Factors that Affect Classroom Management in English Classes with Reference to Gore High School, South West Ethiopia

This study focused on identifying factors that affect classroom management in English classes and tried to give suggestions for the identified problems. The data were collected from Gore High School grade nine students, and English teachers who teach grade nine. The sample consisted of 213 students, and four English teachers. Then the data were collected and interpreted using qualitative and quantitative data analysis method. Especially, observation, questionnaires/open-ended and close-ended/ and interview were used as data gathering tools. Lastly, based on the result, conclusion and recommendations were made. Some of the findings were identified as negatively impacting on classroom management activities were large number of students in the classroom, poor ability of the teachers in managing classroom activities and school management that did not take satisfactory measures on misbehaved students counted as some factors that affect classroom management. To minimize these problems the researcher recommended that the school should request the society and different organizations to build additional classrooms; taking satisfactory measures on students who always misbehave in the classroom

Malaria-related perceptions and practices of women with children under the age of five years in rural Ethiopia

Abstract Background Malaria remains to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and children in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to investigate the local perceptions, practices and treatment seeking behaviour for malaria among women with children under the age of five years. Methods This community-based study was conducted in 2003 in an area of seasonal malaria transmission in Adami Tulu District, south-central Ethiopia. Total samples of 2087 rural women with children less than five years of age from 18 rural kebeles (the smallest administrative units) were interviewed about their perceptions and practices regarding malaria. In addition, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted on similar issues to complement the quantitative data. Results Malaria, locally known as busaa, is perceived as the main health problem in the study area. Mosquitoes are perceived to be the main cause of the disease, and other misperceptions were also widespread. The use of prevention measures was very low. Most mothers were familiar with the main signs and symptoms of mild malaria, and some of them indicated high grade fever, convulsions and mental confusion as a manifestation of severe malaria. Very few households (5.6%) possessed one or two nets. More than 60% of the mothers with recent episodes of malaria received initial treatment from non-public health facilities such as community health workers (CHWs) (40%) and private care providers (21%). Less than 40% of the reported malaria cases among women were treated by public health facilities. Conclusion Malaria was perceived as the main health problem among women and children. The use of malaria preventive measures was low. A significant proportion of the respondents received initial malaria treatments from CHWs, private care providers and public health facilities. Concerted effort is needed to scale-up the distribution of insecticide-treated nets and improve the knowledge of the community about the link between malaria and mosquitoes. Effective antimalarial drugs should also be available at the grassroots level where the problem of malaria is rampant.</p

Prevalence and associated factors of female genital mutilation among Somali refugees in eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Eastern Ethiopia hosts a substantial number of refugees originated from Somalia. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a common practice in the area, despite the campaigns to eliminate it. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated factors of FGM.Itoobiyada bari waxay soo dhoweysay qaxooti soomaaliyeed oo aad u fara badan. Inkastoo uu halkaas ka jiro ololaha ladagaalanka gudniinka fircooniga, haddana si daran ayaa halkaa looga adeegsadaa gudniinka fircooniga. Waxaana sameeyey daraasad la xiriira arrimahaas.L'Etiopia orientale ospita un numero considerevole di rifugiati somali. Le mutilazioni genitali femminili (MGF) sono una pratica comune nella zona, nonostante le campagne per eliminarla. È stato condotto uno studio per determinare la prevalenza e i fattori associati delle MGF

The Retirement of Malaria Control Workers as a Critical Problem for Vector Control in Oromia, Ethiopia

A retrospective record review for the period of seven years was done on retirement and death in February 2001 to assess the current status of malaria control workers in Oromia Regional State. The number of malaria control workers who left Malaria Control Programme due to retirement and death has dramatically increased across the last seven years with an average of about 15 workers annually. Among 106 malaria workers who left the programme during the period, 60% of them were retired and 26% deceased. It was also found that 89% of them were malaria technicians with specialized technical expertise in vector control, while the remaining 11% were highly experienced microscopists. Training of health professionals on malaria control through incorporating the malaria curriculum into the health training schools and institutions seems mandatory. [Ethio.J.Health Dev. 2003;17(1):79-83

