Oromiya Regional State Research Articles

Analysis of the immunological response elicited by a polyvalent foot and mouth disease vaccine and its compatibility with a diva test in Jimma Town, Ethiopia

The research was conducted in Jimma town, Oromiya Regional State, from October 2022 to June 2023, with the aim of assessing the immune response of polyvalent FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) vaccine. The study involved 34 cattle in a longitudinal study, divided into two groups: 29 vaccinated and 5 unvaccinated. The vaccinated cattle received an inactivated polyvalent FMD virus vaccine produced by the National Veterinary Institute. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 14, 21, 35, 80, and 125 after vaccination and tested using Virus Neutralization Test and 3ABC ELISA. The results showed a significant increase in neutralizing antibodies against structural proteins in all vaccinated cattle on day 14 after vaccination for all three serotypes. (A/ETH/21/2000, p = 0.015; O/ETH/38/2005, p = 0.017; SAT2/ETH/64/2009, p = 0.007). On day, fourteen of post-vaccination vaccinated group showed immune response equal or above 1.5 log10 in a proportion of 69%, 73% and 94% for serotype A/ETH/21/2000, O/ETH/38/2005 and SAT2/ETH/64/2009 respectively. The status of raised antibody titer on day 125 post-vaccination showed decreasing by 14%, 18% and 4% for serotype A/ETH/21/2000, O/ETH/38/2005 and SAT2/ETH/64/2009 respectively. The DIVA test, or 3ABC ELISA, used to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals, revealed the absence of immune response to the Non-structural protein in the vaccinated cattle group. Conversely, the unvaccinated group showed no recorded antibody titer to both structural and non-structural proteins. In summary, the commercially available FMD vaccine, comprising serotype A, O, and SAT2, triggers an immune response to the structural protein rather than the non-structural protein after the initial administration. This outcome implies that FMD vaccines from the National Veterinary Institute align with the DIVA test. Nevertheless, additional efforts may be necessary to bolster the strength and duration of the vaccine-induced immune response.

Prevalence of Trachoma and Associated Factors among Children Aged 1–9 Years in Kombolcha District, East Hararge, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia, 2021

<i>Introduction:</i> Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, remains a significant public health concern and the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. In 2021, trachoma was endemic in 42 countries, primarily located in Africa, and accounted for 80% of the global burden of blindness due to an infectious disease. Despite the availability of effective prevention strategies and treatment, trachoma continues to be a major issue in certain regions, including Ethiopia. <i>Objectives: </i>This study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify factors associated with trachoma among children aged 1-9 years in rural communities of the Kombolcha district, East Hararge zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.<i> Methods: </i>A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving children aged 1-9 years in rural communities. A multistage random sampling method was utilized to select 622 study participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, which was pretested on 5% of the sample size. After data cleaning and entry into Epi Info version 7.1, data were exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Variables with a p-value < 0.20 in bivariate binary logistic regression were included in a multivariate binary logistic regression model to identify factors associated with trachoma. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of associations at a p-value < 0.05.<i> Results: </i>The overall prevalence of active trachoma among children aged 1-9 years was 7.55%. Of the affected children, 83% exhibited trachomatous inflammation follicular (TF), 11% had trachomatous inflammation intense (TI), and 6% had both TF and TI. The prevalence ranged from 2.7% in children aged 1-4 years to 10.4% in children aged 5-9 years. In the multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with the presence of active trachoma in the study population included: * Households with unprotected water sources (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.67) * Regular towel usage (AOR = 8.03, 95% CI: 2.18-29.6) * Not using soap to wash the face (AOR = 4.53, 95% CI: 2.13-9.63) * Family history of eye problems (AOR = 4.76, 95% CI: 2.19-10.35) <i>Conclusion and Recommendation: </i>The overall prevalence of active trachoma in the study area was 7.55%. While this prevalence is below the WHO threshold for mass drug administration (MDA) (>10%), it remains a significant public health concern. The findings highlight the need to implement the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy, which focuses on surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement, to effectively prevent and control trachoma. Additionally, improving the overall living conditions of the community through coordinated efforts is essential in addressing the factors associated with the disease.

