Southern Nations, Nationalities And Peoples Region Research Articles

Determinants of Implant Utilization among Married Women of Childbearing Age in Chencha Town, Southern Ethiopia, 2017: A Case-Control Study.

Globally, 53% of women in reproductive age group use modern methods of contraception, with less than one percent of which using implants. In Ethiopia and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, short-term contraceptive methods have been more utilized than long-acting methods like implants. Despite their effectiveness, implants have been underutilized due to various reasons. There is a dearth of stronger evidences on those factors in the country in general and the study area in particular. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of implant utilization among married women of reproductive age at Chencha town, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. A community-based case-control study design was conducted among 324 women of reproductive age, 90 cases (users of implants) and 234 controls (users of short-acting contraceptives) from July to August 2017. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview. The data were entered and coded using Epi info 3.5.1 and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for cleaning and analysis. Descriptive analysis was done to quantify proportions, means, and standard deviations of variables. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were done to identify the determinants of implant utilization. A total of 324 married women of reproductive age group were interviewed with response rate of 98%. In this study, the major determinants for implant utilization were desire to have 3–4 children {AOR = 0.104, 95% CI (0.03, 0.4)}, husband disproval {AOR = 0.11, 95% CI (0.038, 0.314)}, joint decision {AOR = 3.11, 95% CI (1.02, 9.48)}, and decision by other persons {AOR = 0.065, 95% CI (0.012, 0.352)}. This study found out that desire to have more children, husband disapproval, joint decision making, and decision by other persons were determinants of implant utilization among the target women. Implant utilization would improve through strengthening existing interventions targeting women with high fertility desire, transformation of gender norms in household decisions, and counseling for informed decisions.

Evaluation of Physico Chemical Qualities of Beeswax in Selected Districts of Kafa Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia

The study was conducted in selected districts of Kafa Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia with an intention to identify the physico chemical quality status of beeswax produced in the areas. Three districts; Chena, Gimbo and Gesha and three peasant associations (PAs) from each district were purposively selected based on their potentialities for production and marketing of honey and beeswax. Before collecting sample beeswaxes, a preliminary survey was conducted to identify the major actors taking part in production, processing and marketing of beeswax. Accordingly, beeswax samples were collected from fresh combs, old combs, local mead houses and cooperatives for detail quality analysis. The Mean + SE value for melting point, refractive index, ash content, total volatile matter, acid value, Saponification value, ester value, and ester to acid ratio of beeswax of the area is found to be 62.35 + 0.15, 1.4416 + 0.0001, 0.0857 + 0.0144, 0.4156 + 0.0385,22.689 + 0.3793,94.7540 + 0.8617,72.065 + 0.4766,3.201 + 0.0625 respectively. All the samples passed for paraffin and other waxes, and fats and fatty acid tests. The result shows no significant variation among studied districts in all parameters. However, significantly higher value of refractive index, total volatile matters and ash contents were recorded in samples from local mead houses at p<0.05. This might be due to poor handling practices and an intentional addition of foreign materials such as salt for preserving beeswax from wax moths’ attacks and ‘kocho’ for increasing its volume which are commonly practiced by some individuals of ‘tej’ houses. The overall results revealed that all the beeswax samples collected from various sources are found within the acceptable ranges of national and international standards. Keywords: beeswax, physico-chemical qualities, Kafa zone DOI : 10.7176/CMR/12-1-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Transitioning from child to adult-oriented HIV clinical care for adolescents living with HIV in Ethiopia: results from a retrospective cohort study.

