Distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to physicochemical parameters and macrophyte cover in the Ketar River, Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of physicochemical parameters and macrophyte on the macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Ketar River, which drains into Lake Ziway. Six sampling sites were selected along the river stretch and samples were collected from December to April 2017/2018 based on the method outlined in Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network Protocol Manual. A total of 5,450 individuals comprised of one class, 7 orders, and 23 families were collected during the study period. Hemiptera families were the predominant taxa and contributed the largest percentage of the total samples followed by the Coleoptera. Notonectidae and Corixidae shared the highest total abundance. This study confirmed that the sites covered with macrophytes were significantly different from the substrate both in taxa richness and total abundance (P < 0.05). Redundancy Analysis revealed that pH, Temperature, electric conductivity, DO, NO2, NO3, NH4, SiO2 and TP were the most important variables explaining the variation in macroinvertebrate assemblage patterns. The mean Shannon diversity index also indicated that the sites covered by the macrophyte stand had a significantly higher value than the sites sampled from the substrate, which implies that macrophytes support abundant, and promoting the diversity of macroinvertebrates. Thus, the conservation of macrophytes can enhance the conservation of macroinvertebrates along the course of the river, besides the role of macrophyte in sediment trapping and reducing sedimentation buildup in Lake Ziway

Determinants of Maternal Near Miss in Western Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Analysis of maternal near miss events and identification of factors resulting in maternal death are vital to improve the quality of obstetric care in any given setting. This study is aimed to determine the magnitude of maternal miss and identify its determinants.METHODS: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study design was used. Sixty one maternal near misses (as cases) and 122 mothers who had a normal obstetric outcome (as controls) at obstetrics and gynecology ward of Nekemte Referral Hospital were included from May 1st , 2018 to July 31st, 2018. The criteria set by the World Health Organization were used to identify maternal near miss cases. The data were collected via face-to-face interviews using pretested structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 22. For every case, two controls were recruited. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used. A 95% CI and p-value of <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.RESULT: The magnitude of maternal near miss was 4.97%. Factors including multigravidity (AOR= 3.84, 95% CI: 1.23-11.91), lack of antenatal care (AOR=6.02, 95% CI: 1.55-23.28), delays in accessing health facility (AOR=12, 95% CI: 2.55-56.57) and induction of labor (AOR =9.4, 95% CI: 2.97-29.71) were strongly associated with maternal near miss. Hypertension during pregnancy (40.9%) and obstetric hemorrhage (39.3%) were identified as the major causes of maternal near miss.CONCLUSION: The magnitude of maternal near miss was high but lower compared to magnitude in other parts of Ethiopia, and numerous preventable determinant factors were identified

