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Disability is a consequence of severe malaria for a significant proportion of African children. This scoping review aims to describe the impact of severe malaria on African children according to current literature using an international biopsychical classification and framework of disability and functioning.MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, and CINHAL databases were searched for original research conducted on African children aged 0-18 using terms related to severe malaria and components of disability. Independent and dependent variables were extracted and classified using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Children and Youth version (ICF-CY) using standardized coding methods.Seventy-two percent of the measured variables in the 34 included studies were coded as "body functions," (i.e., impairments), such as mental, neuromusculoskeletal, movement, and sensory functions, and 23.3% of variables were coded as "activities and participation" (i.e., activity limitations/participation restrictions), such as difficulties with general tasks and demands, communication, mobility, interpersonal interactions, and relationships. "Environment" variables such as family support, health access, education, or societal attitudes were not found in the included studies.Existing peer-reviewed quantitative research of severe malaria-related disability is focused on neurological sequelae, with less research about activity limitations and participation restrictions.Promoting the use of a comprehensive biopsychosocial disability framework and classification system for severe malaria will provide a framework that other researchers, policymakers, and rehabilitation professionals can consider when looking at the best ways to support outcomes for children with severe malaria.Using a framework of the ICF-CY, we have highlighted the need for better research into child functioning outcomes in severe malaria research, especially within the domain of child participation.Policymakers should be encouraged to support better holistic evaluation, support, and rehabilitation of children who have had severe malaria.

A detailed study on soil resources characterization based on the understanding of the soil system is not available at Dugda district. With the cognizance of this fact, the present study was conducted to characterize the morphological and physicochemical properties of soils, classify the soils according to World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) of Argo-Gedilala Subwatershed in Dugda District of Oromia Regional State, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Four slope classes were considered and one pedon was opened for each and described in the field on a standard description sheet for each slope category. Soil samples were collected from genetic horizons of each pedon for laboratory analysis of the selected physicochemical properties of the soils. The soils were classified into different Reference Soil Groups following the (WRB).The organic carbon (OC) content of the study area ranged from low to medium/moderate (0.64 to 1.83%). Total nitrogen (TN),available.phosphorus (Av.P), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and percent base saturation (PBS) of the soils were in the range of (0.066-0.135%), (2.24-4.81 mgkg-1), (39.52-43.52) cmol(+)kg-1) and (77.57- 89.8%), respectively. Accordingly, they were rated as low to medium, very low to low, high to very high and high to very high, respectively. The soil classification revealed that pedon 1 and pedon 2 were Cambic Chernic Phaeozems (Pantoclayic, Humic, Hypereutric); and pedon 4, Cambic Chernic Phaeozem (Pantoclayic, Humic); whereas, pedon 3 is found to be a kind of Luvic Phaeozem (Abruptic, Albic, Clayic, Differentic, Hypereutric). The soils of the study area had low organic matter, available P and total nitrogen content, which can be seen as production constraints of all cultivated lands. To overcome the identified limitations, increasing the organic matter levels through continuous application of manure. Key words: Genetic horizons, morphological properties, pedon, physicochemical properties, slope.

The presented paper described in detail the mineralogy of silicic peralkaline eruptives from Kone volcano within the Ethiopian rift system, which is formed predominantly by rhyolite with some small occurrence of trachyte. The majority of eruptive rocks in the Kone volcanic area are phenocryst-poor. The studied rocks contain alkali feldspars (anorthoclase and sanidine), quartz, clinopyroxene (hedenbergite), aenigmatite and olivine (fayalite), accompanied by rare Fe-To oxides (ilmenite) and apatite. All these minerals are described in detail. These data are very interesting for all researchers, who study similar eruptive rocks.

Detailed study on soil fertility assessment based on the understanding of the soil system are not available for the most part of Ethiopia. With the cognizance of this fact, the present study was conducted to assess the soil fertility status and to prepare the fertility map of Argo-Gedilala Sub watershed in Dugda District, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Eighteen composite soil samples (0-20cm depth) were taken for fertility assessment of the soil from the land mapping units of the subwatershed and mapping the status of selected soil fertility parameters was done using ordinary kriging technique in ArcGIS 10 software. The bulk density is at an acceptable range 1.3 to 1.4 g cm-3 for mineral agricultural soils. The soil organic matter contents of LUs (04, 05 and 06) 680.47 ha (64.77%) in the study area can be categorized in the range of low soil organic matter content and LUs (01, 02 and 03) 369.31 ha (35.23%) can be categorized in the medium range at the sub-watershed. The average percent total N content of the LUs (02, 04, and 05) 567.7ha (54.05%) were found to be low; LUs (01, 03 and 06) 482.61ha 45.95%) were found to be moderate. The mean available P of soils of LUs (04and05) 443.17 ha (42.19%) was categorized as very low range and LUs (01, 02, 03 and 06) 607.15 ha (57.82%) classified as low range. Exchangeable Ca2+, LUs (01, 02, 03, 05 and 06) 824.88 ha (78.55%) were very high while LU04 which covered an area of 225.44 ha (21.46%) were rated as high. The soils of the study area had low organic matter, available P and total nitrogen content, which can be seen as production constraints of all cultivated lands. To overcome the identified limitations, increasing the organic matter levels through continuous application of manure and/or compost should be integrated with chemical fertilizers. Key words: Fertility status, land-mapping units, ordinary kriging.

