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Background Condoms are playing a central role in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, human immune virus, and unintended pregnancy particularly among young peoples. Therefore, this study aimed to assess factors associated with condom use self-efficacy among preparatory school youths in Sodo town, Ethiopia. Methods This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 study participants from January 25 to February 20, 2020. Data were collected using a validated pretested structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done and results were presented in texts and tables. Those variables at bivariate analysis with p-value

Superconductivity and magnetism were previously thought as incompatible until the discovery of some rare earth ternary compounds that shows the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism. In some of the recently discovered iron based layered superconductors superconductivity and diamagnetic order system are coexist. That occurs in only 11 and 122 family. The present works we examine the possibility of coexistence of superconductivity and disorder of magnetic spin is called spin glass when freeze the system that can show the superconductivity and spin glass coexist. In this present work we can examine the possibility of coexistence of superconductivity and spin glass in detailed 11 family of Fe1+ySexTe1−x compound. We show that spin glass like behavior is present in FST for x = 0.1 - 0.15 we present evidence form magnetization measurement and characterized the short-range order with neutron scattering. One of our main results is that the short-range order is structural as well as magnetic order. The factor of magnetic order exchange in long range depend on temperature, pressure, number of doping and other external factor discussed it. We found mathematical expression for superconductor transition TC, spin glass temperature TgSusceptibility x(q), and retardation time τ using for born approximation and digamma function depend on wave vector(q) and cut off frequency(ω) in the region coexistence of superconductivity and spin glass in Fe1+ySexTe1−xcompound.

Currently, the depletion of natural resources and contamination of the surrounding environment demand a paradigm shift to resource recycling and reuse. In this regard, phosphorus (P) is a model nutrient that possesses the negative traits of depletion (will be exhausted in the next 100 years) and environmental degradation (causes eutrophication and climate change), and this has prompted the scientific community to search for options to solve P-related problems. To date, P recovery in the form of struvite from wastewater is one viable solution suggested by many scholars. Struvite can be recovered either in the form of NH

Protracted and prolonged droughts lead to famine and substantial decline in agricultural productivity that contribute to food insecurity and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa which needs to explore the risk coping strategies to better target risk mitigation. The main research question of this paper was to analyze ex-post coping strategies and their determinants in rural Ethiopia. We use a cross-section data collected in 2013 from vulnerable rural households in Rayitu district, Bale Zone of Oromia Regional State. Using population-proportionate to size (PPS) sampling technique, a total number of 1,402 households in the district participated in this study. The data were analyzed using a three-stage least squares (3SLS) method. Our analysis confirms that rural households in Rayitu district experience drought and are vulnerable to the consequences of shocks. As a response, rural households adopt interdependent risk coping strategies. This supports the notion of addressing the problem of risk through integrated rural development strategies (and policies) to help the poor to improve the vulnerability to shock and help to escape out of poverty. In addition, we found that the risk coping strategies that households adopt are influenced by the resource holdings and income levels of the rural households, their access to product and financial market, and their socio-demographic characteristics. Hence, we argue that strategies and interventions to improve the livelihood of the poor and to support the vulnerable ones should be targeted to fit to the needs and priorities of households., Coping strategies; Drought; Hunger; Shock; Rural; Livelihood; Ethiopia.

Background Condoms are playing a central role in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, human immune virus, and unintended pregnancy particularly among young peoples. Therefore, this study aimed to assess factors associated with condom use self-efficacy among preparatory school youths in Sodo town, Ethiopia. Methods This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 study participants from January 25 to February 20, 2020. Data were collected using a validated pretested structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done and results were presented in texts and tables. Those variables at bivariate analysis with p-value