Community participation in malaria epidemic control in highland areas of southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Background: Satisfactory strategies for the timely and effective control of malaria epidemics have not yet been established in epidemic-prone areas. A devastating malaria epidemic occurred in mid 2000 in four districts of Borena Zone in Oromia Regional State. Objective: To assess and highlight the importance of community participation particularly that of village malaria workers (VMWs) in the control of malaria epidemics. Methods: Epidemic-affected peasant associations (PAs) were initially identified from each of the affected districts. One VMW residing in the PA was selected, and training on health education, diagnosis of suspected malaria cases and treatment by Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP), referral of severe cases, source reduction of mosquito breeding sites, registration and reporting of treated cases, consumed antimalarials, registration of deaths and assessment of the overall status of the epidemic in their particular PAs was given for three days. Results: One hundred twenty-four epidemic affected PAs were identified by the study, that and 115 VMWs were deployed to control the epidemic. A total of 72,998 suspected malaria patients were treated by VMWs using SP. Only 11,994 clinical cases of malaria were treated by ordinary health workers at field levels from June–August 2000. A total of 1,323 deaths were reported both by health professionals and the VMWs. Five hundred sixty eight confirmed malaria cases were treated during out patient consultations at Hagere Mariam Hospital during the three month period. In addition, 191 admitted malaria patients and 36 malaria deaths were identified from the Hospital during the June- August 2000 epidemic. The case fatality rate and proportionate mortality ratio for malaria were 20.8% and 90.9% in August, respectively, in the Hospital. Conclusion: Although health professionals of various categories were mobilized, the epidemic covered wide geographical areas and caused high morbidity and mortality within a short period of time. Therefore, mobilizing of the necessary human and material resources, particularly the community itself is extremely important in the control of malaria epidemics. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 19(1) 2005: 3-1

Influence of intrauterine factors on birth weight and on child linear growth in rural Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study

Introduction Little is known about the influence of intrauterine fetal factors on childhood growth in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of intrauterine fetal growth on child linear growth in rural Ethiopia. Methods We conducted a prospective community-based cohort study from July 2016 to October 2018. All pregnant women with gestational age of 24 weeks or below living in 13 kebeles, in central Ethiopia were enrolled. The fetuses were followed from pregnancy up to 11–24 months after birth. We measured biparietal diameter, head circumference, femoral length, and abdominal circumference at 26, 30 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. At birth, we measured infant weight. At 11–24 months of age, z-scores of length- for- age, and weight-for-length were calculated. A multilevel, mixed-effect, linear regression model was used to examine the influence of fetal, newborn, maternal, household factors and residence area on child linear growth. Results We included 554 children. The prevalence rate of stunting was 54.3% and that of wasting was 10.6%. Fetal biparietal diameter, head circumference, and abdominal circumference, were significantly associated with birth weight. Femoral length z-score in early pregnancy, gestational age at delivery and child age were significantly associated with length-for-age z-score. Family size was significantly associated with length-for-age z-score. Family size and maternal height were associated with weight-for-height z-score. There was a large variation in length-for-age z-score (Intra cluster correlation, or ρ (rho) = 0.30) and weight-for-length z-score (ρ = 0.22) than of birth weight of new-born (ρ = 0.11) in kebeles indicating heterogeneity in clusters for length-for-age z-score and weight-for-length z-score than birth weight. Conclusions Child linear growth was influenced by fetal growth, duration of pregnancy, maternal height, and family size. Environmental factors that are associated with the area of residence play a bigger role for linear growth than for birth weight.publishedVersio

Prevalence of malaria infection in Butajira area, south-central Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2005, the Ethiopian government launched a massive expansion of the malaria prevention and control programme. The programme was aimed mainly at the reduction of malaria in populations living below 2,000 m above sea level. Global warming has been implicated in the increase in the prevalence of malaria in the highlands. However, there is still a paucity of information on the occurrence of malaria at higher altitudes. The objective of this study was to estimate malaria prevalence in highland areas of south-central Ethiopia, designated as the Butajira area.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 750 households were selected. All consenting family members were examined for malaria parasites in thick and thin blood smears. The assessment was repeated six times for two years (October 2008 to June 2010).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 19,207 persons were examined in the six surveys. From those tested, 178 slides were positive for malaria, of which 154 (86.5%) were positive for <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>and 22 (12.4%) for <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>; the remaining two (1.1%) showed mixed infections of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>and <it>Plasmodium vivax</it>. The incidence of malaria was higher after the main rainy season, both in lower lying and in highland areas. The incidence in the highlands was low and similar for all age groups, whereas in the lowlands, malaria occurred mostly in those of one to nine years of age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study documented a low prevalence of malaria that varied with season and altitudinal zone in a highland-fringe area of Ethiopia. Most of the malaria infections were attributable to <it>Plasmodium vivax</it>.</p

