Application of Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk activated carbon for the removal of lead (II) ions from aqueous solutions.

Due to the rise of industries worldwide, huge amounts of pollutants including heavy metals are released into the surroundings. Disposal of effluents containing heavy metals in higher concentrations without proper treatment is common in industries; lead is one of them. This study aims to determine and optimize the efficiency of Noug (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) stalk porous carbon (NSAC) for the elimination of lead (II) from aqueous solutions. For studying the adsorption characteristics of Noug stalk activated carbon (NSAC) an adsorbate of lead (II) ions was used. The interaction and effect of the following parameters on Pb(II) adsorption were investigated using Design Expert version 7.0 software (central composite design) to determine the optimum adsorption condition: pH, initial concentration of Pb(II) ion, adsorbent dose, and contact time. The optimized condition for the elimination of lead (II) using Noug stalk porous carbon (98.77 %) was achieved at pH [4.87], initial concentration of Pb(II) [84.66 mg/L], adsorbent dose [18.43 g/L], and contact time [2.04 h]. The pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model which had a maximum adsorption capacity of 89.25 mg/g, provided the best-fit models for Pb(II) adsorption, with R2 values of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. Efficient elimination of Pb(II) from wastewater can be performed through the use of NSAC. Future research should delve more into column adsorption under continuous wastewater flow.

Environmental Predictors of Undernutrition Among Under-5 Children at Dabat District Health Facilities, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Background: In Ethiopia, undernutrition remains a significant public health concern throughout the year due to persistent household food insecurit. The intensifying conflict in the Dabat district, involving the Ethiopian government and the Tigray Liberation Front, has increased the threat of undernutrition among under-5 children. The cessation of humanitarian aid has worsened food insecurity, increasing the vulnerability of the children in the region. However,there was no data showing the prevalence and environmental pridictors of undernutrition in the Dabat district, northwestern Ethiopia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and identify environmental pridictors in this study setting. Methods: This institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2023. A total of 400 under-5 children were included in this study using systematic random sampling techniques with a 100% response rate. The study included all under-5 children who visited healthcare facilities during the data collection period. However, it excluded children under-5 who had physical deformities, were critically ill, or had congenital abnormalities or known chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, or chronic heart diseases. Binary logistic regression was used to determine environmental predictors of undernutrition, with statistical significance at a P-value of ⩽.05. Results: The overall prevalence of undernutrition was found to be 12% (95% CI: 8.72-21.5). Among those affected, 32.8% (95% CI: 21.5-39.8) were stunted, 37.9% (95% CI: 28.8-47.50) were underweight, and 29.3% (95% CI: 21.3-29.7) were wasted. The environmental predictors of undernutrition were latrine use, recent diarrhea episodes, mothers' occupation and place of residence, water treatment before consumption, water sources and storage, water extraction methods, and mothers' handwashing habits. Conclusions and recommendations: The study found a higher prevalence of undernutrition among under-5 children compared to the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey. This study recommended raising awareness about establishing private toilets, promoting water treatment, proper latrine use, and handwashing practices. Training on personal hygiene and economic support for households should also be provided. Healthcare providers should offer quality health services for under-5 children. Further research is needed to explore specific nutrient deficiencies using laboratory methods.