Background: The stroke-specific quality of life 2.0 (SSQOL 2.0) scale is a valid, reliable instrument which has been widely used as a patients reported outcome measure among stroke survivors However, the SSQOL scale has not been validated and used in any Ethiopian language. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and test the psychometric properties of the SSQOL scale 2.0 in Amharic, the official language of the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia among Amharic speaking post-stroke Ethiopian people. Methods: The adapted English version of the SSQOL 2.0 scale was translated into Amharic and then back-translated to English. An expert committee translated and created a final Amharic version of SSQOL (SSQOL-AM) scale. Pre-field testing (pilot & cognitive debriefing) was conducted with 15 post-stroke subjects. The SSQOL-Am was administered to 245 stroke survivors from four referral hospitals to determine the psychometric properties. Cronbach’s alpha and Intra-class correlation coefficient were used to calculate the internal consistency and test-retest reliability, spearman’s correlation for the convergent construct validity of the SSQOL-Am scale. The Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Minimum Detectable Change (MDC), Bland Altman Limit of Agreement (LOA), and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) were also determined.Results: The SSQOL-Am demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96), SEM 0.857, MDC 1.94, and good LOA. As postulated, the mobility domain of the tool demonstrated a significantly strong correlation with the physical function domain of the SF-36 (rho = 0.70, p < 0.001).Conclusions: The SSQOL-Am is a valid and reliable outcome measure. The tool can be used in both clinical practice and research purposes with post-stroke Ethiopian survivors.

Background The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) is a multidimensional pain assessment tool used to evaluate pain severity and pain interference. The BPI has been translated and validity estimated across multiple languages and patient populations for clinical and research settings. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of Amharic BPI test scores among patients with chronic primary musculoskeletal pain living in Ethiopia. Methods This study had two parts: cognitive interviews and psychometric testing. An expert committee reviewed the Amharic BPI, and fifteen participants participated in the cognitive interviews. The results from the cognitive interviews were evaluated, and the committee approved recommendations for the tool prior to psychometric testing. Two hundred and sixty-nine patients were recruited from three sites for the psychometric testing. The results were summarised using descriptive statistics. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to estimate the internal consistency. To assess test-retest reliability, the intraclass coefficient was examined, and a Bland-Altman plot was created. Construct validity was determined using confirmatory factor analysis by testing BPI’s previously suggested two or three-factor dimensionalities. Convergent validity was assessed by estimating the correlation between the Amharic BPI and SF-36 subscales. Results The Amharic BPI scores showed a good internal consistency using a 2-factor model with α = 0.89 for pain severity and α = 0.91 for pain interference. Good internal consistency was also observed in the 3-factor model, with α = 0.89 for pain severity, α = 0.84 for activity interference, and α = 0.86 for affective interference items. The test-retest reliability testing resulted in an ICC = 0.82 for pain severity and ICC = 0.90 for the pain interference. The severity scale had the highest correlation with bodily pain subscale of the SF-36 at r = − 0.44, and the interference scale with Physical functioning scale of SF-36 at r = − 0.63. Confirmatory factor analysis support rating Amharic BPI using a two-factor approach. Conclusions Our findings showed that Amharic BPI scores demonstrate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity among patients with chronic primary musculoskeletal pain in Ethiopia. Accordingly, the tool can be used in clinical practice or research in similar settings.

Additional file 5. Percentage of respondents reporting changes as a result of mentorship.

Additional file 2. Interview protocols.

Additional file 1. Ethiopia mentorship survey.

Additional file 3. Mentor and mentoring relationships and characteristics.

Additional file 4. Overall experience, satisfaction and recommendations for continuation.

Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potentially contrasting goals of long-term carbon storage, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods are unknown. To quantify the effects of grazing exclusion on vegetation and fire behaviour, we established six 30 × 30 m fenced exclosures with grazed controls, in a mesic wooded savanna. Experimental burns were done after 1.5 years. Tree seedlings were few but more common inside fences. Field layer cover and biomass increased inside fences, and grass species increased in numbers and cover. Fire intensity was higher inside fences, killing shrubs and saplings but not mature trees. Interviews confirmed that overgrazing has resulted in “cool fires”, causing shrub encroachment. High-intensity fires occurred in the 1980s after a zoonotic disease killed most livestock. Short-term increase in carbon storage through fire and grazing exclusion may lead to loss of pasture, and in the long-term increased wildfire risk. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01343-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Additional file 2. A chart comparing the 20-year trend in official numerator data to the 20-year trend in the official estimate of the denominator, as reported to WHO/UNICEF on the annual Joint Reporting Form [5].

Additional file 1. Text of questionnaire followed by table showing the number of informants by geographic region.

Additional file 3. The first table summarizes findings for 103 countries from comparison of DPT3 coverage as measured by the most recent population-based survey conducted in the last 10 years versus the administrative estimate for children of the same birth cohort. The second table summarizes findings from comparison of the 2018 administrative versus WUENIC estimates of national DPT3 coverage for the 173 countries which reported their administrative data to WHO and UNICEF.

