Assessment of Handling Practices, Utilization and Concentration of Iodine in Iodized Salt at Wondo Genet town, Southern Ethiopia: A Crossectional Study

Iodine deficiency is severe public health problem in Ethiopia. One out of every 1000 population is mentally handicapped due to a congenital thyroid deficiency, and about 50,000 prenatal deaths are occurring annually due to iodine deficiency disorders.nbsp Even though the problem is serious, there were no adequate researches conducted. Therefore, this study focuses on assessment of handling practices of iodized salt and the amount of iodine concentration retained in iodized salts at households and retailers level in Wondo Genet town. The objective of this study was to assess handling practices and concentration of iodine across iodized salt consumption in retailers and households level. Two hundred ninety four households and seventh six retailers were selected by systematic random sampling method for survey using questionnaire and rapid test kit method was used to measure iodine concentration of salt used by the households. The result of this study indicated that iodized salt coverage was found to be 100 % at households and retailers level. Iodine level in the salt examined by iodometric titration, in this study was 4.4 to 70.9 ppm. This indicates the need for further improvement of handling practices of iodized salt. Iodine level in the salt examined by iodometric titration in this study was 60.54% of households and 65.79% retailers salt samples had 15 ndash 40 ppm iodine concentration. This shows that in the iodized salt there is no adequate iodine content in accordance with the nbsprecommendation. Majority of the households 37.4% add iodized salt half way during boiling of the food/coffee. Although the coverage of iodized salt in the study area was high but availability of adequate iodized salt at household level was low as compared to the WHO recommendation.There for this shows that handling practice of iodized salt at the household and retailer level and utilization practice at the household level is poor

Assessment of Handling Practices, Utilization and Concentration of Iodine in Iodized Salt at Wondo Genet town, Southern Ethiopia: A Crossectional Study

Iodine deficiency is severe public health problem in Ethiopia. One out of every 1000 population is mentally handicapped due to a congenital thyroid deficiency, and about 50,000 prenatal deaths are occurring annually due to iodine deficiency disorders.nbsp Even though the problem is serious, there were no adequate researches conducted. Therefore, this study focuses on assessment of handling practices of iodized salt and the amount of iodine concentration retained in iodized salts at households and retailers level in Wondo Genet town. The objective of this study was to assess handling practices and concentration of iodine across iodized salt consumption in retailers and households level. Two hundred ninety four households and seventh six retailers were selected by systematic random sampling method for survey using questionnaire and rapid test kit method was used to measure iodine concentration of salt used by the households. The result of this study indicated that iodized salt coverage was found to be 100 % at households and retailers level. Iodine level in the salt examined by iodometric titration, in this study was 4.4 to 70.9 ppm. This indicates the need for further improvement of handling practices of iodized salt. Iodine level in the salt examined by iodometric titration in this study was 60.54% of households and 65.79% retailers salt samples had 15 ndash 40 ppm iodine concentration. This shows that in the iodized salt there is no adequate iodine content in accordance with the nbsprecommendation. Majority of the households 37.4% add iodized salt half way during boiling of the food/coffee. Although the coverage of iodized salt in the study area was high but availability of adequate iodized salt at household level was low as compared to the WHO recommendation.There for this shows that handling practice of iodized salt at the household and retailer level and utilization practice at the household level is poor

Large-plot based performance evaluation of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) Varieties for grain yield and agronomic traits under irrigation condition in Mandura District, North-West, Ethiopia

The experiment was conducted during the offseason at Mandura district, North-West, Ethiopia under irrigation condition with the objective, to test and evaluate the adaptability and performance of seven introduced ESA pigeonpea varieties for grain yield and other agronomic traits with standard check during 2017/2018 cropping season. The agronomic traits evaluated and tested were stand count at initial, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, and stand count at harvest, seeds per pod, seeds per plant, wilt score, hundred seed weight and usable grain yield per hectare. The evaluated materials showed three maturity class i.e. early, medium, and long durations. Among the tested materials, ICEAP-00557 scored the highest grain yield (2349kg/ha), followed by ICEAP-00576-1 (1737kg/ha), however, the standard check ICEAP-87091 score was comparatively inferior (1390kg/ha). At times there was great variability in the biomass of the varieties which deserves serious attention for the producers. Thus, it was suggested the existence of sufficient variability for key economic yield that gives an option for promoting for high socio-economic performance through adaptation and commercialization

