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Background: Global evidence on psychosis is dominated by studies conducted in Western, high-income countries. The objectives of the Study of Context Of Psychoses to improve outcomes in Ethiopia (SCOPE) are (1) to generate rigorous evidence of psychosis experience, epidemiology and impacts in Ethiopia that will illuminate aetiological understanding and (2) inform development and testing of interventions for earlier identification and improved first contact care that are scalable, inclusive of difficult-to-reach populations and optimise recovery. Methods: The setting is sub-cities of Addis Ababa and rural districts in south-central Ethiopia covering 1.1 million people and including rural, urban and homeless populations. SCOPE comprises (1) formative work to understand care pathways and community resources (resource mapping); examine family context and communication (ethnography); develop valid measures of family communication and personal recovery; and establish platforms for community engagement and involvement of people with lived experience; (2a) a population-based incidence study, (2b) a case-control study and (2c) a cohort study with 12 months follow-up involving 440 people with psychosis (390 rural/Addis Ababa; 50 who are homeless), 390 relatives and 390 controls. We will test hypotheses about incidence rates in rural vs. urban populations and men vs. women; potential aetiological role of khat (a commonly chewed plant with amphetamine-like properties) and traumatic exposures in psychosis; determine profiles of needs at first contact and predictors of outcome; (3) participatory workshops to develop programme theory and inform co-development of interventions, and (4) evaluation of the impact of early identification strategies on engagement with care (interrupted time series study). Findings will inform development of (5) a protocol for (5a) a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of interventions for people with recent-onset psychosis in rural settings and (5b) two uncontrolled pilot studies to test acceptability, feasibility of co-developed interventions in urban and homeless populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, the dairy cows' major feed resources are natural pasture and crop residues, both of which are nutritionally low and do not even satisfy the maintenance requirement. Consequently, dairy productivity per head is low in the country. This paper reviews the existing knowledge of negative energy balance (NEB) and summarizes its implication on production and reproduction parameters, as well as the monitoring tools as a means of intervention in minimizing the effect on dairy cows. The presence of NEB in late gestation and early lactation of dairy cows could contribute to both short and long-term negative effects on production and reproduction ability. Lower body condition, reduced milk production, a change in the milk fat to protein ratio, an increasing incidence of health problems, a late time to become estrus, delayed ovarian cycle, and a lower conception rate are the common implications. Through the knowledge created so far, it can be concluded that NEB is almost a common phenomenon in transitional high milking dairy animals, but there is a possibility to shorten its persistence through strategic supplementation using the NEB monitoring tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushroom cultivation is an economically feasible bio-technological process for conversion of various lignocellulosic wastes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of waste paper supplemented with corn stalk and wheat bran for oyster mushroom cultivation. Pure culture of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kummer) was purchased from YB Plant Micropropagation Plc; Mekelle, Ethiopia. Then, the pure culture was used as inoculum for spawn preparation using sorghum prepared in Microbiology laboratory, Department of Biology, Aksum University. Waste paper supplemented with corn stalk and wheat bran with 0%, 25% and 50% were prepared. The substrates were mixed with the spawn that has been inoculated with pure culture of oyster mushroom aseptically for their productivity and biological efficiency (BE) for cultivation of P. ostreatus mushroom. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Higher (26.20 ± 19.36) mean weight, pileus diameter (7.90 ± 2.66 cm), total yield (646.4 ± 273.1 g) and BE (64.64 ± 273%) were obtained from waste paper (50%) supplemented with cornstalk (25%) and wheat bran (25%). And lower (17.92 ± 81.95%) BE were obtained from waste paper (100%). Moreover, the highest (3.88 ± 0.32 cm) mean stalk length was obtained from waste paper (50%) supplemented with corn stalk (50%). This study revealed that waste paper supplemented with corn stalk and wheat bran resulted in high BE and total yield. Thus, utilization of waste paper appears to be a promising alternative for the cultivation of oyster mushroom when supplemented with other substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid reviews have emerged as an approach to provide contextualized evidence in a timely and efficient manner. Three rapid review centers were established in Ethiopia, Lebanon, and South Africa through the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, to stimulate demand, engage policymakers, and produce rapid reviews to support health policy and systems decision-making. This study aimed to assess the experiences of researchers and policymakers engaged in producing and using rapid reviews for health systems strengthening and decisions towards universal health coverage (UHC). Methods: Using a case study approach with qualitative research methods, experienced researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with respondents from each center (n = 16). The topics covered included the process and experience of establishing the centers, stimulating demand for rapid reviews, collaborating between researchers and policymakers, and disseminating and using rapid reviews for health policies and interventions and the potential for sustaining and institutionalizing the services. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Major themes interacted and contributed to shape the experiences of stakeholders of the rapid review centers, including the following: organizational structural arrangements of the centers, management of their processes as input factors, and the rapid reviews as the immediate policy-relevant outputs. The engagement process and the rapid review products contributed to a final theme of impact of the rapid review centers in relation to the uptake of evidence for policy and systems decision-making. Conclusions: The experiences of policymakers and researchers of the rapid review centers determined the uptake of evidence. The findings of this study can inform policymakers, health system managers, and researchers on best practices for demanding, developing and using rapid reviews to support decision- and policymaking, and implementing the universal healthcare coverage agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia is experiencing deterioration in river quality resulting in adverse effects on human health and hydrobionts. This study aimed to analyse the effects of specific environmental stressors on the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates in the Upper Awash River. The study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2018. Macroinvertebrates were collected from five sites using standard handheld nets. Physicochemical parameters including electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorous, nitrate-nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen and water temperature that can affect the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates were assessed. A total of 14,465 individuals belonging to 33 families of insects and 5 families of the noninsect group were identified. Among all recorded taxa, Diptera was the most abundant and diversified order. Macroinvertebrates among the five sites showed variation in species evenness, richness, and Shannon Diversity Index. Values obtained from biotic indices and environmental parameters indicated the presence of organic pollution at different levels. The impacted downstream site paper mill waste (Walgata) had the relatively highest H-FBI index followed by Osole (more agricultural activities) indicating that Walgata and Osole were poorer in benthic faunal diversity than other sites. In addition, as habitat and water quality degradation increased, the number and percentage of Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) decreased. The selected metrics will be also useful for the monitoring and assessment of the riverine systems and to access the impact of different stressors. As perturbation increased, species diversity, ETHbios index, Average Score Per Taxon, and family richness decreased, while the percentage of Chironomidae, Diptera, Dominant Taxa, and Hilsenhoff Family-Level Biotic Index increased indicating that tolerant species become abundant in degraded river bodies. Environmental protection agencies of governmental and nongovernmental organizations should make awareness for the local people so that they reduce activities that affect the river. Paper factory should also monitor its effluent from directly discharging into the Upper Awash River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, global attention to carbon emissions has increased, becoming one of the main drivers of global climate change. Accurate prediction of carbon emission trends in small and medium-sized countries and scientific regulation of carbon emissions can provide theoretical support and policy references for the effective and rational use of energy and the promotion of the coordinated development of energy, environment, and economy. This paper establishes a grey prediction model using the classical Logistic mathematical model in a determined environment to investigate the carbon emission system. At the same time, we use the basic principle of fractional-order accumulation to establish a grey prediction model with fractional-order Logistic and obtain the parameter estimation and time-response equation of the new model by solving the model through the theory related to fractional-order operators. The particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to complete the optimization process of the order of the fractional order grey prediction model and obtain the optimal model order. Then, the new model is applied to predict carbon emissions in five medium-emission countries: Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana, Belgium, and Austria. The new model shows better advantages in the validity analysis process, and the simulation results indicate that the new model proposed in this paper has stronger stability and better simulation and prediction accuracy than other comparative models, proving the model's validity. Finally, the model is used to forecast the carbon emissions of these five countries for the five years of 2021–2025, and the results are analyzed, and relevant policy recommendations are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, large-scale agricultural investment (LAI) is promoted to foster adaptation to climate change among smallholder farmers by improving farming conditions and productivity. However, little has been known about this condition so far. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study the implications of LAI for the capacity for climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers, based on a study conducted in Merti district in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. An asset-based approach was used to measure the adaptive capacity of smallholders, via data collected from a household survey, undertaken among smallholder households who had, or had not, benefited, from LAI, and supported by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistics and qualitative thematic analysis methods were used to analyze the data. The study found that the adaptive capacity of smallholder households was improved under the influence of LAI. LAI motivated and prompted farmers to use technologies that fostered climate change adaption, including the use of irrigation, improved crop varieties, chemical fertilizer, and engagement in alternative sources of income, which improved their food security status. But this technology and knowledge transfer mainly occurred through observation (learning by doing), not by capacity-building. However, both group of smallholders (within and without contact with the LAI) received similar benefits through government rural extension services. Therefore, the paper concludes that scaling up these technologies and alternative income sources could enhance the adaptive capacity of smallholders, but that LAIs should contribute actual technical and financial support as part of benefit-sharing or corporate responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an experimental evaluation of a newly developed flat plate double pass solar air heater combined with aluminum cans for drying red pepper was presented. The proposed solar dryer system was designed, modeled, and evaluated. Solar air heater trials were carried out using the absorber's top and bottom plate and aluminum cans for red pepper drying at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. To test the solar dryer, 100 pieces of red paper were obtained from the Bahir Dar region of Ethiopia for the purpose of experimentation. Microsoft Excel was used to perform statistical analysis of eleven mathematical models. The results show that the mixed-mode solar greenhouse dryer takes less time to dry red pepper than the open solar dryer. In the midday, the solar insolation reached 973 W/m2 and the minimum solar insolation was 220 W/m2 and air is expelled at a rate of 0.0383 kg/s. According to the experimental results, the dryers chamber temperature ranged from 30.9 to 54 °C, while the ambient temperature was between 22.6 and 28.2 °C. The mixed-mode double pass achieves up to 46% and 28% efficiency when used with aluminum can dryers and conventional open sun dryers, respectively. A drying rate of 0.0003395 kg/s was achieved for the open sun dryer system and 0.0000365 kg/s for the mixed mode solar dryer. Using mixed-mode and open-sun solar dryers, the logarithmic model was found to be most effective in explaining the red pepper behavior. Furthermore, a comparison was made between the experimental and predicted moisture ratios through the calculation of the coefficient of determination (R2), the reduced chi-square (X2), and the root mean square error (RMSE). The results show that the logarithmic model achieved the highest value of the correlation coefficient (R2), which was determined to be 0.9978 and 0.9989, while the logarithmic model achieved the lowest value of Chi-square (X2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Teenage childbearing is a common issue for young people's sexual and reproductive health in the world, particularly in low-income countries, and affects teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19. According to several academics, adolescent pregnancy accounts for the majority of Ethiopia's population increase, and there has been little effort to address this threat. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of the time to teenage childbearing in Ethiopia. Method: This paper compares the results of the semi-parametric proportional hazard (PH), parametric PH, and accelerated failure time (AFT) models to find the model that best fits the data. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was used to evaluate the performance of models examined in this investigation. Time to teenage childbearing was the study's outcome variable, while the analysis considered various independent variables. We analyze data from the 2016 National Demographic Health Survey to assess the influence of different risk factors on teenage pregnancy among Ethiopian women. Results: Out of the 10,274 teenagers (aged between 13 and 19) who participated in the 2016 survey, 6,430 (62.59%) were parents. The study findings revealed that these teenage parents were influenced by various time-related factors before becoming parents. The log-normal AFT model has the lowest AIC value and hence it is the best fit for this data. Results from this model indicated that significant factors influencing the time to teenage childbearing include the age of the household head, current age of the respondents, region, religion, educational attainment, wealth status, intention to use contraception, and recent sexual activity. Conclusion: This study reveals that 62.59% of surveyed teenagers aged 13 to 19 were parents. Various factors at both the individual and community levels: including the age of the household head, regional differences, religious affiliation, educational level, economic status, contraceptive intentions, and recent sexual activity, determine the time to teenage childbearing. Targeted interventions addressing these factors are essential for reducing teenage pregnancies and supporting adolescent parents effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through critical discourse analysis of widely circulated and debated video speeches by three selected religious authorities in Ethiopia—representing the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), Islam, and Protestantism—this paper examines how religious authority and social media complimentarily help to reach geographically and religiously diverse audiences and to draw politico-religious boundaries. It shows how the politicisation of religion, mainly by a supportive Protestant and calculative Muslim groups, with different intentions, on the one hand and a religiously motivated and repressive government on the other have created a "religious other" (i.e., the EOTC). Perceived discourse of historical marginalisation is used to justify both supportive and calculative tendencies of continued religious repression in the reconstructed new Ethiopia. On the other hand, a struggle for justice to curb this development is religiously justified by the EOTC, which elevates tensions to the level of a holy war against the religious other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia, marked by diverse geography and rapid land use/land cover (LULC) changes, grapples with formidable water resource management challenges. Understanding the hydrological response to these changes is paramount for sustainability. This review paper provides an overview of studies that investigated the hydrological impacts of LULC changes in Ethiopian basins. The review discusses methodologies, key findings, implications for sustainable land and water resource management, research gaps, and future directions. Emphasizing results from diverse studies that utilized hydrological and geospatial modelling, LULC significantly affects surface runoff, streamflow patterns, and groundwater recharge. The observed consequences are increased surface runoff, modified streamflow timing, and reduced groundwater recharge. The review underscores the urgency for integrated land and water management strategies to alleviate adverse effects. Future research priorities include basin-specific studies, long-term monitoring, integrated modelling, consideration of socio-economic factors, and incorporating climate change scenarios to enhance understanding and guide sustainable water resource management in Ethiopian basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Women's Health Needs Study (WHNS) collected information on the health characteristics, needs, and experiences, including female genital mutilation (FGM) experiences, attitudes, and beliefs, of women aged 18 to 49 years who were born, or whose mothers were born, in a country where FGM is prevalent living in the US. The purpose of this paper is to describe the WHNS design, methods, strengths and limitations, as well as select demographic and health-related characteristics of participants. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from November 2020 –June 2021 in four US metropolitan areas, using a hybrid venue-based sampling (VBS) and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach to identify women for recruitment. Results: Of 1,132 participants, 395 were recruited via VBS and 737 RDS. Most were born, or their mothers were born, in either a West African country (Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, The Gambia) (39.0%) or Ethiopia (30.7%). More than a third were aged 30–39 years (37.5%) with a majority who immigrated at ages ≥13 years (86.6%) and had lived in the United States for ≥5 years (68.9%). Medicaid was the top health insurer (52.5%), followed by private health insurance (30.5%); 17% of participants had no insurance. Nearly half of women reported 1–2 healthcare visits within the past 12 months (47.7%). One in seven did not get needed health care due to cost (14.8%). Over half have ever used contraception (52.1%) to delay or avoid pregnancy and 76.9% had their last pelvic and/or Papanicolaou (pap) exam within the past 3 years. More than half experienced FGM (55.0%). Nearly all women believed that FGM should be stopped (92.0%). Conclusion: The VBS/RDS approach enabled recruitment of a diverse study population. WHNS advances research related to the health characteristics, needs, and experiences of women living in the US from countries where FGM is prevalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Collaboration is gaining prominence in the priority setting of Health Policy And System Research (HPSR). However, its practice and challenges are not well explored in Ethiopia. Understanding the practice and barriers of collaborative Health Policy and System Research will help design approaches and platforms for setting inclusive and participatory policy and system-level health research topics. This paper explores the practice and barriers of collaborative HPSR-priority setting exercise in Ethiopia. Methods: This study investigates the practice and barriers of collaborative health policy and system research priority-setting exercises in Ethiopia. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, we conducted Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and an online self-administered survey with open-ended questionnaires to capture diverse perspectives from stakeholders involved in the research priority-setting process. Through conventional content analysis, we identified key contents related to current practices, challenges, and opportunities for enhancing collaboration in health policy and system research prioritization. Results: Our findings reveal a complex landscape characterized by varying levels of stakeholder engagement, institutional capacity constraints, and competing priorities within the health research ecosystem. Despite notable efforts to foster collaboration, stakeholders identified persistent challenges such as limited resources, institutional fragmentation, and inadequate coordination mechanisms as barriers to effective priority-setting processes. The implications of our research extend beyond academic discourse, with direct relevance to health policy and system research practice in Ethiopia. By shedding light on the dynamics of collaborative priority-setting exercises, our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of health research prioritization processes. Addressing the identified barriers and leveraging existing strengths in the research ecosystem can contribute to more evidence-informed health policies and programs, ultimately improving health outcomes for Ethiopian populations. Conclusions: Most institutions do not apply health policy and system research-priority setting to conduct informed decision-making. The barriers explored were weak integration, lack of knowledge, system, and platforms for the priority setting of Health Policy and System Resreach. So, it is recommended to build skills of different actors in the Health Policy and System Research-priority setting exercise and design a system and platform to integrate different stakeholders for collaborative research topics priority setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the main factors contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality is induced abortion. The WHO estimates that over 44 million induced abortions take place annually around the world. The majority of these abortions—about 50%—are unsafe, significantly increasing maternal morbidity and contributing to 13% of maternal deaths. Thus, this review aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of induced abortion and its associated factors in Africa. Methods: To find literature on the prevalence of induced abortion and its associated factors, a thorough search of the internet databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar was conducted. The data were extracted using a structured method of data collection. Software called STATA 14 was used to do the analysis. funnel plot and Egger regression test were used to evaluate potential publication bias. I2 statistics and Cochrane's Q were used to measure the heterogeneity at a p-value < 0.05. Results: 976 studies were found through a thorough search of electronic databases. Finally, 46 full-text abstract papers were included in this study. The estimated pooled prevalence of induced abortion was 16% (95% CI: 13%-19%). According to the sub-group analysis, most studies were conducted in Ethiopia, and the pooled prevalence was 19% (95% CI: 10%–30%). Similarly, the subgroup analysis by year of study showed that the prevalence of induced abortion was 39% (95% CI: 17%–64%) among studies conducted in 2019. Conclusion: The results of this study thus imply that the pooled prevalence of induced abortion is higher than that of earlier studies that were published in some nations. the data from this study are needed to support reproductive and adolescent health programmers and policymakers and to formulate recommendations for future clinical practice and guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, a diverse array of cereal‐based alcoholic beverages is being prepared and consumed. These traditional fermented drinks are distinct to specific regions and are prepared by locals using locally available raw materials according to cultural traditions. Notable among these are Tella, Areki, Keribo, Borde, and Shamita, renowned for their nutritional benefits and their role in ensuring food security. This paper explores existing literature regarding the production, quality, and safety of traditional cereal‐based alcoholic beverages in Ethiopia. Despite the widespread consumption of these beverages, they have yet to be commercialized, mainly due to their perceived low quality. The uncommercialized processes and products demand more attention, particularly in light of the country's inflationary pressures. Additionally, these traditional fermented beverages significantly enhance health due to the presence of bioactive compounds and their nutritional value. Standardizing and modernizing production methods by integrating scientific knowledge, such as optimizing fermentation practices, is essential to fully capitalize on these traditional beverages. Equipping local producers with this knowledge can facilitate the transition to larger scale production. Furthermore, continued research is essential to maintaining overall quality and safety standards. Therefore, it is crucial to concentrate on enhancing the nutritional value and quality of traditional cereal‐based beverages in the future. By illuminating these aspects, this review aims to enhance understanding of the traditional Ethiopian alcoholic beverage industry and its potential for elevating quality and safety standards. Moreover, the review explores these beverages' cultural significance, consumption patterns, and associated health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power transmission lines in Ethiopia are experiencing an alarmingly high frequency of unexplained outages triggered by environmental factors, which significantly undermine the reliability of the country's power system. This paper presents investigations aiming to identify those among the unexplained fault records that have been caused by pollution induced flashovers. An identification method is developed, which associates the contextual fault features, such as information about the characteristics of the fault, fault location, and time of day, as well as month of its occurrence with local meteorological/climatic and environmental conditions. A total number of 4231 unexplained faults, recorded between 2015 and 2022, were analyzed. Among them, 1045 faults (24.7%) were identified as being most likely caused by pollution induced flashovers. The entire network suffered from more than 130 pollution-induced flashovers annually with a frequency of about 0.8 faults/100 km/year. The fault frequency strongly differed among the grid regions, being highest in the Northeast and lowest in the Southwest region. Moreover, the performed analyses also concentrated on the evaluation of the pollution performance of various insulator types employed in the network. The results indicate that porcelain insulators have the highest pollution-induced flashover intensity of 1.47 faults/year/1000 units, followed by silicone rubber polymeric composite insulators and glass insulators with the respective intensities of 1.21 and 0.83 faults/year/1000 units. These results indicate that despite the high expectations towards the pollution performance of silicone rubber polymeric insulators, their use in the Ethiopian climatic and environmental conditions appears to be unsatisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Paper currency is used for every type of commerce and plays an important role in the life of human beings. However, the combination of its widespread use and constant exchange make paper currency a likely agent for disease transmission. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial load and safety of Ethiopian paper currencies collected from some food vendors in Jimma town. Methods Standard microbiological methods were used for the enumeration of various microbial groups, isolation and characterization of pathogenic bacteria and their growth potential in selected weaning foods. A total of 100 samples of Ethiopian paper currencies, consisting of five denominations, from street food venders, hotels and cafeterias in Jimma town were collected aseptically. Sterile cotton swabs moistened with buffered peptone water solution were used for swabbing and the swabs were separately soaked into 10 ml sterile buffered peptone water solution. Results Mean microbial counts of Aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms and Aerobic bacterial spores were (log CFU/cm2) 6.32, 4.43, 3.14, 2.98 and 3.78, respectively. However, mean counts of Yeasts and Moulds were below detectable levels. There was statistically significant variation (p < 0.05) among the mean counts of microbes isolated from samples of paper currencies. The predominantly isolated microbial groups were Staphylococcus spp. (34.06%) followed by Bacillus spp. (31.88%), Enterobacteraceae (13.39%), Micrococcus spp. (9.55%) and Streptococcus spp. (9.03%). Overall, 25% and 10% of the samples were positive for S. aureus and Salmonella spp, respectively. In challenge study, Salmonella spp. and S. aureus reached the infective dose within 12 to 18 hours of inoculation. Conclusion Thus, paper currencies could be considered as one of the possible vehicles for transmission of disease causing microorganisms. Poor handling practices and personal hygiene of the food vendors could contribute to the observed microbial counts. Thus, it calls for awareness development on the potential risks associated with poor handling of paper currencies at all level of the food establishments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria infection can present with a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Plasmodium falciparum isolates in uncomplicated and severe malaria infections may have different parasite genetic profiles. This study was conducted to assess differences in genetic diversity and allelic frequencies in P. falciparum isolates according to malaria severity and age of patients in the Gublack area, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional health facility-based study conducted in Gublak, Ethiopia between July, 2017 and October, 2017. Symptomatic P. falciparum malaria patients with microscopically-confirmed infection were enrolled. Parasite DNA was extracted from filter paper blood spots and the polymorphic regions of the msp-1 and msp-2 genes were genotyped using allele-specific nested-PCR with fragment analysis by gel electrophoresis. Results: A total of 118 patients were enrolled including 95 (80.5%) with uncomplicated infection and 23 (19.5%) with severe disease. In msp-1, the K1 allelic family was similarly prevalent in uncomplicated 42 (44.2%) and severe disease 12 (52.2%). In msp-2, FC27 was detected in 55 (57.9%) of uncomplicated infections and IC/3D7 in 14 (60.9%) of severe infections. 76 (64.4%) of the 118 isolates contained multiple genotypes; 56 (58.9%) in uncomplicated infections and 19 (82.6%) in severe infections. The overall of multiplicity of infection was 2.2 (95% CI 1.98–2.42) with 1.4 (95% CI 1.23–1.55) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.49–1.86) for msp-1 and msp-2, respectively. Multiplicity of infection was significantly higher in severe than uncomplicated infections (3.0 (95% CI 2.61–3.47) versus 2.0 (95% CI 1.83–2.23), respectively, p = 0.001). There was no difference in multiplicity of infection across age groups (p = 0.104). Conclusion: Patients with severe malaria were more likely to have multiclonal infections. Further studies are needed to describe the association between P. falciparum genotypes and malaria severity in different malaria transmission areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As one of the agglomeration models targeting cluster-based rural development, cluster farming has been promoted in Ethiopia and it is already reported to have significant welfare implications, but participation rates are not as high as expected. This study examines the role of land as a constraint to the development of cluster-based development in Ethiopia both using extensive and intensive measures of cluster farming. The study further disaggregates farm households based on their farm size to better understand potential heterogeneities in the relationship between farm size and cluster farming. The paper also documents other household socio-economic and network characteristics that may matter in cluster farming. Methods: We use a large-scale farm household data from 3,969 households coupled with some expert insights on cluster farming in Ethiopia. Households in the study areas grow major staples such as maize, wheat, teff, malt barley, and sesame in four main regions of Ethiopia. We employ a double hurdle model to examine both the decision to participate and the extent to which households participate in cluster farming. By extent of participation, we refer to the amount of land and share of land farm households contribute to cluster farming. For robustness purposes, we also estimate the Tobit and Linear Probability Models. Results: We show a positive association between farm size and cluster farming both at the extensive and intensive margins. This relationship turns negative for large amounts of land. This shows that cluster farming increases with farm size up to a threshold beyond which it declines. We also find suggestive evidence that participation rates are lower for small-scale farms, but also declines for large-scale farms. In addition, we show that access to information and network characteristics also matter in enabling cluster