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Gender-based violence (GBV) perpetration is a severe problem among youths in schools and the community at large. As most studies focused on adults, this study aimed to investigate factors associated with GBV by male high school students in eastern Ethiopia. An institutional based crosssectional survey was conducted with 1,109 male students aged 15-24 years in eastern Ethiopia in December 2018 using self-administered WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Life Events and UN Multi-Country study on perpetration. Poisson regression model was used to determine the prevalence ratio. Multivariable analysis showed that having girlfriend, chewing khat, drinking alcohol, watching pornography and being sexually active increased the prevalence of perpetrating any type of GBV (emotional, physical, sexual, and overall GBV) by young male in the last 12 months. Compared to those who did not smoke tobacco, smokers had an prevalence of perpetrating emotional violence (adj. PrR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.03-1.44) and any type of GBV (adj. PrR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.00-1.31). Young males who had a mother who had completed Grade 9-12 (adj. PrR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59-0.96) had a 25% lower prevalence of perpetrating emotional violence compared to male students who had an illiterate mother. Young males who had used illicit drugs, smoked shisha (adj. PrR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10-1.77), and were married (adj. PrR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.15-3.12) had a higher prevalence of perpetrating sexual violence compared to young males who hadn't used smoked shisha and were not married, respectively. Young males who had discussed reproductive health with their family (adj. PrR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.24) and who chewed khat (adj. PrR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.02-1.55) had a higher prevalence of perpetrating any GBV compared to young men who hadn't discussed reproductive health with their parents and who hadn't chewed khat, respectively. Any type of GBV (emotional, sexual, or physical violence) was significantly associated with several individual and relationship factors. Effective prevention and intervention programs should be focused on education of the influence of pornography, prevention of substance use and interventions for those in romantic relationships could all assist in reducing GBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insights into the role of changing historical-political-cultural contexts and social norms in shaping adolescent girls' and boys' futures contributes to an understanding of human development at the intersection of gender and youth in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the capabilities and aspirations of adolescent girls and boys and their evolution in Amhara against the background of three successive political regimes that governed Ethiopia over the last 90 years, the Haile-Selassie imperial regime (1930–1974), the socialist military Derg regime (1974–1991), and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (1991–2019), each with their own institutions, structures and infrastructure, and gender- and age-related relations and norms. The study adopts a capability approach with a gender and generationing development lens as a framework and relies on qualitative data collected through community- and mixed-generation group discussions. The study illustrates that, even if institutional and structural barriers became less stringent over time, cumulative gender- and age-related obstacles – some rooted in beliefs, norms, traditions and relations – hindered the expansion of adolescents' capability success, consistently more so for girls than boys. (The threat of) gender-based violence pervasively constrains girls' capabilities success and aspirations in spite of more formal protective institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last two decades, improvements in Ethiopia's socio-economic context, the prioritization of health and development in the national agenda, and ambitious national health and development policies and programmes have contributed to improvements in the living standards and well-being of the population as a whole including adolescents. Improvements have occurred in a number of health outcomes, for example reduction in levels of harmful practices i.e., in child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), reduction in adolescent childbearing, increase in positive health behaviours, for example adolescent contraceptive use, and maternal health care service use. However, this progress has been uneven. As we look to the next 10 years, Ethiopia must build on the progress made, and move ahead understanding and overcoming challenges and making full use of opportunities by (i) recommitting to strong political support for ASRHR policies and programmes and to sustaining this support in the next stage of policy and strategy development (ii) strengthening investment in and financing of interventions to meet the SRH needs of adolescents (iii) ensuring laws and policies are appropriately communicated, applied and monitored (iv) ensuring strategies are evidence-based and extend the availability of age-disaggregated data on SRHR, and that implementation of these strategies is managed well (v) enabling meaningful youth engagement by institutionalizing adolescent participation as an essential element of all programmes intended to benefit adolescents, and (vi) consolidating gains in the area of SRH while strategically broadening other areas without diluting the ASRHR focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using two food insecurity measures (perceptive and experiential), we investigate whether environmental shocks and other household characteristics do matter in determining gendered nature of food insecurity in Ethiopia and Nigeria using the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Survey and General Household Survey cross‐sectional panel data for Nigeria. Applying Tobit and Probit models, we found significant differences in the determinants of food security between male and female‐headed households in both countries. On perceptive food security indicators, female‐headed households (FHHs) are about two times more food insecure in Nigeria than it is in Ethiopia. Additionally, households that experienced shocks related to droughts or floods are almost 10 times likely to be food insecure in Ethiopia than it is in Nigeria which remained the same after controlling for other household covariates. On experiential food security indicators, while we see a significant effect of drought shock on days of food reduction and restriction in Ethiopia, that of Nigeria is statistically insignificant. We might associate this to possible differences in countries' demographic and tropical location. Reflecting on mechanisms driving the established results, we observed that the probability of food insecurity rises as the frequency of drought shock increases, but with differential effects amongst male‐headed households (MHHs) and FHHs across both countries. In Ethiopia, probability of experiential food insecurity is lower for the FHHs who are single (De jure and De factor), but in Nigeria, FHHs appears to present higher incidences food insecurity. This result for Ethiopia implies that possible causes of food insecurity amongst the FHHs are associated with their status as being single income heads which allows for independent decision concerning consumption in the households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life history interviews from Ethiopia and Uganda, organised around experiences of wage labour, provide rich evidence on the working conditions of many poor, rural women and on what leads them to work for wages. The life histories confirm and illuminate arguments based on large-scale socio-economic surveys carried out in these two countries. Further, findings from the surveys and life histories challenge an influential literature that not only celebrates women's agency in poor rural areas, but also remains committed to methodological individualism and ideas of choice. Drawing on primary and secondary evidence from Africa (and elsewhere), we insist that violent coercion and catastrophe trump maximising rational selection among alternatives; that the social is fundamental to individual behaviour; and the non-market is key to (labour) market participation. We also provide a brief discussion of the policy implications of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning is a fundamental human right, the basis of developing human capital and the foundation of human development. Basic skills provide individuals, their families and communities with the foundations needed to participate in society and to achieve better life chances. The shift in focus from mass access to mass learning has drawn attention to the question of who is and is not attaining these skills, and why. Opportunities to learn depend on access to schooling, but also the effectiveness of that schooling. There is considerable evidence of learning inequalities, both across and within countries. However, less is