Levels of essential and toxic metals in Ethiopian khat, (Catha Edulis Forsk.)

Khat chewing is a common habit in East Africa and Arabian Peninsula. However, detail of in-organic elemental content of this plant is scarcely known. Samples of khat (Catha edulis) were collected from different parts ofEthiopia. The leaf parts, which are chewed, were separated and air dried at room temperature. The dried samples were grounded to a fine size by the use of stainless steel mills. One gram was mineralized for metal analysis via digestion in aqua regia under reflux. Spiking was performed to check the accuracy of the digestion procedure. Recoveries varied from 84.5 % to 109.6 %. Thirteen metal concentrations were measured by Flame Atomic Absorption/Emission Spectrometer and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer employing an external calibration curve. Levels of metals (mg/kg) on Dried Weight Basis were recorded as follows; Cu: 5.11-9.55 Cd: 0.03-6.54 Pb: non detectable to 1.57 Zn: 4.15-89.3 Mn:6.45-20 K: 5929.65-10948 Na: 218.2-842.25 Li: 0.1-0.85 Al: 2448.15-8556.45 Ba: 12.13-1479 Mg: 1798.5.5-3098.75 Fe: 260.95-1551.8 Ca: 2190.9- 10985.8. The possible consumption for the measured elements by chewing khat on regular basis lies within the recommended daily allowance (RDA) except for Al, Fe and Ba. Detection of toxic elements like Cd and Pb in khat plant samples investigated might be related to possible introduction of artificial contaminants to the ecosystem of Ethiopia. But the quantities found are in very small amounts thus there should not be an alarm  although usual precautions of keeping the environment safe from artificial hazards is necessary. The levels of the analyzed elements in khat that surpassed the RDA i.e. Barium may expose the khat users to damages toheart, blood vessels and nervous system, Iron may facilitate growth of certain pathogenic microorganisms and Aluminium also had unconfirmed correlations under study with neuro-disorders.Key Words: Khat, Catha edulis, Metals, Flame Atomic Absorption/Emission Spectrometer (FAAS), Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GFAAS), Ethiopia

Impact of Input and Output Market Development Interventions on Input Use and Net Income of Households in Ethiopia

This study evaluated the impact of input and output market development interventions of the IPMS project at Alaba and Dale PLW, SNNPR on input use, productivity and total net income of the participant households. The study has used cross-sectional sampled household survey of 200 households which was taken from both Alaba and Dale districts. A propensity score matching method was applied to assess the impact of the project on the treated households. The intervention has resulted in positive and significant effect on level of input use on the treated households. This increased use of inputs enabled participants to earn on average a total net income of about birr 1,483 at Alaba and birr 2,228 at Dale form the commodities of intervention over their counter parts. Based on the results obtained scale out of such market development interventions has a paramount importance for economic development of the country. Key words: Input and output market development intervention, propensity score matching, Pilot learning wored

Formulation of complementary food using amaranth, chickpea and maize improves iron, calcium and zinc content

Malnutrition is the cause of the majority of deaths in children under five years old in Ethiopia. Micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, zinc and calcium, often seen in malnourished children, are major public health problems throughout Ethiopia. These deficiencies have negative consequences on the cognitive and physical development of children, and on work productivity of adults. There is, therefore, a need for sustainable methods to address iron inadequacy in complementary feeding. Animal products are a good source of iron, zinc and calcium, but due to their high costs, their consumption by most children in Ethiopia has declined. The grain amaranth grows wild in areas of Ethiopia but is considered a weed. This study, conducted in rural Ethiopia, was initiated to prepare nutrient-rich complementary food using recipes that substituted the usual maize gruel with porridge made from amaranth and chickpea flours. Using a laboratory based experimental study design, four porridges suitable for complementary feeding, with different proportions of amaranth grains, maize and chickpeas were formulated in triplicate and analyzed in triplicate for minerals including iron, and phytate levels. Mother-child pairs were recruited for acceptability testing, at the community level. Results showed adding amaranth improved the content of iron and other nutrients as compared to control porridge (100% maize) and decreased phytate levels. The lowest phytate to iron ratio (0.24) was observed in the 70% amaranth and 30% chickpea blend, and the lowest viscosity measure was also observed in this same formulation. Soaking amaranth seeds in warm (50oC) water then germinating in lemon juice-containing water at 32oC for 72 hours resulted in the lowest phytate levels. In sensory testing, all of the formulated porridges with different proportions of amaranth flour were acceptable to mothers and their children, although the red color was disliked by mothers and their children. Flavor preference was not altered; however, overall acceptability was reduced with increasing amounts of amaranth. The study indicated that a processed 70% amaranth and 30% chickpea product can be used to produce low-cost, nutrient-rich complementary food with moderate acceptability. Increased nutritional awareness, production and consumption of grain amaranth products may be the way to address mineral deficiencies including iron, in the study area.Keywords: Micronutrients, Phytates, Complementary feeding, Amaranth grain, Chickpea, Ethiopia, Iron, Zinc

Contour bunding technology-evidence and experience in the semiarid region of southern Mali