Prevalence of Major Parasitic Agents Involved in Camel Skin Diseases in Babile District, Eastern Ethiopia

Aim A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2017 up to April 2018 in Babile district, Eastern Hararghe zone, Oromiya regional state of Ethiopia. Objective To determine the prevalence of major parasitic agents involved in camel skin diseases and their risk factors. Method A cross-sectional study design was implemented to determine the prevalence of major parasitic pathogens, particularly mange mites and ticks affecting camel skin, and associated risk factors. The target animals for the study were dromedary camels reared under pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems in Babile district of Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. The sample size for the study was estimated by taking an expected prevalence of 50%, an accepted error of 5%, and a confidence level of 95%. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences in the occurrence of parasites among categorical variables (age, sex, herd size, and season). A p-value≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Out of 768 camels examined, 122 (15.9%) and 113 (14.7%) were found to be infested with ticks of various species and Sarcoptes species, respectively. Nine hundred twenty-nine (929) adult tick species, including 329 (35.4%) males and 600 (64.59%) females, were collected from selected camels. The tick species identified in the present study were Rhipicephalus pulchellus (29.7%), Amblyomma gemma (4.84%), Hyalomma dromedarii (13.56%), Boophilus decoloratus (2.58%), Amblyomma variegatum (23.04%), Amblyomma coherence (8.61%), Rhipicephalus evertsievertsi (9.15%), Rhipicephalus pravus (2.37%), Rhipicephalus sanguines (4.2%), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (1.08%) and Hyalomma marginatum (0.86%). The mean tick burden observed was 1.2 ticks per camel. Sarcoptes species was the only mite observed during this study. The tick infestation rate varied significantly (p<0.05) between seasons (dry and wet), between sex groups, and between herd sizes of camels. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of tick infestation between the age groups. Mange mite infestation varied significantly between age groups (young and adults). Conclusion Finally, the tick and mange mite infestations were highly prevalent in the indigenous dromedary camels in the Babile district. Therefore, special attention should be given to the programmed tick and mite control campaign in the area.

A woman's lifetime risk disparities in maternal mortality in Ethiopia

AbstractBackgroundIn Ethiopia, a woman's lifetime risk (chance) of dying from maternal causes over a woman's reproductive lifespan continues to be a public health challenge. However, detailed evidence is scarce. This study aimed to assess woman's lifetime risk disparities in maternal mortality.MethodsNational data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey from 2000 to 2016 were used. To determine a woman's lifetime risk of dying, first, the maternal mortality ratio was calculated. Then, a woman's lifetime risk of dying was calculated. Four policy‐relevant socio‐economic factors were assessed: residence, education, regional states and economic status. To assess a woman's lifetime risk disparities in maternal mortality, the rate ratio (R) was used as per the World Health Organization's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit and software.ResultsFrom 61,610 respondents, 795 deaths were reported. A woman's lifetime risk of dying nearly halved from 4.6% in 2000 (1 in 22 women) to 1.9% in 2016 (1 in 52 women). In 2016, the highest woman's lifetime risk of dying was observed among rural women (1 in 111 women), in Oromiya regional state (1 in 71 women), women with secondary education (1 in 82 women) and women with middle income (1 in 77 women). The socioeconomic factors that drive a woman's lifetime risk disparities in maternal mortality include residence (1.3‐times higher among rural women), regional state (2‐times higher among women in Oromiya regional state), education (6‐times higher among women with lower educational status), and economic status (1.3‐times higher among the poorest women).ConclusionEthiopian women experienced a high lifetime risk of maternal mortality which varies across socioeconomic groups. Therefore, equity‐oriented maternal healthcare is recommended to reduce the effects of structural inequities, such as poverty, and the inequitable distribution of the socioeconomic factors of maternal health that sustain a woman's lifetime risk disparities in maternal mortality.

Early initiation of antenatal care and its associated factors among antenatal care followers at public health facilities in Ambo town administration, Central Ethiopia.

