Borena Zone Research Articles

Epidemiology of peste des petits ruminants in selected districts of Borena zone, Ethiopia

BackgroundPeste des petits ruminant (PPR) is a contagious disease caused by the peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). The disease poses a significant economic threat to small ruminant production in Ethiopia, particularly to the striving pastoral production system. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of PPR in the small ruminants of the Borena Zone. A total of 384 serum samples were collected randomly from sheep and goats and examined for the presence of PPRV antibodies using competition enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (c-ELISA). Additionally, a retrospective analysis of five years of outbreak data was performed to provide insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of the disease.ResultsThe seroprevalence of PPRV antibodies in nonvaccinated, vaccinated, and unknown vaccination status of small ruminants in this study was found to be 32.1%, 68.8%, and 45.5%, respectively. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed a statistically significant association between PPRV seropositivity and several factors, including age, animal origin, flock size, and veterinary services status. A retrospective analysis revealed 53 PPR outbreaks in the Borena Zone from 2018 to 2022, exacerbated by low vaccination coverage relative to the at-risk animal population.ConclusionThe study revealed significant gaps in current vaccination efforts, with herd immunity levels falling below the FAO-WOAH recommended threshold of 80%. Despite Ethiopia’s ambitious goal to eradicate PPR by 2027, the frequent outbreaks and insufficient herd immunity highlight the inadequacy of the existing strategies. To effectively move toward eradication, Ethiopia must align its approach with the global PPR eradication framework, which emphasizes a comprehensive strategy that includes diagnostics, surveillance, prevention, and the establishment of a robust veterinary regulatory system, rather than relying solely on vaccination. Overcoming logistical challenges, improving vaccination coverage, and optimizing the timing of vaccination campaigns, especially in hard-to-reach areas, will be crucial for reducing outbreaks and making progress toward eradication.

Women of reproductive age's use of maternal healthcare services and associated factors in Liben district, East Borena zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

One of the most important health interventions for reducing maternal morbidity and death is the use of maternal healthcare services. In Ethiopia, maternal healthcare services are not well utilized, particularly in rural pastoralist communities, despite their significance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of maternal healthcare services and the characteristics that are related to it in the East Borena zone. Techniques: In September 2020, a community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in Liben with 416 randomly selected mothers. Mothers who had given birth within the 12 months before the study comprised the respondents. Questionnaires given by interviewers were used to gather the data. The data were transferred to SPSS version 20 for analysis after being entered into Epi-Info version 4.1 for coding. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Hosmer, and Lemeshow goodness of fit tests were employed, along with descriptive statistics. Additionally, multivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were carried out. 95% CI and the odd ratio were used to examine the relationship between the outcome and predictive variables. At least one prenatal visit was received by 60% of moms. Only 21.2% and 17.5% of women had given birth in a medical facility and made use of early postnatal care services. The use of antenatal care was strongly correlated with maternal education [AOR = 2.43 (95% CI: 1.22-4.89)], decision-making capability [AOR = 2.40 (95% CI: 1.3-23.3)], felt compassionate and respectful treatment [AOR = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.18-0.50)], and intended current pregnancy [AOR = 0.22 (95% CI: 0.12-0.37)]. Moms b/n ages 15-19 had a 3.7-fold higher probability of giving birth in a hospitals than moms b/n ages 35 and 49 [AOR = 1.74 (95% CI: 1.02-3.08)]. Mothers who lived far away were 1.02 times less likely to give birth at a hospital than those who could reach one within an hour (AOR = 1.74;95% CI: 1.02, 3.08). While recent use of antenatal care [AOR = 5.34 (95% CI: 1.96-8.65)], planned current pregnancy, and knowledge of using postnatal care were shown to be strongly correlated with danger indicators [AOR = 2.93 (95% CI: 1.59-5.41)], knowledge of danger signs [AOR = 3.77 (95% CI: 2.16-6.57)] and perceived compassionate and respectful care were significantly associated with institutional delivery. Overall the prevalence of maternal healthcare services utilization was far below the national and regional targets in the study area. Thus, promoting institutional services, raising community knowledge, empowering women to make decisions, and enhancing the infrastructure of the health sector.