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Ethiopian school children often carry school supplies in heavy school bags and encounter limited school facilities. This stresses their vulnerable musculoskeletal system and may result in experiencing musculoskeletal pain. High prevalence of musculoskeletal pain has been documented, but data on musculoskeletal pain among elementary school children in Ethiopia is lacking. To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated factors among elementary school children in Gondar, Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among children from six randomly selected elementary schools. Sample size was determined proportionally across school grades and governmental and private schools to ensure variety within the sample. Data collection consisted of physical measurements including height, weight and schoolbag weight, and a structured questionnaire on musculoskeletal pain, mode of transport, walking time and school facilities. Data were analysed descriptively and through uni- and multivariate logistic regression model. Results: In total 723 children participated. The overall prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain was 62%, with a significant difference between school types (governmental 68% versus private 51%). Shoulder, neck and lower leg/knee were most commonly reported. Walking to and from school for ≥20 min (OR = 2.94, 95% CI 2.05 to 4.21) and relative school bag weight (OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.48 to 4.47) were found significantly associated with self-report musculoskeletal pain. Children with carrying heavy school supplies and also walking long duration have a 3.5 (95% CI = 1.80-6.95) times greater chance of reporting pain as compared to those who carry lesser weighed bags and reported shorter walking duration at the same time. Conclusions: Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain was high among children attending public schools and also those who walked a long way to and from school. Long walking duration and relative school bag weight were significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain. These findings can inform policymakers to provide transportation services and other facilities at elementary schools. The findings of this study should be interpreted with caution due to possible social desirability bias with higher prevalence of self-reported pain and more so in children population.

BackgroundAlthough practice guidelines recommend physical activity and exercise for the management of knee osteoarthritis, pain is a common barrier to participation. Phototherapy has been shown to reduce pain intensity for people with knee osteoarthritis, but it is unclear if it reduces pain during physical activity or contributes to improved rehabilitation outcomes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of performing a fully powered randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing an active phototherapy intervention versus placebo on pain during physical activity for people with knee osteoarthritis.MethodsA pilot RCT was conducted to test the feasibility of a trial comparing 8-sessions (4 weeks) of active phototherapy versus placebo. People were able to participate if they (1) were an English speaking adult (> 18 years of age), (2) had received a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis from a physician, and (3) self-reported experiencing pain and disability related to their knee osteoarthritis for > 3 months. Primary outcomes were the feasibility of participant recruitment, retention, assessment procedures, and maintaining high treatment fidelity. Secondary outcomes piloted for a full trial included pain during physical activity (primary outcome of full trial); self-reported pain severity, physical function, stiffness, adherence to prescribed exercise, global rating of change, patient satisfaction, and adverse events; 6-min walk test; and pressure pain threshold.ResultsTwenty participants (4 men; 16 women) with knee osteoarthritis and a mean age of 63.95 (SD: 9.27) years were recruited over a 3-week period (6.7 participants per week). Fifteen out of 20 (75%) of participants completed the primary outcome assessment at 4 weeks and 19/20 (95%) of participants were retained and completed the final 16-week assessment. Overall, 89% of all assessment items were completed by participants across all time-points. Fifteen out of 20 participants (75%) completed all 8 treatment sessions. Treatment fidelity was 100% for all completed treatment sessions. No adverse events were reported by participants in either group.ConclusionsResults suggest that the trial methodology and intervention are feasible for implementation in a fully powered randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of phototherapy at reducing pain during physical activity for people with knee osteoarthritis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov,NCT04234685, January 21, 2020–Retrospectively registered.

Background Mobile technology has spread rapidly around the globe. In 2018 the numbers of mobile subscribers in Ethiopia hit 66.2 million. Musculoskeletal complaints related to smartphone use in different body parts have been reported ranging from 8.2% to 89.9%. Neck pain has the highest prevalence rate, which ranges from 17.3% to 67.8%. However, there is limited evidence on the burden of neck pain related to Smartphone usage and no research is done in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the burden of neck pain and factors associated with smartphone use in Ethiopia. Purpose The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with neck pain among smartphone users at University of Gondar. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2019 to determine the prevalence and associated factors of neck pain, with a sample of 845 university student smartphone users at University of Gondar, Ethiopia. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to collect data. Independent variables which had a significant association were identified using logistic regression models. Results were reported by using texts and frequency distribution tables. Results Out of 845 questionnaires distributed, 808 students responded; hence, the response rate was 95.6%. The overall prevalence of neck pain among smart phone users in the past 12 months was 47.4% (95% CI, 44.1–50.9%). Attending 5th year (AOR: 3.907, 95% CI: 1. 952–7.82) and 6th year (AOR: 2.93,95% CI: 1,304–6.59), regular physical exercise (AOR: 2.405, 95% CI: 1.549–3.734), cigarette smoking (AOR: 5.415, 95% CI: 2.685–10.919), residency (AOR: 1.681, 95% CI: 1.181–2.391), break while using smartphone (AOR: 3.253 95% CI: 2.252–4.699), used smartphone > 6 hour per day (AOR: 2.782 (1.528 95% CI: 1.528–5.063), used other devises (AOR: 3.158 95% CI: 2.128–4.689), number of social media used daily (AOR: 2.007 95% CI: 1.228–3.2788), used devise for playing game (AOR: 1.484 95% CI: 1.024–2.15) were factors significantly associated with neck pain. Conclusion The current study depicted that nearly half of the study participants reported neck pain in the past 12 months. Attending last year of university, personal characteristics, use of smart phone for longer period, playing game, not taking break, other electronic device use, increased number of social media use were associated with neck pain among smartphone users.

An outlier consists of an area of younger rocks surrounded by older ones. Its formation is mainly related to the erosion of surrounding rocks which causes the interruption of the original continuity of the rocks. Because of its origin, an outlier is an important witness of the paleogeography of a region and, therefore, essential to understand its topographic and geological evolution. The Mekele Outlier (N Ethiopia) is characterized by poorly incised Mesozoic marine sediments and dolerites (∼2000 m in elevation), surrounded by strongly eroded Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks and Tertiary volcanic deposits in a context of a mantle supported topography. In the past, studies about the Mekele outlier focused mainly in the mere description of the stratigraphic and tectonic settings without taking into account the feedback between surface and deep processes in shaping such peculiar feature. In this study we present the geological and geomorphometric analyses of the Mekele Outlier taking into account the general topographic features (slope map, swath profiles, local relief), the river network and the principal tectonic lineaments of the outlier. The results trace the evolution of the study area as related not only to the mere erosion of the surrounding rocks but to a complex interaction between surface and deep processes where the lithology played a crucial role.

