Opportunities and Barriers of Exclusive Breastfeeding in South Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Breast milk is an optimal nutrition with no substitute for an infant The advantage gained from exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months is paramount for the infant s health To understand mothers practice of exclusive breastfeeding identifying and examining factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding is vital The aim of the current study was therefore to identify major factors that determine the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among South Western Oromia specifically in Jimma and Wo liso towns Towards this end a cross-sectional study was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative study approaches A total of 135 mother-infant pairs attending maternal and child health MCH at public hospitals in the two selected towns were interviewed Six 6 key informant interviews 6 FGDs and observations of mother-infant conditions were conducted Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and qualitative information was thematically analyzed The breast milk initiation is 100 at the study site out of which 80 of them were exclusively breastfed up to two months of age while only 48 9 continue exclusive breastfeeding up to six months Factors identified as facilitators of exclusive breast feeding include knowledge of mothers personal satisfaction family support media and visits to health institutions Working condition of some employed woman perception of insufficient milk health condition and advises from their family member or neighborsare identified as barriers to the practice of mothers exclusive breastfeeding The significance of having knowledge on practice of exclusive breastfeeding was evidenced with the logistic regression model and results from the qualitative analysis A linear regression analysis shows that increase in mother s educational level have strong statistically significant association with level of exclusive breastfeeding The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was relatively low 48 9 hence to promote the practice of excl

SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF OFF-CAMPUS RESIDENT FEMALE STUDENTS OF JIMMA TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE (JTTC) IN FOCUS, OROMIA

This study examined the living-and-learning environment of offcampus resident female students in Jimma TTC, Oromia. The study attempted to identify major challenges, coping mechanisms and implications of off-campus resident college female students. Mixed research approach, both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed. Eighteen (18) interviews, 4 focus group discussions and survey were used to collect the data. Forty nine (49) randomly selected female students have filled questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis was used.Female students have been facing personal/psychological, emotional, social, economic, and academic problems. Economic, attitudinal and academic problems are found the most pervasive facing 90, 69 and 60 percent of the students respectively. Students could not meet their basic needs including food, clothing and housing and special needs of hygiene materials. Increasing living cost and expectation of family support from a payment they receive worsen their conditions. The community also negatively perceives off-campus students as sources of price inflation, crime and sexual misbehaviors. Lack of access to house rent, unsuitability and insecurity are among pressing problems. Absence of dormitory facility is perceived to be the root cause for their vulnerability to sexual harassment including rape, theft and robbery. They are forced to seek males’ assistance of security and/or income which in turn increases their sexual vulnerability. They also engage in multiple sexual practice and even prostitution mainly as income generating means. As male and female students share a single living room, their vulnerability to pre-marital sexuality and its complicated unforeseen consequences such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs including HIV/AIDS are potential risks. Jimma TTC students were among the top hospital visitors due to pregnancy complications and abortion. Lack of life skills, unsafe social and physical environment, community’s and self negative perception towards female students, additional responsibilities, and lack of educational materials severely affect their educational performances. Postponing recreation, reducing consumption items, forced saving, depending on families or parents for financial support, engaging in income generating activities, patience and hoping better future, credit, frequently changing residence places and sharing resources are among the coping mechanisms they uses. Off-campus female students’ problems are very impressive, multidimensional and complicated. Its implication may extend beyond their current life to their future academic and professional careers, personal, social and economic life courses. Short and long term solutions are commendable to curtail residence related problems. Generally, collaborative efforts by all stakeholders are recommended. Discussion with community to raise their awareness and make them part of the solution is also strongly suggested. Engaging male students in problem solving efforts is another potential remedy. Given lack of dormitory (off campus housing) is the primary force beyond almost all problems faced by female college students, availing dormitory and related facilities is begging for immediate action of government

SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF OFF-CAMPUS RESIDENT FEMALE STUDENTS OF JIMMA TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE (JTTC) IN FOCUS, OROMIA

