Taxes and Tax Reform in Ethiopia, 1990-2003

tax reform, fiscal policy, distribution of income, incidence analysis, Ethiopia, Africa

Case Study on Factors Affecting Training Need Assessment in Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine librarians

Training need assessment is also the process of collecting information about an employees or tasks that helps to specify the training need or performance deficiency. This study examined to assess factors that affect training need Assessment in Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine librarians that used questionnaire, interviews, observation and document review as instrument of data collection. Simple random method was used to select samples from the target population and the study employed quantitative and qualitative data types from primary and secondary data source. The quantitative data analyzed in descriptive (frequency, percentage) by SPSS version 20 and presented in table and graph forms. The qualitative data were also analyses in systematic narration. The results of this study revealed that there is not a regular system on delivering training program and weak in supervising the employees by higher manager. Regarding on the training every decision is held by the higher manager without a systematic and detail information gathering about individual, there performance and the level of their skill.  The survey data revel that lack of attention from the higher manager on training need assessment due to workload, lack of proper training program and Lack of facilities and logistics were the main reason for the failure of training activities in library. Therefore, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine should be provide attention on training need assessment the lead to prepare any training for the right people at the right time for filling the gap to create a good work environment that directly help to improve library service. Keywords: Training, Training Need Assessment, library, JUCAVM DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/42-01 Publication date:July 31st 201

Finance and Poverty in Ethiopia: A Household Level Analysis

finance, Ethiopia, Africa, poverty, consumption smoothing

The Prevalence and Factors Associated with Mental Distress among College Students in Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Although mental health problems affect the general population, students are highly vulnerable to psychological disorders. Mental distress among students is a cause of concern as it may impair their behavior and diminish learning, which could negatively affect their academic performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with mental distress among college students in Southern Ethiopia.METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 regular students of Hawassa College of Health Sciences. Mental distress was measured using a Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). The data were entered into Epi-Info version 3.5.4 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed following bivariate analysis to adjust for the effect of confounders.RESULT: The prevalence of mental distress among the study subjects was found to be 59 (22.30%). Female students were 2.08 times more likely to have mental distress as compared to male students (AOR =2.08 [95% CI: 1.14-3.82]). The odds of mental distress among third-year students was 60% lower compared to second-year students [AOR = 0.40; 95 % CI, (0.19, 0.87)]. Students who were from Amhara ethnic group were 3.37 times more likely to have mental distress as compared to students from Sidama ethnic group [AOR=3.37;95%CI (1.13-10.09)]. Moreover, students who had Grade Point Average of below 60% were 4.69 times more likely to be mentally distressed as compared to those students who scored Grade Point Average of greater or equal to 60% (AOR= 4.69; 95%CI,[ 2.46, 8.96).CONCLUSION: The finding suggests the importance of providing mental health counseling support for students as part of the teaching and learning process. More research to further explore the multiple factors influencing students’ mental health condition should also be conducted

Agronomic Traits of Trifolium Species in Different Agroecologies of Benishangul-Gumuz Region

AbstractA study was conducted to evaluate Trifolium species for their agronomic traits intwo agro-ecologies of Benishangul-Gumuz region, North Western Ethiopia. Theexperiment was carried out at Tongo, Assosa, and Kamash forage researchstations of Assosa Agricultural Research Center, which were purposively selectedto represent highland, mid and lowland agro-ecologies respectively. FiveTrifolium genotypes (T. steudeneri 9720, T. decorum 9447, T. quantinum 6301, T.tembense 7102, and T. steudeneri 9712) were evaluated in a randomized completeblock design with three replications. Plant height at forage harvesting, forage drymatter yield and leaf to stem ratio were significantly (P < 0.001) affected byenvironment (E) and G x E (G and E interaction). The highest mean forage drymatter yield was recorded at Kamash, than Assosa and Tongo. The result ofcombined analysis indicated that, genotype (G) had significant (P < 0.001) effecton forage dry matter yield and T. quantinum 6301 genotype was the best yielderamong the genotypes evaluated. Total dry matter yield was significantly different(P < 0.001) among genotypes at Tongo and Assosa. Generally, based on foragedry matter yield data, T. quantinum 6301 was well performed at Assosa andTongo than other genotypes, T. steudenary 9720 was relatively better adapted atKamash, and they are recommended as an alternative legume forage crops for therespective locations

Tuberculous Dactylitis: An Uncommon Presentation of Skeletal Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Skeletal involvement accounts 1-5% of all cases of Tuberculosis. The vertebrae are more commonly affected. The bones of the hands are more affected than the bones of the feet. The term “spina ventosa” has been used to describe this disorder because of its radiographic features of cystic expansion of the involved short tubular bones. Tuberculous dactylitis mainly occurs through lympho-hematogenous spread. The lung is the primary focus in 75% of cases.CASE DETAILS: A 4 years old female child developed a painless swelling on her left index finger two months prior to her presentation. Following an unsuccessful treatment as a case of osteomyelitis with antibiotics, imaging showed an expansile lytic lesion with sclerosis, and fine needle aspiration confirmed tuberculous dactylitis. The child was initiated on anti-tubercular treatment with subsequent marked clinical and radiologic improvement.CONCLUSION: Presence of longstanding finger swelling and pain should alert a clinician to consider active disseminated tuberculosis. Furthermore, proper interpretation of imaging and use of fine needle aspiration has been highlighted.KEYWORDS: Tuberculous dactylitis, Spina ventosa, Expansile lytic lesion, Tuberculosi