What is Already Known on This Topic? Undernutrition is the main cause of child mortality, physical, and mental retardation. What This Study Adds? This research aimed to determine the current prevalence and factors that contribute to malnutrition in Dabat, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Latrine Utilization and its Associated Factors in Urban Slums Dwellers of Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Sanitation facilities are critical for interrupting the transmission of feco-oral disease through proper use, not simply their physical presence. Latrine utilization is the actual behavior in a practice of regularly using existing latrines for the safe disposal of excreta. In slum regions of developing nations, such as Ethiopia, poor latrine use is a prevalent concern. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the state of latrine utilization and its determinant factors in the urban slums of Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done in slum regions of Gondar City from March 1 to April 30, 2021, with a total of 422 systematically chosen households. A structured pre-tested questionnaire and on-the-spot observational checklists were used to collect the data from each household. Result: Latrine utilization was observed among 31.5% of households. Latrine utilization was also significantly associated with the age of the latrine (age ⩽10 years) (AOR: 2.31; 95% CI (1.15, 4.63)), cleanliness of the latrine (AOR: 3.70; 95% CI (1.16, 11.78)), pit being lined (AOR: 6.33; 95% CI (2.09, 19.15)), depth of latrine (⩽3 m) (AOR: 0.43; 95% CI (0.24, 0.77)), and cleaning materials for handwashing (AOR: 0.33; 95% CI (0.15, 0.75)). Conclusion: Based on the present finding, most households didn't have proper latrine utilization practices. The age of the latrine, cleanliness of the latrine, pit being lined, depth of the pit, and cleaning materials for handwashing were associated factors of latrine utilization. As a result, sanitation interventions such as health education about improving the cleanliness and sanitary condition of existing latrine facilities and constructing lined and deep new latrines as the goal's standard should be implemented.

Local's attitude towards African elephant conservation in and around Chebra Churchura National Park, Ethiopia.

Economic growth and development in developing countries often involves land-use changes which fragment natural areas, bring humans and wildlife into closer proximity and escalating human- wildlife conflicts. Human-wildlife conflicts impose huge costs on local people and their livelihoods. Balancing developmental activities with the conservation of mega fauna such as the African and Asian elephants (Loxodonta Africana, Elephas maximus; respectively) remains problematic. Understanding the reasoning upon which perceived risks and level of human- elephant conflict laid is critical to address societal or cultural beliefs in order to develop effective mitigation strategies. The perceived risks and level of conflict have to be properly addressed for effective planning and implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies. We studied human- elephant interactions in Chebra Churchura National Park Ethiopia (CCNP) from September 8 to October 28, 2022 and collected baseline data on human perceptions of conflicts in an area where elephant populations are increasing. To complete our study, we surveyed 800 household from 20 villages adjacent to the CCNP. The purpose of this investigation was to identify the relevance of the existing human-elephant conflict (HEC) with the attitude of local communities towards elephant conservation, the park management and perceived effective mitigation techniques. The local communities trust in the implementation of different traditional mitigation techniques is generally weak. The households interviewed were less positive towards the effectiveness of most of the traditional techniques in chasing elephants away from their farm lands. They believed that elephants had already adapted and do not respond to most of these techniques. Against the above perception in exception of their usual absence and late arrival, perception of local communities about shooting warning gun by park scouts is among the most accepted effective methods in chasing elephants from their farm lands. The majority of respondents believe that separation of elephants and humans by constricting barriers is the best solution to the problem. The idea of constructing barriers such as electric fence; ditch or concrete wall and blocking corridors between the Park boundary and the villages have become the most popular idea of local communities followed by relocating people to other safer places, as the best protection method against the elephant attack irrespective of the associated initial and maintenance costs.

Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology.

Even though adsorption is considered the simple, effective, and efficient method for the treatment of wastewater, accessibility of low-cost and locally available activated carbon remains the challenge. In response to this, recently significant amounts of agricultural byproducts have been investigated to prepare low-cost porous carbon, but there is still a problem related to cost and availability. So, Noug stalk, chosen because of its abundance and low cost as an agricultural byproduct in Ethiopia, was chemically activated with phosphoric acid to produce a low-cost porous carbon. The production of Noug stalk activated carbon (NSAC) is optimized using response surface methodology. A central composite design was used to investigate the effect of three process parameters, namely carbonization temperature (450-650 °C), activation time (90-150 min), and impregnation ratio (w/w) (1-3), on the BET surface area and yield of porous carbon. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) result shows that all three process parameters showed a significant effect on the surface area of porous carbon, while only carbonization temperature showed a significant effect on the yield of porous carbon. The best conditions for NSAC preparation were a carbonization temperature of 537.50 °C, an activation time of 127 min, and an impregnation ratio of 1.95, resulting in a BET surface area and yield of 473.45 m2 g-1 and 53.78%, respectively. The expected and observed values of the model for the outcome variable were highly comparable. Several analytical techniques, including proximal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption, were used to characterize the NSAC. The results demonstrated that the prepared NSAC has a highly porous structure comparable to porous carbon obtained from other biomass feedstocks. This implies it would be used as a potential low-cost alternative for wastewater treatment using the adsorption process.

