Ye Shakoch Chilot (the court of the sheikhs): A traditional institution of conflict resolution in Oromiya zone of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia

Traditional institutions of conflict resolution play a very significant role in the day-to-day lives of Africans in general and Ethiopians in particular. In Ethiopia, a country that has adopted ethnic federalism as its policy, such traditional institutions help to blur political boundaries and bring people from different ethnic and regional backgrounds together. Furthermore, they serve as alternative institutions of conflict resolution in a country where the state legal system is failing to fully provide the judiciary needs of the nation. For instance, in Jille Dhmugaa district, where the research was conducted, there are only two judges for a total population of 102 936. Apart from the lack of capacity under which it suffers, the state legal system can also be criticised for a high degree of preferential treatment due to corruption, so that justice is provided only to a few. Furthermore, the ideology of the state legal system is drawn mainly from the western legal philosophy which is highly influenced by an individualistic orientation and does not fit the strong social orientation on the ground where it is being implemented. These reasons and more are raised by many as main drawbacks of the state legal system in Ethiopia. There were times in Ethiopian history when the state legal system officially incorporated elements from the traditional institutions of conflict resolution in the state courts (Carmichael 2003:122; Walker 1933:153–156). The Ethiopian constitution has, however, limited the mandate of the customary and religious institutions to private and family matters. Nevertheless, these institutions are playing a very significant role in other domains – such as criminal matters. The strong social tie existing in the community makes the significance of reconciliation, the key role of traditional institutions, indispensable. The main questions this paper attempts to answer, on the bases of ethnographic data, are: What are the pull factors towards traditional institutions? And why do people prefer the traditional institutions vis-à-vis the state legal system?

Welcoming vulnerable children who need help from today\u27s church

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HIV-exposed infants on follow up at a PMTCT clinic: risk of HIV transmission and its predictors in north-west Ethiopia

Background: The HIV pandemic created an enormous challenge to the survival of mankind worldwide. Vertical HIV transmission from mother to child accounts for more than 90% of pediatric AIDS. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs are provided for dual benefits, i.e. prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child and enrolment of infected pregnant women and their families into antiretroviral treatment. The availability and use of short-course antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis, a safe and well-tolerated regimen, can contribute significantly to PMTCT during childbirth. This study assessed risk and predictors of HIV transmission among HIV-exposed infants on follow up at a PMTCT clinic of a referral hospital. Methods: Institution-based retrospective follow-up study was carried out on all records of HIV-exposed infants enrolled between September 2005 and July 2011 at Gondar University Hospital PMTCT clinic. Secondary data were collected using a structured data extraction format prepared in English by a trained nurse working at the PMTCT clinic. Data were then entered in to EPI INFO Version 3.5.1 statistical software and analyzed by SPSS version 16.0. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify variables that had association with vertical HIV transmission. Results: A total of 509 records were included in the analysis. The median age of infants at enrolment to follow up was 6 weeks (IQR=2 weeks). A total of 51 (10%) infants were infected with HIV. Late enrolment to the exposed infant follow-up clinic (AOR=2.89, 95% CI: 1.35, 6.21), rural residence (AOR=5.05, 95% CI: 2.34, 10.9), delivery at home (AOR=2.82, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.64), absence of maternal PMTCT intervention (AOR=5.02, 95% CI: 2.43, 10.4) and mixed infant feeding practices (AOR=4.18, 95% CI: 1.59, 10.99) were significantly and independently associated with maternal-to-child HIV transmission. Conclusion: There is a high risk of MTCT of HIV among exposed infants on follow up at the PMTCT clinic of the University of Gondar referral hospital. This finding could push decision-makers to enhance commitment and support an adequate and sustainable extension of the use of PMTC services to rural mothers, expand services to rural settings in the PMTCT scaling-up program

Camel herd health and productivity in Eastern Ethiopia selected semi-nomadic households

