Sugar industrialization and distress selling of livestock among the Bodi pastoralists in Ethiopia’s lower Omo valley

This article, based on long-term fieldwork, argues that the Bodi, a small agro-pastoral community in Ethiopia’s lower Omo Valley, are experiencing distress selling of livestock and are undergoing collective impoverishment. These processes are a result of the rapid comprehensive transformations unfolding in the valley, which are themselves a product of the state’s aggressive resource extraction interests. These interests mainly relate to the building of the Gilgel Gibe III dam on the Omo River and the establishment of large-scale sugar estates. Increased insecurity in the valley followed these interventions. When combined, these changes resulted in the deterioration of the food security and livelihood situations of the Bodi, and the community attempted to cope by selling animals from their herds. Hence, the main reasons for market engagement relate to (1) coping with hunger, (2) coping with a high incidence of animal diseases and (3) coping with high rates of imprisonment of men. The Bodi also engage in three constrained livelihood alternatives: rain-fed farming, irrigated farming and wage employment. This article recommends that resolving the Bodi’s erosion of livelihoods necessitates addressing insecurity and the related socio-political outcomes, which lie at the heart of the Bodi’s dwindling livelihood situation and impoverishment.

Knowledge Levels Match Control Practices of Cerebral Coenurosis by Pastoral Community in Iringa District Council, Tanzania

Cerebral coenurosis is a disease of small ruminants which causes economic loss worldwide. Different studies in Tanzania have reported the cause, transmission, signs, prevalence, risk factors and control measures of cerebral coenurosis. Transfer of this research-based information to livestock keepers may influence practicability and efficacy of intervention. The present study aimed at assessing the knowledge levels and control practices of coenurosis by pastoralists in Iringa district. A total of 267 respondents were interviewed on livestock management practices, knowledge, losses and coping strategies of coenurosis. The average knowledge score on coenurosis detection (definition, hosts, signs, and diagnosis, including postmortem) was 90.3%. In contrast, knowledge on infection cycle and control was zero, implying that respondents were completely not informed about etiology, transmission and control of coenurosis. Involvement of dogs in coenurosis cycle was not known to respondents such that they all gave head of sheep and goats to dogs while 82.8% had never dewormed their dogs. About 83% of respondents experienced at least, one cases of coenurosis in the last 12 months. There was no formal coenurosis control program, but heating the head of sick animal with hot iron, selling, slaughter, treatment with antibiotics, or local herbs and doing nothing were the reported management strategies. Lack of knowledge on the cause, transmission and control of cerebral coenurosis may be associated with inappropriate animal management and control of coenurosis in pastoral community in Iringa rural District, including transmission facilitating practices. A coenurosis training package is recommended to farmers before intervention program is instituted.

Contraceptive Use and Its Associated Factors among Women Who Gave Birth within 12 Months in Dubti Town, Pastoral Community, of Afar Region Northeast, Ethiopia

Introduction. Substantial numbers of women are not using contraceptives in their postpartum period and die due to avoidable causes related to birth complications. Contraceptives use within 12 months of childbirth has given less attention in Ethiopia. Thus, this study is aimed to assess contraceptive use and its associated factors among women who gave birth within 12 months in Dubti town, pastoral community of Afar region, Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 women in the Dubti town. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to identify and enroll women. Data were collected using a pretested, structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were done, and logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors associated with contraceptive use. The statistical association was measured by odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. p value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results. In this study, 103 (30.1%) [95% CI: 25.4%, 35.1%] women have used contraceptives. Women who had secondary educational level ( AOR = 3.53 , 95% CI (1.68, 7.36), had antenatal care follow-up ( AOR = 1.93 , 95% CI (1.01, 3.69), and visited by health worker after delivery ( AOR = 2.54 , 95% CI (1.37, 4.68) were associated with increased odds of contraceptives use. Conclusions. This study revealed that the prevalence of contraceptive use was low compared to the national recommended figure. Secondary educational level, having antenatal care follow-up, and being visited by health workers after delivery were predictors of contraceptive use. Thus, increase the educational status of women, antenatal care follow-up service, and visiting after delivery by health workers are important interventions to promote the use of contraceptives in the postpartum period.

