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Background: Medication adherence is a fundamental determinant of effective treatment. However, people with epilepsy have poor compliance with their treatment because of the chronic nature of the disease. Limited studies have been conducted to address antiepileptic medication adherence in Africa, including Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess antiepileptic drug adherence and its asociated factors among patients with epilepsy attending outpatient department of Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 439 patients with epilepsy in Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. Medication adherence reporting scale-5 (MARS-5) was used to assess adherence to antiepileptic drugs. The Oslo social support, Jacob perceived stigma scale, and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) were the instruments used to assess associated factors. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis models were fitted. Then, the adjusted unstandardized beta (β) coefficient at a 95% confidence level was used. Results: The mean(SD) score of antiepileptic medication adherence was 16.38(±3.76) with 95%CI:(16.03, 16.72). Depressive symptoms (β= -1.35, 95% CI: (-2.04, -0.65)), anxiety symptoms (β=- 1.12,95%CI:(-1,79,-0.44), perceived stigma (β= -1.64, 95% CI:- 2.16,-1.12), being single (β=-0.67, 95%CI:-1.20,- 0.14), presence of seizure per month(β=-2.11,95% CI: (-2.81,-1.41) and antiepileptic drug adverse effect(β=-0.07,95%CI:-0.11,-0.03) were factors associated with anti-epileptic medication adherence. Conclusion: The results suggest that the mean score of adherence to antiepileptic drugs was poor as compared to other settings. Antiepileptic medication adherence screening tool should be included in the patient’s treatment protocol.

Shegaye Shumet,1 Telake Azale,2 Dessie Abebaw Angaw,3 Getachew Tesfaw,1 Messele Wondie,1 Wondale Getinet Alemu,1 Tadele Amare,1 Tilahun Kassew,1 Gebremeskel Mesafint4 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4Mizan-Tapi University, College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, Mizan Aman, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gebremeskel MesafintMizan-Tapi University, College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, Mizan Aman, EthiopiaTel +251918209867Email mulegeta111@gmail.comBackground: Globally, 350 million people are suffering from depression. Many people suffering from depression use different sources of help for their problems. People with different mental health problems seek help from formal and/or informal sources. This gives crucial information on community beliefs and perception regarding their preference for help. This study helps to guide effective planning and provision of mental health services, and health policy of the country to explore the community’s preference to different sources of help.Objective: The aim was to contrast patterns of formal and informal help-seeking preferences for depression among residents of Aykel town, Northwest Ethiopia.Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 832 participants. We used a major depressive disorder case vignette and general help-seeking questionnaire (GHSQ) to assess preference to seek help. Study participants were selected by multistage cluster sampling technique. An independent sample t-test and analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was performed.Results: A total of 656 subjects (78.8%) showed high propensity to intimate partner, and 655 (78.7%) of the study subjects had high propensity to mental health professional. The mean score of the residents’ preference to seek help from informal sources was 3.41± 0.60. The mean score of preference to seek help from formal sources was 3.18± 0.75. A total of 276 (33.2%) subjects showed high propensity to both informal and formal sources of help. The results also showed there was a mean score difference in preference for informal help between subjects with strong social support and low and moderate social support (P< 0.001).Conclusion: The result suggests that the majority of the residents had a higher preference to seek help from informal sources than formal sources of care. Providing and strengthening both formal and informal sources of help in conjunction are crucial to get a more qualified and effective care for depressed patients.Keywords: depression, preference to seek help, Ethiopia