farming. Conclusion: The findings of this study are relevant in the framework of plans to upscale the cluster-based development initiative in Ethiopia. Attention to landholding issues is key and may be an important area where policy action can be geared to boost cluster farming. Moreover, our results inform potential targeting plans that aim to increase the participation of small-scale farmers who are usually the intended targets of such programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important cause of stunting is limited consumption of complementary foods, in terms of both quantities and nutrients. Although existing studies show a positive association between fathers' engagement and children's diet, programmes designed to improve complementary feeding practices often only target mothers. In response to this, maternal behaviour change communication (BCC), paternal BCC and food voucher programmes were designed and implemented in Ethiopia using a clustered randomized controlled trial design. The paternal BCC programme included gender‐equal messages to increase fathers' participation in childcare, household labour and decision making. The research reported in this paper is an examination of the BCC programmes, characterizing the behavioural, normative and control beliefs of both mothers and fathers in BCC households compared to those in control households. In this study, a total of 40 participants were included, with 13 mother–father pairs in the BCC + food voucher group, and seven pairs in the control group. Each participant was interviewed separately. We found that BCC mothers showed more gender‐equal tendencies than the control mothers despite being more rural in location. By contrast, the beliefs of BCC and control fathers were similar overall, suggesting men are more resistant to gender‐equal BCC. More work is needed to develop and test effective methods for changing fathers' beliefs and practices. Key messages: Mothers in behaviour change communication (BCC) group mothers held more gender‐equal beliefs than control mothers, while BCC and control fathers shared similar views, suggesting a male resistance to gender equality.Mothers found fathers' involvement in childcare socially acceptable but often perceived them as inexperienced, which limited their participation.Control mothers' traditional view on household chores maintained the conventional labour division, influencing fathers' involvement.Fathers typically resisted maternal control of resources; however, they agreed that the more knowledgeable should lead decision‐making. BCC mothers showed greater confidence in making household decisions as effectively as fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers' access to and use of quality seeds of improved varieties and hybrids is an integral component of sustainable maize production and the reduction of the yield gap in Ethiopia. Formal seed supply systems play a pivotal role in ensuring farmers' access to good quality seed and increasing the productivity of maize. However, the contribution of the formal seed system to the increase in the average national maize yield in the country is not well documented. This paper specifically analyzes the formal seed supply systems and contributions of improved seed to maize productivity increase in Ethiopia. Secondary sources of information, including published and unpublished data, were used. Analysis of the seed value chain from research to commercial seed producers indicated that public and private maize hybrids dominate the formal seed system. Increased use of improved seed and associated management practices has contributed to the yield increase at the national level. For every 10,000 MT of additional maize-improved seed used by smallholder farmers, the national average maize yield increased by 400 kg per hectare (R sq. = 0.59). Hence, in addition to other yield-increasing technologies and extension support, ensuring the availability of improved seed to farmers can significantly contribute to reducing the maize yield gap between the national average yield and the average yield from on-farm demonstrations already attained by farmers in Ethiopia. Various policy interventions are suggested to improve the maize seed system performance and increase the supply of maize improved seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper describes changes in the prevalence and intensity of schistosome parasite infections in a project integrating mass drug administration (MDA), water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), and behavioral change interventions. Methods: The Geshiyaro Project comprises three intervention arms. Arm 1 is subdivided into "Arm 1 pilot" (one district) and Arm 1 (four other districts), both receiving integrated community-wide MDA with intensive WaSH interventions. Arm 2 involves 17 districts with community-wide MDA interventions, while Arm 3 serves as a control with school-based MDA interventions in three districts. A total of 150 individuals, stratified by age group, were randomly selected from each of the 45 sentinel sites. Arm sizes were 584 (Arm 1 pilot), 1636 (Arm 1), 2203 (Arm 2), and 2238 (Arm 3). Statistical tests were employed to compare infection prevalence and intensity across the different arms. Results: The prevalence of schistosome parasite infection ranged from 0% to 2.6% and from 1.7% to 25.7% across districts, employing the Kato-Katz (KK) and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) diagnostics, respectively. The mean infection intensity level showed no marked difference between baseline and follow-up surveys when measured by KK, except in Arm 2 (t = 6.89, P < 0.0001). Infection prevalence decreased significantly in Arm 1 (t = 8.62, P < 0.0001), Arm 2 (t = 6.94, P < 0.0001), and Arm 3 (t = 8.83, P < 0.0001), but not in Arm 1 pilot (t = 1.69, P = 0.09) by POC-CCA, when trace was considered positive. The decrease was significant only in Arm 1 (t = 3.28, P = 0.0001) and Arm 2 (t = 7.62, P < 0.0001) when the trace was considered negative in POC-CCA. Arm 2 demonstrated a significant difference in difference (DID) compared to the control group, Arm 3, regardless of whether trace in POC-CCA was considered positive (DID = 3.9%, df = 8780, P = 0.025) or negative (DID = −5.2, df = 8780, P = 0.0004). Conclusions: The prevalence of schistosomiasis was low when employing the KK diagnostic but moderate in some locations by the POC-CCA diagnostic. The infection level had decreased across all arms of the Geshiyaro study at mid-term of the 7-year project, but further efforts are needed to reduce the rate of parasite transmission based on the POC-CCA diagnostic scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper describes changes in the prevalence and intensity of schistosome parasite infections in a project integrating mass drug administration (MDA), water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), and behavioral change interventions. Methods: The Geshiyaro Project comprises three intervention arms. Arm 1 is subdivided into "Arm 1 pilot" (one district) and Arm 1 (four other districts), both receiving integrated community-wide MDA with intensive WaSH interventions. Arm 2 involves 17 districts with community-wide MDA interventions, while Arm 3 serves as a control with school-based MDA interventions in three districts. A total of 150 individuals, stratified by age group, were randomly selected from each of the 45 sentinel sites. Arm sizes were 584 (Arm 1 pilot), 1636 (Arm 1), 2203 (Arm 2), and 2238 (Arm 3). Statistical tests were employed to compare infection prevalence and intensity across the different arms. Results: The prevalence of schistosome parasite infection ranged from 0% to 2.6% and from 1.7% to 25.7% across districts, employing the Kato-Katz (KK) and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) diagnostics, respectively. The mean infection intensity level showed no marked difference between baseline and follow-up surveys when measured by KK, except in Arm 2 (t = 6.89, P < 0.0001). Infection prevalence decreased significantly in Arm 1 (t = 8.62, P < 0.0001), Arm 2 (t = 6.94, P < 0.0001), and Arm 3 (t = 8.83, P < 0.0001), but not in Arm 1 pilot (t = 1.69, P = 0.09) by POC-CCA, when trace was considered positive. The decrease was significant only in Arm 1 (t = 3.28, P = 0.0001) and Arm 2 (t = 7.62, P < 0.0001) when the trace was considered negative in POC-CCA. Arm 2 demonstrated a significant difference in difference (DID) compared to the control group, Arm 3, regardless of whether trace in POC-CCA was considered positive (DID = 3.9%, df = 8780, P = 0.025) or negative (DID = −5.2, df = 8780, P = 0.0004). Conclusions: The prevalence of schistosomiasis was low when employing the KK diagnostic but moderate in some locations by the POC-CCA diagnostic. The infection level had decreased across all arms of the Geshiyaro study at mid-term of the 7-year project, but further efforts are needed to reduce the rate of parasite transmission based on the POC-CCA diagnostic scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper describes changes in the prevalence and intensity of schistosome parasite infections in a project integrating mass drug administration (MDA), water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), and behavioral change interventions. Methods: The Geshiyaro Project comprises three intervention arms. Arm 1 is subdivided into "Arm 1 pilot" (one district) and Arm 1 (four other districts), both receiving integrated community-wide MDA with intensive WaSH interventions. Arm 2 involves 17 districts with community-wide MDA interventions, while Arm 3 serves as a control with school-based MDA interventions in three districts. A total of 150 individuals, stratified by age group, were randomly selected from each of the 45 sentinel sites. Arm sizes were 584 (Arm 1 pilot), 1636 (Arm 1), 2203 (Arm 2), and 2238 (Arm 3). Statistical tests were employed to compare infection prevalence and intensity across the different arms. Results: The prevalence of schistosome parasite infection ranged from 0% to 2.6% and from 1.7% to 25.7% across districts, employing the Kato-Katz (KK) and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) diagnostics, respectively. The mean infection intensity level showed no marked difference between baseline and follow-up surveys when measured by KK, except in Arm 2 (t = 6.89, P < 0.0001). Infection prevalence decreased significantly in Arm 1 (t = 8.62, P < 0.0001), Arm 2 (t = 6.94, P < 0.0001), and Arm 3 (t = 8.83, P < 0.0001), but not in Arm 1 pilot (t = 1.69, P = 0.09) by POC-CCA, when trace was considered positive. The decrease was significant only in Arm 1 (t = 3.28, P = 0.0001) and Arm 2 (t = 7.62, P < 0.0001) when the trace was considered negative in POC-CCA. Arm 2 demonstrated a significant difference in difference (DID) compared to the control group, Arm 3, regardless of whether trace in POC-CCA was considered positive (DID = 3.9%, df = 8780, P = 0.025) or negative (DID = −5.2, df = 8780, P = 0.0004). Conclusions: The prevalence of schistosomiasis was low when employing the KK diagnostic but moderate in some locations by the POC-CCA diagnostic. The infection level had decreased across all arms of the Geshiyaro study at mid-term of the 7-year project, but further efforts are needed to reduce the rate of parasite transmission based on the POC-CCA diagnostic scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread livelihood shocks and vulnerability in rural areas highlight the critical need to extend the provision of social protection interventions, as targeted to reduce vulnerabilities and poverty. Evaluating the real effects of social protection instruments on rural communities is an important concern for governments and policymakers. Hence, the objectives of this review were to examine the effects and challenges of social protection in rural Ethiopia. The review was conducted by synthesizing peerreviewed journals, books, working papers, and organization