Somali Regional State Research Articles

Food safety practices and its associated factors among food handlers in selected food establishments in Jigjiga Town, Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundFood hygiene is the primary public health concern for many countries, as contaminated food is a potential source of serious microbial infections, food poisoning, or economic loss due to spoilage. The aim of this study was to assess food safety practices and associated factors among food handlers in selected public food establishments in Jigjiga town.MethodsAn institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 28 to December 1 2023, using a systematic sampling technique, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Descriptive statistics, and binary and multivariable logistic regression models were employed. The p-value of < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval was used as a significant cut point.ResultA total of 406 food handlers with a 100% response rate. Nearly, 63% (254) of participants were male. The findings of this study revealed that a considerable number, 138 (34.0%) of the respondents were found to have an unfavorable attitude towards food safety practices with a mean score of 46.26 (SD = 6.84), while 232 (57.1%) had good food safety practices. In the multivariable logistic analysis, variables such as sex, work experience, availability of a washing basin, cleaning utensils with hot water and soap, and others had a significant association with food safety practices observed among food handlers in Jigjiga town.ConclusionMany vital individual and institutional factors influencing the food safety practices of food establishments were identified. The food establishment owners, food handlers, and local health offices should work hard on food safety practices improvement.

Assessment of Goat Feed Resources and Nutritional Quality of Major Available Feed Stuffs in Dollo Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to assess goat feed resources and evaluate nutritive value of major available feed resources in Warder, Danod, and Daratole districts of Dollo zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 156 households (52 from each district) who own goats were randomly selected for the study and interviewed using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that major feed sources for goats during wet season were natural pasture and fodder trees with 63.5% &amp; 36.5%, respectively. On the other side, the major sources of feed in the dry season were natural pasture (42.3%) followed by fodder trees (30.8%) and crop residues (26.9%), respectively. Drought (46.2%), weed dominance (38.5%) and overstocking (15.4%) were reported as the major factors affecting grazing land productivity in the study area. The major factors affecting availability of feed resources were climate variability, lack of input, population growth, lack of awareness about feed conservation mechanisms, &amp; lack of extension of extension services. Regarding to chemical composition of the sampled feeds, a significant difference was observed in CP, NDF, ADF and ash between seasons. The DM content of the sampled feeds ranged from 88.6% to 90.9% in wet season, while during the dry season, it ranged from 91.1% to 92.4%. The CP content ranged from 5.3% to 10.7%, while in the dry season, it ranged from 2.4% to 4.4% and a significant drop was observed in the dry season. The NDF contents ranged from 53.3 to 84.9%. The ADF content also ranged from 10.5% to 27.3% in wet season and from 7.6% to 31.9% in dry season. The ash content also ranged from 8.3% to 21.3% in wet season and from 4.5% to 14.3% in dry season. Therefore, the study suggests that it is essential to promote drought-resistant forage cultivation, implement effective feed conservation practices, strengthen extension services, manage grazing pressure sustainably, adapt to climate variability, and conduct further research on the nutritive value of local feed resources.

Indigenous peacebuilding approaches and clan conflicts in Ethiopia’s Somali region: a case study of Shilabo district

ABSTRACT The Shilabo district in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia has experienced persistent conflicts among clans for decades, leading to loss of life and displacement. Recognizing the effectiveness of the indigenous Somali peacebuilding system, this study examines the drivers of clan disputes in Shilabo and the potential of the Xeer Soomaali approach in promoting peace. Using convenience sampling, we collected quantitative data from 300 respondents and conducted 22 semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that land disputes, political nominations, and access to natural resources are the primary causes of clan conflicts in Shilabo. These results highlight the significance of Xeer Soomaali in the area. Interviews with local authorities emphasize the role of political nominations and resource sharing in perpetuating conflicts, underscoring the need for clan representation and control over resources. The effectiveness of traditional methods, such as Xeer Soomaali depends on proper implementation and government enforcement. This study underscores the importance of addressing land claims, resource sharing, and political nominations as key factors in clan conflicts and advocates for the implementation of the Somali traditional peacebuilding system, with government support, to achieve sustainable peace in the region.

