Bacteriological Quality of Street Vended Ready to Eat Legume and Vegetable Based Foods in Bahir Dar Town, Amhara Regional State, North Western Ethiopia

Street vending foods are readily available sources of meals for many people, but the microbiological quality of such foods have been always in doubt.The aim of this study was to determine the microbial quality of legume and vegetable based foods and the hygienic practices of streetlegume and vegetable based foods in Bahir Dar town. Sixty (60) food samples were collected from different locations for Aerobic mesophilic, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus counts based on standard methodsfrom December 2012 to July 2013. Out of the total samples, 28.3%, 33.3%, 18.3% and 51.7% of the foods were above acceptable limit for aerobic mesophilic count, S. aureus, total coliforms and thermotolerant, respectively. While S .aureus and thermotolerant coliforms were not detected in 1(21.7%) and 29(48.3%) of the food samples, respectively.  Only 7(11.7%) of the total sample was hazardous due to high mean count of S. aureus. There were no statistically significance differences(p>0.05) in bacterial counts between the two food items. On the other hands, most of the water samples used to wash ready to eat foods and utensils in food preparation were contaminated andabove WHO drinking water standards. In addition, an observational checklist showsa majority of the food handlers did not practice hand washing during food preparation and without reheating to serve prepared foods. Most of the ready-to-eat foods were contaminated and they can pose potential risks to consumers and therefore it requires the local authority emphasize on educating the ready-to-eat food handlers on food and personal hygiene to ensure the hygienic standards and food safety. Key words/phrases:Bacterial count,Coliform, Contamination,Food hygiene, Street food

Bacteriological Quality of Street Vended Ready to Eat Legume and Vegetable Based Foods in Bahir Dar Town, Amhara Regional State, North Western Ethiopia

Street vending foods are readily available sources of meals for many people, but the micro- biological quality of such foods have been always in doubt. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial quality of legume and vegetable based foods and the hygienic practices of street legume and vegetable based foods in Bahir Dar town. Sixty food samples were collected from different locations for Aerobic mesophilic, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus counts based on standard methods from December 2012 to July 2013. Out of the total samples, 28.3%, 33.3%, 18.3% and 51.7% of the foods were above acceptable limit for aerobic mesophilic count, S. aureus, total coliforms and thermotolerant, respectively. While S.aureus and thermotolerant coliforms were not detected in 1(21.7%) and 29(48.3%) of the food samples, respectively. Only 7(11.7%) of the total sample was hazardous due to high mean count of S. aureus. There were no statistically significance differences (p>0.05) in bacterial counts between the two food groups. On the other hands, most of the water samples used to wash ready to eat foods and utensils in food preparation were contaminated and above WHO drinking water standards. In addition, an observational checklist shows a majority of the handlers did not practice hand washing during food preparation and without reheating to serve prepared foods. Most of the ready-to-eat foods were contaminated and they can pose potential risks to consumers and therefore it requires the local authority emphasize on educating the ready-to-eat food handlers on food and personal hygiene to ensure the hygienic standards and food safety. Keywords:Bacterial count, Coliform, Contamination, Food hygiene, Street food DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-1-0

Patterns of prescription in Jimma Hospital

Abstract: A total of 2170 prescriptions were recorded over a period of one year using structured questionnaire to systematically study drug-prescription patterns in Jimma Hospital. The prescription patterns demonstrated 94.8% for essential drugs and 75.2% for generic prescribing. The average number of drugs per prescription was 1.59 and the cost per prescription indicated 3.28 Birr. The proportion of prescriptions with antimicrobial combination accounted for 2.72%. The most frequently prescribed agents were antimicrobials 33.1%. The proportion of prescriptions with injection was 20.2%. Of the major diseases, Respiratory Tract Infections accounted for 13.6% of the prescriptions. The findings indicated that there were good signs of rational drug prescribing as noted by low average number of drugs per prescription and high proportion of generic prescribing that matched with prevalent disease patterns, although, there seemed to be problems with antimicrobial combinations and high frequency of injections. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(3):263-267

