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Wolde Facha,1 Takele Tadesse,1 Eskinder Wolka,1 Ayalew Astatkie2 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Wolde Facha, Tel +251912025928, Email woldiefacha@gmail.com; woldie.facha@wsu.edu.etBackground: Currently, Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens are administered to women on Option B plus to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the virus. However, its effect on reducing MTCT of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among HIV-exposed infants over the previously used Efavirenz (EFV)-based regimen is unknown.Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of DTG-based and EFV-based regimens on the MTCT of HIV among HIV-exposed infants in Ethiopia.Methods: An uncontrolled before-and-after study design was conducted among 958 mother-infant pairs (479 on EFV-based and 479 on DTG-based regimens) enrolled in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) care from September 2015 to February 2023. The outcome variable was the HIV infection status among the exposed infants. A log-binomial model was employed, and the proportion was computed to compare the incidence of MTCT of HIV in both groups. The risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the predictor variables.Results: Mothers on DTG-based regimens were approximately 44% (adjusted risk ratio (aRR): 0.56; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.70) less likely to transmit HIV to their infants than those on EFV-based regimens. In addition, poor or fair adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) (aRR: 5.82; 95% CI: 3.41, 9.93), home delivery (aRR: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.32, 5.62), mixed feeding practice (aRR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.45, 2.3) and not receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis (aRR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.6, 6.64) were found to increase the risk of MTCT of HIV infection, whereas older maternal age (aRR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.9, 0.96) was a protective factor.Conclusion: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV was less frequently observed in mother-infant pairs exposed to the DTG-based regimens as compared to those exposed to the EFV-based regimens. Thus, DTG-based first-line ART regimens supplementation should be sustained to achieve global and national targets for zero new infections in HIV-exposed infants.Keywords: mother-to-child transmission, ART, dolutegravir, HIV-exposed infants, before-and-after, Ethiopia

Tekalign Tadesse,1,* Haile Alemayehu,2 Girmay Medhin,2 Aberaw Akalu,3 Tadesse Eguale2,4,* 1Department of Veterinary Science, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia; 2Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Food, Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4The Ohio State University, Global One Health LLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tekalign Tadesse, Department of Veterinary Science, Mattu University, P.O Box 318, Mattu, Ethiopia, Email tsquaregr@gmail.comBackground: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to public and animal health. Escherichia coli is considered an indicator organism for monitoring AMR among gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae in humans and animals. The current study aims to assess the antibiogram profile of E. coli isolated from dairy cattle and in-contact humans in central Ethiopia and to identify risk factors associated with multidrug resistance (MDR).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 58 farms were recruited from selected districts of central Ethiopia. E. coli was isolated using standard bacteriological techniques. A total of 200 representative isolates (140 from cattle and 60 from humans in contact) were randomly selected and tested for susceptibility to a panel of 13 antimicrobials using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay.Results: The highest rate of resistance was observed for sulfamethoxazole+trimethoprim (58.6%, 82/140) and amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (70.0%, 42/60) among E. coli isolates from cattle and hmans, respectively. In contrast, resistance rates in isolates from in contact humans with the cattle were 30%, 33.3%, and 66.7%, respectively. Resistance to tetracycline (p=0.02), streptomycin (p=0.03), and sulfamethoxazole+trimethoprim (p=0.007) was significantly high in E. coli isolated from cattle on commercial dairy farms than in those isolated from cattle on smallholder farms. There was no significant difference (p> 0.05) in the rate of resistance between E. coli isolated from in contact humans with smallholder and commercial dairy farms. Antimicrobial use for treatment purpose (p=0.04) and non-compliance with the drug withdrawal period (p=0.03) were significantly associated with the farm-level occurrence of MDR.Conclusion: A high rate of resistance was detected in E. coli isolated from the feces of dairy cattle and in-contact humans. This necessitates an effective intervention through a one-health approach and further molecular studies are required to establish source attribution.Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, dairy cattle, E. coli, humans