Recent studies highlight the importance of annual-scale dike-induced rifting episodes in developing normal faults and graben along the active axis of magmatic divergent plate boundaries (MDPB). However, the longer-term (102–105 years) role of diking on the cumulative surface deformation and evolution of MDPB is not yet well understood. To better understand the longer-term normal faults and graben along the axis of MDPB, we analyze fissure swarms in Iceland and Ethiopia. We first focus on the simplest case of immature fissure swarms, with single dike-fed eruptive fissures; these consist of a

In various areas of Ethiopia, different plant species have been reported having a medicinal role for ailment tonsillitis. However, the ethnomedicinal information on those medicinal plant species that cure the ailment is not summarized in a way that gives general information and initiates further study. Therefore, the objective of this review paper was to summarize the ethnomedicinal information about medicinal plant species that used to treat tonsillitis in Ethiopia. The result of the review indicated that herbs and leaves are the most utilized growth forms and part of the plants respectively during remedy preparation for the ailment tonsillitis in Ethiopia. Similarly, fresh plant materials, and water are the most applied condition of plant parts and diluent added correspondingly. Chewing and oral route of application are the most widely used methods of remedy preparation and administration correspondingly, for the ailment in the country. Utilization of herbs and leaves can be seen as an advantage from the conservation point of view of medicinal plant species that used to treat the ailment since herbs can be cultivated when they are in short supply and are also available as compared to other growth forms. Similarly, use of leaves can reduce damage to the medicinal plant species as compared to the use of other plant parts such as roots. However, the utilization of fresh materials should be reduced as much as possible. Rhamnus prinoides L'Hér. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe are the most commonly used medicinal plant species for the ailment in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian basement formed between 850 and 450 Ma during the East African Orogen and represents the junction of the two distinct basement types found in Africa and Saudi Arabia: the low-grade Arabian-Nubian Shield and the high-grade Mozambique Belt. While many other localities along the East African Orogenic belt are well studied and despite the huge potential insight it could grant to the orogen’s evolution, Ethiopian Basement is poorly understood. This study aims to understand the tectonic evolution of the East African Orogen in Ethiopia through the examination of the age, origin, and evolution of previously unmapped syn- and post-tectonic plutons intruded into the Western Ethiopian Shield’s eastern edge. Dabana granite pluton crystallization ages were determined through U-Pb geochronological dating, and structural history was revealed through field mapping and thin section petrographic analysis. Whole rock elemental composition was determined through XRF (X-ray fluorescence) and ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry) methods to investigate petrogenesis and chemical evolution of the plutonic rocks. Results indicate this pluton formed during three intrusive periods under distinct tectonic domains that represent an evolving convergent margin. The oldest granite dates to 797.6 Ma and is associated with hydrous melting during volcanic arc subduction, followed by post-subduction related anhydrous magmatism at 774.6 Ma. The youngest granites date to 635–639 Ma and are evidence of late-stage crustal thickening in the final stage of collision. Two metamorphic episodes are recorded in the structure and petrography, which formed gneiss during high-grade metamorphism at 775.22 Ma and low-grade deformation around 630 Ma. This study presents the first geochronological and geochemical data from plutonic rocks in the study area, and grants valuable insight into the dynamics and evolution of the East African Orogen in Ethiopia.

Rainwater harvesting has been known and widely practiced for many centuries, especially during the dry season for a different purpose. The increase of agricultural economy of the country is extremely exposed to weather and climate effects. Decrease of crop production in dry areas is linked to the water (runoff, evaporation and overindulgence use). The objective of this manuscript is to review the status of rainwater harvesting (RWH) technology and practices in sustaining agricultural production in Ethiopia. The in-situ and ex-situ RWH techniques have shown a significant impact on improved soil moisture, runoff and ground water recharge and increased agricultural production, which, in turn, reduce risks and deliver positive impacts on other ecosystems. The implementation of thousands of indicated above structures has been also confined with a range of problems and challenges. In the eastern part of Ethiopia, water shortage and lack of improved technology were the main problems, therefore practicing water harvesting and supplying improved water harvesting technologies providing extended service regularly for farmers should be practiced in the future. Therefore, from the point of view of water conservation, both internal and external catchment-based RWH had the eminent potential of mitigating rainfall-related crop production risks.

Landslide hazard is one of the crucial environmental constraints for the development of Ethiopia, representing a limiting factor for urbanization and infrastructures. The high relief and the rugged topography induced by a strong Plio-Quaternary uplift, the occurrence of clayey horizons within the sedimentary sequences, the dense network of tectonic fractures and faults, the thick eluvial mantles on volcanic outcrops, and the thick colluvial–alluvial deposits at the foot of steep slopes are the predisposing factors for a large variety of mass movements. Heavy summer rainfall is the main triggering factor of most landslides, some of which undergo a step-like evolution with long-lasting quiescence intervals. First generation movements are commonly restricted to shallow phenomena, such as soil slips or mud flows in eluvial–colluvial material. Fast moving slope failures, such as rock slides, topplings and falls, are also triggered by earthquakes. To mitigate the landslide risk, any first priority measure should include adequate drainage of slopes in order to reduce water infiltration. On the other hand, appropriate site selection for buildings, transferring risky settlements, accurate geological control of works, and education campaigns are all strongly recommended.