Decentralization and diaspora capture: transnationalism, autocracy, and hybrid power in federal Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This article analyzes how transnational actors navigate the tensions between federal policy, more localized power structures, and informal forms of authority in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State (SRS). The concept of ‘diaspora capture’ foregrounds the efforts of state officials and transnational elites to take control of processes through which diaspora identities and patterns of coordination are formed and negotiated within webs of kinship and economic relations. Somali social structure has often been described as essentially ‘stateless’ or democratic to the point of anarchy, and Somali transnationalism is marked by webs of kinship-based reciprocity and informal economic practice. Nevertheless, we show that in eastern Ethiopia, post-conflict diaspora engagement since 2010 is characterized by persistent efforts of government elites and diaspora actors to gain influence over each other, reshaping the transnational terrain. We argue for more attention in transnational studies to how the conflicts and tensions between national or federal policy environments and subnational authority structures can create new fields of transnational interaction and unexpected collaborations between local governments (including autocratic ones) and diaspora constituents.

Prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among solid waste collectors in Jigjiga city, eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design.

Solid waste collectors play an important role in maintaining health and hygiene in cities globally. The risk levels are very high in low-income countries since solid waste collectors have low socio-economic status and are exposed directly, unknowingly, and without adequate personal protection to municipal solid waste that contains hazardous materials. Solid waste collectors in Ethiopia are at high risk of occupational injuries due to the manual collection of hazardous solid waste by hand. In Jigjiga city, so far, there has been no study or published research showing the prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among municipal solid waste collectors. To assess the prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among solid waste collectors in Jigjiga City, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, 2023. An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted in Jigjiga City, Somali Regional State, involving 247 solid waste collectors. Data was collected through an observational and structured questionnaire and analyzed using Epi Info and STATA software programs. The study used systematic random sampling techniques and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine the statistical association between the outcome variable and independent variables. The significance of the association was tested using the 95% confidence interval and p value (<0.05). The overall prevalence of occupational injuries was 54.7% (95% CI: 48.2%, 60.6%). Training on health and safety measures before employment [AOR: 0.43, 95% CI (0.24, 0.80)], sleeping problems [AOR: 3.28, 95% CI (1.86, 5.78)] and Temporary workers [AOR: 2.14, 95% CI (1.16, 3.95)] were significantly associated with occupational injuries. The prevalence rate of occupational injuries among solid waste collectors in Jigjiga City was high. There should be preventive measures, like giving Training on Health and safety before employment, to safeguard the health and safety conditions of the workers.

Ethnobotanical knowledge and practices of pastoralist communities on plants used as repellents and/or insecticides against insect vectors in the Korahaye zone of the Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundCombined efforts to combat both outdoor and indoor transmission of malaria parasites are hampered by emerging vector resistance in a wide range of endemic malaria settings in Ethiopia and the rest of the world, stressing the need to develop and implement alternative control measures. This study aimed to document indigenous pastoralist knowledge on the use of repellent and insecticidal plant species against insect vectors in a number of kebeles in the Somali Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. MethodsData were collected by interviewing a total of 120 participants (105 men and 15 women) through face-to-face interviews guided by a semi-structured questionnaire, observing information on the preparation method, and performing a guided field walk with a guide to collect plant specimens. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out from 5 May 2018–12 April 2019. Medicinal plant specimens were collected following a standard approach, and voucher specimens were deposited in the National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, preference rankings, paired comparisons and direct matrix rankings. ResultsA total of 52 voucher specimens belonging to 47 genera and 31 families were obtained. Of these, 42 were reported to be repellents against mosquitoes or insects in general. Among the plant families recorded, Fabaceae had the highest number of plant species, at 6 (11.5 %). The most represented life forms were herbs (21, 40.38 %), followed by shrubs (17, 32.69 %). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part for remedy preparation and accounted for 14 (26.92 %) of the total plants. Among the repellent plant species documented, 57.68 % were reported to be burned to produce in-house smoke, 20.37 % were mashed, and the paste was applied on the human skin to repel insects. The plants that were commonly mentioned by respondents were Amaranthus sparganiocephalus (27, 22.5 %), Phytolacca dodecandra (18, 15 %), and Commiphora rostrata (26, 21.66 %) for repellent, insecticidal, and both repellent and insecticidal uses, respectively. ConclusionsThe present study showed that pastoralist communities have valuable indigenous knowledge and practices related to the use of plants as repellents. This knowledge should be validated and confirmed experimentally and possibly promoted as a sustainable and ecosystem-friendly insect vector control tool.