known about whether these patterns of inequality are rooted in variations in school effectiveness. In this paper we use evidence from Young Lives school surveys in Ethiopia, India and Vietnam to consider differences in girls' and boys' learning outcomes and progress and investigate how these patterns relate to school effectiveness. We explore whether girls or boys are 'sorted' into more or less effective schools and whether the same schools are differentially effective for boys and girls. Findings from India are perhaps closest to the 'typical' story that is often heard, in which girls, particularly those in rural areas, have lower attainment and attend less effective schools. In comparison, in Vietnam, girls have higher test scores and attend more effective schools on average, with this pattern driven by the higher performance of girls in rural areas. In Ethiopia, the divide between urban and rural areas is predominant in this context, over and above other areas of inequality including gender. Comparing results from these different areas of analysis and from three very different countries reveals the complexities of understanding how gender relates to educational outcomes. It demonstrates the importance of understanding gendered outcomes and school effectiveness in context. • Educational outcomes depend on access to education and the quality of that education. • Cross-country analysis reveals the complexities of how gender and school effectiveness relate to educational outcomes. • In India, where there is greatest school choice, girls have lower attainment and attend less effective schools than boys. • In Vietnam, the opposite is true - girls perform better and attend more effective schools. • In Ethiopia, the divide between urban and rural areas is predominant, over other axes of inequality including gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the financial context of the lives of female sex workers (FSWs) is essential to address structural drivers of HIV risk. We used a financial diary methodology to record daily financial transactions over six weeks from a stratified purposive sample (n = 34) of FSWs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. FSWs also provided information on their experience with gender-based violence and condom use. FSWs generated 90.1% of total cash from sex work, with a median weekly income of USD 60.53. They engaged mostly in protected vaginal sex, earning approximately USD 4.57 per act. Food, housing, and clothing represented the largest areas of expenditure. Around 17% of expenses were recorded as costs of sex work (e.g., alcohol). Median weekly expenditures accounted for 62% of median weekly income. Nearly all participants reported depositing money into savings at least once over six weeks, while 71% reported a loan transaction during the six-week period, most as borrowers. Findings suggest that financial literacy and formalized savings activities, with life skills and empowerment training, have potential to build FSW's economic resilience, mitigating a structural driver of sex work and HIV risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A limited number of studies suggest that boys may have a higher risk of stunting than girls in low-income countries. Little is known about the causes of these gender differences. The objective of the study was to assess gender differences in nutritional status and its determinants among infants in Ethiopia.Methods: We analyzed data for 2036 children (6-11 months old) collected as the baseline for a multiple micronutrient powders effectiveness study in two regions of Ethiopia in March-April 2015. Child, mother, and household characteristics were investigated as determinants of stunting and wasting. Multiple logistic regression models were used separately for boys and girls to check for gender differences while adjusting for confounders. The study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ with the clinical trials identifier of NCT02479815.Results: Stunting and wasting prevalence is significantly higher among boys compared to girls, 18.7 vs 10.7% and 7.9 vs 5.4%, respectively. Untimely initiation of breastfeeding, not-exclusive breastfeeding at the age of 6 months, region of residence, and low maternal education are significant predictors of stunting in boys. Untimely introduction to complementary food and low consumption of legumes/nuts are significant predictors of stunting in both boys and girls, and low egg consumption only in girls. Region of residence and age of the mother are significant determinants of wasting in both sexes. Analysis of interaction terms for stunting, however, shows no differences in predictors between boys and girls; only for untimely initiation of breastfeeding do the results for boys (OR 1.46; 95%CI 1.02,2.08) and girls (OR 0.88; 95%CI 0.55,1.41) tend to be different (p = 0.12).Conclusion: In Ethiopia, boys are more malnourished than girls. Exclusive breastfeeding and adequate dietary diversity of complementary feeding are important determinants of stunting in boys and girls. There are no clear gender interactions for the main determinants of stunting and wasting. These findings suggest that appropriate gender-sensitive guidance on optimum infant and young child feeding practices is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved forages of genus Brachiaria and Panicum grasses were introduced to men and women farmers in western Kenya and southern Ethiopia. To provide an understanding of the social and demographic characteristics of farming systems, a household survey was implemented in 2018/2019. In 2020, a complementary qualitative study was conducted to understand: (a) gender dynamics in accessing forage planting materials: (b) role of forage trait preferences, and (c) how the introduction of forage varieties influences gender relations in households. Forage seed/splits were accessed through women's groups. In Kenya, men and women were advised to source more forage seeds from private seed companies for scaling. In Ethiopia, men prioritized "fast regrowth" and women "nutritious biomass" traits; in Kenya, men prioritized "nutritious biomass" and women "how fast forage splits could be established" traits. The sale of the forage cuttings appeared to provide promising marketing opportunities for women, who were able to control the income generated. The introduction of improved forages, which are grown close to homesteads, reduced the time men and boys spent grazing livestock while increasing the time women and girls spent harvesting fodder. Following gender sensitivity training provided alongside forage introductions, Ethiopian men reported being involved in forage harvesting, chopping, and feeding against prevailing norms while the Kenyan women took on greater decision‐making roles. These positive outcomes in gender equity suggest that the integration of gender and forage technology trainings can secure significant gains not only for women, but also for the men in the households. Core Ideas: Use of participatory research enhanced farmers' knowledge about growing improved forages.Men and women farmers preference for improved forages were based on preferred traits.Integrating forage introductions with gender sensitivity training benefitted household relations.Time spent on grazing cattle by men reduced while women and girls time harvesting forages increased.Forage sales began to emerge as a source of income benefitting women in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across sub-Saharan Africa, climate change is exacerbating pest problems for smallholder farmers. Push-pull technology (PPT) is an agronomic package designed to reduce the effects of Striga and stemborers on maize and sorghum production. As PPT is promoted in new areas, including Ethiopia, there is a need to review the evidence that the technology helps farmers mitigate or adapt to climate change. Furthermore, proponents need to consider whether tasks associated with establishing and maintaining PPT may worsen existing gender burdens. We assess whether PPT is climate- and gender-smart based on a review of 40 publications that included field experiments or farmer surveys. We find strong evidence that intercropping with drought-tolerant Desmodium effectively reduces Striga abundance and enhances grain yield. Although gender influences PPT adoption, there is a lack of knowledge about additional labor requirements for women. We recommend research focusing on 1) the efficacy of PPT under different climate conditions, 2) optimal timing of planting push and pull species; 3) evaluation of fodder outputs; 4) water requirements associated with establishment; and 5) implications for gender burden across cultural contexts. We suggest a participatory approach that integrates farmers' perspectives to support climate mitigation, adaptation, and gender equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper provides empirical evidence on the gendered impact of the 2007–2008 food price crisis using panel data on 1400 households from rural Ethiopia that were initially surveyed before the onset of the crisis, in 1994–1995, 1997, and 2004, and after food prices spiked, in 2009. It investigates whether female-headed households are more likely to report experiencing a food price shock, and whether female-headed households