Effect of integrated management on purple blotch (Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif.) progression and bulb yield of onion at Arba Minch in Southern Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted at Arba Minch area, southern Ethiopia during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the integrated effects of varieties and fungicide spray frequencies on onion purple blotch (PB) epidemics, bulb yields, and economic returns. Fifteen treatment combinations consisting of three onion varieties and five fungicide spray frequencies were arranged in a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Integrating varieties with fungicide spray frequencies significantly reduced onion PB epidemics and increased bulb yields and economic returns. Due to four times spray of ridomil gold (RG) at 14-day interval, PB severities as low as 35.7, 42.2, and 58.9% were recorded on Nasik-Red, Bombay-Red, and Adama-Red varieties, respectively. The lowest area under the disease progress curve of 625.3, 706.7, and 1131.1%-days was also recorded on Nasik-Red, Bombay-Red, and Adama-Red varieties, respectively, due to four sprays of RG at a 14-day interval. Three times spray of RG at 10-day interval gave the highest bulb yields of 33.4, 38.9, and 23.7 t ha-1 on Nasik-Red, Bombay-Red, and Adama-Red varieties, respectively. The results showed the existence of variability in onion genetic resistance that was complemented by fungicide spray frequencies against PB epidemics to increase bulb yields. The use of Bombay-Red variety along with three and four-time spray frequency of RG was found to be the most effective option in reducing PB epidemics and increasing onion bulb yields. However, the use of Bombay-Red variety along with three-time spray frequency of RG could be recommended, because of its highest economic returns, to farmers in the study areas and elsewhere with similar agro-ecologies to manage PB and sustain onion production and productivity in the country

Assessment of Ethiopian Health Facilities Readiness for Implementation of Telemedicine

Ethiopiahas one of the lowest ratios of health professionals to population in the world. The few medical specialists who are available work mainly in the capital city and in a few regional cities. The use of telemedicine in public health facilities can mitigate the shortage of medical personnel. We conducted a survey of selected public health facilities located inAddis Ababa,Ethiopia. The study could be modified and extended to other countries in Sub-SaharanAfrica. In this study, we adapted Bakry’s e-government assessment model, STOPE (Strategy, Technology, Organizational, People, and Environment) to assess telemedicine readiness. Validity and reliability tests were conducted using the Smart PLS software package. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS version 16, and descriptive and analytical statistical reports were generated. The color-coded feature of the McConnell International analysis tool was used to display the results. All factors in STOPE indicated amber color, which implies the need for substantial improvements at the health facilities in order to adopt Telemedicine. The STOPE model results from this study show that the degree of readiness for telemedicine implementation varies from a weak rating for Technology readiness to strong rating for Organization readiness

Treatments of common bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with insecticides for managing bean stem maggot [Ophiomyia spp. (Tryon) (Diptera: Agromyzidae)] in SNNPR, Ethiopia

Bean stem maggot (BSM) is one of the main threatening insect pests that cause significant bean plant mortalities and associated grain yield reductions. The field research work was conducted for three successive years (2018 - 2020) in Burji, southern Ethiopia, to decide the effects of insecticide seed treatment in reducing bean plant mortality and severity/damage caused by BSM and enhancing the grain yield of common bean. The research contained seven treatments and was arrayed in a randomized complete block design with three replicas. In 2018, the lowest seedling mortality (SM) (11.78%) and matured plant mortality (MPM) (21.89%) were registered from Diazinone-treated plots. However, it was not statistically varied from Thiram + Carbofuran (13.33% for SM and 22.22% for MPM). Bean seeds treated with Diazinon considerably reduced initial percent severity index (PSIi) by 79.79% and final percent severity index (PSIf) by 79.98%, followed by Thiram + Carbofuran with PSIi by 55.67% and PSIf by 76.98% over untreated plots. Lowest total number of larvae (TNL) (15.00 and 22.67) and pupae (TNP) (11.00 and 13.67) were noted from Diazinone and Thiram + Carbofuran, in that order. Comparable fashions for SM, MPM, PSIi, PSIf, TNL, and TNP were encountered for these insecticides in 2019 and 2020. Grain yields of 2229.37 and 2213.39 kg ha-1 (in 2018) and 2648.29 and 2503.20 kg ha-1 (in 2020) were attained from Diazinone and Thiram + Carbofuran, respectively. Monetary analysis also affirmed that Diazinone ($126,429.52 ha-1) and Thiram + Carbofuran ($122,241.67 ha-1) led to a higher monitory advantage over untreated control and other insecticides. Therefore, Diazinon and Thiram + Carbofuran, one of them as an alternative option, could be advised as a seed treatment to the growers for efficient control of BSM and optimization of grain yield

HIV-1 INFECTION AND RELATED RISK FACTORS AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN URBAN AREAS OF ETHIOPIA

SUMMARY: A total of 6234 female sex workers practicing multi-partner sexual contacts (MPSC) from 23 urban areas of the country were tested for Human Immuno deficiency Virus type 1 (HIV1) infection, in 1988. The sample size ranged from 99 persons in Moyale, to 386 in Asmara. The mean age of the individuals studied was 24.2 years (ranging from 21.5 years to 27.1 years in the different towns). The HIV-1 prevalence rates varied from 1.3% (n=318) in Massawa, to 38.1% (n=312) in Dessie town; the mean for all towns being 17%. The highest prevalence rates were found in the towns along the road from Addis Ababa to Assab, in Bahr-Dar , Dessie and Mekele. The lowest prevalence rates were recorded in three towns of northern Ethiopia. This study indicated that Hiv-1 is widely spread in the urban areas of Ethiopia affecting female sex workers mainly in the 15-29 years age group. Previous episodes of other sexually transmitted diseases, and frequent change of sexual partners were identified as possible risk factors for HIV infection. Frequent mobility of these females may have played a significant role in HIV transmission between the towns