Shegaye Shumet,1 Telake Azale,2 Dessie Abebaw Angaw,3 Getachew Tesfaw,1 Messele Wondie,1 Wondale Getinet Alemu,1 Tadele Amare,1 Tilahun Kassew,1 Gebremeskel Mesafint4 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4Mizan-Tapi University, College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, Mizan Aman, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gebremeskel MesafintMizan-Tapi University, College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, Mizan Aman, EthiopiaTel +251918209867Email mulegeta111@gmail.comBackground: Globally, 350 million people are suffering from depression. Many people suffering from depression use different sources of help for their problems. People with different mental health problems seek help from formal and/or informal sources. This gives crucial information on community beliefs and perception regarding their preference for help. This study helps to guide effective planning and provision of mental health services, and health policy of the country to explore the community’s preference to different sources of help.Objective: The aim was to contrast patterns of formal and informal help-seeking preferences for depression among residents of Aykel town, Northwest Ethiopia.Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 832 participants. We used a major depressive disorder case vignette and general help-seeking questionnaire (GHSQ) to assess preference to seek help. Study participants were selected by multistage cluster sampling technique. An independent sample t-test and analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was performed.Results: A total of 656 subjects (78.8%) showed high propensity to intimate partner, and 655 (78.7%) of the study subjects had high propensity to mental health professional. The mean score of the residents’ preference to seek help from informal sources was 3.41± 0.60. The mean score of preference to seek help from formal sources was 3.18± 0.75. A total of 276 (33.2%) subjects showed high propensity to both informal and formal sources of help. The results also showed there was a mean score difference in preference for informal help between subjects with strong social support and low and moderate social support (P< 0.001).Conclusion: The result suggests that the majority of the residents had a higher preference to seek help from informal sources than formal sources of care. Providing and strengthening both formal and informal sources of help in conjunction are crucial to get a more qualified and effective care for depressed patients.Keywords: depression, preference to seek help, Ethiopia

The aquatic plants in wetlands have been threatened by increasing human disturbances in recent decades. The present study investigates to what extent human disturbance affects the community composition and richness of aquatic plants in 3 different wetland types in Lake Tana, Ethiopia. We selected twelve wetlands representing 3 different wetland types (four lacustrine, four river mouth, and four riverine papyrus wetlands) and collected data on aquatic plant species richness and community composition, major local environmental variables, and the degree of human disturbance at multiple plots along three transects in each wetland during the dry and wet season of 2018. The unique and shared contributions of human disturbance, local environmental variables, and wetland type on variations in community compositions of aquatic plants in wetlands were investigated using variation partitioning analyses. The Overlap and Decreasing Fill (NODF) metric was used to estimate the nestedness in aquatic plant communities. A total of 113 aquatic plant species, belonging to 38 families, were identified across all wetlands during the dry and wet season. Wetland types explained the greatest proportion of variation in community composition, followed by human disturbance and local environmental variables. The species richness was negatively correlated with the overall degree of human disturbance, while NODF was positively correlated. Irrespective of the degree of human disturbance, papyrus swamps had systematically the highest species richness and supported clearly different plant communities, therefore conservation efforts should focus on these habitats. In addition, measures should be taken to restore the highly disturbed and species-poor river mouth wetlands.

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna selection is a signal processing techinique by which the Radio Frequency (R.F.) chain components are switched to their corresponding subset of antennas. Antenna selection revolves the complexity and power consumption of R.F. transceivers. This paper proposes an optimal antenna selection technique for multiple radio component type massive MIMO, which combines two selction techniques by exploiting the minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the cell edge and dynamic channel condition due to mobility. After an adaptive selection has been made, the same number selection has been made, the same number of R.F. components are active, and the rest are set to sleeping mode to apply fractional transmit power re-allocation at sub 6GHz and mm Wave frequencies. Accordingly, the branch with better signal quality among the array is chosen and added in iteration till the selected value is attained; however, re-selection still boosts E.E. at the cost of the total rate. The results show that the algorithm over performs the random selection, achieving better energy efficiency that full array utilization and random selection. Moreover, capacity reduction due to selection is compensated by applying nonlinear preceding at the cost of complexity., Zede Journal of Ethiopian Engineers and Architects, Vol. 40 (2022): Zede: Journal of Ethiopian Engineers and Architects

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the three resource variables sense of coherence, resilience, and dispositional optimism become impaired when people are ill with cancer, whether there are sex and age differences in these variables, and how these variables are associated with quality of life (QoL).A sample of 1108 patients with mixed cancer diagnoses were examined using the Sense of Coherence Scale-3 (SOC-3), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), and the QoL questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30.The three resource variables showed somewhat lower levels in the patients' sample in comparison with general population controls, with effect sizes between -0.10 and -0.23. While there were only small sex differences in the resource variables, significant age differences were found in these variables, with stronger detriments in younger patients. The correlations among the resource variables ranged between .53 and .61. Sense of coherence was more strongly correlated with QoL than resilience and optimism.Cancer patients with low levels of personal resources adapt to their disease more poorly than patients with high levels. In addition to limitations in QoL, health care professionals should also consider patients' resources for coping with the disease. Special attention should be given to young cancer patients.

