Traditional food processing practices of oats (Avena sativa) and its contribution to food security in Gozamin District of northwest Ethiopia

Oat is one of the cereal crops in Ethiopia, which is less recognized in terms of its food value and productivity. It is grown and utilized as a staple food only in a specific part of the country. The objective of this study was to assess the food significance of oat and document associated traditional food knowledge of the crop in Gozamin district, Northwest part of Ethiopia. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Secondary data collected from Gozamin agriculture development offices and research centers were used to support our results. A total of 388 households participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were edited, coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 20.0. The results of this study affirmed that 97.2% of the producers cultivated oat every year and high rainfall is the suitable weather condition for its production. As per the results of this study, oat is tolerant to acidic and marginally fertile soils where other plants do not grow and yield well. As compared to other conventional cereal crops, 85% of the participants of the study reported that the cultivation of oat does not require extensive farming and can be produced with minimum inputs. The entire population of respondents (100%) reported that oat grain was used as food. Almost all the respondents (99.2%) utilized oat as their staple crop for their families. Oat ranked first in terms of consumption at household level as compared to other cereal crops (tef, maize, wheat, and barley). In the district, oat is processed into different food types and beverages including injera, kitta/anababiro, gruel, porridge, enket, and local alcoholic drinks, tella. Oat is rarely used to prepare porridge and local alcoholic beverages as compared to other cereal-based staple food types. Porridge and local alcoholic beverages are commonly prepared for special occasions and on holidays. Oat is a less known crop in specific locations but could contribute to enhancing food diversity options to improve food and nutrition security efforts in the country

Podoconiosis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs): double burden of neglected tropical diseases in Wolaita zone, rural southern Ethiopia

Background Both podoconiosis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections occur among barefoot people in areas of extreme poverty; however, their co-morbidity has not previously been investigated. We explored the overlap of STH infection and podoconiosis in Southern Ethiopia and quantified their separate and combined effects on prevalent anemia and hemoglobin levels in podoconiosis patients and health controls from the same area. Methods and Principal Findings A two-part comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Data were collected from adult patients presenting with clinically confirmed podoconiosis, and unmatched adult neighborhood controls living in the same administrative area. Information on demographic and selected lifestyle factors was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Stool samples were collected and examined qualitatively using the modified formalin-ether sedimentation method. Hemoglobin level was determined using two different methods: hemoglobinometer and automated hematology analyzer. A total of 913 study subjects (677 podoconiosis patients and 236 controls) participated. The prevalence of any STH infection was 47.6% among patients and 33.1% among controls (p<0.001). The prevalence of both hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections was significantly higher in podoconiosis patients than in controls (AOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to2.42, AOR 6.53, 95% CI 2.34 to 18.22, respectively). Not wearing shoes and being a farmer remained significant independent predictors of infection with any STH. There was a significant interaction between STH infection and podoconiosis on reduction of hemoglobin level (interaction p value = 0.002). Conclusions Prevalence of any STH and hookworm infection was higher among podoconiosis patients than among controls. A significant reduction in hemoglobin level was observed among podoconiosis patients co-infected with hookworm and ‘non-hookworm STH’. Promotion of consistent shoe-wearing practices may have double advantages in controlling both podoconiosis and hookworm infection in the study area