IntroductionEthiopia has one of the largest number of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). As these adolescents reach adulthood they need to transfer from pediatric to adult-oriented clinics. Clear implementation guidelines for transition are lacking and factors associated with successful transition are inadequately investigated. Our objective was to describe the rate and age of transition from child- to adult-oriented care and the factors associated with transition success among ALHIV in selected health facilities in Ethiopia.Methodsa retrospective cohort study of adolescents was conducted in eight health facilities in two regions of Ethiopia: Addis Ababa and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples´ Region (SNNPR). The study was embedded within a broader study originally aimed at studying clinical outcomes of adolescents. The proportion of adolescents who transitioned was calculated and the association between baseline characteristics and transition was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analysis.Resultsof 1072 adolescents, 8.7% transitioned to adult care. The most frequent age of transition was 15 (range: 10-22). Multivariate analysis generated two significant findings: adolescents from Addis Ababa were more to likely transitioned than adolescents from SNNPR (aOR: 2.18; 95% CI=1.17-4.06; p<0.01), as well as disclosed adolescents compared to those not disclosed of their HIV-status (aOR: 4.19; 95% CI=1.57-11.98; p<0.01).Conclusiontransition occurred in less than 10% of participants, in a wide range of age, indicating a lack of implementation policies regarding the transition process. Thereto, we found that adolescents from Addis Ababa and those disclosed of their disease, were more likely to transition. Further studies are needed to better understand factors associated with transition success.

Contract and Control: Agrarian labour mobilisation and resistance under large-scale land investments for biofuel crop production in Ethiopia

This article explores the “agrarian question of labour” (AQ of labour) that is emerging in Ethiopia as part of a strategy of agricultural commercialisation present since the mid-2000s. We contribute to debates about the uneven character and open-ended trajectory of Ethiopia’s agrarian transformation, which is a state-led, investmentbased attempt at a transition from a largely rural, agrarian society and economy to an increasingly industrial one. The article addresses why and how agricultural commercialisation failed in the case of two overlapping and nearly identical agricultural investment projects in Hararghe and Wolaita that were financed by interlinked multinational financial groups and facilitated by the state for the production and processing of the biofuel crop castor. The state’s contractual incorporation of smallholders into these poorly planned and financially extractive large-scale land investments was met with various forms of resistance which contributed to the failure of the projects. The article points to the centrality of an unresolved agrarian question of labour as a source of tension in Ethiopia’s agrarian transformation. While literature conceptualises agricultural commercialisation in Ethiopia through a dichotomous model – state support to smallholder farming in the country’s highlands, and investment-led, large- scale commercialisation in the lowlands – in this article we emphasise the importance of contract-farming (CF) as a third mode of agricultural commercialisation. CF relies on the incorporation of smallholders, including their landholdings and labour-power, into large-scale land investment projects via out-grower schemes. This article shows that CF gained political momentum over the course of the 2000s as a commercialisation model that facilitates investments in smallholder farming (i. e. through commercialising their productive activities) without necessitating rapid changes in the agrarian social structure (i. e. by inhibiting rapid social differentiation and land dispossession of smallholders). The strategic rationale of CF was to regulate the swelling of a land-detached labour force (i. e. a precarious and politically dangerous stratum), should agro-industrial growth not proceed at a pace sufficient to absorb that force (i. e. provide employment outside smallholder agriculture). Empirically, the article relies on ethnographic fieldwork addressing the trajectories of investor-operated and state-mediated CF for castor over the course of a decade (mid-2000s to mid-2010s) in the East/West Hararghe zones of the Oromia Region and in the Wolaita zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR). Through the agency of near identical ad hoc investment companies – Flora EcoPower (FEP) in Hararghe and Global Energy Ethiopia (GEE) in Wolaita operating for about a decade since 2005 – Ethiopia’s development planners hoped that these two peripheries, which were characterised by high labour-to-land ratios, land degradation and labour out-migration, would see the commercialisation and improvement of smallholder production and livelihoods. The two case studies combined reveal that, firstly, top-down planning and implementation of CF, and the processes of subversion and resistance this engendered, played a crucial role in the ultimate failure of the investment projects. It shows that agricultural commercialisation, based on the state’s coercive contractual incorporation of smallholders into large-scale land deals, can lead to a backlash that undermines the state’s development(al) strategies. Secondly, the legacy that the failure of the projects left behind, added fuel to an already politicised fire surrounding the labour question, i. e. the extent to which the attempted agricultural transformation to commercialised agro-industrial production can sufficiently diversify incomes and offer employment opportunities to offset social ills and political grievances. Thirdly, the two cases of CF reveal the same land and labour exploitative logic behind investments that prioritise quick returns over long-term planning and thereby disregard the local socio-economic and ecological conditions in which they intervene. Despite their specificities, we conclude that the two cases cast a shadow on the ostensive capacity of the Ethiopian state to mitigate the adversities and contradictions of investment-based, state-mediated agricultural commercialisation through CF. Beside the economic significance of failed agricultural investment projects, the protests that followed silent subversions in Wolaita and Hararghe marked an additional point of rupture in the relationship between government and farmers. This is particularly significant as, since the EPRDF came to power in the 1990s, the leadership has always capitalised on smallholders’ support as a central social constituency.