Mengesh Akale,1 Tirhas Tadesse,2 Balew Arega1 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Mengesh Akale, Email Mengeshaakaleeye@gmial.comBackground: Comprehensive high quality of care is critical in preventing diabetic complications and improving quality of life. This needs compliance with guidelines and focused therapy. There is no data in Ethiopia evaluating the quality of diabetes care using standard guidelines (American diabetic association and international diabetic federation) as a reference.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College (YHMC) to assess the process and outcome quality indicators of diabetic patients. Data were collected from outpatient clinics between May and July 2022 over a period of 3 months. Diabetic patients with at least one year since diagnosis were selected using systematic random sampling. Both the process and outcome of diabetic quality care indicators were measured and compared with standard guidelines (ADA and IDF). Both descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis. The P-value < 0.05 was used as statistical significance.Results: About 250 diabetic patients with a mean age of 53± 15 were included. The majority were type 2 diabetes mellitus (83.2%). HbA1c was determined for 128 (51.2%) patients with the recent mean value of 8± 1.6. Only 52 (40.6%) of patients achieved target HbA1c. Annual comprehensive feet examination, urine albuminuria test, and retinal examination were done for 54 (21.6%), 52 (20.8%), and 122 (48.8%), respectively. Single marital status (AOR = 5.76; 95% CI; 1.02– 32.36) P = 0.047, determining HbA1c level at least twice a year (AOR = 6.27; 95% CI; 2.18– 17.73) P = 0.001, and medication adherence (AOR = 7.1; 95% CI; 2.61– 19.01)P = 0.001, were significantly associated with good glycemic control.Conclusion: The overall quality of diabetic care was found suboptimal both in process and outcome quality indicators. Thus, awareness creation about quality indicators for caregivers, compliance with guidelines, wise resource utilization, and cooperation with different stakeholders like hospital management teams, and government officials is needed.Keywords: quality care, process and outcome indicators, diabetes mellitus, glycemic control

Getu Ataro Hanago,1 Matthias Siebeck,2 Samuel Jilo Dira,3 Tefera Tadesse,4 Dominik Irnich5 1Department of Anesthesia, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia; 2Institute of Medical Education, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; 3Department of Anthropology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia; 4Institute of Educational Research, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 5Multidiciplinary Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, GermanyCorrespondence: Getu Ataro Hanago, Email getsha@yahoo.comBackground: Despite its universal nature; perception, coping, responses, treatment options, and overall experiences of pain are influenced by biopsychosocial factors to various extents. Pain perception, expression, and control are progressively learned behaviors among members of a society and are culture-specific. Effects of ethnicity-related culture (ethnoculture) on pain experience in a broader context have increasingly been reported. However, evidence from ethnoculturally diverse groups of a nation, particularly based on surgical patients, is limited. Therefore, as a qualitative research effort of a broader project aimed at assessing ethnocultural determinants of surgical pain management, this study explored the perception of ethnoculturally diverse patients and families about expressing surgical disease-related pain.Methods: This study follows subjectivist-interpretivist philosophical assumptions as an underpinning research paradigm. We purposively selected 11 patients for in-depth interviews and 12 patients’ family members for focus group discussions in three hospitals of ethnic-based regions of Ethiopia. In the phenomenological frame, thematic analysis was employed.Finding: Ethnocultural background influences how individuals express and respond to pain according to emergent themes of finding— Pain and overlooked cultural influence, Pain expressiveness in cultural context, Stereotypes of pain expressiveness, and Bravehood through stoic response. Pain feelings are commonly hidden where the domestic culture values stoic response to pain compared to ethnoculture where pain expressiveness is encouraged.Conclusion: Individuals can express and respond to pain differently due to ethnocultural diversity within a nation. Researchers and clinicians should consider cultural context while applying the prevailing one-size-fits-all pain assessment tools among surgical patients of a nation with ethnocultural diversity.Keywords: surgical pain, pain and culture, pain expression, pain behavior, pain response, stoic response

Mengesh Akale,1 Tirhas Tadesse,2 Balew Arega1 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, Yekatit 12 Hospital, Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Mengesh Akale, Email Mengeshaakaleeye@gmail.com

