Climate Change and Variability, Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods, Local Coping and Adaptation Strategies in Woreilu Woreda, North Eastern Ethiopia

The study examines local climate change and variability situations, trends and impacts on the local adaptation and coping strategies in Woreilu Woreda.1 It uses historically recorded temperature and rainfall, and household socio-economic data gathered from four kebeles2, 8 villages and 154 rural households, which were analyzed using statistical tools and qualitative data analyzing techniques. The study revealed that the annual rainfall amount showed decreasing trend and increasing variability while temperature has, in general, increased. Drought has become more frequent and intense. As the local adaptation strategies become outdated, the people confronted with a situation that they are not sufficiently equipped to handle impacts of climate variability and change. Thus, the study suggests a relentless need to address these challenges both from short and longtermpolicy perspectives

Farmers’ perceptions on irrigation water contamination, health risks and risk management measures in prominent wastewater-irrigated vegetable farming sites of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The use of wastewater to produce food crops particularly vegetables is very prevalent in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This practice may pose health risks to farm workers and consumers. Hence, the study was designed to evaluate farmers’ perceptions on irrigation water quality, health risks and health risk mitigation measures in four wastewater-irrigated urban vegetable farming sites in Addis Ababa. Data were collected on farm through 263 individual interviews and 12 focus group discussions. The findings showed that despite differences in levels of knowledge and awareness on health risks, farmers appear informed about the contamination of their irrigation water. The difference in perception to quality consideration of Akaki River/irrigation water is highlighted by the result of Kruskal–Wallis H test analysis which shows significant mean value (1.33) of positive perception toward the water quality by male than female farmers. Interestingly, significant difference (p < 0.05) in mean values of awareness toward problems of eating unwashed vegetables is also found between male and female farmers where females seemed to be more aware. Conversely, no significant difference was found in mean value of perception and awareness toward vegetables quality. Among the perceived health risks, skin problems were top-rated health risk while eye burn, sore feet and abdominal pains were rated low across the four farming sites. Although statistically not significant, perception toward consumption-related health risk differed with gender: females assigned relatively high mean score. Irrespective of the farming site and gender differences, the most accepted health risk reduction measures were health promotion programs and cessation of irrigation before harvesting. In view of crop restriction measures, females assigned significantly (p = 0.044) low mean score to planting non-food produce. Akaki-Addis farmers suitability perceptions of planting non-food produce and non-raw eaten crops were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than the other farming sites. Therefore, effective site and gender-specific educational programs have the potential for clarifying farmers and consumers’ risks and risk management perceptions and improving practical knowledge, which in turn may help identify adoption barriers, opportunities and incentives

The Clinical Profile and Acute Care of Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury at a Tertiary Care Emergency Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury has catastrophic physical and psychological effects. Since it is difficult to reverse the neurologic, socioeconomic and psychological effects of traumatic spinal cord injuries, it is essential to understand the risk factors and focus on primary prevention strategies. The objectives of this study are to describe the clinical profile and management of patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries that presented to an Emergency center of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: We conducted a cross sectional survey from October 2013 to March 2014 in Adult Emergency Center of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Data were analyzed descriptively. Result: Eighty-four patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord were identified. The mean age was 33years and 86% were male. The most common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collisions (36.9%), falls(31.0%) and farming injuries (10.7%). The Cervical spine (47.6%) was the most commonly injured region (47.6%) and 40.5% of the injuries were complete. Most patients (77.4 %) did not receive any prehospital/hospital medical care prior to arrival in the Emergency Center. Conclusion: Traumatic spinal cord injury is a devastating injury that affects the quality of lives of a number of patients. Since there is often little chance of recovery, prevention must be a focus. Attention to road traffic safety and improved and modernized farming conditions is warranted. It is also imperative to focus on developing an effective pre hospital care and construct rehabilitation centers for these patients

The clinical profile and acute care of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury at a tertiary care emergency centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

