Teachers’ Perceptions and Practices of Active Learning in Haramaya University, Eastern Ethiopia: The Case of Faculty of Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate instructors’ perceptions and practices of active learning, assess the extent to which instructors’ perceptions influence their practices and identify factors affecting the  implementation of active learning in Haramaya University faculty of education. To conduct the study, descriptive survey design was employed. A total of 123 instructors participated in the study and completed  questionnaires. This was complemented by a qualitative approach that  used observation checklists and interviews for data gathering: 9 lessons were observed while the instructors were teaching in the actual classes. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three instructors. In the selection of the sample population, purposive and systematic samplings were used. The data were analyzed using percentage, mean  and grand mean. The findings of the study revealed that the respondents have perceived active learning positively. In spite of their good  perceptions, their practices of active learning were low. Among the major factors affecting the effective implementation of active learning were instructors’ tendency toward the traditional/lecture method, lack of  students’ interest, shortage of time, lack of instructional material and large class size. Finally, recommendations were forwarded based on the major findings so as to minimize problems encountered and maximize the  implementation of active learning in the study area

Social and institutional factors affecting the daily experiences of the spouses of international students: Voices from the Midwest and implications to academic institutions

The decades after WWII witnessed a substantial increase in the number of international students coming to the U.S. In the course of decades, international students and their families have become essential both to the economic and cultural life of campus communities throughout the country. Yet, academic institutions continue to overlook the needs of a very important segment of this constituency: accompanying spouses of international students. Currently, appropriate programs and services targeting the needs of spouses of international students are lacking. Except sporadic efforts by a few institutions, suitable programs targeting the contemporary needs of accompanying spouses are virtually absent. Based on interviews with twelve women from eleven different countries, this study examines the day-to-day experiences of female spouses of international students as they reside in the U.S. with legally dependent status. While accompanying spouses are both men and women, due to the disproportionately small number of men who come as accompanying spouses, this study focuses on the experiences of women who sojourn in the U.S. to await the completion of the studies of an undergraduate or graduate student spouse. This study provides insights into the challenges as well as benefits of coming to the U.S. as an accompanying spouse. From the stories these women told, large numbers of accompanying international spouses are well-educated individuals, some with years of professional experience. The study revealed that these women, due to their legally restricted status, tend to live for years in a type of social isolation filled with economic and emotional struggle. A strong message for academic institutions emerges: while there has been a historical link between international spouses and community volunteer organizations serving this group, community networks no longer have the capacity to meet the needs of this group. Hence, as universities worldwide compete to attract international students, the existence of university services and programs for accompanying spouses could eventually become a key factor in determining where couples decide to enroll

Partureints' need of continous labor support in labor wards

No Abstract. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 21 (1) 2007: pp. 35-3

Bovine Hydatidosis in Ambo Municipality Abattoir, West Shoa, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study on bovine hydatidosis was conducted in Ambo municipality abattoir from November 2007 to March 2008 with the aim of investigating the prevalence, intensity, fertility and economic losses in cattle slaughtered for human consumption. Stray dogs killed with strychnine baited meat piece were also examined for the presence of adult Echinococcus granulosus. Out of the total 384 cattle examined 114 (29.69%) were found infected with hydatidosis. From the examined animals 61 (15.89%), 19 (4.95%) and 26 (6.77.3%) contained hydatid cyst in their lungs, livers, and in both lung and liver, respectively. Age related infection was significant in that older animals were more infected (

Factors maintaining sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench) landrace diversity in North Shewa and South Welo regions of Ethiopia

ThesisThesis, Carleton University, 1996Thesis not IDRC supported; author received support for earlier RS

Why do people not attend for treatment for trachomatous trichiasis in Ethiopia? A study of barriers to surgery.