Effects of Conservation-induced Displacement on the Bacha of Southwest Ethiopia

This paper examines the impact of conservation-induced displacement on the Bacha community resulting from the establishment of Chebera-Chuchura National Park in Konta Special Woreda, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). It attempts to reconstruct the customary functions that the forestland had played for the livelihoods of the Bacha community and its role in cementing reciprocal relations among different social groups in pre-eviction contexts. The study employed a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research tools including in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and household survey. Michael Cernea’s analytical framework to assess the risks associated with displacement – Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) – is employed to see the multifaceted aspects of conservation-induced displacement. The findings revealed that in spite of the fact that displaced Bacha people have enjoyed greater level of access to land they suffered loss of entitlements to forest-based assets such as honey and plants of enormous medicinal value. The community also faced loss of job opportunities due to restrictions imposed on access to forestland that supported beneficial biodiversity for the livelihood of the Bacha people. Also adversely affected are inter-community relations built on reciprocal exchange of goods and services between the Bacha and neighboring farming communities. Now, the Bacha have faced the difficult task of adapting to the land-based crop farming as a new source of livelihood since they lack the necessary farming skills to make a living out of crop farming.

Spatial patterns and determinants of postnatal care use in Ethiopia: findings from the 2016 demographic and health survey

ObjectivePostnatal care (PNC) is essential for preventing maternal and newborn deaths; however, it still remains less well recognised in low-income and middle-income countries. This study was aimed to explore geographical...

Breakthrough tuberculosis disease among people with HIV – Should we be worried? A retrospective longitudinal study

IntroductionIsoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is a proven means to prevent tuberculosis (TB) disease among people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, there is a concern that patients often develop tuberculosis disease while receiving IPT, defined here as breakthrough tuberculosis, which may affect treatment outcome. In this study, we assessed the magnitude and determinants of breakthrough tuberculosis.MethodsA multisite retrospective longitudinal study from the year 2005 to 2014 involving 11 randomly selected hospitals from the Addis Ababa, SNNPR (Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region), and Gambela regions of Ethiopia was carried out to assess the occurrence of breakthrough tuberculosis. Cox regression analysis was used to study factors associated with breakthrough TB.Results4,484 patients in chronic HIV care received IPT. Eighty percent of the same number received antiretroviral therapy (ART). Tuberculosis developed in 88 of 4,484 (2%) patients of which 24 (0.5%) were diagnosed while receiving IPT. Breakthrough TB incidence was 1106 per 100,000 person-years (PY) (95% CI: 742–1651) while TB incidence after completing IPT was 624 per 100,000 PY (95% CI: 488–797). Seven of the 24 (29%) breakthrough TB cases were diagnosed within the first month of IPT initiation. Of 15 patients who developed breakthrough TB while on ART, nine (60%) were diagnosed within the first six months of ART initiation. Having high CD4 cell count and being on ART were associated with having lower risk of developing TB and breakthrough TB.ConclusionBreakthrough TB was uncommon in the study setting. Even then, taking ART reduced the risk of its occurrence. Slightly more than a quarter of the cases of breakthrough TB occurred in the first month of treatment and may be existing undiagnosed TB cases which were missed during diagnostic work-up.