Cost Efficiency of Ethiopian Banks

The study has explored the efficiency level of banks using cost models. It has used the Data Envelopment Analysis score to examine the efficiency level of banks under both constant and return of scale. In addition, it has explored the scale efficiency of all the models with a statistical test on the significance of variation among Ethiopian Banks. The study finds that banks efficiency level has witnessed a wide variation across various bank groupings. The study has also found outs that the state banks efficiencyhas been consistently on the efficiency frontier reflecting the high dominance of the banks in the Ethiopian banking system. In addition, the study finds that the small private banks efficiency is growing overtime while the middle size private banks arefacing difficulty to improve their level of efficiency. The parametric and nonparametric tests also witness that state and private banks possess different management and technology capabilities. This shows that despite the scale advantage the state banks have, the difference in their management and technology capabilities has contributed for better efficiency performances. On the other front, the statisticaltest on efficiency determinants shows that deposit growth rate, loan size and earning asset growth are positively and significantly related to efficiencies. Nevertheless, branch size and fixed asset growth rate are negatively and insignificantly related to efficiencies. Consistent to such finding, the benchmarking practice suggests that banks holding excessive deposits limiting their intermediation activities are disadvantaged to count on their efficiency performances. Some of the results from this section of the study such as top efficiency score of state banks and efficiency determinants are unexpected and are explained further in the qualitative study as to their reasons

Estimation of Heterosis Among Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Crosses in Ethiopia

Determination of heterosis in tetraploid potato crosses is necessary for identification of superior genotypes for variety development or breeding program. However, producing heterotic potato genotypes through local crossing is not a common practice in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was conducted to estimate the magnitude of better, and standard check heteroses in potato clones that are produced from local crossing. This will help identify potential of hybrid for future breeding schemes. Heterosis of 75 clones were evaluated using a 9 x 9 Simple Lattice design. Results of the analysis of variance showed significant differences for all the growth characters, except medium-sized tubers and specific gravity of tuber. These results indicate the presence of genetic variability among the samples. The clones exhibited as high as 55.62 and 58.31 t.ha-1 marketable and total tuber yield, respectively. These clones also displayed mid, better parent and standard heterosis of 118.8%, 90.5% and 239.1%, respectively, for marketable tuber yield. This result indicates the presence of high magnitude heterosis which could be used to exploit the hybrid vigor. In addition, mid, better parent, and standard check heterosis were estimated at 79.36%, 61.04% and 209.17% for total tuber yield, respectively. Our results show the highest chance of getting heterotic offspring than parental and standard check varieties to developing new potato varieties.  The information generated from this study would be valuable for researchers who intend to develop high-yielding varieties of potat

Evaluation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes for resistance to late blight at Sinana Southeastern Ethiopia

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is one of the most significant constraints to potato production in Bale high lands and other regions of Ethiopia. Hence, this requires to develop high yielding and late blight resistant varieties. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine host resistance of potato against Phytophthora infestans in order to develop late blight resistant/tolerant genotypes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications at Sinana Agricultural Research Center during 2014 main cropping season. The genotypes showed highly significant (P<0.01) differences for all the characters studied. Genotypes exhibited wide ranges of mean values for all characters. The highest total tuber yield (46.1 t ha-1) was obtained from the advanced clone, CIP-392640.524 followed by Belete (41 t ha-1). Late blight appeared early on farmer's cultivar Kellacho (48 days after planting) and late on advanced clones CIP- 399062.102(74 days after planting). Percent severity index (PSI) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) ranged from 33.91 to 91.67% and 105 to 2370, respectively. Eleven newly introduced clones and the released variety "Belete" recorded PSI 33 to 39.7% and AUDPC 105 to 264.1. Hence, these genotypes can be categorized as moderately resistant. The study revealed the presence of considerable variability in tested genotypes for economically important traits and the higher chance of selecting genotypes with high yield and moderately resistant to late blight. However, it appears that further evaluation of genotypes across seasons and locations to identify genotypes that could be released as varieties seem to be quite pertinent.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (1): 21-25, June, 201

Do parents and young people communicate on sexual matters? The situation of Family Life Education (FLE) in a rural town in Ethiopia

