Investments in Land Conservation in the Ethiopian Highlands: A Household Plot-Level Analysis of the Roles of Poverty, Tenure Security, and Market Inventives

Land degradation is a major problem undermining land productivity in the highlands of Ethiopia. This study explores the factors that affect farm households’ decisions at the plot level to invest in land conservation and how much to invest, focusing on the roles of poverty, land tenure security, and market access. Unlike most other studies, we used a double-hurdle model in the analysis with panel data collected in a household survey of 6,408 plots in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The results suggest that the decisions to adopt land conservation investment and how much to invest appear to be explained by different processes. Poverty-related factors seem to have a mixed effect on both the adoption and intensity decisions. While a farmer’s adoption decision is influenced by whether or not the plot is owner-operated (a measure of risk for the immediate period), intensity of conservation is determined by expectation of the certainty of cultivating the land for the next five years (a measure of risk for the longer term), farmer’s belief of land ownership, and distance from plot to home.Ethiopia, land conservation, poverty, tenure security

Education and Economic Performance in Sub Sahara Africa

In Sub Sahara Africa, where the process of economic growth is almost enigmatic, schooling is being considered, in most parts of the region, as a factor that may help resolve the mystery. This paper aims at examining the degree of growth effect of schooling in this region. Following the endogenous growth model developed by Lucas (1988) that considers human capital as one factor of production and schooling as means of human capital accumulation, two results of schooling are explicitly stated: accumulation of privately owned and publically owned human capital. By developing a growth estimating equation containing these two types of schooling results from the model and confronting the equation with empirical data from Sub Sahara Africa, the hypothesis that schooling has got growth effect is tested. The analytic result suggests that in the region, during the covered period of study, only part of schooling that leads to accumulation of communally owned human capital is associated with per capita income growth

Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury Among Trauma Patients in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of mortality and disability in young age populations, particularly in children and adolescents. The objective of this systematic review and metaanalysis was to assess the prevalence of TBI among trauma patients in Ethiopia. Methods: A three-stage search strategy was conducted on PubMed/Medline, Science Direct and African Journals Online, and a grey literature search was conducted on Google Scholar. Data were analyzed with R version 3.6.1. Results: The pooled prevalence of TBI in Ethiopia was 20% (95% confidence interval (CI), 11–32). Subgroup analysis revealed that road traffic accident was the commonest mechanism of injury in Ethiopia at 21% (95% IC, 15– 30), next was assault at 18% (95% CI, 5–48). Conclusion: This review shows a high prevalence of TBI among trauma patients in Ethiopia when compared with continental and global reports. Policymakers and stakeholders should work on regulatory laws on transportation; pre-hospital emergency medical care system is also in high demand.Keywords: Head injury, Road traffic accident, Assault, Ethiopi

Woody and non-woody biomass utilisation for fuel and implications on plant nutrients availability in the Mukehantuta watershed in Ethiopia

Plant biomass is a major source of energy for households in eastern Africa. Unfortunately, the heavy reliance on this form of energy is a threat to forest ecosystems and a recipe for accelerated land resource degradation. Due to the increasing scarcity of traditional fuel wood resources, rural communities have shifted to utilisation of crop residues and cattle dung; which otherwise, are resources for soil fertility improvement. The objective of this study was to assess the supply and consumption patterns of fuel biomass and estimate the amount of nutrients that could be lost from burning non-woody biomass energy sources. A survey was conducted in the Mukehantuta watershed in Ethiopia, using a semi-structured questionnaire. An inventory of woody biomass was also carried out on the existing stock in the watershed. Annually, households in the watershed used 1999, 943, 11, 34 and 229 metric tonnes of wood, dung, charcoal, crop residue and tree residues, respectively. The existing wood biomass in the watershed was approximately 292 metric tonnes, implying that consumption exceeds potential supply. As a result of using dung and crop residue biomass for household energy, the watershed, respectively, loses 17.3, 4.3, 20.6, 15.6, 5.4, and 10.2 tonnes of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Fe nutrients every year. The lost nutrients in terms of fertiliser equivalency are estimated at 37.5 tons of urea and 9.3 tons of Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP).La biomasse des cultures constitue une source importante d\u2019\ue9nergie pour les m\ue9nages en Afrique de l\u2019Est. Malheureusement, une grande d\ue9pendance sur cette forme d\u2019\ue9nergie est une menace aux \ue9cosyt\ue8mes forestiers et facteur pour la d\ue9gradation acc\ue9l\ue9r\ue9e des ressources de terre. Suite au manque accru des ressources traditionnelles en bois, les communaut\ue9s rurales ont opt\ue9 pour l\u2019utilisation des r\ue9sidues des cultures et la bouse, qui, sont autrement, des ressources pour l\u2019am\ue9lioration de la fertilit\ue9 du sol. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer les tendances d\u2019approvisionnement et consommation de l\u2019\ue9nergie par la biomasse des cultures et estimer le la quantit\ue9 d\u2019\ue9lements min\ue9raux pouvant \ueatre perdus \ue0 travers la biomasse brul\ue9e pour \ue9nergie. Une enqu\ueate \ue9tait conduite dans le basin versant de Mukehantuta en Ethiopie, par utilisation d\u2019un questionnaire semi-structur\ue9. Un inventaire de biomass en bois \ue9tait aussi fait sur les reserves existantes dans le basin versant. Annuellement, les m\ue9nages dans le basin versant ont utilis\ue9 1999, 943, 11, 34 et 229 tonnes de bois, bouse, charbon, r\ue9sidues des cultures, et r\ue9sidues des bois, respectivement. La biomasse de bois existant dans le basin versant \ue9tait approximativement 292 tonnes, indicant que la consummation exc\ue8de l\u2019approvisionnement potentiel. Comme r\ue9sultats d\u2019utilisation de la bouse et la biomasse des r\ue9sidues de cultures comme source d\u2019\ue9nergie dans les m\ue9nages, le basin versant perd des min\ue9raux \ue9quivalent \ue0 17.3, 4.3, 20.6, 15.6, 5.4, et 10.2 tonnes N, P, K, Ca, Mg et Fe chaque ann\ue9e. La perte d\u2019\ue9lements min\ue9raux en termes d\u2019\ue9quivalent engrais est estim\ue9e \ue0 37.5 tonnes d\u2019ur\ue9e et 9.3 tonnes de Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)

