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The host preference of indoor resting Anopheles arabiensis has been determined using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 611 specimens, 258 from human dwellings, 179 from mixed dwellings, and 174 from cattle sheds, was examined. The proportion of human blood meals identified was highest from mosquitoes caught in human dwellings (91.5%), followed by those from mixed dwellings (20.2%) and cattle sheds (3.5%) (P < 0.0001). The smaller proportion of human blood meals from mixed dwellings suggests that cattle may protect humans from A. arabiensis.

Summaryobjective To assess the susceptibility ⁄ resistance level of Anopheles gambiae s.l. to DDT, malathion, permethrin and deltamethrin in different parts of Ethiopia.methods Field collected female An.gambiae s.l. was exposed for 1 h to discriminating dosage of 4% DDT, 5% malathion, 0.75% permethrin and 0.05% deltamethrin using WHO insecticide susceptibility test kits and procedures. Knockdown and mortality rates were recorded at 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min and 24 h post-exposure respectively.results Anopheles gambiae s.l. was sensitive to DDT only in 2 of 16 localities where susceptibility studies were carried out in northern Ethiopia; it was resistant in 11 sites and potentially resistant in three. To malathion, the test population was sensitive in four of the six study sites in southern Ethiopia and potentially resistant in the other two sites. In northern Ethiopia, the population was resistant in five localities and sensitive in three. Of the six localities in northern Ethiopia where permethrin was tested, populations were sensitive in three, resistant in one and potentially resistant in two. In southern Ethiopia, the populations were resistant in five of the six sites. Against deltamethrin, the population was sensitive in five of 13 localities, three in northern and two in southern Ethiopia. It was resistant only in two localities, one in northern and one in southern Ethiopia, and potentially resistant in five localities. In eastern Ethiopia at Sabure, the population was sensitive to all insecticides but DDT to which it was potentially resistant. conclusion The existence of high level of DDT and pyrethroid resistance with the possibility of crossresistance to each other and other classes of agricultural pesticides could seriously jeopardise the efficacy of both ITNs and IRS in the country in the future. Insecticide resistance monitoring and surveillance systems as part of a malaria control programme are mandatory for proper management of resistance. The use of a mixture of unrelated insecticides for impregnating nets and rotational use of insecticides for IRS is suggested as a way forward.

BACKGROUND: The influence of socio-cultural factors on institutional birth is not sufficiently documented in Ethiopia. Thus, this study explores socio-cultural beliefs and practices during childbirth and its influences on the utilization of institutional delivery services.METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted in three regions of Ethiopia through eight focus group discussions (with women) and thirty in-depth interviews with key informants which included health workers, community volunteers, and leaders. The data were analyzed thematically.RESULTS: The study identified six overarching socio-cultural factors influencing institutional birth in the study communities. The high preference for traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and home as it is intergenerational culture and suitable for privacy are among the factors. Correspondingly, culturally unacceptable birth practices at health facilities (such as birth position, physical assessment, delivery coach) and inconvenience of health facility setting to practice traditional birth rituals such as newborn welcoming ceremony made women avoid health facility birth. On the other hand, misperceptions and worries on medical interventions such as episiotomy, combined with mistreatment from health workers, and lack of parent engagement in delivery process discouraged women from seeking institutional birth. The provision of delivery service by male health workers was cited as a social taboo and against communities' belief system which prohibited women from giving birth at a health facility.CONCLUSIONS: Multiple socio-cultural factors and perceptions were generally affected utilization of institutional birth in study communities. Hence, culturally competent interventions through education, re-orientation, and adaptation of beneficial norms combined with women friendly care are essential to promote health facility birth.

Although Ethiopia is one of the countries worst affected by human onchocerciasis, the exact taxonomic identity of the blackflies acting as the main vectors in the endemic areas has never been determined. A cytotaxonomic analysis of Simulium damnosum s.l. collected from three endemic sites in south-western Ethiopia has now revealed the existence of the 'Kisiwani' form (a non-anthropophilic cytoform that is common in East Africa) and a newly recognized species, Simulium kaffaense. Simulium kaffaense sp. nov. is differentiated from other members of the S. damnosum complex by six fixed inversions and dozens of 'new' floating inversions. The rearing of egg batches from some of the biting adult females, to larvae or adults, indicated that the human-biting blackflies were all S. kaffaense. As S. kaffaense is not only highly anthropophilic but also, apparently, the only anthropophilic member of the S. damnosum complex present, it is likely to be the main (if not the only) vector of Onchocerca volvulus in the study area. The presence of inversion 1S-1 and a complex inversion possibly involving 1L-3 indicates that S. kaffaense either belongs or is close to the 'Nile' phylogenetic group of S. damnosum s. l. The karyotype frequencies of the inversions in the collections from the three study sites indicate that at least two forms of S. kaffaense, here designated 'Bebeka' and 'Jimma', were caught. The taxonomy and medical importance of S. kaffaense are discussed.