Determinants of survival time for HIV/AIDS patients in the pastoralist region of Borena: a study at Yabelo General Hospital, South East Ethiopia

IntroductionHIV/AIDS is one of the most dangerous diseases globally, impacting public health, economics, society, political issues, and communities. As of 2023, the World Health Organization estimates that 40.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to identify the determinants of survival time for HIV/AIDS patients in the pastoralist region of Borena at Yabelo General Hospital.MethodThe study design was a retrospective cohort study, with a sample size of 293 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, based on recorded data. This research utilized survival model analysis, employing Kaplan-Meier plots, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard model analysis.ResultOut of the total sample size, 179 (61.1%) were female and 114 (38.1%) were male. Among these males, 36 (31.6%) were deceased. The analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model revealed that the following variables were significantly associated with the survival time of HIV/AIDS patients: gender, educational status, area of residence, tuberculosis (TB), and opportunistic infections.ConclusionsWe concluded that individuals living with HIV/AIDS in urban areas have a lower risk of death compared to those in rural areas, indicating that rural residents have a reduced survival probability. Therefore, the Borena zone administration should focus on adult patients to enhance life expectancy.

Nursing Documentation Practice and Associated Factors Among Nurses in East Guji, West Guji and Borena Zone Public Hospitals Southeastern, Ethiopia

Background: In health care systems, nursing care documentation is a vital and powerful tool that ensures continuity of care and communication between health personnel for better patient outcomes. The practice of nurses towards nursing care documentation affects the quality and coordination of patients’ care. Hence, this study aimed to assess the practice of documentation and its associated factors among nurses working in the Guji and Borena Zone public hospitals. Method: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design with a convergent mixed-method approach was employed from April 1 to May 30, 2022, among 502 sampled nurses working in East Guji, West Guji, and Borena Zone public hospitals in Ethiopia. Data were collected using self-administered structured and open-ended questionnaires for quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Key informant interviews were conducted with nine respondents. Epi Data 4.6 was used for data entry, and SPSS version 26 software was used for data analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of nursing documentation practice, and statistical significance was declared at P < 0:05. A thematic analysis approach was applied for the qualitative data analysis. Result: A total of 486 respondents provided complete responses, resulting in a response rate of 97%. The documentation practice was found to be 46.9%. Factors associated with good nursing documentation practice included the availability of guidelines [(AOR = 2.1), 95% CI (1.1-3.9)], education received in governmental institutions [(AOR = 2.6), 95% CI (1.7-4.0)], in-service training [(AOR = 1.7), 95% CI (1.01-2.7)], motivation [(AOR = 2.1), 95% CI (1.2-2.7)], favorable attitude [(AOR = 2.3), 95% CI (1.5-3.5)], documentation audit [(AOR = 2.0), 95% CI (1.0-3.7)], and good knowledge [(AOR = 2.1), 95% CI (1.2-3.5)]. The key informant interview explored factors like in-service. training, lack of supply, academic background, and educational status, as well as the vast nursing care format and lack of commitment, have a major impact on nursing documentation. Conclusion: In this study, the overall nursing documentation practice was poor. Therefore, it is important to make extra efforts to improve documentation practice by providing planned training on standards of documentation to all nurses, enhancing favorable attitudes, and increasing their knowledge by motivating them to develop a culture of good nursing documentation.

Rainwater Harvesting Site Selection for Drought-Prone Areas in Somali and Borena Zones, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: A Geospatial and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Rainwater collection systems play a crucial role in enhancing water availability in regions with low precipitation. This study focused on identifying potential rainwater harvesting (RWH) locations in drought-prone areas, specifically the Borena zone of Oromia and the regional states of Somali. This research leveraged geospatial techniques and a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to assess feasible RWH sites. The dataset comprises essential factors such as rainfall, drainage density, slope, soil texture type, and land use/land cover. These thematic layers serve as inputs for analysis, with each factor being weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method based on its significance. Reclassifying factors into subclasses facilitates suitability analysis. The weighted linear combination (WLC) technique is applied to identify and prioritize potential rainwater harvesting (PRWH) locations based on four suitability classes: highly suitable, moderately suitable, low suitability, and unsuitable. Our findings reveal that 1% of the study area, covering approximately 3288 km2, is highly suitable for RWH. Areas with moderate suitability constitute approximately 12% (37,498 km2), while regions with low suitability, representing the majority, encompass about 75% (242,170 km2). Additionally, 13% (41,000 km2) of the study area is deemed unsuitable for RWH. The proposed technique for identifying suitable RWH sites is adaptable to other low-precipitation regions. However, before implementing RWH structures, further research is imperative. This study proposed the exploration of socioeconomic variables in future research and urged for an in-depth examination of various aspects of environmental sustainability. Our research paves the way for adapting rainwater harvesting systems to align with community needs and life cycles while also exploring the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability for future study. The insights offer promising solutions to address the urgent issues associated with water scarcity. This should include comprehensive site depictions, an exploration of social and economic activities, and the meticulous preparation of a cost-benefit analysis.

