Knowledge and Practice of Emergence Contraceptives among Female Students of Ejere High School and Preparatory School, Ejere Woreda, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Central Ethiopia

Back ground: Emergency contraceptive is a type of modern contraception that is indicated after un-protected sexual practice or due to contraceptive failure. Although Emergency contraceptive prevent unwanted pregnancy and its consequences like unsafe abortion and unintended child birth, there is no information about the knowledge and practice of Emergence contraceptive among young females in the study area. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice of Emergence contraceptive among female students of Ejere high school and preparatory school. Method: A facility based cross sectional study design was conducted among 270 Ejere high school and preparatory school female students from April 1-15 of 2015. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects until the required sample size was collected. Then the collected data was analyzed and presented in tables, figures and narratives. Results: From the total respondents, about 116 (43%) of the respondents were replied as they have heard about emergence contraceptives and only 44 (38%) and 14 (22%) of the respondents were knowledgeable and ever practiced emergency contraceptive respectively. Among those sexually active respondents (23.7%), some of the reasons why they were not using ECs are lack of knowledge about ECs, no desire to use the methods and due to religious reasons. Conclusion: The study indicated that the knowledge and utilization level of emergency contraceptives among the respondents were low. Therefore, Ejere woreda health office in collaboration with Ejere educational office should work on awareness creation about emergency contraceptives, when it was used, its advantage to prevent unwanted pregnancy and its damaging consequences after unprotected sex among the young female students. Keywords: Emergency contraceptives, knowledge, Practice, Ejere high and preparatory schoo

Determinants of Modern Hormonal Contraceptive Methods Utilization among Women within Reproductive Age Group in Dire Dawa City, Ethiopia

Modern family planning methods are widely believed to influence fertility reduction worldwide. Family planning had a clear effect on the health of women, children, and families worldwide especially those in developing countries. It has been shown that there are many instances in which women might discontinue contraception or switch methods that put women at risk of unwanted pregnancies. In addition, studies showed that in countries with moderate to high contraceptive prevalence, the majority of unintended pregnancies are the result of contraceptive discontinuation or failure. This study intends to assess and identify determinants of reversible modern hormonal contraceptive method utilization among women of reproductive age group in Dire Dawa city, Dire Dawa Administration, Eastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 811 women one year history of modern hormonal contraceptive method usage was studied. A stratified random sampling method was used to select the study subjects. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and to analyze the data descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was employed. Result. This study showed that 574 (70.8%) of them continue using the method that they used before one year without changing. However, 237 (29.2%) of women discontinued using the method within a year. Switching account 97 (40.9%) of the discontinuation. Factors such as: age, number of children, who made the decision on choice of the used method, the type of contraceptive method used and taking training/ counseling before using the method were found to be significant at 5% level of significance. Women who are young, have no or small number of children and not the decision maker on the choice of the method are more likely to discontinue. Whereas women who didn’t took training/counseling are less likely to discontinue.  And compared to women who used implant those, women who used pills and injectables are more likely to discontinue. This study showed the factors that contribute to utilization of modern contraception methods. Keywords: modern hormonal contraceptive method; binary logistic regression DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-3-01 Publication date:March 31st 202

Control of aquatic leeches (Lymnatis nilotica) using Phytolacca dodecandra (Endod) in Sodo District, Gurage Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, Ethiopia

Infestation of cattle by leeches and occasional attack of humans is becoming serious problem in some parts of the country. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of leech in selected streams in Sodo district, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region and to evaluate the efficacy of endod on leech in field condition and its impact on other non-target aquatic fauna following the request of the district craving for intervention. Estimation of prevalence of leech was assessed before application; 24 hrs, 10 days and 30 days post application of endod based on the number of leeches collected per person per 5 minutes. Findings from interview of the local communities revealed that 95% of the respondents rated leech as the major animal health problem in the district and 65% of them have seen human infested by leech at least once in their life. The mean leech count per person per 5 minutes before application of endod ranged from 16.8-38 in different streams. Stock solution of endod berries suspended in water for 16 hrs was continuously applied to various streams so as to maintain concentration of 20 g/m3 of water for 6 hrs. Application of endod caused mortality of most of the leech population resulting in 97-100% reduction which persisted for minimum of 30 days post application in most of the streams. Most of the local communities witnessed that endod rendered the treated water bodies free of leech for 2-3 months. It has also caused mortality of tadpoles, frogs and round worms found in streams while it doesn’t cause any visible toxicity to different water insects. Moreover, no livestock toxicity due to endod was recorded post application. In conclusion, endod can be used to control leech without causing serious toxicity to most of the aquatic fauna, human and livestock with continuous application for 6 hrs at concentration of 20 g/m3. However, care should be taken in using appropriate concentration and it should not be used in water bodies that contain fish because it is toxic to fish at the dose required to control leeches. Keywords: Aquatic Leech/Lymnatis nilotica; Cattle; Phytolacca dodecandra/Endod; Stream; Sodo distric

Gait Characterization Using Computer Vision Video Analysis

The World Health Organization reports that falls are the second-leading cause of accidental death among senior adults around the world. Currently, a research team at William & Mary’s Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences attempts to recognize and correct aging-related factors that can result in falling. To meet this goal, the members of that team videotape walking tests to examine individual gait parameters of older subjects. However, they undergo a slow, laborious process of analyzing video frame by video frame to obtain such parameters. This project uses computer vision software to reconstruct walking models from residents of an independent living retirement community. Those subjects have agreed to be tested bi-annually and to report their fall history. Videos previously recorded demonstrate a variety of walks. Our procedures use several OpenCV-Python functions to detect, label, and follow markers that have been placed on the subjects’ shoes and knees. The trajectories followed by these markers allow us to generate walking models with gait parameters, such as the step height and the ankle dorsiflexion angle. This computer vision video analysis runs unsupervised to reduce processing time dramatically while enhancing the accuracy of a variety of measurements. Therefore, our data processing techniques will enable our kinesiology investigators to quickly generate a more extensive data set to learn how falling problems develop. This outcome will allow them to develop and to test exercises that can reduce those problems and prevent future falls for older subjects. Keywords: computer vision, falls, gait, senior