Background: The benefit of contraceptive methods has become an important factor in the life of reproductive age of women. Specially, the utilization of Long Acting and Permanent contraceptive Methods (LAPMs) is most effective methods of contraceptive available and are very safe and suitable; do not need daily initiation on the part of the users, and no need of frequent visit to service providers and hence, saves time and money for individual and the government. Objectives: To assess utilization of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods and associated factors among married women of reproductive age in Bishoftu town Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from September, 2016 among married women of reproductive age in Bishoftu town. Study Kebeles selected by lottery method. Systematic sampling used to select study households while all eligible women in the selected households recruited for the study. The minimum sample size required for the study was 419. A pre-test and structured questionnaire used to collect data from each respondent. The data field edited and entered in to EPI-Info 7 version and cleaned then exported to SPSS version 16 for analyses. Descriptive statistics such as frequency tables and percentages used to describe the study participants. In a bivariate analysis Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals calculated to see the magnitude and significance of the association between independent and the dependent variables, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent predictors of LAPMs utilization in the study area. Result: Utilization of LAPMs was 35.7%, the most common is Implant 101(25.5%), and followed by Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) 37(9.4%) and the least was female sterilization 3(0.8%). The result of multivariate analysis revealed that, the significant association of education of respondent on utilization of LAPMs [AOR 2.76, 95% CI (1.16, 6.55)], attitude of husband on LAPMs [AOR 2.97, 95%CI (1.58, 5.59)], discussion with service providers on use of LAPMs [AOR 5.68, 95%CI (2.06, 15.68)], and married women those who need any more additional children was found to be associated [AOR 2.01, 95%CI (1.19, 3.40)]. Conclusion: Utilization of LAPMs among contraceptive methods users in a town was 35.7% and higher than the LAPMs use rate reported other studies and Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2014, but still lead by short acting methods that was inject-able followed by Implant and the least female sterilization.

Automatic Detection of Malaria Parasite based on Microscopic Image Analysis Abebe Bekele Addis Ababa University, 2017 Malaria is a serious global health problem and its diagnosis is usually done manually by compound light microscopy which is time consuming, tiresome and subjective. To support this manual method, in this master thesis, we designed and developed a system which is able to automatically detect plasmodium parasites from images of blood smears acquired by ourselves using a digital light microscope. In this method, blood smears taken from patients who were infected with plasmodium parasites were prepared. Digital images were then acquired by the light microscope and saved in the computer. Red blood cells (RBCs) are first segmented by marker control watershed algorithm, where the foreground markers are obtained from circular Hough transform and background markers from distance transform. The plasmodium infected RBCs are then detected in the Hue-Saturation-Intensity (HSI) color space. Thresholding on hue component of HSI color space is used to detect the chromatin dots of the parasite. Plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax, the two dominant plasmodium species which cause the vast deaths in Ethiopia, are differentiated based on the size of infected RBCs. The performance of the proposed system for RBC segmentation, parasite detection and species differentiations was analyzed by comparing with the gold standard manual method for the total of 91 images of thin blood smears. The result shows that 97% of the RBC counts are similar to the gold standard with 97.5% sensitivity and 84.4% positive predictive value for plasmodium parasite detection at the cellular level. The species differentiations were done for each image with the accuracy level of 91.46%.The result showed the potential of the method for supporting the mass screening of malaria parasite. Keywords: Digital Microscope, Plasmodium, Thin Blood Smears, Watershed Algorithm, Circular Hough Transform, Distance Transform, Hue-Saturation-Intensity (HSI), Thresholding

Like many other parts of Ethiopia, people in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) do have indigenous knowledge on the preparation and use of traditional medicinal plants. Even though different studies have been conducted to document medicinal plants in different zones of SNNPR separately, there is no previous review work which summarizes the medicinal plants and the associated indigenous knowledge at the regional level (at SNNPR region as a whole or in large scale). Also, there is no previous review work that prioritizes the factors that affect medicinal plants at the regional level (including threatened medicinal plants). The purpose of this paper was to review habitat, growth forms, the method of remedy preparation and administration, marketability of medicinal plants, and to prioritize the factors that affect medicinal plants in SNNPR. Most of the medicinal plants in the majority of the reviewed areas are harvested from wild. Herbs are the most utilized life forms and leaves are the most utilized plant part in the preparation of remedies. Fresh plant materials are the most employed in the preparation of remedies. Majority of medicinal plants are not marketable. Agricultural land expansion is a major threat to medicinal plants which followed by deforestation. Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Prunus africana, Echinops kebericho, Croton macrostachys, Cordia africana and Dodonaea angustifolia, Hagenia abyssinica, Withania somnifera and Ficus spp are the highly affected medicinal plant species which require conservation and management priority in the region.

Lantana camara L. is one of the worst invasive alien species that are categorized worldwide. The objective of this review paper was to review the dispersal and threats posed by Lantana camara L. in Ethiopia and based on review results, to suggest management strategies that can bring solutions to the threats posed by the weed. Both biological characteristics of Lantana camara L. and its dispersal agents have contributed to the success of its dispersal. Even though Lantana camara L. is dispersed in other places within Ethiopia, Debrezeit, Dire Dawa, Harar and Somali are the hotspot areas for the weed. Biodiversity and potential agricultural loss, human and animal health problems and infestation in national parks are the identified threats that Lantana camara L. posed within the country. Utilization of Lantana camara L. for various purposes, prevention of its further dispersal into non-infected areas, use of fire, mechanical and biological control and awareness creation are the suggested management strategies that can bring solutions to the threats posed by the weed within the country.