Phosphorus recovery from urine is a sustainable approach. However, the challenge of this process is the accessibility of economically feasible magnesium sources. This study aimed to investigate the potential of low-cost Rift Valley Lake magnesium (RVL-Mg) source for phosphorus recovery from urine, where data is deficient in the source area. The effect of various operational conditions such as storage, Mg:P ratio (0.8-2.0), pH (5.5-10.5), mixing speed (30-180 rpm), urease enzyme addition (50-700 μL), urine dilution (0.11-9.0) and Ca:Mg ratio (0.3-2.5) was investigated. Under optimum operating conditions (M:P = 1.6, pH = 9, urease enzyme = 500 μL, mixing speed = 120 rpm, 60 min precipitation), the phosphorus removal efficiencies were96% for actual and98% for synthetic urine. During storage, spontaneous phosphorus losses were observed from synthetic (24.0%) and actual (32.0%) hydrolyzed urine due to precipitation with calcium and magnesium. The phosphorus recovery efficiency was reduced at higher (0.11:1) and lower (9:1) urine to RVL-Mg dilution, which is related to lower supersaturation of phosphorus and magnesium ions, respectively. Addition of calcium did not affect phosphorus removal efficiency, but the effect was significant on crystal product. With low (1.0) Ca:Mg ratio, the crystal chemical analysis showed that the product has to be pure struvite (99%), which was further identified by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction to be quality struvite that might be used for agricultural purpose. Overall, low-cost magnesium ion collected from Rift Valley Lake can be a potentially candidate for sustainable phosphorus recovery from urine and any other phosphorus containing waste stream.

Background Intestinal parasite, Salmonella, and Shigella infections are the main public health concerns in the world, especially in developing countries due to inaccessibility of safe water and unhygienic food handling practices of food handlers. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in food handlers in Motta town, from February 2019 to April 2019. The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Salmonella, Shigella, and intestinal parasites among 243 food handlers. Sociodemographic and risk factors were collected using pretested structured questionnaire. The stool sample was collected and examined with direct wet mount and concentration techniques. Culture was performed using xylose lysine deoxycholate agar and MacConkey agar and biochemical tests like Klinger iron agar (KIA), lysine iron agar (LIA), Simmons citrate agar, sulphide indole motility test, citrate utilization, and urease production test were conducted to isolate Salmonella species and Shigella species. An antibiotics susceptibility test was performed with Mueller-Hinton agar using the disk diffusion method. Data were entered using statistical package Epi-Data Version 3.1 and analysed with logistic regression using SPSS version 25 and Fisher's exact test. A p value

Background Child undernutrition remains the major public health problem in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. The effects of good governance, urbanization and public health expenditure on childhood undernutrition are not well studied in developing countries. The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between quality of governance, public health expenditures, urbanization and child undernutrition in Ethiopia. Methods This is pooled data analysis with ecological design. We obtained data on childhood undernutrition from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) that were conducted in 2000, 2005, 2011 and 2016. Additionally, data on quality of governance for Ethiopia were extracted from the World Governance Indicators (WGI) and public health spending and urbanization were obtained from the World Development Indicators and United Nations’ World Population Prospects (WPP) respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done to assess the relationship between governance, public health expenditure and urbanization with childhood undernutrition. Result Government effectiveness (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 20.7; p = 0.046), regulatory quality (AOR = 0.0077; p = 0.026) and control of corruption (AOR = 0.0019; p = 0.000) were associated with stunting. Similarly, government effectiveness (AOR = 72.2; p = 0.007), regulatory quality (AOR = 0.0015; p = 0.004) and control of corruption (AOR = 0.0005; p = 0.000) were associated with underweight. None of the governance indicators were associated with wasting. On the other hand, there is no statistically significant association observed between public health spending and urbanization with childhood undernutrition. However, other socio-demographic variables play a significant effect on reducing of child undernutrition. Conclusion This study indicates that good governance in the country plays a significant role for reducing childhood undernutrition along with other socio-demographic factors. Concerned bodies should focus on improving governance and producing a quality policy and at the same time monitor its implementation and adherence. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3822-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In the last couple of decades, agriculture has faced a number of critical challenges. To cope with these challenges, agriculture and the food sector have gone through continuous social, structural and livelihood transitions. Understanding the economics of agricultural production with the dynamic natural, social and policy environment is an important topic for discussion and key concern for development policy. This dissertation presents empirical investigations on the economics of production in agriculture by giving particular emphasis to employment and labor conditions, climate change and risk management, productivity and welfare of farms. In den letzten Jahrzehnten war die Landwirtschaft verschiedensten Herausforderungen ausgesetzt. Um diesen Herausforderungen zu begegnen, unterliegen die Landwirtschaft wie auch der gesamte Lebensmittelsektor einem stetigen sozialen, strukturellen und wirtschaftlichen Wandel. Deshalb ist das Verständnis über die Ökonomie der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion mit ihrem dynamischen natürlichen, sozialen und politischen Umfeld ein wichtiges Diskussionsthema und ein Schlüsselanliegen der Entwicklungspolitik. Diese Dissertation präsentiert empirische Untersuchungen zur Ökonomie der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion mit Fokus auf Beschäftigung und Arbeitsbedingungen, Klimawandel und Risikomanagement, Produktivität und Wohlfahrt landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe.

