Assessment of factors affecting the performance of microfinance institutions: the case of Hawassa City

The role of MFIs in the development process is noteworthy. The major objective of this study is to assess the factors which affect the performance of microfinance institutions in Hawassa city. The research is descriptive in type and both probability and non probability sampling techniques were employed for this study. Employees and clients of MFIs were the major target groups of the study. From the total of 116 targeted employees, 74 employees were included in the sample. On the other hand, from the total of 8590 targeted clients, 199 were taken as a sample. Primary and secondary data were collected through well organized questionnaire for this study. In addition to this, the researchers conducted interview with managers of the institutions. Accordingly the researchers assessed different factors which affect the performance of microfinance institutions. The identified factors related to clients includes: problems related to the repayment, diversion of loan into non income generating activities, business condition of the borrowers and so on. On the other hand, institutional factors such as shortage of human resource, lack of cost effective technologies, shortage of loan capital and some others are identified. Political factors which are related to MFIs performance are also recognized in this study. Based on the analysis and the finding of the study, the researchers suggested some recommendations to improve the performance MFIs in Hawassa city. Implementation of different methods to improve women's participation in micro credit and saving services, usage of cost effective technologies to minimize operational cost, hiring an adequate number of employees in the institution are some of the recommendations suggested by the researchers to improve the performance of the institutions

Variation of Ultrasonic Renal Volume between Hypertensive and Non-Hypertensive Individuals in Relation to Body Size Parameters

BACKGROUND፡ Estimation of renal size is vital for the diagnosis of abnormal structural change on the kidneys due to the adverse effects of chronic diseases like hypertension. This study evaluated renal volume by ultrasound in relation to body size parameters, notably body mass index (BMI) and body surface area(BSA) in hypertensive and non-hypertensive individuals.METHODS: A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2018 at the Radiology department of the Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC). The study included consecutively selected samples of 85ambulatory hypertensive patients and 60non-hypertensive controls recruited consecutively on voluntary basis. After receiving verbal consent, each subject underwent abdominal ultrasound examination and length, width and thickness of both kidneys were measured and used for estimation of renal volume. The statistical evaluation included independent samples t-tests for mean differences with regard to ultrasonic renal measurements between hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups.RESULTS: A total of 145 adults aged 16 - 80 years (mean ±SD=44 ±17) participated in the study. In the hypertensive group, mean renal volume of 97.7cm3 for the right kidney and104.4cm3 for the left kidney whereas in the control group, it was 101.1cm3 for the right and 111.8 cm3 for the left kidney. The mean right renal volume to BSA ratio was 58.2cm3/m2 in hypertensive group, while it was 62.6cm3/m2 among the control group (p=0.076). The mean left renal volume to BSA of the patients was 62.2cm3/m2 and significantly (p=0.012) lower than that of the non-hypertensive group, which was 69.3 cm3/m2.CONCLUSION: Slightly smaller bilateral renal volume among hypertensive patients as compared the controls was obtained

Normalization of thyroid function tests among thyrotoxicosis patients attending a University Hospital in North-West Ethiopia

We would like to acknowledge the school of pharmacy and the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital for supporting us during conducting this study.Peer reviewe

Study on knowledge, attitude and dog ownership patterns related to rabies prevention and control in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The study was conducted from May 2003 to August 2003 in Addis Ababa with the objective of understanding the distribution of stray and owned dogs, dog ownership patterns and attitudes of people towards rabies and its prevention and control methods. A total of 2390 households were selected from 6 Sub Cities of Addis Ababa using stratified random sampling and were interviewed using structured questionnaires. From the total households interviewed, 969 (40.5%) of them were known to own one or more dogs, and the total number of owned dogs was estimated to be 225,078. Male dogs make up 1042 (78.4%) of the total owned dogs. Almost half of all the dogs 463 (47.8%) were tied only for some time during the day whereas 320 (33.1%) of the dogs were not tied at all and freely move from place to place and contribute to high dog bites in human beings and for the widespread occurrence of canine rabies in Addis Ababa. Six hundred fifty five (67.6%) of the interviewed households who owned dogs had a well fenced house. Most of the owned dogs 856 (88.4%) get their food from their owners and only 321 (33.3%) of the owners reported that they let their dogs to be vaccinated while the majority of the owners 644 (66.5%) do not let their dogs vaccinated regularly. A significant proportion of the interviewed households 2,323 (97.2%), (P < 0.05) indicated that they have the knowledge that dogs, cats and other animals can transmit rabies to humans and 1,752 (73.4%) of the households replied that rabies can be transmitted through bite, scratch and lick to open wounds. Analysis of the list of 2400 post exposure human antirabies treatments recorded at the EHNRI Zoonoses Laboratory from February 2002 to October 2003 showed that the most common animals involved in biting people were dogs. A total of 2198 (91.6%) people were bitten by dogs during the same period and most of them, 2053 (85.5%) were bitten on their hands and legs. All the above data indicated the need for a strong and coordinated rabies control activities to be conducted in the city

Anticholinergic burden among in-patients : a cross-sectional study on prevalence, determinants, and impact on mortality in Ethiopia

Acknowledgements The authors express their sincere gratitude to the University of Gondar for their invaluable support throughout the research process. Special appreciation is extended to the study participants for their active involvement.Peer reviewe