reports, which were obtained through internet searches from Google Scholar, AgEcon, Science Direct, Taylor, and Francis. Interestingly, among the documents retrieved, 45 were included using eligibility criteria. Finally, the data were presented and narrated in texts. The review outcome indicated that Idir, Zakat in Afar, communitybased health insurance and productive safety net program were important to reducing risk vulnerability, poverty, and food insecurity in the rural community. Moreover, a productive safety net program has both positive and negative effects on beneficiaries' social, economic, and environmental development. In a nutshell, social protection services play a vital role in addressing poverty, hazardous events, and vulnerabilities that affect livelihood. Therefore, concerned bodies should be focused on targeting rural communities to achieve food security and health services through social protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 sustainable development goal (SDG7) target progress indicators show that developing countries are off track. Ethiopia's low performance to the SDG7 has endangered its economic, societal, and environmental sustainability. The performance in clean cooking has contested its policy, institutional setup, and R&D. The objective of this paper lies in evaluating four improved cook stoves against a traditional stove based on fuel consumption, cooking time, and emission. The study would contribute to solving the clean-cooking challenges by giving scientific evidence on the technological status of these stoves. The evaluation results show that the TCS consumed 2.7 kg of fuel, had a cooking time of 1:30 h, and used 4.3 kg CO2 per cooking period. Similarly, the ICSs required: 1.2 kg, 2 h, and 1.9 kg (EZY); 1.5 kg, 3 h, and 2.4 kg (Tikikkle); and 1.4 kg, 5 h, and 3.2 kg (Lakech), respectively. In addition, these stoves registered a thermal efficiency of 25, 17, and 19%, respectively. The metal body, insulation, and air inlet caused EZY to perform better. However, these technologies are low-order technologies, and their performance is found to be a major locking factor in ICS adoption. This evidence would help ICS actors to understand where to intervene for better adoption. Furthermore, the authors gave implementation fix recommendations to improve ICS programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Deworming programmes of soil-transmitted helminths are generally monitored and evaluated by aggregating drug coverage and infection levels at a district level. However, heterogeneity in drug coverage at finer spatial scales means indicators may remain above thresholds for elimination as a public health problem or of transmission in some areas. This paper aims to highlight the misleading information that aggregating data at larger spatial scales can have for programme decision making. Methods: Drug coverage data from the Geshiyaro project were compared at two spatial scales with reference to the World Health Organisation's targets. District (woreda) and village (kebele) level were compared. The association between infection levels and drug coverage was analysed by fitting a weighted least-squares function to the mean intensity of infection (eggs per gram of faeces) against drug coverage. Results: The data show clearly that when the evaluation of coverage is aggregated to the district level, information on heterogeneity at a finer spatial scale is lost. Infection intensity decreases significantly (p = 0.0023) with increasing drug coverage. Conclusion: Aggregating data at large spatial scales can result in prematurely ceasing deworming, prompting rapid infection bounce-back. There is a strong need to define context-specific spatial scales for monitoring and evaluating intervention programmes. Author summary: For soil-transmitted helminths (STH), control is centred around mass drug administration (MDA) of eligible subgroups without prior diagnosis, aiming to achieve 75% drug coverage. MDA programmes are monitored by assessing whether drug coverage and infection prevalence and intensity, aggregated to a spatial scale, typically an administrative unit such as a district, have met programmatic targets. Spatial heterogeneity in drug coverage, prevalence, and intensity is commonplace and well documented. However, little attention has been paid to the spatial scales of this heterogeneity and the implications it has on providing the basis to inform the cessation or continuation of prophylactic mass treatment. We present a clear analysis showing that fine scale spatial heterogeneity in drug coverage is commonplace even in well implemented MDA programmes. We show that aggregating data at the district level, which is routine for deworming programmes, can give misleading information on which to base future treatment decisions, specifically the premature reduction in frequency, or cessation of MDA, because fine scale heterogeneity is not captured by larger aggregations. This work highlights the critical need to define context specific spatial scales for monitoring and evaluating interventions implemented in different transmission settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most low-resource settings, microscopy still is the standard method for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, despite its limited sensitivity. In Ethiopia, the more sensitive molecular methods are not yet routinely used. This study compared five PCR methods with microscopy on two sample types collected from patients with a suspected lesion to advise on optimal diagnosis of Leishmania aethiopica. Between May and July 2018, skin scrapings (SS) and blood exudate from the lesion spotted on filter paper (dry blood spot, DBS) were collected for PCR from 111 patients of four zones in Southern Ethiopia. DNA and RNA were simultaneously extracted from both sample types. DNA was evaluated by a conventional PCR targeting ITS-1 and three probe-based real-time PCRs: one targeting the SSU 18S rRNA and two targeting the kDNA minicircle sequence (the 'Mary kDNA PCR' and a newly designed 'LC kDNA PCR' for improved L. aethiopica detection). RNAs were tested with a SYBR Green-based RT-PCR targeting spliced leader (SL) RNA. Giemsa-stained SS smears were examined by microscopy. Of the 111 SS, 100 were positive with at least two methods. Sensitivity of microscopy, ITS PCR, SSU PCR, Mary kDNA PCR, LC kDNA PCR and SL RNA PCR were respectively 52%, 22%, 64%, 99%, 100% and 94%. Microscopy-based parasite load correlated well with real-time PCR Ct-values. Despite suboptimal sample storage for RNA detection, the SL RNA PCR resulted in congruent results with low Ct-values. DBS collected from the same lesion showed lower PCR positivity rates compared to SS. The kDNA PCRs showed excellent performance for diagnosis of L. aethiopica on SS. Lower-cost SL RNA detection can be a complementary high-throughput tool. DBS can be used for PCR in case microscopy is negative, the SS sample can be sent to the referral health facility where kDNA PCR method is available. Author summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and causing a public health problem in Ethiopia. Microscopy is still the standard method for detection of the parasite in Ethiopia, and also in many other low resource settings. A more sensitive method is needed for timely diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we compared five molecular methods on samples collected from patients with a skin lesion suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis to advice on optimal diagnosis of L. aethiopica. We collected two sample types from the same lesion (skin scrapings and lesion fluid on filter paper) and isolated both DNA and RNA of them. Majority (90.1%) of the samples from skin scrapings were positive in two or more methods and the molecular methods had a higher sensitivity than the conventional methods. Interestingly, we evaluated for the first time a new molecular method designed to improve L. aethiopica detection. Also, we showed that RNA detection performed well for samples that were collected under difficult field conditions. Samples collected on filter paper showed less positive results than skin scraped samples, but could still be the method of choice for easy sampling and transport in resource-limited settings as it performed better than microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research conducted in the last four decades on rape and other forms of sexual violence shows that they are not only the result of transgression behaviors of some people but have been used as strategic, systemic, and calculated tools of war, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Examining the nature and effect of wartime rape and sexual violence based on their distinctive features, context, and historical background is essential for research and service providers. This paper explores the lived experiences of sexual violence and gang rape victims during the North Ethiopian war in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Data were collected from three girls and women survivors using a trauma and socio-culturally informed phenomenological approach. The finding shows that participants experienced a broad and complex range of psychological, physiological, emotional, and relational suffering after the rape. The result also shed light on some risk factors such as lack of awareness of the effect of traumatic events, stigma related to rape, and lacks victim protective legislation risk their journey to healing. The paper further discussed individual and community mental health responses for victims of war rape in culturally responsive and resource-poor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is a vital component for the growth of trees and shrubs in the shelterbelts agroforestry practices. Management of trees has a critical contribution to soil improvements. People's use of shelterbelts is varying across agroecology zones of Ethiopia. Some nations use it as their cultural expression, while the others use it as area demarcation (farming and home). In shelterbelt agroforestry practice, Millettia ferruginea, Sesbania sesban and Acacia abyssinica legumes tree species were deliberately planted for soil management across agro-ecologies. Considering the population and the farm size of farmers in Ethiopia, most farmers' knowledge of shelterbelts for soil management is scantly documented. This is due to a low level of awareness and expert consultancy. Therefore, this paper reviews the soil management roles and possible threats, opportunities, and challenges of shelterbelts. This review paper was developed through using related published papers. Scientists reported that areas covered by well-managed shelterbelts had good soil physical, biological, and chemical properties. The soil quality and fertility of the area further improved through good soil microbial activities. The tree crop compatibility, climatic factors, land use policy, and scarcity of land were among the possible threat and challenges to shelterbelts establishment. Generally, good tree and shrub management skills result in a high level of land productivity. Therefore, further development planners should focus on the extensive demonstration of shelterbelt practices as well as training and monitoring of farmers on such issues for their livelihood improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home delivery is a nonclinical childbirth practice that takes place in one's home with or without traditional birth attendants and postnatal care is the care given to the mother and her newborn baby; according to world health organization (WHO), the postnatal phase, begins one hour after birth and lasts six weeks (42 days). This paper aimed to study the spatial pattern and determinant factors of low utilization of delivery care (DC) services and postnatal check-up (PNC) after live births in Ethiopia. Methods: This study used the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data as