The Fruition of Decades of Good Work: An Enjoyment of Social and Physical Inclusion by Deaf Children in Upper Primary, Secondary and Preparatory Schools in Gondar City Administration, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the lived experiences of deaf children in upper primary, secondary and preparatory schools in Gondar City Administration. A phenomenological study design with qualitative inquiry approach was used. Semi-structured interview guide which was developed out of comprehensive review of literature was used as data gathering instrument. From thirty deaf children (26 children from grade 5 to 8 and 4 children from 9 to 12 grades), nine were selected through purposive and available sampling technique from upper primary, secondary and preparatory schools respectively. The data collected through semi-structured interview guide was analyzed thematically in to social and physical inclusions. Results indicated that the deaf children were found enjoying positive interaction with teachers, peers and school communities though there was communication barrier. Recommendations such as sign language training for teachers, peers and school communities and recruitment of interpreters have been forwarded. Keywords: Deaf children, Ethiopia, physical inclusion, social inclusion and upper primary, secondary and preparatory schools DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-10-02 Publication date: April 30th 201

Health Status of Food Handlers and Associated Factors at Hotels and Restaurants in Adama Town, Ethiopia

Introduction: Foodborne diseases are a public health concern globally. Each year as many as 600 million, or almost 1 in 10 people in the world, fall ill after consuming contaminated food. However, there is limited information about the health status of food handlers in the study area.  Thus, the study assessed the health status of food handlers and associated factors at hotels and restaurants in Adama town, Ethiopia from November 13 to December 12, 2017. By using a cross-sectional study design and simple random sampling technique, data collected from 422 sampled food handlers. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis used to describe the study population and identify associated factors.  The study revealed food handlers with good health status found to be 160 (37.9%), and the rest categorized as poor. The study found that hand washing before/after food preparations (PV=0.001), hand washing after toilet visits/dirt (PV= 0.001), training (PV= 0.036), medical checkups (PV=0.001) and clean work uniforms (PV=0.001) were factors independently associated with the health status of food handlers. This study concluded that a large proportion (62.1%) of food handlers found to be poor in their health status. Therefore, washing hands before food preparation, after toilet/contacts dirt, wear of clean work uniforms, attending training and medical check-up are important actions in maintaining the good health status of food handlers

The Role of Working Animals toward Livelihoods and Food Security in Selected Districts of Fafan Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia

Working animals play a fundamental role in human livelihoods through their direct and indirect contributions to food, financial, human and social capital. They are producing profitable livestock products, and provides support to food security and poverty reduction by increasing agricultural productivity but their roles have received less attention. The objective of this study was to examine the role of working animals toward livelihoods and food security in three districts of Fafan zone, Ethiopian Somali Region. This study showed that, different kinds of working animals were kept for multipurpose role, including camels, cattle, goats and sheep, donkey and little amounts of poultry in Jigjiga district (Hadaw and Deghalee Kebeles). About, 10% were used for ploughing of land in Jigjiga than Awubare (19.5%) district. Their uses for carrying loads in Jigjiga was higher (42.5%) than Kebribiyah (35.5%) district when compared to other uses. All respondents agreed that, rearing working animals was easy, ecologically feasible and possible for poor stakeholders, and increase social acceptances. Accordingly, they were contribute to HHs income (22.5% by direct sale, 37.5% through their products and by products, 24% by packing, and 16% by renting). Particularly, they were assist in creation of rural and urban economic opportunities (from the practices in Jigjiga town "Biyolle-Biyyo" services to the urban inhabitant). About 45% of respondents were indicated that they were contribute to food security as a meat source, whereas, 55% were reflected that they were contribute as source of meat and milk (contains protein, minerals, vitamins, etc.) and had significant association between livelihood activities of HHs and their farming system (χ2=35.14, p=0.000), and commonly used working animals and their contribution toward food security (χ2=37.11, p=0.000). In conclusion, working animals can be used as an alternative resources for sustainable food production for human livelihoods and enhances food security for the study area and nation at large. Keywords: Food security, Livelihoods, Working animals, Alternative resource

Coffee seedlings growth and nutrient accumulation affected by application of different rates of nitrogen, zinc and boron fertilizers at Dilla, Ethiopia