Due to different factors, federations exhibit significant variation in their respective forms, natures and degrees of decentralization. Regardless of these differences, however, the necessity of a federal covenant, which bestows genuine autonomy on subnational governments, is not contested. Indisputably, a mere constitutional stipulation does not guarantee the financial autonomy of sub-national governments as the latter is influenced by the political economy narratives of a government. Though the fallings of Ethiopian “developmentalism” on the effective functioning of the federal system are multifaceted, this article scrutinizes its impact on the fiscal (tax) autonomy of subnational governments. Looking at the contemporary “developmental-oriented” measures of the federal government vis-a-vis the constitutionally dictated autonomy of regions to generate own-source revenue, the article argues that the fiscal autonomy of subnational governments is highly constrained due to the adoption of the developmental state paradigm.

This study was designed to evaluate the treatment performance of aerobic-anoxic bioprocess system for Arba Minch Town (AMT) municipal wastewater treatment. Wastewater sample were collected and characterized from nine purposively selected sampling stations. The treated effluent and influent wastewater were evaluated for growing three randomly selected vegetables (Lettuce, Cabbage and Tomato). Petridish and pot experiment set up were designed and analyzed using standard protocols for vegetables germination and physiological parameters test including shoot and root length, leaf number and area, fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll content, heavy metal and pathogenic organism. Descriptive statistics and a one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple range test with pPb>Zn>Mn>Cu>Cd, 5.1±0.1, 2.2±0.4, 0.38±0.07, 0.26±0.07, 0.1±0.0, 0.006±0.11, respectively. Moreover, the result showed that leaf number and area, chlorophyll, shoot and root length, dry and fresh weight of vegetable crops were significantly higher (p

Background Policy discussions and debates in the last couple of decades emphasized efficiency of development policies for translating economic growth to development. One of the key aspects in this regard in the developing world is achieving improved nutrition through economic development. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of literature that empirically verifies the association between economic growth and reduction of childhood undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, the aim of the study is to assess the interplay between economic growth and reduction of childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia. Methods The study used pooled data of three rounds (2000, 2005 and 2010) from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of Ethiopia. A multilevel mixed logistic regression model with robust standard errors was utilized in order to account for the hierarchical nature of the data. The dependent variables were stunting, underweight, and wasting in children in the household. The main independent variable was real per capita income (PCI) that was adjusted for purchasing power parity. This information was obtained from World Bank. Results A total of 32,610 children were included in the pooled analysis. Overall, 11,296 (46.7%) [46.0%-47.3%], 8,197(33.8%) [33.2%-34.4%] and 3,175(13.1%) [12.7%-13.5%] were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. We found a strong correlation between prevalence of early childhood undernutrition outcomes and real per capita income (PCI). The proportions of stunting (r = -0.1207, p