a source. A total weighted samples of 11023 women-children pairs were included. The bivariate binary logistic regression analyses with spatial effect were modeled using SAS version 9.4 and ArcGIS version 10.8 was used for mapping. Results: The spatial distribution of low utilization of delivery care service and postnatal check-up were significantly clustered in Ethiopia (Moran's I statistic 0.378, P-value < 0.001 and 0.177, P-value < 0.001 respectively). Among 11023 children-women pair, the prevalence of home delivery and no postnatal check-up within two months following birth were 72.6% and 91.4% respectively. The Liben, Borena, Guji, Bale, Dolo and Zone 2 were predicted to have high prevalence of home delivery and part of Afder, Shabelle, Korahe, Dolo and Zone 2 were high risk areas of no postnatal checkup. Conclusion and recommendations: Lack of occupation, region, large family size, higher birth order, low utilization of antenatal care visit, unable to access mass media, big problem of health facility distance and the spatial variable were found to be jointly significant predictors of low utilization of DC and PNC in Ethiopia. Whereas older age, being reside in rural area and low wealth status affects delivery care service utilization. We suggest health providers, policy makers and stakeholders consider those variables with priority given to Liben, Borena, Guji, Bale, Dolo, Zone 2, Afder, Shabelle and Korahe, where home delivery and no PNC were predicted relatively high. We also recommend researchers to conduct further studies using latest survey data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding are crucial in preventing child morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of these practices, rates of timely initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding remain suboptimal in many sub-Saharan countries, including Ethiopia. This paper aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify determinants of breastfeeding initiation within the first hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia. Methods: Data from the Performance Monitoring for Action Ethiopia project, a national survey conducted from August 2019 to September 2020, were used. The analytical sample comprises 2564 postpartum women and their children; data reported at baseline during enrollment and six weeks postpartum were used in this analysis. A multi-level binary logistic regression model was employed to identify determinant factors linked with initiation breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. Results: Of the 2564 mothers, 77.8% of infants breastfed within the first hour of birth and 68.4% of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum with significant variation across regions. In the multivariate analysis, mothers who had cesarean delivery were less likely to initiate early breastfeeding as compared to mothers with vaginal delivery (AOR 0.27; 95% CI 0.17, 0.41). The odds of early initiation of breastfeeding were higher for mothers whose baby cried immediately after birth (AOR 3.31; 95% CI 1.95, 5.62) and who had skilled assisted delivery (AOR 2.13; 95% CI 1.01, 4.48). Other factors that were significantly associated with early initiation of breastfeeding were obstetric complication(s), parity, immediate mother-to-baby skin-to-skin contact, immediate postnatal care and the region. Similarly, mothers whose babies had a good neonatal birth status (AOR 1.81; 95% CI 1.09, 2.99) were more likely to exclusively breastfeed their child at six weeks postpartum. Conclusions: Early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding is sub-optimal in Ethiopia. Nutrition programmers should consider regional variations in designing intervention programs to enhance breastfeeding practices. Healthcare providers should give special attention to women at risk such as those giving birth through cesarean section and having obstetric complications during delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumonic pasteurellosis is the leading cause of recurrent morbidity and mortality in ruminant livestock in Ethiopia. Its control is mainly done using an annual vaccination with a monovalent whole broth culture of Pasteurella (P.) multocida. However, the multiplicity of the serotypes circulating in the field and the lack of cross-protective immunity hinder the effectiveness of the vaccination program warranting the development of a vaccine with better efficacy. To this effect, the identification, and characterization of the strains from different regions of the country is necessary. In this paper, Pasteurella organisms collected from camels, cattle, goats, and sheep with respiratory signs suggestive of pasteurellosis in the Afar, Tigray, and Benishangul Gumuz regional states were isolated, and characterized. From clinically pneumonic cases, 793 nasal swabs (286 goats, 276 sheep, 168 camels, and 63 cattle) were collected aseptically and cultured on Blood Agar. Bacteria pathogens were identified at the species level by biochemical tests. Culture positivity was 29.3% (243/793). The isolation frequencies of B. trehalosi, M. haemolytica, and P.multocida were 47.7% (116/243), 43.2% (105/243), and 9.1% (22/243), respectively. A higher isolation rate was observed in sheep (37.4%), and the lowest in cattle (6.2%). Mixed infection with B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica was observed in sheep, goats, and camels. Despite the higher frequencies of isolation of B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica from all host species, the vaccine currently being used in Ethiopia consists of only P. multocida biotypes A for sheep and goats and biotype B for cattle. Moreover, camels are not considered in the pasteurellosis vaccination program in the country. Therefore, the result of the study suggests the need to include B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica in the vaccine preparation as well as underlines the relevance of considering camels in the vaccination program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, protected areas such as national parks are mainly established to protect the rapidly declining populations of conservation concern wildlife species, as well as ecologically and economically important areas. In addition, more recently, establishing and maintaining protected areas has become an essential part of the global response of governments to combat climate change and its impacts. However, most of these protected areas are facing an unprecedented rate of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation due to human-induced actions. Mitigation of threats and their impacts on biodiversity in these protected areas is very critical. But limited information, needed to develop strategies for mitigation of the ever-growing threats, is available on the biophysical resources and threats to them. This paper presents for the first time, detailed information on the Exceptional Resource Values (ERVs), Principal Ecosystem Components (PECs; or conservation targets), and human-induced threats in the Kafta-Sheraro National Park (KSNP). Standard ecological and social science methods were used to collect and analyze the data. Overall, 14 key ERVs were identified in the park, including several conservation concerns and/or flagship mammal species (e.g. African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)), biome-restricted and migratory bird species (e.g., Demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo)), three distinct habitat types, and a hydrological system. Six PECs that were assumed to represent the whole ecosystem components of the park were identified in KSNP: the three habitat types, hydrological system, Elephant, and Roan antelope (Hippotragus equines). The top human-induced threats to these PECs appeared to be fire, cultivation, grazing, settlement, poaching, and mining. In general, KSNP contains outstanding biodiversity and other natural resources that could play a vital role in the socio-economic development of local and regional communities. To ensure the long-term persistence of the ERVs and PECs and the appropriate functioning of the park ecosystems the development and implementation of threat mitigation strategies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the trends of Sustainable Food System in Ethiopia, and how the various indicators evolved over time in the four food system dimensions: environmental, economic, social, and food and nutrition security. We employed quartile analysis to evaluate the relative performance of Ethiopia vis-à-vis the rest of the world by grouping the latter into lower quartile, median, and upper quartile based on their performance. The result revealed that while some positive strides have been achieved in reducing poverty headcount ratio over the past two decades, a high proportion of stunting and undernourishment, high variability of food supply, the slow-onset of adult obesity, and poor access to basic facilities for food utilization, especially when compared to the countries in the lower, median and upper quartiles, remain to be formidable challenges calling for the attention of policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow rust disease caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is one of the major threats to wheat production in Ethiopia. In this paper, the impact of yellow rust on the physical qualities of bread wheat was studied. For this purpose, combinations of four bread wheat varieties (Digalu, Hidase, Danda'a, and Honkolo) and two fungicides (Nativo SC 300 and Tilt® 250E.C.) were tested at two different hotspot areas (Albazar and Alicho) in the Silte Zone, Southern Ethiopia, under natural epidemics of the disease during the 2018 growing season. A randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications was used to set up the experiment. A significant (p <.01) increase in hectoliters weight and wet gluten content were observed due to the application of Nativo SC 300; however, grain protein content did not respond significantly (p >.01) at both locations. Wheat varieties with high yellow rust severity exhibited maximum values of area under the disease progress curve and physical quality loss percentage (%). The highly susceptible wheat variety Digalu exhibited the highest values of hectoliter weight losses (%), and the actual losses ranged from 5.5% to 29.5%. Except for grain protein content, there was a significant negative correlation between the values of terminal rust severity, average coefficient infection, and area under the disease progress curve and that of hectoliters weight and wet gluten content, with correlation coefficients ranging from −0.85** to −0.33**. It is possible to improve the physiochemical properties of bread wheat through the application of foliar fungicides by selecting the appropriate genotypes that have an acceptable level of resistance to yellow rust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 for gender equality by 2030, it is crucial for health and development professionals and governmental officials to understand how legal systems empower or oppress populations on the basis of gender worldwide, including opportunities and challenges of statutory provisions created by legal pluralism. Using Ethiopia as a case study, this paper examines how local laws applied in Sharia and Customary Dispute Resolution courts impact gender equality and the health of women and girls inspite of the inculcation of human rights statutes into national legislation, including the Constitution. We identify several key issues with the substantive law and its enforcement. First, laws which have been instituted at the national level to improve gender equally have been poorly enforced at the local level. Second, there is a sustained enforcement of laws that oppress women and that protect male perpetrators of gender-based violations. Third, local courts limit female representation and uphold patriarchy. To improve the health of women and