experiencing a shock are more (or less) likely to adopt certain coping strategies, controlling for individual, household, and community characteristics. Our findings suggest that female-headed households are more vulnerable to food price changes and are more likely to have experienced a food price shock in 2007–2008. Because female-headed households are also resource poor and have a larger food gap compared with male-headed households, they cope by cutting back on the number of meals they provide their households during good months and eating less preferred foods in general. A combination of short-term measures to protect diet diversity and micronutrient consumption of vulnerable groups and longer-term measures to promote investment in sustainable agriculture, such as strengthening women’s property rights, may increase the ability of poor and vulnerable households to cope better with food price increases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: This paper examines how women’s perception of the division of household assets upon divorce affects women’s well-being and child schooling outcomes in rural Ethiopia. Findings suggest that women who perceive that their husband would get all the assets in case of a divorce also tend to perceive less control over their lives. Implications of perceptions of unequal divorce allocations on child schooling are more striking: not only do children in households where perceived divorce allocations favor the husband do worse compared to children of the same age, but girls fare even worse than boys in these households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ethnoarchaeological study of Konso beer and pottery production. • Archaeological study from two leather worker sites in Konso Ethiopia. • Overview of the ritual and economic importance of beer in Konso society. • Pottery analysis indicating beer fermentation based on the use-alteration attribute of pitting and erosion to the vessel's interior. The drinking of African Indigenous beers is an expression of a variety of identities from age, gender, status, ethnicity, and can serve to either bond or exclude people in a community. Beer has a deep history in Africa connecting the living with their ancestors, as well as motivating people to work as a form of reciprocity or economic payment. This study analyzes the intersection of beer and pottery using both archaeological and ethnoarchaeological analyses of pottery by examining the Konso society in southern Ethiopia. Beer production and consumption is essential as it is the agency that brings together different Konso lineages and serves as a daily food, reciprocal exchange, and a ritual libation. This paper uses previous ethnoarchaeological use-alteration analysis of household pottery assemblages as a baseline to compare to archaeological pottery assemblages from two Konso leather worker sites occupied over the last century. The archaeological pottery assemblages from these two Konso sites indicates that they were producing beer to increase their economic well being and drinking beer as part of their daily food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a common reproductive health problem, especially in developing countries. It is still the first research priority area in Africa that is identified by World Health Organization. The main aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of Gender Based Violence among Baso high school female students in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. A total of 350 female students were selected by stratified sampling technique. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Each independent variable was fitted separately into bivariate logistic analysis, and Variables with p-values less than 0.25 in bivariable model were fitted into multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the degree of association with gender-based violence. The significance level was obtained with 95% CI and p-value < 0.05. Result: The prevalence of GBV during the lock- down was 36.2% (95% CI 0.3, 0.4), and the lifetime prevalence of GBV was 47.2% (95% CI 0.4, 0.5). The prevalence of life time sexual violence and physical violence were found to be 27.99% (95% CI 0.2, 0.3), and 37.99% (95% CI 0.3, 0.4), respectively. Sexual violence and physical violence during the lockdown were found to be 21.3% and 17.8%, respectively. Respondents educational performance (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI 1.8, 11.3), monthly pocket money received from their parents (AOR = 3; 95% CI 1.6, 5.6), free discussion about reproductive issue (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI 1.4, 5.2), and experience of sexual intercourse (AOR = 13.2; 95% CI 4.8, 36.4) were found to be associated factors of gender based violence. Conclusion and recommendation: Gender Based Violence is still a significant sexual and reproductive health issue in Ethiopia. Governmental and non-governmental organizations should give due attention to this problem. Moreover, further large-scale studies are needed to estimate the national figure of GBV and to identify route causes. Plain Language summary: Gender-based violence (GBV) has been defined as any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person's will and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between males and females. GBV has a myriad of adverse health effects but is vastly underreported. It is the first research priority in Africa. Every form of violence has devastating effects on the school system such as physical and psychological effects, educational damage and societal breakdown. An institution based cross-sectional study was employed among Baso high school female students. There are four governmental high schools in Debre Berhan town and our study was conducted among Baso high school female students from November 2020–December 2020. The single population proportion formula was used to calculate the required sample size, and the final sample size was 350. First, a stratified random sampling method was employed by considering each grade level as a stratum. Then, a simple random sampling method was used to select the study participants. Study participants were asked about their Sociodemographic characteristics, family history, substance use, sexual experiences, physical violence status, sexual violence status and complications. Out of 350 students, 343 were completed questionnaires, with a response rate of 98%. Lifetime prevalence of GBV was 47.2%.Life time sexual violence and physical violence was found to be 27.99%, and 37.99%, respectively. Respondent's educational performance, monthly pocket money received from their parents, free discussion about reproductive issue, and experience of sexual intercourse were found to be determinants of gender based violence. In conclusion; Gender Based Violence is still a significant sexual and reproductive health issue in Ethiopia. Significant amount of female students were victim of GBV in our study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural labor accounts for the largest share of child labor worldwide. Yet, measurement of farm labor statistics is challenging due to its inherent seasonality, variable and irregular work schedules, and the varying saliencies of individuals' work activities. The problem is further complicated by the presence of widespread gender stratification of work and social lives. This study reports the findings of three randomized survey design interventions over the agricultural coffee calendar in rural Ethiopia to address whether response by proxy rather than by self-report has effects on the measurement of child labor statistics within and across seasons. While the estimates do not report differences for boys across all seasons, the analysis shows sizable self/proxy discrepancies in child labor statistics for girls. Overall, the results highlight concerns on the use of survey proxy respondents in agricultural labor, particularly for girls. The main findings have important implications for policymakers about data collection in rural areas in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood malnutrition is a major cause of child mortality under the age of 5 in the sub-Saharan Africa region. This study sought to identify the risk factors and spatial distribution of the composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF).Methods: Secondary data from 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016 Ethiopian Health and Demographic Survey (EDHS) were used. The generalized geo-additive mixed model was adopted via the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) with a binomial family and logit link function.Results: The CIAF status of children was found to be positively associated with the male gender, the potency of contracting a disease, and multiple births. However, it was negatively associated with family wealth quartiles, parental level of education, place of residence, unemployment status of mothers, improved sanitation, media exposure, and survey years. Moreover, the study revealed significant spatial variations on the level of CIAF among administrative zones.Conclusions: The generalized geo-additive mixed-effects model results identified gender of the child, presence of comorbidity, size of child at birth, dietary diversity, birth