Effects of antenatal care and institutional delivery on exclusive breastfeeding practice in northwest Ethiopia: a nested case–control study

Background: For the first six months of life, breast milk is the ideal food to provide adequate quality and quantity of nutrients. Exclusive breastfeeding has a profound effect to reduce the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal related morbidities as well as all-cause and infection-related neonatal mortalities. Despite the immense benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, the practice is suboptimal in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess whether antenatal care and institutional delivery contributes to mothers' practice of exclusive breastfeeding in rural communities of northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based nested case–control study was conducted in northwest Ethiopia from November 2009 to August 2011. About 1769 mother-infant pairs were included and followed for six months after birth. Interviews with mothers were conducted in the first week, at 1st, 4th, and 6th month. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were carried out to determine associations between independent variables and exclusive breastfeeding practice. Results: Of the total respondents, 30.7 % (95 % CI: 27 %, 35 %) of mothers exclusively breastfed their infants. In multivariate analysis, own business activity (AOR= 3.06; 95 % CI: 1.29, 7.25), being a housewife (AOR= 3.41; 95 % CI: 1.28, 9.11), having antenatal care (AOR= 1.32; 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.73), giving birth in a health institution (AOR= 1.29; 95 % CI: 1.02, 1.62), and possessing a microfinance bank account (AOR= 2.35; 95 % CI: 1.80, 3.07) were positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice. Conclusions: Despite underutilization of maternal health services, these services contributed to mothers exclusive breastfeeding practice. Strengthening utilization of antenatal care and institutional delivery would have an added benefit in improving exclusive breastfeeding practice. Moreover involving mothers in business activities is important.Gashaw Andargie Biks, Amare Tariku, and Gizachew Assefa Tessem

Розподіл бокового тиску в бетонних сумішах різного складу, зпресовуваних під час виготовлення дорожнього каменю

Наведено аналітичні закономірності, отримані в результаті регресійного аналізу експериментальних даних, щодо впливу зусилля пресування на розподіл бокового тиску в процесі пресування бетонних сумішей різного складу та режиму ущільнення у прес-формі. Виконано порівняння отриманих результатів за методиками різних авторів. Показано, що В/Ц-фактор однозначно впливає на величину розподілу бокового тиску в сумішах різних складів та режимів ущільнення

THERMAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF WALL ASSEMBLIES: CRITERIA IMPORTANCE THEORY AND AHP APPROACH

The problem of the “best” choice in terms of the ecological, durable, cheap and energy-effective material of envelope construction has been considered in the paper. For the numerical assessment of the thermal performance, the MCDA techniques as Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Criteria Importance Theory (CIT) were used. There were proposed eight types of wall assemblies from a natural material, namely: Hempcrete, Adobe, Strawbale panel, Earthbag, Cordwood, SIP (plywood+ecofiber), Hempcrete+straw and Compositional building thermo-block. As a objective function for the search of the best alternative the integral index was proposed which consist of thermo-physical and economic criteria. As the thermo-physical criteria component of the index were taken the u-value of the envelope W/m2K, the dimensionless decrement factor of the envelope f and the internal areal heat capacity of the envelope k1, kJ/m2K according to ISO 13786:2017. As economic criteria of the integral index, the authors proposed the cost of the wall material Q, UAH/m2 and the mass of the wall m, kg/m2. The analysis of the conducted research has shown, that from the one hand there is no absolute “leader” in the ranking of the wall assemblies according to the proposed criteria and MCDA technique, but from the other hand by comparison of the results, there were revealed that the top three alternatives in both AHP and CIT technique are walls of “B”, “D” and “E” type with different point order, achieved in each MCDA calculation technique

Branching Transport Model of Alkali-Halide Scintillators

We measure the time dependence of the scintillator light-emission pulses in NaI(Tl) crystals at different temperatures, after activation by gamma rays. We confirm that there are two main nonexponential components to the time decay and find that their amplitude ratio shows Arrhenius temperature dependence. We explain these nonexponential components as arising from two competing mechanisms of carrier transport to the Tl activation levels. The total light output of the NaI(Tl) detectors shows a linear temperature dependence explained by our model

Prevention and treatment of suspected pneumonia in Ethiopian children less than five years from household to primary care.

AIM: Ethiopia has implemented the integrated community case management to reduce mortality in childhood diseases. We analysed prevention, care seeking and treatment of suspected pneumonia from household to health facility in Ethiopia. METHODS: Analyses were based on a survey in four regions that included modules covering 5714 households, 169 health posts with 276 health extension workers and 155 health centres with 175 staff. Caregivers of children aged 2-59 months responded to questions on awareness of services and care seeking for suspected pneumonia. Pneumonia-related knowledge of health workers was assessed. RESULTS: When a child had suspected pneumonia, 46% (95% CI: 25,68) sought care at health facilities, and 27% (95% CI: 12,51) received antibiotics. Forty-one per cent had received full immunisation. One-fifth (21%, 95%: 19,22) of the caregivers were aware of pneumonia treatment. Sixty-four per cent of the health extension workers correctly mentioned fast or difficult breathing as signs of suspected pneumonia, and 88% suggested antibiotics treatment. CONCLUSION: The caregivers' awareness of suspected pneumonia treatment and the utilisation of these services were low. Some of the health extension workers were not knowledgeable about suspected pneumonia. Strengthening primary health care, including immunisation, and enhancing the utilisation of services are critical for further reduction of pneumonia mortality

Modelling of concrete strength prediction on the fuzzy logic base with “MATLAB 7”

Запропоновано математичну модель прогнозованої міцності бетону на основі апарату нечіткої логіки. Складові моделі враховують вплив як кількісних показників складових бетонної суміші(витрата води, цементу, піску, крупного заповнювача, В/Ц) так і якісні показники впливу(марка цементу, технологічні параметри ущільнення, форма,поверхня заповнювача). Для навчання та налаштування моделі використано експериментальні дані, що оброблялись у програмі “MATLAB 7”. Створено інтерфейс користувача для задання вихідних даних моделі.The mathematical model of concrete strength prediction on the basis of fuzzy logic is offered. Model components take into account the influence of both quantitative indicators of concrete mix components (water consumption, cement, sand, coarse aggregate, water-cement ratio) and qualitative’s ones (cement grade , consolidation technological parameters, aggregate shape and surface ). Experimental data has been used for model training and tuning and processed in "MATLAB 7". A user interface for setting model output was made