HIV infection and unknown HIV status among tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Each case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection worsens the global HIV situation, leads to the failure to achieve tuberculosis (TB) control targets worldwide, and impacts on the use of health service resources. We determined the prevalence of HIV infection among TB patients and the proportion of TB patients with unknown HIV status in Ethiopia. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Web of Science electronic databases. Heterogeneity of the included studies was checked using the I² statistic and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's regression statistical test. We employed a random-effects model to determine the pooled prevalence of HIV infection and unknown HIV status. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to examine the effect of possible outliers on the overall estimate. The prevalence of HIV infection among TB patients and the proportion of TB patients with unknown HIV status was respectively 23.4% (95%CI 19.6-27.2) and 6.4% (95%CI 1.7-11.0). Based on geographical location, the prevalence of HIV infection was 31.4% (95%CI 19.2-43.6) in Amhara Region, 23.2% (95%CI 9.9-36.5) in Oromia, 20.9% (95%CI 17.8-24.0) in Addis Ababa and 16.5% (95%CI 12.0-21.0) in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR). In Ethiopia, almost one in four TB patients is infected with HIV. Given the epidemiological variation of Ethiopia, responsive, integrated sustainable programmes for HIV and TB are essential to minimise the epidemics of HIV infection and TB.

Recent research on megalithic stele sites of the Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

We discuss a new research effort to identify, document, date and better understand megalithic stele sites of the Gedeo zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of southern Ethiopia. The Gedeo zone is home to numerous stele sites, features that occur as isolates, in small groups, and as localities with numerous stele. We provide an overview of the region and its archaeological heritage, and then describe and report on our recent research efforts, which includes preliminary data related to the emergence of these stele sites, components of their materiality in terms of form, distribution, and stone source, and assessment of charcoal and obsidian recovered from excavations.

Microbead-based spoligotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Ziehl-Neelsen-stained microscopy preparations in Ethiopia

The worldwide dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains has led to the study of their genetic diversity. One of the most used genotyping methods is spoligotyping, based on the detection of spacers in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) locus. This study assessed the performance of a microbead-based spoligotyping assay using samples extracted from Ziehl-Neelsen-stained smear-microscopy preparations and described the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among new TB patients in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia. Among the 91 samples analysed, 59 (64.8%) generated spoligotyping patterns. Fifty (84.7%) samples were classified into 12 clusters (mostly Lineage 4 or 3) comprising 2–11 samples and nine had unique spoligotyping patterns. Among the 59 spoligotyping patterns, 25 belonged to the T1 sublineage, 11 to the T3-ETH, 5 to the URAL, 4 to the H3 and 14 to other L4 sublineages. There was a remarkable variation in genetic distribution in SNNPR compared to other regions of the country. Microbead-based spoligotyping is an easy-to-perform, high-throughput assay that can generate genotyping information using material obtained from smear microscopy preparations. The method provides an opportunity to obtain data of the M. tuberculosis genetic epidemiology in settings with limited laboratory resources.

English

The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of women in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia on using modern technology to enhance their productivity. To achieve this goal, survey design with quantitative method was employed. The primary source of the data was household women. They were selected by using stratified sampling. The data gathering tools were questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interviews. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that 73.2% of the study participants have been using modern technology in their day-to-day life. Additionally, over half of the women indicated that using modern technology has saved their time, increased their income from agriculture, and helped them to live a better life. However, 80% of respondents in Gamo Gofa and 76% in Bench Maji believed that modern technology had no effect in reducing environmental impact. 47.6% of the respondents believed that modern technology reduced cost. In Sidama and Silte zones, 74.5 and 74.88% respectively, of the study participants recognized as modern technology have brought change in their life. 61.83% believed that leading a better life as a result of using modern technology. On the other hand, in Basketo and Semenomo, 68 and 70% of women respectively had negative attitudes towards modern technology in saving their time. In Bench Maji zone, 77% of the respondents believed that modern technology never increased their income. Finally, to improve the existing negative perception of women towards modern technology in some areas of the region, feasible recommendations are made by showing directions to different stakeholders on how to solve the identified shortcomings. Key words: Women, agriculture, perception, modern technology.

