Examining the Quality of Pre-school Education in Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

The purpose of this research was to assess the quality of early childhood care and education (ECCE) environment in Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. In the study, health, nutrition, personal care routine, protective care and safety, organization and management philosophy of preschool centres, and children’s experience and learning opportunities in preschool centres were examined.  For the study, 37 pre-school centres were selected from five Zones of the Somali Regional State from which 44 pre-school teachers, 10 school principals and five Zonal level ECCE focal persons participated in the study.  Questionnaire, interview, and an observation guide were used to collect data. The collected data was analyzed through one-sample t-test.  The findings of the study indicated  statistically significant differences between expected means and observed means of health, nutrition, personal care routine, protective care and safety practice, organization and management philosophy of preschool centres, and children’s experience and learning opportunities in preschool centres. Finally, based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations were drawn. Keywords: Quality; Pre-school environment; kindergarten; Somali Regional State DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-22-03 Publication date: August 31st 201

ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR AND VOLTAMMETRIC DETERMINATION OF GESHOIDIN AND ITS SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES IN AQUEOUS BUFFER SOLUTIONS

The electrochemical behaviour of Geshoidin was investigated at a glassy carbon electrode in mixtures of citric acid and di-sodium hydrogen orthophosphate aqueous buffer system over a wide pH range (pH 2-11) using cyclic voltammetry. Chemically irreversible single oxidation and reduction peaks were obtained in the potential and pH range investigated. Variations in the peak potential and peak current of the oxidation peak have been observed as function of pH. The wave characteristics, the reversibility of the reactions, the diffusion coefficient and the number of electrons transferred have been studied. Linear sweep voltammetry was applied for the voltammetric determination of Geshoidin and a linear calibration curve over the range 1.00 x 10-6 - 1.00 x 10-4 M Geshoidin was achieved. The detection limit was found to be 5.00 x 10-7 M Geshoidin. For eight successive determinations of 1 x 10-5 M Geshoidin, a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.2 % was obtained. The voltammetric method was applied to the direct determination of Geshoidin in Gesho. The absorption spectra of Geshoidin are interpreted in terms of structural changes caused by protonation and deprotonation of the molecule as a result of changes in pH. The pKa values of the compound have been determined from the voltammetry and spectrophotometry measurements. The superoxide anion scavenging ability of Geshoidin was examined by differential pulse voltammetry and its antioxidant activity has been compared with natural antioxidants. KEY WORDS: Gesho, Geshoidin, Rhamnus prionoides, Electrochemical behaviour, Voltammetric determination, Spectrophotometry, Antioxidant activity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(2), 189-204

Risk Factors Associated with Invasive Cervical Carcinoma among Women Attending Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a more serious public health problem than other cancers in women in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and in Ethiopia in particular. Thus, this study assessed risk factors related to invasive cervical carcinomas in southwestern Ethiopia.METHODS: Unmatched case control study was conducted in Jimma University Specialized Hospital from April 1 to September 30, 2010. The study consisted of 60 cases (women who had cervical cancers based on histopathologic examination) and 120 controls (women with no cervical cancers). Semi-structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Vaginal examinations often visualized with speculum insertions were done for both cases and controls. Punch cervical biopsies were then performed for the suspected cases at Jimma University Hospital that serves about 15 million people in a catchment radius of 250 kms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0 software. Univariate and multivariate analyes were done to describe and identify independent predictors of cervical cancer.RESULTS: The mean ages of cases and controls were 47.7 (SD=10.8) and 35.5 (SD =10.5) years respectively. Older women (40-59 years), (OR= 4.7; 95%CI= 2.3-9.6), more than one husband (OR= 2.0; 95%CI=1.0-3.9), as well as more than one wife in lifetime, (OR= 3.0; 95% CI= 1.5-5.9), women who had more than 4 children, (OR =10.3, 95% CI= 3.6-29.0), and age greater than 25 years at first full term delivery, (OR= 8.8; 95% CI= 3.5-22.0) were statistically significant and the latter two were  independently associated with invasive cervical cancer. Only 7(11.7 %) of cases and 58(48.3%) of  controls ever heard of cervical cancers; however, 2(3.3%) of cases and 7(5.8%) of controls had ever had history of papaneocolous (pap) smear tests done.CONCLUSION: Poor knowledge on cervical cancer was observed that required more work to be done to increase knowledge of mothers on cervical cancer and on associated risk factors. Behavioral  communication activities and establishment of cervical cancer screening programs for the young could help reduce the advancement of cervical cancer particularly among the less knowledgeable, older and grand multiparous women in our parts of the world.KEYWORDS: invasive cervical carcinoma, risk factors, Jimma, south west Ethiopi

Ent-kaurene and ent-beyerene diterpenoids and other constituents of Thecacoris batesii

Two novel diterpenoids, thecacorins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from Thecacoris batesii and their structures were established as ent-3b,20-epoxy-16-kaurene-3a,12b-diol and ent-15-beyerene-2b,3b-diol, respectively, on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, especially, 1D NMR spectra, in conjunction with 2D experiments, COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC. KEY WORDS: Diterpenoids, Thecacorin A, Thecacorin B, Ent-3b,20-epoxy-16-kaurene-3a,12b-diol, Ent-15-beyerene-2b,3b-diol, Thecacoris batesii  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(1), 89-94

Summary of research for development ‘best practice’ technologies validated in the Africa RISING Endamehoni site in Ethiopia, 2013-2016

United States Agency for International Developmen

Pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain:a prospective study in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Background In low-income countries, the high prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition remains a challenge for the future health of women and their offspring. On top of good nutrition, adequate gestational weight gain has been recognized as an essential prerequisite for optimal maternal and child health outcomes. However, good-quality data on factors influencing gestational weight gain is lacking. Therefore, this study was aimed to prospectively identify pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain in Ethiopia. Methods A population based prospective study was undertaken between February 2018 and January 2019 in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. Firstly, the weight of non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in the study area was measured between August and October 2017. Subsequently, eligible pregnant women identified during the study period were included consecutively and followed until birth. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements complemented with secondary data. Gestational weight gain, i.e., the difference between 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and pre-pregnancy weights, was classified as per the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guideline. Linear, spline, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the influence of pre-conception and prenatal factors on gestational weight gain. Results The mean gestational weight gain (standard deviation[SD]) was 10.6 (2.3) kg. Overall, 64.0% (95% CI 60.9, 67.1) of the women did not achieve adequate weight gain. Factors associated with higher gestational weight gain were higher women empowerment (B 0.60, 95% CI 0.06, 1.14), dietary diversity (B 0.39, 95% CI 0.03, 0.76), pre-pregnancy body mass index (B 0.13, 95% CI 0.05, 0.22), and haemoglobin (B 0.54, 95% CI 0.45, 0.64). Additionally, adequate prenatal care (B 0.58, 95% CI 0.28, 0.88) was associated with higher gestational weight gain. Conclusions Adequate gestational weight gain was not achieved by most women in the study area, primarily not by those who were underweight before pregnancy. Interventions that advance women’s empowerment, dietary quality, pre-pregnancy nutritional status, and prenatal care utilization may improve gestational weight gain and contribute to optimizing maternal and child health outcomes

Livestock: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian Highlands

United States Agency for International Developmen