Machine learning and remote sensing based time series analysis for drought risk prediction in Borena Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Drought, a complex natural hazard, poses significant challenges for scholars in drought risk management due to the perceived lack of suitable assessment, prediction, and monitoring tools. Addressing these challenges requires sophisticated tools capable of precise and timely assessments. This study leverages the rapid advancements in machine learning (ML) and remote sensing (RS) to develop models for anticipating and estimating drought risk, particularly focusing on identifying affected and sensitive locations in Ethiopia's Borena Zone. The research involves a two-phase investigation, examining historical drought patterns and forecasting scenarios for 2028. The GridSearch algorithm is employed for optimal hyperparameter tuning in ML, highlighting the CatBoost algorithm as the most accurate predictor for the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). With impressive performance metrics, including Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 0.017, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.102, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.129, and an R-squared (R2) value of 0.84, this study excels in providing precise spatiotemporal accuracy for drought prediction. The findings underscore the importance of time-series drought prediction, offering crucial insights for decision-makers and planners to address and mitigate drought impacts at various scales. This study contributes valuable information by emphasizing the significance of understanding drought occurrence's temporal and spatial dimensions.

Maternal Healthcare Services Utilization and Associated Factors among Childbearing Age of Women in Liben District, East Borena Zone, Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Ethiopia

Background: Utilization of maternal healthcare services is a fundamental health intervention for preventing maternal morbidity and mortality. Despite its importance, the utilization of maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia is low, especially in rural pastoralist communities. Thus, this study aimed to assess maternal healthcare services utilizations and its associated factors in the Liben district of Guji zone, Oromia region, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 416 randomly identified mothers in Liben in September, 2020. The respondents were mothers who had given birth 12 months prior to the survey. The data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were also performed. Result: Sixty percent of mothers had received antenatal care at least once. In this study, only 21.2% and 17.5% of women had delivered their babies at health institutions and utilized early postnatal care services respectively. Maternal education [AOR=2.43(95%CI: 1.22–4.89)], decision making power [AOR=2.40(95% CI: 1.3–23.3)], perceived compassionate & respectful care [AOR=0.30(95%CI: 0.18–0.50)], and planned current pregnancy [AOR=0.22(95% CI: 0.12–0.37)] were significantly associated with utilization of antenatal care. Mother’s age [AOR=3.73(95% CI: 1.53–6.04)], time to travel to health facilities [AOR=1.74(95% CI:1.02– 3.08)], knowledge of danger signs [AOR=3.77(95% CI:2.16–6.57)] and perceived compassionate and respectful care were significantly associated with institutional delivery, whereas recent antenatal care utilization[AOR=5.34(95%CI:1.96–8.65)], planned current pregnancy and knowledge of danger signs [AOR=2.93(95%CI:1.59–5.41)] were found to be significantly associated with postnatal care utilization. Conclusion: Overall, the prevalence of maternal healthcare services utilization was far below the national and regional targets in the study area. Therefore, considering the identified associated factors and providing information and training on these issues to the community could improve and sustain maternal healthcare services utilization.

Enteric Bacterial Infections, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern, Intestinal Parasites, and Associated Factors Among Food Handlers in Yabelo Town, Borena Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Foodborne illnesses are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the twenty-first century, and food handlers are the main source of these illnesses. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites, enteric bacteria, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and associated factors among food handlers working in a food and drinking establishment in Yabelo town, Borena zone, Southern Ethiopia, in 2022. A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the food handler's state of health. Data were gathered using semistructured questionnaires and observational checklists, and 396 regular stool samples were collected. Samples were examined with microscopy and bacteriological culture to isolate enteric bacteria. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26 The factors that had a P-value of <.05 were considered statistically significant. Of the 396 stool samples collected, 164 (41.4%) were tested positive for intestinal parasites, while 40 (10.1%) were positive for enteric bacteria (Salmonella and Shigella). Among intestinal parasites, the most predominant parasite was Ascaris lumbricoides 48 (12.1%). All isolates of Salmonella and Shigella showed resistance to ampicillin. In multivariable analysis, not trimming fingernails regularly (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.97-5.37), not washing hands with soap after the toilet (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI 2.37-5.62), and eating raw food (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.79-6.51) have a significant association with the prevalence of bacteria and parasites. The majority of food handlers had poor hygiene practices, and the prevalence of parasites and bacteria was high in the study setting. Educational status, eating raw vegetables or fruit, hand washing after the toilet, and fingernail trimming have associations with the health status of food handlers.