Global fertility in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2021, with forecasts to 2100: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background Accurate assessments of current and future fertility—including overall trends and changing population age structures across countries and regions—are essential to help plan for the profound social, economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges that these changes will bring. Estimates and projections of fertility are necessary to inform policies involving resource and health-care needs, labour supply, education, gender equality, and family planning and support. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 produced up-to-date and comprehensive demographic assessments of key fertility indicators at global, regional, and national levels from 1950 to 2021 and forecast fertility metrics to 2100 based on a reference scenario and key policy-dependent alternative scenarios. Methods To estimate fertility indicators from 1950 to 2021, mixed-effects regression models and spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression were used to synthesise data from 8709 country-years of vital and sample registrations, 1455 surveys and censuses, and 150 other sources, and to generate age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) for 5-year age groups from age 10 years to 54 years. ASFRs were summed across age groups to produce estimates of total fertility rate (TFR). Livebirths were calculated by multiplying ASFR and age-specific female population, then summing across ages 10–54 years. To forecast future fertility up to 2100, our Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasting model was based on projections of completed cohort fertility at age 50 years (CCF50; the average number of children born over time to females from a specified birth cohort), which yields more stable and accurate measures of fertility than directly modelling TFR. CCF50 was modelled using an ensemble approach in which three sub-models (with two, three, and four covariates variously consisting of female educational attainment, contraceptive met need, population density in habitable areas, and under-5 mortality) were given equal weights, and analyses were conducted utilising the MR-BRT (meta-regression—Bayesian, regularised, trimmed) tool. To capture time-series trends in CCF50 not explained by these covariates, we used a first-order autoregressive model on the residual term. CCF50 as a proportion of each 5-year ASFR was predicted using a linear mixed-effects model with fixed-effects covariates (female educational attainment and contraceptive met need) and random intercepts for geographical regions. Projected TFRs were then computed for each calendar year as the sum of single-year ASFRs across age groups. The reference forecast is our estimate of the most likely fertility future given the model, past fertility, forecasts of covariates, and historical relationships between covariates and fertility. We additionally produced forecasts for multiple alternative scenarios in each location: the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for education is achieved by 2030; the contraceptive met need SDG is achieved by 2030; pro-natal policies are enacted to create supportive environments for those who give birth; and the previous three scenarios combined. Uncertainty from past data inputs and model estimation was propagated throughout analyses by taking 1000 draws for past and present fertility estimates and 500 draws for future forecasts from the estimated distribution for each metric, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) given as the 2·5 and 97·5 percentiles of the draws. To evaluate the forecasting performance of our model and others, we computed skill values—a metric assessing gain in forecasting accuracy—by comparing predicted versus observed ASFRs from the past 15 years (2007–21). A positive skill metric indicates that the model being evaluated performs better than the baseline model (here, a simplified model holding 2007 values constant in the future), and a negative metric indicates that the evaluated model performs worse than baseline. Findings During the period from 1950 to 2021, global TFR more than halved, from 4·84 (95% UI 4·63–5·06) to 2·23 (2·09–2·38). Global annual livebirths peaked in 2016 at 142 million (95% UI 137–147), declining to 129 million (121–138) in 2021. Fertility rates declined in all countries and territories since 1950, with TFR remaining above 2·1—canonically considered replacement-level fertility—in 94 (46·1%) countries and territories in 2021. This included 44 of 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which was the super-region with the largest share of livebirths in 2021 (29·2% [28·7–29·6]). 47 countries and territories in which lowest estimated fertility between 1950 and 2021 was below replacement experienced one or more subsequent years with higher fertility; only three of these locations rebounded above replacement levels. Future fertility rates were projected to continue to decline worldwide, reaching a global TFR of 1·83 (1·59–2·08) in 2050 and 1·59 (1·25–1·96) in 2100 under the reference scenario. The number of countries and territories with fertility rates remaining above replacement was forecast to be 49 (24·0%) in 2050 and only six (2·9%) in 2100, with three of these six countries included in the 2021 World Bank-defined low-income group, all located in the GBD super-region of sub-Saharan Africa. The proportion of livebirths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa was forecast to increase to more than half of the world's livebirths in 2100, to 41·3% (39·6–43·1) in 2050 and 54·3% (47·1–59·5) in 2100. The share of livebirths was projected to decline between 2021 and 2100 in most of the six other super-regions—decreasing, for example, in south Asia from 24·8% (23·7–25·8) in 2021 to 16·7% (14·3–19·1) in 2050 and 7·1% (4·4–10·1) in 2100—but was forecast to increase modestly in the north Africa and Middle East and high-income super-regions. Forecast estimates for the alternative combined scenario suggest that meeting SDG targets for education and contraceptive met need, as well as implementing pro-natal policies, would result in global TFRs of 1·65 (1·40–1·92) in 2050 and 1·62 (1·35–1·95) in 2100. The forecasting skill metric values for the IHME model were positive across all age groups, indicating that the model is better than the constant prediction. Interpretation Fertility is declining globally, with rates in more than half of all countries and territories in 2021 below replacement level. Trends since 2000 show considerable heterogeneity in the steepness of declines, and only a small number of countries experienced even a slight fertility rebound after their lowest observed rate, with none reaching replacement level. Additionally, the distribution of livebirths across the globe is shifting, with a greater proportion occurring in the lowest-income countries. Future fertility rates will continue to decline worldwide and will remain low even under successful implementation of pro-natal policies. These changes will have far-reaching economic and societal consequences due to ageing populations and declining workforces in higher-income countries, combined with an increasing share of livebirths among the already poorest regions of the world

Seasonal and spatial variations in species composition, abundance, biomass and primary production of phytoplankton in Southampton Water, U.K.

