Assessment of Knowledge and Practice on Breast Feeding Among Mothers of Children Aged Less Than Two Years and Associated Factors in Areka Town, Wolita Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2018

World health organization guideline recommend that continuous frequent and on-demand breast feeding until two years of age and beyond is essential for the child as well as the mother. Breast feeding aids general health, growth and development of the children. This study will  Asses knowledge and practice on breast feeding among mothers of children aged less than two years and associated factors in Araka town, Woliat zone,South Ethiopia community based cross sectional study was conduct among 286 mothers in Areka town on May 2018. By using simple random sampling technique1 kebele was selected from 4 kebeles of Areka town and  lottery method was used to get required sample size. structured questionnaire was used for collecting data from respondents .The data was analyzed and processed by SPSS window version 18 and presented in the form of percentage, proportions, and narrative sand associations are identified. From the total of 274 mothers, 56.6% of the mothers have good knowledge about the benefits of breast-feeding 43.6% poor knowledge about child breast feeding. From the total of 274,132 (48.2%) have good practice of breast feeding and 142(51.2%) mothers have poor practice of breast feeding. multivariate logistic regression analysis showed mothers of age20-24 and mothers of age 30-34 practiced appropriate breastfeeding less likely than mothers with age greater than 35 years of age. Mothers who attended higher education were more knowledgeable when compared to  mothers not attended formal education. Mothers who are government employ are more likely know about importance of breast feed as compared to students. The result of this study demonstrated that more than half of mothers of children under two years of age have good knowledge about benefit of breast feeding and less than half of respondent have good practice of breast feeding. Keywords: Breast feeding, knowledge, practice DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/88-01 Publication date: April 30th 202

Growth, yield and yield component attributes of narrow-leafed lupin (<i>Lupinus angustifolius</i> L.) varieties in the highlands of Ethiopia

An experiment was conducted to characterize the growth and yield performance of narrow-leafed sweet blue lupin varieties (Lupinus angustifolius L.) in northwestern Ethiopia. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications and included 7 varieties (Bora, Probor, Sanabor, Vitabor, Haags blaue, Borlu and Boregine). Data on days to flowering and to maturity, flower color, plant height, numbers of leaflets, branches and pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, forage dry matter (DM) yield, grain yield and 1,000-seed weight were recorded. The results showed that plant height, number of branches per plant, forage DM yield, number of seeds per pod, grain yield and 1,000-seed weight varied significantly (P<0.01) among varieties. The highest forage DM yield at 50% flowering (2.67 t/ha), numbers of pods per plant (16.9) and of seeds per pod (4.15), grain yield (1,900 kg/ha) and 1,000-seed weight (121 g) were obtained from the Boregine variety. The tallest plants and greatest number of branches per plant were recorded from varieties Sanabor and Bora, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the major factor affecting forage DM yield was plant height, while plant height, days to maturity and number of seeds per pod had the greatest influence on grain yield. The best performing variety was Boregine followed by Sanabor and Bora. These varieties seem promising for the development of sustainable forage production strategies with limited external inputs. However, future research should be conducted on the improvement of their agronomy and the possibility of their utilization as protein supplements using narrow-leafed sweet blue lupin forage or grain, as well as testing of promising varieties in diverse locations

Crude protein, amino acid and alkaloid contents of annual sweet lupin (Lupinus spp. L.) forages and seeds grown in Ethiopia

This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Though bitter white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is a traditional crop in Ethiopia, sweet lupins are new to the country. As a result, the nutritional value of low-alkaloid lupins has not been evaluated under Ethiopian conditions. Crude protein, amino acid and alkaloid contents of 16 cultivars of three annual lupin species grown in four lupin growing locations (Merawi, Finoteselam, Kossober-1 and Kossober-2) of Ethiopia were evaluated. Location × cultivar interaction was a significant source of variation for all traits (p < 0.0001). In all locations, blue entries had either similar (p ≥ 0.0584) or higher (p ≤ 0.0235) forage crude protein content than the Local Landrace, white group and yellow entry. Compared with the Local Landrace, white and blue entries, the sole yellow entry had higher (p ≤ 0.0148) seed crude protein content at all locations except at Kossober-2, where it had similar (p = 0.8460) crude protein content as white entries. The Local Landrace had the highest forage and seed alkaloid contents. However, sweet blue Vitabor and Sanabor entries had the lowest forage and seed alkaloid contents, respectively. Low alkaloid and higher crude protein contents of sweet lupins grown in Ethiopia show the possibility to use sweet lupin forage and seeds as cheap home-grown protein source for livestock feed and human food in the country. However, for more reliable information, the laboratory results need to be verified by animal and human evaluations of the crop.Peer Reviewe

