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Indigenous knowledge is still widely used by communities around the world to overcome social-ecological challenges. Borana Oromo pastoralists of Southern Ethiopia have been searching for future weather phenomena using their indigenous knowledge. This study examines indigenous knowledge-based seasonal weather forecasts through using observable physical and temporal patterns of astronomic objects. Data were generated through using focus group discussion, experimental knowledgeable groups and direct observation in the year 2021. The finding reveals that Borana Oromo pastoralists commonly define physical and temporal outlooks of the Moon that are changed and/ or displayed periodically within a range of varying contexts. The observation of the Moon features have been offering sufficient lapse time in a more than/within ahead of a season/ and is relatively more accurate than the other traditional forecasting objects. The study showed that both temporal and spatial dimensions of the forecasting were actually happened in Ganna (March to May rainfall), Adolessa dry season (June to September) and Hgayya rainfall (October to November) seasons of 2021. This indigenous weather forecasting practices are still regularly used in every livelihood decision making process. However, this indigenous weather knowledge of Borana Oromo pastoralists of Southern Ethiopia is not yet mainstreamed in the formal institutional structures. Curtailments of mobility, severity of drought, weakening of traditional institution, leaving of traditional life style and death of the knowledgeable elders are the major factors that are challenging the potential effects of the indigenous weather forecasting indicators of the features of moon in the study area.

Ethiopia has embarked on one of the largest digitalization programs for rural land registration in Africa. The program is called the national rural land administration information system (NRLAIS). Over the past couple of years, NRLAIS was rolled-out and made operational in over 180 woredas (districts). There is, however, limited empirical evidence on whether and to what extent NRLAIS has been successful. This study explores the factors that influence the acceptance and actual use of NRLAIS to gauge its operational success in Ethiopia. Data were collected both from primary and secondary sources using surveys, key informant interviews, and a literature review. Survey data were collected from 201 staff of 50 woreda land administration offices in three regional states (Amhara, Oromia, and SNNP) and analyzed using a structural equation model. The results revealed that system quality, information quality, service quality, and perceived usefulness of NRLAIS have positively and significantly influenced the acceptance and actual use of the system. However, perceived ease of use has an insignificant influence. The predictive relevance of the research model is significant and indicates substantial operational success of NRLAIS. The quick acceptance and use of NRLAIS will likely improve service delivery, promote data integration, and strengthen informed decision-making. The study recommends strengthening behavioral changes of the land administration experts through two enhanced service quality measures—technical and operational capacity to a robust and sustainable digitalization. Policymakers could leverage operational success to upgrade the NRLAIS into a unified national land registration information system that bridges the urban–rural land governance divide.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, assess its zoonotic importance and identify factors associated with seroprevalence. Methods: Questionnaire survey was conducted on 65 serum samples collected from male and female urban and peri-urban residents aged between 15 days and 65 years. Main outcome measures were feeding habits, purpose of keeping cats and association with family members. Serologic evidence of toxoplasmosis was conducted by the Modified Direct Agglutination Test (MDA T) and determination of HIV status using the HIV -Spot Test. Results: Over 50% of the interviewed people had a history of consumption of raw or undercooked mutton and had close contact with cats. 60% of the serum samples analyzed by the MDA T had serologic evidence of Toxoplasma infection. Significantly higher MDA T tiers were encountered both in pregnant and immunocompromised individuals. The risk factors associated to Toxoplasma infection, i.e. raw or undercooked mutton consumption and presence of cats appeared significant. Conclusion and recommendations: The significance of toxoplasmosis as a disease of zoonotic importance was demonstrated. Close contact between family members and the consumption of raw or undercooked mutton were the major risk factors in the transmission of the disease. Considering the relatively high prevalence as revealed by this study it would be important to conduct studies on a wider scale. It would also be important to increase public awareness and upgrade the knowledge on congenital toxoplasmosis.

Aims: Explore the perceptions of flower farms workers towards the health effects of chemical exposures. Perception is the views, attitudes and opinions of workers. Study Design: Descriptive survey, using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Place and Duration of the Study: Tana Flora, Bahir Dar Farm and Tal Flowers, between November 2018 and June 2019. Methodology: Statistical analyses were done using 302 sample workers (80 male and 222 female; age ranges 15-65 years) at 95% confidence interval employing stratified random sampling techniques via proportional sample selection, and a response rate of 95.6%. Independent sample ttest with the assumption of equal variance (the Leven's t-test) was used to analyze the existence of significant perception differences among female and male workers, and workers labour divisions. Qualitative data was obtained through structured interviews from farms managers (3); regional Environmental, Forest and Wildlife Protection Development Authority (EFWPDA) officials (3) and field observations that supplemented the quantitatively analyzed data. Original Research ArticleResults: Leven's t-test showed the computed p-values were less than the preset significance level (0.05) for the majority of health impacts of chemical exposures. Significant perception differences were observed among male and female workers and workers of different labour divisions (production vs. protection; pack house vs. protection) towards health impacts: skin rush, appetite loss, stomach cancer, birth defects, reproductive system damage, dizziness and impaired sight. Males perceived in a better way than females since farms gave special focus to male workers in the protection section 27(8.9%) and they engaged using the required health protective gears. Further, in flower farms, most of the proposed health impact mitigation measures were poorly implemented. Conclusion: Workers perception differences were occurred due to a particular attention to male workers in protection labour division; hence the regional EFWPDA should do the proper supervision and follow up for effective implementation of health impact mitigation measures.