Determination of the Levels of Iron from Red, Mixed and White Teff (Eragrostis) Flour by using UV/Visible Spectrophotometery

A simple and sensitive Spectrophotometric method has been used for the determination of iron concentration in Teff flour and its concentration was compared between the different varieties. The method is based on the reaction of iron with o-phenathroline reagent at acidic condition. The absorbance-concentration plot was linear over the range 0.1-2 mg L-1 with correlation coefficient of 0.999. This method was applied successfully for determination of iron in teff flour samples. The result shows that the concentration of iron was the highest for the red teff with a value of 2472.7mg/kg, mixed teff have the next highest iron content with 1440.9 mg/kg, while white teff has the least iron concentration with 881mg/kg. This project work revealed that Red/brown teff, the least expensive form and the least preferred type, has the highest iron content. Keywords: Teff (Eragrostis), o-phenanthroline, UV/Visible Spectrophotometery

Higher educational and economic status are key factors for the timely initiation of breastfeeding in Ethiopia:A review and meta-analysis

Aim: To investigate the association between initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth (TIBF) and maternal educational status, paternal educational status, household income, marital status, media exposure and parity in Ethiopia. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, CINAHL and WHO Global health library databases. All studies were conducted in Ethiopia and published from 2000 to 2019 were included. To obtain the pooled odds ratio (OR), data were fitted in random-effects meta-analysis model. Statistical heterogeneity was quantified using Cochran's Q test, τ2 and I2 statistics. This meta-analytic review was reported in compliance with the PRISMA statement. Results: Out of 553 studies retrieved, 25 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. High maternal educational status (P <.001), paternal educational status (P =.001) and household income (P =.002), being married (P =.001) and multiparity (P =.01) were significantly associated with TIBF. There was no significant publication bias. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed that TIBF was associated with high educational and economic status, being married and multiparity. This suggests that the meta-analysis detected small associations that many previous studies in Ethiopia have not been able to show. Our findings can be useful for comparisons with other countries

Breast and complementary feeding in Ethiopia:New national evidence from systematic review and meta-analyses of studies in the past 10 years

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide a national estimate of breast and complementary feeding practices and its predictors in Ethiopia.METHODS: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science and WHO Global Health Library electronic databases were searched for all available literature published until April 2018. Observational studies including cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies were included. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies. Heterogeneity of studies was quantified using Cochran's Q χ2 statistic and Higgins's method (I2). A meta-analysis using a weighted inverse variance method was performed. Subgroup analysis was carried out based on region and study area.RESULTS: In total, 70 studies that involved &gt; 55,000 women from nine regions and two chartered cities in Ethiopia were included. The pooled national prevalence for timely initiation of breastfeeding (TIBF), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and timely initiation of complementary feeding was 66.5%, 60.1% and 62.5%, respectively. Guidance and counselling on breastfeeding, vaginal delivery and health institution delivery significantly increased the odds of TIBF and EBF. In addition, TIBF significantly associated with high EBF practice. Maternal occupational status significantly associated with low EBF practice, but not TIBF.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the WHO standard, the current breast and complementary feeding practice in Ethiopia is good and improving. Integrated intervention is still required for further improvement and minimizing the effect of occupational status.</p

Predictors of Time to Viral Load Suppression of Adult PLWHIV on ART in Arba Minch General Hospital: A Follow up Study

Background: Access to antiretroviral drugs for all infected persons in need is a global health priority. The viral load and CD4 counts should be monitored regularly. The plasma viral load should be reduced by as much and for as short as possible. Identifying factors that predict time to viral load suppression of patients on antiretroviral therapy regimens is thus vital to optimizing therapeutic success. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the time to viral load suppression and identify predictors of time to viral load suppression of patients on antiretroviral therapy at Arba Minch general Hospital.Methods: This study was observational study using data abstracted from medical records, patient interviews and laboratory work-up during 6 months of follow up. The data were collected from 152 naive to anti-retro viral drug patients. The univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were done to identify predictors.Result: The median survival time of viral load suppression among adult patients living with HIV was 3 months with 95% CI (2.68, 3.32). The Cox-proportional hazard analysis shows baseline CD4 count of &lt;200cells/mm3 (AHR=0.683, CI:0.471, 0.990), baseline viral load of &lt;10,000 copies/ml (AHR=4.135, CI:1.835, 9.317), having baseline Cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (AHR=1.997, CI:1.108, 3.600), having baseline Isoniazid preventive therapy (AHR=3.085, CI:1.721, 5.529) and good adherence level to ART (AHR=2.648 ,CI: 1.202, 5.834) significantly predict the time to viral load suppression.Conclusion: Early improvement and maintenance of CD4 count and viral load to normal level should be attained through streamlining and strengthening monitoring and counseling of patients on adherence to ART, Cotrimoxazole and Isoniazid drugs.