Maternal near miss hospitalizations in the Borana Zone, Ethiopia: A facility-based longitudinal cross-sectional study.

Maternal near miss refers to a woman who nearly died but survived a complication that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. While there has been considerable progress in reducing maternal mortality rates, maternal near miss cases can provide valuable insights into the quality of maternal healthcare and help identify areas for improvement. However, there is limited evidence on the factors contributing to maternal near miss cases, including health system failures, delays in care, and provider-related factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the incidence, causes, and factors associated with maternal near misses in public Hospitals of Borena Zone. A facility-based longitudinal cross-sectional study design was employed at four Public Hospitals in Borena Zone from August 15, 2022, to November 15, 2022, using the WHO criteria for maternal near miss event. In total, 117 participants were included in the study. Eligibility was determined using key clinical, organ dysfunction, laboratory, and management criteria, as per the WHO guidelines for near-miss events. Underlying and contributing causes of maternal near misses were documented from each participant's records. There were 1421 deliveries during the study period and 117 eligible women developed potentially life-threatening conditions. Only 61 women experienced severe maternal outcomes (55 near misses and six maternal deaths). The maternal near miss incidence ratio was 38.7 per 1000 live births, with a mortality index of 9.8%. Hypertensive disorders and obstetric hemorrhage are the leading underlying causes of maternal near misses. The incidence of maternal near miss was remarkably high when compared to previous studies. Giving special emphasis to life-saving interventions, critical care, reducing delays and improving the referral system are critical to improve quality of care.

The Impact of Livelihood Diversification As a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy on the Food Security Status of Pastoral Households in Southeastern and Southern Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of food security and quantify the impact of livelihood diversification as an adaptation strategy on the level of food security of pastoral households in Arero district in Borena zone and Rayitu district in Bale zone in Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was used, selecting 396 households from Arero and Rayitu districts. The study used a multidimensional food security index to measure the food security status of pastoralist households. The descriptive result showed that 60.6 percent, 20.2 percent, and 19.2 percent of the pastoralist households had medium, high and low food security, respectively. The result of ordered logistic regression showed that the age of household head, herd size (TLU) and frequency of extension contacts significantly increased the food security status of pastoralist households. However, male household head, age of household head, household size (adult equivalent) and distance to market significantly decrease the food security status of pastoral households in Arero district. On the other hand, the result of the multinomial endogenous switching regression model showed that the uptake of non-farm activities as well as crop production and non-farm activities together have a positive and significant impact on the level of food security of the pastoralist households. Therefore, the results of the study suggest that working on participatory strategies to promote livelihood diversification among pastoralist communities is very important to improve the food security of pastoralist households.

Time to recovery and its predictors among under five children in outpatient therapeutic feeding programme in Borena zone, Southern Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the time to recovery and its predictors among 6–59 months aged children treated at an outpatient therapeutic feeding programme in Borena zone.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingFacility...

Spatiotemporal monitoring of drought using satellite precipitation products: The case of Borena agro-pastoralists and pastoralists regions, South Ethiopia

Drought is increasingly affecting farmers in agro-pastoralist and pastoralists region. It is one of the most harmful natural disasters that significantly affects rain-fed agriculture in developing countries. Drought assessment is an important component of drought risk management. This study used CHIRPS rainfall data to monitor the characteristics of drought in Borena Zone in southern Ethiopia. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) is used to calculate the magnitude, intensity, and severity of drought during the rainy season. Results show that severe and extreme droughts were detected in the first rainy season (March to May) and second wet season (September to November). Severe and extreme droughts were detected in the first rainy/wet season in 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002–2004, 2008,2009, 2011, 2019–2021. The spatial and temporal variability of drought is highly influenced by El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in Ethiopia. Results revealed that most of the first rainy season was dry. 2011 was the driest year during the first wet season. Drought risk events in the first wet season were greater than in the second wet season. Results show that drought more frequently occurred in the northern and southern part in the first wet season. In the second rainy season extreme drought was detected in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. The results of this study will promote the importance of early warning measures, drought risk management, and food security management in the study area.

Pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ livelihood resilience to climate change-induced risks in the Borana zone, south Ethiopia: Using resilience index measurement approach

This study was conducted in the Borana zone, Oromia region, southern Ethiopia, with the aim of analysing the livelihood resilience of pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ to climate change-related risks. A household survey was used to collect quantitative data, whereas qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions, expert group discussions, and personal observations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, and content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The results show that frequent droughts, rising temperatures, and reduced rainfall are the major climate change-induced risks affecting the livelihoods of pastorals and agro-pastorals in the study area. Among the parameters tested, the greatest impacts of climate change-induced risks on pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems were recorded for food [100%] and animal feed or pasture [99%], followed by livestock loss [95%], a decline in species dynamics [95%], and agro-pastoral land degradation [95%]. The average climate resilience index score of the Borena zone is found to be 0.328, implying that 32.8% of the respondents are resilient, with 0.163 [16.3%] pastoralists and 0.417 [41.7%] agro-pastoralists being resilient. However, all the results are below the scale of the minimum threshold [0.5 or 50%], implying that livelihoods and their households are poorly resilient. For the low resilience in Borena, limited access to basic services [0.26] and the adaptive capacity [0.29] of the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists contributed the highest share for resilience capacity compared to other major building blocks of resilience. However, of the two livelihood systems, pastoralists were found to have less resilience [0.249] compared to agro-pastoralists [0.407]. Besides the climatic factors, the resilience of pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ livelihoods was affected positively and significantly by adaptive capacity and negatively and with statistical significance by the asset endowments of the households at P < 0.05. Therefore, policymakers should give pertinent attention to the reduction of the effects of climatic risks and increase the resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems. Furthermore, actions that focus on increasing access to water, improving the rangeland generative capacity, diversifying the income sources, and providing timely and accurate early warning information are indispensable to building resilient livelihoods among the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care At Public Hospitals in Borena Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major threats to global health, affecting millions of people each year and causing morbidity and mortality. The risk of acquiring chronic HVV infection varies with age, with 90% of infections acquired during the perinatal period. Despite many studies, there is little evidence of this virus in the Borena Zone. This study was done to assess seroprevalence HBVinfection and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at selected Borena Zone public hospitals from June 1 to September 30, 2022. A cross-institutional study was conducted on 368 randomly selected pregnant women who received antenatal care at Yabelo General Hospital and Moyale Primary Hospital. Data on sociodemographic and HBV-related factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. A 5 mL blood sample is then taken and tested using a diagnostic method, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, data were entered using Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 and Stata version 14 for analysis. Independent predictors were identified using logistic regression analysis and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of HBV infection was 21 (5.7%) (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.74-8.61). History of hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.44, 95% CI, 1.07-11.09), traditional tonsillectomy (AOR = 4.16, 95% CI, 1.29-13.40), history of sexually transmitted infection (AOR = 5.99, 95% CI, 1.81-19.85), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (AOR = 8.28, 95% CI, 1.66-41.41), and alcohol drinking (AOR = 5.08, 95% CI, 1.49-17.31) were independent predictors of HBV infection. The results of this study indicate a moderate prevalence of HBV in selected public hospitals in the Borena Zone. History of hospitalization, traditional tonsillectomy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and alcohol use was significantly associated with HBV infection. Therefore, there is a need to conduct health education and more community-based research on disease transmission routes.