Land and water management practices have been widely implemented in rural Mali since the 1980s to improve agricultural productivity and erosion control. Under conditions of recurring droughts, these practices are expected to increase farmers’ ability to cope with shocks. One of the most common practices applied in the central and southern parts of Mali is contour bunding (CB). In this study the impact of the CB technology is evaluated with a focus on biophysical and socio-economic benefits. Data were collected in two agro-ecologies of southern Mali and were generated through field experimentation and household survey. Field experimentation involved implementation of contour lines with farm ridges, agronomic trails and runoff and erosion measurements. Agronomic data was collected on sorghum, maize, groundnut and millet for three consecutive years (2015 to 2017). Socio-economic data on the use of CB was obtained from individual farmer surveys. CB involves the layout of contour lines with land leveling devices to identify points of equal elevation and construction of contour lines with draught animals and human labor. The majority of the labor input to construct and maintain the CB comes from adult men who are head of the household (58%) and youth male (33%). Results indicate that with the application of CB yield of crops was higher with the highest increase in grain yield and biomass obtained for maize and millet (P < 0.01). CB application was useful in retaining soil water and reduced erosion rate. In treatment fields, 162mmof rainfall per year was saved as soil moisture and on average 13,090 kg per hectare of soil was lost from farm fields without CB, and CB implementation significantly reduced the soil loss by 163% (P < 0.01). The improvements in crops yield and biomass, and the retention of soil nutrients positively changed farm level productivity conditions. The majority of farmers (78%) perceived higher income from the sale of crops grown on CB plots. These results suggest the landscape wide application of CB

Interventions to enhance newborn care in north-West Ethiopia: the experiences of health care professionals

Abstract Background The provision of optimal and quality services during labour, delivery and in the early neonatal period is highly required to accelerate the reduction of neonatal deaths and improve the quality of life of newborns. The availability of competent health professionals and the essential medicines and supplies in the health facilities are compulsory. Cost-effective interventions exist to prevent more than 80% of all newborn deaths. However, an unacceptably high number of newborns are dying in the study area, and much is not known about the main contributing factors in primary healthcare settings. This study aimed to explore and describe the quality of care provided to newborns in the primary healthcare units. Methods Qualitative exploratory and descriptive design was employed. Focus group discussions were held with 26 participants (11 health workers and 15 health extension workers) in three woredas in the West Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. Health workers and health extension workers were purposely selected. Thematic analysis was undertaken. Results The primary healthcare facilities play a major role in the provision of essential services for newborns in the critical periods, including during labor and birth, immediately after birth and in the early postnatal care period. Resuscitation of birth asphyxia, prevention of hypothermia, initiation of breastfeeding, application of tetracycline, vitamin k injection, weighing babies and chlorhexidine application were identified as immediate essential intervention for the newborns. However, these interventions are hampered by factors such as lack of adequately trained staff & hands-on skills; weak referral linkage; stock-out of essential medicines and supplies and poor quality for early postnatal care home visits. Conclusions In order to enhance the quality of newborns healthcare provision, the health-systems constraints at health centres and heath posts level should be fixed to provide the required services for newborns. This requires allocation of adequate resources to tackle health facilities readiness related bottlenecks, such as the frequent stock out or lack of essential supplies, equipment, and medicines, lack of proper space for the service provision, not systematic replenishing of the revised job-aids and maintenance of medical equipment, poor infection prevention including water and sanitation in the maternity wards and newborn corners

Marketing channels, dynamics and economic incentives for onion production in Ethiopia: A case study from Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia

This research was initiated to assess the market channels and develops value chain map and econometric model outputs for the onion in Ambo and Toke Kutaye districts of West Showa Zone, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. Primary data were collected using interview guided questionnaires from 183 respondents’ of different actors in onion value chain and four focus group discussions of onion producers. Descriptive and inferential statistics; value chain mapping; marketing margin analysis; and econometrics analysis were used to analyze the data. About four marketing channels were identified in the study areas. The econometric result showed that&nbsp; education level of household, onion farming experience, number of oxen owned, land size used for onion farming, amount of fertilizer used, access to extension services and family size of house hold were variables those significantly influenced the marketable supply of onion at farmers level. Multiple linear regression model indicated that variables like age, farm experience, family size, selling price and improved inputs were significant in affecting onion marketable supply. Thus, to increase the onion productivity, market channel and performances of all actors to maximize the profits of all value chain actors, it is important to integrate all concerned bodies of the onion value chains along with the supporting sectors

Incidence and Predictors of Pre-Eclampsia Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, North West Ethiopia: Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundPre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-induced hypertension that occurs after 20 weeks of gestation. It is the leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality globally, but it is higher in developing countries. In Ethiopia, conducting research on the incidence and predictors of pre-eclampsia is crucial due to the paucity of information.MethodsA prospective cohort study was undertaken using 242 pregnant women between November 1, 2018 and March 30, 2019 at Debre Markos Referral Hospital. All eligible women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Data were entered into the epic-data Version 4.2 and analyzed using the STATA Version 14.0 software. The Cox-proportional hazard regression model was fitted and Cox-Snell residual test was used to assess the goodness of fit. Pre-eclampsia free survival time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Both bivariable and multivariable Cox-proportional hazard regression models were fitted to identify predictors of pre-eclampsia.ResultsThe overall incidence rate of pre-eclampsia was 3.35 per 100 person-years. Having a pre-existing history of diabetes mellitus [AHR=2.7 (95% CI=1.43-8.81)], having a history of multiple pregnancy [AHR=3.4 (95% CI=2.8-6.9)] and being ≥35 years old age [AHR=2.5 (95% CI=1.42-3.54)] were the significant predictors of pre-eclampsia.ConclusionThe incidence of pre-eclampsia was high in this study. Having (pre-existing diabetes and multiple pregnancy) and being ≥35 years old age were the significant predictors of pre-eclampsia. Inspiring pregnant women's health-seeking behavior should provide a chance to diagnose pre-eclampsia early to prevent the medical complication of pre-eclampsia