This study examined the living-and-learning environment of offcampus resident female students in Jimma TTC, Oromia. The study attempted to identify major challenges, coping mechanisms and implications of off-campus resident college female students. Mixed research approach, both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed. Eighteen (18) interviews, 4 focus group discussions and survey were used to collect the data. Forty nine (49) randomly selected female students have filled questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis was used.Female students have been facing personal/psychological, emotional, social, economic, and academic problems. Economic, attitudinal and academic problems are found the most pervasive facing 90, 69 and 60 percent of the students respectively. Students could not meet their basic needs including food, clothing and housing and special needs of hygiene materials. Increasing living cost and expectation of family support from a payment they receive worsen their conditions. The community also negatively perceives off-campus students as sources of price inflation, crime and sexual misbehaviors. Lack of access to house rent, unsuitability and insecurity are among pressing problems. Absence of dormitory facility is perceived to be the root cause for their vulnerability to sexual harassment including rape, theft and robbery. They are forced to seek males’ assistance of security and/or income which in turn increases their sexual vulnerability. They also engage in multiple sexual practice and even prostitution mainly as income generating means. As male and female students share a single living room, their vulnerability to pre-marital sexuality and its complicated unforeseen consequences such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs including HIV/AIDS are potential risks. Jimma TTC students were among the top hospital visitors due to pregnancy complications and abortion. Lack of life skills, unsafe social and physical environment, community’s and self negative perception towards female students, additional responsibilities, and lack of educational materials severely affect their educational performances. Postponing recreation, reducing consumption items, forced saving, depending on families or parents for financial support, engaging in income generating activities, patience and hoping better future, credit, frequently changing residence places and sharing resources are among the coping mechanisms they uses. Off-campus female students’ problems are very impressive, multidimensional and complicated. Its implication may extend beyond their current life to their future academic and professional careers, personal, social and economic life courses. Short and long term solutions are commendable to curtail residence related problems. Generally, collaborative efforts by all stakeholders are recommended. Discussion with community to raise their awareness and make them part of the solution is also strongly suggested. Engaging male students in problem solving efforts is another potential remedy. Given lack of dormitory (off campus housing) is the primary force beyond almost all problems faced by female college students, availing dormitory and related facilities is begging for immediate action of government

Management of foot rot (Phytophthora capsici) disease of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) through fungicides and cultural practices in Southwestern Ethiopia

The pathogen Phytophthora capsici, which causes black pepper foot rot, is the most detrimental disease that affects black pepper productivity and lowers qualitative and quantitative spike yields in southwest Ethiopia. The effectiveness of several fungicides and cultural methods against Phytophthora capsici in black pepper was tested in a field experiment. Five commercial fungicides and cultural practices were examined, and a natural Phytophthora capsici infection was noted. Disease incidence was determined by visually observing leaf blight, spike infection, leaf shedding, and vine yellowing. The most effective fungicide, with a disease incidence of 14.3%, was Koka blue 50 WG (Copper oxychloride) spraying when combined with cultural approaches. More 720 WP (Mancozeb + Cymoxanil), a combination of cultural practices and 19.1% disease incidence, came next. Agro-laxyl 63.5 WP (Metalaxyl + Mancozeb) and Progress 250 EC (Propiconazole 25%) combined with cultural practices were also effective against Phytophthora infection and found better than only cultural practices applied plot and control. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 48-50, June 202

Postharvest spoilage pathogen associated with turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) product in Southwestern Ethiopia

The primary reason for postharvest deterioration, which is primarily brought on by fungal invasion, is the loss of turmeric products in Southwestern Ethiopia. The study was conducted to determine the main fungi responsible for the postharvest deterioration of turmeric in major turmeric-growing areas of southwestern Ethiopia. In total, 60 samples of dried and stored turmeric were gathered in 2020 and 2021 from different production zones of southwestern Ethiopia. The fungus that causes postharvest turmeric to deteriorate was isolated and identified at the genus level. At the study locations, rhizomes were not cleaned, washed, sorted, or separated from healthy rhizomes. The spoiled turmeric samples contain fungi from four genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Rhizopus. Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium were isolated from drying and storage samples in all zones. However, Rhizopus was only isolated from samples that had been stored. It was discovered that Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium were primarily responsible for the observed deterioration. The identified genera\u27s percentage incidence ranged from 15.1% (Fusarium) to 45.2% (Aspergillus). Proper harvesting, postharvest handling procedures, and adopting suitable turmeric harvesting and postharvest handling technology can help decrease turmeric postharvest degradation. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 1-5, June 202

Management of Ginger Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) Epidemics through Soil Solarization and Botanical Mulch at Tepi, Southwestern Ethiopia