type, place of residence, age of the child, parental level of education, wealth index, sanitation facilities, and media exposure as main drivers of CIAF. The results would help decision-makers to develop and carry out target-oriented programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis are the world major public health issues. Although some primary studies have been reported on the burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis in extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis that attempt to summarize the available literature. Thus, we aimed to estimates the prevalence of drug-resistance in extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients and summarize the risk factors associated with the occurrence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the published primary studies on extrapulmonary drug-resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia. Results: Eight observational studies were included in this review from different regions of Ethiopia. The overall pooled prevalence of rifampicin resistance was 6% (95% CI 0.03–0.10), while isoniazid resistance was 7% (95% CI 0.03–0.12). The pooled prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was 4% (95% CI 0.01–0.07). Previous tuberculosis treatment history and male gender are frequently reported risk factors for developing drug-resistant tuberculosis in extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients. Conclusion: The current review has identified a high proportion of resistance to rifampicin, isoniazid, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Ethiopia. Clinicians should request drug susceptibility testing for all patients with presumptive extrapulmonary tuberculosis to detect drug-resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Open defecation practice problem is rampant in most rural areas of developing countries, including Ethiopia. To combat this problem, the Ethiopian government implemented different sanitation interventions including Community-Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH). The CLTSH approach is mainly aimed to eradicate open defecation practice through mobilizing the community to construct a latrine facility and utilize it. Although this intervention has significantly improved households' access to a latrine facility, its impact on bringing behavioral change such as avoiding open defecation is not well studied. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of open defecation among households having their latrine and its determinant factors in rural settings in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Machakal district from September 1 to 30, 2019. A total of 472 household heads who had a latrine facility and systematically selected from six rural Kebeles of the district, were involved in the study. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist tools through face-to-face interviews and observation methods. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were run to identify the factors that influence open defecation practice. During the multivariable analysis, statistical significance was declared at the p-value of <0.05 with 95% CI. Results: The prevalence of open defecation practice among household heads who had latrine facility was 27.8% (95% CI, [23.1–32.8]). Female gender (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI [1.13–7.68]), not attending of formal education (AOR = 3.10, CI 95% [1.34–7.13]), having >5 family members (AOR = 1.72, CI 95% [1.05–2.80]), presence of under-five child (AOR = 3.64 CI 95% [2.14–6.21]), preferring leaf as anal cleaning material (AOR = 3.18, CI 95% [1.67–6.08]), having unclean latrine (AOR = 2.15, CI 95% [1.34–3.44]), and having latrine that needs maintenance (AOR = 2.50 CI 95% [1.52–4.11]) variables were associated with open defecation practice. Conclusions: Among the total respondents, finding more than a quarter of open defecators is concerning for a district that achieved greatly in terms of latrine coverage. This indicates the above-mentioned factors contributed to influence household heads to defecate openly despite having latrines. Therefore, the government and partners need to focus on designing strategies that effectively address determinant factors of open defecation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of under-five children's undernutrition in Ethiopia is among the highest in the world. This study aimed at exploring the prevalence and risk factors of the composite index for anthropometric failure (CIAF) of under-five children in Ethiopia by incorporating the zonal (district) effects. Methods: The data was drawn from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHSs), a population-based cross-sectional study of 29,599 under-five year children from 72 Zones in the years 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016. Fixed effect variables related to child and maternal-household were included in the model. We adopted a generalized mixed model with CIAF as outcome variable and Zones as random effects. Results: The prevalence of CIAF in Ethiopia was 53.78% with the highest prevalence of 61.30% in 2000 and the lowest prevalence of 46.58% in 2016. The model result revealed that being a female child, absence of comorbidity, singleton births, and the first order of birth showed significantly lower CIAF prevalence than their counterparts. Among the household characteristics, children from mothers of underweight body mass index, uneducated parents, poor household sanitation, and rural residents were more likely to be undernourished than their counterparts. Based on the best linear unbiased prediction for the zonal-level random effect, significant variations of CIAF among zones were observed. Conclusion: The generalized linear mixed-effects model results identified gender of the child, size of child at birth, dietary diversity, birth type, place of residence, age of the child, parental level of education, wealth index, sanitation facilities, and media exposure as main drivers of CIAF. Disparities of CIAF were observed between and within the Ethiopian administrative Zones over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Although many countries have made progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on inclusive and equitable education for all, vulnerable children and adolescents in low‐income countries often face significant barriers to realizing educational opportunities, especially at secondary and post‐secondary or tertiary levels. Purpose: In line with the aim of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to "leave no one behind", the article explores the factors that shape the educational trajectories of vulnerable population groups and contributes to evidence‐informed policy and programming to tackle school dropout in rural Ethiopia. Approach and Methods: The article draws on qualitative research on 150 girls and boys aged 10–19 years, along with their caregivers and key informants, in communities from three diverse regions in Ethiopia: pastoralist Afar, highland Amhara, and lowland Oromia. Findings: Although Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in increasing secondary enrolment since 2000, intersecting barriers put vulnerable adolescents' educational opportunities at risk. Children and adolescents from poor households, those with disabilities, and who are internally displaced, out‐of‐school or working face a range of challenges at the household, community and system levels. These barriers are also shaped by gender norms that restrict adolescent girls' and boys' education, often in contrasting ways. Policy Implications: A multi‐pronged approach is critical to promoting educational opportunities that leave no adolescent behind, including investments in school quality, positive disciplinary approaches, competency‐based grade progression, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and school‐feeding programmes; the wider enabling environment, including social protection and safe, subsidized transport; initiatives to tackle age‐ and gender‐based violence that discourages school attendance; and tailored strategies to support the most vulnerable young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) has received growing attention in policy and practice over the past decade, increasingly attended to in national and international contexts. Yet we need to understand more fully the processes and actors through which this policy enactment takes place. This article analyses the understanding of SRGBV by policy stakeholders in Ethiopia and Zambia. It shows how the concept is discursively stretched by actors in positive ways, as well as shrunk and fixed in ways that limit its application, in gendered and political processes. We propose SRGBV offers a point where contestation between policy actors and sectors is inevitable. Opportunities for dialogue that include recognition of the everyday and gendered manifestations of violence may offer a contribution to facilitating policy enactment that moves towards a holistic and inclusive account of SRGBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transnational marriages involving wives mainly from the Amhara Region, Ethiopia, and migrant husbands from abroad have been common in the region ever since the 1990s, resulting