Lemo District Research Articles

Prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among children aged 1 to 9\u2009years in rural communities of Lemo district, southern Ethiopia: community based cross sectional study

BackgroundTrachoma, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading infectious cause of blindness. It is transmitted via personal contact with infected ocular and nasal secretions by hands, fomites and eye- seeking flies. Active trachoma is more common among children aged 1 to 9 years. The objective of this study was determining the prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among children aged 1 to 9 years in rural community of Lemo district.MethodsCommunity-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2018 in rural community of Lemo district. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 589 study participants. Data were collected by using structured pre-tested questionnaire, physical examination and observation. Binocular loupe was used to identify active trachoma cases. The data were entered by using EPi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS. Binary logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with active trachoma. Variables with p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were used to declare significance of association.ResultEighty seven (15.2%) children were positive for active trachoma. Absence of solid waste disposal pit (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI (1.12-4.37), do not use latrine as reported by respondent (AOR = 7.53, 95% CI (2.86-19.84), do not use soap for face washing as reported by respondent (AOR =2.3, 95% CI (1.32–4.12), washing face frequency as reported by respondent (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI (1.06–3.26), and family size greater than five (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI (1.06–3.67) were significantly associated with active trachoma.ConclusionActive trachoma among children aged 1 to 9 years is high. Do not use latrine, do not use soap for face washing, and face washing frequency in a day as reported by respondents and family size were associated with active trachoma. Access to adequate water and sanitation can be important components in working towards eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. Therefore, prompt measures must be taken by concerned bodies to increase access to adequate water and sanitation facilities.

Analysis of Factors That Affecting Farmers Membership Participation on Agricultural Cooperative: - In Case of Ana Lemo District, Hadiya Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Cooperative early play and currently as well playing important role on socio-economic status of community for long time even if, they face different challenges and weakness. The study was conducted at agricultural cooperative in Ana Lemo district at Hadiya Zone, SNNPR. It intended in identifying factors that affects households membership participation in agricultural cooperatives. Multi-stage sampling method is conducted to define sample size from the target population on Ana Lemo district. Primary data in this study was collected through structured questionnaire based on 110 agricultural cooperative members’ respondents and 110 from non-members respondents from purposively selected five kebeles in Ana Lemo district. Total 220 household were selected by using two stage sampling method. Secondary data were gathered from agricultural cooperative and marketing office of district and Hadiya zone cooperative and marketing sectors. Both are quantitative and qualitative in nature. Data analysis is carried out with the help of various descriptive like chi 2 and t-test also econometric techniques were employed i.e logit model. The final results of study indicate that rural household participation on agricultural cooperative determined by being household head male, high education level, fertilizer amount that household used via yearly, access for agricultural extension, using yearly improved agricultural seed, appearance of household in wheat production and awareness about agricultural cooperative service affect household participation and associated positively and high market distance, having other opportunity for credit from financial institution also affect rural household participation and negatively correlated. So government and other concerned stockholders should support household in order to increase their usage of those agriculture input to increase membership and governments should include on its policy and give more reflexion on awareness creation on practise of agricultural improved seed and fertilizer on cooperatives. Keywords: Agriculture cooperative, participation, Logit model, membership. DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-10-01 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

Assessment of community based watershed management practices: emphasis on technical fitness of physical structures and its effect on soil properties in Lemo district, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundSoil erosion is one of the major causes for food insecurity, and environmental degradation in Ethiopia. To reduce erosion effects, soil and water conservation practices have been promoted at farm level and watershed scale-executed via mass-community mobilization program. In Lemo district, little information is available on suitability of soil conservation practices implemented through this program. The aim of this study was to assess technical fitness of physical soil conservation structures implemented via mass-community mobilization, its effect on soil properties, and extent of farmers participation in soil conservation practices. Field observation and physical structure component measurments were used to assess the technical fitness. Whereas, composite soil samples were collected from steep, moderate and gentle slope classes to evaluate the effects of conservation practices on soil properties. Structured questionnaire was used to assess the farmers participation in soil conservation.ResultsAs compared to nationally established specification of graded soil bund for areas similar with Lemo district, technical errors were found in bund spacing and vertical interval. The studied soil properties were not significantly (P > .05) influenced with sample distance from soil bund. But, soil moisture content, bulk density, clay, reaction, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity were significantly (P < .05) affected with slope gradient. These properties become better as the slope gradient decrease. Among the study household heads, only 59.69% were participated in soil conservation activities. Land holding size, cropland slope, contacts with extension agents and training opportunity were significantly (P < .05) contributes for farmers’ participation in soil conservation activities.ConclusionsTo ensure the sustainability of watershed management practices and minimize observed technical faults on conservation structures continued technical supports, trainings, and follow-ups are required in the study area.

