Factors affecting onion production: An empirical study in the Raya Kobo district, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia.

Onion is a vital vegetable crop in Ethiopia, with significant economic and health benefits. However, its production trend is not consistent, with periods of increase and decrease; and its productivity in the country falls far below its potential. As a result, farmers are not yet fully benefited from onion production. Thus, this study was initiated to identify the factors influencing onion production in the Raya Kobo District of Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. Data was collected from 189 onion-producing farmers through household surveys, and both descriptive and econometric techniques were used for analysis. The study found significant variation in onion production among farmers, with lower levels compared to national and international averages. Factors such as gender, education level, experience, labor force, land size, access to extension services, irrigation water, land plough frequency, and fertilizer availability positively impact onion production. However, excessive fertilizer use was found to have a negative effect. The study also identified challenges faced by farmers, including input shortages, high costs, diseases, labor issues, soil infertility, and storage knowledge gaps. The study recommends policymakers and stakeholders to utilize these findings to develop effective policies and interventions that can enhance onion production, benefiting farmers and improving the overall onion production.

Participatory variety evaluation and selection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties; an underpinning to novel technology uptake in northwestern Ethiopia.

The productivity and production of chickpeas can be improved by using access-improved varieties that are suitable for the specific agroecology. However, the foundation for adopting new technology is participatory variety selection (PVS). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the best adaptively improved chickpea varieties in northwestern Ethiopia based on the preferences of farmers in Adet and Fogera Districts. The experiment consisted of ten improved chickpea varieties (Desi and Kabuli) that were evaluated in three replications using the mother baby trail approach, including on-station and on-farm evaluations. According to this trail, the highest grain yield among different types of chickpeas was observed in the varieties Teketay (2327.8 kg/ha), Dalota (2175.9 kg/ha), and Geletu (2123.6 kg/ha). Among the Kabuli types, Koka (2813.2 kg/ha) and Dhera (2325.7 kg/ha) showed the highest mean values of grain yield. At Adet location, the varieties Teketay (2772.2 kg/ha), Dalota (2459.7 kg/ha), and Geletu (2270.8 kg/ha) produced the highest grain yield. Similarly, Koka (3195.8 kg/ha), Dhera (2604.2 kg/ha), and Ejere (2601.4 kg/ha) were the top-yielding Kabuli chickpea varieties. Farmers from Adet location in Senkengha Kebele selected three Desi and three Kabuli chickpea varieties, namely Geletu, Teketay, and Dalota, in that order, as well as Koka, Hora, and Ejere. Meanwhile, farmers in Mousobo Kebele identified Koka, Dhera, and Hora from the Kabuli type as the best varieties. The varieties Geletu (1976.4 kg/ha), Dalota (1891.9 kg/ha), and Teketay (1883.3 kg/ha) had the highest mean grain yield at Fogera location. Similarly, in the Kabuli chickpea varieties, the highest mean value of grain yield was obtained from Koka (2430.6 kg/ha) followed by Hora (2097.2 kg/ha), and Dhera (2047.2 kg/ha). Farmers have chosen three of the best Desi and Kabuli chickpea varieties, i.e Geletu, Teketay, and Dalota, and Local check (Shasho) followed by Koka and Ejere at Fogera location, Geina Kebele in that order. In conclusion, the adoption and dissemination of new improved varieties for the new environment can assist the producers such as the farmers for effective chickpea production. This leads to sustainable self-sufficiency of food at the household and country level.