We use model experiments to address the dynamics of magma upwelling during incipient break up of the continental lithosphere. In particular we study the emplacement mechanisms responsible for formation of Continental Flood Basalts. The models show that the dynamics of melt upwelling and distribution and the surface topography are all sensitive to the boundary conditions and the rheological stratification. When melt is involved, there is no or little stretching at break-up time of the continental lithosphere. Depending on the boundary conditions, zones of reduced strength and soft magma pockets localize strain and create focussed or segmented zones of significant weakening and fracturing. When extension of the lithosphere is fast and steady, magmatism is segmented in spaced fissures. In contrast, when extension is slow or episodic, focussing of magmatism and fracturing is the preferred mode of melt emplacement. Upon fracturing of the brittle layer, the melt extrudes to the surface as lava flows. Buoyancy is the dominant mechanism by which magma is transported in the ductile lower crust and upper mantle. In contrast, dykes provide the means by which basaltic melts migrate through the brittle part of the lithosphere. Such spectacular intrusions are likely to have fed Continental Flood Basalts. The model results show that buoyant rise and focusing of magma, originating from a plume or a lithospheric source undergoing slow and/or episodic extension might provide a mechanical explanation for the profuse volcanism of Continental Flood Basalts, at break up time of the continental lithosphere e.g. the Ethiopian Trap Basalts. The models provide new prospects on magma dynamics and lithosphere-mantle interactions. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is magmatically segmented and seismically active. The magmatic segments are arranged en echelon (e.g. Ebinger, C.J., Casey, M., 2001. Continental breakup in magmatic provinces: An Ethiopian example. Geology Society of America Bulletin, vol. 12, pp. 527–530). Furthermore they are about 50 km long and up to 20 km wide, orientated about N10°–20°E, and are therefore oblique to the main direction of Mid-Miocene border faults (N35°E). In this paper we propose that these segments not only represent magmatic but also tectonic segmentation. We use the association of the high spectral resolution of Landsat data (principal component analysis and classifications) and the very high spatial resolution of digitized aerial photographs to characterize and quantify the deformation along the rift. Additionally, several digital elevation models of metric resolution have been produced at different locations along the segments in order to quantify and describe the faulting. We define 4 tecto-magmatic segments (Gedemsa, Bosetti, Kone and Fantale), 40–70 km, 10–15 wide, arranged en echelon and N10°–20°E orientated. Each tecto-magmatic segment (TMS) is separated by 2–18 km wide domains exhibiting minor deformation. Furthermore, the TMS overlap in a N–S direction and show similar symmetrical deformation patterns. Within an individual segment deformation varies from its centre, where it is essentially magmatic, to its tips, where brittle deformation is predominant. The largest volumes of recent basalt are erupted in the centres and nearby. In contrast, recent magma injections are absent in the tip domains. It seems probable that dikes connect laterally to, and are fed by, the magmatic centres. Dikes are sub-parallel to the segment axis and therefore orientated normal to the recent extension direction. Within the TMS, aligned cones, atypical fault geometries, en echelon fault segments, and atypical displacement–length ratios all suggest that faulting is dike-induced. Along axis propagation of the TMS generate interactions between younger (Quaternary) intra-rift faults and older (Mid-Miocene) border faults. Thus, at the deformed tips, cross-cutting and long curved faults are produced. The fault interactions in the MER confirm that the border faults have been inactive during the recent stage of rifting. We discuss the implications of oblique rifting with moderate obliquity (α = 27°, angle between the extension direction and the trend perpendicular to the rift) at slow extension rates on active rifting processes associated with intermediate continental crust. The tecto-magmatic segmentation mirrors crustal segmentation beneath the rift axis, as indicated from 3-D-tomography (Daly, E., Keir, D., Ebinger, C., Stuart, G., Ayele, A., Waltham, D., 2007. Crustal structure of the northern Main Ethiopian Rift from a tomographic inversion of local earthquakes. Geophysical Journal International, in press; Keranen, K., Klemperer, S.L., Gloaguen, R., EAGLE Working Group, 2004. Three-dimensional seismic imaging of a protoridge axis in the Main Ethiopian rift. Geology 32 (11), 949–952). These long and narrow zones (40–70 km long and 10–15 km wide), where deformation is generated principally by diking and is associated with magmatic centres, have similarities with along-axis segmentation at mid ocean ridges. Consequently, deformation distribution and type in the MER can be considered the outcome of a transition between continental and active oceanic rifting.

Four major fault systems oriented N–S to NNE–SSW, NE–SW, E–W and NW–SE are identified from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images and a high resolution digital elevation model (DEM) over the Ethiopian Rift Valley and the surrounding plateaus. Most of these faults are the result of Cenozoic - extensional reactivation of pre-existing basement structures. These faults interacted with each other at different geological times under different geodynamic conditions. The Cenozoic interaction under an extensional tectonic regime is the major cause of the actual volcano-tectonic landscape in Ethiopia. The Wonji Fault Belt (WFB), which comprises the N–S to NNE–SSW striking rift floor faults, displays peculiar propagation patterns mainly due to interaction with the other fault systems and the influence of underlying basement structures. The commonly observed patterns are: curvilinear oblique-slip faults forming lip-horsts, sinusoidal faults, intersecting faults and locally splaying faults at their ends. Fault-related open structures such as tail-cracks, releasing bends and extensional relay zones and fault intersections have served as principal eruption sites for monogenetic Plio-Quaternary volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER).