The seasonal and spatial variations of species composition, abundance, biomass and primary production of phytoplankton in Southampton Water were investigated. The study included two contrasting segments of Southampton Water, NW Netley (mid-estuary) and Calshot (mouth of the estuary). The first phase of the research project involved detailed enumeration of the species present in the phytoplankton samples collected from the two sites at monthly intervals during winter and autumn and 3 to 5 times a month during spring and summer in 1988. The phytoplankton community of Southampton Water showed differences in species composition and dominance between periods of cold turbulent water and warm, relatively calm water column. The winter-spring phytoplankton communities consisted mainly of diatoms at both sites while in summer dinoflagellates and Mesodinium rubrum dominated at NW Netley. The biomass indicator, chlorphyll a showed considerable seasonal and spatial (both vertical and horizontal) variations in the estuary. Chlorophyll a varied from a low winter value of &lt; 2 jig 1&quot;' to the summer maximum of 73 /xg I&quot;1. In the second phase of the study, seasonal changes in the contribution of four size fractions ( &gt; 10, 3-10, 1-3 and 0.2-1 fim ) to the total phytoplankton chlorophyll a and primary production were investigated during 1990. The present observation indicates that for most of the annual cycle of phytoplankton, the microplankton (&gt; 10 /un), which was dominated primarily by species of &gt; 20 /iin dimensions, is the most important fraction. This size fraction accounted, on average, for 66 and 67 of the productivity and 63 and 66 % of chlorophyll a at NW Netley and Calshot respectively. The seasonal changes in the relative contribution of the four fractions to the total primary production in Southampton Water were mainly a function of the variation in biomass rather than physiological differences related to size. A one-day investigation into the size distribution of chlorophyll a relative to salinity showed the existence of considerable horizontal variations. Concentration of total chlorphyl) a and chlorophyll a in the &gt; 10 fim fraction increased with an increase in salinity while chlorophyll a in the lower size fractions was indirectly related to salinity. Although the factors that are responsible for the seasonal changes in the biomass and primary production of phytoplankton in Southampton Water are diverse, light and temperature seem to be of overriding importance. In the third phase of the present study, the growth responses of phytoplankton dominant in Southampton Water to different light and temperature regimes were investigated in the laboratory with a view to generate data sets that may help explain the sequence of species succession observed in the field. The results demonstrate that the success of S. costatum and T. rotula as dominant species of the winter-spring phytoplankton blooms resulted from their adaptation to low light and temperature conditions. Their higher growth rates and shorter lag phases enable them to outcompete other diatoms and dinoflagellates and develop into blooms. Finally, comparison of the present study area with many other estuarine environments were made and possible factors influencing phytoplankton biomass and primary production discussed.</p

Spatial distribution of zooplankton in relation to some selected physicochemical water quality parameters of Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia

While scientific information on spatial variation of freshwater zooplankton is relevant to limnological studies, little information is available from the Ethiopian Rift Valley lake: Lake Hawassa. This study aimed at understanding the spatial distribution of the dominant zooplankton taxa in Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia. Collection of samples and in situ measurements of physico-chemical parameters were carried out at four sites for five consecutive months from April to August in 2019. Twenty-two species of zooplankton were identified. Among these, rotifers were the most important with regard to both species richness and abundance. Copepods were the second most important group in terms of species richness and abundance, whereas cladocerans were the least abundant taxa. All zooplankton groups were very rare at the inlet of the Tikur Wuha River, which could be mainly due to stress, associated with extreme turbidity. Rotifers were predominant at the inlet of influents from referral hospital revealing their adaptation to less clear water and pollution. Copepods attained their highest abundance at the macrophyte zone indicating their preference for water with high clarity and refuge. We concluded that the spatial variation of the zooplankton density in relation to water quality parameters has implications for the applicability of zooplankton as a cost-effective water quality assessment tool in lakes

Influence of abiotic factors and macrophyte cover on zooplankton distribution in the Ketar River backwaters

The aim of this study was to assess the relative influence of abiotic parameters and macrophyte cover on the diversity and distribution of zooplankton along the backwaters of the Ketar River. Six sampling sites were selected along the river stretch and samples were collected from December 2017 to November 2018. Zooplankton samples were collected from stagnant backpools using 30 μm mesh size plankton net. A total of 36 species of zooplankton were identified. Rotifera was represented by 28 species while Copepoda had only 2 species. Significant difference in zooplankton taxa were observed between seasons and among the study sites. Downstream site 6 was the richest both in abundance and diversity, and the species richness was significantly higher in the dry season. Mesocyclops aequatorialis was a dominant species in all the study sites. Electrical conductivity and total phosphate were the main abiotic factors that positively influenced the distribution of zooplankton in the river (Redundancy analysis). Contrary to previous finding, significantly more diverse and abundant zooplankton communities were recorded in the sites with no macrophyte cover in the Ketar River. The study indicated that both spatial and temporal changes in abiotic factors were more important than macrophyte cover for zooplankton dynamics in this important influent river into Lake Ziway