Pastoral Community Malaria Prevention Practice and Associated Factors Among Households in Three Districts of the Borena Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Malaria infection remains one of the major global and national public health threats, affecting millions of people yearly by causing substantial morbidity and mortality. In developing countries, higher proportions of poor malaria prevention and control measure both regionally and nationally, particularly in pastoral community areas of southern Ethiopia. The study aimed to assess malaria preventive practices and associated factors among households of pastoral communities in Borena zone, Oromia regional state, Southern Ethiopia, 2022. A community-based cross-sectional study design was used from March first to 30, 2022, among 421 selected simple random sampling households in pastoral communities of the Borena zone. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a structured pretested questionnaire and visual observation for household malaria prevention practices. Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with malaria preventive practices. Finally, adjusted odd ratio (AOR) together with 95% confidence intervals was used, and a P value of less than 0.05 indicated an overall statistical association. The overall malaria prevention rate among pastoral community households was 31.6%(133) [95%; CI = 27.2-36.4]. The factors significantly associated with malaria prevention practice were malaria prevention knowledge [AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.5] and the absence of plasmodium parasites among children [AOR = 4.3, 95% CI = 2.8-8.7]. However, households staying outdoors at night [AOR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-1.0] were negatively associated with household malaria prevention. A total of 200 (47.5%) households had used insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) and 5(1.2%) households had indoor residual sprays (IRS). The study revealed lower malaria prevention practices among households of the pastoral community. The government and other concerned bodies should contribute to malaria prevention measures in pastoral remote areas. Health extension workers should have to create awareness in the communities to avoid incorrect use of the ITN.

Undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in East Borena Zone, Liban District, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.

Undernutrition is cellular imbalance between supply of nutrients, energy and body's demand to ensure growth, maintenance, and specific function. However, there was no study conducted earlier on this topic in East Borena Zone. To assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in East Borena Zone, Liban District. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 study participants from November 20 to December 2021. The systematic sampling technique and simple random sampling methods were used to select study participants. Data were double entered into Epi-info software version 7 and SPSS version 21 software for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of study participants. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were carried out to identify the association between independent and dependent variables by measuring the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Prevalence of undernutrition among pregnant women was about (44.9%) of family monthly income [AOR = 8.72 (4.80, 15.83)], women's decision-making autonomy [AOR = 0.40 (0.19, 0.82)], skipping meal [AOR = 2.62 (1.41, 4.89)], substance use [AOR = 2.01 (1.07, 3.77)], household food insecurity [AOR = 2.01 (1.06, 3.80)], lack of prenatal dietary advice [AOR = 2.73 (1.53, 4.89)], absence of household latrine [AOR = 9.23 (3.48, 24.46)], not participating health development army's meeting at village level [AOR = 3.01 (1.57, 5.72)] and hand washing habit [AOR = 6.55 (3.02, 14.20)] had shown statistically significant association with undernutrition. The prevalence of undernutrition among pregnant women was high income. Women's decision-making autonomy, skipping meals, substances use, household food insecurity, lack of prenatal dietary advice, poor hand washing habit, lack household of latrine, and not participation in health development army's meeting were found to be predictors of the undernutrition.

Seroprevalence of visceral leishmaniasis and its associated factors among asymptomatic pastoral community of Dire District, Borena zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne protozoan neglected tropical disease. In some parts of Ethiopia, it is a public health problem and its main causative agent is the Leishmania donovani complex. The objective of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of VL and factors associated among the asymptomatic pastoral community of Dire District, Borena Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. A community-based study was conducted among 432 pastoralist communities from June to July 2021. A systematic random sampling method was used to select households. Pretested structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. A single finger-prick blood sample was collected and tested for Leishmania donovani complex using an immune-chromatographic test (rk39-ICT). A logistic regression model was used to assess factors associated with VL infection and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 432 study participants were included (their mean age was 26.69) and 218 (50.5%) were females. The overall seroprevalence of VL was 33/432(7.6%) (95%CI: 5.32-15.60). Sero-prevalence was significantly associated with high family size (>5) (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 5.134; 95% CI: 2.032-9.748), sleeping or/and staying under acacia tree (AOR = 2.984; 95%CI = 1.074-8.288), presence of cracked house walls (AOR = 1.801; 95%CI: 1.026-4.926), presence of termite hills (AOR = 1.938; 95%CL: 1.002-7.050), availability of water points (AOR = 3.893; 95%CI: 1.034-7.426) and presence of domestic animals (AOR = 2.124; 95% CI: 2.341-5.108). It is recommended that community awareness on the transmission and prevention methods of Leishmania donovani complex and taking appropriate interventions on the identified factors play a greater role to prevent and control infection in the area. Further investigation is also needed to characterize the pathogens and risk factors and tackle the problem.

Prevalence of indigestible foreign bodies and its associated potential risk factors in rumen and reticulum of domestic ruminants at Bishoftu Elfora Export Abattoir.

