Efficacy of selected anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep owned by smallholder farmers in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia

The present study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of albendazole, tetramisole and ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep owned by smallholder farmers. Eighty three sheep were selected for the study and divided into four groups: the first group was treated with Albendazole, the second group treated with Tetramisole, the third group with Ivermectin and the fourth group untreated to serve as control. Faecal sample were collected on day zero before treatment, and again on day 10 post treatment. The efficacy for each anthelmintic was measured using the faecal egg count reduction test. The arithmetic faecal egg count reduction for albendazole, tetramisole and ivermectin were 99.34%, 97.77%, and 98.30% respectively. Therefore, the current finding suggests that there is a good state of efficacy for all tested anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. Keywords: Anthelmintic, Faecal egg count, Nematodes, efficac

Epidemiological study of small ruminant mange mites in three agro-ecological zones of Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia

An epidemiological study of small ruminant mange mites was conducted in three selected agro-ecological zones of Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia, from November 2007 to April 2008. A total of 352 sheep and 376 goats were examined for mange mites infestation, of which 7 (1.98%) and 22 (5.85%) sheep and goats were found positive respectively. The genuses of mange mites identified with this study were Demodex (1.23%) and Sarcoptes (2.61%) of these the genus Sarcoptes was more prevalent in the study area. The prevalence of mange mites was significantly higher in goats than in sheep (F=7.141, P=0.008). But age (X2 =0.108, P=0.743) and sex (X2 =0.007, P=0.79) of the host animals not affected the prevalence of mange mite (There was higher infestation of small ruminant in the lowland area (F=7.463, P=0.006). Keywords: small ruminant, mange mite, Agro-ecolog

Development and use of a scale to assess gender differences in appraisal of mistreatment during childbirth among Ethiopian midwifery students

Mistreatment during childbirth occurs across the globe and endangers the well-being of pregnant women and their newborns. A gender-sensitive approach to mistreatment during childbirth seems relevant in Ethiopia, given previous research among Ethiopian midwives and patients suggesting that male midwives provide more respectful maternity care, which is possibly mediated by self-esteem and stress. This study aimed a) to develop a tool that assesses mistreatment appraisal from a provider's perspective and b) to assess gender differences in mistreatment appraisal among Ethiopian final-year midwifery students and to analyze possible mediating roles of self-esteem and stress. First, we developed a research tool (i.e. a quantitative scale) to assess mistreatment appraisal from a provider's perspective, on the basis of scientific literature and the review of seven experts regarding its relevance and comprehensiveness. Second, we utilized this scale, the so-called Mistreatment Appraisal Scale, among 390 Ethiopian final-year midwifery students to assess their mistreatment appraisal, self-esteem (using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale) and various background characteristics. The scale's internal consistency was acceptable (α = .75), corrected item-total correlations were acceptable (.24 - .56) and inter-item correlations were mostly acceptable (.07 - .63). Univariable (B = 3.084, 95% CI [-.005, 6.173]) and multivariable (B = 1.867, 95% CI [-1.472, 5.205]) regression analyses did not show significant gender differences regarding mistreatment appraisal. Mediation analyses showed that self-esteem (a1b1 = -.030, p = .677) and stress (a2b2 = -.443, p = .186) did not mediate the effect of gender on mistreatment appraisal. The scale to assess mistreatment appraisal appears to be feasible and reliable. No significant association between gender and mistreatment appraisal was observed and self-esteem and stress were not found to be mediators. Future research is needed to evaluate the scale's criterion validity and to assess determinants and consequences of mistreatment during childbirth from various perspectives

Risk Factors for Positive Appraisal of Mistreatment during Childbirth among Ethiopian Midwifery Students

The maternal mortality ratio and neonatal mortality rate remain high in Ethiopia, where few births are attended by qualified healthcare sta. This is partly due to care providers’ mistreatment of women during childbirth, which creates a culture of anxiety that decreases the use of healthcare services. This study employed a cross-sectional design to identify risk factors for positive appraisal of mistreatment during childbirth. We asked 391 Ethiopian final year midwifery students to complete a paper-and-pen questionnaire assessing background characteristics, prior observation of mistreatment during education, self-esteem, stress, and mistreatment appraisal. A multivariable linear regression analysis indicated age (p = 0.005), stress (p = 0.019), and previous observation of mistreatment during education (p 0.001) to be significantly associated with mistreatment appraisal. Younger students, stressed students, and students that had observed more mistreatment during their education reported more positive mistreatment appraisal. No significant association was observed for origin (p = 0.373) and self-esteem (p = 0.445). Findings can be utilized to develop educational interventions that counteract mistreatment during childbirth in the Ethiopian context