Ginger is a valuable revenue crop for Ethiopian farmers in many sections of the country. In Ethiopia, bacterial wilt disease is a serious constraint to ginger output. Heavy losses are common as a result of the disease, with extra losses happening as a result of the disease's boundaries, which prevent continued production in infested areas. To investigate the impact of soil solarization and botanical mulch on epidemics of bacterial wilt of ginger in Tepi, Southwestern Ethiopia, field studies were done throughout the 2019 and 2020 main cropping seasons. Four different soil solarization periods were used: two weeks, four weeks, six weeks, and eight weeks before planting, with four different botanical mulches: vetivar grass, lemon grass, Chinese chive, and lantana camara added after planting. The control plots were not solarized nor mulched. Treatments were placed in factorial arrangements with three replications using a randomized full block design. In comparison to the control, soil solarization combined with lemon grass mulch treatment dramatically reduced bacterial wilt mean severity by 22.1 percent to 42.2 percent. These treatments also significantly lowered the rate of AUDPC and disease progression. When compared to control, soil solarization for eight weeks combined with lemon grass mulch resulted in the lowest disease severity (42.2%) and AUDPC (33.8%). Overall, the findings of this study showed that using a mixture of soil solarization and botanical mulches to slow down bacterial wilt outbreaks and recover ginger production and productivity, along with other crop management strategies, was effective

Assessment of awareness on food borne zoonosis and its relation with Veterinary Public Health Services in and around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A survey qualitative survey was conducted to assess the awareness on food borne zoonosis and its relation with Veterinary Public Health Services in Addis Ababa and its surrounding districts from November 2008 to May 2009. Structured questionnaire was used in the study. Questionnaires were distributed to 384 individuals, of which 196 were elementary and high school students, and 196 were Graduates. Factors like education level, information source and profession were considered for possible explanation of the results. The use of inspected animal products is found statistically different (P<0.05) among health and non health professionals while no difference is seen between students and graduates. The majority (85.42%) of the students get their information from other information sources like their families in the form of advice and 67.71% of health professionals get their information from their medical schools. The most frequently mentioned zoonotic diseases were Rabies 384(100 %), followed by Anthrax 362(94.27%), Teniasis 342 (89.06%), Tuberculosis 340 (88.54%) and Brucellosis 190(49.48%) and 120(31.25%) mentioned other infectious diseases of zoonotic importance. The importance of veterinary public health in the overall public health institutions was assessed by looking at the responses to questions and shown that yet the public health institutions don’t see the need of having veterinarians in the public health. In conclusion this study demonstrated that the awareness and use of inspected and packed animal products is relatively low that expose the people to risk of food borne pathogens and the awareness of health institutes on the importance of veterinary public health service is relatively low. The authors would like to recommend to the government and concerned bodies to raise the awareness of the public using the appropriate communication media, and to strengthen the contribution of public health veterinarians in the public health services for better community health

Parents’ Knowledge of Danger Signs and Health Seeking Behavior in Newborn and Young Infant Illness in Tiro Afeta District, Southwest Ethiopia: A Community-based Study

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality rates in Ethiopia are among the highest in the world. Reducing neonatal and young infant mortality highly relies on early recognition of symptoms and appropriate care-seeking behavior of parents/care givers. The main aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of danger signs and health seeking behavior of parents/care givers in newborn and young infant illness in Southwest Ethiopia.METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using cluster sampling technique to get 422 samples of parents/care givers who had infants of less than 6 month old. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting care seeking behavior and knowledge of parents/care givers on newborn and young infant illness.RESULT: Care seeking behavior for newborn and young infant illness was high (83%), the major factor associated with care seeking behavior being place of delivery. Only less than half of the respondents had adequate knowledge of symptoms of illness of newborns and young infants. The major factors associated with knowledge of parents/care givers were maternal education and  paternal education.CONCLUSIONS: To improve the knowledge of parents/care giversabout newborn and young infant illness, counseling about the major symptoms of newborn and young infant illness should be intensified.KEYWORDS: Neonatal illness, care seeking behavior, new born,knowledg

Community engagement in research: An approach to improve research relevance and use.

Consideration of community engagement to scientific inquiry is a relatively recent development. In scientific inquiry, there have been major shifts to make the development of science and knowledge building the collective responsibility of researchers, research participants and other stakeholders (1). In the past century, we witnessed the evolution of different epistemologies – positivist, neo-positivist, postmodernist and constructivist, in particular (2). More recently there are widespread calls to move from disciplinary to transdisciplinary research and guidance by One Health approach to benefit science, knowledge building and problem solving from multiple perspectives