Hormonal oestrus synchronization in four sheep breeds in Ethiopia: Impacts on genetic improvement and flock productivity

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Direct detection and characterization of foot-and-mouth disease virus in East Africa using a field-ready real-time PCR platform

Effective control and monitoring of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) relies upon rapid and accurate disease confirmation. Currently, clinical samples are usually tested in reference laboratories using standardized assays recommended by The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). However, the requirements for prompt and serotype-specific diagnosis during FMD outbreaks, and the need to establish robust laboratory testing capacity in FMD-endemic countries have motivated the development of simple diagnostic platforms to support local decision-making. Using a portable thermocycler, the T-COR™ 8, this study describes the laboratory and field evaluation of a commercially available, lyophilized pan-serotype-specific real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) assay and a newly available FMD virus (FMDV) typing assay (East Africa-specific for serotypes: O, A, Southern African Territories [SAT] 1 and 2). Analytical sensitivity, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the pan-serotype-specific lyophilized assay were comparable to that of an OIE-recommended laboratory-based rRT-PCR (determined using a panel of 57 FMDV-positive samples and six non-FMDV vesicular disease samples for differential diagnosis). The FMDV-typing assay was able to correctly identify the serotype of 33/36 FMDV-positive samples (no cross-reactivity between serotypes was evident). Furthermore, the assays were able to accurately detect and type FMDV RNA in multiple sample types, including epithelial tissue suspensions, serum, oesophageal–pharyngeal (OP) fluid and oral swabs, both with and without the use of nucleic acid extraction. When deployed in laboratory and field settings in Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia, both assays reliably detected and serotyped FMDV RNA in samples (n = 144) collected from pre-clinical, clinical and clinically recovered cattle. These data support the use of field-ready rRT-PCR platforms in endemic settings for simple, highly sensitive and rapid detection and/or characterization of FMDV

Diarrhea prevalence and sociodemographic factors among under-five children in rural areas of North Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Published 3 June 2018Background. Diarrheal disease remains one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and children in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Risk factors for diarrhea vary by settings and have important implications for developing intervention strategies to reduce the burden of the disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess diarrhea prevalence and sociodemographic factors among under-five children in rural areas of North Gondar Zone. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2016 among 736 randomly selected households with one child under five years old. A structured questionnaire was used for collecting information on sociodemographic characteristics and diarrheal occurrence. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between risk factors and diarrheal occurrence, and a p value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results. A total of 736 under-five children and their respondents were enrolled during the study period. Almost all respondents were biological mothers 96.4% (709/736), married 94.2% (693/736), and house wives 86% (632/736). The overall prevalence of diarrheal disease among under-five children was 22.1% (163/743). Of these, children with age group of less than one year old, 7.7 % (57/736), were commonly infected with diarrheal diseases. Children less than or equal to one year [AOR=1.82, 95% CI= (1.39, 4.63)], guardians [AOR=4.37, 95% CI= (1.73, 11.1)], and children with no breast feeding practice [AOR=3.13, 95% CI= (1.62, 6.03)] were the major risk factors for the occurrence of diarrhea. Conclusion. Childhood diarrhea remains an important health concern in the study area. Occurrence of diarrhea was statistically associated with child age less than or equal to one year, educational status of mother/guardians, and breast feeding. To minimize the magnitude childhood diarrhea, various designing and implementing strategies, such as health education, child care, breast feeding, and weaning practice, integrated with the existing national health extension are quite essential.Atalay Getachew, Tadesse Guadu, Alebachew Tadie, Zemichael Gizaw, Mulat Gebrehiwot, Daniel Haile Cherkos, Martha Alemayehu Menberu, and Teklay Gebrecherko

Pattern and Outcome of Chest Injuries at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania.

Chest injuries constitute a continuing challenge to the trauma or general surgeon practicing in developing countries. This study was conducted to outline the etiological spectrum, injury patterns and short term outcome of these injuries in our setting. This was a prospective study involving chest injury patients admitted to Bugando Medical Centre over a six-month period from November 2009 to April 2010 inclusive. A total of 150 chest injury patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 3.8:1. Their ages ranged from 1 to 80 years (mean = 32.17 years). The majority of patients (72.7%) sustained blunt injuries. Road traffic crush was the most common cause of injuries affecting 50.7% of patients. Chest wall wounds, hemothorax and rib fractures were the most common type of injuries accounting for 30.0%, 21.3% and 20.7% respectively. Associated injuries were noted in 56.0% of patients and head/neck (33.3%) and musculoskeletal regions (26.7%) were commonly affected. The majority of patients (55.3%) were treated successfully with non-operative approach. Underwater seal drainage was performed in 39 patients (19.3%). One patient (0.7%) underwent thoracotomy due to hemopericardium. Thirty nine patients (26.0%) had complications of which wound sepsis (14.7%) and complications of long bone fractures (12.0%) were the most common complications. The mean LOS was 13.17 days and mortality rate was 3.3%. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, associated injuries, the type of injury, trauma scores (ISS, RTS and PTS) were found to be significant predictors of the LOS (P < 0.001), whereas mortality was significantly associated with pre-morbid illness, associated injuries, trauma scores (ISS, RTS and PTS), the need for ICU admission and the presence of complications (P < 0.001). Chest injuries resulting from RTCs remain a major public health problem in this part of Tanzania. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of RTCs is necessary to reduce the incidence of chest injuries in this region