Mothers who attend antenatal care (ANC) late miss the opportunity to receive health information, early interventions, and timely referrals, which leads to problems complicating pregnancy and contributes to maternal mortality. This study was conducted to assess early initiation of ANC visit and its associated factors in public health facilities at Ambo town administration, Oromiya regional state, Central Ethiopia, 2018. A total sample of 344 pregnant women who attended their first natal care visit were chosen using a systematic random selection procedure for facility-based cross-sectional research. Data were entered into EpiData Version 3.1. "The EpiData Association" Odense, Denmark (In Danish: EpiData foreningen) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 21 - International Business Machines Corporation, (Armonk, New York). Descriptive statistics were applied to describe the magnitude of the variable, and binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with the early initiation of ANC visits. Statistically significant association was declared at a 95% confidence interval and P value (<0.05). The study revealed that only 30.5% of the study respondents started their first ANC timely. Initiation of early ANC booking was affected by factors like having good knowledge of ANC follow-up (Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.06, 4.78), primigravida (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.20,5.32), planned pregnancy (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.05, 7.81), partners whose occupation were merchant (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.15, 10.46), know the available service on ANC service (AOR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.31, 6.88), and having advice from health professionals (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.89); all these factors had shown significant association with timing of first ANC. Early initiation of first ANC was relatively low in the study area. Planned pregnancy, number of pregnancies, knowledge of ANC follow-up, partner's occupation, knowing the available service on ANC service, and having advice from health professionals were factors associated with it. To improve the situation, it is important to provide continuous public health education on the importance of early initiation of ANC at public health facilities.

Building Trust between Police and Community to Ensure Public Safety: The Case of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

The primary objective of this study is to identify the critical factors playing a significant role in the implementation of community policing, partnering the police and community to work together on the safety, peace, and security of the area. Six woredas located in the West Wollega Zone of Oromiya Regional State were selected after consulting the crime statistics and performance reports of community policing. Informants enrolled in interviews and filling out the questionnaires were selected purposely. Percentiles and thematic analysis were the procedures employed to give meaning to data generated in multiple ways. The findings show that community policing strategies are not helping the inhabitants to ensure peace and safety. It further indicated that a lack of trust between the police and the communities is one of the factors impeding the implementation. The community's conception of peace and leaving all the responsibilities of ensuring law, peace, and order to the police are part of the findings. On the one hand, the residential community views the police negatively and is unlikely to share the responsibilities for the area's safety and peace. It is thus keen to build trust between the police and the community to set up a partnership on solid ground to achieve the strategic emphasis of community policing. Key Terms: Crime Prevention, Community Policing, Community, Police, Peace, Security DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/12-22-03 Publication date: November 30 th 2022

Incidence and Risk Factors of Neonatal Mortality in Eastern Ethiopia, A Prospective Cohort Study in Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Kersa HDSS)

Background: So far few studies were done to determine predictors of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to provide information on the incidence and risk factors of neonatal survival in Eastern Ethiopia from September, 2007 to August, 2012.&#x0D; Methods: The study uses data extracted from Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance (Kersa HDSS) System database, which is located in the Oromiya Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. The surveillance system is an open cohort, which was established in 2007. Data extraction includes all live births recorded in the system. The main outcome variable was the occurrence of death within 28 days after birth (neonatal death). The survival time was calculated in days using the time interval between the date of birth and date of event (death). Kaplan-Meier model and Cox-proportional hazard techniques were used to identify predictors of neonatal death.&#x0D; Results: The overall, Early and Late Neonatal Mortality Rate was 28.37, 19.55 and 8.82 per 1000 live births, respectively. A Neonatal Mortality Incidence Rate was 1 per 1000 (95% CI, 0.87-1.15) person days. Risk factors of neonatal survival include birth type (HR=5.40; 95% CI, 3.64-8.02), preterm birth (HR=11.17; 95% CI, 7.17-17.40), and previous infant sibling born (died HR=2.15; 95% CI, 1.39-3.33: no previous birth HR=1.78; 95% CI, 1.17-2.72).&#x0D; Conclusion: A significantly high level of neonatal mortality incidence rate was observed, which majority of the neonatal deaths were found to occur at early neonatal period. Therefore, efforts needs to be exerted in addressing the risk factors identified as predictors of neonatal mortality.

