Predictors of under-five childhood diarrhea: Mecha District, West Gojam, Ethiopia

Background: Diarrheal disease is widely recognized as a major cause of child morbidity and mortality in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. There exist variations in explanatory variables of diarrhea depending on the context of the study.Objective: To examine the effects of selected environmental, socio-economic and behavioral factors on childhood diarrhea in Mecha District, West Gojjam, Ethiopia.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in February 2009. A proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to select 768 households that had at least one under-five child. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire by trained data collectors. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were undertaken to identify predictors of childhood diarrhea.Results: The prevalence of diarrhea among mothers and under-five children was 8.2% and 18.0%, respectively. Maternal education (AOR=5.6, 95% CI: 1.5 - 19.4), maternal history of recent diarrhea (AOR, 5.5; 95% CI, 2.9 - 9.8), availability of latrine facility (AOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4), duration of breast feeding (AOR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.1- 7.3), and age of the child (AOR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.3 - 5.9) had a significant association.Conclusion: From this study, variation in the level of diarrheal morbidity is well explained by maternal factors and presence of latrine facility. Educating mothers focusing on sustained behavioral changes in the use of latrine integrated with personal hygiene is an important intervention for the prevention and control of diarrhea among children. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2011;25;(3):192-200

Self-Regulatory Behavior of Adolescent Students in Ethiopia –The Case of Ayer Tena High School, Kolfe Keranio Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Self-regulatory behavior is an important personal skill that strengthens in the course of transition from childhood to adulthood. While self-regulation promotes healthy and successful transitioning to adulthood, deficiency in self-regulation would expose the growing persons to a host of undesirable behaviors including impulsivity, violence, health risky behaviors etc. The aim of this study was to examine adolescents. self-regulatory behavior and how it was associated with parental involvement and such other background factors as age, gender, family structure, and socio-economic status. A total of 211 secondary school adolescent students were selected as data sources. Socio-Economic Status Inventory, Self-Regulation Scale and Parental Involvement Scale were employed for data collection. Findings indicated that the level of self-regulatory behavior was significantly higher among the adolescents. The same pattern was exhibited in all the three dimensions of self-regulation. While sex and parental involvement were found to have significant relationship with self-regulatory behavior, age, socio-economic status, fathers. educational level, and family structure were, however, minimally correlated. Discussing the findings against a backdrop, basically of, socio-cultural reality of the study setting, further research was suggested to unveil this context of self-regulation using mixed research design

Effects of disinfection, packaging and evaporatively cooled storage on sugar content of mango

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of post-harvest disinfection, packaging, evaporative cooling storage and their combined effect on the changes in sugar content ofmango (Mangifera indica L.). The experiment was laid out in a factorial combination of disinfection, packaging and storage in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The mangoeswere periodically analyzed for reducing sugar and total sugar. Non-reducing sugar was computed from the difference between experimental reducing and total sugars. Storage conditions significantly (P 0.01) affected sugar content in mangoes. Storage at ambient conditions with higher temperature and lower relative humidity as compared to the evaporatively cooled storage resulted in rapid deterioration in sugar content of the mangoes. During the storage period, packaging generally maintained higher (P 0.01) levels of reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and total sugar. Similarly, disinfection treatment significantly (P 0.01) affected the changes in reducing, non-reducing and total sugars of mangoes during storage. Two-way interactions were significant (P 0.01) in terms of the changes in sugar content of mangoes. The benefits of the combined effect of post-harvest treatments on mangoes included maintenance of high reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and total sugar

Bellwether operations in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, are performed at regional and tertiary rather than district hospitals

