Technology for Carbon Neutral Animal Breeding

Animal breeding techniques are to genetically select highly productive animals with less GHG emission intensity, thereby reducing the number of animals required to produce the same amount of food. Shotgun metagenomics provides a platform to identify rumen microbial communities and genetic markers associated with CH4 emissions, allowing the selection of cattle with less CH4 emissions. Moreover, breeding is a viable option to make real progress towards carbon neutrality with a very high rate of return on investment and a very modest cost per tonne of CO2 equivalents saved regardless of the accounting method. Other high technologies include the use of cloned livestock animals and the manipulation of traits by controlling target genes with improved productivity

An implementation model for strategic organizational change in Ethiopian commercial banks

The issue of successful implementation of strategic organizational change is not sufficiently addressed in the literature of organizational change even though there is unanimity in reporting a high rate of failure. Moreover, attempts to provide supportive guidelines that enhance implementation success are meager and their validity in nonwestern contexts is disputed. Thus, the present study tried to address the question of how a strategic organizational change can be successfully implemented by developing an implementation model within the context of Ethiopian commercial banks. In Ethiopia, commercial banking is exclusively reserved for nationals. This makes the setting a typical national context from where two commercial banks were included in the present study through maintaining maximum variation in ownership structure. Embedded in each bank, cases of teams which were established to redesign a specific type of business process were identified to theoretically sample participants for the indepth interviews. Applying an inductive multiple case study strategy, a combination of within-case and cross-case analyses were employed with the support of the ATLAS.ti software. As a result, theoretical propositions were made and an implementation model for strategic organizational change was developed by taking the context of commercial banks in Ethiopia into consideration. The findings indicate that national and organizational contexts demand contextualized approaches to implement strategic organizational change. Although several concepts which are documented in the extant literature were confirmed, original propositions are also made by the present study. A triple helix of initiating, designing, and implementing were emerged as inseparable components of the proposed implementation model for strategic organizational change in a context where cognitive and technical readiness is ensured.Business ManagementDB

Bioflocs Technology in Freshwater Aquaculture: Variations in Carbon Sources and Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios

Aquaculture is one of the fastest food-producing sectors contributing half of the food fish destined for human consumption. Nevertheless, aquaculture production still needs to increase to fill the gap in supply and demand for fish, as the capture fisheries are stagnating over the years. Therefore, intensification of aquaculture production systems by increasing inputs such as feed has been devised as an alternative. On the other hand, intensive aquaculture has been associated with concerns related to environmental pollution in the past decades. Moreover, the increased cost of feed ingredients for aquaculture species has hampered the intensification of the sector. Therefore, alternative production systems such as biofloc technology were developed to mitigate the environmental impacts of intensive aquaculture and also to produce extra feed for cultured organisms. Due to their omnivorous feeding habit and tolerance to higher levels of suspended solids, freshwater finfishes have been the most cultured species in this system. The organic carbon sources used in the biofloc system are agricultural and industrial by-products which are cheap and readily available, making the technology economically feasible. C:N ratios of 10, 15, and 20 have been the most applied C:N ratios in the culture of freshwater aquaculture finfishes covered in this review

Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP): Soil carbon and fertility impact assessment

Ethiopia’s climate smart initiative (CSI) aims to integrate the implications of climate change into the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) activities, and systems to strengthen this important social safety net program, and enable Ethiopia to better manage climate risks and help its chronically food insecure population to better cope with shocks, create assets and secure livelihoods, even as the climate changes. CSI is also tasked with preparing the ground for PSNP’s sustainable public work programs to access climate finance and possibly payments from ecosystem services and benefits to spur and enable the transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient growth and development. More robust and cost effective analysis and information on soil carbon stock changes and associate soil fertility and productivity indicators over space and time is required at multiple stages of development and implementation of PSNP’ participatory integrated watershed management projects to access climate finance. The main objectives of this study are to: (i) assemble business as usual and project scenario baseline database on soil carbon and other soils fertility, health and productivity indicators for six chronically food insecure and vulnerable Ethiopian regional states (i.e., Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Somali and Tigray), where PSNP’s sustainable agricultural and environmental rehabilitation public works have been implemented widely, ii) assess the impacts of Ethiopia’s PSNP participatory integrated watershed intervention projects on soil carbon capture and sequestration, as well as on other climate smart environmental and agricultural co-benefits in light of climate change, food security and low-carbon livelihoods in these regions, and (iii) support Ethiopia’s safety net climate smart initiative to take advantage of international carbon and climate finance opportunities to support sustaining the existing activities as well as scaling-up future implementations of PSNP participatory watershed public works projects in Ethiopia.This work was supported by the PSNP Climate Smart Initiative. The PSNP is implemented by the Government of Ethiopia with support from the following development partners: Canadian International Development Agency, Irish Aid, European Commission, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, UK Department for International Development, United States Agency for International Development, World Food Program and World Bank