HIV -1 INFECTION AND SOME RELATED RISK FACTORS AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN ADDIS ABABA

SUMMARY: A sero-epidemiological survey on HIV-l infection was carried out in July 1989, among four groups of female sex workers randomly selected in Addis Ababa. The four groups were comprised of: bar girls, tej (traditional wine) sellers, tella (traditional beer) sellers and females in red light houses. Sera were tested by ELISA and confirmed y western blot. The mean age of the 2617 females studied was 31.2 years, and the prevalence rate for HIV-1 was 24.7%. Persons in the 15-24 age group were affected more frequently. The highest prevalence (43.8%) was found among the females in red light houses. Females with relatively larger number of sexual partners and those who had previous exposure to STDs, had a higher prevalence of the infection. The survey revealed that HIV-1 is highly prevalent among females practicing multi-partner sexual contact (MPSC) in Addis Ababa, and the infection concentrates in the central areas of the city

Genetic and non-genetic parameter estimates for growth traits and Kleiber ratios in Dorper × indigenous sheep

Genetic improvement programme will only be successful when accompanied by a good understanding of the influence of different environmental factors, knowledge of the genetic parameters and the genetic relationships between the traits of interest. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of non-genetic fac- tors on growth traits and Kleiber ratios and to estimate genetic parameters for early growth traits in Dorper indigenous crossbred sheep. The effects of fixed factors were analysed by the general linear model procedure of statistical analysis system, while the genetic parameters were estimated using a WOMBAT computer program fitted animal model. The overall least-square mean for birth weight (BRW), weaning weight (3MW), six-month weight, nine-month weight, and yearling weight were 3.03 ± 0.02, 14.5 ± 0.18, 20.4 ± 0.26, 24.8 ± 0.31, and 28.3 ± 0.40 kg, respectively. The overall least- square mean for Kleiber ratio from birth to weaning (KR1), weaning to six months, six to nine months and nine months to yearling age were 16.8 ± 0.10, 6.41 ± 0.17, 4.55 ± 0.21 and 3.38 ± 0.20 g/kg of meta- bolic weight, respectively. The inclusion of maternal genetic effect had a significant influence on BRW, and it explains 20% of the phenotypic variation. The total heritability estimates for BRW, 3MW, birth to weaning average daily weight gain and KR1 were 0.10, 0.14, 0.16 and 0.12, respectively. The pheno- typic correlation varied from 0.11 ± 0.05 to 0.98 ± 0.02, whereas the direct genetic correlation ranged from 0.32 ± 0.40 to 0.98 ± 0.17. The mean inbreeding coefficient was 0.105% with an annual rate of 0.02%. The heritability estimates for growth traits and Kleiber ratio suggest that slow genetic progress would be expected from the selection. However, the integration of selection with crossbreeding pro- gramme can enhance genetic gain. Therefore, selection should be conducted based on breeding values estimated from multiple information sources to increase the selection response

Morbidity and mortality from road injuries: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

BackgroundThe global burden of road injuries is known to follow complex geographical, temporal and demographic patterns. While health loss from road injuries is a major topic of global importance, there has been no recent comprehensive assessment that includes estimates for every age group, sex and country over recent years.MethodsWe used results from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 study to report incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, deaths, years of life lost and disability-adjusted life years for all locations in the GBD 2017 hierarchy from 1990 to 2017 for road injuries. Second, we measured mortality-to-incidence ratios by location. Third, we assessed the distribution of the natures of injury (eg, traumatic brain injury) that result from each road injury.ResultsGlobally, 1 243 068 (95% uncertainty interval 1 191 889 to 1 276 940) people died from road injuries in 2017 out of 54 192 330 (47 381 583 to 61 645 891) new cases of road injuries. Age-standardised incidence rates of road injuries increased between 1990 and 2017, while mortality rates decreased. Regionally, age-standardised mortality rates decreased in all but two regions, South Asia and Southern Latin America, where rates did not change significantly. Nine of 21 GBD regions experienced significant increases in age-standardised incidence rates, while 10 experienced significant decreases and two experienced no significant change.ConclusionsWhile road injury mortality has improved in recent decades, there are worsening rates of incidence and significant geographical heterogeneity. These findings indicate that more research is needed to better understand how road injuries can be prevented

Burden of injury along the development spectrum : associations between the Socio-demographic Index and disability-adjusted life year estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background The epidemiological transition of non-communicable diseases replacing infectious diseases as the main contributors to disease burden has been well documented in global health literature. Less focus, however, has been given to the relationship between sociodemographic changes and injury. The aim of this study was to examine the association between disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from injury for 195 countries and territories at different levels along the development spectrum between 1990 and 2017 based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 estimates. Methods Injury mortality was estimated using the GBD mortality database, corrections for garbage coding and CODEm-the cause of death ensemble modelling tool. Morbidity estimation was based on surveys and inpatient and outpatient data sets for 30 cause-of-injury with 47 nature-of-injury categories each. The Socio-demographic Index (SDI) is a composite indicator that includes lagged income per capita, average educational attainment over age 15 years and total fertility rate. Results For many causes of injury, age-standardised DALY rates declined with increasing SDI, although road injury, interpersonal violence and self-harm did not follow this pattern. Particularly for self-harm opposing patterns were observed in regions with similar SDI levels. For road injuries, this effect was less pronounced. Conclusions The overall global pattern is that of declining injury burden with increasing SDI. However, not all injuries follow this pattern, which suggests multiple underlying mechanisms influencing injury DALYs. There is a need for a detailed understanding of these patterns to help to inform national and global efforts to address injury-related health outcomes across the development spectrum.Peer reviewe