Background. Previous work from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, South Africa, has suggested that public sector district hospitals are not providing adequate access to surgical care in the form of bellwether operations (caesarean section (CS), open reduction of fractures (ORF) and laparotomy).Objectives. To review the surgical output of regional and tertiary institutions, to quantify their contribution to providing bellwether procedure coverage for the province.Methods. Data on bellwether operations conducted at all district, regional, tertiary and central hospitals in the public health sector of KZN for the period 1 July - 31 December 2015 were collected from operating theatre registers.Results. Between 1 July and 31 December 2015, a total of 20 926 CSs, 3 947 laparotomies and 3 098 ORFs were performed in KZN provincial hospitals. This translates to a provincial rate for each bellwether procedure of 192/100 000 (CS), 36/100 000 (laparotomy) and 28/100 000 (ORF). The rate of  bellwether operations across the province during the study period was 256/100 000, with numbers as follows: CSs – 10 542 in district hospitals, 8 712 in regional hospitals, 1 538 in tertiary hospitals and 134 in the central hospital; laparotomies – 235 in district hospitals, 2 314 in regional hospitals, 1 259 in tertiary hospitals and 139 in the central hospital; and ORFs – 196 in district hospitals, 1 660 in regional hospitals, 1 201 in tertiary hospitals and 41 in the central hospital.Conclusions. Regional and tertiary hospitals are performing the bulk of non-obstetric bellwether operations in KZN. This imbalance has major implications for planning future delivery of surgical care in the province.

Efficient in vitro multiplication protocol for Vanilla planifolia using nodal explants in Ethiopia

Vanilla planifolia Andr. is a tropical commercial spice crop known for its popular flavoring substance called vanillin. Vanillin is the second most expensive spice in the world market, next to saffron. Ethiopia has favorable environment for vanilla production and the crop has huge local and international market. There is a soaring investors’ interest to produce vanilla in the country provided there is plenty and reliable planting material supply. In line with this, we report efficient and reproducible tissue culture based mass propagation protocol for elite vanilla clones introduced into the country. Significant difference (p < 0.0001) was observed among selected hormone combinations for rate of shoot multiplication. An average number of 3.12 to 4.17 shoots were obtained after 45 days of nodal culture on MS media supplemented with BA combined with KIN and NAA. The optimum level found was 1 mg/L BAP combined with 1.5 mg/L KIN. Both hormone free and MS media supplemented with different levels of NAA gave 100% rooting for shoots separated and transferred onto rooting media. More than 85% survival rate was achieved during acclimatization. The availability of this protocol is a key step towardslarge scale vanilla production in Ethiopia

Prevalence of Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis and its Associated Risk Factors among Patients Attending Nekemte Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the widest spread infectious diseases, is the leading cause of death in the world. TB is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the horn of Africa with Ethiopia carrying a heavy burden; it is the third most populous country in Africa. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of smear positive pulmonary TB (PTB) and its associated risk factors among TB suspected patients attending Nekemte Referral Hospital. Oromia Region State, Western,  Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was conducted among 170 TB suspected patients attending Nekemte Referral Hospital from April 1 to May 15, 2012. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The sputum sample was collected and examined following national guide line for diagnosis of TB using direct Ziehl – Nelson staining and sodium hypochlorite concentration techniques. To collect data related to associated risk factors for PTB, pretest structured question was employed. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and described using descriptive statistic and binary logistic regression modeling. The prevalence of smear-positive PTB is 9.41% and 15.88% by direct and sodium hypochlorite concentration Ziehle-Nelson staining technique, respectively. Factors significantly associated with smear-positive PTB were level ofeducation primary (AOR=17.78) and secondary education (AOR=736.19), occupation of merchant (AOR =0.03), sex male (AOR= 0.089), marital status of married (AOR=0.26), monthly income between 500-1000 (OR 0.002), urban residence (AOR= 0.39) and having close contact history with TB patient (OR=AO.113). The prevalence of Smear positive PTB is high at the study area and it is mostly associated with soci-demographic factorsand close contact with TB patient

Study of vascular movement of Potato virus X (PVX) TGBp1, TGBp2 and CP using the Commelina yellow mottle virus promoter and GFP

Scope and Method of Study:The green fluorescent protein (GFP) was fused to Potato virus X (PVX) TGBp1, TGBp2, or coat protein (CP) genes and inserted into the plasmids next to a companion cell specific CoYMV promoter. These plasmids were used to prepare transgenic tobacco plants expressing PVX proteins specifically in the phloem. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing a GFP:GFP fusion were also prepared as a control. GFP fluorescence was used to visualize phloem translocation and exit of the fusion proteins. Immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling was used to characterize the sub-cellular distribution of the fusion proteins within phloem.Findings and Conclusions:Fluorescence due to GFP:TGBp1, GFP:TGBp2, GFP:CP, and GFP:GFP was seen in transgenic tobacco leaf veins and failed to spread to nonvascular tissue. However, following PVX inoculation of GFP:TGBp1 and GFP:CP transgenic plants fluorescence spread into nonvascular tissues. Thus the destination of GFP:TGBp1 and GFP:CP, but not GFP:TGBp2 and GFP:GFP was altered by the presence of the virus indicating that the TGBp1 and CP directly interact with the virus to unload from the veins. Further studies explored phloem translocation of proteins within the stem and petioles. In petiole cross sections all fusion proteins were seen in phloem companion cells, sieve elements, and phloem parenchyma indicating that the proteins spread from the companion cells into surrounding phloem tissues. Only GFP:TGBp1 was seen in xylem parenchyma indicating that TGBp1 has a specific ability to move extensively throughout the vasculature. Nontransgenic scions were grafted to transgenic rootstocks and after 28 days fluorescence was seen in scions indicating that all fusions were phloem mobile.Immunogold labeling and transmission electron microscopy revealed GFP:TGBp1 and GFP:CP accumulated in the chloroplasts, plastids, vacuoles and cytoplasm in companion cells, and associated with plastids and P-proteins in sieve elements. GFP:TGBp1 expressing plants showed increased numbers of starch bodies in xylem parenchyma, pericycles and endodermal cells and fewer tracheary elements in petiole cross sections suggesting that TGBp1 affects vascular development and carbohydrate partitioning

Seed quality and mycoflora associated with chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) seed in Ethiopia

The study was conducted at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Haramaya University and Jimma University, Ethiopia. Crop yield is directly associated with the physical and biological quality of planting material or seed. Ninety-nine (99) chickpea seed lot samples were collected for physical purity, seed health and germination tests from major chickpea growing areas in Ethiopia in the 2016/17 cropping season to assess the status of chickpea seed health and quality among subsistence farmers, research stations and seed growers. The seed lots were grouped as researcher saved, farmers saved and seed growers’ saved seed. The maximum physical purity of 97.5% was recorded for the researcher saved seed lots, 90.8% for the seed growers and 87.4 % for the farmers saved seeds. Foreign matters and broken seeds were the most contaminants found in the seed lots. The seed germination percentages were in the range of 96.3% to 98.5% for all seed sources and there were no significant differences among the seed lot samples. A total of seventeen (17) fungi species were isolated from all seed sources with different frequency and amount. These are Fusarium spp., Aspergillus sp., A. niger, A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. candidus, A. fumigatus, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Verticillium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Pythium sp., Alternaria sp., Helminthosporium sp. Phylostica sp., Cladosporium sp., Negrospora sp. Aspergillus flavus was found the most dominant&nbsp; with recovery (Relative Density=21.53%, Infection rate=10.36%, and Infection Frequency=25.59 %) from all seed lots. There were high variations in relative density, Infection rate, and Infection frequency among isolated fungi. Ascochyta rabiei the most important&nbsp; chickpea disease was not found in this study. This might relate to the incidence and prevalence of sample collection season/cropping year which was low in expected areas. The current study concluded that there are seed qualities and seed health management issues with regards to different seed sources (farmers, research and private sectors); this entails strong seed quality control and growers’ awareness creation on storage sanitation, seed health test before sowing, and production of healthy crops. To keep the seed health in a better condition, seed growers should keep a wider interval of rotation, develop use of the healthy improved seed, after some&nbsp; generation (4-5), seed grading to avoid loss of physical purity, use of appropriate storage container (ventilated and clean), seed dressing with safe pesticides, and appropriate moisture level for storage (about 14%) should have to keep. Longer storage also gives a chance to contaminate the whole seed and can expose to decay. Key words: Chickpea, fungi, germination, mycoflora, purity, seed health, seed source