Ocular Dermoid in Crossbred calf- A Case Report

The present paper deals with a typical case of ocular dermoid cyst in three weeks old crossbred calf. The patient had a history of lacrimation and a hairy growth in the left eye. Based on the history and clinical examination, the case was diagnosed as ocular dermoid cyst and removed successfully by superficial keratectomy.Key words: Calf, Dermoid, Keratectomy, Teratolog

Community-Based Assessment of People with Chronic Diseases and Conditions Worsening the Severity of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa City Administration

AbstractBackground: the COVID-19 pandemic stayed in a sporadic form for a long time after introducing the coronavirus in the country, later appearing in clusters within communities. During such sporadic and clustered spread of the disease, the government of Ethiopia started identifying suspects through active surveillance for COVID-19. This study aimed to describe people who have chronic illnesses that could be underlying conditions for increased severity of COVID-19.Methods: A survey was conducted in May 2020 using active community-based case surveillance in 30 randomlyselected woredas in Addis Ababa City. Data were collected from each household member by assessing for general conditions and diseases expected to increase their risk of suffering higher severity from COVID-19. Data were stored in M.S. Excel and analyzed using SPSS-version 26 for windows. Descriptive analysis was conducted to know the proportion of persons with chronic diseases, and thus the population with a higher risk of suffering more severity from COVID-19 by place, person, and time. The results are presented using tables and graphs as appropriate.Results: The point prevalence of flu-like syndrome was 51.9 per 100,000 persons, and the prevalence was higher among older people. The study showed that 11,600 per 100,000 households have at least a member with chronic diseases that worsen the severity of COVID-19 morbidity. The survey also found 6,939 and 5,140 households per 100,000 households have diabetes mellitus and hypertension, respectively, and about 1950 per 100,000 households were with bronchial asthma. Nearly a quarter of the households have people with two or more chronic diseases that worsen their risk of facing a more severe course of COVID-19 than it would be for people without those underlying conditions.Discussion: High proportion of households have people with chronic diseases that worsen their risk of suffering a more severe course of COVID-19 than it would be for people without those underlying conditions. The Ministry of Health should devise and implement mechanisms to safeguard people with chronic diseases from contracting the diseases. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2021; 35(2):133-140]Keywords: COVID-19, chronic diseases, severe course of COVID-19, Addis Abab

Encounters and places: Project negotiations in Galessa, Ethiopia

Purpose – Reflections on negotiation processes between farmers and scientists in research projects provide insights into issues of participation, power and equity. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how actors chose places to meet, negotiate and represent technologies. Design/methodology/approach – The research involved semi-structured interviews and participant observation with farmers, scientists, government agricultural advisors (extensionists), policymakers, and staff of development organisations involved in a research for development project in Western Shewa, Ethiopia from 2009 to 2011. It combines theories from social studies of science as well as development studies. Findings – Using blueprint approaches in research projects will not yield sustainable results. Participation must go beyond consultation or trying to educate farmers. Social relations are at the core of cooperation between farmers and scientists and require much more attention. Powerful choices on modes of representation and communication technologies as well as unilateral decisions on places have important implications for the way decisions are eventually made and by whom. Originality/value – This approach to studying research for development projects from social studies of science perspectives adds new insights into debates on participation and power in technology transfer and multicultural cooperation in rural development

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) service availability at health facilities in Ethiopia: Evidence from 2014 Ethiopian service provision assessment