IntroductionTraumatic spinal cord injuries can have catastrophic physical, psychological, and social consequences, particularly in low resource settings. Since many of these injuries result in irreversible damages, it is essential to understand risk factors for them and focus on primary prevention strategies. The objectives of this study are to describe the demographics, injury characteristics, and management of traumatic spinal cord injury victims presenting to the Adult Emergency Centre of Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital in Addis Ababa, the tertiary referral centre for emergency care in Ethiopia.MethodsA prospective cross sectional survey was conducted from October 2013 to March 2014 in the Adult Emergency Centre of Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital. Patients were identified at triage and followed through admission to discharge from the emergency centre.ResultsEighty-four patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries were identified. The mean age was 33years and 86% were male. The most common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collisions (37%), falls (31%), and farming injuries (11%). The cervical spine (48%) was the most commonly injured region and 41% were complete spinal cord injuries. Most patients (77%) did not receive any prehospital care or medical care at other facilities prior to arrival in the Emergency Centre.ConclusionIn our context, traumatic spinal cord injuries predominantly affect young men, and the majority of victims suffer severe injuries with little chance of recovery. Attention to occupational and road traffic safety is essential to mitigate the personal and societal burdens of traumatic spinal cord injuries. It is also imperative to focus on improving prehospital care and rehabilitation services for traumatic spinal cord injury victims

Heavy metal accumulation and health risk assessment in wastewater-irrigated urban vegetable farming sites of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Wastewater irrigation for vegetable production is a highly prevalent practice in Addis Ababa and a number of articles have been published on wastewater-irrigated soils and vegetables contaminated with heavy metals. However, to the best of our knowledge, an insight into assessment of human health risks associated with the consumption of vegetable crops grown on wastewater-irrigated soils is non-existent in the city. Long-term effect of wastewater irrigation on the build-up of heavy metals in soils and selected vegetable crops in Addis Ababa urban vegetable farming sites (10) was evaluated. By calculating estimated daily intakes (EDIs) and target hazard quotients (THQs) of metals, health risk associated with the consumption of the analyzed vegetables was also evaluated. Results: The heavy metal concentrations in irrigation water and soils did not exceed the recommended maximum limits (RMLs). Moreover, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn concentrations in all analyzed vegetables were lower than the RML standards. In contrast, Pb concentrations were 1.4–3.9 times higher. Results of two way ANOVA test showed that variation in metals concentrations were significant (p < 0.001) across farming site, vegetable type and site x vegetable interaction. The EDI and THQ values showed that there would be no potential health risk to local inhabitants due to intake of individual metal if one or more of the analyzed vegetables are consumed. Furthermore, total target hazard quotients (TTHQs) for the combined metals due to all analyzed vegetables were lower than 1, suggesting no potential health risk even to highly exposed local inhabitants. Conclusions: There is a great respite that toxic metals like Pb and Cd have not posed potential health risk even after long term (more than 50 years) use of this water for irrigation. However, intermittent monitoring of the metals from irrigation water, in soil and crops may be required to follow/prevent their build-up in the food chain

Effects of biochar and alkaline amendments on cadmium immobilization, selected nutrient and cadmium concentrations of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils

To assess the efficiency of seven treatments including biochars produced from dried faecal matter and manures as stabilizing agents of cadmium (Cd)-spiked soils, lettuce was grown in glasshouse on two contrasting soils. The soils used were moderately fertile silty loam and less fertile sandy loam and the applied treatments were 7 % w/w. The reduction of bioavailable Cd (ammonium nitrate extractable) and its phytoavailability for lettuce were used as assessment criteria in the evaluation of stabilization performance of each treatment. Moreover, the agronomic values of the treatments were also investigated. Ammonium nitrate extraction results indicated that faecal matter biochar, cow manure biochar and lime significantly reduced bioavailable Cd by 84–87, 65–68 and 82–91 %, respectively, as compared to the spiked controls. Unpredictably, coffee husk biochar induced significant increment of Cd in NH4NO3 extracts. The immobilization potential of faecal matter biochar and lime were superior than the other treatments. However, lime and egg shell promoted statistically lower yield and P, K and Zn concentrations response of lettuce plants compared to the biochar treatments. The lowest Cd and highest P tissue concentrations of lettuce plants were induced by faecal matter and cow manure biochar treatments in both soils. Additionally, the greatest Cd phytoavailability reduction for lettuce was induced by poultry litter and cow manure biochars in the silty loam soil. Our results indicate that faecal matter and animal manure biochars have shown great potential to promote Cd immobilization and lettuce growth response in heavily contaminated agricultural fields