Nowadays ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies poses serious economic loss to domestic ruminants, especially in a developing country. The study aims to determine the prevalence of indigestible foreign bodies in the forestomach of domestic ruminants slaughtered at Bishoftu Elfora Export Abattoir and its associated potential risk factors and identify the location and type of these indigestible foreign bodies. On 384 domestic ruminants (171 goats, 125 sheep and 88 cattle) presented for slaughter from different zones of the region. Cross-sectional study design was conducted from May 2021 to September 2021. Each animal was subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection by providing a unique identification number. For post-mortem examination, the forestomach was carefully removed from the abdominal cavity. For the positives, the location was properly recorded, washed, identified and photographed. The overall prevalence of indigestible foreign bodies in domestic ruminants was 30.73% (118/384). Of these, 32.75% (56/171), 28% (35/125) and 30.68% (27/88) were recorded in goats, sheep and cattle, respectively, without statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Aged domestic ruminants 39.3% (33/84) had poor body conditions 38.98% (23/59), originated from the Borena zone 42.11% (16/38) and were relatively recorded with higher prevalence. From the forestomach compartments, the indigestible foreign bodies were majorly found in rumen 86.43% (102/118) and reticulum 13.56% (16/118) with a statistical difference (p < 0.05). Ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies mainly during the dry season due to shortage of forage, less biodegradable and negligent waste disposal like plastic bags attribute environmental and animal health problems and pose loss to the national economy.

Epidemiology of camel contagious ecthyma and molecular detection of the pathogen in Arero district, Ethiopia

Even though camels (Camelus dromedarius) were traditionally believed to be resistant to most livestock diseases, research has demonstrated that they are susceptible to a large number of infectious agents. Based on the clinical appearance of typical lesions, camel contagious ecthyma (CCE), caused by a Parapoxvirus (PPV), is thought to be one of the most common viral diseases of camels in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 in the Arero district of Borena Zone, Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia to investigate the epidemiological aspect of CCE and molecularly identify the causative agent. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on B2L gene-specific primers of PPV was used for the confirmatory diagnosis of the CCE virus from the skin lesion of camels showing suspected clinical signs of CCE infection. Eighty-seven percent (87.0%) of camel owners reported the occurrence of CCE outbreaks in their herds in the past year (a year preceding the start of the study). The overall morbidity and mortality rates attributed to CCE were 20% (95% CI: 11– 36%) and 6.3% (95 % CI: 5.2 –7.6%), respectively. Younger camels had higher odds of becoming affected by CCE than adults [OR=3.44 (95 % CI: 2.29 –4.09)] and the difference was statistically significant. Confirmatory diagnosis of the suspected cases using conventional PCR generated the expected amplification product size of 1200bp for one of the samples. Therefore, the study confirms the presence and importance of CCE in Ethiopia and establishes the basis for further investigation.

Assessment of Milk Contamination, Associated Risk Factors, and Drug Sensitivity Patterns among Isolated Bacteria from Raw Milk of Borena Zone, Ethiopia.

Background The contamination of raw milk depends on the number and type of organisms that can cause health risks, which can be judged by the presence of microorganisms and bacterial pathogens. This study evaluated bacterial contamination, the risk factor, and drug sensitivity patterns. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on conveniently selected 95 milk producers. Data were collected using the structured pretest questionnaire and the observation control list. Subsequently, 15 to 20 ml of milk samples were taken for laboratory analysis. The milk samples have been diluted and continuously inoculated on the number of standard plates and the blue Eosin methylene germs for the total number of bacteria and coliforms counted. Biochemical and drug sensitivity tests have been done. The version 21 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for analysis. Analysis of the associated factors using binary logistical regression analysis and a P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results The total bacteria (TBC) and coliform count (CC) average with the standard deviation were 7.57 ± 0.83 log10 and 6.54 ± 1.53 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. The prevalence of raw milk contaminated with TBC and TCC was 84 (88.4%) and 75 (78.9%), respectively. Lack of handwash practice before milking (AOR = 2.4 [95% CI: 0.35–16.4]) and using unclean milk containers (AOR = 7.47 [95% CI: 0.0023–28.64]) were found to be significantly associated with bacterial contamination of raw milk. The bacteria isolated were E. coli (30.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (16.7%), and Salmonella spp. (1.2%). Among isolated bacteria, 76.3% were extensive drug resistant, 13.2% were multidrug resistant, and 2.6% were resistant to all drugs tested in the current study. Conclusion Guaranteed appropriate hygiene exercise during time of milking and clean containers reduced milk contamination. Doctors should consider resistance to drugs during the treatment of patients with milk disease.