Status of institutional-level respectful maternity care:Results from the national Ethiopia EmONC assessment

Objective To assess the availability of an institutional-level respectful maternity care (RMC) index, its components, and associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study design was applied to a 2016 census of 3804 health facilities in Ethiopia. The availability of an institutional-level RMC index was computed as the availability of all nine items identified as important aspects of institutional-level RMC during childbirth. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with availability of the index. Results Three components of the institutional-level RMC index were identified: "RMC policy," "RMC experience," and "facility for provision of RMC." Overall, 28% of facilities (hospitals, 29.9%; health centers, 27.8%) reported availability of the institutional-level RMC index. Facility location urbanization (urban region), percentage of maternal and newborn health workers trained in basic emergency obstetric and newborn care, and availability of maternity waiting homes in health facilities were positively associated with availability of the institutional-level RMC index. Conclusion Only one in three facilities reported availability of the institutional-level RMC index. The Ethiopian government should consider strengthening support mechanisms in different administrative regions (urban, pastoralist, and agrarian), implementing the provision training for health workers that incorporates RMC components, and increasing the availability of maternity waiting homes

Respectful maternity care in Ethiopian public health facilities

Background: Disrespect and abuse of women during institutional childbirth services is one of the deterrents to utilization of maternity care services in Ethiopia and other low- and middle-income countries. This paper describes the prevalence of respectful maternity care (RMC) and mistreatment of women in hospitals and health centers, and identifies factors associated with occurrence of RMC and mistreatment of women during institutional labor and childbirth services. Methods: This study had a cross sectional study design. Trained external observers assessed care provided to 240 women in 28 health centers and hospitals during labor and childbirth using structured observation checklists. The outcome variable, providers' RMC performance, was measured by nine behavioral descriptors. The outcome, any mistreatment, was measured by four items related to mistreatment of women: physical abuse, verbal abuse, absence of privacy during examination and abandonment. We present percentages of the nine RMC indicators, mean score of providers' RMC performance and the adjusted multilevel model regression coefficients to determine the association with a quality improvement program and other facility and provider characteristics. Results: Women on average received 5.9 (66%) of the nine recommended RMC practices. Health centers demonstrated higher RMC performance than hospitals. At least one form of mistreatment of women was committed in 36% of the observations (38% in health centers and 32% in hospitals). Higher likelihood of performing high level of RMC was found among male vs. female providers ((beta) over cap = 0: 65, p = 0.012), midwives vs. other cadres ((beta) over cap = 0: 88, p = 0.002), facilities implementing a quality improvement approach, Standards-based Management and Recognition (SBM-R (c)) ((beta) over cap = 1: 31, p = 0.003), and among laboring women accompanied by a companion (beta) over cap = 0: 99, p = 0.003). No factor was associated with observed mistreatment of women. Conclusion: Quality improvement using SBM-R (c) and having a companion during labor and delivery were associated with RMC. Policy makers need to consider the role of quality improvement approaches and accommodating companions in promoting RMC. More research is needed to identify the reason for superior RMC performance of male providers over female providers and midwives compared to other professional cadre, as are longitudinal studies of quality improvement on RMC and mistreatment of women during labor and childbirth services in public health facilities

Case reports of poultry disease outbreaks in two farms in Sothern Ethiopia

An outbreak investigation was carried out following the report from Gubire and Soddo poultry farms on February 20, 2006 and April 22, 2006 respectively. During the outbreak investigation observation of the flock, clinical examination and postmortem examination conducted, and four then live chickens' samples from each farm submitted to National Veterinary Institute, Debre-Zeit. Finally the cases were confirmed to be IBD after Agar gel immunodiffusion test conducted; and all chickens were found to be sero-positive for IBD. Keywords: Poultry, chicken, disease outbreak, Newcastle disease, Ethiopia > Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 235-23