Measuring Multidimensional Rural Poverty using Combination of Methods – A Case Study from Southern Ethiopia

This paper focuses on the development and empirical application of a multidimensional measure of wellbeing index which can be used to assess level of poverty among households in rural areas of developing countries. The study employed community-based participatory and questionnaire-based household survey data collection methods. The final multidimensional index was derived using a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) on household survey data set collected from 358 rural households in Southern Ethiopia. Data on 16 variables measuring multiple aspects of household wealth status were used to extract the set of principal components utilized in the construction of the index. Two key statistical tests, the KMO and Bartlett’s tests, showed the appropriateness of the data for PCA. Results revealed that four major factors influence the wealth status and hence the wellbeing of households: household natural resource endowment, assets endowment, human capital and access to institutional support and proxy to physical market. Therefore, we suggest that any efforts to improve the wellbeing of farm households in the study area as well as in other regions with similar socio-economic and biophysical settings should consider these factors as entry point to poverty alleviation. Keywords: Multidimensional wellbeing; Principal components analysis; wealth index; Farm households; Halab

Factors Affecting Production and Market Supply of Haricot Bean in Southern Ethiopia

Haricot bean has been an important export commodity for the Ethiopian economy for the last 40 years. It is the smallholder farmers in the low and mid-attitude zones of the country who use haricot bean, not only as source of income but also as source of food. The present study examines factors affecting production and market supply of haricot bean in Boricha district. Cross sectional data obtained from 165 sample respondents were used to estimate the cob-Douglas production function and supply model. The result of the log linear regression shows it is possible to increase production of haricot bean by increasing the supply of seed, fertilizer, nonfarm activities and labour. These variables cetirus-paribus significantly influence production positively. From the estimates of supply function, selling price and production amount positively and significantly affect marketable supply, but consumption significantly influences market supply negatively. Hence by increasing production and selling price, market supply can be improved. The policy implications of the present findings are to have increased and diversified nonfarm activities, with increased input delivery which would have great contribution in increasing haricot bean production and market supply in the area. Hence measures should be directed towards assuring appropriate remunerative prices and increases in investment on  input supply to better commercialize the crop. Keywords: Smallholders, haricot bean, production structure, market surplu

Determinants of Smallholder Pulse Producers Market Orientation in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract: Pulse crops production and factors influencing the intensity market orientation were conducted in selected districts of southern Ethiopia. A total of 183 farmers were selected randomly and interviewed using structured schedule. The finding reveals that 73% of households produce haricot beans in the study areas on about 17.2% of total cultivated land. Out of the total produce of haricot bean close to 56% were sold. Next to haricot bean, chickpea is important pulse crop and is produced by 26.8% of the households. About 69.5% of total chickpea produce was sold indicating that chickpea is an even more important cash crop. The average level of market orientation index for haricot bean was 0.4 while that of chickpea 0.53, indicating moderate level of households market orientation. The Tobit estimation result show that household head education level, access to credit and land per capita positively influenced chickpea market orientation while being male head of a household and accesses to credit increased the predicted value of haricot bean market orientation. The key implication of this study is that interventions aimed at promoting market orientation of pulse crops should promote smallholder access to credit, human capital development and women empowerment

Field evaluation of rK39 test and direct agglutination test for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in a population with high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in Ethiopia

Accuracy of an rK39 rapid diagnostic test (DiaMed-IT-Leish ) for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was compared with splenic aspiration and the direct agglutination test (DAT) in a population with a high prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Ethiopia. There were 699 patients clinically suspected of having VL (153 parasitologically confirmed, 482 DAT confirmed, and 130 DAT negative), and 97 DAT-negative controls. A total of 84% were tested for HIV and 34% were HIV positive. Sensitivity of the rK39 test in parasitologically confirmed VL patients was 84% (77% in HIV positive and 87% in HIV negative; P = 0.25). Sensitivity of the DAT was higher (94%; P = 0.01), 89% in HIV-positive patients and 95% in HIV-negative patients; P = 0.27). Specificity of the rK39 test was 99% in DAT-negative controls and 92% in DAT-negative patients clinically suspected of having VL. A diagnostic algorithm combining DAT and the rK39 test had a sensitivity of 98% in HIV-positive VL patients and 99% in HIV-negative VL patients. Despite the lower sensitivity in a population with a high prevalence of HIV, the DiaMed-IT-Leish rK39 test enables decentralization of diagnosis. Patients clinically suspected of having VL who show negative results on the rK39 antigen test should undergo follow-up DAT testing, especially if they are HIV positive