International border malaria transmission in the Ethiopian district of Lare, Gambella region: implications for malaria spread into South Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Despite notable progress in the control and prevention of malaria in the Horn of Africa, the disease continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in various regions of Ethiopia, and elsewhere in the region. The transmission of malaria is affected by genetic, sociocultural, and ecological factors. Lare is an Ethiopian district adjacent to the Ethio-South Sudan border, in Gambella region. The region currently has the highest prevalence of malaria in Ethiopia. This study assesses the burden and spatiotemporal patterns of disease transmission, including the effect of climatic factors on the occurrence of malaria, across an international border crossing. This understanding can assist in crafting informed programmatic and policy decisions for interventions. METHODS: This study was conducted in Lare district, Southwest Ethiopia, a temperate zone. A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using clinical service data collected between 2011 and 2021 from the 9 health facilities of the district. Both clinically diagnosed patients and those identified using microscopy and rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) were included in the study. Additionally, climate data was incorporated into analyses. Examples of analyses include malaria burden, positivity rate, incidence, species frequency, and an ANOVA to assess inter-annual case number and meteorological factor variation. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2021, a total of 96,616 suspected malaria cases were tested by microscopy or RDT, and 39,428 (40.8%) of these cases were reported as positive. There were 1276 patients admitted with 22 deaths recorded. There were further more significant fluctuations in positivity rates across years, the highest being 74.5% in 2021. Incidence varied from 18.0% in 2011 to 151.6% in 2016. The malaria parasite species most detected was Plasmodium falciparum, followed by a smaller proportion of Plasmodium vivax. The greatest proportions of P. falciparum cases were observed in 2018 and 2019, at 97.4% and 97.0% prevalence, respectively. There was significant seasonal variation in case number, the highest observed in July through September of each year. Climatic conditions of annual rainfall, temperature and humidity favored the increment of malaria cases from June until October. CONCLUSION: The study shows that the burden, i.e. morbidity and mortality (with fluctuating patterns) of malaria are still significant public health problems and can pose serious consequences in the district. This has implication for cross-border malaria transmission risk due to considerable border crossings. The predominant cause of the disease is P. falciparum, which causes severe complications in patients. The district has to prepare to deal with such complications for better patient care and outcomes.

Alcohol use and its associated factors among Ethiopian military personnel.

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that alcohol use is more prevalent in the military and that such use is related to coping mechanisms for stress. Alcohol use could result in health and social problems. However, little is known about alcohol use in Ethiopian military personnel. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of alcohol use and its associated factors in the Ethiopian military. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including participants from the Ground and Air Forces of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces was conducted from February to June 2021. A representative sample of 502 military personnel from the two forces participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was developed to assess the individual level of alcohol use and its associated factors. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to identify likely problematic alcohol use (AUDIT score ≥8). Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression models were run to identify associated factors with alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Approximately half of the respondents (49.8%, 95% CI 45.4% to 54.0%) were alcohol drinkers. Of the current alcohol users, 142 (63.1 %) were infrequent users; 60 (26.7 %) were moderate drinkers; and 23 (10.2 %) were heavy drinkers. Based on the AUDIT composite score, 71 (33.0%) of male participants were classified as having a score indicative of hazardous and harmful drinking and possible alcohol dependence behaviours. After adjusting for covariates, alcohol drinking was statistically significantly associated with higher odds of being: male, younger age, part of the Ground Force, smoker and high risk-taker. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an initial step to addressing patterns of harmful and hazardous alcohol use in the Ethiopian National Defence Forces. Findings indicate the need to integrate alcohol abuse prevention into existing health education and behaviour change efforts of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces.

Burden of malaria, impact of interventions and climate variability in Western Ethiopia: an area with large irrigation based farming.

BACKGROUND: Land use change has increasingly been expanding throughout the world in the past decades. It can have profound effects on the spatial and temporal distribution of vector borne diseases like malaria through ecological and habitat change. Understanding malaria disease occurrence and the impact of prevention interventions under this intense environmental modification is important for effective and efficient malaria control strategy. METHODS: A descriptive ecological study was conducted by reviewing health service records at Abobo district health office. The records were reviewed to extract data on malaria morbidity, mortality, and prevention and control methods. Moreover, Meteorological data were obtained from Gambella region Meteorology Service Center and National Meteorology Authority head office. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis techniques were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: For the twelve-year time period, the mean annual total malaria case count in the district was 7369.58. The peak monthly malaria incidence was about 57 cases per 1000 people. Only in 2009 and 2015 that zero death due to malaria was recorded over the past 12 years. Fluctuating pattern of impatient malaria cases occurrence was seen over the past twelve years with an average number of 225.5 inpatient cases. The data showed that there is a high burden of malaria in the district. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) was a predominant parasite species in the district with the maximum percentage of about 90. There was no statistically significant association between season and total malaria case number (F3,8: 1.982, P:0.195). However, the inter-annual total case count difference was statistically significant (F11,132: 36.305, p < 0001). Total malaria case count had shown two months lagged carry on effect. Moreover, 3 months lagged humidity had significant positive effect on total malaria cases. Malaria prevention interventions and meteorological factors showed statistically significant association with total malaria cases. CONCLUSION: Malaria was and will remain to be a major public health problem in the area. The social and economic impact of the disease on the local community is clearly pronounced as it is the leading cause of health facility visit and admission including the mortality associated with it. Scale up of effective interventions is quite important. Continuous monitoring of the performance of the vector control tools needs to be done.