Image processing system for identifying groundnut plant disease

Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea), also known as peanuts are the edible seeds of a legume plant that grow to maturity in the ground. Diseases and its diagnosis methodology are the main challenges to groundnut production. Manual means of identifying plant disease is the most difficult activity with a high rate of mistake and time taking procedures. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to design an image processing system to identify groundnut plant disease. In general, the major significance of the study is to provide effective and simple groundnut plant disease diagnosis system that supports disease controlling mechanism and experts in the domain area. While the process of developing the system, researchers used purposive sampling techniques for acquiring 320 sample leaves images from four classes of groundnuts plant. Those are Cercospora personatum, Cercospora arachidicola, Puccinia arachidis, and healthy leaf from Bishan-Babile and Gemechu peasant associations in Babile district, and Awdal peasant association in Gursum districts in East Hararghe zone of Oromiya Regional State. Also, the researchers conducted a survey study which helps to identify experts view and deep understanding of the domain area. The design, phase used; adaptive median filtering, K-means clustering, SVM and ANN techniques with MATLAB programming tool. In general, the overall result shows that the developed system achieved a better result with an accuracy of 90.6%.

Review on Challenges and Opportunities of Small Ruminant Production Under Mixed Farming System in Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

Review on Challenges and Opportunities of Small Ruminant Production Under Mixed Farming System in Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

Instructional Supervision at Government Secondary Schools in Relation to Supervisor Competence Standard: Practice and Challenge in the Case of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to examine the Implementation of Instructional Supervision in Government Secondary Schools in relation to Competence standard of supervisor developed by MoE 2012. The study focused on areas of instructional supervision policy frame work and strategies, the trend of external and internal supervision process at school system. To meet the objectives of the study, the study employed qualitative research approach and case study research design. The study conducted at Arsi Zone in Oromiya regional state; in the study four schools purposely selected and 20 respondents have been participated in the study (2 Woreda education office head; 7 school leadership; 11 teachers). Purposive sampling method will be implemented on this take empirical study. The Data were gathered through open ended questionnaire and interview. The study result shows that, in study area Instructional supervisor could not able to carry out the tasks of supervision to enhance quality of learners and not undertaken their instructional role, b/c of lack of commitment for their work, failing to follow rules, regulation, procedures, and policies. It was suggested that, in order to provide instructional supervisors with the necessary knowledge, techniques, and skills, the Regional Education Bureau of the Ministry of Education should strengthen the capacity of school leaders by providing ongoing training and ensuring that school policies are consistent with the ministry's strategies.

Valuing local bread wheat farmer’s varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) for conservation and sustainable utilization in goro and agarfa CSBs, bale zone OF Oromiya regional state

The perception of farmer’s verities, scientists and government officials regarding the conservation of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) farmer in Bale zone CSBs is examined during 2019. Agricultural development and the reasons why the Bale zone is marginal in terms of wheat production are discussed. The de facto conservation of the local wheat farmer’s varieties analyzed in light of stakeholders’ opinions on agro biodiversity bread wheat conservation within the two community seed banks of Goro and Agarfa. CSBs retain local wheat farmer’s varieties because of their own interpretations of the value of these varieties. While formal opportunities for supporting farmers’ perceptions of local diversity with effective policy initiatives are available, they will require ongoing support from both international and national organizations Therefore, the objectives of this were to estimate households’ willingness to pay (WTP) value for conservation bread wheat and analyze the determining factors that affects willingness of households to participate the conservation bread wheat in the study area. To attain the stated objective contingent valuation survey questionnaires were distributed to elicit farmers WTP for improved conservation bread wheat. A total of 160 households were randomly selected from two CSBs of two Woredas of the study Zone. The result indicated that 153 (92.29%) were willing to pay the given bid amount for bread wheat conservation. Logistic regression model result was shows that the statistically significant determinants of participation of WTP in bread wheat conservation were availability of labor for farm activities, distance from market, households’ livestock holding, initial bid1 offered and productivity of the land of at 5% significance level, and total farm agricultural income and perception about the importance of bread wheat conservation at 1% level. The mean willingness to pay for the sampled respondents was 9.23 ($9. 034.67) labour day per year. Hence, the aggregate economic value of bread wheat conservation 3,098,644.46 (12,394,577.84) person days per annum for five years. Therefore, policy should give emphases at levels for production, conservation and sustainable utilization of bread wheat, farmer’s verities hence, the communities shows willingness to pay for the bread wheat conservation works.

Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis of Livelihood Diversification Strategies of Rural Farm Households: A Case of Limmu District, East Wollega Zone of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

This study investigated the factors that influence the choice of livelihood strategies in rural areas of households in Limmu District, eastern Wollega zone of Oromiya regional state, Ethiopia. 292 households’ were selected using multi stages random and purposive sampling technique. A Multinomial logit regression model was applied to identify the determinants of agricultural diversification strategies in the area. Out of the total sample household heads about 46% of the total household income was derived from on farm only, 30% from a combination of on farm and nonfarm, about 12.33% from a combination of on farm, non-farm and off-farm and 12% from a combination of on farm and off-farm activities. The multinomial logit regression analysis revealed that education level, access to credit, access to mass media, dependency ratio, access to irrigation, urban linkage, climate change, extension contact and distance to the nearest road were theoretically consistent and statistically significant effect to the likelihood choice of diversification strategies. Whereas, age of household head, sex, distance to the market, cooperative membership, crop risk and distance from market were insignificant predictor of diversification strategy at 5% significance level. The findings of the study suggest that efforts should focus on the promotion of options, substitution between assets and activities to diversify household specific agriculture-linkage with non-farm and off farm diversification rather than focusing on the single agricultural productive farm by taking action to improve information, mobility and asset accumulation. Keywords: Multinomial Logit, Limmu, Livelihood diversification, on farm, off-farm, non-farm DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-13-03 Publication date: July 31 st 2021

Application of HEC-RAS and HEC-GeoRAS model for Flood Inundation Mapping, the case of Awash Bello Flood Plain, Upper Awash River Basin, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

Flood is the devastating natural events as it causes massive destructive of life, economy and infrastructure. The main objective of this study was flood inundation mapping using HEC-RAS model: the case of Awash Bello flood plain, Upper Awash River basin, Ethiopia. River geometry, annual peak flood, and boundary conditions are the most important input parameters for RAS preprocessing. The river cross-sections along the flood plain were extracted using HEC-Geo RAS. Annual peak flood frequency analysis for different recurrence intervals (i.e., 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years) was computed using the calibrated and validated HEC-HMS model based on a 25 years (1990–2015) hydro-meteorological data collected from Ministry of Water Resources Irrigation and Electricity and National Meteorological Agency, respectively. The model result depicted the flood extreme value for the respective recurrence interval was 526, 610, 828.8, 1072.8, 1263.6, and 1461.3 m3/s, respectively. For more reliability, the HEC-HMS model outputs were compared with the flood extreme value obtained from Log Pearson type-III, General Pareto and Gumbel extreme value distribution function and it was found the HEC-HMS model result for every recurrence interval was higher than the extreme value distribution function outputs. After verifying the acceptability of the HEC-HMS model result, the verified peak flood was inserted into HEC-RAS model and flood inundation mapping for different recurrence intervals were executed. The HEC-RAS model outcome indicated that the flood inundation mapping area for 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100-year recurrence intervals, respectively, was 71.475, 76.630, 89.150, 100.290, 105.160, and 109.462 km2. Finally, it was realized that the whole Awash Bello flood plain is under the influence of flood inundation due to the intensive rainfall event.

Public health surveillance system evaluation: case of rabies surveillance in Burayu Town, Oromiya, Ethiopia, 2019

Introduction: public health surveillance is ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data regarding a health-related event for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health. In Ethiopia, 20 diseases and conditions are selected to be included in routine surveillance that reported immediately or weekly. Rabies is among immediately reportable disease. This study aims to evaluate the existing surveillance system of rabies in Burayu Town, Oromiya regional state.