BackgroundConsistent condom use plays a significant role in the successful protection of the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in couples with sero-discordant HIV status, mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT), and acquiring other strains in HIV-positive concordant pairs. Limited data and information about this issue are available in low-resource setting countries, including the study setting. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of consistent condom use and its associated factors among HIV-positive pregnant women.Materials and methodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was done from 17 October 2020 to 1 March 2021. A total of 423 HIV-positive pregnant women were involved in this study and selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi-structured, pretested, and interviewer-administered questionnaire and then entered into EPI INFO version 7 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Logistic regressions were performed to identify factors. P-Value ≤ 0.05 denotes statistical significance.ResultsThe prevalence of consistent condom use among HIV-positive pregnant women was 14.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.9%, 17.5%]. Women having a higher educational status [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.33, 95% CI 1.96, 20.42], women having a CD4 count > 600 cells/mm (AOR = 4.78, 95% CI 2.08, 10.97), women testing positive for HIV during the non-pregnant state (AOR = 5.99, 95% CI 3.01, 11.94), and women disclosing their HIV status to sexual partners (AOR = 4.85, 95% CI 1.71, 13.71) were found to be statically significant with women’s consistent condom use.ConclusionIn this study, consistent condom use among HIV-positive pregnant women was low. Women having educational status of college and above studies, women testing positive for HIV during the non-pregnant state, women disclosing their HIV status to a sexual partner, and women having a CD4 count > 600 cells/mm had better consistent condom use. Hence, giving more emphasis on health education and counseling service about HIV testing before pregnancy, and disclosing their HIV status to their sexual partners and about the need for consistent condom use during pregnancy would be important.

Incorporating MIMO technology with 3D geometry-based stochastic models (GBSM) is a promising channel modeling technique for 5G and beyond. These models could be extended to high-speed train (HST) environments at mmWave bands. In this paper, the proposed 3D MIMO model is composed of the line of sight component (LOS), the non-line of sight component (NLOS) from one sphere, and multiple stochastic confocal elliptic cylinders. The model is applied in the viaduct and cutting environments with a time-varying Rician K-factor. The local channel statistical properties such as the auto correlation function, stationarity distance, and the level crossing rate (LCR) are derived and thoroughly investigated at the 41GHz frequency. These properties are compared with the corresponding measured results at the same wave frequency for an HST wireless channel. There is a strong correlation between the results from the derived model and the measured results. Therefore, this model can be extended to be used for viaduct and cutting channel modeling at the mmWave band.

Human intervention with the natural landscape, including various river systems, is increasing in most parts of our country due to population growth and their infinite demand. As a result of this, the river system was jeopardized, causing irreversible damage to the socioeconomic and infrastructural systems. Morphological characterization and change evaluation of rivers are essential prerequisites for investigating their historical evolution and making reasonable estimates about how rivers might adapt to changing natural conditions and increasing anthropogenic impacts. This study focuses on the upper reach of the Gumara River along a 47.336 km stretch because it is a highly meandering and dynamic fluvial system with minor natural and anthropogenic influences that harm living and nonliving things around the flow path. We use satellite images as a data source, and the study reach was divided into six sections based on the waterway geometry and various forms of human intervention along the river, for detailed river morphological characterization and change detection, and to know the disturbance that facilitates the change in sub reach. In addition to satellite imagery, field observations, informal interviews with local indigenous people, laboratory analysis of bank material, and Meteorological and Hydrological data were used. The primary goal of this study was to assess the Morphological Characteristics and Change of the Upper Reach Gumara River over a 64-year period in Tana Basin, Ethiopia. Image analysis software (ERDAS Imagine 2015 and Arc GIS 10.5) was used for data preparation and analysis, and to characterize and detect the change of study reach, various morphometric parameters such as Sinuosity index, braided index, River center line, actual River length, river width, meander neck length, and River area were determined. From the entire period of 64 years of sinuosity index analysis, the sinuosity was increased by 5.49%. The section between five and six had a 63% reduction in neck length. Over a 64-year period, the overall width increased by 0.348 m per year. All of the morphometric parameter results and social information show that the upper reach of the Gumara River was dynamically changed and disrupted the surrounding socioeconomic system, implying that critical measurements should be designed and implemented.