A proper coffee seedling management is required for successful field establishment. Pot experiment was conducted to evaluate different rates of nitrogen (N), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on the seedling growth of coffee varieties. It was conducted under lath house condition in complete block design (CBD) with three replications. Two varieties with three levels of nitrogen (0g, 0.295g and 0.59g), zinc, (0mg, 1.62mg, 3.24mg) and boron (0 mg, 0.77mg 1.54mg) were considered. The results indicated that the application of nutrients significantly affected the agronomic performances of coffee seedlings. The average number of roots plant-1 was significantly affected by varieties and zinc rates. The highest result (42 roots plant-1 ) was recorded by the application of 3.24mg Zn plant-1 .The highest seedling height (48.2cm) was observed by the application of 1.54mg B plant -1 and 0.59 g N plant -1 on coffee Fayate variety while 48.1cm was observed by the application of 0.295g N plant -1 and 0.77mg B plant -1 on variety Odicha. The highest main branch length, 6.9cm and, 6.8cm, were obtained by the application of 0.59g N plant -1 , 1.54mg B plant -1 and 1.62mg Zn plant -1 on variety Odicha and Fayate, respectively. Regardless of varietal differences, the highest above ground biomass yield was obtained by the application of 0.59g N plant -1 (21.2g plant-1 ), 0.77mg B plant -1 (19.3g plant1 ) and 1.62mg Zn plant-1 (17.8gm plant -1 ). The highest biomass yield obtained from variety Odicha (18.2g plant-1 ) followed by variety Fayate (15.9g plant). Three way interaction of variety, nitrogen and boron resulted in significant (p<0.05) effects on coffee seedlings biomass. The application of 0.59g N plant-1 and 0.77mg B plant-1 gave the best results on both varieties despite their differences. In most of the cases, 0.59g N, 0.77mg B and 1.62mg Zn plant-1 showed significantly the highest results which is recommended for the best and wider coffee seedling multiplication

Prevalence and determinant factors of hookworm infection among school age children in Jawe district, NorthWest Ethiopia

Background: Hookworm infection is a common parasitic infection in sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of hookworm infection is influenced by different determinant factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hookworm infection and determinant factors among school age children in North West Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to August 2016. Children were selected by systematic random sampling and Formoleether concentration technique was used to identify hookworm infection. We conducted descriptive and logistic regression analysis for categorical variables. The adjusted odds ratio was calculated at 95% confidence interval. Results: Among 333 children, 49 (14.7%) were infected with hookworm parasites. Eating raw vegetables, not wearing shoes, absence of regular wearing of shoes and hand washing habit, absence of proper utilization of latrines, absence of deworming were significantly associated (p<0.05) with hookworm infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of hookworm infection was high among school age children. Walking with bare foot, hand washing habit, and absence of proper latrine utilization are the major determinant factors for the high prevalence of hookworm infection. Therefore, community mobilization and health education should be done to decrease hookworm infection among school age children in Jawe district

Determinants of financial performance : evidence from Ethiopia insurance companies

The objective of this research was identifying the determinants of financial performance in case of Ethiopian Insurance Companies over the period of 2010-2015. Profitability ratios were used as proxy of financial performance measurement; return of asset (ROA) and return of equity (ROE). Panel data set from nine insurance companies over the period of six years were used. The descriptive statistics implied that nonexistence of variation in ROA and ROE since the standard deviation statistics for ROA (34%) and ROE (11%) were below the respective means (63% and 19%). To identify the determinants of financial performance, Ordinary least squire (OLS) estimation method was employed. The estimation result showed that capital adequacy, liquidity, size, age, loss, leverage were the key determinants of financial performance. From this researchers concluded that financial performance mainly driven by firm specific factors. Thus, attention should be given to firm specific variables to have a sound financial performance.peer-reviewe

Effects of Blended NPSB Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Grain Quality of Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) Varieties in Minijar Shenkora District, Central Ethiopia