Farming is at the core of the economy of Ethiopia. Agricultural market development is expected to allow farming to respond to market signals and develop market orientation and technologies for agricultural production. Input and output market development approach as a tool to enhance technological uptake was employed by Improving Productivity and Market success of Ethiopian Farmers (IPMS) project. This study evaluated the impact of market development in the Bure district. The study took a random sample of 100 participant and 100 non-participant households. The influence of different demographic, social, economic, and access to institutional support service variables on participation were examined. The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) results show that participant households are better-off in net farm income. Productivity measures of households indicate that participants are more productive. Input use of the households is different either from stock or in terms of purchased inputs and participants use. Participants are also more market oriented than non-participant households. Therefore, it is advisable to further extend and scale the approach to a wider coverage area and beneficiary farmers to enhance the uptake of improved agricultural technologies and the link of farmers to the market.

This research was undertaken to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the fattening enterprise and to study the economics of cattle fattening in the crop-livestock mixed production system, North Gondar, Ethiopia. Data was collected from 112 farmers from purposively selected three districts and two peasant associations. The Tobit analysis resulted labor availability in the households, duration of fattening (length of stay of oxen in the fattening period) and feed cost have found to affect the gain from fattening negatively. Experience of the farm operator, number of cattle in the fattening activity, frequency of fattening in the year and selling in the export market have significantly enhance the gain from the operation. Fattening is found seemingly paying and profitable for most of the farmers and could be considered as a farm-business which can be used as one of the strategies to achieve transformation of the subsistence agriculture to market oriented farm operation.

Introduction Agricultural technologies developed by national and international research institutions were not benefiting the rural population of Ethiopia to the extent desired. As a response, integrated agricultural extension approaches are proposed as a key strategy to transform the smallholder farming sector. Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers project is one of the development projects initiated by integrating productivity enhancement technological schemes with market development model. This paper explores the impact of the project intervention in the smallholder farmers’ wellbeing. Methods To test the research hypothesis of whether the project brought a significant change in the input use, marketed surplus, efficiency and income of farm households, we use a cross-section data from 200 smallholder farmers in Northwest Ethiopia, collected through multi-stage sampling procedure. To control for self-selection from observable characteristics of the farm households, we employ Propensity Score Matching (PSM). We finally use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques to estimate technical efficiency of farm households. Results The outcome of the research is in line with the premises that the participation of the household in the IPMS project improves purchased input use, marketed surplus, efficiency of farms and the overall gain from farming. The participant households on average employ more purchased agricultural inputs and gain higher gross margin from the production activities as compared to the non-participant households. The non-participant households on average supply less output (measured both in monetary terms and proportion of total produce) to the market as compared to their participant counterparts. Except for the technical efficiency of production in potato, project participant households are better-off in production efficiency compared with the non-participant counterparts. Conclusion We verified the idea that Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian farmers’ project has contributed for the input and out market integration and/or market oriented agricultural production. Overall, we argue that these can be seen as an experimental model with a promising potential to improve the livelihood of the poor. Furthermore, we suggest that it is worthwhile to employ integrated agricultural extension programs with further targeting in the developing world.

Using a moment based approach, introduced by Antle for producers’ risk behavior elicitation, we develop an empirical model to evaluate the implication of risk preferences on farm level diversification. For the purpose, we use a household level panel data of years 2004 and 2009 from Ethiopia. The estimation is done in two stages; the first one for the elicitation of risk aversion behavior of farm households and the second one, for the inclusion of the first estimate on the factors that determine the level of on-farm diversification. To control for endogeneity problem in the estimation of diversification equation, we use efficient two stage least squares technique. We find that farmers with higher level of relative risk premium will more likely opt for more on-farm diversification. The engagement of farm households to off and non-farm income generating activities could likely reduce the on-farm diversification level. These could be due to the fact that households with income from off and non-farm activities use this income as a safety net and go for specialized farms.