The magnitude of precancerous cervical lesions and its associated factors among women screened for cervical cancer at a referral center in southern Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCervical cancer is the most prevalent gynecologic cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Africa's southern, eastern, and western regions have the highest rates of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is treatable and curable when detected early, but it is nonetheless fatal in low- and middle-income (LMIC) nations where screening and early detection are not widely accessible.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess the magnitude of precancerous cervical lesions and their associated factor among women screened for cervical cancer at a referral center in southern Ethiopia, in 2021.MethodsA retrospective institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 21 to April 14, 2022, among randomly selected 372 records of women screened for cervical cancer at Hawassa University Specialized Hospital. Data were extracted from clients' charts using a data extraction checklist. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 and logistic regression analysis were applied to determine the association between dependent and independent variables, and significance was declared at p-value &lt;0.05.ResultsThe magnitude of abnormal cervical dysplasia in this study was 18.3% of which 14% were precancerous cervical lesions and 4.3% were cervical cancer. Early coitarche: Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.6 [95% (confidence interval) CI = 1.87–16.78], having more than one sexual partner: AOR = 2.6 [95% CI = 1.2–5.68], being HIV positive: AOR = 3.56 [95% CI = 1.53–8.29], and having sexually transmitted infections: AOR = 4.64 [95% CI = 2.08–10.35] were independent predictors of precancerous cervical lesions.ConclusionThe magnitude of precancerous cervical lesions in the study setting is 18% and the magnitude of cervical cancer is 14%, which is higher than the pooled prevalence of precancerous cervical lesions in Ethiopia. Having multiple sexual partners, being HIV positive, having sexual intercourse before 21 years, and new STI diagnosis was independently associated with abnormal precancerous cervical lesions

Going to scale—From community-based to population-wide genetic improvement and commercialized sheep meat supply in Ethiopia

Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) have shown, at pilot scale, to be effective and beneficial in achieving genetic progress and in improving livelihoods of smallholder communities. In Ethiopia 134 sheep and goat CBBPs were operational producing their own improved rams and bucks. Based on experience the implementation of further programs is possible with appropriate private and public support. A different challenge is the efficient dissemination of the improved genetics produced in current CBBPs to create population-wide economic impact. We present a framework applied to the Ethiopian Washera sheep breed to meet this challenge. We propose the establishment of a genetic improvement structure that supports a meat commercialization model based on the integration of community-based breeding program cooperatives, client communities and complementary services such as fattening enterprises. We calculated that the recently established 28 community-based breeding programs in the Washera breeding tract can provide genetically improved rams to 22% of the four million head. To reach the whole population 152 additional CBBPs are needed. We simulated the genetic improvements obtainable in the current 28 CBBPs assuming realized genetic progress in CBBPs of a similar breed and calculated the expected additional lamb carcass meat production after 10 years of selection to be 7 tons and the accumulated discounted benefit 327 thousand USD. These benefits could be increased if the CBBPs are linked to client communities by providing them with improved rams: additional meat production would be 138 tons with a value of 3,088 thousand USD. The total meat production of the existingWashera CBBPs was calculated at 152 tons and the joint meat production of CBBPs if integrated with client communities would be 3,495 tons. A full integration model, which includes enterprises purchasing lambs for fattening, can produce up to 4,255 tons of meat. We conclude that Washera CBBPs cooperatives can benefit from a higher level of organization to produce population-wide genetic improvement and economic benefits. Unlike in the dairy and chicken industries, for low input sheep and goat smallholder systems the proposed commercialization model puts breeder cooperatives at the center of the operation. Cooperatives need to be capacitated and supported to become fully functional business ventures.Estación Experimental Agropecuaria BarilocheFil: Mueller, Joaquin Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Haile, Aynalem. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); EtiopiaFil: Getachew, Tesfaye. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); EtiopiaFil: Santos, Bruno. AbacusBio Limited; Nueva ZelandaFil: Rekik, Mourad. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); TunezFil: Belay, Berhanu. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); EtiopiaFil: Solomon, Dawit. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); EtiopiaFil: Yeheyis, Likawent. Amhara Regional Research Institute (ARARI); EtiopiaFil: Rischkowsky, Barbara. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); Etiopi