English

This study investigated factors determining microfinance loan utilization by smallholder farmers from Omo Microfinance institution in Lemo District of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were used and a total of 118 sampled farmers were considered for the interview. Both descriptive statistics and independent double-hurdle model were used to analyze the microfinance loan utilization and loan amount received. The results showed that literacy status, household size, size of landholding, perception about loan repayment period and distance from residence to lending center were the significant determinants of microfinance loan utilization by smallholder farmers. The borrower&rsquo;s sex, literacy status, income level, saving level, purpose of loan taking and perception about loan repayment period were found to be the factors influencing loan amount received by smallholder farmers in the study area. The findings generally suggest the need to enhance appropriate actions on determining factors of microfinance loan utilization and its loan amount in order to lessen financial constraints of smallholder farmers through microcredit. Key words: Lemo District, loan utilization, loan amount received, microfinance, smallholder farmers.

The effects of biological soil conservation practices and community perception toward these practices in the Lemo District of Southern Ethiopia

Land degradation is the critical ecological and agricultural challenges in Ethiopia. To combat this, the government and local farmers’ have undertaken soil and water conservation measures (physical, biological and integrated) across the country since 1970's. This study investigate effect of elephant grass (P. purpureum) and sesbania sesban (S. sesban) used as biological land rehabilitation practices on soil properties and farmers’ perception on the practices. Composite soil samples (0–30 cm) were randomly collected from lands treated with sesbania, elephant grass, and adjacent degraded grazing land, and a structured questionnaire was used to assess farmers’ perceptions. Statistical results showed that elephant grass and sesbania were significantly (P < .05) improves degraded land soil bulk density, pH, CEC, OC, TN, Av.P, K, Na, Ca, Mg and clay characteristics. Moreover, there was a significant (P < .05) difference between farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of physical, biological and integration of the two practices to control soil erosion. 48% of the farmers perceived that using both biological methods and the integration of biological with physical structures was more successful for controlling erosion and improving soil fertility. Logistic regression analysis revealed strong association (R2 = 0.84) between farmers’ perception on elephant grass and sesbanias' roles in soil conservation and groups of explanatory variables. Among the variables age, education and extension service significantly (P < .05) influenced farmers’ perception on the practices. Generally, elephant grass and sesbania are effective biological practices for rehabilitating lands and improving soil properties through minimizing erosion.

Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundAnemia is defined as a condition in which there is less than the normal hemoglobin (Hb) level in the body. During pregnancy; iron deficiency is associated with multiple adverse outcomes for both mother and infant. Most of the studies conducted in Ethiopia on anemia during pregnancy were conducted at institution level and associated factors are not well studied and documented. Independent factors like, food security status, dietary diversity and intestinal parasites infection were considered by only a few of them. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women in Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia.MethodsCommunity based cross- sectional study was conducted from May-June 2015. Multistage sampling was used to include 507 study participants. Anaemia was diagnosed using HemoCue HB 301 and haemoglobin concentration <11 g/dl was classified as anaemic. Stool examinations were also done. Structured questionnaire was used as a tool to collect sociodemographic characteristics, individual dietary diversity and level of household food security data. Multivariate logistic regression model was employed to determine the effect of explanatory variables like level of education, level of household food security, dietary diversity, trimester of pregnancy, family planning before pregnancy, deworming, gravidity, iron intake in current pregnancy and soil transmitted helminthes on dependent variable anemia.ResultsThe prevalence of anemia was 23.2% (95% CI: 19.5%-26.9%). Factors associated with anemia were: low socio-economic status (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.11–3.69), trimester second (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI: 1.41–6.79) and third (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.67–8.08), gravidity three to five (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.03–3.07) and six and above (AOR = 2.59, 95%CI: 1.37–4.92), not supplemented with iron (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.02–2.91), low dietary diversity score (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.37–7.37) and hookworm infection (AOR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.34–5.39).ConclusionAnemia has moderate public health significance in the area. Community-based interventions should be enhanced considering the identified associated factors.

Male Partners Involvement in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Services in Southern Central Ethiopia: In Case of Lemo District, Hadiya Zone.

Male partners' involvement is a vital issue to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from mother to child; because it is much expectable that women were more vulnerable and high risk group of population portion. Therefore, to save lives of mothers and their newborn from acquiring HIV, male partners should do their maximum endeavor regardless of any determinant factors as our results revealed its status in our study context and elsewhere at past time too.