Household drinking water quality and its predictors in flood-prone settings of Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional community-based study.

Globally, the deterioration of drinking water quality is a major public health problem that contributes to the spread of disease and causes death. Therefore, it is important to have regular quality control monitoring. This study aimed to assess the level of physicochemical and bacteriological quality of household drinking water and its contributing factors in flood-prone settlements of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in flood-prone settings of Northwest Ethiopia from January 17 to March 30, 2021. Structured questionnaires were used to gather the sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral data. A total of 675 drinking water samples were collected from water storage containers of selected households. Logistic regression models were used for both univariate and multivariable studies. The survey included a total of 675 households. The mean values of pH (5.9 ± 1.03), turbidity (6.7 ± 2.21 NTU), and free residual chlorine (0.02 ± 0.01 mg/l) did not meet the WHO recommended limits for drinking water. The prevalence of fecal contamination of drinking water in the study area was 62.2% with [95% CI (53-60%)]. Family size [AOR = 2.205, 95% CI (1.375-3.536), absence of latrine [AOR = 3.449, 95% CI (1.349-8.823)], and lack of a separate container to draw water from its storage [AOR = 0.454, 95% CI (0.249-0.827)] were significant predictors for fecal contamination of household drinking water. In conclusion, the water quality in terms of pH, turbidity, residual chlorine, and bacteriological parameters was poor and not suitable for consumption. High prevalence of fecal contamination of water was found, and it was significantly associated with family size, the absence of a latrine, and the lack of a separate cap to take water from the storage. Therefore, continuous chlorination and monitoring its concentration, educating the community on how to use stored water, educating the advantage of having a latrine, and promoting point-of-use treatments such as filtration and boiling are needed.

The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism on anthropometric and biochemical parameters among hypertension patients: A case-control study from Northwest Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism has recently been linked with altered anthropometric and biochemical parameters in hypertensive patients. However, these links are still poorly understood and there is scarce evidence on the topic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism on anthropometric and biochemical parameters among essential hypertension patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study with 64 cases and 64 controls was conducted from October 07, 2020, to June 02, 2021. The anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and ACE gene polymorphism were determined using standard operating procedures, enzymatic colorimetric method, and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine the association of genotypes with other study variables. P value < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. RESULT: The systolic/diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose level (P-value<0.05) were significantly higher among study hypertensive patients with the DD genotype. However, anthropometric measures and lipid profiles of cases and controls were not associated with ACE gene polymorphism (P-value>0.05). CONCLUSION: The DD genotype of the ACE gene polymorphism was found to have a significant association with high blood pressure and blood glucose levels in the study population. Advanced studies with a considerable sample size may be needed to utilize the ACE genotype as a biomarker for the early detection of hypertension-related complications.