Consultation workshop on Washera and Wollo sheep improvement In Amhara region: Summary Report

Since 2009, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) and Ethiopian NARS has been implementing community-based breeding program (CBBP) in Ethiopia, to support the livelihood of smallholder farmers by improving the productivity of small ruminants through selective breeding. Since then, a remarkable progress has been made in improving the livelihood of small holders in different parts of the country. Currently, the CBBP initiative has been expanded to cover more than 10,000 households in Ethiopia. Generally, improved productivity, higher offtake, and higher annual income were recorded in those households participating in CBBPs. For example, an average genetic gain of 0.20kg per year for six-months weight and, and increased mutton consumption (from 1 sheep to 3 slaughtered/year/HH) were achieved in CBBP intervention areas. ICARDA has been working on Menz sheep and Abergelle goat CBBPs improvement closely with the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) and Amhara Region Bureau of Agriculture to transform small ruminant value chains in Amhara region and beyond. CBBPs is adapted by different institutions in the region and being expanded in many parts of the region. As an example, Washera sheep CBBPs and Wollo sheep improvement has been implemented by various institutions (different universities, research centers and the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute). However, there is no a harmonized breeding objective, CBPP implementation modality and a clear roles and responsibility shared among stakeholders working in the region. Hence, bringing all institutions together and harmonizing the scattered efforts in Washera and Wollo sheep improvement is crucial to bring impact at scale. As part of the joint effort, ICARDA in collaboration with ARARI organized a two-day consultation and planning workshop in Bahir Dar at Unison Hotel from 14-15 April 2022

Second Washera and Wollo sheep improvement Workshop in Amhara region: Summary Report

Since 2009, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) and Ethiopian NARS has been implementing community-based breeding program (CBBP) in Ethiopia, to support the livelihood of smallholder farmers by improving the productivity of small ruminants through selective breeding. Since then, a remarkable progress has been made in improving the livelihood of small holders in different parts of the country. Currently, the CBBP initiative has been expanded to cover more than 10,000 households in Ethiopia. Generally, improved productivity, higher offtake, and higher annual income were recorded in those households participating in CBBPs. For example, an average genetic gain of 0.20kg per year for six-months weight and, and increased mutton consumption (from 1 sheep to 3 slaughtered/year/HH) were achieved in CBBP intervention areas. ICARDA has been working on Menz sheep and Abergelle goat CBBPs improvement closely with the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) and Amhara Region Bureau of Agriculture to transform small ruminant value chains in Amhara region and beyond. CBBPs is adapted by different institutions in the region and being expanded in many parts of the region. As an example, Washera sheep CBBPs and Wollo sheep improvement has been implemented by various institutions (different universities, research centers and the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute). However, there is no a harmonized breeding objective, CBPP implementation modality and a clear roles and responsibility shared among stakeholders working in the region. Hence, bringing all institutions together and harmonizing the scattered efforts in Washera and Wollo sheep improvement is crucial to bring impact at scale. As part of the joint effort, it has been recalled that ICARDA in collaboration with ARARI organized a two-day consultation and planning workshop in Bahir Dar at Unison Hotel from 14-15 April 2022. Since then, as per the agreements of implementation modality during the first consultative workshop, various activities were performed by the respective stakeholders. To evaluate such progresses made so far, the second consultative workshop was organized by ICARDA and ARARI on October 04, 2022 in BenMas Hotel, Bahir Dar. A total of 27 participants from different partnering institutes attended the consultative workshop