Cette étude a été réalisée sur des dromadaires élevés en conditions pastorales d'octobre 1997 à septembre 1998. La trypanosomose a été une des maladies les plus importantes identifiée avec une prévalence maximale de 20,6 p. 100 et minimale de 5,4 p. 100 sur la période d'échantillonnage. Le taux de prévalence de la gale sarcoptique a varié de 21,7 p. 100 pendant la saison pluvieuse à 4,7 p. 100 pendant la saison sèche. Le taux de prévalence d'oeufs de strongles le plus élevé a été de 85,7 p. 100 pendant la saison pluvieuse et le plus faible de 61,5 p. 100 en saison sèche. Le plus grand nombre d'oeufs par gramme enregistré a été 1 036,1 ± 0,6 et le plus faible 358,8 ± 0,6. La production de lait a été significativement (p < 0,01) plus élevée pendant la saison des pluies (3,1 1) que pendant la saison sèche (1,5 1). La production de lait a également été significativement (p < 0,01) plus élevée chez les chamelles ayant mis bas 1-4 fois (3 1) que chez les femelles ayant mis bas 5 fois ou plus (1,6 1). Les femelles immatures (1 -4 ans) ont eu un gain de poids quotidien significativement (p < 0,01) plus élevé (59,4 g) que les mâles au même âge (33,2 g). Par ailleurs, le gain de poids quotidien des dromadaires de 1-2 ans (63,1 g) a été significativement (p < 0,01) plus élevé que celui des 3-4 ans (29,5 g). De même le gain de poids quotidien a été significativement (p < 0,05) plus élevé pendant la saison des pluies (50,7 g) que pendant la saison sèche (41,9 g). La plupart des montes et des mises bas ont eu lieu pendant la saison des pluies. Le taux annuel de mises bas du troupeau a été de 42,7 p. 100. Les taux de commercialisation annuels et de croissance ont été respectivement de 4,74 et 8,9 p. 100. Le taux de mortalité des chamelons de moins d'un an a été plus élevé que celui des animaux immatures et adultes. (Résumé d'auteur

COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and determinants among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care services at Debre Markos town public health institutions, Debre Markos Northwest Ethiopia: Mixed study

Introduction: Coronavirus is a communicable disease that produces severe morbidity and mortality in the globe and more than three million people died due to COVID-19. Pregnant mothers are at higher risk of COVID-19 viral infection, with great morbidity and mortality. Thus, the purpose of this research is to assess the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability, determinants, and hesitancy among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care at Debre Markos town, public health institutions, Debre Markos, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A mixed study was conducted among 350 pregnant mothers attending antenatal care at Debre Markos town health institutions and the participants were selected by consecutive sampling techniques. The collected data were entered into EPI Info version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 25 for data cleaning and analysis. The level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability was determined through descriptive statistics, whereas its determinants were identified by binary logistic regression analyses. Variables with p-value < 0.05 in multivariable were considered as significantly associated factors. The qualitative data were collected by an unstructured interviewer guide using in-depth interview data collection methods. Study participants were selected purposively until the required data was saturated. The data was analysed under selected themes based on the guide and summarized manually. Results: Sixty five (18.5%) of the respondents accept the COVID-19 vaccine [95% CI: 13, 23]. Maternal age [AOR: 3.281 (95% CI: 1.184, 9.092)], chronic medical illness [AOR: 0.170 (95% CI: 0.051,.562)], information about COVID-19 vaccine [AOR: 4.063 (95% CI: 1.462, 11.293)], pregnancy-induced medical conditions [AOR: 4.131 (95% CI: 1.055, 16.183) were identified as significant determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability. From the quantitative wing. The qualitative finding implied that misconception, fear of medical complications, lack of trust in its effectiveness, and religious constraints were the common reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine acceptability by pregnant mothers attending ANC at Debre Markos town public health institutions is very low. The health care providers and health extension workers shall create information about the COVID-19 vaccine on its importance and side effects

Threats and management options of the green belt natural forest, northwest lowlands of Ethiopia