This paper systematically investigates the role of the quality of rural employment on agricultural production efficiency in developing countries, taking Ethiopia and Tanzania as cases. We use data of the Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) collected in 2011. In the analysis, an output-oriented distance function approach that accounts for different technological, demographic, socio-economic, institutional and quality of rural employment indicators is applied. The findings of the analysis support the idea that the quality of rural employment could be seen as an effective element of rural development policies and strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. Better integration of quality rural employment aspects (creation of jobs, improving quality of jobs, promoting public employment programs etc.) contribute to improve technical efficiency in agricultural production.

Using a moment based approach, introduced by Antle for producers’ risk behavior elicitation, we develop an empirical model to evaluate the implication of risk preferences on farm portfolio decisions. With a comprehensive household level panel data of rounds of 2004 and 2009, we estimate risk aversion behavior of farm households in uncertain climate and market imperfections. To solve the problem of endogeneity, the risk parameter is instrumented in a two stage maximum likelihood estimation technique, and used as a determinant of the level of farm level diversification. We find that farmers with higher level of relative risk premium will more likely opt for diversified farms. The engagement of farm households to off and non-farm income generating activities could likely reduce the on-farm diversification level. On-farm diversification and engagement in off-farm and non-farm activities can be considered as substitutable risk mitigation strategies

The farmers have been continuously experimenting informally and innovating new practices by using their indigenous knowledge since the dawn of agriculture to adjust to their circumstances so that they can maximize or optimize benefits from the use of their natural, human and financial resources. Some innovations and adoption may take place on farms of individual farmers but quite often action leads to large-scale adoption. Results of such innovations lead to practices, which are in most cases sustainable, practical and within the limits of their capabilities. Through century old practices, farmers of Amhara Region have used their indigenous knowledge to innovate sustainable irrigation practices to address their water management needs. As the Amhara Regional State Government is emphasizing on developing irrigation-based agriculture to attain food security at household and State levels, it is important that appropriate technologies are available for adoption by the farmers. Through the assistance of the local level agricultural offices, successful traditional schemes were identified and water users and the leaders (water committee) of such schemes were discussed using informal tools and semi-structured interviewing. An iterative process was used to seeking clarifications from the water users on new questions and issues. The paper also discusses opportunities for further strengthening these practices and integrating the knowledge of farmer's innovations in formal research.

Ethiopia- a party to CPB- needs to benefit from the advantages of modern biotechnology, by managing the possible risks occasioned as a result of the application of the technology on human and animal health, biological diversity and the environment. In an attempt to implement the obligations under the protocol, the country promulgated Biosafety proclamation and Directives which regulate among other things import of GMOs. As Ethiopia is on the way to join the WTO, compatibility of the legal system with WTO rules that would otherwise affect international trade has paramount importance either to facilitate the accession or to prevent future trade disputes before the WTO dispute settlement body. And hence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the regulatory framework of import regulation of GMOs in Ethiopia and to assess its compatibility with WTO rules- namely SPS, TBT and GATT agreements.

Background: There is shortage of literature on the impact of epilepsy on quality of life (QoL). We conducted a study to assess the quality of life and associated factors among epileptic patients in Ethiopia. Method: An institution based cross -sectional study was conducted From April to May, 2013, among 423 samples of epileptic patients from outpatient department of Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. Quality of life was assessed using world Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHO QOL BREF) scale; in addition, perceived stigma scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale were used for interviewing the study participants. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with quality of life. Result: A total of 415 epileptic patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Out of which, 45.8% of the study participants had poor quality of life. Respondents who are unable to read and write, primary school, those who had frequent seizures, taking more than one type of antiepileptic drugs, anxiety, depression and perceived stigma, were found to be significantly associated with poor quality of life. Conclusion: Poor quality of life was found to be high among epilepsy patients. Managing patients with epilepsy to become seizure free, educating people regarding epilepsy and treatment of co-morbid disorders will help to improve quality of life in patients with epilepsy.