Sociodemographic Factors Predicting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Ethiopia:Evidence from a Meta-analysis of Studies Conducted in the Past 10 Years

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between EBF and educational status, household income, marital status, media exposure, and parity in Ethiopia.METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, CINAHL and WHO Global health library databases were searched using key terms for all studies published in English between September 2009 and March 2019. The methodological quality of studies was examined using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional studies. To obtain the pooled odds ratio (OR), extracted data were fitted in a random-effects meta-analysis model. Statistical heterogeneity was quantified using Cochran's Q test, τ2, and I2 statistics. In addition, Jackknife sensitivity analysis, cumulative meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis were conducted.RESULTS: Out of 553 studies retrieved, 31 studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Almost all included studies were conducted among mothers with newborn less than 23 months old. Maternal primary school education (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.03-1.89; I2 = 86.11%), medium household income (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.05-1.55; I2 = 60.9%) and being married (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.05-1.83; I2 = 76.96%) were found to be significantly associated with EBF. We also observed an inverse dose-response relationship of EBF with educational status and income. However, EBF was not significantly associated with parity, media exposure, and paternal educational status.CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis, we showed the relevant effect of maternal education, income, and marital status on EBF. Therefore, multifaceted, effective, and evidence-based efforts are needed to increase the national level of exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia.</p

Determining Schistosoma haematobium Population Structures in Ethiopia

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a Neglected Tropical Disease caused by parasitic helminths that affects over 240 million people around the world. Praziquantel has been used to treat individuals infected with schistosomiasis through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programs but a recent reduction in its efficacy has been observed, creating concern that the parasite will evolve to become resistant to the chemotherapy drug. Monitoring changes in the population structure of Schistosoma haematobium using microsatellite markers can be a useful metric to determine praziquantel efficacy since variations in the repeat sequences of microsatellites indicate genetic diversity. Since little is known about the population structure of S. haematobium–despite urogenital schistosomiasis being a pressing issue in Ethiopia–18 microsatellite multiplex assays developed in a prior study were tested on stock DNA to validate them for use to study the effects of praziquantel on parasitic S. haematobium in Ethiopia. Through a combination of bioinformatic analysis, PCR, and Next Generation Sequencing on the MinION, 13 of the 18 microsatellite markers were validated, highlighting the importance of developing microsatellite multiplex assays not only based on length distribution, but also based on Next Generation Sequencing data.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2023/1015/thumbnail.jp

Factors associated with stress-related symptoms among people with epilepsy in Ethiopia, a cross-sectional study

IntroductionStress is a common psychological problem present in people with epilepsy and has a serious impact on the health-related satisfaction of people with epilepsy and their cohabiters. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and related factors of stress.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 301 systematically chosen people with epilepsy. The seven stress-related items of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress -21 questionnaire was used to measure stress. Data were entered using Epi Info and analyzed by SPSS version 25. Predictors with a p-value &lt; 0.20 in the bivariate logistic regression were transferred into the multivariate model. A p-value of less than 0.05 was viewed as statistically significant.ResultThe prevalence of stress symptoms in this study was 23.9%. Daily labor occupational status with Adjusted Odds ratio [(AOR) = 0.042, 95% CI: 0.004, 0.469], onset of illness at the age of 18 years and above (AOR = 0.188, 95% CI: 0.046, 0.771), perceived stigma (AOR = 3.320, 95% CI: 1.345, 8.200), the presence of anxiety symptoms (AOR = 8.275, 95% CI: 3.345, 20.471), and belief that the condition is untreatable (AOR = 6.360, 95% CI: 1.647, 24.562) were significantly associated factors.ConclusionThe occurrence of stress was high, and it reinforced that there is a requisite for the identification and handling of stress-related symptoms among people with epilepsy

Research site selection for SI-FMS initiative at Basona Worena woreda

Ethiopia is among the five implementors of this initiative and the implementing team composed of individuals from various CG centres based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has made visited to the agreed project sites in Ethiopia on 30 August 2022. In north Shewa, it was agreed that Basona Worena will be the implementing site of this initiative activities. On this day, SI – MFS initiative implementing team composed of researchers from Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICARDA and ILRI has travelled to Debre Birhan area to select research site for integrated research efforts and technology aggregations. The objective of the site selection was to implement research interventions and improve the land, crop, and livestock productivity through sustainable intensification of the mixed farming system (SI-FMS) initiative. The team has discussed with Basona Worena Woreda of Agriculture and livestock offices to identify the specific project implementation kebele. After the purpose of the initiative was discussed site selection criteria was set to select the implementation kebele