in compound effects on the socio-economic order in Amhara. The article analyses how transnational marriage is envisaged by women in Amhara and has a negative affect on their lives. The analysis is based on triangulated data collected through interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and document analysis. It has been consistently theorised that transnational marriages and the opening up of the marriage market for women has created a scarcity of wives that negatively affects the lives of men in migrants' origin countries. The study reveals the broad effects of transnational marriages on the gender dynamics in Amhara. The author concludes that the success related to transnational marriages and subsequent remittances creates a fragile negotiation power among women seeking migrant husbands and abandons many women as singletons and single mothers, thereby contributing to the social ethos of unmarried women and of single-parent families. Given the patriarchal conventions in Amhara, abandonment constitutes much more complicated psychosocial effects. Abandoned women suffer stigma and neglect, another constituent characterising the social ills created by transnational marriages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As migration of family members becomes an omnipresent phenomenon, the conventional norm of having a family and living under the same roof together is far from normal for many households. It produces transnational practices and multisite lifestyle configurations. This study aims to explore the implication of maternal absence as a result of transnational labour migration on the left-behind child in the context of transnational labour migration from Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach: It focusses on the perspective of those who stayed behind. The ethnographic fieldwork was carried out in two rural villages – Bulebullo and Bokekesa – of Worebabbo district in Northern Ethiopia. It involved in-depth interviews with children and their caregivers supported by interviews and group discussions with members of the community, local officials and traditional leaders. Findings: Transnational mothering and other mothering emerge as new practices of mothering in the rural villages due to maternal absence have interrelated implications and meanings for the left-behind child. However, the rigidity of sending societies' norms related to mothering and gendered labour dynamics exacerbated the negative implications of maternal absence on left-behind children. The absence of the fathers' effort to redefine mothering or fathering by providing childcare is part of the equation in the relationship between maternal absence and left-behind children. Originality/value: The findings of this study refute the notion that labels mother's out-migration as "abandoning children", "disrupting families" and "acts of selfishness". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper examines the findings from recent studies of street children in Ethiopia. Methods: Following a discussion of the term "street children," comparisons are drawn between Latin American and Ethiopian street children in terms of gender, age, reasons for going to the streets, family relations and structure, delinquency, drug use, groups and the outcomes of street life. In particular, the victimization of street children in Ethiopia is examined. Results: Widespread abuse of street children was reported. More than half of the street boys questioned reported being "regularly" physically attacked. Street life is also highly victimogenic for street girls. Sexual offences, in particular, were widespread. Forty four percent had been raped and a further 26% had been sexually attacked. Conclusions: Similarities between Latin American street children and their Ethiopian counterparts regarding gender, background and street life experiences are noted. Comparisons concerning the victimization of street children were not possible, as this is an issue that is relatively unexamined in the Latin American context. Also, issues such as the developmental outcomes of street life and the process of leaving street life remain to be examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using primary data collected from 560 farm households in Dawuro zone, southern Ethiopia, this study analyzes the gender gaps in food security among male, female, and joint decision-making farm households. It examines the factors inducing gender gaps among the households of those three categories. The results show that female decision-making households have a lower probability of ensuring food-security and a higher probability of being transitionally and chronically food-insecure. Joint decision-making households showed a higher probability of falling into the chronically food-insecure category. The decomposition results show significant gender gaps between male and female decision-making households in terms of food-secure, transitory food-insecure, and chronically food-insecure categories. Overall, both the endowment and return effects account for the gaps; however, the magnitude of the effect from the return is higher than from the endowment on significant gaps in the food-secure, transitory, and chronically food-insecure categories. Hence, there is a need for policies that not only ensure equal levels of productive resources but also help households build their capacity in order to improve both transitory and chronically food insecure situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of gender differences on maize productivity in Dawuro Zone, southern Ethiopia. Our study addressed the limitations of the previous studies in two ways. First, the study separately assessed gender differences in productivity between de facto female-headed households and de jure female-headed households and revealed that female-headed households are not homogenous. Second, the study separately examined the impacts of the covariates on male-headed households and female-headed households using an exogenous switching treatment effect model. We find the existence of gender differences in maize productivity between male-headed households and female-headed households. The maize productivity of male-headed households was overall 44.3% higher than that of female-headed households. However, if female-headed households received the same return on their resources as male-headed households, their productivity would increase by 42.3%. This suggests agricultural policy should target female-headed households to help reduce the productivity gap between male-headed households and female-headed households. Finally, the distributions of the gender differentials between male-headed households and female-headed households are more pronounced at mid-levels of productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition in farm households remains a significant problem in many developing countries and is linked to a lack of diversity in diets. We explore how gender differences might affect household dietary diversity using the LSMS‐ISA Ethiopia panel dataset. Drawing on a farm household framework, nonlinear panel models are estimated allowing for unobserved heterogeneity and production endogeneity using a control function. We use decomposition techniques to identify the impact of different potential sources of gender difference in dietary diversity. Our results provide evidence of significant gender effects in production diversity and in dietary diversity using the food variety score (FVS). For other indicators of dietary diversity, the evidence of gender effects is weaker. The decomposition results suggest that, after controlling for differences in characteristics, female‐headed households are at a dietary diversity disadvantage. Gender differences in the relationship between production diversity, price and income and dietary diversity and the production diversity decisions appear to be the main drivers. The results also suggest that female preferences are more orientated towards ensuring greater dietary diversity in the household. Our evidence also suggests that a key driver of gender disadvantage in dietary diversity is related to whether food is sourced from the household's own production or the market. This implies that part of the observed negative gender impact on dietary diversity may stem from differences in marketing and storage of own production through the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the temporal dimension of childhood, through time use of boys and girls in Ethiopia, focusing on the relationship between children's work and school attendance. We argue that children's time use reflects both current exigencies and more strategic future-orientated considerations, with work mainly serving the former, and education, the latter. We compare two cohorts of children aged 12 years from Young Lives longitudinal study, interviewed at two different points in time, 2006 and 2013. We examine the role of education aspirations, labour demand and structural factors such as household wealth and composition. Contrary to expectations, increased returns to work in rural areas have lowered boys' education aspirations and increased their school drop-out rates relative to girls'. Though time allocation is correlated with educational aspirations, we demonstrate that aspirations