Abstract: As a result of a cultural taboo, adolescents in many developing countries rarely discuss sexual matters explicitly with their parents. Most information for their patchy knowledge often comes from peers of the same sex, who may themselves be uninformed or incorrectly informed. This report is a summary of two surveys carried out on two occasions (November 1996 and October 1997, respectively) on 343 high school students and 246 families who had children 10-24 years of age in a rural town 160 Km south of Addis Ababa. The purpose was to assess the awareness and attitude of both study groups on major Family Life Education (FLE) components and know the level of parent-adolescent communication on matters related to young people’s sexuality. Findings suggest that young people’s knowledge on aspects of their sexuality is incomplete and not enough to minimise risk-taking. Yet, more than half of them believed that is unacceptable to discuss growth changes and sexual issues with parents during adolescence. Different grade and age levels did not influence the consensus except for a female sex, which significantly favoured this negative attitude. For some who approved discussion (sexual matters and contraception), peers were preferred most. Furthermore, 31.5% of the students were sexually active, and 65.7% of the sexually active ones reported use of some contraception (including calendar method) in the past. Likewise, parents had a partial knowledge regarding adolescent sexual maturation and behaviour or complication of teenage pregnancy. Nonetheless, 93% did not approve premarital sex and ironically, not more than 20% of them reported discussion of growth changes during adolescence, sexuality, and contraception in the past. However, parental education and lower family size positively influenced this attitude and practice. Implications of the study were discussed and recommendations made on future needs to initiate a comprehensive FLE in the school system and increase the responsibility of parents in adolescent sexuality. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(3):205-210

Early experience on obstetric outcomes of pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A case series analysis

Severe acute respiratory syndrome affects all groups of population including pregnant women. Currently, there are limited evidences to show an increased risk of infection or increased mortality among pregnant women than the general population. On the 13th of March 2020, Ethiopian government reported the first case of COVID-19. Since then, until the time of this research compilation, more than 40 pregnant women have been managed at Eka Kotebe General Hospital, which is the first COVID-19 designated center in the country. The aim of this case series is to do an in-depth case review of the first four cases of pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19. Out of the four cases discussed in this series, there was one maternal death, and three out of the four newborns delivered tested positive for COVID-19

Quality of fixed dose artemether/lumefantrine products in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum is among the major public health problems in most endemic areas of the world. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has been recommended as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria almost in all endemic regions. Since ineffectively regulated medicines in resource limited settings could favour infiltration of poor quality anti-malarial medicines into pharmaceutical supply chain and jeopardize a positive treatment outcome, regular monitoring of the quality of anti-malarial medicines is critical. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the quality of fixed dose combination (FDC) artemether (ART)/lumefantrine (LUM) tablets available in Jimma zone, Ethiopia. Methods: This study was conducted in Jimma zone, Ethiopia. A total of 74 samples of FDC ART/LUM (20mg ART/120mg LUM) tablets were collected from 27 public facilities. All samples were subjected to visual inspection and the relevant information was recorded. The samples were transported to Jimma University Laboratory of Drug Quality (JuLaDQ) and stored at ambient temperature (20 degrees C to 25 degrees C) until analysis. The Pharmacopoeial conform/non-conform methods and the risk-based Derringer's desirability function approach were employed to assess the pharmaceutical quality of the investigated products. Results: The visual inspection results revealed that there were no signs of falsified in the investigated products. Identification test results of samples indicated that all samples contained the stated active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The results of uniformity of mass indicated that all samples complied with International Pharmacopoeial specification limits. The assay results, expressed as percent label claim (%lc) of ART (89.8 to 108.8%, meanSD=99.1 +/- 3.9%) and LUM (90.0 to 111.9%, mean +/- SD=98.2 +/- 3.8%) revealed that, all samples complied with International Pharmacopoeia acceptance specification limits (i.e. 90-110%lc), except one generic product (IPCA Laboratories Ltd., India) which contains excessive LUM (111.9 +/- 1.7%lc). The risk priority number (RPN) results revealed that assay (RPN=392) is relatively the most critical quality attribute followed by identity (RPN=280) and mass uniformity (40). Quality evaluation based on psycho-physical Harrington's scale revealed that more than 96% of samples were within the acceptable ranges (D >= 0.7-1.0). Conclusions: Both Pharmacopoeial and risk-based desirability function approaches to quality evaluation applied to the investigated products revealed that above 96% FDC ART/LUM tablets circulating in public settings of Jimma zone are of good quality