Hygienic Production Practices and Microbiological Quality of Sheep Milk in Ararso District of Jarar Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to evaluate the hygienic production practices and microbiological quality of sheep milk in Ararso district of Jarar Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. A stratified sampling strategy was used to choose 180 households specifically for this investigation. A total of 60 pooled raw sheep milk samples (each containing 200 mL) were collected from the udders and milk handling equipment of selected milk producers in the research area. The samples were examined to determine microbiological quality. The data were gathered via a questionnaire, field observation, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The vast majority of respondents in pastoral (86.7%) and agro-pastoral (64.4%) production systems were illiterate. The majority of respondents (70.6%) in the research area cleaned the sheep home (kraal) once every two days. The majority (98.3%) of respondents in the research area milk their sheep in open kraals with no roof or walls. As a consequence, 36.7% of pastoral and agro-pastoral respondents (81.1%) reported cleaning milk vessels on a regular basis. Almost all of the responders in the research area used plastic equipment for milking and handling. The majority of responders in pastoral and agro-pastoralist categories placed barn hygiene first, with indexes of 0.24 and 0.23, respectively. The average total bacterial count (TBC), coiform count (CC) and yeast and mould count (YMC) of raw sheep milk samples were 5.13±0.21, 2.89±0.27, and 0.77±0.21 log10 cfu/mL, respectively. Raw sheep milk samples taken from producers’ milk handling equipment had a substantially higher mean total bacterial count (5.78±0.32 log10 cfu/mL) compared to samples collected from the udder (4.48±0.23 log10 cfu/mL). Milk samples from pastoral and agro-pastoral households had an average coliform count of 3.18 and 2.60 log10 cfu/mL, respectively. The average YMC in milk samples from pastoralists and agro-pastoralists were 0.74 and 0.80 log10 cfu/mL, respectively. In general, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the district do not practice hygienic milking and handling. Consequently, the implementation of hygienic milk production and handling practices is essential to enhance the safety and quality of sheep milk in the study area. Additionally, further research should be undertaken to investigate the microbiological aspects and assess the safety and quality parameters of sheep milk in greater detail.

Assessment on major browse feed resources and determine their chemical composition in Korhaye zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia

Assessment of major browse feed resources and determine the chemical composition of selected browse feed resource in Korahay Zone, Somali Regional State, was the aim of this study. Kebeles and the household heads were selected purposively in study area. The samples of fresh leaves (800 g) of selected browse species were collected to determine chemical compositions. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. The feed related constraints were ranked and analyzed by the ranking index. The current result indicated that, total of 22 trees, 6 shrub, 4 bush and 6 herbaceous species used as feed for livestock in dry and/or wet season were identified in the study area. DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and Ash of Dobera glabra, Grewia bicolor, Boscia minimfolia, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia Senegal, Unidentified (Alankhayir), Unidentified (Geed chic) were determined in current laboratory analysis. DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and Ash of Dobera glabra was 92.8 %, 94.28 %, 14.4 %, 42.5 %, 26.9 %, 5.22 % and 5.73 % respectively. Finally, feed quality and quantity, drought, invasive species and ecological deterioration were identified as major constraints of feed resources in study area. Due to this, intervention and further study should be conducted to tackle existing feed and feed related issues.

Optimization of Groundnut Crop Management Practicesin Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

To study the response of groundnut to different crop management practice six different crop management practices tested in three districts namely Godey, Gursum and Erer of Eastern Ethiopia. Treatments wereT&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (Spacing 60 x 30 cm, P @ 80 kg/ha and twice weeding @ 15&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; and 30&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; DAE), T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (75 x 20 cm, P@ 60 kg/ha three times mechanical weeding), T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (Spacing 45 x 15 cm, 50 and 85 kg/ha twice weeding, T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;4&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;(Spacing at 75 x 30 cm, N and P applied @ the rate of 46 and 90 kg/ha respectively and hand weeding once @ 25&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; DAE), T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (Spacing 30 × 10 cm, FYM @ 12 ton/ha, N and P applied @ the rate of 25 and 46 kg/ha respectively and mechanical weeding @ 28 DAE). T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;6&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;(Spacing 30x 15cm, N and P applied at the rate of 80 and 130 kg/ha respectively, twice weeding and earthling up). Then the treatments were arranged in RCBD. Analysis of variance showed that there were statistically significant differences between each treatment across the locations on growth and seed yield of groundnut at (p&amp;lt;0.05). Maximum seed yield was obtained from T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;6&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; followed by T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; and T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;. Wider spacing and minimum use of P without N fertilizer at (T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; and T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) resulted in significantly low seed yield. T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;5 &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;resulted in robust plant growth however; it resulted in reduced yield and yield components compared toT&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;6&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;. Groundnut seed yield was remarkably influenced by proper combinations of crop management components as specified in T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;6&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;. Therefore, T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;6&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; can be recommended as an integrated crop management practice for groundnut to current study areas and other similar lowland districts of eastern Ethiopia.