Case Report: Frontal lobe tuberculoma: A clinical and imaging challenge

Background: Pediatric nervous system tuberculomas are usually infra-tentorial and multiple. A frontal lobe location is rare.Case Details: We report a 10 year-old boy who presented with a chronic headache and episodes of loss of consciousness. He had no signs of primary pulmonary tuberculosis and a diagnosis of frontal tuberculoma was made upon a post-operative biopsy. He improved following treatment with anti-tubercular drugs.Conclusion: Tuberculosis should be considered in children with a chronic headache or focal neurologic deficit and a supra-tentorial intracranial mass in endemic countries like Ethiopia.Keywords: Tuberculoma, Tuberculosis, Frontal lobe, Ethiopi

Association of anemia and renal function test among diabetes mellitus patients attending Fenote Selam Hospital, West Gojam, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a common problem in diabetic patients. Diabetic patients have a greater severity of anemia as the level of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) decreases compared to non-diabetic patients. Despite these facts, anemia is unrecognized and largely untreated in patients with diabetes in Ethiopia particularly in those patients attending Fenote Selam Hospital. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the association of anemia and renal function test among diabetes mellitus patients attending Fenote Selam Hospital, North West of Ethiopia. METHODS: An Institutional -based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2012 to April 2012 on diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Systematic random sampling technique was used to get the total sample size of 384 patients. A total of seven ml of venous blood was collected from diabetes mellitus patients; two ml was collected by EDTA anticoagualted vacutainer test tube for haemoglobin determination and 5 ml venous blood was collected by plain vacutainer tube for creatinine and Blood urea nitrogen determination. The data were double entered and analyzed using SPSS-16 statistical software. The degree of association between independent and dependent variables was assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis in terms of P-value and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Out of the total 384 DM patients included in the study 73 (19%) were anemic. Fifty three (13.8%), forty eight (12.5%), and two hundred eighty three (73.7%) DM patients had an estimated GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m, 60 – 90 ml/min/ 1.73 m, and > 90 ml/min/1.73 m respectively. One hundred eleven (28.9%) diabetic patients had increased urine albumin level. There was a statistically significant association between anaemia and Glomerular filtration rate (P<0.05) with Odds ratio of 8.58 and CI (10.21, 49.94). As the glomerular filtration rate increase, the risk to be anemic will decrease dramatically. CONCLUSION: The study showed that there was a significant association between anaemia and Glomerular filtration rate in DM patients. Therefore, DM patients should be strictly monitored for renal failure and anemia for proper management of diabetes patients

Managing the soil water balance of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to improve water productivity

A series of field, rainshelter, growth cabinet and modelling studies were conducted to investigate hot pepper response to different irrigation regimes and row spacings; to generate crop-specific model parameters; and to calibrate and validate the Soil Water Balance (SWB) model. Soil, climate and management data of five hot pepper growing regions of Ethiopia were identified to develop irrigation calendars and estimate water requirements of hot pepper under different growing conditions. High irrigation regimes increased fresh and dry fruit yield, fruit number, harvest index and top dry matter production. Yield loss could be prevented by irrigating at 20-25% depletion of plant available water, confirming the sensitivity of the crop to mild soil water stress. High plant density markedly increased fresh and dry fruit yield, water-use efficiency and dry matter production. Average fruit mass, succulence and specific leaf area were neither affected by row spacing nor by irrigation regimes. There were marked differences among the cultivars in fruit yields despite comparable top dry mass production. Average dry fruit mass, fruit number per plant and succulence were significantly affected by cultivar differences. The absence of interaction effects among cultivar and irrigation regimes, cultivars and row spacing, and irrigation regimes and row spacing for most parameters suggest that appropriate irrigation regimes and row spacing that maximize productivity of hot pepper can be devised across cultivars. To facilitate irrigation scheduling, a simple canopy cover based procedure was used to determine FAO-type crop factors and growth periods for different growth stages of five hot pepper cultivars. Growth analysis was done to calculate crop-specific model parameters for the SWB model and the model was successfully calibrated and validated for five hot pepper cultivars under different irrigation regimes or row spacings. FAO basal crop coefficients (Kcb) and crop-specific model parameters for new hot pepper cultivars can now be estimated from the database, using canopy characteristics, day degrees to maturity and dry matter production. Growth cabinet studies were used to determine cardinal temperatures, namely the base, optimum and cut-off temperatures for various developmental stages. Hot pepper cultivars were observed to require different cardinal temperatures for various developmental stages. Data on thermal time requirement for flowering and maturity between plants in growth cabinet and open field experiments matched closely. Simulated water requirements for hot pepper cultivar Mareko Fana production ranged between 517 mm at Melkassa and 775 mm at Alemaya. The simulated irrigation interval ranged between 9 days at Alemaya and 6 days at Bako, and the average irrigation amount per irrigation ranged between 27.9 mm at Bako and 35.0 mm at Zeway.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Plant Production and Soil Scienceunrestricte