Dynamics of Financing Structure & Financial Performance of Ethiopian Micro Banks (MFIs)

Studies indicates that the financing structure of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have significant impact on the performance of these organizations. Hence, studying the factors that drive the financial structure of these organizations is imperative. Although the financial structure of financial firms have been studied by some scholars, such types of studies are rare in the MFI sector. Thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the factors of financial structure in the Ethiopia industry and relate to the performance MFI. To accomplish the objective of the study a qualitative research design is employed. The researcher used data of 15 sample MFIs that fulfill the criteria of data availability from the NBE database covering the period of 2003–2009 and additional data is also obtained by interviewing key informants MFI industry. This includes finance managers of sample MFIs, financial analysts of AEMFI and supervisory authority of Ethiopian MFIs division in the NBE. The results show there exists positive and significant correlations between profitability and leverage, size of MFI, growth of MFI, the size of MFI and their growth rate. There could also be policies intended to encourage and creating conducive environment for MFIs to utilize debt as a viable source of finance in the era of increased commercialization of microfinance to meet their financial objective. Finally, focus should be placed on the relationship between ownership and governance structure and their effects on the capital structure on MFIs industry left for further studies to be conducted in the future. Keywords: Factors, Financing Structure, MFI, Ethiopi

The Effect of Financing Structure on Financial Performance of Micro Banks: An Empirical Analysis of Ethiopian MFIs

Financing decisions are one of the most critical areas for finance managers. Studying the influence of capital structure and financial performance of the companies is vital. It has always been an area for interest for researchers to understand the relationship between capital structure and financial performance of the business organization. The capital structure of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) has significant impact on the performance of this organization. Hence, studying the effect of the financial structure of these organizations is imperative. Although the financial structure of financial firms have been studied by some scholars, such types of studies are rare in the MFI sector. Thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of financial structure in the Performance of Ethiopian MFI industry. To accomplish the objective of the study a quantitative research design is employed. The researcher used data of 16 sample MFIs that fulfill the criteria of data availability from the database covering the period of 2008–2015. This study is a moderate attempt to understand the relationship between capital structure and financial performance of the MFIs industry by taking Ethiopia. For this purpose, the study used definition of capital structure in the debt to equity ratio and uses ROE and ROA proxy for financial performance of MFIs. In this study, the data of 16 MFIs listed on MIXMARKET of Ethiopian in a 7-year time horizon (2008-2015) were used. Results of our study demonstrated that capital structure influences financial performance of Ethiopian Micro Banks Industry. The significance of the influence of capital structure on performance of MFIs is respectively belonged to measures taken by the regulatory organ of NBE & finance managers of the Microfinance Institutions to create conducive environment

Determinants of Capital Structure Decisions Among Ethiopian Micro Finance Institutions: Panel Data Evidence

Studies indicates that the capital structure of Microfinance Institutions have significant impact on the sustainability and outreach of these organizations. Hence, studying the factors that determine the capital structure of these organizations is imperative. Although the capital structure of financial firms have been studied by some scholars, such types of studies are rare in the MFI sector. Thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of capital structure in the Ethiopia MFI industry. To accomplish the objective of the study the quantitative research design is employed. The researcher used secondary data of 15 sample MFIs that fulfill the criteria of data availability from the MIX market database covering the period of 2003–2009. A panel data using Random Effect Multiple Regression model is used to analyze the standard determinants of capital structure. A sequential regression approach with two alternative specifications of model was employed. The research results show a negative and significant relationship between the MFI profitability, positive and significant relationship between MFI size, a negative and significant relationship between MFI tangibility and the leverage was found. On the other hand, the results show mixed results for the impacts of both age and growth rate on the leverage of Ethiopian MFIs. However, a negative but insignificant impact of business risk on leverage was found. The results of this study have delivered some insights on the capital structure theory. There could also be policies intended to encourage and creating conducive environment for MFIs to utilize debt as a viable source of finance in the era of increased commercialization of microfinance to meet their noble objective. Keywords: Determinants, Capital Structure, MFI, Ethiopi

Rural Poverty, Food Insecurity and Environmental Degradation in Ethiopia: A Case Study from South Central Ethiopia