Bringing benefits of chickpea to more men and women farmers in Southern Ethiopia

Researchers in the “Promoting Adoption of Chickpea Technology (PACT)” project identified new areas in the highlands of Ethiopia for chickpea seed multiplication. The aim of the next phase of the project is to understand and promote the key drivers and processes that will facilitate and accelerate large-scale adoption of chickpea production technology. In the first six months of implementation, the project has expanded its reach from 45 farmers to 794, of which 20% are women. A multi-stakeholder innovation platform has been established to expand community-based seed production of improved varieties, involving micro-seed enterprises, farmers’ cooperatives and 30,000 farmers over three years

Preliminary Review of Spine Tumor Radiologic, Intra-Operative and Histopathology Findings, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Spinal tumors constitute 10-32% of all primary central nervous system tumors. Accurate radiologic and histopathology diagnosis is crucial in the management and prognosis. The aim of the study was to describe the imaging patterns and to determine the agreement of imaging pattern of spinal tumors with intra-operative and histopathology findings. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 47 patients with spinal tumor done from May 2018 to October 2020. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data, history, physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), intraoperative findings and histopathology reports. The agreement between imaging, intraoperative finding and histopathology diagnosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Intradural extramedullary tumors constituted 37 (78%) cases followed by six (12.8 %) extradural tumors and four (9.2%) intramedullary tumors. Schwannoma accounted for 13 (27.7%) cases followed by meningioma, 12 (25.5%) cases. Twenty-seven (57.4%) cases were thoracic level and cervical level were nine (19.1%) cases. Twelve (25.5%) cases did not have a definite intraoperative diagnosis. Imaging and intraoperative diagnosis was in agreement in 21 (44.6 %) cases and disagreed in 14 (29.7%) cases. For the imaging diagnosis and histopathology, 29 (61.7%) were in agreement and 18 (38.3 %) were in disagreement. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the commonest site to be involved was the thoracic spine and schwannoma was the commonest tumor. The low agreement between imaging and histopathology could have been improved by optimizing the imaging reports and techniques

From field to fingers : enriching soils and seeds to improve nutrition

This outcome story is one in a series that reports on research supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), a program of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD). Produced by WRENmedia in March 2014

Coverage and determinants of second-dose measles vaccination among under-five children in East Africa countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundOne of the biggest breakthroughs of contemporary medicine is measles vaccination. It is essential for the total elimination of measles. Understanding the magnitude and determinants of effective second-dose measles vaccination coverage is a critical task. Accordingly, we set out to check the best available evidence of the pooled second-dose measles vaccination coverage among under-five children in East Africa.MethodWe searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and others. Two reviewers separately carried out the search of the Joanna Briggs Institute, selection of studies, critical appraisal, and data extraction. A third party was involved in resolving the disagreement among the reviewers. Seven studies included in this study, four from Ethiopia, two from Kenya, and one from Tanzania were cross-sectional and published in English language, with publication dates before 29 November 2023. Articles lacking full-text, the intended outcome, and that are not qualitative studies were excluded from the analysis. The Microsoft Excel checklist was used to extract the data and then exported to STATA 11. In addition, I2, Funnel plots, and Egger's test were employed to measure heterogeneity and detect publication bias, respectively. A random effect model was used.ResultThe meta-analysis includes a total sample size of 4,962 children from seven articles. The pooled prevalence of second-dose measles vaccination among under-five children in East Africa was found to be 32.22% [95% CI; (18.82, 45.63)], and the significant factors were as follows: birth order (1.72; OR = 95% CI: 1.32, 2.23), information about measles-containing second-dose vaccine (MCV 2) (7.39; OR = 95% CI: 5.21, 10.50), mother's marital status (1.47; OR = 95% CI: 1.05, 2.07), complete immunization for other vaccines (2.17; OR = 95% CI: 1.49, 3.17), and distance of vaccination site (3.31; OR = 95% CI: 2.42, 4.53).ConclusionThe current study found that pooled prevalence of second-dose measles vaccination coverage among under-five children was still very low. It was also observed that birth order, distance of the vaccination site, complete immunization for other vaccines, mother's marital status, and information about MCV were factors associated with second-dose measles vaccination. These factors imply that there is a need for countries and their partners to act urgently to secure political commitment, expand primary health service and health education, and increase vaccination coverage

A systems model describing the impact of organic resource use on farming households in low to middle income countries

We are grateful for support from the DFID-NERC El Niño programme in project NE P004830, “Building Resilience in Ethiopia’s Awassa region to Drought (BREAD)”, the ESRC NEXUS programme in project IEAS/POO2501/1, “Improving organic resource use in rural Ethiopia (IPORE)”, and the NERC ESPA programme in project NEK0104251 “Alternative carbon investments in ecosystems for poverty alleviation (ALTER)”. We are also grateful to Dr. V.U.M. Rao (Former Project Coordinator, AICRP on Agrometeorology, CRIDA, Hyderabad) and Dr. S.K. Chaudhari (DDG, NRM Division, KAB-II, ICAR, New Delhi) for their assistance in collecting meteorological data of Parbhani, Maharashtra.Peer reviewedPostprin