Measuring the Current Patient Safety Culture in Public General Hospitals of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia: Perspective of Health Care Workers

Measuring the Current Patient Safety Culture in Public General Hospitals of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia: Perspective of Health Care Workers

A food-based approach to reduce vitamin A deficiency in southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study of maternal nutrition and health indicators

One micronutrient essential for proper growth and development is Vitamin A. Children and pregnant women are most susceptible to vitamin A deficiency (VAD) because of the higher intake requirements needed during critical growth periods. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious but preventable public health problem in Ethiopia. In 2012, the International Potato Center (CIP) partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) and local stakeholders in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia, to address the issue of VAD among rural SNNPR households by increasing production and consumption of orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP). This paper presents a cross-sectional analysis of vitamin A knowledge, consumption practices, and OFSP agronomic practices from surveys conducted among households who participated in a food-based intervention. The study population consisted of 150 mothers from rural households in five districts in the Sidama and Wolayta zones in the SNNPR. Data were collected during April and May 2013 by trained enumerators in the local language using structured questionnaires. Surveys were adapted from validated instruments, and included questions about household socioeconomic characteristics, agricultural practices, dietary diversity, food security, and general health for women between 20-60 years and children between 6-59 months. Among respondents, 63% of mothers reported knowledge about vitamin A, with responses varying by geographic location. Among those who reported knowledge about vitamin A, 8% identified OFSP as a source, 1% had consumed OFSP in the past 7 days, and 0% reported that they ever prepared OFSP with an animal- or vegetable-based fat. Vitamin A-related health issues reported by mothers include night-blindness (32%), measles (32%) and malaria (72%). Given that existing knowledge, behaviors and production levels of vitamin A rich foods (including OFSP) are limited within the SNNPR study population and vary by geographic location, an integrated, food-based approach to address VAD may be relevant in this context to sustainably support improved health and livelihoods. Key words : Nutrition, orange fleshed sweet potato, behavior change, Ethiopia

Waiving the extinction debt: Can shade from coffee prevent extinctions of epiphytic plants from isolated trees?

AbstractAimLocal extinction after habitat modifications is often delayed, leading to an extinction debt. Our first aim was to develop a conceptual model for natural and human‐mediated habitat improvements after a disturbance that may waive part of the predicted extinction debt. Second, we wanted to test this model on the distribution of epiphytic plants on trees that had been isolated in the agricultural matrix after forest clearing, around which coffee subsequently had been planted with a possible improvement of the microclimate.LocationBonga, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia.MethodsWe studied 50 trees that had been isolated for periods ranging from a few years to half a century after clearing. The trees were now located in the agricultural landscape at different distances from intact Afromontane forests. Fourteen trees in the forests were used as references. Each tree was inventoried for all vascular epiphytic plants, mosses and liverworts.ResultsTime since clearance had a direct negative effect on number of forest specialist species via delayed extinctions and the detected large extinction debt of both bryophytes and vascular plants continued to be paid over several decades. However, time since clearance had an indirect positive effect on number of forest indicator species via the reappearance of shade from coffee planted surrounding the trees, even if the waiving effect on the extinction debt was rather small. Additionally, trees at further distances from the forest edge had fewer forest‐associated species.Main conclusionsOur results show that the ability of agroecological landscapes to foster forest biodiversity may be overestimated if meta‐community processes over time and space are not taken into account. However, the possibility of initiating counteracting processes that modify the level of expected local extinctions should be evaluated more often to find ways of improving conditions for biodiversity in human‐modified landscapes.