are not static, and change over childhood; locality and everyday exigencies interact with gender in reshaping children's aspirations and time-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2010, UNESCO listed the Kafa Biosphere Reserve (KBR) in southwest Ethiopia based on the concept of landscape multifunctionality and the need to reconcile local community values and needs with conservation pressures. Understanding the role of the local community in traditional resource management has received little attention by researchers however, as most studies focus on the biophysical characteristics of the KBR. In this qualitative study we present two case studies from fieldwork and secondary sources: the Shattos as guardians of the Kafa forest customs, values and wisdom through musical performance; and, deejjoo, a thanksgiving ritual ceremony associated with forest resource management. These cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices corresponded closely with local understandings of biology and ecology. Land use changes over the past 50 years have resulted in deforestation, land degradation and erosion of sociocultural values that traditionally sustained human-environment interactions. Based on these descriptions we also found a gap in the research of the effects of gender on both biosphere and traditional land management approaches: Who has access to resources? What is the division of labour? How are values are defined, and Who makes the rules and decisions? Gender matters because taken for granted assumptions about women's roles and responsibilities as care givers can reinforce gender stereotypes. Our results provide insights into how increasing broader local community involvement in decision making could enhance environmental sustainability and improve gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine household food gap and food insecurity in Eastern Ethiopia. Differences in food gap and food insecurity were also examined in terms of gender of the household head and location. Design/methodology/approach: A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods such as household survey, key informant interview and focused group discussion were utilized for this study. Households were drawn randomly from the study area. Findings: In terms of food availability, more than half of the households experienced a food gap during the year, especially during the months of July and August. In terms of gender, female-headed households had more months of food shortage compared to their male counterparts. This disparity was also reflected in poorer food access among female-headed households as shown by the higher HFIAS. Differences in food insecurity were obtained in terms of gender of the household head and location. Livestock ownership, cereal crop production, extension contact and household size significantly influenced household food access. Research limitations/implications: Findings are valid only for low-land agroecologies Originality/value: This study contributes to the existing literature by examining household food gap and food insecurity using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. It adds value in examining disparities between male-headed and female-headed households. Literature related to seasonal household food insecurity is limited in Ethiopia. This study contributes in this regard by examining seasonal food insecurity between post-harvest and pre-harvest seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Until recently, global public health initiatives have tended to overlook the ways that social factors shape adolescent health, and particularly how these dynamics affect the specific needs of adolescents in relation to information about puberty, menstruation and sexual health. This article draws on mixed methods data from rural and urban areas of Ethiopia to explore how access to health information and resources - and subsequently health outcomes - for adolescents are mediated by gender and age norms, living in different geographical locations, poverty, disability and migration. Methods: Data was collected in 2017–2018 for the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) mixed-methods longitudinal research baseline in three regions of Ethiopia (Afar, Amhara and Oromia). Quantitative data was collected from over 6800 adolescents and their caregivers, with qualitative data obtained from a sub-sample of 220 adolescents, their families and communities. Adolescent participants shared their experiences of health, illness and nutrition over the previous year; their knowledge and sources of information about sexual and reproductive health and puberty; and their attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health. Regression analysis was used to explore differences by gender, age, rural/urban residence, and disability status, across a set of adolescents' health knowledge and other outcomes in the quantitative data. Intersectional analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data. Results: Analysis suggested that gender inequality intersects with age, disability and rural/urban differences to shape young people's access to information about puberty, with knowledge about this topic particularly lacking amongst younger adolescents in rural areas. Drought and lack of access to clean water exacerbates health challenges for adolescents in rural areas, where a lack of information and absence of access to preventive healthcare services can lead to permanent disability. The research also found that gaps in both school-based and alternative sources of education about puberty and menstruation reinforce stigma and misinformation, especially in rural areas where adolescents have higher school attrition rates. Gendered cultural norms that place high value on marriage and motherhood generate barriers to contraceptive use, particularly in certain rural communities. Conclusions: As they progress through adolescence, young people's overall health and access to information about their changing bodies is heavily shaped by intersecting social identities. Structural disadvantages such as poverty, distress migration and differential access to healthcare intersect with gender norms to generate further inequalities in adolescent girls' and boys' health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 70% of the population in Ethiopia lack access to electricity and thus rely on conventional sources of energy such as biomass that is associated with negative consequences on health and the environment. Decentralized community-based micro-hydropower plants (MHPs) are being utilized as effective means to transition to modern low-carbon energy systems providing access to electricity to communities in remote areas. However, there exist a knowledge gap regarding energy justice dimensions and gendered impacts related to sustainable energy transitions in the Global South. This research investigates the gendered justice implications of low-carbon energy projects in the case of four community-based micro-hydropower projects in Ethiopia implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). Although the projects generally achieved positive outcomes for the lives of the villager's socio-economic impacts on income; productive use, health and education affected men and women differently. The particular energy needs, uses and challenges that women face were insufficiently addressed and hence are limiting the opportunities for women to benefit equally from access to electricity. Generally, procedural justice aspects such as access to information, consultation and participation seemed to be insufficient to create a sense of ownership which in turn can jeopardize the long-term sustainability of the hydropower plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reviewed the educational feminism theory to examine how it has helped gender treating initiatives of Ethiopian science teachers. By so doing, the findings show that Marxist and Radical feminism theories were ineffective to achieve gender equality in the instructional process of the nation. Most of the activities of Marxist feminists focused on educating people about the dominant ideology. Radical feminism also preferred to achieve a gender context school environment by following a separatist principle that enforced both men and women to have detached institutions and relationships. However, treating females by isolating them from males may develop a sense of inferiority complex among females - they may perceive themselves as weak to learn science than males. Accordingly, the reviewers considered the liberal feminism as an imperative theory that helps teachers to treat gender in their instructional endeavors. The theory seeks to level the playing instructional field that would allow girls to have the same opportunities as boys. Therefore, Ethiopia has to use this liberal feminism theory to strengthen its motives for achieving gender reflective instructional practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) often occurs in resource-limited settings such as Ethiopia. It could result in psychological and physical adverse outcomes such as stress, anxiety, depression, unsafe abortion, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with gender-based violence among female high school students