Undernutrition and associated risk factors among school age children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background Causes of child undernutrition are diverse and change in space and time. Investigating current determinants of undernutrition remains vital to design an effective intervention strategy. The study assessed prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among children living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in 459 school age children and their parents or caregivers living in Lideta sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants were selected using a multi-stage simple random sampling technique. Height and weight of children was measured and their parents or care givers were interviewed for factors associated with undernutrition. Results About 31% (n = 141) of the children were undernourished (19.6% stunted, 15.9% underweight). Being male, higher birth order (\u3e2), larger family size (6–8), low meal frequency (≤3 times) in a day prior to the survey and mud floor house were significantly associated with undernutrition. Similarly, the risk of underweight increased significantly with an increase in age, birth order, family size and also the absence of hand washing facilities. The odds of undernutrition was lower in children born to 20–30 years old mothers compared to those born to mothers younger than 20 years. Conclusions Undernutrition is prevalent among school age children living in Lideta sub city, Addis Ababa. Policy makers should consider school age children in their nutrition policy documents and implement screening program and intervention strategy

Effects of livestock feed sourcing and feeding strategies on livestock water productivity in mixed crop–livestock systems of the Blue Nile basin highlands of Ethiopia

Inefficient management and use of water is unanimously the most single constraint of agricultural production of Ethiopia. The study was conducted to assess the effect of livestock feed sourcing and feeding strategies on livestock water productivity (LWP) in mixed crop–livestock production systems of the Blue Nile Basin in Ethiopian Highlands. Three districts representing diverse agricultural farming systems were considered. Each district further stratified to different farming systems. Multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was employed to select farm households. Household survey, group discussions and plant biomass sampling were done to generate data on beneficial outputs, water depleted and feed sourcing and feeding strategies. LWP was estimated as a ratio of livestock’s beneficial outputs and services to depleted water. The results indicated that the major feed sources were mainly from crop residues (58.5 to 78.2%), natural pasture (10.9 to 33.4%) and aftermath grazing (9.9 to 24.3%) in study farming systems. The feed source from energy dense (improved forages) was low. The feeding strategies were relatively similar among the study farming systems. No apparent difference (P>0.05) was observed in LWP within all districts among the farming systems and the value falls between USD 0.15–0.19 m-3. However, LWP difference was observed within clustered wealth status within all farming systems and lower value of LWP general observed for the poor farm households. Such differences of LWP values can be accounted for by the strategies farm households are following in feed sourcing and how water productive those feed sources are. Hence, in the context of this work, options to improve LWP mainly involve sourcing water productive and higher quality feed

The Relationship Of School Principal’s Leadership Styles To School Performance In Secondary School Of Agnwa Zone At Gambella National Regional State

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between leadership styles of principals and school performance of secondary schools of Agnwa Zone at Gambella National Region, Ethiopia. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study included eight secondary schools in Agnwa zone. 184 teachers, 8 principals, 8 vice principals, 38 PTA members and 24 student representatives were also included in the study by using available methods. The study adopted simple research design that is correlation survey research design that enables the researcher to easily establish the relationship between school performance and leadership styles in Agnwa zone. Accordingly, data was collected on the independent variable, which was leadership styles, and that of the dependent variable, which was school performance. The relationship between the two variables was identified in order to determine the strength of their relationship and the coefficients of determination existing between them have been identified. In order to get a relevant data for the study the researcher use both primary and secondary data. Primary data was gathered using questionnaire, Interviews and were also held with principals focused group discussion. Secondary data was gathered from Students ESLCE result document. The findings of the study revealed that Democratic leadership styles had a positive influence on students’ academic achievement and school performance, while autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles however had a negative influence on students’ academic achievement and/or school performance. The study revealed that unless principals are well equipped with the knowledge and skills in management and leadership, they would not be able to improve school performance significantly. The studies also get a better solution to increase school performance and reveal that democratic leadership style will increase school performance. The study based on the findings give recommendations for better stand to: the REB, WEO, ZED in collaboration with MoE, are advised to organize seminars and workshops for school principals on how to use the democratic leadership style effectively in their schools based on the situation and to enhance their capacity. But it does not mean the school should avoid Laissez-faire and autocratic leadership styles