Practices of Care in Times of COVID-19

We argue that the COVID-19 virus has been a trigger for emerging practices of care by being an actor with agency that transforms the everyday life of subjects by placing them under uncertainty. Therefore, this paper aims to show how practices of care emerged or were maintained as vulnerable groups were confronted by restrictions to movement and uncertainties following the outbreak of COVID-19. We demonstrate this using two case studies of the Maasai pastoral community in Narok, Kenya and the community kitchens in the city of Berlin, Germany. Thus, we seek to show how practices of care for, care about, and care with are carried out by the members of these communities during pandemic times. Granted that care remains highly contentious in feminist literature, this paper contributes to a growing body of literature on care in Feminist Political Ecology by broadening the conceptualization of care. The research builds on a typology of care relations based on practices of distribution, exchange, and reciprocity. This allows us to show when care is exercised in a unidirectional and hierarchical way and when in a multidirectional way reinforcing social bonds of responsibility and collective care that transcends the socio-nature boundaries.

Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months in the pastoral community of Liban District, Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Southeastern Ethiopia: a case–control study

Malnutrition remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in Ethiopia. The present study aimed to assess determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months in the pastoral community of Liban District, Southeastern Ethiopia. A case–control study design was conducted on 89 cases and 177 controls from 1–30 December 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire were used, and anthropometric measurements were done by standardised calibrated instruments to collect data. Data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 25.0 software for analysis. All candidate variables with P < 0⋅25 in bivariate analysis were then entered into multivariable logistic regression. Associated factors were identified at P < 0⋅05 and 95 % CI. A total of 266 (89 cases and 177 controls) having a response rate of 96⋅6 % being underweight [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 11⋅8, 95 % CI 3⋅17, 43⋅89], illness previous 2 weeks (AOR = 3⋅47, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1⋅34, 8⋅99), family member with malnutrition (AOR = 4⋅52, 95 % CI 1⋅45, 14⋅01), greater than five family size, (AOR = 5⋅33, 95 % CI 2⋅08, 13⋅66), mothers unable to read and write (AOR = 3⋅66, 95 % CI 1⋅27, 10⋅56), mothers with low decision autonomy (AOR = 5⋅67, 95 % CI 2⋅26, 14⋅27), not handwashing at all critical time (AOR = 7⋅23, 95 % CI 2⋅74, 19⋅07), not feeding child animal source (AOR = 7⋅13, 95 % CI 1⋅98, 25⋅59), bottle feeding (AOR = 7⋅06, 95 % CI 2⋅34, 21⋅28) and being married (AOR = 0⋅05, 95 % CI 0⋅02, 0⋅19) were significantly associated with acute malnutrition. The present study has confirmed the association of acute malnutrition with maternal education, underweight, family size and inappropriate infant caring practices.

Maternal Knowledge and Complementary Feeding Practices and their Relationship with Nutritional Status Among Children 6-23 Months Old in Pastoral Community of Marsabit County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Appropriate complementary feeding practices have positive impact on health and growth of children aged 6-23 months. Little is known about complementary feeding practices among the pastoralists. The aim of this study was to document the influence of maternal knowledge on child feeding and complementary practices on the nutritional status of children aged 6-23 months amongst a pastoral community in Kenya. A WHO standard validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 289 randomly selected mothers/primary caregivers and their children aged 6-23 months. The interviews were conducted through face-to-face in a one-time household visit. The findings showed that half (50.2%) of the children received complementary foods at the age of six months. The proportion of breastfed and non-breastfed children that achieved the recommended Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) was 28.7% and 2.6% respectively. About one-quarter (23.9%) achieved the recommended Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). A total of 5.9% achieved the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD). Majority of the mothers/caregivers (95.1%) knew that children should be encouraged to feed while 61.6% knew that children should be fed more frequently during and after illness. The timing of introduction of complementary feeding ([OR]=0.307, P=0.001) and child’s dietary diversity ([OR]=3.112, P=0.020 were predictors of wasting among the children while timing of introduction of complementary feeding ([OR]=0.226, P=0.000) and maternal knowledge on the duration of breastfeeding ([OR]=6.359, P=0.012) predicted child underweight.. Complementary feeding practices are not optimal and the nutritional status of the children is poor. Complementary feeding practices predicted child nutritional status whereas maternal/caregivers’ knowledge on complementary feeding practices had limited impact on child nutrition status.