in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.Methods: An institutionally based-cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. A total of 604 female high school students were recruited through multi-stage stratified sampling techniques. The gender-based-violence assessment tool, validated by the World Health Organization, was used to assess gender-based-violence and other determinants. The strength of statistical association was measured by adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05.Results: The lifetime prevalence of GBV, sexual violence, and physical violence were found to be 63.2, 37.2, and 56.3%, respectively. The prevalence of sexual violence before and after joining the current school as well as in the current academic year were 30.5, 37.2, and 22% respectively. Having regular boy-friends (AOR = 2.02; 95% CI:1.07-3.79), being sexually active (AOR = 6.10; 95% CI: 2.49-14.92), having female or male friends who drink alcohol (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI:1.26-3.77), students witnessed their mothers being beaten by their partners or husband (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI:1.19-3.11) and joining public school (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI:1.11-2.76) were significantly associated with gender-based violence.Conclusion: The prevalence of gender-based-violence was high. This needs a due concern from governmental, non-governmental and civic organizations as well as other responsible bodies to tackle factors associated with GBV in this study. Further large scale studies incorporating male students are warranted to elucidate the factors associated with GBV in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early identification of children <5 years with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a high priority to reduce child mortality and improved health outcomes. Current WHO guidelines for community screening for SAM recommend a Mid-Upper-Arm Circumference (MUAC) of less than 115 mm to identify children with SAM, but this cut-off does not identify a significant number of children with a weight-for-height Z-score <-3. To establish new specific MUAC cut-offs, pooled data was obtained for 25,755 children from 49 SMART recent surveys in Ethiopia (2016–2019). Sensitivity, proportion of false positive, and areas under receiver-operator characteristic curves (AUC) were calculated. MUAC below 115mm alone identified 55% of children with SAM identified with both methodologies. MUAC was worse in identifying older children (21%), those from a pastoral region (42%) and boys (41%). Using current WHO cut-offs, the sensitivity (Se) of MUAC below 115mm to identify the children severly malnourished screened through Weight-for-height below-3 was 16%. Analysing the ROC curve and Youden Index, Se and Specificity (Sp) were maximal at a MUAC < 133 mm cut-off to identify SAM (respectively Se 61.1%, Sp 81.4%). However, given the high proportion of false-positive children, according to gender, region and age groups, a cut-off around 125 mm to screen SAM could be the optimal one. In Ethiopia, implementation of a MUAC-only screening program for the identification of severe acute malnutrition with the actual cut-off of 115 mm would be unethical as it will lead to many children remaining undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, future study on implementation challenge on screening children with a higher cut-off or gender/age sensitive ones should be assessed with the collection of mortality and morbidity data to ensure that the most in need are being taking care of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the question of why does an African country that had more women queens and empresses throughout its history practically than any other African country have the oldest known women queens in Africa, and purports to be committed to gender equality end up undermining its own objectives. The article shows that the focus on integrationist paradigm, an approach which focuses on the participation of women in the existing development paradigm, undermined the transformative nature of gender policy because it does not conceptualize gender parity as an end by itself, but as an instrument for economic progress. Consequently, progress towards gender parity remains to be little-by-little despite the strong political commitment to gender equality. The article concludes that the transformative nature of gender policy has been endangered by emphasis on macroeconomic outcomes, macro-level conceptualization of gender issues, and the limited role of civil society in influencing policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mistreatment during childbirth occurs across the globe and endangers the well-being of pregnant women and their newborns. A gender-sensitive approach to mistreatment during childbirth seems relevant in Ethiopia, given previous research among Ethiopian midwives and patients suggesting that male midwives provide more respectful maternity care, which is possibly mediated by self-esteem and stress. This study aimed a) to develop a tool that assesses mistreatment appraisal from a provider's perspective and b) to assess gender differences in mistreatment appraisal among Ethiopian final-year midwifery students and to analyze possible mediating roles of self-esteem and stress. First, we developed a research tool (i.e. a quantitative scale) to assess mistreatment appraisal from a provider's perspective, on the basis of scientific literature and the review of seven experts regarding its relevance and comprehensiveness. Second, we utilized this scale, the so-called Mistreatment Appraisal Scale, among 390 Ethiopian final-year midwifery students to assess their mistreatment appraisal, self-esteem (using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale) and various background characteristics. The scale's internal consistency was acceptable (α =.75), corrected item-total correlations were acceptable (.24 -.56) and inter-item correlations were mostly acceptable (.07 -.63). Univariable (B = 3.084, 95% CI [-.005, 6.173]) and multivariable (B = 1.867, 95% CI [-1.472, 5.205]) regression analyses did not show significant gender differences regarding mistreatment appraisal. Mediation analyses showed that self-esteem (a1b1 = -.030, p =.677) and stress (a2b2 = -.443, p =.186) did not mediate the effect of gender on mistreatment appraisal. The scale to assess mistreatment appraisal appears to be feasible and reliable. No significant association between gender and mistreatment appraisal was observed and self-esteem and stress were not found to be mediators. Future research is needed to evaluate the scale's criterion validity and to assess determinants and consequences of mistreatment during childbirth from various perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been little examination of: (1) associations of early-life nutrition and adolescent cognitive skills, (2) if they vary by gender, (3) if they differ by diverse contexts, and (4) contributions of post-infancy growth to adolescent cognitive attainment. We use Young Lives data on 7687 children from Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam to undertake ordinary least squares estimates of associations between age-1 height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and age-15 cognitive outcomes (math, reading, vocabulary), controlling for child and household factors. Age-1 HAZ is positively associated with cognitive scores in all countries. Child gender-specific estimates for these coefficients either do not differ (math, reading) or favor girls (vocabulary). Augmenting models to include growth in HAZ between ages 1 and 15 years that was not predicted by HAZ at age 1 reveals that such improvements are associated with higher cognitive scores, but that sex-specific coefficients for this predictor favor boys in India and Peru. The results suggest that nutritional indicators at age 1 have gender-neutral associations with math and reading and favor girls for vocabulary achievement at age 15, but unpredicted improvements in HAZ by adolescence are associated with higher cognitive scores for boys than for girls. This evidence enriches our understanding of relationships between children's nutritional trajectories during childhood and adolescent cognitive development, and how these associations vary by gender in some contexts to the possible disadvantage of girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gendered cultural ideologies limit access to education for girls in Ethiopia. Practices like child marriage, a disproportionate work burden for girls, early pregnancy, and social isolation, inhibit the participation of female students in education. This qualitative study analyzes the influence of Girl Effect (a branding agency supported by international development organizations) in promoting pro-education ideologies for girls in Ethiopia. Document analysis of five data sources—including evaluation reports and audio-visual material—was the method used. The findings of the study demonstrate that Girl Effect used girl-centered research and advocacy to promote investment in girls and women. Moreover, this organization is innovative because it attempted to influence popular media through Yegna, a communication platform and youth-led