Prevalence and associated risk factors of malaria among adults in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Malaria is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is prevalent in over 75% of the country's area making it the leading public health problems in the country. Information on the prevalence of malaria and its associated factors is vital to focus and improve malaria interventions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from October to November 2012 in East Shewa zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Adults aged 16 or more years with suspected malaria attending five health centers were eligible for the study. Logistic regression models were used to examine the effect of each independent variable on risk of subsequent diagnosis of malaria. RESULTS: Of 810 suspected adult malaria patients who participated in the study, 204 (25%) had microscopically confirmed malaria parasites. The dominant Plasmodium species were P. vivax (54%) and P. falciparum (45%), with mixed infection of both species in one patient. A positive microscopic result was significantly associated with being in the age group of 16 to 24 years [Adjusted Odds Ratio aOR 6.7; 95% CI: 2.3 to 19.5], 25 to 34 years [aOR 4.2; 95% CI: 1.4 to 12.4], and 35 to 44 years [aOR 3.7; 95% CI: 1.2-11.4] compared to 45 years or older; being treated at Meki health center [aOR 4.1; 95% CI: 2.4 to 7.1], being in Shashemene health center [aOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5 to 4.5], and living in a rural area compared to an urban area [aOR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.6)]. CONCLUSION: Malaria is an important public health problem among adults in the study area with a predominance of P. vivax and P. falciparum infection. Thus, appropriate health interventions should be implemented to prevent and control the disease

Weight Gain and Carcass Characteristics of Adilo Sheep Fed Urea Treated Wheat Straw Supplemented with Enset (Ensete Ventricosum), Atella and Their Mixtures

The experiment was carried using twenty-five male intact yearling Adilo sheep with average body weight of 16.5 ± 3.5 kg to determine the effects of Enset ventricosum, atella and their mixture supplements to urea treated wheat straw (UTWS) on body weight gain (ADG) and carcass parameters. The experiment consisted of ninety days of feeding followed by carcass evaluation. The experimental design was randomized complete block design, and animals were blocked based on their initial body weights. Treatments were UTWS fed ad libitum alone (T1) or with 300 g/d atella (T2), 200 atella+100 g/d enset (T3), 200 enset +100 g/d atella, (T4) and 300 enset (T5).  Results of laboratory analyses for CP (6.4, 18.2 and 7.6 %) and NDF contents (72, 51 and 62 %) were for UTWS, atella and enset respectively. The result revealed that sheep fed on supplemented feed achieved greater (P<0.05) ADG (-8.9, 47.8, 34.4, 30 and 24.4 (± 3.35) g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively). The value of ADG was greater for T2 among supplemented groups. Hot carcass weight was 5.4, 8.2, 7.2, 6.7 and 6.6 (± 0.25) kg for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively and followed similar trend like that of ADG. Results of this study highlighted that supplementation of urea treated wheat straw with enset and atella to have a positive effect on, ADG and carcass parameters. However, the effect is more pronounced for atella than enset or the two mixtures possibly due to the higher CP content of atella. Keywords: Atella, Carcass, Enset, Sheep

Evaluation of Replacing Concentrate with Mulato II and Greenleaf Desmodium (Desmodium intortum) Mixed Forages on Intake, Digestibility and Growth Performance of Farta Sheep