Spatial patterns of maternal and neonatal continuum of care use and its correlations with women’s empowerment

BackgroundThe continuum of care (CoC) in maternal health refers to the continuity of individual reproductive health care across the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods. The CoC is an indicator of the quality of maternal and newborn health outcomes and women’s empowerment is crucial to improving maternal and neonatal health service access and utilisation.ObjectiveTo examine the spatial patterns of continuum of care use for maternal and neonatal health services and its correlation with women’s empowerment.MethodsWe analysed data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) of 2011 and 2016. All women aged 15–49 who had live births in the preceding five years of the DHS surveys were included in the analysis. We measured the continuum of care using the modified co-coverage index (CoCI), which consisted of six indicators. Women’s empowerment was assessed using a validated survey-based Women’s Empowerment (SWPER) index. We used the Getis-Ord-Gi* spatial analysis tool to portray locations with clusters of CoC service use and spatial correlations between CoC use and women empowerment.ResultsNone of the newborn-mother pairs in the 2011 survey received the entire continuum of care and only 2.5% of newborn-mother pairs received the full range of continuum of care services in the 2016 survey. In 2016, 6.9% of mother-newborn pairs received the basic CoC services (four or more antenatal care [ANC] visits, skilled birth attendance [SBA], and postnatal care [PNC]), and no mother-newborn pair received all three services at the same time in 2011. The Amhara, Afar, and Somali regional states had the least CoC service use in both surveys. There was a positive spatial correlation between CoC use and women’s empowerment domains.ConclusionOur analysis showed that the use of four or more ANC visits, SBS, newborn PNC, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine uptake, and tetanus toxoid protection at birth were low in Ethiopia. Women empowerment domains were found to have a positive spatial correlation with CoC services use. To improve and preserve continuity of care, it is critical to leverage every maternal health facility encounter to encourage sustained service usage at each step of the continuum. Government policies should prioritise women’s empowerment and raise public awareness of maternity services.

Prevalence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli and Associated Risk Factors Among Camel and Bovine Meat Slaughtered at Jigjiga Municipal Abattoir, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study involving microbiological analysis was conducted from March 2021 to August 2021 in Jigjiga town to isolating and identifying Salmonella and E. coli from raw meats of camels and bovines slaughtered at the Jigjiga municipal abattoir and assessing possible associated related risk factors for the isolates. A total of 384 examined samples for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli. From the total samples examined, 64 (16.7%) and 44 (11.5%. were found to be E. coli and Salmonella positive respectively. Out of the 199 meat samples taken from camel, 31 (15.6%) and 32 (16.1%) were found positive for Salmonella and E. coli respectively while a total 185 meat samples of bovines, 13 (7%) and 32 (17%) were found positive for Salmonella and E. coli, respectively. In the univariable logistic regression analysis result, Salmonella revealed a statistically significant difference among different ages (OR (CI) = 2.36 (1.195–4.679); p-value = 0.013). The multivariable regression analysis showed there was no statistically significant difference between the two sex groups (OR (CI) = 2.01 (0.892–4.544); p = 0.092). In an univariable logistic regression analysis result, the odds of meat contamination in young-aged animals with E. coli were three times higher than in adult animals, showing a statistically significant difference (OR = 2.83 (1.567–5.095; p = 0.001). The prevalence of E. coli was higher in animals with poor body condition (31.9%), followed by medium (15.5%) and good body-conditioned animals (1.8%). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the odds of contamination of samples with E. coli from poor-body condition animals were 22 times higher than samples taken from good-body condition animals (OR (CI) = 21.8 (5.022 - 95.059); p = 0.000). To prevent cross-contamination of Salmonella and E. coli, hygiene must be improved, standardized procedures, and training programs should be implemented. Further studies on molecular characterization and serotyping of these species are also needed.