Assessment of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function among Workers Exposed to Cotton Dust at Arba Minch Textile Factory, Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia, 2017

Background: Textile industry is considered as a number one priority sector by the Ethiopian governmen

Missed antenatal care follow-up and associated factors in Eastern Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Introduction: Focused antenatal care improves the survival and health of the mother as well as the babies. However, there are real challenges in keeping the subsequent antenatal care follow up in Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess missed antenatal care follow up and associated factors in the Eastern zone of Tigray Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 548 women who came for delivery services from March to April 2016. The data were collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaire through face to face exit interview. Data entry and analysis were made using EPI info version 7 software and SPSS version 20 respectively. Both binary and multiple logistic regression was performed. Results: This study revealed that 33.4% of participants were missing their Antenatal care follow-up. Having no formal education [AOR=1.778 (1.102, 2.869)], attending primary education [AOR= 1.756 (1.040, 2.964)], self-employee [AOR=1.589 (1.030, 2.452)], government employee [AOR=0.503 (0.503, 0.953)], being unmarried [AOR=2.36 (1.11, 5.04)], didn\u2019t informed about institutional delivery [AOR=3.34 (1.44, 7.78)], and travel distance more than two hours to hospital [AOR=1.93 (1.08, 3.44)] were factors significantly associated with missed Antenatal care follow-up. Conclusion: The proportion of missed antenatal care follow-up was lessened as compared to local and national evidences. Nevertheless, still a coordinated effort on tracking of pregnant women who missed their antenatal care appointment is required by health policy implementers so as to increase the uptake of four complete visits

Geospatial variations and determinants of contraceptive utilization among married reproductive age women in Ethiopia: spatial and multilevel analysis of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2019

IntroductionContraception is the most effective method of preventing unwanted pregnancies and their associated disadvantages. It is critical to recognize one's desire to utilize contraceptives before drafting and implementing a good family planning program, especially in developing nations like Ethiopia.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify the geospatial variations and determinants affecting the utilization of contraceptives among married reproductive age women in Ethiopia.MethodThis study was based on an extensive national survey, the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A total weighted sample of 5,743 married reproductive-age women was included. Because of the hierarchical nature of the DHS data, a spatial analysis multilevel logistic regression model was used to study individual and community-level factors that may influence contraceptives. The Bernoulli model was used by applying Kulldorff methods using the SaTScan software to analyze the purely spatial clusters of contraceptive usage. ArcGIS version 10.3 was used to visualize the distribution of contraceptives. A 95% confidence interval and a p-value of less than 0.05 were used to declare statistical significance.ResultThe overall utilization of contraceptives was discovered at 41.25% (39.98, 42.53). Participants age range of 25–34 years [AOR = 0.80, CI: (0.66, 0.96,)] and 35–49 years [AOR = 0.50, CI 95%:(0.66, 0.96)] times less likely to use contraceptives than 15–24 years old respectively. Having primary [AOR = 1.47, CI 95%: (1.25, 1.73)], secondary [AOR = 1.42, CI 95%: (1.09, 1.83)] and higher education level [AOR = 1.92, CI 95%: (1.41, 2.60)], middle wealth [AOR = 1.48, CI 95%: (1.14, 1.90)], richer [AOR = 1.41, CI 95%: (1.07, 1.86)] and richest [AOR = 2.17, CI 95%: (1.52, 3.11)], having 1–4 ANC follow up have [AOR = 1.60, CI 95%: (1.26, 2.03)], gave birth at age of 35–44 [AOR = 0.29, CI 95%: (0.22, 0.37)], having 3–5 children [AOR = 1.26, CI 95%: (1.03, 1.52)], being from community of high level women education [AOR = 1.61, CI 95%: (1.21, 2.15)] were associated positively. Participants from Amhara, Oromia, Benishangul and SNNPR regions have revealed [AOR = 2.40, CI 95%: (1.53, 3.77)], [AOR = 1.64, CI 95%: (1.05, 2.56)], [AOR = 1.62, CI 95%: (1.01, 2.62)] and [AOR = 2.04, CI 95: (1.31, 3.19)], in contrast, Somali and Afar regions have shown [AOR = 011, CI 95%: (0.05, 0.22)] and [AOR = 0.31, CI 95%: (0.18, 0.54)] times less likely to use contraceptive services than Tigray Region respectively. The spatial analysis of contraceptive usage discovered that the northern, central and southern parts of the country had higher utilization of contraceptives than the eastern and northeastern of the country.ConclusionThe study revealed that contraceptive usage among married women is comparatively low, with wide regional variation. Raising awareness among mothers about the importance of antenatal care and assisting mothers who are financially disadvantaged or do not have access to health facilities will aid in providing better family planning services. Improving contraceptive information dissemination at community and regional levels is key to averting potential barriers