Aspects of the Morphophonology of Hamar

Hamar is a member of the Aroid group of languages spoken by around 46,000 individuals (CSA 2008). The Hamar live in the plain lands of the semi-desert region of the rift valley in the south western corner of Ethiopia, in the South Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Their subsistence can be characterized as a mixture of pastoralism and shifting agriculture. The earliest attempts at describing the language were made available through the publications of Conti Rossini (1927) and Da Trento (1941), who provided a few comparative lists of words and grammatical sketches. Over the last few decades, however, some progress has been made in describing aspects of the structure of the language, and these include: Lydall (1976, 1988, 2000), Mary (1987), Getahun (1991), Cupi et al (2013), Binyam &amp; Moges (2014), and Moges &amp; Binyam (2015). Only Lydall (1976), Mary (1987) and Moges &amp; Binyam (2015) briefly described the phonology, the latter with the aim of designing an orthography for the envisaged mother tongue education in the Hamar language. This contribution is a follow up to these previous efforts and it tries to describe aspects of the morphophonology of Hamar. In doing so, the paper gives a concise summary of the sound pattern of the language, focusing on the syllable structure, phonotactic constraints and word structure conditions that regulate the morphophonemic alternations. Three processes are found to be wide-spread in the morphophonology of the language: the spreading of nasality, the spreading of place of articulation and the spreading of manner of articulation. While nasality spreads from right to left, the spreading of place and manner features takes place from left to right.

Factors that hinder or enable maternal health strategies to reduce delays in rural and pastoralist areas in Ethiopia.

To document factors that hinder or enable strategies to reduce the first and second delays of the Three Delays in rural and pastoralist areas in Ethiopia. A key informant study was conducted with 44 Health Extension Workers in Afar Region, Kafa Zone (Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples' Region), and Adwa Woreda (Tigray Region). Health Extension Workers were trained to interview women and ask for stories about their recent experiences of birth. We interviewed the Health Extension Workers about their experiences referring women for Skilled Birth Attendance and Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Themes related to reducing the first delay, such as the tradition of home birth, decision-making, distance and unavailability of transport, did not differ between the three locations. Themes related to reducing the second delay differed substantially. Health Extension Workers in Adwa Woreda were more likely to call ambulances due to support from the Health Development Army and a functioning referral system. In Kafa Zone, some Health Extension Workers were discouraged from calling ambulances as they were used for other purposes. In Afar Region, few Health Extension Workers were called to assist women as most women give birth at home with Traditional Birth Attendants unless they need to travel to health facilities for Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care. Initiatives to reduce delays can improve access to maternal health services, especially when Health Extension Workers are supported by the Health Development Army and a functioning referral system, but district (woreda) health offices should ensure that ambulances are used as intended.

Economic Valuation of Microbial Genetic Resources: The Case of Rhizobia Bio-fertilizer in Some Regions of Ethiopia

Economic valuation of microbial genetic resources was conducted in three Zones, Arsi from Oromia, East Shoa from Amhara and Wolhyta from Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Willingness to pay (WTP) bids to use Rhizobia bio-fertilizer for production of different legumes was calculated. The average willingness to pay for bio-fertilizer in haricot bean production was 201.76 USD (at existing exchange rate) /household/ year. When bio-fertilizer was used for faba bean production, increase by 1 hectare of land, increased the willingness to pay for bio-fertilizer by 667 USD/quintal/year. Moreover, Higher income is significantly related to higher WTP at (F=72.17, sig. = 0.000). In general the study showed that those farmers who have gained benefits from using Rhizobia biofertilizers in all the studied Sub-districts (kebels) indicated highest WTP for the bio-fertilizers in the study. There were certain factors like size of land holding, yield per hectare and herbicides that affected the total yield and thereby the WTP. Although there might be other factors that contributed for yield increases of the leguminous plants in the studied area, it may be possible to conclude that the benefit from the use of the bio-fertilizer was significantly higher compared to those gains obtained without using bio-fertilizers. Despite that there has been certain controversy on methodological issues involving willingness-to-pay, the support of WTP in determining the economic value of genetic resources widely increased. Thus the current economic value estimate of the rhizobia bacteria may be indicated by the WTP of the studied farmers.