Completion of maternal and child health continuum of care and associated factors among women in Gode district, Shebele Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, 2022

BackgroundThe Continuum of care for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health includes integrated service delivery for mothers and children from pre-pregnancy to delivery, the immediate postnatal period, and childhood. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of antenatal care, skilled delivery, postnatal care, and immunization for children have shown improvement. Despite this, there was limited research on the percentage of mothers who have completed maternal and child continuum care.ObjectiveTo assess the Completion of Maternal and Child Health Continuum of Care and Associated Factors among women in Gode District, Shebele Zone, Eastern Ethiopia ,2022.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study design applied from November 1–15, 2022. A stratified sampling method was applied. A woman who had two 14–24 months child preceding the data collection period were included in the study. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questioner had been used for data collection. Data collected by using kobo collect and analyzed using STATA version 17. Both Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. In multivariable analysis, variables having P-values ≤ 0.05 were taken as factors associated with the completion of the maternal and child health continuum of care.ResultThe Completion of maternal and child continuum of care was 13.5% (10.7-17.0%) in Gode district,2022. Accordingly, Husband occupation (Government employee) [AOR = 2.3, 95%CI 1.2–4.7] and perceived time to reach health facility (less than 30 min) [AOR = 2.96, 95%CI 1.2–7.5] were factors showing significant association with maternal and child health continuum of care among mothers in Gode district, Somali regional State;2022 at P-value ≤ 0.05.Conclusion and recommendationOnly 13.5% of mothers in Gode district received all of the recommended maternal and child health services during their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period. The study found that two factors were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving Maternal and child continuum of care: Government employed husband and perceived time to reach a health facility. Governments can play a key role in increasing the maternal and child health continuum of care by investing by making health care facility accessible.

Sero Epidemiology of Camel Brucellosis and its Public Health Significances at Three Selected Districts in Erer Zone, Somali Region

Camel brucellosis is an infectious and zoonotic diseases caused by Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 camels from December, 2020 until August, 2021 with the aim of determining sero-prevalence and assessing the associated risk factors for camel brucellosis and its public health significances from purposively selected three districts namely (Fik, Hamaro and Laghida) of Erer zone, Somali Regional state, based on distribution of camel population and sampled using systematic random sampling. The overall sero-prevalence of Brucella in Erer zone was 4.8% (95%, CI: 2.8-6.8). However, the Seroprevalence varied among the different districts with Lagehida 10% (95%, CI: 1.7-18.7), followed by Fik 5.7% (95%, CI: 0.9-10.5) and Hamaro 1.9% (95%, CI: 0.007-0.0522). By computing univariate logistic regression analysis risk factors such as; sex, age, districts, parity, herd sizes, camels that co-exist with other ruminants and reproductive disorder (abortion) (p&lt;0.05) were statistically significant as major risk factor for transmission of camel brucellosis. Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression analysis of the risk factors revealed that the age, herd size and camels that are kept closely together with other ruminants with adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.3 (95%, CI: 1.58-6.74), 4.6 (95%, CI: 2.66-8.10) and 11.4 (95%, CI: 1.39-85.46), respectively were the major risk factors for the occurrence of camel brucellosis. Moreover, the questionnaire survey found common practices like lack of awareness about zoonotic diseases, raw milk consumption, and close contact with animals in pastoral communities. This highlights the need for further advanced epidemiological studies, herd health prevention, control strategies, and public health education to reduce brucellosis risk in both animals and pastoral communities.

Burden of chronic pain among adult pastoralists in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional household survey.

Chronic pain is a major global health problem. Untreated pain causes particular suffering in marginalized communities. Most studies investigating chronic pain in sub-Saharan Africa stem from South Africa and Nigeria. Pastoralists are particularly underrepresented in pain research. The main objective of this study is to investigate the burden of chronic pain in adult pastoralists in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. We conducted a cross-sectional household survey among adult pastoralists (aged 18 years or older, N = 299) by face-to-face interviews. To randomly select households, we applied GPS-based household localization and recruitment. Chronic pain was self-reported by 17.0% (95% CI: 10.8-25.7) of male and 34.7% (95% CI: 28.4-41.5) of female adult pastoralists. The prevalence of chronic pain increased with age from 5.4% (95% CI: 0.8-30.1; 18-34 years) to 27.1% (95% CI: 15.1-43.7; 35-54 years) to 69.1% (95% CI: 53.7-81.1; 55 years and older). The body sites most commonly affected among those with chronic pain were knees (37.2%), followed by lower back (33.7%) and head (23.3%). The data for the first time provide insights into the burden of chronic pain among Somali pastoralists and reveal associated risk factors. The results support the planning of locally adapted health interventions for pastoralist-specific pain management considering the effects of chronic pain on pastoralists' daily lives.