This study evaluated the substitution effect of concentrate with Mulato II and Desmodium intortum mixed forages on the intake, digestibility, and growth performance of Farta sheep fed a basal diet of natural pasture hay (NPH) for a period of 90 days. Twenty- five yearling male Farta sheep were blocked based on their initial body weight (18±1.36 kg) (mean±SD) and randomly assigned into the five treatment diets in a completely randomized block design. The five treatment diets were made in such a way that the concentrate mix was progressively replaced by Mulato II and Desmodium intortum mixed forages at a proportion of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80%. The data on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight change was analyzed using the general linear model procedure of SAS version 9.4. The results showed that total dry matter intake, final body weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion efficiency of sheep were not affected by the substitution of concentrate with Mulato II and Desmodium intortum forages. In conclusion, supplementation of Mulato II and D. intortum forages up to 80% could replace the concentrate in the diet of Farta sheep without any adverse effect on the growth performance

Effect of Dietary Organic Acids Supplementation on Laying Performance, Egg Quality Traits and Economic Efficiency of Commercial Layer Hens

Organic acids have been demonstrated as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production; however, research is still being conducted due to the contradictory results in the biological and economic performances of poultry birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic acids on laying performance, egg quality traits, and economic efficiency of commercial layer hens. In a complete randomized design, 260, 25-week-old layer hens weighing an initial body wieght of 1609 ± 18. 5g were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups consisting of 4 replicates. Treatments were basal diets without any additive (T1); with 30mg oxytetracycline (T2), with 16gm citric acid (T3), 8gm malic acid (T4); and a combination of 8g citric + 4gm malic acid (T5) per kg of basal diets. The result revealed that a significantly higher difference (p<0.001) was observed in hen day egg production, egg quality traits, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) recorded among treatment groups in body weight gain and feed intake. Layer hens fed on organic acid diets improved the hen-day egg production by 85.51% to 86.54% as compared to T1 (77.75%) and T2 (80.07%). Overall, mixed acid (T5) reflected the highest performance in terms of FCR, albumin weight, egg mass, total return, and net profit. T5 improved the profitability by 13.26% and 11.82% and relative economic efficiency by 16.83% and 17.40% than T1 and T2, respectively. In conclusion, all dietary organic acids supplementation can replace the antibiotic effectively, but mixed organic acid does the best in terms of both the biological and economic performance of layer hens

Impact of housing condition on indoor-biting and indoor-resting Anopheles arabiensis density in a highland area, central Ethiopia

Background: Exposure of individuals to malaria infection may depend on their housing conditions as houses serve as biting and resting places of vectors. This study describes the association of housing conditions with densities of indoor-biting and indoor-resting Anopheles arabiensis in Hobe, Dirama and Wurib villages of a highland area in central Ethiopia. Methods: Data on housing conditions, including presence of house apertures, number of occupants and number and the type of domestic animal tethered inside, were collected. Indoor-biting mosquitoes were sampled using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps and indoor-resting mosquitoes sampled with pyrethrum spray catches (PSCs) monthly for two years (July 2008 to June 2010). Female anophelines were identified to species and processed. Univariate and general linear estimating equation allowing for repeated measures were used to assess the contribution of housing conditions for indoor-biting and indoor-resting An. arabiensis. Results: About 96% (4,597/4,788) of anophelines were caught inside residential houses. Nine anopheline species were identified, among which An. arabiensis was most prevalent (2,489; 52%). Vectors entering houses were higher in those situated at low (β = 4.475; 95% CI = 3.475-5.476; p <0.001; β = strength of the association) and medium (β = 2.850; 95% CI = 1.975-3.724; p <0.001) altitudes compared to high altitude, and where houses have no windows (β = -0.570; 95% CI = -1.047-0.094; p = 0.019) compared with those that have. Numbers of indoorresting vectors were higher in those situated at low (β = 6.100; 95% CI = 4.571-7.629; p <0.001) and medium (β = 4.411; 95% CI = 2.284-6.537; p <0.001) altitudes compared to high altitudes, and where houses had open eaves (β =1.201; 95% CI = 0.704-1.698; p <0.001) compared with those that had closed eaves. Conclusion: Housing conditions such as presence of open eaves, absence of window, location at low and mid altitudes, were strong predictors of indoor exposure to An. arabiensis bite in a highland area of south-central Ethiopia.publishedVersio