Removal of cyanobacteria from a water supply reservoir by sedimentation using flocculants and suspended solids as ballast : Case of Legedadi Reservoir (Ethiopia)

The massive growth of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in water supply reservoirs, such as Legedadi Reservoir (Ethiopia), poses a huge burden to water purification units and represents a serious threat to public health. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of the flocculants/ coagulants chitosan, Moringa oleifera seed (MOS), and poly-aluminium chloride (PAC) in settling cyanobacterial species present in the Legedadi Reservoir. We also tested whether coagulant-treated reservoir water promotes cyanobacteria growth. Our data showed that suspended solids in the turbid reservoir acted as ballast, thereby enhancing settling and hence the removal of cyanobacterial species coagulated with chitosan, Moringa oleifera seed, or their combination. Compared to other coagulants, MOS of 30 mg/L concentration, with the removal efficiency of 93.6%, was the most effective in removing cyanobacterial species without causing cell lysis. Contrary to our expectation, PAC was the least effective coagulant. Moreover, reservoir water treated with MOS alone or MOS combined with chitosan did not support any growth of cyanobacteria during the first two weeks of the experiment. Our data indicate that the efficacy of a flocculant/coagulant in the removal of cyanobacteria is influenced by the uniqueness of individual lakes/reservoirs, implying that mitigation methods should consider the unique characteristic of the lake/reservoir.</p

Cyanotoxins in drinking water supply reservoir (Legedadi, Central Ethiopia): implications for public health safety

Cyanobacterial blooms in drinking water supply affect its quality, which ultimately impacts ecosystem and public health. Thus, this cross-sectional study was conducted to perform a preliminary study on cyanotoxins via analysis of samples collected only once from two sites during the month of peak algal bloom and to subsequently prompt a comprehensive risk assessment in a major drinking water source, Legedadi Reservoir, of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Samples were collected during peak algal bloom month (January 2018) from two sampling sites, near the dam (S1) and at the center of the reservoir (S2). Identification and enumeration of phytoplankton taxa were done and the measurement of common hepatotoxin (MCs and NOD) concentrations was conducted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In the reservoir, cyanobacteria made up to 98% of total phytoplankton abundance, with Dolichospermum and Microcystis spp, dominating the phytoplankton community. In these first cyanotoxin analyses conducted for a drinking water supply source in Ethiopia, six major MC variants, namely MC-dmRR, MC-RR, MC-YR, MC-dmLR, MC-LR, and MC-LA, were detected in both algal seston and water samples. MC-LR was the most dominant MCs variant, while nodularin was not detected for both sampling sites. Extracellular total MC concentrations (μg L−1) of 453.89 and 61.63 and intracellular total MC concentrations (μg L−1) of 189.29 and 112.34 were recorded for samples from S1 and S2, respectively. The high concentrations of extracellular MCs, with MC-LR constituting the greatest proportion, indicate the extremely high potential public health risk for end-users

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Self-Medication among Pregnant Women on Antenatal Care Follow-Up at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Self-medication is being prevalent throughout the globe. Although pregnant women are among the most vulnerable group of the population for drug-induced adverse effects on their fetus and themselves, many pregnant women use self-medication without adequate safety precautions. Objective. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of self-medication among pregnant women on antenatal care follow-up at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods. A cross-sectional study was employed among 400 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital between February 01 and May 30, 2019. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS® (IBM Corporation) version 22. Descriptive statistics were presented using frequency and proportion. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with self-medication with a 95% confidence level and p value of 0.05. Results. Among 400 respondents, the prevalence of self-medication during the current pregnancy was 44.8% (95% CI=40.5-50). Among all respondents (400), 38.0% (95% CI=33.3-42.8) and 12.5% (95% CI=9.5-15) used herbal and conventional medicine, respectively. Self-medication showed a significant association with a previous history of self-medication and monthly income. Conclusions. The prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women is considerably high. The previous history of self-medication and monthly income showed a significant association with self-medication. Awareness creation should be done for reproductive-age women on the potential risks of self-medication