Lire Lemma Tirore,1 Selamu Abose Nadamo,2 Habtamu Tamrat Derilo,3 Desta Erkalo,1 Tagesse Sedore,1 Tegegn Tadesse,1 Dejene Ermias,1 Temesgen Yaekob4 1Department of Public Health, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia; 2Department of Midwifery, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia; 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia; 4Department of Statistics, Wachemo University, Hossana, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Lire Lemma Tirore, P.O.BOX:667, Email ganetlemma@gmail.comBackground: The world is currently facing a pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). It has caused significant morbidity and mortality. So far little is known about recovery time (prolonged hospital stay) from Covid-19 and its determinants in Ethiopia as well as in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine time to recovery from Covid-19, and identify predictors of time to recovery among patients admitted to treatment centers of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR).Methods and Materials: A facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among Covid-19 patients admitted to care centers of SNNPR from May 30, 2020 to October 15, 2021. A sample of 845 patients was included in the study. Summarization of the data was done using mean (standard deviation) and median (inter quartile range). Kaplan–Meier Survival Curve was used to estimate recovery time from Covid-19 and the independent effects of covariates on recovery time was analyzed using multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model.Results: The incidence density of recovery was 8.24 per 100 person-days (95% CI: 7.67, 8.85). The overall median recovery time was 10 days (IQR: 8– 16 days). Critical stage of Covid-19 (aHR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.29), severe stage of Covid-19 (aHR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.56), mechanical ventilation (aHR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.56) and treatment center (aHR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.90) were significant predictors of recovery rate among Covid-19 patients.Conclusion: The median time to recovery from Covid-19 was relatively short. The incidence density of recovery was 8.24 per 100 person-days. The hazard of recovery was lower for patients at higher levels of Covid-19 severity and for patients in need of mechanical ventilation. Early identification of severity levels of the patients is required at the time of admission. Special attention, critical follow–up and management is warranted for patients at higher levels of Covid-19 severity.Keywords: COVID-19, time to recovery, incidence density, Southern Ethiopia

Lire Lemma Tirore,1 Desta Erkalo Abame,1 Tagesse Sedoro,1 Dejene Ermias,1 Abinet Arega,1 Tegegn Tadesse,1 Selamu Abose Nadamo2 1Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia; 2Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Lire Lemma Tirore Tel +251 916281764Email ganetlemma@gmail.comBackground: Severe pneumonia is still the greatest infectious cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five around the world. Each night spent in the hospital raises the chance of bad drug responses, infections, and ulcers by 0.5%, 1.6%, and 0.5%, respectively. In Southern Ethiopia, as well as the research area, little is known regarding death and recovery time from severe pneumonia and their determinants.Objective: To determine time to recovery from severe pneumonia and its predictors among children 2– 59 months of age admitted to pediatric ward of Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.Methods: A facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among children 2– 59 months of age. Three years’ medical records, from January 2017 to December 2020, were reviewed. A total of 280 children with severe pneumonia were included. In the case of survival time, median was calculated. Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to estimate recovery time from severe pneumonia, and the independent effects of covariates on recovery time were analyzed using multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model.Results: The median time to recovery was 4 days (interquartile range = 3, 5). The incidence rate of recovery was 24.16 per 100 person-days. Underweight (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.38– 0.80), age group 12– 35 months (adjusted hazard ratio= 2.0, 95% CI=1.30– 3.30), treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin (adjusted hazard ratio= 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13– 0.80), and antibiotic change (adjusted hazard ratio= 0.34, 95% CI = 0.21– 0.53) were statistically significant predictors of time to recovery from severe pneumonia.Conclusion: The median length of stay in the hospital was short (4 days [interquartile range =3, 5]). Time to recover from severe pneumonia was significantly influenced by being underweight, age, antibiotics administered first, and antibiotic change. Measures such as providing nutritious meals to children and ensuring that underweight children are properly managed should be bolstered.Keywords: time to recovery, severe pneumonia, under 5 children, NEMMCSH

Tirhas Tadesse,1 Tariku Tesfaye,2 Tadesse Alemu,3 Werissaw Haileselassie4 1Public Health Department, Yekatit12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Public Health Department, Ethiopian Police University College, Sendafa, Ethiopia; 3Public Health Department, Universal Medical and Business College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tirhas TadessePublic Health Department, Yekatit12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel +251912053189Email ttrhas@gmail.comBackground: Face masks were considered as an effective method of preventing respiratory infections like coronavirus infection. Identifying knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare workers regarding face mask utilization is very important to identify gaps and intervene immediately to control the spread of the infection. Hence, the main aim of this study was to determine the health worker’s knowledge, attitude, and practice of proper face mask utilization and associated factors at police health faculties in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020.Methods: Across-sectional, quantitative approach study was conducted from June to July 2020. The study covered 408 health professionals of all categories working in the different police health facilities found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the study period. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire adopted from different studies after getting consent from the study participants. After the data were collected, it was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23 computer software. A logistic regression model was used to measure the association between the predictor and outcome variables. Statistical significance was declared at p-value< 0.05. Direction and strength of association were expressed using OR and 95% CI.Results: The study showed that the overall knowledge, attitude, and practice of the healthcare provider towards proper face mask utilization were 98 (33.5%), 185 (45.3%), and 272 (33.3%) respectively. Factors associated with proper utilization of face mask were educational status (AOR = 10.4, 95% CI: 2.51, 43.32), police rank (AOR=0.2. CI: 0.05, 0.41), profession (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI: 2.63, 22.65), and knowledge about face mask use (AOR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.023).Conclusion: In this study, the level of knowledge and attitude towards face mask utilization was relatively low, and the level of proper face mask utilization was quite low in comparison with some studies. Comprehensive training about a face mask that focuses on its proper use should be designed and given by the authorities to healthcare workers who are on the front-line in the fight against COVID-19.Keywords: healthcare workers, knowledge, attitude, practices, proper face mask utilization, police health facilities

Trhas Tadesse,1 Tadesse Alemu,2 Getasew Amogne,3 Getabalew Endazenaw,1 Ephrem Mamo1 1Public Health Department, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Public Health Department, Universal Medical and Business College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3School of Pharmacy, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Trhas TadessePublic Health Department, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel +251912053189Email ttrhas@gmail.comBackground: Ethiopia has taken strict preventive measures against COVID-19 to control its spread, to protect citizens, and ensure their wellbeing. Employee’s adherence to preventive measures is influenced by their knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefit, barrier, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Therefore, this study investigated the predictors of COVID-19 prevention practice using the Health Belief Model among employees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020.Methods: Multicentre cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 628 employees selected by systematic sampling method were included in this study. Data were collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. Summary statistics of a given data for each variable were calculated. Logistic regression model was used to measure the association between the outcome and the predictor variable. Statistical significance was declared at p-value< 0.05. Direction and strength of association were expressed using OR and 95% CI.Results: From a total of 628 respondents, 432 (68.8%) of them had poor COVID-19 prevention practice. Three hundred ninety-one (62.3%), 337 (53.7%), 312 (49.7), 497 (79.1%), 303 (48.2%) and 299 (52.4%) of the respondents had high perceived susceptibility, severity, benefit, barrier, cues to action and self-efficacy to COVID-19 prevention practice, respectively. Employees with a low level of perceived barriers were less likely to have a poor practice of COVID-19 prevention compared to employees with a high level of perceived barrier [AOR = 0.03, 95% CI (0.01,0.05)]. Similarly, employees with low cues to action and employees with a low level of self-efficacy were practiced COVID prevention measures to a lesser extent compared those with high cues to action and high level of self-efficacy [AOR = 0.05, 95% CI (0.026,0.10)] and [AOR = 0.08, 95% CI (0.04,0.14)], respectively.Conclusion: The proportion of employees with poor COVID-19 prevention was high. Income, perceived barrier, cues to action, and self-efficacy were significantly associated with COVID-19 prevention practice.Keywords: predictor, COVID-19, Health Belief Model, employees

Trhas Tadesse,1 Tesfaye Zewdu,2 Frew Tadesse,3 Getabalew Endazenaw,1 Tadesse Alemu4 1Department of Public health, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public health, Ethiopian Police University College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Department of Public health, Jigigiga University, Jigigiga, Ethiopia; 4Department of Public health, Universal Medical and Business College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Trhas Tadesse Email ttrhas@gmail.comBackground: Police officers are grouped among the most at-risk population for HIV. Most police officers who are mobile related to work behavior might be at risk of HIV for themselves and/or the main source of infection in transmitting the disease to the police members. So the basic aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of condom use and associated factors among police force riot control in Addis Ababa in September 2015.Materials and Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among a sample of 400 police officers. The sample size was calculated using a single size proportion formula by considering 52% prevalence of multiple sexual partners. A systematic random sampling technique was used to get study subjects from the institution. A pretested structured questionnaire was employed to obtain the necessary information after getting both written and verbal consent from the concerned body and study subjects. The collected data were checked for completeness and consistency and was coded before data entry. Data were entered and cleaned analyzed using SPSS statistical package.Results: Some 379 individuals provided data. Most of the respondents 348 (95.3%) had been sexually active during the past 12 months and 280 (84.1%) of them had more than one sexual partner. Seventy-five (19.8%) of the sexually active respondents used condoms consistently in the last 12 months. Had sex after drinking alcohol (adjusted OR=2.23; 95% CI (1.08, 4.61)),ever used substance (adjusted OR=4.37; 95% CI (1.18, 16.27)), had sex after consuming substance (Adjusted OR=4.37; 95% CI (1.18, 16.27)) and less education status (adjusted OR=0.38; 95% CI (0.16, 0.93)) were significantly associated with inconsistent condom use.Conclusion: There is a high inconsistency of condom use among federal police riot control. This indicates that the study populations are at higher risk of acquiring HIV infection. Substance use like khat, consuming alcohol, and low educational status was the significant predictor of inconsistent condom use among federal police riot control.Keywords: risky sexual behavior, HIV/AIDS, police force

This study was conducted at two agro ecological zones (midland and lowland) of the Hulbareg district to assess reproductive status and dairy cattle breeding practices. Data was collected by using semi-structured questionnaire from a total of 290 households selected by systematic random sampling technique for interview. The collected data were presented using descriptive statistics, index and Chi-Square test. The mean age at first calving and dry period of local dairy cows were significantly varied (p<0.05) between midland ad lowland agro-ecologies. The mean milk production per cow per day in midland and lowland were significanty differrent (p<0.05) for local cows. The study further indicated that most of the respondents selected trait of animals for breeding by considering the expected milk yield, parents' history, size/body appearance and growth rate. The reproductive problem, sickness, productive problem, persistent poor body condition and unwanted physical characteristics used criteria for culling. The minimum and maximum number of pregnancy rate was 8.4% and 18.3% in the studied district. The major constraint for low conception rate of dairy cows was animal selection, technicians' efficiency, protection of farmers, and hormone problems. In general the breeding practices of study area were traditional and poor breeding systems and the perception of estrous synchronization were very low. Most of the respondents were not satisfied with the results of the estrus synchronization and mass insemination (ESMI) program as the conception rate in local dairy cows were very much below their expectation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in remote sensing techniques have greatly enhanced crop monitoring and yield estimation, with spectral vegetation indices (VIs) serving as a key component. Our study investigates the use of Sentinel-2 data, notable for its red-edge bands, in estimating sugarcane yield in Ethiopia's Awash Basin. Utilizing 22 VIs from S2 imagery, our approach combines Random Forest (RF) regression with the Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) algorithm to improve the accuracy of sugarcane yield predictions. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the RF-RFE method over traditional RF with full datasets and Stepwise Multiple Regression (SMR). Particularly, VIs focusing on the red-edge spectral bands of S2 - such as NDVIre1n, NDVIre2n, NDVIre3n, NDRE1 and NDRE2 - were crucial in enhancing prediction precision. These indices from the red-edge and NIR narrow bands consistently influenced yield estimations in both the Wonji-Shoa and Metehara estates. The study underscores the critical role of the RFE algorithm in optimal variable selection, reinforcing earlier findings that precise variable choice can substantially boost model accuracy. The enhanced performance of the RF model when paired with the RFE algorithm was evident, emphasizing the importance of variable selection in accurate yield predictions. Employing the Out-of-Bag RMSE (OOB_RMSE) error estimate for evaluation, we observed variations in OOB_RMSE performance with different RF parameters, identifying the ntree value of 500 as optimal for the studied regions. The RF-RFE model's estimations showed lower errors and higher correlation coefficients, proving its efficacy over a full dataset approach, which faced challenges with traditional VIs' saturation. Our findings align with earlier studies, highlighting the efficiency of S2's red-edge bands in diverse estimation tasks and a shift towards using freely available broadband images like S2, over hyperspectral imagery, due to reduced data redundancy and processing costs. In conclusion, our findings reveal that RF regression, particularly when integrated with the RFE algorithm, is a powerful tool in remote sensing applications. The S2 imagery is optimal VIs, predominantly from the red-edge bands, exhibit significant potential for sugarcane yield estimations. The impressive results of the RF-RFE method, evident in metrics like MAE, MAPE, RMSE, Mean percentage, and R2, advocate its invaluable role in sugarcane yield prediction, highlighting its potential for optimizing irrigation management strategies and broad-spectrum agricultural planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheru Tesema,1 Takele Tadesse,2 Mulat Gebrehiwot,2 Azanaw Tsegaw,3 Fitsum Weldegebreal4 1College of Medical and health science, Debremarkos Universitty, Debremarkos, 2Institute of Public Health, College of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, 3College of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, 4Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Medical laboratory Science, Harar, Ethiopia Background: Each year, one third of the world's population is estimated to be infected with tuberculosis (TB). Globally in 2011, there were an estimated 8.7 million TB cases that resulted in 1.4 million deaths. In Ethiopia, TB is the leading cause of morbidity and the third most common cause of hospital admission. The aim of this study is to assess environmental and host-related determinants of TB in Metema district, north-west Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from March 12 to April 5, 2013. The study population included 655 subjects (218 cases and 437 controls in a ratio of 1:2). Cases were TB patients selected from a total of 475 cases registered and treated from March 2012 to February 2013 at the Metema District Hospital DOTS (direct observation therapy, short-course) clinic and selected randomly using a lottery method. Controls were people who had had no productive cough for at least 2 weeks previously and were selected from the community.Results: A total of 655 respondents (218 cases and 437 controls) participated in the study. In multivariate analysis, being illiterate (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.31–5.76), households containing more than four family members (AOR 3.09, 95% CI 2.07–4.61), living space

The profitability of fertilizer‐N use can be optimized using N response functions specific to climate‐based technology extrapolation domains (TED). Crop growth simulation can complement field research for targeting of response functions. The objective of this study was to target maize (Zea mays L.) N response functions to seven TED in Ethiopia through CERES‐Maize simulation of continuous maize over 30 yr. The complete factorial set of treatments included seven levels of N in 25 kg ha−1 increments under no‐till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. The CERES‐Maize simulated experiments were done for two or three sites per TED. Nitrogen response functions were generated for each TED with tillage‐specific functions for three TED with tillage × N interactions. The N rate responses for all TED fit curvilinear to plateau functions but with differing magnitudes and shapes of response. The mean yield with NT was 6% less than with CT, but the difference declined with increased N rate. The economically optimum N rate (EONR) ranged from 65 to 179 and 103 to 243 kg ha−1 for high and low‐cost fertilizer‐N, respectively. The EONR was 6% less and the profit cost ratio was 11% higher with CT compared to NT, indicating greater fertilizer‐N need with NT than with CT. The application of N for maize was highly profitable for all TED. The EONR from CERES‐Maize were higher than past field research results. This suggests that the CERES‐Maize N response functions were most appropriate for well‐managed crop production situations in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]