illustrating the method's efficacy. A thinner crust (∼20–26 km) is revealed in the Afar compared to adjacent continental regions. The Main Ethiopian Rift has the thickest crust in the central part of the rift (∼38–40 km) and thinner to the north (∼30 km) and south (∼35 km). The crustal thickness along the Gulf of Aden changes from east (∼5 km) to west (∼17 km) in the west, consistent with a westward transition from seafloor spreading to continental rifting. The southern Red Sea is characterized by asymmetric crustal thickness, with a thicker crust (∼17 km) on the eastern flank compared to the western flank (∼11 km), which we attribute to the influence of a sub‐lithospheric channel from the Afar mantle plume. We propose a model describing the channel leading to asymmetric features of the southern Red Sea, such as crustal accretion, marginal topography, and volcanism.

Unimproved source of drinking water and its associated factors: a spatial and multilevel analysis of Ethiopian demographic and health survey

BackgroundDrinking water quality has been a major public health concern in lower and middle income countries where access to improved water supplies is limited. Ethiopia is thought to have one of the worst drinking water infrastructures in the world. This study aimed to assess the spatial variation and determinants of using unimproved sources of drinking water in Ethiopia using recent nationally representative data.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was employed with the recent EDHS data of 2019. A total of 8663 households were sampled using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method. Kuldorff’s SaTScan version 9.6 software was used to generate spatial scan statistics. ArcGIS version 10.7 software was used to visualize the spatial patterns of unimproved drinking water sources. A multilevel multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the use of an unimproved drinking water source. In the multivariable multilevel analysis, those variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered to be significant predictors of using an unimproved source of drinking water.ResultAround 31% (95% CI: 30%, 32%) of the population in Ethiopia uses unimproved sources of drinking water with significant spatial variation across the country. Households aged 41–60 [AOR = 0.69; 95%CI; 0.53, 0.89] as compared to the households aged 10–25, households having middle wealth index [AOR = 0.48; 95%CI; 0.40, 0.59], and households having a rich wealth index [AOR = 0.31; 95%CI; 0.25, 0.39] as compared to the poor households, living in high community literacy level [AOR = 0.36; 95%CI; 0.16, 0.80], living in high-level community poverty [AOR = 3.03; 95%CI; 1.32, 6.98], rural residence [AOR = 7.88; 95%CI; 2.74, 22.67] were significant predictors of use of unimproved source of drinking water. Hot spot areas of use of unimproved drinking water sources were observed in Amhara, Afar, and Somalia regions and some parts of SNNPR and Oromia regions in Ethiopia. The primary clusters were found in Ethiopia’s Somalia and Oromia regions.ConclusionAround one third of the Ethiopian population utilizes unimproved source of drinking water and it was distributed non-randomly across regions of Ethiopia. The age of the household head, wealth status of the household, residence, community poverty level, and community literacy level were found to be significantly associated with utilizing unimproved drinking water source. State authorities, non-governmental organizations and local health administrators should work to improve the quality of drinking water particularly for high risk groups such as communities living in high poverty and low literacy, poor households, rural residents, and hot spot areas to decrease the adverse consequences of using unimproved drinking water source.