Land degradation is a serious environmental problem in Ethiopia. To address the problem, soil and water conservation practices were implemented through campaign. This study was conducted at Workamba watershed Debark district, North Ethiopia to assess the effect of campaign soil and water conservation (SWC) practice on selected soil properties. Composite soil samples from 1.5 meters above the soil bunds, at the center and 1.5 meters below the soil bunds between the two consecutive structures were collected. The soil samples were analyzed following standard laboratory procedures. Results showed bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca2+), and sodium (Na+) were not significantly affected by slope gradient and terrace position and their interaction. But pH was significantly influenced by the interaction effect. Cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable potassium (K+), and clay content were significantly changed with both slope gradient and terrace position. Whereas, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av-P), and magnesium (Mg2+), and soil organic carbon (SOC) were significantly affected with terrace position and slope gradient, respectively. Because of the conservation barrier, most soil properties were better at the bottom terrace position and gentle slope gradient.

This study is mainly conducted to find out the English language needs of Customer Contact and Secretarial Operation Coordination Level IV trainees. To achieve this objective, purposive sampling technique was used to select content area teachers while comprehensive sampling technique was used to include trainees and English language teachers. A survey research was the design of this study. To this end, questionnaire and interview were employed to collect data. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis were used in the study. The findings of the study showed that writing, speaking, reading and listening skills are prioritized by trainees according to their order. In the area of micro skills, listening to lectures to take notes and listening to class discussions were showed as highly needed micro-skills. With regard to speaking activities, asking and answering questions and participating in whole class discussion were highly needed speaking micro-skills. Reading reference books and reading lecture notes, writing different project works like term papers, assignments and sample personal and business letters were identified as the most important speaking and writing micro-skills. Vocabulary was found more important than grammar. Most trainees reported that they find asking and answering questions and writing different project works like term papers and assignments, sample personal and business letters difficult. The reason for this might be because the courses offered are inefficient to help them develop these skills. Disparity was also found between their language problems and the courses they take. Finally, based on these findings, recommendations were also forwarded.

Although the land use/land cover (LULC) of inland wetlands has been dynamic over the last 100 years, the extent of their LULC dynamics and its driving forces are poorly understood particularly in Ethiopia. Thus, this study analyzed spatiotemporal dynamics of four (Alefa, Chakun, Denbun, Kotilan) wetlands LULC and its driving forces in the Bure and Wonmbera Woredas, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia for the period from 1985 to 2020. The Landsat images downloaded from Google Earth Engine were used to analyze the LULC of four wetland watersheds. These images were classified into 7 classes by using the maximum likelihood algorithm in ArcGIS 4. Besides, a survey of 347 households, 4 focus group discussions, and 12 key informant interviews and transect walks were used to generate the data on the drivers of wetland changes. The LULC analysis showed that the four wetlands area in 1985, 2002, and 2020 occupied 6027 ha, 5203 ha, and 4348 ha, respectively, which indicated that the areas of wetlands have declined by 1679 ha or 27.9% in the past 35 years, with an average annual decrease rate of 48.4 hectares. Wetlands were lost at a higher rate (16.4%) from 2002 to 2020. The cultivated land expansion has taken a substantial share (67.9%) of wetlands' decline. The expansion of cultivated land due to an increase of rural households along with a lack of alternative livelihoods resulted in the conversion of wetlands to cultivated land. Gully erosion and sediment deposits due to wetlands buffer degradation, overgrazing, and change in crop production driven by market opportunities have exacerbated the wetlands loss. Thus, interventions such as the promotion of alternative livelihood activities, stall livestock feeding or zero-grazing, and non-conventional livestock feeds are needed to curb wetland degradation. Delineation of buffer zone and protection of shrubland or woodlands found in buffer areas of the wetlands are needed as well for the sustainability of wetlands.