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) growing in Ethiopia are nodulated by diverse rhizobia

A total of eighty one (81) rhizobial isolates were recovered from root nodules of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown in soils collected from eight different sites (Hawassa, Wondogenet, Chofa, Badawacho, Bodity, Gofa, Ziway, and Alemtena) in Ethiopia with no known history of inoculation. The test isolates together with seven reference strains belonging to five genera including Rhizobium, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium and Azorhizobium were characterized using ninety phenotypic traits. Thirty one isolates (38%) were found to be fast growers while fifty isolates (62%) were slow growers. The majority of the isolates showed an intrinsic resistance to antibiotics (μg/ml), Chloramphenicol (5 and 15), Lincomycin (100), Novobiocin (0.5 and 1.5), and Erythromycin (10 and 20) and to heavy metals manganese sulphate (500) and copper chloride (100). Most isolates did not tolerate NaCl concentration >3% (w/v) and high temperature (45°C). Dendrogram was constructed by applying the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) using NTSYSpc Version 2.1. They were grouped into seven clusters and eight unclustered positions, when 82% relative similarity was used as a cut point. Fifty eight percent of the test isolates were grouped with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii superclades, thus indicating that rhizobia nodulating cowpea and groundnut are delineated within a branch that defines Bradyrhizobium genus. To elucidate the precise taxonomic positions of the isolates, further genetic studies are required using modern molecular biological methods

Genotype by environment interaction on yield stability of desi type chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at major chickpea producing areas of Ethiopia

This study was conducted to determine the interaction between chickpea genotypes with the environment (GxE) on the yield stability and adaptability of desi type chickpea genotypes (Cicer arietinum L.). Seventeen chickpea genotypes were evaluated for two cropping years (2012/2013 – 2013/2014) at four locations i.e., eight environments (locations x years combination). Chickpea grain yield was significantly (p<0.01) affected by genotypes, the environments and GxE interaction, indicating that the varieties and the test environments were diverse. GxE was further partitioned by principal component axes. The first two principal components cumulatively explained 53.1% of the total variation, of which 32.7% and 20.4% were contributed by IPCA1 and IPCA2, respectively. This implies that the interaction of 17 chickpea genotypes with eight environments was predicted by the first two principal components. AMMI1 biplot analysis showed five adaptive categories of genotypes based on similarities in their performance across environments. The AMMI2 biplot generated using genotypes and environmental scores for the first two IPCAs revealed positioning of the five genotype groups (GC) into four sectors of the biplot. Among them, two genotypes in GC 5 (G5 and G11) exhibited high yields across environments, low IPCA1 scores, low AMMI stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI). G5 was released as a new variety, ‘Dimtu’ and registered in the Official Varieties Catalogue of Ethiopia, 2016

A Decade of Research Progress in Chickpea and Lentil Breeding and Genetics

This paper summarizes achievements of chickpea and lentil breeding during the last decade /2005-2015/ in Ethiopia. Gentic yield gains from decadal breeding efforts were 80 kg/ha/year for chickpea and 52 kg/ha/yr for lentil. The germplasm enhancment and subsequent variety evaluation verification programs during the decade resulted in releases of 17 chickpea and 2 lentil varieties. These advanced varieties, when applied in production system with proper crop managment and protection practices, almost doubled productivity per unit area at farm level

Exploring barriers to the use of formal maternal health services and priority areas for action in Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia.