movement, that presents the Ethiopian public with narratives that challenge existing power structures and encourage the empowerment of women. The Yegna communication platform relies on diverse methods of information delivery—including interactive talk shows, music, and toolkits for starting youth clubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the dynamics of gender relations in terms of changes in gender roles and access to resources under recurrent drought conditions in Borana, Southern Ethiopia, using data from household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Results show that in traditional Borana society, roles are structured on the basis of gender and age groups with women responsible for activities in and around their dwellings whereas men are responsible for livestock management. However, changes in pastoral production due to recurrent droughts seem to be transforming the gender roles so that women's workload, areas of decision-making, and income-earning opportunities have increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empowering women farmers to participate in agricultural research is a key strategy for sustainable agricultural development. Women empowerment has the potential to improve their roles in agricultural production while enhancing nutrition and food security. Although new agricultural development policies are focusing on improving women engagement in agriculture, there is limited literature on women empowerment in relation to agricultural research. This study used mixed methods to analyse women farmers' participation in four stages of the agricultural research process - design, testing, dissemination, monitoring and evaluation. Two hundred and thirty individual interviews with women farmers and 16 focus group discussions with men and women farmers were conducted in four Woredas (districts) of Ethiopia. Quantitative data were analysed using binary and multivariate probit models. Qualitative data were analysed using line-by-line coding. The results showed that several empowerment indicator variables significantly (p ≤ .001) influenced women's participation in different stages of agricultural research. Specifically, input in production decisions, autonomy in plot management, membership to farmer groups, and ability to speak in public enhanced women's participation in different stages, in addition to access to information and extension services, education and land size. Cultural norms hindered women's empowerment and engagement in research. To foster sustainable agriculture development, it's important to integrate holistic and proactive gender perspectives into research strategies to increase women's participation in farmer research groups, access information and knowledge, have voice and challenge constraining cultural norms and traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, Ethiopian women have faced numerous challenges to gender equity at the individual, relational and community levels; such inequalities can lead to increased risk of HIV acquisition. Over the past two decades, some progress has been made towards changing policies and norms to reduce gender inequality. We sought to understand the ways in which marriage and other romantic/sexual relationships of a group of Ethiopian women living with HIV had been impacted by gender norms, relational power dynamics and HIV status over the life course. We conducted in-depth interviews with 19 women living with HIV who were working as peer educators at a large clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Reflecting on their early lives, participants often described traumatic prior relationships characterised by rape, forced marriage and HIV nondisclosure. In the aftermath of being diagnosed with HIV, participants' more recent relationships embodied a more egalitarian dynamic characterised by mutual support for HIV care engagement and open communication. Participants' narratives illustrate encouraging examples of ways in which HIV-positive women can form and maintain equitable and satisfying personal relationships even in the context of obstacles at multiple levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Medicine & International Health is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Home gardens enable farmers to secure their food availability, mitigate environmental change, increase consistency of social-cultural values and protect species provenance. On the other hands, they conserve biodiversity and sequester carbon, and improve a biogeochemical process even if the home garden has multifunctional values. The objective of this review is to identify the factors hindering the adoption of home garden agroforestry practices in Ethiopia and to show existing opportunities to scale-up the practice. The dominant species in various home gardens are economically appreciated as they fulfill a demand. Women are more engaged than men in home garden activities, which create job opportunities and foster social acceptance. There is also available indigenous and scientific knowledge that has to be managed and administered by concerned stakeholders. Many researchers found that there were high species diversity, suitable environments, good experience, available products, a willingness of women to participate and important component interdependence with flexible arrangements, but small farm size and discouraged tenure of land and tree were major impediments. The responsible bodies should undertake positive actions like promote community services, researchers on home garden agroforestry. awareness creation, scale-up of appropriate home garden components, provide support through cultivating good and multipurpose hybrid varieties, and formulate policies and strategies that encourage farmers to make home gardens an alternative to secure food stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving food security has remained to be one of the major challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Ethiopia is not an exception. As a result of poor productivity of the farming sector, smallholder farmers in Ethiopia have been strained to have a precarious livelihood. This study aims at analyzing the determinants of farm livelihood of smallholder farmers particularly in the context of Yayu biosphere reserve, where farmers are legally prohibited from expanding farmland and wild animals often intrude into the farmers' field. A household survey was conducted to collect gender disaggregated data from 334 smallholder farmers supported by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. T-test mean comparison was made to compare socio-economic and household characteristics between male and female-headed households. Tobit regression analysis was also employed to capture the probability and extent of determinant variables in predicting the engagement of households in farm livelihoods. The result shows that augmented production factors, particularly farm physical capital and land along with access to credit, yield enhancing inputs and local labor support systems were found to significantly increase the intensity of engagement in farming both in male and female-headed households. Encroachment of wild animals to the farmers' field brought insignificant effects on farm livelihoods. However, it brought additional burdens on farmers as they are expected to patrol their fields regularly. The findings implied that farm livelihood is highly dependent on ownership and efficient use of scarce production factors. These call for sustainable and integrated approaches to improve the future productivity of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on gender and livestock in Ethiopia are scanty and localized in terms of geographic coverage and gender issues covered. Nevertheless, gender issues in livestock that could potentially influence livestock policy and gender equity have been generated. The gender issues addressed in livestock include gender division of labour; access to, ownership and control over of resources; intrahousehold decision-making; livestock institutions; mobility and the risk of HIV and AIDS; time poverty, perception and agency; women's invisibility; gender capacity; and changes in gender relations. The review suggested some possible gendered investable options to improve the existing gender inequalities in livestock with a potential of far reaching consequences of improving the livestock systems in general and as well as research gaps for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Public Health is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current industrial crop (IC) expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may have important ramifications for food security. This study proposes a rapid appraisal method that can capture the food security outcomes of IC expansion in smallholder settings in SSA. A key element of this approach is a common unit of household caloric intake that captures food security across its four pillars (availability, access, utilization, stability). This approach also considers the role of women in household food security. The proposed approach is tested in two radically different smallholder IC settings: cotton production in Northern Ghana and sugarcane production in Central Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]