BackgroundIn developing countries, intimate partner violence is increasing alarmingly, though attention to this issue is rarely given. It has devastating effects on the general wellbeing of women, pregnancy outcomes, and the long-term health of children, and this needs to be addressed. Hence, this study was designed to assess intimate partner violence and associated factors in northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1st to August 30th, 2021, among 858 postpartum women in Gondar city. A cluster sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. EPI DATA version 4.6 and SPSS 25 were used for data entry, cleaning and analysis, respectively. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with intimate partner violence. The level of significant association was declared using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) and a p-value of ≤ 0.05.ResultsIn this study, 48.6% of women indicated having experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy (95% CI: 45.3, 51.7). The odds of intimate partner violence during pregnancy were significantly higher among women who were not able to read and write (AOR = 4.96; 95% CI: 2.15, 11.41), were private workers (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.05, 3.02), and had low decision-making power (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.95), a poor social support (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.32, 3.02), and unsupported pregnancy by family (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.26, 4.24). Whereas a family size of ≥ 5 (AOR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.98) appeared to be a protective factor for intimate partner violence.ConclusionThe magnitude of intimate partner violence was unacceptably high in the study area and connected to poor women's empowerment and social determinants of health. Thus, it is important to focus on interventions that improve women's access to social support and allow them to participate in all aspects of household decision-making through community-based structures and networks. It is also important to encourage women to improve their educational status and arrange risk-free employment opportunities.

Derebe Madoro,1 Habtamu Kerebih,2 Yodit Habtamu,3 Meseret G/tsadik,3 Hirbaye Mokona,1 Alemayehu Molla,1 Tirusew Wondie,1 Kalkidan Yohannes1 1Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia; 2Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gonidar, Ethiopia; 3Research and Training Department, Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Derebe MadoroDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dilla University, PO. Box 419, Dilla, EthiopiaEmail derebemd@gmail.comBackground: Displaced people experience different traumatic events. This can have serious and long-lasting consequences in terms of physical and mental health outcome. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most frequent mental disorder following traumatic exposure. In 2018 Ethiopia saw the highest number of internal displacement, despite this, less attention has been given to mental health among internally displaced people in the country. This study aims to determine the estimated prevalence and associated factors of PTSD among internally displaced people in the Gede’o zone, south Ethiopia.Participants and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 and 30, May 2019 among 636 participants, who were selected using a simple random sampling technique. PTSD was measured by the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The association between outcome and independent variables was identified by bi-variable and multivariate logistic regression. Finally, variables with P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant at 95% CI.Results: A total of 625 participants were interviewed with a response rate of 98.3%. The estimated prevalence of PTSD was 58.4% with 95% CI 55 to 61.9. In the multivariate logistic regression, being female (AOR=2.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.4), depression (AOR=2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.9), displaced more than once (AOR=3.7, 95% CI 2.4 to 5.8), destruction of personal property (AOR=1.6, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.44), witness the murder of family (AOR=2, 95% CI 1.2, 3.9), and cumulative trauma (AOR=4, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.6) were significantly associated factors.Conclusion: In the current study, the estimated prevalence of PTSD was high. Ministry of health should plan routine screening and management of PTSD, depression and linking with available mental health service is recommended.Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder; PTSD, internal, displacement, Ethiopia

Background Displaced people experience different traumatic events. This can have serious and long-lasting consequences in terms of physical and mental health outcome. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most frequent mental disorder following traumatic exposure. In 2018 Ethiopia saw the highest number of internal displacement, despite this, less attention has been given to mental health among internally displaced people in the country. This study aims to determine the estimated prevalence and associated factors of PTSD among internally displaced people in the Gede'o zone, south Ethiopia. Participants and methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 and 30, May 2019 among 636 participants, who were selected using a simple random sampling technique. PTSD was measured by the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The association between outcome and independent variables was identified by bi-variable and multivariate logistic regression. Finally, variables with P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant at 95% CI. Results A total of 625 participants were interviewed with a response rate of 98.3%. The estimated prevalence of PTSD was 58.4% with 95% CI 55 to 61.9. In the multivariate logistic regression, being female (AOR=2.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.4), depression (AOR=2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.9), displaced more than once (AOR=3.7, 95% CI 2.4 to 5.8), destruction of personal property (AOR=1.6, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.44), witness the murder of family (AOR=2, 95% CI 1.2, 3.9), and cumulative trauma (AOR=4, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.6) were significantly associated factors. Conclusion In the current study, the estimated prevalence of PTSD was high. Ministry of health should plan routine screening and management of PTSD, depression and linking with available mental health service is recommended.