አህፅሮት የዱረም ስንዴን ምርታማነትን እና ጥራትን ለማሻሻል ተስማሚ ዝርያዎችን ከተመጣጠነ የአፈር ማዳበሪያ ጋር መጠቀም አስፈላጊ ነዉ፡፡ ስለሆነም የተቀላቀለ ናይትሮጂን፣ ፎስፈረስ፣ ሰልፈር እና የቦሮን (NPSB) ማዳበሪያ መጠን በተመረጡ የዱረም ስንዴ ዝርያዎች ምርት እና ጥራት ላይ ያለውን ውጤት ለማወቅ የመስክ ሙከራ ተደርጓል፡፡  አራት የNPSB ድብልቅ የማዳበሪያ መጠኖች (0፣ 61፣122፣ 183 ኪ.ግ. በሄክታር) እና አራት የተሻሻሉ ዱረም ስንዴ ዝርያዎች (አለምጤና፣ ማንጉዶ፣ ኡዴ እና ኡቱባ) በጥምረት ሙከራ ተደርጓል፡፡ በሁሉም መደቦች ላይ 46 ኪ.ግ. የናይትሮጂን ማዳበሪያ በሄክታር ተጨምሯል፡፡ ከተሞከሩ ዝርያዎች መካከል ማንጉዶ ከፍተኛውን የእህል ምርት (2682 ኪ.ግ./ሄ)፣ የአንድ ሺህ ዘር ክብደት (44.7 ግራም)፣ የፕሮቲን ይዘት (11.5%) እና ከፍተኛ የአንፀባራቂነት ባህርይ (71.8%) አስመዝግቧል፡፡ የNPSB ማዳበሪያ ውጤትን በተመለከተ ከፍተኛ የአንድ ሺህ ዘር ክብደት (44.8 ግ)፣ የእህል ምርት (3640 ኪ.ግ./ሄ)፣ ከፍተኛ የፕሮቲን ይዘት (11.7%) እና ከፍተኛ የአንፀባራቂነት ባህርይ (81.5%) በከፍተኛው የNPSB መጠን (183 ኪ.ግ./ሄ) ተመዝግቧል፡፡ በኢኮኖሚያዊ አዋጭነት ስሌት መሠረት ሁለተኛ ከፍተኛ ገቢ (44614.25 ብር/ሄ) ያስገኘው ማንጉዶ ዝርያ 183 ኪ.ግ/ሄ NPSB በመጠቀም ነዉ፡፡ በመሆኑም በምንጃር ሸንኮራ ወረዳ እና ተመሳሳይ ስነ ምህዳር ላላቸው አካባቢዎች ማንጉዶ ዝርያ ከ183 ኪ.ግ./ሄ NPSB ማዳበሪያ በመጠቀም ቢዘራ ይመከራል፡፡   Abstract The use of appropriate varieties and balanced fertilizer application are major agronomic practices to improve the productivity and quality of durum wheat. Hence, a field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of blended nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and boron (NPSB) fertilizer rates on yield and yield components, and grain quality of selected durum wheat varieties. Factorial combinations of four NPSB rates (0, 61, 122, 183 kg ha-1) and four durum wheat varieties (Alemtena, Mangudo, Ude, Utuba) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. All the plots were supplemented uniformly with 46 kg N ha-1. Among the varieties, variety Mangudo recorded the highest grain yield (2682 kg ha-1), thousand kernels weight (44.7 g), grain protein content (11.5%), and vitreousness (71.8%). The main effect of NPSB fertilizer showed significantly the highest number of kernels per spike (42.7), thousand kernels weight (44.8 g), aboveground dry biomass yield (11772 kg ha-1), and grain yield (3640 kg ha-1), the highest hectoliter weight (80.2 kg hl-1), grain protein content (11.7%) and vitreousness (81.5%) at the highest NPSB rate (183 kg ha-1). The partial budget analysis also revealed that variety Mangudo gave the second highest economic benefit of 44614.25 Birr ha-1 at 183 kg NPSB ha-1. Thus, a variety Mangudo with the application of 183 kg NPSB ha-1 can be recommended for durum wheat production in Minijar Shenkora District and in areas with similar agro-ecological conditions

Survey of ethno-veterinary medicinal plants at selected districts of Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

The survey of ethno-veterinary medicinal plants was conducted from November,2014 to April, 2015 at selected districts of Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia.The aim of the study was to identify and document medicinal plants and the associated ethno-medicinal knowledge of the local community. Semi-structured interview, guided field observation, group discussion and market survey were used to collect the required data. Informant consensus method and group discussion wereconducted for crosschecking and verification of the information. Both descriptivestatistics and quantitative methods were used for data analysis. About 46 plantspecies belonging to 33 families were identified and documented based on the localclaims of the plants. Majority plant taxa were collected from the wild (54.4%) followed by domestic once (24%). Among these plant families, Fabaceae, Solanaeceae and Euphorbiaceae were commonly used to treat Equine colic, retained placenta and Black leg respectively. The most frequently used plant parts were reported to be the leaves (37%) and then the roots (30.4%). The condition of preparation was in the fresh form (82.5%) and fresh/dry form (17.5%). Oral  administration (65.3%) was the most common route of administration. In  conclusion, the participants have a wealth of indigenous knowledge about plant medicines for treating their livestock but, agricultural expansion was the major threats to medicinal plants in the study area. Thus, awareness creation should be done in order to conserve and document the plants. Keywords: Ethno-veterinary, Medicinal plants, Indigenous knowledge, HarariRegional Stat

Prevalence and determinant factors of hookworm infection among school age children in Jawe district, NorthWest Ethiopia

Background: Hookworm infection is a common parasitic infection in sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of hookworm infection is influenced by different determinant factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hookworm infection and determinant factors among school age children in North West Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to August 2016. Children were selected by systematic random sampling and Formoleether concentration technique was used to identify hookworm infection. We conducted descriptive and logistic regression analysis for categorical variables. The adjusted odds ratio was calculated at 95% confidence interval. Results: Among 333 children, 49 (14.7%) were infected with hookworm parasites. Eating raw vegetables, not wearing shoes, absence of regular wearing of shoes and hand washing habit, absence of proper utilization of latrines, absence of deworming were significantly associated (p<0.05) with hookworm infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of hookworm infection was high among school age children. Walking with bare foot, hand washing habit, and absence of proper latrine utilization are the major determinant factors for the high prevalence of hookworm infection. Therefore, community mobilization and health education should be done to decrease hookworm infection among school age children in Jawe district