Determine the factors affecting the time to recovery of children with bacterial meningitis at Jigjiga university referral hospital in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia: using the parametric shared frailty and AFT models

BackgroundNeisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumonia, and hemophilic influenza type B are frequently linked to bacterial meningitis (BM) in children. It’s an infectious sickness that kills and severely mobilizes children. For a variety of reasons, bacterial meningitis remains a global public health concern; most cases and deaths are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. Even though vaccination has made BM more preventable, children worldwide are still severely harmed by this serious illness. Age, sex, and co-morbidity are among the risk variables for BM that have been found. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify the variables influencing the time to recovery for children with bacterial meningitis at Jigjiga University referral hospital in the Somali regional state of Ethiopia.MethodA retrospective cohort of 535 children with bacterial meningitis who received antibiotic treatment was the subject of this study. Parametric Shared Frailty ty and the AFT model were employed with log likelihood, BIC, and AIC methods of model selection. The frailty models all employed the patients' kebele as a clustering factor.ResultsThe number of cases of BM declined in young children during the duration of the 2 year, 11 month study period, but not in the elderly. Streptococcus pneumonia (50%), hemophilic influenza (30.5%), and Neisseria meningitides (15%) were the most frequent causes of BM. The time to recovery of patients from bacteria was significantly influenced by the covariates male patients (ϕ = 0.927; 95% CI (0.866, 0.984); p-value = 0.014), patients without a vaccination history (ϕ = 0.898; 95% CI (0.834, 0.965); P value = 0.0037), and patients who were not breastfeeding (ϕ = 0.616; 95% CI (0.404, 0.039); P-value = 0.024). The recovery times for male, non-breastfed children with bacterial patients are 7.9 and 48.4% shorter, respectively. In contrast to children with comorbidity, the recovery time for children without comorbidity increased by 8.7%.ConclusionAge group, sex, vaccination status, co-morbidity, breastfeeding, and medication regimen were the main determinant factors for the time to recovery of patients with bacterial meningitis. Patients with co-morbidities require the doctor at Jigjiga University Referral Hospital to pay close attention to them.

Major Causes of Organ Condemnation and Estimated Financial Loss in Dromedary Camels Slaughtered at Jigjiga Municipal Abattoir, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Major Causes of Organ Condemnation and Estimated Financial Loss in Dromedary Camels Slaughtered at Jigjiga Municipal Abattoir, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Determinants of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion among adolescent women in Ethiopia: Evidence from multilevel mixed-effects decomposition analysis of 2000-2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.

Adolescents are highly at risk of unintended pregnancy due to physiological, sexual, social and psychological growth. The pregnancy may end with early childbirth, induced abortion and its complications. Although, the trends of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion have declined over time in Ethiopia, evidence is limited on key determinants for decline in order to propose vital areas of interventions. The current study aimed to identify the determinants of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion among adolescents over the decades. Trends in the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion among adolescent women aged 15-19 years were investigated based using a series of the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) data for the years 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016. Sub-sample of adolescent women data was extracted from each survey. The combined datasets for unintended pregnancy and induced abortion over the study period (2000-2016) was analyzed. The percentage changes of trends of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion with its corresponding 95% CI for each variable were calculated. Multilevel mixed-effects decomposition analysis was applied to identify factors significantly associated with trends of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion among adolescents. The trends of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion significantly declined during the study period. Unintended pregnancy among Ethiopian adolescents aged 15-19 years significantly decreased from 307 (41.4%) (95% CI: 35.7, 47.2%, p<0.001) in 2000 to 120 (25.1%) (95% CI: 18.9, 31.4%) in 2016. On the other hand, induced abortion significantly decreased from 62 (8.3%) (95% CI: 5.2, 11.4%) in 2000 to 20 (4.1%) (95% CI: 1.3, 6.9%, p = 0.004) in 2016. Age older than 18 years (Coeff = -0.41, 95%CI, -0.64, -0.18, p<0.001), living in Somali regional state (Coeff = -2.21, 95%CI, -3.27, -1.15, p<0.001) and exposure to media (Coeff = -0.60, 95%CI, -0.87, -0.33, p<0.001) showed a significance association with decline in unintended pregnancy whereas; living in Benshangul-Gumuz regional state (Coeff = -0.17, 95%CI, -0.32, -0.19, p = 0.03) and ANC service utilization history (Coeff = -0.81, 95%CI, -1.45, -0.17, p = 0.01) showed significance association with decline in induced abortion. The trends of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion significantly declined over the past decades in Ethiopia. Adolescent girls aged 17 years and above, exposure to media and living in Somali showed significant association with decline in unintended pregnancy whereas; living in Benshangul-Gumuz and ANC service utilization history showed significant decline with induced abortion. Exposure to media and utilization of Antenatal care (ANC) services may improve adolescent girls' reproductive health uptake.