girls, stakeholders must take into consideration the ways in which legal systems uphold harmful gender norms and obstruct and/or advance progress towards equal representation, opportunities, and constitutionally-mandated protections for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying a stable high-yielding variety is challenging. This paper reports high-yielding and stable durum wheat candidates identified using AMMI, GGE biplot models, and stability parameters. Twenty-five lines were evaluated in 13 environments in 2018 and 2019 using a triplicate row-column design. AMMI, stability, and GGE biplot analyses were conducted using packages in the R statistical software. AMMI indicated highly significant effects of environments, genotypes, and their interactions on grain yield. The highest proportion of the total sum of squares accounted for by the environment (42.3%), followed by the genotype by environment interaction (26.7%), may suggest the presence of diverse environments grouped into mega-environments. The environments fell into three sectors on the which-won-where view of the biplot and they were grouped into two mega-environments. Genotypes 5 and 15 were the highest yielding and most stable among all and are recommended as candidate varieties for the midlands to highlands of Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prader–Willi syndrome is a complex multisystem disorder due to the absent expression of paternally active genes in the Prader–Willi syndrome-critical region on chromosome 15 (15q11.2-q13). The main clinical features are hyperphagia (which frequently results in early-onset obesity), hypogonadism, developmental delays, typical behaviors (such as obsessive–compulsive tendencies, tantrums, perseveration, insistence on sameness, and rigidity), and distinctive facial features. In infants, the most prominent findings are hypotonia and feeding difficulties. Case presentation: This paper highlights a case of a 14 year old male patient of an Ethiopian ethnicity with diagnosis of Prader–Willi syndrome, which is first report in Ethiopia. He presented with progressive excessive weight gain, insatiable appetite, clinical and laboratory features of hypogonadism, ophthalmological refractory error, and facial features of Prader–Willi syndrome, which was further confirmed by genetic analysis. He is currently on lifestyle intervention, testosterone replacement, and treatment for vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion: Prader–Willi syndrome should be considered in a child who presents with progressive weight gain and other typical clinical features such as cognitive impairment, excessive insatiable eating, or hypothalamic hypogonadism. Early lifestyle intervention may help to reduce excessive weight gain. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure is an important global health problem which is associated with high mortality. Uncontrolled heart failure leads to hospitalization and reduction in quality of life. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the treatment outcome such as improved, death, hospitalization, and self-discharges without improvement and associated factors in heart failure patients admitted to south western Ethiopian hospitals. Methods: We will use databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, HINARI, Scopus and Google Scholar. The final systematic review and meta-analysis will contain papers that fulfill the eligible criteria. A systematic data extraction check list will be used to extract the data, and STATA version 14 will be used for the analysis. Heterogeneity is evaluated using the I2 tests and the Cochrane Q test statistic. To examine publication bias, a funnel plot, Egger's weighted regression, and Begg's test are utilized. The sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis will be done for studies having heterogeneity. The Joanna Briggs institute meta-analysis of statistics assessment and review instrument (JBI- MAStARI) will be used for quality assessment. Discussion: This protocol is expected to provide adequate evidence on the burden of poor heart failure treatment outcome that includes self-discharge, developing complication and finally leads to death in acute and chronic heart failure patients in Ethiopia. Furthermore, to enrich our estimation, we also intended to assess the associated factors of poor treatment outcome. Therefore, our review will call for government and non-government interventions in reducing the mortality associated with heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mapping of small-scale irrigation areas is essential for food security and water resource management studies. The identification of small-scale irrigation areas is a challenge, but it can be overcome using expert knowledge and satellite-derived high-spatial-resolution multispectral information in conjunction with monthly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series, and additional terrain information. This paper presents a novel approach to characterize small-scale irrigation schemes that combine expert knowledge, multi-temporal NDVI time series, multispectral high-resolution satellite images, and the random forest classifier in the Zamra catchment, North Ethiopia. A fundamental element of the approach is mapping small-scale irrigation areas using expert decision rules to incorporate the available water resources. We apply expert decision rules to monthly NDVI composites from September 2020 to August 2021 along with the digital elevation model (DEM) data on the slope, drainage order, and distance maps to derive the sample set. The samples were based on the thresholds obtained by expert knowledge from field surveys. These data, along with the four spectral bands of a cloud-free Planet satellite image composite, 12 NDVI monthly composites, slope, drainage order, and distance map were used as input into a random forest classifier which was trained to classify pixels as either irrigated or non-irrigated. The results show that the analysis allows the mapping of small-scale irrigation areas with high accuracy. The classification accuracy for identifying irrigated areas showed a user accuracy ranging from 81% to 87%, along with a producer accuracy ranging from 64% to 79%. Furthermore, the classification accuracy and the kappa coefficient for the classified irrigation schemes were 80% and 0.70, respectively. As a result, these findings highlight a substantial level of agreement between the classification results and the reference data. The use of different expert knowledge-based decision rules, as a method, can be applied to extract small-scale and larger irrigation areas with similar agro-ecological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious viral disease that affects the livelihoods and productivity of livestock farmers in endemic regions. It can infect various domestic and wild animals with cloven hooves and is caused by a virus belonging to the genus Aphthovirus and family Picornaviridae, which has seven different serotypes: A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia-1. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular epidemiology, economic impact, diagnosis, and control measures of FMD in Ethiopia in comparison with the global situation. The genetic and antigenic diversity of FMD viruses requires a thorough understanding for developing and applying effective control strategies in endemic areas. FMD has direct and indirect economic consequences on animal production. In Ethiopia, FMD outbreaks have led to millions of USD losses due to the restriction or rejection of livestock products in the international market. Therefore, in endemic areas, disease control depends on vaccinations to prevent animals from developing clinical disease. However, in Ethiopia, due to the presence of diverse antigenic serotypes of FMD viruses, regular and extensive molecular investigation of new field isolates is necessary to perform vaccine-matching studies to evaluate the protective potential of the vaccine strain in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for 20.5 million annual deaths globally in 2021, with a disproportionally high burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is growing evidence of the use of citizen science and co-design approaches in developing interventions in different fields, but less so in the context of CVD prevention interventions in SSA. This paper reports on the collaborative multi-country project that employed citizen science and a co-design approach to (i) explore CVD risk perceptions, (ii) develop tailored prevention strategies, and (iii) support advocacy in different low-income settings in SSA. Methods: This is a participatory citizen science study with a co-design component. Data was collected from 205 participants aged 18 to 75 years in rural and urban communities in Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda, and urban South Africa. Fifty-one trained citizen scientists used a mobile app-based (EpiCollect) semi-structured survey questionnaire to collect data on CVD risk perceptions from participants purposively selected from two communities per country. Data collected per community included 100–150 photographs and 150–240 voice recordings on CVD risk perceptions, communication and health-seeking intentions. Thematic and comparative analysis were undertaken with the citizen scientists and the results were used to support citizen scientists-led stakeholder advocacy workshops. Findings are presented using bubble graphs based on weighted proportions of key risk factors indicated. Results: Nearly three in every five of the participants interviewed reported having a relative with CVD. The main perceived causes of CVD in all communities were substance use, food-related factors, and litter, followed by physical inactivity, emotional factors, poverty, crime, and violence. The perceived positive factors for cardiovascular health were nutrition, physical activity, green space, and clean/peaceful communities. Multi-level stakeholders (45–84 persons/country) including key decision makers participated in advocacy workshops and supported the identification and prioritization of community-specific CVD prevention strategies and implementation actions. Citizen science-informed CVD risk screening and referral to care interventions were piloted in six communities in three countries with about 4795 adults screened and those at risk referred for care. Health sector stakeholders indicated their support for utilising a citizen-engaged approach in national NCDs prevention programmes. The citizen scientists were excited by the opportunity to lead research and advocacy. Conclusion: The collaborative engagement, participatory learning, and co-designing activities enhanced active engagement between citizen scientists, researchers, and stakeholders. This, in turn, provided context-specific insights on CVD prevention in the different SSA settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for 20.5 million annual deaths globally in 2021, with a disproportionally high burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is growing evidence of the use of citizen science and co-design approaches in developing interventions in different fields, but less so in the context of CVD prevention interventions in SSA. This paper reports on the collaborative multi-country project that employed citizen science and a co-design approach to (i) explore CVD risk perceptions, (ii) develop tailored prevention strategies, and (iii) support advocacy in different low-income settings in SSA. Methods: This is a participatory citizen science study with a co-design component. Data was collected from 205 participants aged 18 to 75 years in rural and urban communities in Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda, and urban South Africa. Fifty-one trained citizen scientists used a mobile app-based (EpiCollect) semi-structured survey questionnaire to collect data on CVD risk perceptions from