Prevalence of Diarrhea, Intestinal Parasites, and Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children in Dabat District, Northwest Ethiopia: Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Despite global interventions to prevent and control diarrhea, it remains a public health problem leading to childhood morbidity and mortality majorly in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, data from 2021 indicated that diarrheal disease is responsible for 8% of deaths in children under the age of 5. In the world, more than 1 billion under-five children live in poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination affected by intestinal parasitic infections and diarrhea disease. In sub-Saharan African countries like Ethiopia, diarrheal diseases and parasite infections continue to cause significant and persistent morbidity and mortality in under-five children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasites and diarrheal diseases in children under the age of 5 years in Dabat District, Northwest Ethiopia in 2022. Method: A community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out from September 16 to August 18th 2022. Four hundred households with at least one child under the age of 5 years were recruited by simple random sampling technique. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors were also collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with diarrhea and intestinal parasitic infections. The level of significance was computed at a P-value ⩽ .05. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and other summary statistics were used for describing sociodemographic variables and determining the prevalence of diarrhea and intestinal parasites. Tables, figures, and texts were used to present the findings. The variables having a P-value of less than .2 in the bivariable analysis were entered into the multivariable analysis at a P-value of ⩽.5. Results: According to this study, the prevalence of diarrhea and intestinal parasites among under-five children was 20.8% (95% CI: [16.8-37.8] and 32.5% (95% CI: [28.6, 37.8], respectively. In multivariable logistic analysis at a P-value of ⩽.5, the educational level of mothers (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.7, 95% CI: [1.52, 8.95], residence (AOR: 4.7, 95% CI: [1.52, 8.09]), undernutrition (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: [1.09, 11.3]), latrine availability (AOR:3.9, 95% CI: [1.23, 9.56]), types of the latrine (AOR: 5.9, 95% CI: [3.42, 11.66]), water treatment (AOR = 7.6; 95% CI: [6.4, 12.7]), eating uncooked vegetable or fruits (AOR = 4.6; 95% CI: [1.025, 15.2]), and source of water (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: [2.32,8.92]) were significantly associated with diarrheal disease. Intestinal parasitic infection was also significantly associated with undernutrition (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI: [1.09, 9.67]), latrine availability (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI:[1.32, 9.32]), types of the latrine (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: [1.92, 8.12]) residence (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI: [1.52, 8.09]), water treatment, source of water for drinking (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: [2.32, 8.92]), eating uncooked vegetables or fruits (AOR = 6.7:95% CI: [3.9, 9.8]), and deworming children with anti-parasitic medication (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: [1.34, 5.62]), washing hands after latrine used (AOR = 2.2: 95% CI: [1.06, 3.86]). Conclusion: The prevalence of diarrhea and intestinal parasite among under-five children was 20.8% and 32.5%, respectively. Undernutrition, latrine availability, types of latrines, residence, eating uncooked vegetables or fruits, and source of water for drinking and water treatment were associated with intestinal parasitic infection and diarrheal disease. Deworming children with antiparasitic medications and washing hands after latrine use was also significantly associated with parasitic infection. Hence, awareness creation activities on latrine utilization and building, keeping personal hygiene, safe water supply, feeding cooked vegetables or fruits, taking anti-parasitic medications, practice hand washing habit after toilet use are strongly recommended.

The effect of land use type on selected soil physicochemical properties in Shihatig watershed, Dabat district, Northwest Ethiopia.

Different land use practices have a substantial influence on soil quality. An inappropriate land use system in Ethiopia leads to extensive deforestation which aggravates the loss of soil fertility. Even though there are various studies conducted on the effect of land use type on soil physicochemical properties, it is inadequate in the northern highlands of Ethiopia, in particular in the Dabat district. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of land use type and soil depth on selected soil physicochemical properties in the Shihatig watershed, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 24 undisturbed core and disturbed composite soil samples were collected from the four land use types (natural forest, grazing, cultivated, and Eucalyptus lands) and two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) with three replications. The physicochemical properties of the soil were determined using standard operating procedures. The two-way analysis of variances was conducted using SAS software, Version 9.4. The result showed that the texture and soil organic carbon were affected by land use type, soil depth, and the interaction of the two factors; while bulk density, soil moisture content, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, and level of Mg2+ were significantly affected by both land use and soil depth, whereas pH and electrical conductivity were affected by only the land use type. The highest clay, pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) were recorded in the natural forest land, while the lowest values of the same parameters were found under cultivated land. The mean values of most of the soil properties were low in the cultivated and Eucalyptus lands. Therefore, adopting sustainable cropping systems such as crop rotation and the addition of organic manure, and minimizing planting the Eucalyptus tree is vital to improve the existing soil quality and enhance crop productivity.

Prevalence of diarrheal disease and associated factors among under-five children in flood-prone settlements of Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional community-based study.