The effect of UNIMMAP multiple micronutrient supplements versus iron-folic acid and placebo in anemia reduction among women of reproductive age in Kebribeyah Woreda, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia: a study protocol for a community-based individual RCT

BackgroundWomen of reproductive age (WRA) in developing countries are often at risk of micronutrient deficiencies due to inadequate intakes and excessive losses.ObjectiveThe purpose of this trial is to assess the effectiveness of United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation-Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (UNIMMAP-MMS) versus iron-folic acid (IFA) among WRA in reducing anemia.MethodsThree parallel groups of WRA will participate in a community-based, individually randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled superiority trial. After consent, the sample of 375 mildly or moderately anemic women based on hemoglobin by Hemocue will be randomly assigned across two interventions and one control arm. Trial participants in intervention arms will receive UNIMMAP-MMS or IFA while those in the control arm will receive placebos twice a week for 17 weeks. The primary outcome will be a change in mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. Outcome assessors and study participants will be blinded to the type of supplements and study arm.DiscussionThe World Health Organization (WHO) added UNIMMAP-MMS to its essential medicine lists in 2021 but recommended rigorous study. Several factors in addition to inadequate intakes of iron and folic acid contribute to the high prevalence of anemia among WRA in the Somali region. The findings of this study will provide evidence on the effect of UNIMMAP-MMS and IFA on Hb concentrations and anemia prevalence among anemic WRA.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05682261. Registered on January 12, 2023.

Prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder among internal displaced people in Qoloji Camps, Somali regional state, Eastern Ethiopia.

This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among internally displaced people (IDP) in the Qoloji Camp, Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 20 to November 5, 2021. The study utilized systematic random sampling to identify 410 IDP participants from the Qoloji Camp. PTSD was measured using the PTSD Check-list for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Bivariate analysis was performed to determine the crude odds ratio, and multivariate analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios for associations between PTSD and independent variables. A total of 404 participants were interviewed (98.5% response rate). The estimated prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 41.1%. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, several factors were significantly associated with PTSD: being female (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.39-4.44), lack of food and water (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.17, 4.23), destruction of personal property (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.62-6.09), and experiencing torture or beatings (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.01-3.28). This study found a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms among IDPs, with factors such as female sex, property destruction, deprivation of essential goods and services, and experiences of torture or beatings significantly associated with those symptoms. To address these findings, prioritizing the well-being of IDPs with a specific focus on women, on-site screening, and the establishment of a referral system to facilitate access to specialized care are essential to enhance the overall mental health of such persons.

Khat chewing habit among high school students in Kabridahar City of Somali regional state, Ethiopia: prevalence and determining factors

ABSTRACT Background & Objective Khat has been used by about 10 million people in Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya. Several epidemiological studies highlighted the adverse health and social problems associated with excessive khat use. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of khat use in secondary schools in Kabridahar where the use of khat is widely seen as problematic. Methods and Materials We conducted a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 251 children from three secondary schools in Kabridahar, Somali region of Ethiopia. We used demographic and khat questionnaires to collect data. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between variables. Result The study found a 16.7% lifetime prevalence of khat chewing and 8.4% current use among the secondary school children, respectively. Being a male student, having a smoking habit, befriending a khat chewer, having a family member who chews, and low level of literacy in the students’ responsible individual were found to be significantly associated with khat chewing habit among students. Conclusion The overall result of the present study indicates that the lifetime and current khat chewing prevalence were high for school children.