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of infections which are especially endemic in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. In sub-Saharan Africa, the impact of these diseases as a group is comparable to malaria and tuberculosis. The diseases recognized as neglected tropical diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) are: Chagas disease, Cysticercosis and taeniasis, Dengue fever, Dracunculiasis, Echinococcosis, Human African trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy, Lymphatic filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Rabies, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiasis, Trachoma, and Yaws. Most of these diseases are either preventable through mass drug administration (MDA) and proper hygiene and sanitation, or treatable through systematic case finding and management. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the availability of services for neglected tropical diseases management at health facilities in Ethiopia.Method: The assessment is part of the 2014 Ethiopian Service Provision Assessment Plus (ESPA+) Survey. A total of 873 health facilities were assessed for this analysis. All Hospitals, selected health centre, and private clinics were assessed if they provide services for Neglected Tropical Diseases.Result: More than half of all health facilities offer services for both soil transmitted helminthes (64 percent), and services for trachoma (60 percent). About four of every ten health facilities offer services for schistosomiasis. On the other hand, services for onchocerciasis, leishmanianis and lymphatic filariases were available in less than a third of all health facilities (27%, 25% and 24%, respectively).Conclusion and recommendation: Even though, the availability of service for neglected tropical disease in health facilities is relatively good in general, there should be equitable distribution of neglected tropical disease service provision among regions. And private facilities should give emphasis for the provision of these services. Key words: Service Availability, NTDs, SPA+, Ethiopia

Determinants of full valid vaccine dose administration among 12-32 months children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the Ethiopian 2012 national immunization coverage survey

Introduction: According to the 2012 national immunization coverage survey report of Ethiopia, EPI coverage by antigen is 79.6% for BCG, 80.0% for DPT-HepB-Hib1 90.1% for OPV1 65.7%; for adjusted DPT-HepB-Hib 3; 65.7 % for OPV3 and 68.2% for Measles. Similarly, the prevalence of full vaccination was 50%. However, the prevalence of valid vaccination dose for all vaccines is 18.6 %. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify factors that determine the administration of full valid vaccines dose to set effective interventions.Methods: Data was obtained from the 2012 Immunization Coverage survey of Ethiopia, a cross- sectional study administered at the household level. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariate logistic regression with 95% CI was done to assess factors associated with getting full valid vaccination dose. Results: As documented from the 2012 national immunization coverage survey, the coverage of full valid vaccination dose were very low as compared to full immunization coverage that is 18.6% Vs 50%, respectively. Urban residence 2.6 (95% CI: 2.50, 2.68), mothers with age groups of 21-34 and >35 were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.22, 1.29) and 2.4 (95% CI: 2.3, 2.44); children with caretakers with primary, secondary, and higher level of education were 1.6 (95% CI: 1.22, 1.29), 2.8 (95% CI: 2.76, 2.92), and 2.2 (95% CI: 2.13, 2.27) times more likely to get valid vaccination dose.Conclusion: The rich wealth quintile, rural place of residence, living more than 5km proximity to nearest health facility, having more than six sibling, having teenage (<20years old) mother, having mother with no formal education, having mother/ care giver with no card or family folder which state children vaccination status sources, and having mother who did not heard a message about importance of vaccine were found to be the independent determinants of low valid dose immunization. The efforts at all level to increase full valid vaccination coverage by targeting activities to socio-economic, socio-demographic, organizational, and related determinants. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2016;30(3):135-141]Keywords: Valid dose, vaccination, Ethiopi

Foraging ecology of African wolves (Canis lupaster) and its implications for the conservation of Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis)

African wolves (AWs) are sympatric with endangered Ethiopian wolves (EWs) in parts of their range. Scat analyses have suggested a dietary overlap between AWs and EWs, raising the potential for exploitative competition, and a possible conservation threat to EWs. However, in contrast to that of the well-studied EW, the foraging ecology of AWs remains poorly characterized. Accordingly, we studied the foraging ecology of radio-collared AWs (n = 11 individuals) at two localities with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance in the Ethiopian Highlands, the Guassa-Menz Community Conservation Area (GMCCA) and Borena-Saynt National Park (BSNP), accumulating 845 h of focal observation across 2952 feeding events. We also monitored rodent abundance and rodent trapping activity by local farmers who experience conflict with AWs. The AW diet consisted largely of rodents (22.0%), insects (24.8%), and goats and sheep (24.3%). Of the total rodents captured by farmers using local traps during peak barley production (July to November) in GMCCA, averaging 24.7 ± 8.5 rodents/hectare/day, 81% (N = 3009) were scavenged by AWs. Further, of all the rodents consumed by AWs, most (74%) were carcasses. These results reveal complex interactions between AWs and local farmers, and highlight the scavenging niche occupied by AWs in anthropogenically altered landscapes in contrast to the active hunting exhibited by EWs in more intact habitats. While AWs cause economic damage to local farmers through livestock predation, they appear to play an important role in scavenging pest rodents among farmlands, a pattern of behaviour which likely mitigates direct and indirect competition with EWs. We suggest two routes to promote the coexistence of AWs and EWs in the Ethiopian highlands: local education efforts highlighting the complex role AWs play in highland ecosystems to reduce their persecution, and enforced protection of intact habitats to preserve habitat preferred by EWs