BACKGROUND: Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) surgery is provided free or subsidised in most trachoma endemic settings. However, only 18-66% of TT patients attend for surgery. This study analyses barriers to attendance among TT patients in Ethiopia, the country with the highest prevalence of TT in the world. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Participants with previously un-operated TT were recruited at 17 surgical outreach campaigns in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. An interview was conducted to ascertain why they had not attended for surgery previously. A trachoma eye examination was performed by an ophthalmologist. 2591 consecutive individuals were interviewed. The most frequently cited barriers to previous attendance for surgery were lack of time (45.3%), financial constraints (42.9%) and lack of an escort (35.5% in females, 19.6% in males). Women were more likely to report a fear of surgery (7.7% vs 3.2%, p<0.001) or be unaware of how to access services (4.5% vs 1.0% p<0.001); men were more frequently asymptomatic (19.6% vs 10.1%, p<0.001). Women were also less likely to have been previously offered TT surgery than men (OR = 0.70, 95%CI 0.53-0.94). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The major barriers to accessing surgery from the patients' perspective are the direct and indirect costs of surgery. These can to a large extent be reduced or overcome through the provision of free or low cost surgery at the community level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00522860 and NCT00522912

Squalene and amentoflavone from Antidesma laciniatum

Squalene, (2E, 7x,11x)-phyt-2-en-1-ol and amentoflavone have been isolated from the extract of the leaves of Antidesma laciniatum. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. This is the first report of these compounds from Antidesma species.   KEY WORDS: Antidesma laciniatum, Euphorbiaceae, Squalene, Amentoflavone, (2E, 7x,11x)-Phyt-2-en-1-ol  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2006, 20(2), 325-328

The impacts of rice cultivation on an indigenous Fogera cattle population at the eastern shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia

BackgroundEven though increasing population pressure and associated increased demand for food and economic development have led to overexploitation and degradation of wetlands throughout the world, the drivers are most severe in developing countries. For generations, Fogera wetlands in Ethiopia which are parts of Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve have been widely used for grazing of indigenous cattle. Fogera cattle are one of several recognized indigenous breeds of Abyssinian zebu bovine cattle (Bos primigenius indicus) found in Fogera district, Ethiopia. This study was conducted to quantify impacts of rice expansion on cattle population in Fogera wetlands. Data were collected through questionnaire, focus group discussions, interviews, and land use/land cover analysis. Respondents were selected using systematic random sampling. Variance and LEVENES test were used to analyze the livestock unit and to check homogeneity.ResultsThe study revealed that during the 20-year period preceding 2015, the number of cattle owned decreased from 3509 to 1510 heads. In the same period, rice cultivation increased from 182 to 9499 ha and production from 6701 to 714,013 qt. Grazing lands were reduced from 8550 to 3501 ha, wetlands from 3114 to 1060 ha, and forests from 1542 to 907 ha. Land use/land cover changes showed a negative balance of 40% dry matter requiring cattle feed to be increasingly supplemented through purchases, or reduction in herd number. The study also indicated that the land-use changes brought at the expense of traditional cattle production systems.ConclusionHence, proper management is required to maintain these valuable resources and keep their role in socioeconomic development of the area

Laboratory-based efficacy evaluation of; Bacillus thuringiensis; var. israelensis and temephos larvicides against larvae of; Anopheles stephensi; in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Malaria, transmitted by the bite of infective female Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a global public health problem. The presence of an invasive Anopheles stephensi, capable of transmitting Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum parasites was first reported in Ethiopia in 2016. The ecology of An. stephensi is different from that of Anopheles arabiensis, the primary Ethiopian malaria vector, and this suggests that alternative control strategies may be necessary. Larviciding may be an effective alternative strategy, but there is limited information on the susceptibility of Ethiopian An. stephensi to common larvicides. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of temephos and Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) larvicides against larvae of invasive An. stephensi. METHODS: The diagnostic doses of two larvicides, temephos (0.25 ml/l) and Bti (0.05 mg/l) were tested in the laboratory against the immature stages (late third to early fourth stages larvae) of An. stephensi collected from the field and reared in a bio-secure insectary. Larvae were collected from two sites (Haro Adi and Awash Subuh Kilo). For each site, three hundred larvae were tested against each insecticide (as well as an untreated control), in batches of 25. The data from all replicates were pooled and descriptive statistics prepared. RESULTS: The mortality of larvae exposed to temephos was 100% for both sites. Mortality to Bti was 99.7% at Awash and 100% at Haro Adi site. CONCLUSIONS: Larvae of An. stephensi are susceptible to temephos and Bti larvicides suggesting that larviciding with these insecticides through vector control programmes may be effective against An. stephensi in these localities