Nutritional Value of Coffee Made from a Mixture of Coffee Leaf and Spices Used in Ethiopia

In the south western part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia, coffee is prepared not only from coffee bean but also from a mixture of coffee leaf and spices; commonly practiced in Kaffa, Sheka and Bench-Maji zones. The purpose of this study was to determine the proximate and mineral compositions of the coffee and evaluate its nutritional and energy values. The American Public Health Association (APHA) methods were employed for the determination of pH, crude fat and minerals. The phenol sulphuric acid and the Kjeldahl procedures were used for the determination of total carbohydrate and protein, respectively. The amount of energy that could be obtained from the drink was estimated by taking the sum of the proportions of fat, carbohydrate and protein. The percent values were: carbohydrate 0.92 ± 0.21-2.04 ± 0.16, protein 0.19 ± 0.01-0.44 ± 0.02 and fat 2.43 ± 0.49-4.17 ± 0.30. Energy content was 96.05 ± 13.72-434.53 ± 18.33 kcal. Considerable amounts of K (619.29–1910.67), Na (2654.19–3671.61), Fe (4.70–8.57), Mg (33.98-97.45), Ca (24.99–59.58), Mn (0.91–1.58), Cu (0.09–0.24), Zn (0.42–0.78), N (286.48–710.00) and P (24.47–59.10) mg/L were obtained. The Na:K and Ca:P ratios are found to be 1.92–4.27 and 0.62–1.02, respectively. There exist significant differences in almost all the nutrients among the roasted and other types of coffee made from a mixture of coffee leaf and spices (P<0.05). Generally, the drink contains significant nutrients vital for energy and health. It could be used as a supplement to satisfy human nutrition needs (food additive) so that it would partially curb nutrition insecurity problems in and out of the region and the country, especially for coffee growing countries.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Trachoma in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, Ethiopia: Results of 40 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Carried Out with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project

ABSTRACTPurpose: We sought to estimate the prevalence of trachoma at sufficiently fine resolution to allow elimination interventions to begin, where required, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia.Methods: We carried out cross-sectional population-based surveys in 14 rural zones. A 2-stage cluster randomized sampling technique was used. A total of 40 evaluation units (EUs) covering 110 districts (“woredas”) were surveyed from February 2013 to May 2014 as part of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP), using the standardized GTMP training package and methodology.Results: A total of 30,187 households were visited in 1047 kebeles (clusters). A total of 131,926 people were enumerated, with 121,397 (92.0%) consenting to examination. Of these, 65,903 (54.3%) were female. In 38 EUs (108 woredas), TF prevalence was above the 10% threshold at which the World Health Organization recommends mass drug administration with azithromycin annually for at least 3 years. The region-level age- and sex-adjusted trichiasis prevalence was 1.5%, with the highest prevalence of 6.1% found in Cheha woreda in Gurage zone. The region-level age-adjusted TF prevalence was 25.9%. The highest TF prevalence found was 48.5% in Amaro and Burji woredas. In children aged 1–9 years, TF was associated with being a younger child, living at an altitude <2500m, living in an area where the annual mean temperature was >15°C, and the use of open defecation by household members.Conclusion: Active trachoma and trichiasis are significant public health problems in SNNPR, requiring full implementation of the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement).

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Burji District, Segan Area Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia.

BackgroundAn ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants was conducted in Burji District, Segan Area Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to identify and document wild edible plants and the associated ethnobotanical knowledge of the local people.MethodsRelevant ethnobotanical data focused on wild edible plants were collected using guided field walk, semi-structured interview, and direct field observation. Informant consensus method and group discussion were conducted for crosschecking and verification of the information. Both descriptive statistics and quantitative ethnobotanical methods were used for data analysis.ResultsWe documented 46 species distributed in 37 genera and 29 families based on local claims of use as food. Local users collect most of these plants from the wild. The common plant families that encompass more number of wild edible plant species were Anacardiaceae (five species) followed by Boraginaceae, Fabaceae and Solanaceae which contributed three species each.ConclusionThe study showed the existence of a number of wild edible plants which mitigate food insecurity situations during problematic times that the people of the area face occasionally. Informants stated that wild growing edible plants are under threat due to increased anthropogenic pressure and disturbed climatic conditions. This calls for urgent and collaborative actions to keep the balance between edible plants availability in the wild and their utilization by the community. Furthermore, the study attempted to prioritize very important wild edible plants as perceived by the local people for possible domestication and/or sustainable utilization.