In 2015 the maternal mortality ratio for Ethiopia was 353 per 100,000 live births. Large numbers of women do not use maternal health services. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the use of maternal health services at the primary health care unit (PHCU) level in rural communities in Sidama zone, south Ethiopia in order to design quality improvement interventions. We conducted a qualitative study in six woredas in 2013: 14 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 44 in-depth interviews with purposefully selected community members (women, male, traditional birth attendants, local kebele administrators), health professionals and health extension workers (HEWs) at PHCUs. We digitally recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed the interviews and FGDs using Nvivo. The 'three delay model' informed the analytical process and discussion of barriers to the use of maternal health services. Lack of knowledge on danger signs and benefits of maternal health services; cultural and traditional beliefs; trust in TBAs; lack of decision making power of women, previous negative experiences with health facilities; fear of going to an unfamiliar setting; lack of privacy and perceived costs of maternal health services were the main factors causing the first delay in deciding to seek care. Transport problems in inaccessible areas were the main contributing factor for the second delay on reaching care facilities. Lack of logistic supplies and equipment, insufficient knowledge and skills and unprofessional behaviour of health workers were key factors for the third delay in accessing quality care. Use of maternal health services at the PHCU level in Sidama zone is influenced by complex factors within the community and health system. PHCUs should continue to implement awareness creation activities to improve knowledge of the community on complications of pregnancy and benefits of maternal health services. The health system has to be responsive to community's cultural norms and practices. The mangers of the woreda health office and health centres should take into account the available budgets; work on ensuring the necessary logistics and supplies to be in place at PHCU

A cost-utility analysis of cervical cancer vaccination in preadolescent Canadian females

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the fact that approximately 70% of Canadian women undergo cervical cancer screening at least once every 3 years, approximately 1,300 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 380 died from it in 2008. This study estimates the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of vaccinating 12-year old Canadian females with an AS04-adjuvanted cervical cancer vaccine. The indirect effect of vaccination, via herd immunity, is also estimated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A 12-health-state 1-year-cycle Markov model was developed to estimate lifetime HPV related events for a cohort of 12-year old females. Annual transition probabilities between health-states were derived from published literature and Canadian population statistics. The model was calibrated using Canadian cancer statistics. From a healthcare perspective, the cost-effectiveness of introducing a vaccine with efficacy against HPV-16/18 and evidence of cross-protection against other oncogenic HPV types was evaluated in a population undergoing current screening practices. The base-case analysis included 70% screening coverage, 75% vaccination coverage, $135/dose for vaccine, and 3$18,672-$31,687 per QALY-gained, the lower range representing inclusion of cross-protective efficacy and herd immunity. The cost per QALY-gained was most sensitive to duration of vaccine protection, discount rate, and the correlation between probability of screening and probability of vaccination.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the context of current screening patterns, vaccination of 12-year old Canadian females with an ASO4-ajuvanted cervical cancer vaccine is estimated to significantly reduce cervical cancer and mortality, and is a cost-effective option. However, the economic attractiveness of vaccination is impacted by the vaccine's duration of protection and the discount rate used in the analysis.</p

Market‐led options to scale up legume seeds in developing countries: Experiences from the Tropical Legumes Project

There are several hurdles to ensure sustainable seed production and consistent flow of improved legume varieties in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA). The unreliable demand, autogamous nature of most of the grain legumes, and slow variety replacement rate by smallholder farmers do not provide strong incentive for private seed companies to invest in legume seed business. Unless a well thought‐out and comprehensive approach to legume seed delivery is developed, current seed shortages will continue, eroding emerging market opportunities. The experiences reported here are collated through a 10‐year partnership project, the Tropical Legumes in SSA and SA. It fostered innovative public–private partnerships in joint testing of innovative market‐led seed systems, skills and knowledge enhancement, de‐risking private sector initiatives that introduced in new approaches and previously overlooked entities in technology delivery. As new public and private seed companies, individual seed entrepreneurs and farmer organizations emerged, the existing ones enhanced their capacities. This resulted in significant rise in production, availability and accessibility of various seed grades of newly improved and farmer demanded legume varieties in the target countries