This paper addresses the challenge of reducing poverty, food insecurity, and natural resource degradation, and abolishing recurrent famines in Ethiopia. With a population of about 65 million, Ethiopia is one of the largest and most populated countries in Africa. Ethiopia can be regarded as a microcosm of Africa due to its vast and diverse agro-ecology and population. Physically, it ranges from 200 meters to over 4000 meters above sea level. It has about 18 agro-ecological, zones and diverse population of some 85 ethnic or linguistic groups. The paper begins by addressing the conceptual relationship among food insecurity, poverty and natural resource degradation based on an extensive review of pertinent literature. The basic challenges of food insecurity-poverty- natural resource degradation discussed include: The challenge of developing and managing human resource and population growth, the challenge of developing and reforming institutions of governance, and the challenge of adopting poverty-focused economic growth policies. The relevance of agricultural and employment based development strategy is emphasized, given the fact that 85 percent of the population is currently engaged in agriculture and related activities. But, for such a strategy to succeed there is a need to adopt productive and sustainable technologies and institutions. One of the key points made is that farmers must find technologies to be profitable in order to adopt them successfully, and that such technologies can also improve sustainability. The paper further emphasizes the need to develop institutions that are incentive compatible, such as land tenure, agricultural research, and credit markets to enable and to complement the successful adoption of appropriate technologies by farmers. The paper finally draws some broad policy implications by pointing out the critical need to adopt institutions and policies that have a positive-sum or win-win outcome. These policies include investment in agricultural research and technology; the development of institutions that provide access to modern inputs and extension services; the removal of marketing and related policy distortions; and the promotion of policies that counter externalities or spillover effects of production or those that minimize environmental costs by reducing natural resource degradation. The need to adopt a land tenure system that provides security by vesting property or legal ownership rights to farmers aimed agricultural development is one of the key policy implications of the study

Evaluation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes for resistance to late blight at Sinana Southeastern Ethiopia

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is one of the most significant constraints to potato production in Bale high lands and other regions of Ethiopia. Hence, this requires to develop high yielding and late blight resistant varieties. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine host resistance of potato against Phytophthora infestans in order to develop late blight resistant/tolerant genotypes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications at Sinana Agricultural Research Center during 2014 main cropping season. The genotypes showed highly significant (P<0.01) differences for all the characters studied. Genotypes exhibited wide ranges of mean values for all characters. The highest total tuber yield (46.1 t ha-1) was obtained from the advanced clone, CIP-392640.524 followed by Belete (41 t ha-1). Late blight appeared early on farmer's cultivar Kellacho (48 days after planting) and late on advanced clones CIP- 399062.102(74 days after planting). Percent severity index (PSI) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) ranged from 33.91 to 91.67% and 105 to 2370, respectively. Eleven newly introduced clones and the released variety "Belete" recorded PSI 33 to 39.7% and AUDPC 105 to 264.1. Hence, these genotypes can be categorized as moderately resistant. The study revealed the presence of considerable variability in tested genotypes for economically important traits and the higher chance of selecting genotypes with high yield and moderately resistant to late blight. However, it appears that further evaluation of genotypes across seasons and locations to identify genotypes that could be released as varieties seem to be quite pertinent.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (1): 21-25, June, 201

The journey of Radiology in Ethiopia

The practice of radiology began after the invention of X-rays in 1895 which then spread to different parts of the world. There is no documentation on how and when the x-ray was introduced to the Ethiopian medical practice. However, radiology as a profession was in place for the last four decades. Similar with the experience in other countries, the history of progress in the field of radiology in the Ethiopian setup is related directly to technological advances that occurred during the past few decades.Radiography was the main modality used in the first two decades. In the early years of the initiation of radiology training,  only radiographs and ultrasounds were available for training and service. In the subsequent years, modern cross-sectional imaging equipment was introduced. This was mainly accomplished with the involvement of the private institutions which played a significant role. So far, there are more than 300 practicing radiologists as diagnosticians. Recently, also radiologic interventions were also introduced with the commencement of subspecialty training

Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among inpatients at Eastern Command Referral Hospital in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by heightened stress and anxiety after experiencing a traumatic event. While numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the magnitude and factors associated with PTSD, there is limited evidence available on specific study populations of military personnel.ObjectiveThe study aimed to determine the magnitude of post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among military personnel admitted to the Eastern Command Referral Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia from May 1 to 30, 2023.Methods and materialsA cross-sectional study was carried out at an institution. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data using the post-traumatic stress disorder military version checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition. Data were entered and analyzed using EpiData version 3.1 and STATA version 14. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the information. To investigate factors linked with outcome variables, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. The results were presented using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, with statistical significance given at a p-value of 0.05.ResultsThis study found that approximately 23.6% (95% CI = 19.9–27.8) of admitted military members fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Participants’ history of mental illness [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.73, 95% CI = 2.66–12.31], family history of mental illness (AOR = 10.38, 95% CI = 5.36–20.10), current chewing of khat (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.13–4.32), physical trauma (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.00–4.13), moderate social support (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.1–4.53), strong social support (AOR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.02–0.35), and severe depression (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.74–5.71) were factors significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.ConclusionsThe magnitude of post-traumatic stress disorder is high among military personnel. Factors such as participants’ history of mental illness, family history of mental illness, depression, lack of social support, current use of khat, and physical trauma are significantly associated with PTSD. It is crucial to identify and intervene early in individuals with these risk factors to address PTSD effectively

Global, regional, and national burden of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are increasingly recognised as global health priorities in view of the preventability of most injuries and the complex and expensive medical care they necessitate. We aimed to measure the incidence, prevalence, and years of life lived with disability (YLDs) for TBI and SCI from all causes of injury in every country, to describe how these measures have changed between 1990 and 2016, and to estimate the proportion of TBI and SCI cases caused by different types of injury. METHODS: We used results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study 2016 to measure the global, regional, and national burden of TBI and SCI by age and sex. We measured the incidence and prevalence of all causes of injury requiring medical care in inpatient and outpatient records, literature studies, and survey data. By use of clinical record data, we estimated the proportion of each cause of injury that required medical care that would result in TBI or SCI being considered as the nature of injury. We used literature studies to establish standardised mortality ratios and applied differential equations to convert incidence to prevalence of long-term disability. Finally, we applied GBD disability weights to calculate YLDs. We used a Bayesian meta-regression tool for epidemiological modelling, used cause-specific mortality rates for non-fatal estimation, and adjusted our results for disability experienced with comorbid conditions. We also analysed results on the basis of the Socio-demographic Index, a compound measure of income per capita, education, and fertility. FINDINGS: In 2016, there were 27·08 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 24·30-30·30 million) new cases of TBI and 0·93 million (0·78-1·16 million) new cases of SCI, with age-standardised incidence rates of 369 (331-412) per 100 000 population for TBI and 13 (11-16) per 100 000 for SCI. In 2016, the number of prevalent cases of TBI was 55·50 million (53·40-57·62 million) and of SCI was 27·04 million (24·98-30·15 million). From 1990 to 2016, the age-standardised prevalence of TBI increased by 8·4% (95% UI 7·7 to 9·2), whereas that of SCI did not change significantly (-0·2% [-2·1 to 2·7]). Age-standardised incidence rates increased by 3·6% (1·8 to 5·5) for TBI, but did not change significantly for SCI (-3·6% [-7·4 to 4·0]). TBI caused 8·1 million (95% UI 6·0-10·4 million) YLDs and SCI caused 9·5 million (6·7-12·4 million) YLDs in 2016, corresponding to age-standardised rates of 111 (82-141) per 100 000 for TBI and 130 (90-170) per 100 000 for SCI. Falls and road injuries were the leading causes of new cases of TBI and SCI in most regions. INTERPRETATION: TBI and SCI constitute a considerable portion of the global injury burden and are caused primarily by falls and road injuries. The increase in incidence of TBI over time might continue in view of increases in population density, population ageing, and increasing use of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The number of individuals living with SCI is expected to increase in view of population growth, which is concerning because of the specialised care that people with SCI can require. Our study was limited by data sparsity in some regions, and it will be important to invest greater resources in collection of data for TBI and SCI to improve the accuracy of future assessments