Effect od Soybean/Cassava Flour Blend in the Proximate Composition of Ethiopian Traditional Bread Prepared from Quality Protein Maize

The effect of soybean and cassava flour blend on the proximate composition of Ethiopian traditional bread prepared from quality protein maize (QPM) was tested. Normal maize and quality protein maize grains were dried, cleaned and milled using a laboratory-scale mill. Similarly, soybean seeds were roasted, boiled, decorticated, and milled into the required particle size flour sample. Cassava tubers were also peeled, chopped, dried and milled in a similar fashion. Eventually, the soybean and cassava flour samples were blended individually with the quality protein maize flour in three different proportions: 5:95, 10:90 and 15:85, respectively. Normal maize flour was used as a control for the quality protein maize flour. Then bread samples were prepared from the respective composite flours using the sponge and dough method of bread making commonly used in the country. Both the composite flours and the respective bread samples were then analyzed for their proximate compositions: moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and carbohydrate. The proximate analyses indicated that there is a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in proximate composition of the plain quality protein maize bread (QPMB) and the soybean- or cassava-supplemented quality protein maize bread samples (SSBs and CSBs). The ash, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre contents of the soybean-supplemented breads increased with progressive increase in the proportion of soybean flour addition. In the case of the cassava-supplemented bread samples, the highest proximate composition values were recorded for the 10% substitution. Moreover, highest values of carbohydrate, 39.83% and 44.08%, were obtained for the 10% soybean-supplemented breads and 10% cassava-supplemented breads, respectively. The use of these locally available and easily produced grains through blending technology of flours can contribute to combat the widespread protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in Ethiopia. This approach can also serve as an alternative means for having balanced diet especially for the low-income groups of the most food-insecure people in the country.Key words: Maize, soybean/cassava, bread, proximate compositio

Incidence and Predictors of Tuberculosis Among Adult PLWHA at Public Health Facilities of Hawassa City

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most frequently diagnosed opportunistic infection (OI) and disease in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), world-wide. This study aimed at determining the incidence and predictors of tuberculosis among people living with HIV.A Six year retrospective follow up study was conducted among adult PLHIV. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify predictors.A total of 554 patients were followed and produced 1830.3 person year of observation. One hundred sixty one new TB cases occurred during the follow up period. The overall incidence density of TB was 8.79 per 100 person-year (PY). It was high (148.71/100 PY) in the first year of enrolment. The cumulative proportion of TB free survival was 79% and 67% at the end of first and sixth years, respectively. Not having formal education(AHR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.41, 5.11 ), base line WHO clinical stage IV (AHR = 3.22, 95% CI=1.91-5.41), CD4 count <50 cell/ul (AHR=2.41, 95%CI=1.31, 4.42), Being bed redden (AHR= 2.89, 95%CI=1.72, 3.78), past TB history (AHR=1.65, 95% CI = 1.06,2.39), substance use (AHR=1.46, 95% CI=1.03,2.06) and being on pre ART (AHR=1.62, 95%CI:1.03-2.54 ) were independently predicted tuberculosis occurrence. Advanced WHO clinical stage, limited functional status, past TB history, addiction and low CD4 (<50cell/ul) count at enrollment were found to be the independent predictor of tuberculosis occurrence. Therefore early initiation of treatment and intensive follow up is important

Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring in Ethiopia: Analysis of case reports, 2002-2007

Background: Ensuring the health and safety of the public from adverse reaction of drugs is paramount. Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring (ADRM) is a system that is put in place to ensure the health and safety of the public from adverse reactions of drugs. It heavily relies on health professionals (HPs) reporting of adverse events of drugs to drug regulators, in Ethiopia to the Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA). The processed information, based on reported cases, is used to improve evidence based practice and underpins decisions to mitigate drug safety issues by drug regulators. However, the effectiveness of the ongoing ADRM system in Ethiopia in terms of its detection has never been evaluated.Objective: To explore the magnitude of ADRM and suggest some practical improvement in Ethiopia.Methods: The study analyzed the number of adverse drug reaction case reports received by DACA in a period of six years (2002 – 2007GC). All cases reported over the study period were included for analysis. Descriptive analysis was carried out to estimate the prevalence of adverse drug reactions and to assess their trend over the study period. To assess the strengths and weakness of the ongoing national ADRM, cases were analyzed by their location, time of occurrence, type of the health professional who made the case reports, drugs implicated, clinical manifestations and age of subjects affected.Results: A total of 249 ADR cases were reported between 2002 and 2007. An average of 0.5 ADR cases per million populations were reported annually. The majority (36%) of all the cases were for 31 to 40 years of age. Cases were reported mainly (63%) from health facilities in the capital city. Physicians made 76% of all cases reported. Antiretroviral drugs were implicated in 70% of the cases reported. The most widely adverse events reported were dermatological disorders.Conclusions: The level of ADR case reporting is very low showing the need to address major constraints of ongoing ADR monitoring. Thus, comprehensive measures aimed at improving under-reporting and effectiveness of ADRM should be instituted. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2011;25(2):168-173

Comparative study on the performance of dairy cooperative input and output marketing in Astbie Womerta, Alamata and Enderta woreda in Tigray region, Ethiopia

Cooperative form of business is an instrument of change with the task of making the poor productive. The development of dairy cooperatives in Ethiopia indicates that there is a need to focus interventions more coherently addressing both technological gaps and marketing problems. The present study investigates the difference in performance of cooperatives in the study area and major factors influencing performance. The objectives of the study were: 1) To compare the performance of selected dairy cooperatives in Enderta, Alamata and Atsbi Womberta woredas of Tigray. 2) To assess the determinants of performance among the dairy cooperatives. 3) To identify the constraints with respect to quality feed and breed and finally to suggest suitable strategies to improve the productivity and marketing capabilities of dairy cooperatives in the selected woredas. The researcher used Focus Group Discussion, report from government offices as secondary data and enumerator administered interview schedule for data collection. The ix study areas Alamata, Enderta and Atsbi were selected because of the existence of dairy cooperatives with good potential and a felt need to study their performance. All cooperatives except one were included in the study and a random sample of 120 respondents was selected based on probability proportionate to size. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 13.0 and statistical tools such as descriptive statistics and regression. Results are presented as frequencies, percentages, chi square and financial ratios. The large majority of the respondents were married female farmers in the productive age group of 15-35 years with the maximum education attended being primary school. The impact of independent variables on the satisfaction of members, the main indicator of performance shows that cooperative age; members’ training; availability of credit; members’ participation and gender had positive impact on the performance of cooperatives and lack of roads had negative influence. The rest of the independent variables showed association but had no statistical significance. The most important constraints regarding feed perceived by members were non availability and high price of feed where as regarding breed they were lack of breed and insemination centers. In conclusion, there is difference in performance among cooperatives brought about by variety of challenges. It is recommended that cooperatives have training and supportive supervision by experts and officials to improve their productivity and managerial capabilities. Due attention should be given to the development of roads and transport system as well as the availability of feed and exotic breed. Finally the researcher recommends broader and in depth research be conducted to discern and properly address the multifaceted problems of dairy cooperatives in woredas of Tigray Region, Ethiopia