New paleomagnetic investigations on the Ethiopian trap series have been undertaken at the Abbay and Kessem gorges in an attempt to better constrain the 30 Ma paleomagnetic pole of Africa. We sampled six thick massive basaltic lava flows, totaling 230 m, from Abbay Gorge and 10 lava flows, 180 m in thickness, from Kessem Gorge. Detailed paleomagnetic analyses disclosed that the carriers of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) are different in different lava flows. These are mostly titanomagnetites, titanomaghemites, and magnetite minerals with a broad range of coercive force and blocking temperatures. The heating and cooling susceptibility vs. temperature curves, many of which are irreversible, may indicate chemical remagnetization, notably low temperature maghemitization. Only one flow (KS04) with a clear 580°C Curie temperature was apparently unaffected by chemical remagnetization. The ChRM direction of this flow is identical to that in other flows, which suggests that if and when remagnetization occurred, this was shortly after emplacement of the lava flows. All of the flows sampled have normal polarity. However, a reversed component of low to medium coercive force and low to medium unblocking temperature occurs in flow KS01 at Kessem Gorge. The ChRM directions for the 16 sites are D =3.1°, I =5.8° ( α 95 =12.7°). The paleomagnetic pole obtained from these is at λ =83.0°N, φ =193.3°E ( A 95 =9.0°). Comparison with three previous studies of the traps shows remarkable consistency and a number of means are derived and discussed. Two final preferred poles for the traps are at λ =79.0°N, φ =196.9°E ( A 95 =2.8°) when all 112 published flows are used, and λ =78.7°N, φ =209.4°E ( A 95 =3.4°) when only the 76 flows from the four more recently analyzed sections are included. Both are compatible with the recent reference synthetic pole for Africa of Courtillot and Besse [J. Geophys. Res. (2002) in press]. In that sense, the Ethiopian trap pole is not anomalous and does not require more of a non-dipolar contribution than indicated by analyses of the global paleomagnetic data base covering the last few million years.

Deformation and magmatism within the ∼90 km wide northern Ethiopian Rift system is concentrated along a narrow zone - the Wonji Fault Belt. Two key areas (the Nazret-Dera and Asela-Ziway areas), located along the eastern margin of the north-northeast to northeast trending Main Ethiopian Rift, have been investigated in order to reconstruct the recent tectonomagmatic evolution of the northern branch of the Main Ethiopian Rift. In these areas, Early Pleistocene volcanic products (Wonji Group) overlie Pliocene volcanic rocks (Eastern Margin Unit). Detailed stratigraphical reconstructions have revealed the presence of several tectonomagmatic units which can be correlated between the two study areas. The stratigraphical and petrological study of these units outlined (1) the bimodal composition (basalts-pantellerites) of the oldest and youngest units and the unimodal character (pantellerites) of the products erupted during the intervening period; (2) the mainly fissural origin of the ignimbrites and oldest basalts; and (3) a mafic/felsic volumetric ratio of 1:5. The geological data suggest that, around the Pliocene-Quaternary boundary, a change in the stress field occurred in this Main Ethiopian Rift sector, passing from a direction of extension roughly orthogonal to the rift shoulders, to oblique rifting related to an east-west trending extension. In this framework the change in the style of volcanism observed in the Nazret-Dera and Asela-Ziway areas can be related to the change of the stress field. A new geodynamic model is presented for the Late Pliocene to Recent evolution of this sector of the Main Ethiopian Rift. According to this model, a large volume of rhyolitic products was erupted during an oblique rifting phase, following a previous period of pure extension. The change in the tectonic regime favoured partial melting of the underplated basalts as a decrease in the pressure and an elevation of isotherms occurred.

Cytokine-mediated enhancement of spontaneous cytotoxicity depends, at least in part, on modulation of the expression of surface molecules responsible for recognition of target cell structures and triggering or inhibition of the cytotoxic machinery. We previously demonstrated that expression of transcription factors (e.g., Egr-1, JunB, and c-Fos) is differentially regulated by IL-2 and IL-12. Here we show that expression of CD161/NKR-P1A, a molecule involved in triggering cytotoxicity, is specifically up-regulated by IL-12. CD161 transcription, mRNA accumulation, and surface expression are increased by IL-12. Other cytokines sharing the IL-2R β- and/or common γ-chains (i.e., IL-15, IL-4, and IL-7) do not mediate these effects. In an effort to analyze the mechanisms by which IL-2, IL-12, and IL-15 differentially regulate gene transcription, we have isolated a novel gene, 197/15a, the expression of which in NK and T cells is down-regulated by IL-2 and IL-15, up-regulated by IL-12, and not affected by IL-4 and IL-7. IL-2 and IL-15 act, at least in part, repressing 197/15a transcription; their effect on 197/15a mRNA accumulation is partially independent of novel protein synthesis, likely not mediated by JunB, Bcl-2, or Bax, and requires the activity of rapamycin-sensitive molecule(s). The observation that IL-2 and IL-12 differentially modulate CD161 expression suggests the existence of cytokine-specific mechanisms of modulation of spontaneous cytotoxicity based on the regulation of expression of surface molecules involved in target cell recognition and/or triggering of the cytolytic machinery.

The Ethiopian Rift extends in a northeasterly direction, from Southern Ethiopia to the Afar region. It shows a complex fault pattern, characterised by the interplay of a N30°E—N40°E-trending border fault system with the Quaternary Wonji Fault Belt, which is constituted by right-stepping en-echelon NS to N20°E trending faults. The Wonji Fault Belt affects mainly the rift floor, but it also overlaps with some segments of the margins. Its en-echelon arrangement indicates a left-lateral component of displacement along the rift trend. The general fault pattern of the Ethiopian Rift, as well as mesoscopic fault analyses and structural features of some key areas, indicate the occurrence of a roughly E—W extension, which is compatible with the sinistral shear component of motion along the rift. This paper proposes that oblique rifting related to the E—W direction of extension has been active since the beginning of the Quaternary and that it came after an earlier phase of roughly pure extension orthogonal to the rift trend.