English

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) production and productivity is threatened by many biotic and abiotic factors among which bacterial wilt of enset (BWE), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum is one of the major factors. There were no reports on the intensity and distribution of bacterial wilt of enset in South Nation Nationalities and Peoples&rsquo; Regional State (SNNPRS). Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the distribution and incidence of bacterial wilt of enset in relation to age, altitude and clonal variation in major enset growing districts of South Nation Nationalities and Peoples&rsquo; Regional State (SNNPRS). Three major enset growing Zones namely Gurage, Hadiya and Sidama were included in the survey. In each Zone, three Districts were selected based on enset production status and altitudinal variation. The disease was detected in all agro ecologies and districts, but in varying extent. Bacterial wilt prevalence and incidence was highest in Hadiya and estimated at 42.22 and 5.56%, respectively, while both disease prevalence and incidence were the lowest (26.67 and 2.86%, respectively) in Sidama. At District level wilt prevalence varied from 6.67% at Aletachiko District to 76.67% at Lemo District. Bacterial wilt incidence also ranged from 0.74% at Aletachiko District to 10.31% at Lemo District. Wilt prevalence and incidence were at the highest (50% and 5.81%, respectively) in the altitude range of 2000-2500 masl. The disease varied according to the crop growth stage, with severe (4.75%) in Cycle 4 (an age greater than 4) and less severe (0.2%) at Cycle 1 (age of less than one year). Highest disease incidence and prevalence (30 and 6.65%) were noted with a plant age of 4-5 years. The disease was highly associated with administrative Zone, District, altitude, number of clones and spacing in a logistic regression model. &nbsp; Key words: Bacterial wilt of enset, wilt incidence, wilt prevalence, South Nation Nationalities and Peoples&rsquo; Regional State (SNNPRS), enset clones

Village Chicken Production System and Constraints in Lemo District, Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to assess constraints and village chicken production system in Lemo district, southern Ethiopia, using questionnaire on 90 households. The mean flock size was 13.24 ± 16.65. The dominant chicken production system in the study area was extensive system (90.0%) with scavenging and seasonal supplementary feeding (95.6%) of homegrown grains. The 84.4% of respondent provide water for chicken and 76.7% of the respondents do not construct a separate house to their chickens. The objectives of chicken production in the study area were sources of income (55.6%) and followed by home consumption (13.3%) and both consumption and income (26.7%). The average age at first egg and sexual maturity of female and male were 22.93 ± 0.22 and 23.18 ± 0.32 weeks, respectively. The average egg production per clutch in the study area was 14.9 ± 0.23 with a mean of 4.14 ± 0.06 clutches per year. The overall mean annual egg production was 56.61 eggs/hen/year. The average number of eggs per set and number of chicks hatched per set in the study area were 11.18 and 9.33, respectively. The main constraints of scavenging chicken production were diseases (57.8%), predator (21.1%), feed shortage (16.7%) and lack of improved breed (4.4%). It was concluded that efforts should be made to improvement health care, husbandry practice, and extension service and breeding to increase productivity of chicken at village management system

Predictors of Health Facility Delivery Service Utilization in Lemo District, South Ethiopia: Unmatched Case Control Study

Background: In Ethiopia, the level of maternal mortality is among the highest in the world [676 per 100,000 live births]. This is attributed to among other factors non use of modern health services, particularly health facility delivery. The risk of maternal death can be reduced if mothers give birth at the health facilities, where skilled birth attendants make close follow up, early detection and take corrective measures against complications. Hence, this study was aimed to assess determinant factors contributing to health facility delivery services utilization in Lemo district, South Ethiopia. Methods: Community based unmatched case control study assessed predictors of health facility delivery in Lemo district using interviewer administered questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify predictors of health facility delivery among women who has given birth in the last three years prior to the study. Results: Family sizes of 1-4, husbands attended higher education, women occupation being merchant, husbands’ occupation being daily laborer and merchant were socio-demographic predictors of health facility delivery. In the other way, history of at least one abortion, history of still birth and receiving counselling during antenatal care were obstetric predictors of health facility delivery in Lemo district. Conclusions: Health facility delivery service utilization was significantly associated with counselling received on birth preparedness and complication readiness plan during antenatal care visit, previous experience of abortion and stillbirth. Family size of 1-4, husbands attended higher education, women occupation being merchant, husband occupation being merchant and daily laborer were also found to be associated with facility delivery. Ways to improve mothers’ awareness about maternal health services given, the benefits of receiving these services and complications related to pregnancy and delivery should be designed and implemented.

Duration and determinants of birth interval among women of child bearing age in Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundLonger intervals between consecutive births decrease the number of children a woman can have. This results in beneficial effects on population size and on the health status of mothers and children. Therefore, understanding the practice of birth interval and its determinants is helpful to design evidence based strategies for interventions. The objective of this study was to determine duration and determinants of birth interval among women of child bearing age in Lemo district, southern Ethiopia in March 2010.MethodsA community based cross sectional study design with stratified multistage sampling technique was employed. A sample of 844 women of child bearing age were selected by using simple random sampling technique after complete census was conducted in selected kebeles prior to data collection. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Actual birth interval was measured with the respondents' memory since majority of the women or their children in the area had no birth certificate.ResultsMajority (57%) of women were practicing short birth interval length with the median birth interval length of 33 months. Actual birth interval length is significantly shorter than preferred birth interval length. Birth interval showed significant variation by contraceptive use, residence, wealth index, breast feeding and occupation of husbands.Conclusionlow proportion of optimal birth spacing practices with short actual birth interval length and longer preferred birth interval lengths were evident among the study subjects. Hence interventions to enhance contraceptive utilization behaviors among women in Lemo district would be helpful to narrow the gap between optimal and actual birth spacing.