participants purposively selected from two communities per country. Data collected per community included 100–150 photographs and 150–240 voice recordings on CVD risk perceptions, communication and health-seeking intentions. Thematic and comparative analysis were undertaken with the citizen scientists and the results were used to support citizen scientists-led stakeholder advocacy workshops. Findings are presented using bubble graphs based on weighted proportions of key risk factors indicated. Results: Nearly three in every five of the participants interviewed reported having a relative with CVD. The main perceived causes of CVD in all communities were substance use, food-related factors, and litter, followed by physical inactivity, emotional factors, poverty, crime, and violence. The perceived positive factors for cardiovascular health were nutrition, physical activity, green space, and clean/peaceful communities. Multi-level stakeholders (45–84 persons/country) including key decision makers participated in advocacy workshops and supported the identification and prioritization of community-specific CVD prevention strategies and implementation actions. Citizen science-informed CVD risk screening and referral to care interventions were piloted in six communities in three countries with about 4795 adults screened and those at risk referred for care. Health sector stakeholders indicated their support for utilising a citizen-engaged approach in national NCDs prevention programmes. The citizen scientists were excited by the opportunity to lead research and advocacy. Conclusion: The collaborative engagement, participatory learning, and co-designing activities enhanced active engagement between citizen scientists, researchers, and stakeholders. This, in turn, provided context-specific insights on CVD prevention in the different SSA settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of an agroforestry based agricultural system to a monocropping farming system influences the distribution and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The aim of this paper was to analyze AMF species diversity, spore density, and root colonization across different agroforestry practices (AFP) in southern Ethiopia. Soil and root samples were collected from homegarden, cropland, woodlot, and trees on soil and water conservation-based AFP. AMF spores were extracted from the soil and species diversity was evaluated using morphological analysis and root colonization from root samples. The AMF spore density, root colonization and composition were significantly different among the AFP (P < 0.05). In this study, 43 AMF morphotypes belonging to eleven genera were found, dominated by Acaulospora (32.56%), followed by Claroideoglomus (18.60%). Home gardens had the highest spore density (7641.5 spore100 g− 1 dry soil) and the lowest was recorded in croplands (683.6 spore100 g− 1 dry soil). Woodlot had the highest root colonization (54.75%), followed by homegarden (48.25%). The highest isolation frequency (63.63%) was recorded for Acaulospora scrobiculata. The distribution of AMF species and diversity were significantly related to soil total nitrogen and organic carbon. The homegarden and woodlot AFP were suitable for soil AMF reserve and conservation. Article highlights: The homegarden and woodlot agroforestry practices are the best alternative mechanisms for conservation of soil AMF biodiversity. The agroforestry practices that are known with high surface vegetation cover results in conservation of soil AMF. The agricultural practices such as scattered trees on farm-based systems with intensive tillage impacts soil AMF communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of the impact of distributed generation (DG) integration for power loss reduction and reliability of two 33 kV radial outgoing feeders at the Motta distribution substation in Ethiopia. Transient earth faults and permanent short-circuits were identified to be the most common causes of interruptions. The substation's system average interruption frequency index (SAIFI) is 806 and its system average interruption duration index (SAIDI) is 1394.145 for planned outages. This necessitates the pursuit of effective methods to increase the reliability of the distribution system. The results show that the distribution system is more reliable with the SAIFI and customer average interruption frequency index (CAIFI) reduced by 97.8%, SAIDI reduced by 76%, average service availability index (ASAI) increased by 14.38%, and average service unavailability index (ASUI) reduced by 76%, resulting in a total power loss reduction of 0.32 MW. The cost analysis was performed using the Monte Carlo (MC) reliability analysis and the DG net present cost analysis results in a payback period of less than five years indicating that the system is profitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity is one of the essential requirements for the economic development of a country. In Ethiopia, more than half of the total population does not have access to electric power. Micro-hydropower (MHP) is one of the most feasible renewable energy options for providing reliable electricity to rural areas. However, in low-income countries such as Ethiopia, the high price of a purpose-made turbine to generate electricity from MHP resources is difficult. This paper presents the feasibility study of a pump as a turbine (PAT) for MHP applications with and without impeller blade modification. The analysis was conducted in terms of initial investment cost, the net present value, payback periods, and the cost of energy. Decreasing blade thickness, blade tip rounding, adjusting blade inlet angle, and blade grooving, then comparing the result with PAT without modification and cross-flow turbine are the modification techniques considered in this research. Based on the projected system lifetime, the equivalent cost of power for the PAT and cross-flow turbines are 0.065 and 0.100 $/kWh respectively. The cross-flow turbine's payback period is 6.04 years, which is significantly longer than the PATs payback period of 3.42 years. From the entire study, it can be concluded that the MHP coupled with PAT provides a lower payback period and cheaper power production. Whereas, impeller blade modification has no significant advantage from the economic point of view. Generally, the impeller modification cost needs to be less than or equal to 25% of the initial cost of the PAT to use the less cost advantage of the PAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the zooplankton abundance and composition along with various environmental factors in Lake Arekit – a shallow freshwater habitat in Ethiopia's rift valley system. Zooplankton samples and specific environmental data were collected by a seasonal campaign (rainy season: June to August) and dry season: March to May 2023) from three sites: inlet area (IA), pelagic area (PA), and macrophyte area (MA). In total, 11 zooplankton taxa from four different groups – rotifera (7 taxa), cladocera (2 taxa), copepod (1 taxa), and ostracoda (1 taxa) – were identified in Lake Arekit. Large-bodied copepoda and cladocera comprised 90% of the zooplankton density in the lake, but small-bodied rotifers dominated the zooplankton diversity. The most noticeable zooplankton in the lake were Mesocyclops aequatorialis, Daphnia barbata, and Cypridopsis vidua. Seasonal difference in the total zooplankton abundance was evident (p < 0.01): being high during the rainy season which was accompanied by an increase in the lake's water temperature and nutrient levels. At MA, where D. barbata predominated, chlorophyll a was relatively low. Chlorophyll a had a strong negative correlation with the abundance of grazing zooplankton, especially with D. barbata (r = −0.563) and C. vidua (r = −0.518). The zooplankton composition and abundance of Lake Arekit reveal a low Shannon diversity index (H') (1.03) and a predominance of a few species, indicating heavy contamination of the lake's water. Moreover, Lake Arekit was determined to be hypertrophic (TSI > 70) using Carlson's trophic index (TSI), which took into account the lake's water transparency, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a. Our results indicated that high densities of Daphnia should be the goal of biomanipulation since they can achieve filtration potentials high enough to enhance the water's clarity in hypereutrophic lake. Even though high D. barbata concentrations cannot address the underlying cause of eutrophication, grazing can assist by lengthening the clear-water stages in a hypertrophic lake – Lake Arekit. The sources of pollution for the lake are the discharge of wastewater from nearby water bottling companies and possibly high nutrient levels from the lake's geological history. Stopping the discharge of wastewater from the nearby commercial industries (the major source of contaminant) into heavily washed open areas and establishing a buffer zone may help manage the water quality of Lake Arekit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Profitable goat production is explained by an increased ratio of outputs (meat, milk, flees and skin) per production inputs (labour, feed and management costs). The productive potential of goats depends on their productive efficiency, which is associated with their reproductive rates. Moreover, the reproductive efficiency of individual breeding females determines the production potential of the flock. This paper reviewed the major reproductive performances of Ethiopian indigenous goat populations reported by several scholars under different management conditions. The evidence from the literature indicated that the reproductive performances of the Ethiopian goats ranged from 6.61 to 14.83 months, 11.82 to 28.46 months, 5.47 to 12.07 months, 1.00 to 2.15 kids and 4.72 to 10.2 years for pubertal age of females, age at first kidding, kidding interval, litter size at birth, and does' average productive life, respectively. This indicates that there is considerable variation within and among the Ethiopian indigenous goat populations regarding the aforementioned reproductive parameters. Similarly, some reproductive traits including age at first kidding, kidding interval and litter size at birth have shown potential differences between management conditions. Hence, reproductive performances of the Ethiopian indigenous goat populations can be optimized using improved management, and within and between breed selective breeding schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small ruminant production plays a great role in the livelihood of smallholder farmers. But their production is constrained by pneumonic pasteurellosis. It is a high-priority issue at the national level. So, in this paper, relevant aspects of pneumonic pasteurellosis in small ruminants are reviewed. The disease is most frequent as air is the main route of transmission. They are characterized by high fever, coughing, dyspnoea and muco-purulent nasal discharge that commonly develops in immunocompromized hosts. Stressors being psychological and/or physical are associated with poor management practices. It is a multifactorial disease. But clinical infections are mainly caused by Mannheimia haemolytica, Bibersteinia trehalosi and Pasteurella multocida. Eleven of the known 17 serotypes of M. haemolytica and B. trehalosi have so far been identified in Ethiopia. Virulence factors like cell capsules, fimbriae and endotoxin play a great role in disease development. The disease causes heavy losses that deserve control. However, the presence of multiple serotypes without crossprotection and the development of drug resistance complicated its control. Moreover, the causative agents are normal commensal of the upper respiratory tract which may cause infection in immunocompromized conditions. Therefore, proper management, sound diagnostic methods and the available serotypes should be considered in vaccine preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]