Bacteriological quality of household drinking water in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia; a community-based cross-sectional study

Ethiopia is one of the developing countries where only 52% of its population have access to safe drinking water. To determine the level of faecal contamination in drinking water, the E. coli has been found to be the most specific indicator. The purpose of this study was to determine household bacteriological drinking water quality and its associated factors in rural North Gondar Zone Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural parts of North Gondar Zone from April to June, 2016. Water samples from water storage at household level were taken using standardized water sampling techniques to determine the level of faecal contamination. Face-to-face interview using structured questionnaires and checklist were used to identify the associated factors. A total of 736 households participated in this study. The prevalence of positive faecal coliform in the households is found to be 72.6% (95%C.I; 69.4–75.8). In multivariate analysis; occupational status [AOR; 0.35, 95%; CI (0.16,0.77)], income [(AOR);0.45, 95%; CI (0.3, 0.68)], type of solid waste disposal habit [AOR; 0.16, 95%; CI (0.36, 0.66)], source of water [AOR; 0.42, 95%; CI (0.28, 0.65)], shortage of water [AOR; 2.8, 95%; CI (1.88, 4)] were variables identified as predictors for faecal coliform contamination of water in the household. There is high level of faecal contamination of household drinking water in North Gondar Zone. Occupational status, income, solid waste disposal habit, sources of drinking water, and shortage of water were predictor for presence of faecal coliform contamination in household drinking water.

Birth preparedness and complication readiness practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Northwest Ethiopia: 2018

Background Birth-preparedness and complication readiness is a comprehensive strategy aimed at promoting the timely utilization of skilled maternal and neonatal health care. Pregnancy-related complications both on the mother and the newborn could be largely alleviated if there is a well-consolidated birth preparedness and complication readiness plan developed during pregnancy and implemented at the time of delivery. Objective To determine the prevalence of birth preparedness and complication readiness practice (BPCR) and associated factors among pregnant women in North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in North Gondar Zone from March 2017 to February 2018. A multistage clustered sampling technique was used to enroll a total of 1620 participants. The data were collected by face to face interviews using pretested and semi-structured questionnaires at baseline and following delivery. The data were entered using EPI-data version 3.1 and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to assess factors with BPCR practice. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval was used to determine the association between covariates and the outcome variable. Results From a total of 1620 pregnant women only 1523 (94.0%) mothers were followed at the end line. The prevalence of BPCR plan during pregnancy was 66.1% [95% CI: 63.8, 68.5] and the practice at the time of delivery was 73.5% [95% CI 71.3, 75.7]. Of the total respondents who mentioned having a BPCR plan, 76.4% practiced at the time of delivery. Frequency of ANC visits [AOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.32], larger number of family in the household [AOR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.30], highest wealth asset [AOR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.16, 3.01], Multigravidity [AOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.62], husband involvement in decision making [AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.25, 3.82], counseled on BPCR [AOR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.51, 3.68], were found to be significantly associated with BPCR practice. Conclusion BPCR practice at the time of delivery was higher than previous studies conducted in the country. However, BPCR practice was found to be lower than the standard that every woman should practice the plan at the time of delivery. Intersectoral collaborative interventions required to improve the economic status and living standard of families in the community as well as various awareness creation strategies should be implemented to support women to attend ANC follow-up visits.

Value Chain and Market Participation of Maize in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Background: The smallholder producers in Ethiopia generally and in North Gondar Zone specifically are price takers since they have little participation in the value chain and imperfection of the marketing system. Farmers have low bargaining power to sell their products to the market. Empirical findings on identifying actors of the value chains, and assessing determinants of farmers’ participation decision and marketed volume in the study areas in North Gondar is not found. As a result, this study examined the determinants of farmers’ participation decision and marketed volume in the study areas in North Gondar Administration Zone. Methods: Primary data was got from a total of 350 sample households and 60 maize traders who were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire. Heckman selection model was employed to identify factors that determine market participation decision and its intensity in maize markets.Results: The Heckman’s selection model result shows farming experience (P<0.079) and relative fertility of land (P<0.000) determines farmers’ maize market participation decision positively and significantly whereas rural credit access (P<0.002) affected it negatively. Variables DA visit frequency (P<0.03), distance from market (P<0.053) and Labor force (P<0.002) have positive effect and significant on marketed volume of maize. On the other hand, Farm land size (P< 0.040) and level of education (P < 0.041) are significant but they have a negative effect on it in North West Ethiopia. Conclusion: The area is a potential place to the production of maize. Even though the potential is high there are many determinants and challenges which affect the producer’s market participation status and the volume of marketed surplus. Therefore, government must check its land use proclamation and rural financial institution policies and their applications in North Gondar administration zone in Ethiopia.

Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Irrigated Tomato Production in North Gondar Zone of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country with a total population of more than 110 million, of which about 80% of the total population is engaged in subsistence farming in rural areas. Although agricultural sector plays a great role in Ethiopian economy, it is characterized by low productivity due to technological and socioeconomic factors. Improving smallholder irrigated tomato production, and productivity, would contribute to enhancing food security and alleviating poverty. Therefore, this study was investigated to fill this gap with the aim of analyzing technical efficiency of irrigated tomato production and its determinant factors in North Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from 160 farmers’ selected using multistage sampling procedure and analyzed using descriptive statistics, a parametric stochastic frontier production function models. The stochastic frontier and Cobb-Douglas functional form with a one-step approach was employed to analyze efficiency and factors affecting efficiency in irrigated tomato production. The estimated gamma parameters indicated that 80% of the total variation in tomato output was due to technical inefficiency. The means technical efficiency was found 55%, and about 6,907.32 kg of tomato output per hectare was lost due to inefficiency factors implying there is a room for improvement in technical efficiency by 43% with the present technology. The Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) result revealed that ODE, DAP and plot size at 1% and labor at 10% probability level significantly influencing tomato production. The socio-economic variables that exercised important role for variations in technical efficiency positively were the level of education, TLU and watering in morning, and in contrast age, off farm, watering frequency and training for marketing were found to increase inefficiency significantly among farm households. To get better farmers' efficiency in the production of irrigated tomato a continuous marketing training should be established and strengthening the available farmers training center (FTC) to improve farm productivity. The government and any concerned bodies should be build irrigation canals and other alternatives so as to reduce watering frequency. There should be timely and sufficient supply of DAP to improve farmers’ efficiency in production of tomato.

Does mass drug administration for community-based scabies control works? The experience in Ethiopia

Introduction: After a scabies outbreak in Amhara Region, Ethiopia in 2015/2016, the Regional Health Bureau performed an extensive Mass Drug Administration (MDA). In May 2017, we collected data to assess the impact of the treatment on the scabies control. Methodology. We retrieved baseline data from the 2015/16 burden assessment: campaign organization and administration information. We did a community based cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire on disease and treatment history plus the presence or absence of active scabies in three Zones. We selected households using stratified random sampling deployed 7581 questionnaires and performed key informant interviews. Results: 46.3% had a previous scabies diagnosis in the last 2 years of which 86.1% received treatment, and the cure rate was 90.6%. Fifteen months after intervention the scabies prevalence was 21.0 % (67.3% new cases and 32.7% recurrences). The highest burden of new cases (93.1%) was found in the North Gondar zone. The likelihood of treatment failure was higher for treatments offered in clinics (12.2%) as opposed to via the campaign (7.9%). Failure to follow the guidelines, shortage of medicine and lack of leadership prioritization were identified as reasons for resurgence of the disease. Conclusions: We demonstrated that community engagement is essential in the success of scabies MDA, alongside strong political commitment, and guideline adherence. Effectiveness and sustainability of the MDA was compromised by the failing of proper contact treatment, surveillance and case management.

Determinants of Crop Land Management Practices: The Case of North Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia

Land management problems like soil erosion; overgrazing and deforestation have steadily increased in Ethiopia including the study area North Gondar Zone. Thus, the main objective of this study is to assess the determinants of crop land management practices in north Gondar zone. Both qualitative and quantitative types of data were collected from primary and secondary sources. In this study, to get representative sample from different agro ecologies a stratified simple random sampling technique was employed to select sample household heads. Finally, a total of 120 household heads were drawn through simple random sampling technique proportionally to size form the sample kebeles. To analyze the determinants of land management practices multinomial logit model was used. The findings of this study indicated that from the total variables included in the model only six variables are found to significantly affect the choice of crop land management strategies. The significant variables include age of the household head, education level, access to mass media, amount of income, farm distance and the frequency of extension contact. Thus, any concerned bodies should strengthen rural households’ mass media coverage and advisory services.