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Working with expansive soil as pavement subgrade is not technically easy due its poor workability and insufficient capacity to support the imposed cyclic traffic loading. For satisfactory performance of the pavement structure constructed in such foundation hence the properties of the weak subgrade have to be modified. One of the ideal solutions to these problems might be looking towards naturally abundant and industrial waste materials that are produced in large quantities as stabilizing agent for clay subgrades so that the instability concerns can be alleviated. This study hence primarily aimed at experimentally scrutinizing the stabilizing potential of waste ceramic dust and natural lime in modifying geotechnical properties of the highly plastic subgrade material. Both the separate and combined effects of the two stabilizing agents were investigated with respect to mitigating the key parameters required for stable road construction. The degree of improvement for various mix ratios were compared with the design and requirements of Ethiopian roads authority specifications for road construction. Accordingly, the optimum dosage for natural lime was 6% whereas that of the waste ceramic is 20% for safe road subgrades. It was also indicated that natural lime is more powerful than the waste ceramic dust from effectiveness point of view. The conducted experimental test revealed that the response of soil parameters to variation in amount of stabilizers in the separate application method is more sensitive for natural lime than the waste ceramic dust. The improvement rate in magnitude of the required geotechnical parameters in the combined case is by far greater than the separate application of the additives.
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BACKGROUND: Malnutrition with its constituents of protein energy malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies continues to be a major health burden in low and middle-income countries. To end all forms of malnutrition, we need to address poverty, which is associated with the insecure supply of food and diversified nutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the level of dietary diversity and household food security among urban school-age children in Merawi town, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Merawi town among 422 households having school age children from April 1 to June 15, 2018. The association between dietary diversity and determinants was assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. Socio-demographic, maternal and child related variables; food security and diversity determinants were studied. RESULTS: The overall level of good dietary diversity was 91.7%, i.e.; 8.3% had a low, 59.1% had a good, 32.6% had better dietary diversity, respectively. Most households (95.2%) were secured with food access. The factors associated with good dietary diversity were the age of the child [AOR = 0.31 (0.14, 0.70)], and access to information [AOR = 3.18 (1.07,9.47)]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of good dietary diversity was relatively high. Among different socio-cultural and economic factors studied, age of the child and access to information were the factors associated with dietary diversity. Increasing maternal and child awareness towards good dietary diversity practices through the mass media (radio and Television) and working with mothers with early school-age children to improve dietary diversity are recommended.
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BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the bacterium that can asymptomatically colonize the human upper respiratory tract (i.e. nose and throat). Carriage of S. aureus, including methicillin resistant S. aureus, is common to children. The aim at this study was to determine the nasal colonization, associated factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. aureus isolates among pre-school children in Debre Markos town. METHODS: Institutional-based cross sectional study was conducted. A total of 400 nasal swabs were collected from pre-school children from April to June, 2015 following standard microbiological methods. MRSA was detected using both Cefoxitin (30 µg) and Oxacillin (6 µg) (Oxoid Ltd. England) discs in combination and associated factors were assessed using self-administered pretested questionnaires, which were delivered to the children's parents/guardians. Statistical analysis of the data (logistic regression) was done using SPSS V-22. RESULTS: A total of 52 S. aureus isolate was recovered from 400 nasal swap samples. The prevalence of S. aureus among pre-School children was 13% (52/400). The susceptibility patterns of the isolates to commonly used antibiotics were: 84.62% to Chloramphenicol, 69.2% to Doxycycline and Tetracycline, 92.3% to Kanamycin, 7.7% to Ampicillin and Penicillin, 86.6% to Ceftriaxone, and 76.9% to Augmentin. All the isolates were sensitive to Oxacillin and Cefoxitin, mean there was no methicillin resistant S. aureus isolate, and also sensitive to Gentamycin, Erythromycin and Clindamycin. The main associated factors of nasal colonization of S. aureus in the study area was, having recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) [AOR = 2.37 (1.11, 5.06)], Children admission in hospital [AOR = 1.96 (1.03, 3.73)] and cough [AOR = 2.09 (1.08, 4.09)]. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of S. aureus nasal colonization among pre-school children was relatively low in absence of MRSA. Factors like; recurrent AOM, hospital admission and cough were significantly associated with S. aureus nasal colonization. Most of the isolates were resistant to ß-lactam drugs and sensitive to drugs like Gentamycin, Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Chloramphenicol, Doxycycline, Tetracycline, Kanamycin and Augmentin.