The natural forest located across central Africa from Gambia (West Africa) to Ethiopia (East Africa) is believed to break the expansion of the great Sahara Desert towards the southern and south eastern Africa, as a green belt. However, natural and anthropogenic factors are challenging the existence of the forest. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics, threats and sustainable management options of the green belt forest (GBF) located in Ethiopia. Satellite imagery was used to assess the GBF cover dynamics between the year 1980 and 2020 using ERDAS IMAGINE software. ArcGIS software was used for spatial analysis and mapping. Field observation, focus group discussions, and questionnaire based interview were used to collect the required data and SPSS software was used for analysis. The result showed that farmland increased from 32% (in 1980) to 52% (in 2020), whereas, the GBF cover decreased from 58% (in 1980) to 39% (in 2020), with the overall classification accuracy and kappa coefficient of 86% and 81%, respectively. Re-settlement, large-scale agricultural investment, charcoal production, fuel wood, and road construction were among the important threats causing the GBF reduction. Investors, settlers, migrants, residents and day-workers are agents of the GBF cover reduction. To minimize deforestation and sustainably use the GBF local bylaws, delineating and keeping the GBF from human interferences, building awareness, enrichment plantation, and alternative firewood sources were identified as management options. Therefore, to maintain the GBF and break the expansion of the Sahara Desert, governmental and non-governmental organization and the local community ought to apply the recommended GBF management options

Lung function reduction and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in the cement industry: a follow up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are only a few follow-up studies of respiratory function among cement workers. The main aims of this study were to measure total dust exposure, to examine chronic respiratory symptoms and changes in lung function among cement factory workers and controls that were followed for one year.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted in two cement factories in Ethiopia. Totally, 262 personal measurements of total dust among 105 randomly selected workers were performed. Samples of total dust were collected on 37-mm cellulose acetate filters placed in closed faced Millipore-cassettes. Totally 127 workers; 56 cleaners, 44 cement production workers and 27 controls were randomly selected from two factories and examined for lung function and interviewed for chronic respiratory symptoms in 2009. Of these, 91 workers; 38 cement cleaners (mean age 32 years), 33 cement production workers (36 years) and 20 controls (38 years) were examined with the same measurements in 2010.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Total geometric mean dust exposure among cleaners was 432 mg/m³. The fraction of samples exceeding the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 10 mg/m³for the cleaners varied from 84-97% in the four departments. The levels were considerably lower among the production workers (GM = 8.2 mg/m³), but still 48% exceeded 10 mg/m³.</p> <p>The prevalence of all the chronic respiratory symptoms among both cleaners and production workers was significantly higher than among the controls.</p> <p>Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁) and FEV₁/Forced Vital Capacity (FEV₁/FVC) were significantly reduced from 2009 to 2010 among the cleaners (p < 0.002 and p < 0.004, respectively) and production workers (p < 0.05 and p < 0.02, respectively), but not among the controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The high prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and reduction in lung function is probably associated with high cement dust exposure. Preventive measures are needed to reduce the dust exposure.</p

Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide on gold–copper bimetallic nanoparticles: Effects of surface composition on selectivity

In this work, bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) of Au and Cu are synthesized for the electrochemical reduction reaction of CO2 (CO2RR). It is known that the binding strength between the reduction intermediates and the electrocatalyst affects the selectivity of products, but how to correlate the performance with the surface composition, structure, and properties of a bimetallic electrocatalyst, instead of stoichiometric or bulk composition remains less discussed. AuCu and AuCu3 NPs with the size around similar to 8 nm were prepared. By excluding the size effect, the work studies the effects of surface composition and heteroatomic interaction on the selectivity and faradaic efficiency of the reduction products. Based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), one can quantify the alloying extent and surface compositions of electrocatalysts, which are supposed to have the pivotal effects on the reaction pathways and the corresponding reduction products. It is found that high activity and notably improved CO selectivity of Au-Cu bimetallic NPs can be attributed to the heterometallic coordination and their electronic interactions. The reduction products were analyzed by gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Nearly 60 mA cm(-2) of current density was recorded at -0.91 V vs. RHE, and selectivity of 78 +/- 4.3% CO was obtained using AuCu. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd