This study aimed to determine the seasonality, feed balance, and copying mechanisms oflivestock feed in the east Gojjam Zone of northwestern ethiopia. to collect the data, the zonedivided into three agroecologies (lowland, midland, and highland) and randomly selected twodistricts from each agroecology to represent appropriate agroecologies. the study involved540 respondents – 45 from each peasant association – and utilized key informant interviews,focus groups, questionnaires, and direct observations for data collection. According to thefindings, the study reveals that feed availability in all agroecologies fluctuates seasonally. thetotal dry matter and crude protein supplies per household per year in highland, midland, andlowland agroecologies were 8.69, 15.49, and 14.94 tons, and 0.05, 0.91, and 0.90 tons,respectively. the yearly dry matter and crude protein requirements for livestock in highland,midland, and lowland agroecologies were 11.9, 22.2, and 19.5 t/hh/yr, and 1.4, 2.6, and 2.5 t/hh/yr, respectively. the total amounts of dry matter and crude protein produced in the studyareas satisfied only 73.3, 69.7, and 76.6%, and 32.1, 35.5, and 36.3% of the livestockrequirements in the highland, midland, and lowland agroecologies, respectively. Producers inthe study areas employ strategies such as purchasing feed, preserving crop residue, andreducing herd sizes to address livestock shortages of dry matter and crude protein. to addressthe issue, a new strategy should be employed, including managing natural pastures, increasingforage crop cultivation, providing protein-rich feed, and improving crop residue quality usingeffective microorganisms.

Introduction: The magnitude of poor sleep quality among people with asthma is widespread and has detrimental consequences, including a higher chance of having poor work performance, an increase in the frequency of asthma attacks, an increase in the need for overnight hospitalization, and a worse health related quality of life. However, it has not been well studied, especially in low-income countries like Ethiopia. This study's objective was to assess the degree of sleep quality and related factors among people with asthma who had follow-up visits at public hospitals in the East Gojjam Zone.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 406 people with asthma through consecutive sampling techniques at public hospitals in East Gojjam Zone from June 6 to July 1, 2022. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index through a face-to-face interview, and the collected data were entered into Epi Data version 4.4.2 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Logistic regression was fitted to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Variables with a P-value

This paper addresses the smart management and control of an independent hybrid system based onrenewable energies. The suggested system comprises a photovoltaic system (PVS), a wind energyconversion system (WECS), a battery storage system (BSS), and electronic power devices that arecontrolled to enhance the efficiency of the generated energy. Regarding the load side, the systemcomprises AC loads, DC loads, and a water pump. An Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)-based MPPT technique is suggested to enhance the efficiency of the PVS and WECS. This technologyprovided good performance compared with the Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm and MPPT-basedfuzzy logic controller (FLC). The use of the ANFIS-PI proposed to control the bidirectional converteraccomplished voltage stabilization for the DC bus. This work also came with a fuzzy logic-basedalgorithm to manage the load side that depends on battery charge ratio, solar radiation, and windspeed. According to results obtained in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, the proposed technologieswere found to have performed well. The goal we were also pursuing was achieved through the fulluse of the energy generated by the proposed algorithm. The proposed study holds great potential forremote regions.Index terms: Renewable energy, Hybrid system, MPPT, ANFIS controller, Management

Eucalyptus was frst introduced to Ethiopia in the late 19th century to address the scarcity of frewood and construction wood in thecapital city. Since then, it has spread across the country and has become an important source of income for many households whilealso reducing the need for deforestation. Despite concerns raised by environmentalists about its eco-hydrological impact, theplantation has expanded to cover a vast area of the nation, including farmlands and mountainous regions. Currently, around506,000 hectares of land in Ethiopia are covered by Eucalyptus plantations. Te growth of Eucalyptus plantations can be attributed tovarious socioeconomic, ecological, and biological factors, including the increasing demand for wood and wood products. However,this growth has also led to negative environmental consequences such as reduced surface and groundwater fow, decreased cropproductivity, soil fertility degradation and depletion, and high water consumption, which can result in water scarcity. To address theseenvironmental impacts, it is essential to select appropriate species and sites and implement proper silvicultural and land use planningbefore planting. Additionally, promoting renewable energy sources and planting environmentally sound fast-growing indigenousand exotic tree species can help reduce the adverse efects of Eucalyptus on the environment.Keywords: deforestation; environmental impacts; Eucalyptus plantation; indigenous and exotic tree species

IntroductionLimited or shared sanitation services are considered improved sanitation facilities, but theyare shared between two or more households. Globally, 600 million people use shared toiletfacilities. Although shared facilities are not classified as improved sanitation due to potentialinfection risks, inaccessibility, and safety concerns, this is a significant issue in developingcountries like Ethiopia. Evidence on the distribution of shared sanitation services and theirdeterminants in Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the extent ofshared toilet facilities and their determinants among households in Ethiopia.MethodsThe 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) served as the basis for thecross-sectional secondary data analysis. The analysis included a total of 7,770 householdsfrom the weighted sample. STATA 14 software was used to clean, weigh, and analyze thedata. To explore the distribution and determine the factors associated with shared toilet facil-ities in Ethiopia, both spatial and mixed-effect analyses were utilized. A p-value of less than0.05 was used to display the relationships between the dependent and independent vari-ables, employing adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsThe magnitude of improved shared sanitation facilities among households in Ethiopia,according to the EDHS 2019, was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.88, 11.24). The prevalence was highestin Addis Ababa at 70.2% and lowest in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’Region at 2.4%. Individual-level variables significantly associated with the use of improvedshared toilet facilities included being a household head aged 55 years or older [AOR = 0.48;
95% CI: 0.33, 0.71], having secondary education or higher [AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.80,3.28], and belonging to middle or rich wealth status [middle: AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.35,3.96; rich: AOR = 6.23; 95% CI: 3.84, 10.11]. Community-level characteristics such as resid-ing in urban areas [AOR = 7.60; 95% CI: 3.47, 16.67], the metropolitan region [AOR =25.83; 95% CI: 10.1, 66.3], and periphery regions [AOR = 5.01; 95% CI: 2.40, 10.48] werealso associated with the use of shared toilet facilities.ConclusionThe usage of improved shared toilet facilities among households in Ethiopia is relatively low.Significant factors related to the use of shared toilet facilities were being 55 years of age orolder, possessing secondary or higher education, having a middle or rich wealth status, liv-ing in urban areas, and residing in metropolitan or peripheral regions. To improve access toand utilization of shared sanitation facilities, Ethiopian policy should emphasize user educa-tion and awareness.

ABSTRACTSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from the root extract Stephania abyssinica by aneco-friendly and cost-effective method. Stephania abyssinica root extract with AgNO3 solutionwas used to synthesize AgNPs. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis,FTIR and XRD spectrophotometers. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was testedby the agar disc diffusion method. The result was that the dark yellow colour solution changedto brown solution with AgNO3 solution confirming the formation of AgNPs. The UV–Vis peak at275 nm in the plant extract shows the presence of organic compounds that interact with silverto form AgNPs. The FTIR spectrum of AgNPs shows peaks at 3406 cm−1, 2353 cm−1, 1615 cm−1and 1021 cm−1. The XRD result showed that the AgNPs are face centred cubic crystallinestructures having a size of 20.8 nm. The synthesized AgNps are more potent in Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria.
KEYWORDS: Silver nanoparticles; Stephania abyssinica; antimicrobial activity; green synthesis; spectral analysis

Background: Despite progress in reducing neonatal mortality rates in Ethiopia, the country still has a high neonatal mortality rate compared with the global average. Primary hospitals are critical in delivering basic neonatal care, particularly in rural areas. However, data on neonatal mortality and contributing factors in these settings are scarce. This study aimed to determine the survival status and predictors of neonatal mortality among neonates admitted to Bichena Primary Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 638 neonates admitted to the Bichena Primary Hospital neonatal intensive care unit from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023. Neonates were selected via a consecutive sampling method. Data were collected from medical records using a pretested checklist. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the neonatal survival time, and a Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify independent predictors of neonatal mortality.
Results: Of the 638 neonates followed, 21.5% died during the study period. The overall incidence rate of death was 66.69 per 1,000 neonate days. Hypothermia, birth injury, perinatal asphyxia, preterm birth, maternal history of abortion, low birth weight, and neonatal hypoglycemia were independent predictors of neonatal mortality.
Conclusion and recommendation: The study found a high rate of neonatal mortality, exceeding rates reported in other regions of Ethiopia. Most predictors were preventable and treatable. Therefore, early identification of obstetric complications, immediate interventions and postnatal care are crucial to reduce neonatal mortality and enhance overall neonatal outcomes.
Keywords: Ethiopia; neonate; predictors; primary hospitals; survival status.

Increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental issues have heightened the demandfor renewable energy sources (RES) and prompted a swift transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in thetransportation sector. This shift underscores the need to address the challenges of electricity supplyand continuity for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). This study aims to determine the mostsuitable hybrid systems to ensure the electricity supply to EVCSs in the Çukurova region of Adana,Turkey. Six different scenarios involving components such as photovoltaic (PV) panel, wind turbine(WT), biomass generators (BG), electrolyzer (Elz), hydrogen tank (HT), fuel cell (FC), batteries (Bat),inverter (Inv), and the grid were analyzed using HOMER Pro microgrid analysis tool version 3.14.2software. The optimization results indicated that the most feasible system was Scenario 4, comprisingthe PV, BG, Elz, HT, FC, Inv, and grid components. This scenario’s total net present cost (NPC) was$611,283.50, with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.0215. The annual energy productionand consumption were 1,507,169 kWh and 1,420,714 kWh, respectively. The fact that the energygenerated from exceeds the energy sourced from the grid reduces the payback period of the system.These findings highlight the economic and sustainable potential of renewable hybrid systems forenhancing the performance of EVCS in solar-rich regions.Keywords: Energy cost efficiency, Renewable energy integration, Electric vehicle charging stations, Hybridsystems, Optimization, Energy sustainability

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) holds significant promise in addressing economic challenges and malnutrition issues. However, various factorsin Ethiopia impede its production and consumption. This review investigates sweet potato potential as a versatile solution for nutritionalchallenges in Ethiopia. Although the global yield of sweet potato reaches 14 tons/ha, in Ethiopia, it stands at approximately 8.1 tons/ha. In Africa,sweet potato is known as the 'poor person’s crop' and is primarily grown on a small scale by women for subsistence. Sweet potatoes are rich inessential nutrients such as vitamins C and E, B vitamins, iron, zinc, potassium, and fiber. Additionally, in Ethiopia, sweet potato leaves are utilizedas food, animal feed, and traditional medicine. Notably, they contain high levels of lutein (ranging from 38-51 mg/100 g), surpassing those foundin kale (38 mg/100 g) and spinach (12 mg/100 g). Leaves encompass protein (25%−37%), carbohydrate (42%−61%), crude fat (2%−5%), fiber(23%−38%), ascorbic acid (60−200 mg/100 g), and carotene (60−120 mg/100g). Malnutrition is continued as a major hurdle for millions ofEthiopians. Currently, stunting, wasting, and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) stand as the primary factors contributing to premature mortality inEthiopia. Despite the country's considerable potential for sweet potato cultivation and utilization, both yields and consumption remainremarkably low. Lack of clean planting materials, pests and diseases, knowledge gap, and poor market system are the key challenges of sweetpotato production in Ethiopia. Hence, to ease the malnutrition problems in Ethiopia, sweet potato production and utilization should be adept in abroader range.

Abstract Background: Hospitals usually encounter human, capital, and financial resource constraints which alerts the efficient use of allocated resources more than ever. Health system managers are required to identify inefficient hospitals and the drivers of the inefficiencies. Although there are multiple studies examining the efficiency of public hospitals in East Africa, their findings are often variable and inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to review published articles on technical efficiency of public hospitals in East African countries. Methods: A systematic search of published articles on the technical efficiency of public hospitals was employed using Pubmed, Cochrane library, and google scholar and thirteen studies were included to this review. The studies were described in terms of their publication year, sample size, inputs and outputs used in the efficiency analysis, and the technical efficiency levels. Finally, we assessed their quality and estimate the mean technical efficiency using meta-analysis. Results: The technical efficiency score of public hospitals varied across countries in east Africa which ranged from 0.64 ± 0.34 in Tanzania to 0.99 ± 0.03 in Ethiopia. The mean technical efficiency was 0.82 (95% CI = 0.56, 1.07) for primary hospitals and 0.88 (95% CI = 0.82, 0.95) for secondary level hospitals. Technical efficiency of public hospitals was negatively correlated with the number of hospitals (the sample size) and positively correlated with the number of inputs and outputs included in the efficiency analysis. Conclusions: This review revealed that the technical efficiency of public hospitals in east Africa requires an improvement. To enable effective and efficient hospital management and improvement in hospital efficiency, health man-agers and policymakers must identify the drivers of hospital inefficiency. Systematic reviews on public hospital efficiency, which are currently rare in Africa, should be conducted on a much larger scale in order to create more, and validated information for use in policy-making. Trial registration: This review protocol was registered and approved by the international prospective register of systematic reviews with a Protocol ID: CRD42023444729. Keywords: Technical efficiency, Hospitals, Data envelopment analysis, East Africa, Systematic review