Challenges and Opportunities Towards Small-scale Irrigation Based Onion Production: The Case of Fentale District, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

Onion is one of the important vegetable crops grown by farmers mostly for market purpose. This study focus on explore the challenges and opportunities of small-scale irrigation onion production at fentale district. Samples of 180 onion producer smallholder households were selected through multi-stage random sampling from the three kebeles of Fentale district. Sources of data were both the primary and secondary sources. The primary quantitative data were collected through Interview schedule while the qualitative were collected by FGD and KIIs methods. The data analysis methods also encompassed both quantitative and qualitative. Descriptive statistics (percentage) were employed to analysis quantitative data while qualitative data were analysed by narrations and interpreting the meaning of words. The result of the descriptive statistic reveals that the high cost of inputs, fluctuation in irrigation access, disease and pest, the input supply shortage, high labour cost, flood problem and informal sources of seed were the challenges of onion production at the study area. Besides the high income gained from onion, access to irrigation, good weather condition and the high yield of onion from a small plot were the major opportunities to produce onion at the area. Finally, the researcher recommended that the Government organizations and other responsible bodies should ensure the equal distribution of irrigation water for both upper and lower streams, and strengthen inputs supply chains.

General Education Quality Assurance: The Extent of Quality Assurance Implementation from Inspection Approach in Ethiopia General Education

The purpose of this empirical study was to investigate the extent of quality assurance implementation from inspection approach and its contribution in quality enhancement and accountability. The study focused on areas of inspection policy frame work and strategies, the trend of external and internal inspection process at General education system. In the investigation qualitative approach used; the study conducted at Jimma Town in Oromiya regional state; in the study two schools purposely selected and 7 respondents have been participated in the study (one education office inspector; two, school principals; two, school department heads and two, teachers). Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data that obtained from Interviews; observation, and document analysis. The study result shows that, in Ethiopia general education context inspection is one of the mechanisms designed to evaluate schools' performance related to input, process, and output. Based on the inspection result schools and concerned bodies are expected to work on school education quality enhancement and students learning outcome improvement. However, the finding of this study indicates that, the inspection strategy designed at MOE did not practically implement as it designed and it has a shortage of linkage to the operational practice. The main reasons are: miss understanding of practitioners on the objective of inspection; the inspection standards lack clarity and have ambiguities to evaluate schools practically; the strategy lack focus to support school management, teacher engagement, pupils, and parents. Also, in practice the external inspection process did not link to school self-evaluation or internal inspection; no mechanism or strategy lay responsibility and accountability on concerned bodies to improve or find a solution on identified problem based on the inspection report. For the effective implementation of the inspection mechanism, the strategic direction that developed at the center should be linked to operational practice and procedures at the district education office and school level; also, the mechanism for holding to responsibility and accountability from the top to school management and all concerned bodies should be designed. The inspection manuals and standards should be revised to evaluate effectively the overall system and tangible things in the schools. The external inspection system also should be linked to the internal inspection mechanism to strengthen school self-assessment practice and to support school improvement plan implementation.

Modeling the dynamics of tuberculosis with drug resistance in North Shoa Zone, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern in many developing countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Tuberculosis infection is curable but in the cases of incomplete treatment, the remains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the human body usually results in the bacterium developing resistant to antibiotics. In this study we developed a model that explains the dynamics of tuberculosis infection in the presence of drug resistance. The basic reproduction number of the model was computed using the next generation matrix approach. The disease free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium were obtained and their stability analysis were carried out. It revealed that they were locally and globally asymptotically stable whenever the reproductive number was less than unity. Numerical simulation of the TB model was conducted and the result revealed that contact rate can reduce or eliminate the sensitive strain and reduce drug resistant of tuberculosis.

