Policy, finance and technology in livestock development in sub-Saharan Africa: Some critical issues

Examines the role and importance of the livestock subsector of Africas' agricultural sector, its performance over the last two decades, the constraints which limit its development and the progress being made in solving theese constraints

Financing livestock services in some countries of East and Southern Africa

Examines the financing of livestock services in six East and Southern African countries, describing the contribution of the livestock sector to agricultural output and the size of the recurrent expenditure on livestock services. Compares the composition of expenditures in terms of staff and non-staff categories as well as the sources and methods of financing, including revenues collected from service fees and sale of veterinary requisites. Includes recommendations for improving the adequacy of financing livestock services

Financing animal health services in some African countries

Summary & conclusions of a paper on the financing of animal health services in 13 West & Central African countries, and Madagascar in the 1970s. Discusses the size & composition of animal health services operating budget, considering expenditures for animal health services & livestock's role in the economy, & sources & methods of financing. Includes some indicators of the adequacy of animal health services

Financing livestock services: Do directors of veterinary services have a distinct role in policy-making?

Identifies some of the factors which affect decisions on the absolute level and structure of financing livestock services, on cost recovery and privatization as well as the direction policy is likely to take as a result. Explores instruments available to directors of veterinary services and hence to major policy decisions at the central government level

Trends in sub-Saharan Africa's livestock industries

Describes the situation in sub-Saharan Africa's livestock industries over the last two decades, reviewing the most important trends in Africa's livestock industries, with particular reference to meat & milk output from ruminant livestock, & the external trade in these commodities; & considering these trends on the basis of a regional comparison of the situation in four subregions of sub-Saharan Africa. Examines the resource base & the changes that have taken place in it over the last 20 years, assessing factors affecting output & discussing the implications for livestock policy in sub-Saharan Africa

Assessment of the impact of latrine utilization on diarrhoeal diseases in the rural community of Hulet Ejju Enessie Woreda, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region

Background: The construction of latrine is a relatively simple technology that is used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. While household access is important, community sanitation coverage is even more important to improve health through the regular use of well-maintained sanitation facilities.Objective: Assessing the impact of latrine utilization on diarrhoeal diseases in the rural community in the district of Hulet Ejju Enessie Woreda, East Gojam.Method: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a randomly selected 824 households that had 90% latrine coverage at the time data collection in 2006. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire complemented with observation was used to collect data. The study area is found in one of the districts of East Gojjam where the health services extension program was actively underway. Trained data collectors and supervisors were involved in the study. Data entry and cleaning was done using EPI INFO 6.04d, while SPSS version 11 was used for data analysis.Results: Most (61%) households with traditional pit latrines had latrine utilization. In a bivaraite analysis, the extent of latrine utilization was significantly associated with presence of primary or secondary school children in the house [AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: (1.04-2.06)], perceived reasons for latrine construction [AOR: 2.89, 95% CI: (1.24-6.72)] and learning from neighborhoods [AOR: 10.07, 95% CI: (1.97-51.56)], ecology of ‘Kolla’ [AOR: 0.47, 95% CI: (0.29-0.74) and ‘Woyna-Dega’ [AOR: 0.55, 95% CI: (0.38-0.81), and owning latrines for >2 years [AOR: 2.13, 95% CI: (1.57-2.89)]. The occurrence of childhood diarrhoea was not statistically associated with the extent of latrine utilization [AOR: 0.63, 95% CI: (0.22-1.81)]; however, only owning latrines for >2 years remained significant in a multivariate analysis [AOR: 0.28, 95% CI: (0.12-0.66)]. Conclusion: Utilization of latrine facilities was common among the majority of households. The duration of having latrines had impacted the occurrence of childhood diarrhea. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2010;24(2);110-118

Availability of Adequately Iodized Salt at Household Level and Associated Factors in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, Iodine Deficiency Disorder has been recognized as a serious public health problem for the past six decades. In 2011, an estimated 12 million school-age children were living with inadequate iodine, and 66 million people were at risk of iodine deficiency. One out of every 1000 people is a cretin mentally handicapped, due to a congenital thyroid deficiency, and about 50000 prenatal deaths are occurring annually due to iodine deficiency disorders. Only 5.7% of the households were using iodized salt in Dire Dawa city Administration, which is below the legal requirement.This study assessed availability of adequately iodized salt at household level and associated factors in Dire Dawa town, East Ethiopia. Community based cross-sectional study was carried out among households in Dire Dawa town during March 16-26, 2015. Multistage sampling technique was used. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire by a face-to-face interview technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to check associations and control confounding. A total of 694 participants were participated. The availability of adequately iodized salt (≥15 parts per million) in the study area was 7.5% (95% CI; 5.6-9.5). Multivariate result showed that health information about iodized salt (AOR=8.96, 95% CI; 4.68-17.16) (p=0.03), good knowledge about iodized salt (AOR=9.23, 95% CI; 3.34-25.5) (p=0.01) and using packed salt (AOR=3.99, 95% CI; 1.48-10.73) (p=0.006) were associated with availability of adequately iodized salt at household level. Availability of adequately iodized salt at household level was very low. Hence, households should be sensitized about importance of iodized salt and its proper handling at the household level

The scope for improvement

Discusses the need for identifying sociological and economic possibilities for improvement in pastoral production systems, mentioning the major steps involved, particularly, identification of potential improvements, prediction of their likely impact on net production & quality of life; prediction of the probability of adoption; and assessment of the rapidity with which the improvements will bear fruit

The financing and staffing of livestock services in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross country analysis

Examines how livestock services are financed in different African countries, analyses the factors which seem to determine the present pattern of government recurrent expenditure and staffing, the relationship between policy instruments employed by governments and the quantity and quality of services provided, and draws the implications for policy from the findings of the study. Describes the past pattern of expenditure and staffing; discusses this pattern in terms of staff and non-staff categories of total recurrent expenditure, and sources of funding; and looks at the evolution of livestock expenditure and staffing