A road constructed from Fofa town to Gilgel Gibe-II powerhouse in south-western Ethiopia passes through an extremely rugged terrain characterized by steep hill slopes and deep valleys. The present study has been carried out to identify potentially unstable slope sections and to work out proper remedial measures. In order to identify potential unstable slopes in the study area field investigations for slope stability analysis were undertaken. Further, based on the field manifestations of instabilities eight potentially unstable slopes were identified. Out of these, seven slope sections show potential for planar mode of failure whereas, one slope shows a potential for wedge mode of failure. The detailed stability study of these critical slope sections has been carried out by limit equilibrium method. The slopes having planar mode of failure were analyzed by using Sharma et al. (1995) technique, whereas the slope having wedge mode of failure was analyzed by ‘SASW’ computer program. The stability analysis was carried out for the existing and anticipated worst conditions. The results indicate that all critical slopes in the study area are stable for the existing conditions, represented by dry static conditions whereas for the anticipated worst conditions (i.e., moderately saturated slope with dynamic ground condition) slopes may become unstable. Based on the results of the stability condition, suitable remedial measures, such as safe cut slope design, rock bolt anchoring and suitable drainage requirements have been worked out for the critical slope sections.

The present study was carried out along the newly constructed road from Fofa town to Gilgel Gibe-II powerhouse in South western Ethiopia. In this study, an attempt has been made to provide information on the landslide hazard zones present along the new road. In order to delineate the hazardous zones the landslide hazard evaluation factor rating scheme (LHEF) proposed by Anbalagan (1992) has been utilized. The LHEF rating scheme is based on an empirical approach which combines past experience gained from the study of causative factors and their impact on landslides with conditions anticipated in the area of study. For LHEF rating scheme data on major inherent causative factors of slope instability such as geology, slope morphometry, relative relief, land use and land cover and ground water conditions has been collected. Based on the evaluation values, the slopes in the study area have been classified for landslide potential as; High Hazard, Moderate Hazard and Low Hazard. The results of the present study indicate that 54% of the slopes in the study area fall in High Hazard, 34% in the Moderate Hazard and 12% in the Low Hazard zones. Thus, the Landslide Hazard Zonation shows that chances of slope failures are high in the study area.

Assessments of the extension directions and their variations are critical for understanding rifting processes. This study provides an overview of the extension directions along the axes of the Main Ethiopian Rift and the Red Sea Rift (or propagator) of Afar, two of the three rifts meeting at the Afar triple junction. This overview is based on new and published fi eld data on the opening direction of signifi cant (width >0.2 m) Holocene extension fractures along the rift axis. The data show that the Red Sea propagator axis opens orthogonally, both in northern and central Afar, even though a signifi cant strike-slip component is recognized at the rift margins in central Afar. The Main Ethiopian Rift axis also opens orthogonal to the trend of the rift, which varies between the different rift segments. Therefore, the axes of two of the three rifts meeting in Afar are characterized by orthogonal extension. However, given the variable orientations of the rift segments, the obtained opening directions are usually not uniform along the rift. Current plate-motion models suggest slightly different divergence directions, especially along the Main Ethiopian Rift, which shows a signifi cant oblique component. The discrepancy between the data along the rift axis and those from plate-motion models suggests an across-rift strain partitioning. The observed orthogonal extension along the rift axis may be magma-induced, provided that a depth-dependent variation in the kinematics exists, at least below the Main Ethiopian Rift axis. *acocella@uniroma3.it Acocella, V., Abebe, B., and Korme, T., 2011, Holocene opening directions along the axes of the Red Sea (Afar) and Main Ethiopian Rifts: An overview, in Beccaluva, L., Bianchini, G., and Wilson, M., eds., Volcanism and Evolution of the African Lithosphere: Geological Society of America Special Paper 478, p. 25–35, doi:10.1130/2011.2478(02). For permission to copy, contact editing@geosociety.org. © 2011 The Geological Society of America. All rights reserved. on November 3, 2011 specialpapers.gsapubs.org Downloaded from

[1] The Red Sea and Aden rifts (or propagators) meet in Afar. Here we use remote sensing and field analyses to define the geology and structure of the southern part of the Red Sea propagator in Central Afar. This consists of the NW-SE trending Tendaho Graben (TG) and the younger and active NW-SE trending Manda Hararo Rift (MHR), partly within TG. Tectonic and volcanic activity within TG developed mostly between ∼1.8 and ∼0.6 Ma, with a stretching factor β ∼ 1.1, an extension rate ∼3.6 mm/yr and the fissural eruption of part (∼7000 km3/Ma) of the Afar Stratoid sequence (mainly basaltic lava flows and ignimbrites). MHR, before terminating southward, has a β ∼ 1.04 and an extension rate ∼1.2 mm/yr, and is associated with the emission of ∼600 km3/Ma of basalts in the last ∼0.2 Ma. These data suggest that after the exceptional amount of magma erupted between ∼1.8 and ∼0.6 Ma, magmatic and tectonic activity significantly decreased along the southern part of the Red Sea propagator in the last ∼0.2 Ma. This decrease coincides with the on-land development and migration of the more active (inferred extension rate in the order of ∼10 mm/yr, as proposed in previous studies) Aden propagator, suggesting that spreading in Central Afar mainly occurred along one active propagator at any one time.