Artificial Insemination: Coverage and Constraints in Central High Land of Ethiopia

A cross-sectional and retrospective investigation was conducted from November, 2017 to April, 2018 with objective of assessing service coverage and constraints that were affecting Artificial Insemination (AI), success rate in Welmera District, special Zone of Oromiya Regional State. Semi-structured questionnaires were pretested and administered to 395 respondents that were composed of a group small-holder dairy farmers (n=384), animal health and production professionals (AHPPs) (n=8) and artificial inseminations technicians (AITs) (n=3). Additionally retrospective data from 2011 to 2017 was considered to evaluate the previous situation of AI services in study site. The survey result showed that from 384 interviewed farmers; majority of them 71.1%, (273) didn’t use AI, 18.8% (72) used both AI and natural breeding, while 10.2% (39) used solely AI services to breed their cows. The distribution of AI services between small-holders located in urban, per-urban and rural localities in the study area was 78.95%, 46.25% and 12.88% respectively, with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Many farmers (273) solely depended on natural breeding than using artificial insemination due to lack of awareness (27.7%), unfitness of their dairy cows for AI breeding (26.4%), long distance from AI center (24.4%), insufficient capital (13.3%) and shortage of feed (8.1%) to keep dairy cows. The major constraints among AI users were shortage of inputs 7.1%, unavailability of AI technicians 13.4% and conception failure 50.9%. In Wolemera district many farmers 73.3% used to take their cows to AI station for services while 26.7% call-up to technicians to have them at their farm gate for AI services. Generally from this study it was concluded that AI service coverage was inadequate with unequal distributions between small-holders in urban, peri- urban and rural localities. Therefore, AI service in the district requires serious attention so that appropriate solutions be given to alleviate the prevailing constraints.

Hunter-gatherers of the high-altitude Afromontane forest – the Holocene occupation of Mount Dendi, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Dendi Lake Rockshelter is situated about 100 km west of Addis Ababa on the west-central part of the Ethiopian Plateau in the Ginchi woreda of Ethiopia’s Oromiya regional state. In October 2012, a team from the University of Cologne excavated a test-trench that revealed four archaeological complexes that could clearly be distinguished on a typological basis as well as by radiocarbon dates. This article focuses on the lithic artefacts recovered from the excavation and specifically the microliths that are one of the main characteristics of the Later Stone Age. Their high variability in this assemblage is a common feature of contemporaneous sites in the Horn of Africa. The rockshelter is situated in a high-altitude Afromontane forest and was most probably used for short-term stays by groups of hunters.

Extraction and Isolation of Compound from Roots of Kniphofia pumila, and Its Antibacterial Activities in Combination with Zinc Chloride

Kniphofia pumila has been traditionally used for the treatment of different diseases in Oromiya regional state, western part of Ethiopia. Thus, the main objective of this study was to extract bioactive natural products from the roots of K. pumila and perform in vitro antibacterial activity tests against selected pathogens. Extraction of compound from the roots of K. pumila was carried out by maceration method at room temperature and its antibacterial activity was done using agar disc diffusion method. The crude extracts alone and along with ZnCl2 were tested against pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 25722), Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae (DSM 19613), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC 13311). Following its promising activity, the acetone crude extract that have shown better antibacterial activity was subjected to column chromatography for isolation of pure compound. Hence, one pure compound (GZ-1) was obtained from acetone crude extract. Meanwhile, the antibacterial activities of the isolated compound alone and in combination with ZnCl2 were also performed against all aforementioned bacterial strains. Then, isolated compound was characterized by using NMR spectroscopic techniques such as 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and, 2D NMR, so as to establish its structure as 3’-acetyl-2’,6’-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone, trivial name knipholone. Finally, GZ-1 was isolated from the roots of K. pumila and it was noted that the antibacterial activities of ZnCl2 in combination with crude extract as well as with isolated compound against E. coli (ATCC 25722), S. aureus (ATCC 25925) and S. Typhimurium (ATCC 13311) bacterial strains showed remarkable results which were greater than the antibacterial activity of the positive standard drug (gentamycin). To sum up, from the chromatographic isolation of roots acetone extract of K. pumila one pure compound (knipholone) was obtained. Its antibacterial activity was also evaluated in combination with ZnCl2 salt and alone.