Asunto(s)
Antiinfecciosos/farmacología , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/efectos de los fármacos , Cavidad Nasal/microbiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Staphylococcus aureus/efectos de los fármacos , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/efectos de los fármacos , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/aislamiento & purificación , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Prevalencia , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/epidemiología , Staphylococcus aureus/aislamiento & purificación , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Monotonous low quality diets are the norm in resource-limited environments across the globe. Dietary diversity is a challenge for rural communities in developing countries. Their diets are based on starchy staples with inadequate animal products, fresh fruits and vegetables. METHODS: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from August 22-30, 2015 at Finote Selam Town. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 400 households. Data were collected using pretested and semi-structured questionnaire. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with household dietary diversity. RESULTS: The prevalence of low, medium and high dietary diversity scores were 11.8, 67.2 and 21% respectively. Family head (Men headed) [AOR = 4.75 (2.22, 10.16)], frequency of eating [AOR = 6.06 (2.82, 13.06)] and shortage of water for cooking [AOR = 5.69 (1.39, 23.27)] were significantly associated with household dietary diversity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study the prevalence of adequate household diversity was 88.2%. Family head, frequency of eating and shortage of water for cooking were significant factors for household dietary diversity. Empowering women, increasing frequency of eating among family members and avoiding shortage of water for cooking were recommended to sustain and improve household dietary diversity.
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BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, the health sector has increased its efforts to enhance good nutritional practices through health education, treatment of extremely malnourished children and provision of micronutrients for mothers and children. But, the poor nutritional status of women and children continues to be still a major public health problem. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the treatment outcome and associated factors of severe acute malnutrition among a total of 253 children age 6-59 months old. Severe acute malnutrition registration logbook and patient charts were used as a source of data. Data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. To identify associated factors, Cox proportional hazard analysis was computed and p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The recovery rate was 77.9% and the overall median recovery time was 11 days. Those children age from 24 to 35 months had 34% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6-11 months old children (AHR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.35-0.89). Children whose ages from 36 to 59 months had 47% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6-11 months old children (AHR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-0.91). HIV negative children had 2.48 times higher probability of getting recovered from SAM compared to HIV positive children (AHR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23-5.01). Children who didn't take folic acid supplement had 65% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to children who took folic acid supplement (AHR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that recovery rate of 6-59 months old children treated for severe acute malnutrition in therapeutics units was in acceptable range based on the WHO recommendation. Folic acid supplementation and screening for HIV status should be promoted at all levels of health facilities during early age.
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BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding means babies are given only breast milk and nothing else: no other milk, food, drink, not even water for one day (24 hrs) before the survey was conducted. It prevents 13% of childhood mortality; i.e, at least 1.2 million children worldwide would be saved every year. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice and its associated factor among mothers who have infants less than six months of age in Motta town, East Gojjam, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. METHOD: A community based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from April 7, 2015 to May 7, 2015. A simple random sampling technique was applied after taking all registered mothers who have infants less than six months old from local health extension workers of each kebele. A total of 423 mothers with infant less than six months old were included in this study. The data was collected using an interviewer administered questioaire. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice. RESULT: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 50.1%. Mothers with young infants aged 0-1 month (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 3.86: (1.64, 9.07), unemployed mothers (AOR 3.01: 1.46, 6.20), low income mothers (AOR 3.61: 1.75, 7.45), mothers who received breastfeeding counseling in pregnancy (AOR 2.76: 1.52, 4.99), fed colostrum (AOR 3.50: 1.45, 8.45), didn't give prelacteal feeds (AOR 4.48: 1.82, 11.03) and were supported by their husband (AOR 2.67: 1.04, 6.95) were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in study area was lower than country recommended level. Age of the child, maternal occupation, income, breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care, husband support of breastfeeding and colostrum feeding were independent predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Recommendations to increase exclusive breastfeeding practice are revising postpartum maternity leave, increasing health professional's habit of breastfeeding counseling through training, involving husbands during counseling, educating mothers and the community as a whole to avoid traditional practices that hinder exclusive breastfeeding up to six months.
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BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding is the most widely known and effective intervention for preventing early-childhood deaths. Optimum breastfeeding practices can prevent 1.4 million deaths worldwide among children under five every year. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers who have an infant less than six months old in Debre Markos, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to 30, 2013. A simple random sampling technique was used from a list of all mothers who had an infant less than six months old obtained from the health extension workers (HEWs) registration book in all kebeles (neighbourhoods) of the city. A total of 423 mothers with infants less than six months old were included in this study. Data were collected using questionnaires administered at interview. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. RESULTS: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during the seven days before the survey was 60.8% (95% CI: 55.8%, 65.8%). Those mothers who were unemployed [AOR = 1.98 (1.21, 3.22)], received breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care (ANC) [AOR = 2.44 (1.53, 3.91)], received infant feeding counseling during postnatal care (PNC) [AOR = 5.03 (3.04, 8.31)], didn't give prelacteal feeding [AOR = 3.44 (1.88, 6.33)] and had adequate knowledge about breastfeeding [AOR = 2.57 (1.57, 4.19)] were more likely to practice EBF than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was lower in the study area than international recommendations, rates were higher than found in other studies. Recommendations for improving exclusive breastfeeding include better support for working mothers through extending maternal leave and establishing work-site day care centers for infants, expanding the urban health extension program so that more pregnant women and mothers can be taught about appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and how to express their milk, thereby increasing their breastfeeding knowledge.