Land ownership and technology adoption revisited: Improved maize varieties in Ethiopia.

The lack of land ownership can discourage agricultural technology adoption, yet there is scarce evidence of the impact of land rental contracts on the adoption of improved crop varieties in developing countries. The current study investigates such impact using a nationally representative survey of Ethiopian maize farmers. In contrast to many previous studies, we show in a simple model that cash-renters are as likely to adopt improved maize varieties as owner-operators, while sharecroppers are more likely to adopt given that such varieties are profitable. Empirical analysis reveals a significant impact of sharecropping on improved maize variety adoption, and no significant impact from cash-rental, lending support to the above hypotheses. These results imply that improvements in land rental markets can potentially enhance household welfare through crop variety adoption in agrarian economies where land sales markets are incomplete or missing.

Hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital, South West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous heart attack risk factors such as diabetes and prediabetes, abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Hyperuricemia is a condition in which the serum uric acid concentration is greater than 5.5 mg per deciliter for child and greater than 7.2 and 6.0 mg per deciliters for male and female adults respectively. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the magnitude of hyperuricemia and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at Hawassa Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HCSH) from February 28 to May 30 /2017. A random sampling technique was used to include 319 study subjects and a signed consent had been provided by each study subject before running any data collection. An interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and some clinically useful data. In addition to this, we reviewed the records of the study subjects to obtain other useful clinical data. Five milliliter blood specimen was collected from each study subjects after overnight fasting. A25TM Bio-System Random Access chemistry analyzer was used for blood sample analysis. All data were checked visually, coded and entered into epi-data version 3.4 and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Bi-variate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the association between explanatory and the outcome variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome among type 2 diabetic patients in the study area were 33.8%(n = 106) and 70.1% (n = 220) respectively. Having age greater or equal to 45 years (AOR: 1.9, CI: 1.-3.2, P value =0.015) and having metabolic syndrome (AOR: 2.6, CI: 1.5-4.7, P value = 0.001) were the determinant variables for hyperuricemia among type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: There was high prevalence of hyperuricemia among type 2 diabetic patients with high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, regular health information about life style modification, early diagnosis and treatment for hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome are essential to reduce hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients.

Modeling Preference and Willingness to Pay for Drought Tolerance (DT) in Maize in Rural Zimbabwe.

Maize plays a leading role in the food security of millions in southern Africa, yet it is highly vulnerable to the moisture stress brought about by the erratic rainfall patterns that characterize weather systems in the area. Developing and making drought-tolerant maize varieties available to farmers in the region has thus long been a key goal on the regional development agenda. Farm-level adoption of these varieties, however, depends on local perceptions of the value they add, along with willingness to pay (WTP) for it. Focusing on Zimbabwe, this research aimed at estimating the implicit prices farmers are willing to pay for drought tolerance in maize compared to other preferred traits. Using a choice experiment framework, we generated 12,600 observations from a random sample of 1,400 households in communal areas within 14 districts of Zimbabwe. Taste parameters and heterogeneities were estimated using the generalized multinomial logit model (G-MNL). The results reveal drought tolerance, grain yield, covered cob tip, cob size, and semi-flint texture to be the most preferred traits by farm households in Zimbabwe. The WTP estimates show that farmers are willing to pay a premium for drought tolerance equal to 2.56, 7, 3.2, and 5 times higher than for an additional ton of yield per acre, bigger cob size, larger grain size, and covered cob tip, respectively. We suggest designing and implementing innovative ways of promoting DT maize along with awareness-raising activities to enhance contextual understandings of drought and drought risk to speed adoption of new DT maize varieties by risk-prone farming communities. Given the high level of rural literacy and the high rate of adoption of improved maize, trait-based promotion and marketing of varieties constitutes the right strategy.

Hepatitis C Virus Dynamic Transmission Models Among People Who Inject Drugs.

Background: Transmission dynamic model is a concrete structure to describe and investigate the complex system of host-pathogen interactions. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne virus that is transmitted from infectious to susceptible individuals when they come into contact with HCV-contaminated equipment. Injecting drug use is the most known transmission route, and about 80% of new HCV cases have been confirmed as having acquired HCV infection via drug injection. Objective: The main objective of this review paper was to review the importance of HCV dynamic transmission model, that enables the readers to understand the mechanism how HCV is transmissible from infectious to susceptible hosts and the effective controlling strategies. Methods: PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Web of Science electronic databases have been used to search data by using key terms like "HCV transmission model among people who inject drug (PWID)", HCV potential herd immunity", and "basic reproductive number for HCV transmission in PWID." Data from research findings other than English version have been excluded from being used, and the most recently published data have been considered to be included. Conclusion: HCV belongs to the Hepacivirus genus within the Flaviviridae family. HCV infection is acquired when the susceptible individuals in populations come into contact with medical equipment such as shared syringes and needles, or swabs contaminated with infected blood. Construction of HCV transmission dynamic model is very significant in order to predict the duration and magnitude of its epidemic and to evaluate the potential impact of intervention. Comprehensive harm reduction and care/support service strategies are the best approach for intervention regarding HCV infection transmission among PWID.

Assessment of Selected Serum Electrolyte and Associated Risk Factors in Diabetic Patients.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess selected serum electrolytes imbalance and associated factors in diabetic patients attending their follow up appointments in Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) from February 1 to April 1, 2019. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study design was used to assess the selected serum electrolytes in diabetic patients attending their follow up appointments at Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) chronic illness clinic. A convenience sampling technique was used to include 279 diabetic patients in the study and an interviewer based questionnaire was used to include all necessary data from each diabetic patient. Five milliliters of blood were collected from each subject and processed and analyzed for blood glucose and serum electrolyte determination by ABX Pentra400 and Humalyte plus5 ion-selective electrode (ISE) system  clinical chemistry analyzers. Pearson's correlation coefficient model and multivariate logistic regression were used respectively to assess the correlation and significant association between abnormal serum electrolytes and independent variables. RESULTS: A high prevalence of one or more serum electrolyte abnormalities was determined in diabetic patients. The overall prevalence was 42.0% (n=116/276) in which hyponatremia was the highest followed by hypochloremia and hypercalcemia, 40.6%, 14.9% and 10.9% respectively. Age, type of medication, and high body mass index (BMI) had strong positive correlations with abnormal serum concentration levels of sodium (r=0.611, P=0.731), potassium (r=0.752, P=0.812) and chloride (r=0.645, P=0.459). Being employed (AOR: 3.933, 95% C.I: 1.057-14.637, P value: 0.041), treated with mixed medications (AOR: 2.9, 95% C.I: 1.292-6.441, P value: 0.010) and being unable to control blood glucose level or being hyperglycemic (AOR: 3.2, 95% C.I: 2.179-5.721, P value: 0.000) were statistically identified as risk factors for serum electrolyte abnormalities in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: The serum electrolyte concentration level was highly abnormal in diabetic patients. The prevalence of abnormal concentration was more common in diabetic patients with advanced age, and some variables had strong positive correlation with abnormal serum electrolyte level in diabetic patients.