Myopia and its associated factors among pregnant women at health institutions in Gondar District, Northwest Ethiopia: A multi-center cross-sectional study

BackgroundMyopia is the most common form of uncorrected refractive error with a growing burden worldwide. It is the principal complaint of most women during pregnancy. Although myopia has led to several consequences across the standard life of pregnant women, there is no previous study in Ethiopia regarding this topic. Thus, this study determined the prevalence of myopia and identifies its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care units at governmental health institutions in Gondar City District, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from 08 February to 08 April 2021. From the selected health centres, study participants were recruited by systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested, structured-interviewer-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic variables, obstetric and clinical-related variables was used to collect the required data. Non-cycloplegic refraction was performed using trial lenses, trial frames, and retinoscopy in a semi-dark examination room. EpiData 3 and STATA 14 were used for data entry and statistical analysis respectively. Both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were executed to identify associated factors of myopia. Variables with a p-value ≤0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were declared as statistically significant with myopia. Model fitness was checked by Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of test (at p > 0.05)ResultsA total of four-hundred and twenty-three pregnant women participated with a 100% response rate in this study. The overall prevalence of myopia among pregnant women was 26.48% (95% CI: 22.48–30.91). Eighty-Eight (20.81%) and Eighty-Four (19.85%) of the study participants had myopia in their right and left eyes respectively. The prevalence of myopia was significantly associated with age (AOR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09–1.28), the third trimester of gestation (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.08–3.90), multi & grand multipara (AOR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.59–6.25), and history of contraceptive use (AOR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1. 50–7.28).ConclusionThe finding of our study shows that there is a higher prevalence of myopia among pregnant women in our study area. Further prospective analytical studies regarding visual systems among pregnant women, particularly as a result of pregnancy, are strongly recommended

First PCR Confirmed anthrax outbreaks in Ethiopia-Amhara region, 2018-2019.

BackgroundAnthrax is a disease that affects humans and animals. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a reportable disease and assumed to be endemic, although laboratory confirmation has not been routinely performed until recently. We describe the findings from the investigation of two outbreaks in Amhara region.MethodsFollowing reports of suspected outbreaks in Wag Hamra zone (Outbreak 1) and South Gondar zone (Outbreak 2), multi-sectoral teams involving both animal and public health officials were deployed to investigate and establish control programs. A suspect case was defined as: sudden death with rapid bloating or bleeding from orifice(s) with unclotted blood (animals); and signs compatible with cutaneous, ingestion, or inhalation anthrax ≤7 days after exposure to a suspect animal (humans). Suspect human cases were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Samples were collected from humans with suspected anthrax (Outbreak 1 and Outbreak 2) as well as dried meat of suspect animal cases (Outbreak 2). A case was confirmed if a positive test was returned using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).ResultsIn Outbreak 1, a total of 49 cows died due to suspected anthrax and 22 humans developed symptoms consistent with cutaneous anthrax (40% attack rate), two of whom died due to suspected ingestion anthrax. Three people were confirmed to have anthrax by qPCR. In Outbreak 2, anthrax was suspected to have caused the deaths of two livestock animals and one human. Subsequent investigation revealed 18 suspected cases of cutaneous anthrax in humans (27% attack rate). None of the 12 human samples collected tested positive, however, a swab taken from the dried meat of one animal case (goat) was positive by qPCR.ConclusionWe report the first qPCR-confirmed outbreaks of anthrax in Ethiopia. Both outbreaks were controlled through active case finding, carcass management, ring vaccination of livestock, training of health professionals and outreach with livestock owners. Human and animal health authorities should work together using a One Health approach to improve case reporting and vaccine coverage