Background: Diarrheal illnesses are a long-standing public health problem in developing countries due to numerous sanitation issues and a lack of safe drinking water. Floods exacerbate public health issues by spreading water-borne infectious diseases such as diarrhea through the destruction of sanitation facilities and contamination of drinking water. There has been a shortage of studies regarding the magnitude of diarrheal disease in flood-prone areas. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the prevalence of diarrheal disease and its predictors among under-five children living in flood-prone localities in the south Gondar zone of Northwest Ethiopia. Method: A community-based cross-sectional research was carried out in flood-prone villages of the Fogera and Libokemkem districts from March 17 to March 30, 2021. Purposive and systematic sampling techniques were used to select six kebeles and 717 study units, respectively. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect the data. A multivariable analysis was performed to determine the predictors of diarrheal disease, with P-value <0.05 used as the cut-off point to declare the association. Result: The prevalence of a diarrheal disease among under-five children was 29.0%. The regular cleaning of the compound [AOR: 2.13; 95% CI (1.25, 3.62)], source of drinking water [AOR: 2.36; 95% CI: (1.26, 4.41)], animal access to water storage site [AOR: 3.04; 95% CI: (1.76, 5.24)], vector around food storage sites [AOR: 9.13; 95% CI: (4.06, 20.52)], use of leftover food [AOR: 4.31; 95% CI: (2.64, 7.04)], and fecal contamination of water [AOR: 12.56; 95% CI: (6.83, 23.20)] remained to have a significant association with diarrheal diseases. Conclusion: The present study found that the prevalence of the diarrheal disease among under-five children was high. Routine compound cleaning, the source of drinking water, animal access to a water storage site, vectors near food storage sites, consumption of leftover food, and fecal contamination of water were significant predictors of diarrheal disease. Therefore, it is advised to provide improved water sources, encourage routine cleaning of the living area, and offer health education about water, hygiene, and sanitation.

Work-related stress and associated factors among garment workers in Bole Lemi Industrial Park of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a multi-center institution-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Work-related stress (WRS) is a growing problem around the world that affects the health and well-being of employees. However, evidence of work-related stress in Ethiopia, particularly among garment industry employees, is scarce. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of work-related stress among garment workers in the Bole Lemi industrial park in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: A multi-center institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 01 to March 31, 2021. A total of 605 study participants were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A pre-tested, interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire was used to collect data. The logistic regression model was employed to identify determinant factors for work-related stress, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The magnitude of work-related stress in garment workers was 44.1% (95% CI: 40.0, 48.0). Being within the age group of 25 - 34 years (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.90) and receiving induction training (AOR = 0.35, CI: 0.20, 0.62) were protective factors with stress. Whereas lack of family support (AOR = 2.72, CI: 1.60, 4.64), lack of job satisfaction (AOR = 4.26, CI: 2.77, 6.57), and khat chewing (AOR = 3.14, CI: 1.35, 7.32) were positively associated with work-related stress. CONCLUSION: Work-related stress is prevalent among garment workers in the study setting. Being between the ages of 25-34 years and receiving induction training were protective factors against stress, while a lack of family support, a lack of job satisfaction, and khat chewing practices were positively associated with work-related stress. Therefore, improving family support and job satisfaction, providing induction training during employment, and providing psychological support for substance users to bring about changes are mandatory in Bole Lemi Industrial Park, Ethiopia.

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphisms with risk of hypertension among the Ethiopian population.

INTRODUCTION: Although the pathophysiological mechanism of hypertension is not fully elucidated yet, a large number of pieces of evidence have shown that genetic alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system play a central role. However, the association of insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene with essential hypertension is controversial yet, and there is a limited number of publications among the Ethiopian population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the risk of hypertension among essential hypertension patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted from October 07, 2020, to June 02, 2021, among hypertensive patients and normotensive control groups at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and anthropometric measurements. Five milliliters of blood were drawn from each of the randomly selected 64 hypertensive and 64 normotensive participants for molecular test analysis. Genetic polymorphism of the ACE gene was identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0 software. The strength of association between the genotype and hypertension was estimated through the calculation of adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals using logistic regression. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT: The distribution of DD genotypes and D allele of the ACE gene were 48.4% and 63% in essential hypertensive patients, respectively, while it were 29.7% and 42.2% in control subjects respectively. The ACE DD genotype (p-value = 0.005) and D allele (p-value = 0.001) were more frequent among hypertensive patients as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The present study found that the DD genotype and D allele of the ACE gene has had a strong association with a high risk of hypertension in the study population.