"They have a right to participate as a stakeholder":Article 5.3 implementation and government interactions with the tobacco industry in Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: This paper explores implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Ethiopia. The analysis highlights how operationalising key requirements of Article 5.3, such as minimising policy engagement with the tobacco industry, has been mediated by path-dependent processes of stakeholder consultation and collaboration that have persisted following privatisation of Ethiopia’s state-owned tobacco monopoly. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with key officials (n=21) working in tobacco control policy, with high levels of access secured across ministries and agencies beyond health. RESULTS: We found contrasting levels of awareness of Article 5.3 across government sectors, with extremely limited awareness in departments beyond health. The data also highlight competing ideas about conflict of interest, in which recognition of a fundamental conflict of interest with the tobacco industry is largely confined to health actors. Beyond limited cross-sectoral awareness and understanding of Article 5.3, gaps in implementation are exacerbated by assumptions and practices around stakeholder consultation, in which attempts to minimise policy interactions with the tobacco industry are mediated by institutionally embedded processes that presume active engagement. The results also highlight a continuation of the close relationship between the Ethiopian government and tobacco monopoly following its privatisation. CONCLUSION: The Ethiopian government’s recent achievements in tobacco control legislation require that policymakers are actively supported in reconciling perceived tensions and requirements for stakeholder consultation. Effective tobacco control governance would be further enhanced by enabling government agencies to more clearly identify which interactions with the tobacco industry are strictly necessary under Article 5.3 guideline recommendations

Concerns about covert HIV testing are associated with delayed presentation of suspected malaria in Ethiopian children: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis is important in preventing mortality from malaria. The hypothesis that guardians' fear of covert human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing delays presentation of children with suspected malaria was tested. METHODS The study design is a cross-sectional survey. The study population consisted of guardians of children with suspected malaria who presented to health centres in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Data were collected on attitudes to HIV testing and the duration of children's symptoms using interview administered questionnaires. RESULTS Some 830 individuals provided data representing a response rate of 99% of eligible participants. Of these, 423 (51%) guardians perceived that HIV testing was routinely done on blood donated for malaria diagnosis, and 353 (43%) were aware of community members who delayed seeking medical advice because of these concerns. Children whose guardians suspected that blood was covertly tested for HIV had longer median delay to presentation for evaluation at health centres compared to those children whose guardians did not hold this belief (three days compared to two days, p < 0.001). Children whose guardians were concerned about covert HIV testing were at a higher odds of a prolonged delay before being seen at a health centre (odds ratio 1.73, 95% confidence intervals: 1.10 to 270 for a delay of ≥ 3 days compared to those seen in ≤ 2 days). CONCLUSION Children whose guardians believed that covert testing for HIV was routine clinical practice presented later for investigation of suspected malaria. This may account for up to 14% of the delay in presentation and represents a reversible risk factor for suboptimal management of malaria

Pre- and post-diagnosis costs of tuberculosis to patients on Directly Observed Treatment Short course in districts of southwestern Ethiopia: a longitudinal study

Background: Financial burden on tuberculosis (TB) patients results in delayed treatment and poor compliance. We assessed pre- and post-diagnosis costs to TB patients. Methods: A longitudinal study among 735 new TB cases was conducted from January 2015 through June 2016 in 10 woredas (districts) of southwestern Ethiopia. Direct out-of-pocket, payments, and lost income (indirect cost) were solicited from patients during the first 2 months and at the end of treatment. Thus, we ascertained direct medical, nonmedical, and indirect costs incurred by patients during pre- and post-diagnosis periods. We categorized costs incurred from onset of illness until TB diagnosis as pre-diagnosis and that incurred after diagnosis through treatment completion as post-diagnosis. Pre- and post-diagnosis costs constitute total cost incurred by the patients. We fitted linear regression model to identify predictors of cost. Results: Between onset of illness and anti-TB treatment course, patients incurred a median (inter-quartile range (IQR)) of US$201.48 (136.7\u2013318.94). Of the total cost, the indirect and direct costs respectively constituted 70.6 and 29.4patients incurred a median (IQR) of US$97.62 (6.43\u2013184.22) and US$93.75 (56.91\u2013141.54) during the pre- and post-diagnosis periods, respectively. Thus, patients incurred 53.6during the pre-diagnosis period. Direct out-of-pocket expenses during the pre- and post-diagnosis periods respectively amount to median (IQR) of US$21.64 (10.23\u201348.31) and US$35.02 (0\u201370.04). Patient delay days (p &lt; 0.001), provider delay days (p &lt; 0.001), number of healthcare facilities visited until TB diagnosis (p &lt; 0.001), and TB diagnosis at private facilities (p = 0.02) independently predicted increased pre-diagnosis cost. Similarly, rural residence (p &lt; 0.001), hospitalization during anti-TB treatment (p &lt; 0.001), patient delay days (p &lt; 0.001), and provider delay days (p &lt; 0.001) predicted increased post-diagnosis costs. Conclusion: TB patients incur substantial cost for care seeking and treatment despite \u201cfree service\u201d for TB. Therefore, promoting early care seeking, decentralizing efficient diagnosis, and treatment services within reach of peoples, and introducing reimbursement system for direct costs can help minimize financial burden to the patient