Paternal Involvement in Child- Rearing Activities: The Perspective of Adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In recognition of the need to widen the scope of fatherhood scholarship, this article centered on examining paternal involvement but in a socio- cultural context and developmental stage that has headed little attention in previous research. An attempt was made to investigate the nature of paternal involvement (ways, desires and roles) among adolescent students in Addis Ababa. Rating- type (N= 554) and forced- choice (N= 360) questionnaires were administered to secondary school (grades 9-12) students (ages 14-19 years). Results generally indicated that paternal involvement was multidimensional in the sense that adolescents considered direct and indirect ways, acting and capacity building roles and caring and masculine- oriented desires of fathers. involvement with children. Significant differences and relationships were also documented between the two components of ways, roles, and desires. In fact, interactions between ways and roles, ways and desires, and roles and desires were all significant. Results were interpreted and implications were drawn against a backdrop of the respondents. developmental and socio- cultural backgrounds

Contribution of the anti HIV/AIDS community conversation programs in preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS

Background: HIV/AIDS has now been around for about three and half decades since first diagnosed in 1981. If we wish to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS effectively and sustainably, we need to design strategies that help mobilizing communities at large. Anti-HIV/AIDS Community Conversation (CC) Programs are part of community mobilization activities introduced for the purpose of preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS.Objectives: The main objective of this study was to examine the contribution of these programs focusing on those implemented in Adama.Methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews (held with 3 CC Program coordinators and 2 CC group facilitators), Likert-type rating scale (questionnaire) administered to a sample of 200 participants (half of them CC program participants and the remaining half non-CC program participants), one focus group discussion consisting of nine discussants working as facilitators of CC groups, and (researchers), and attendance of 3 sessions of CC program meetings. Qualitative and quantitative data were thematically organized and then descriptively analyzed. Attempts were also made to compare groups using an independent sample t-test.Results: It was observed that the CC programs were in Adama Town nearly for 6 years and there were, until the date of data collection for this research, about 10 CC groups composed of CSWs, PLHIV, daily laborers, taxi cleaners, and parking lot workers. Findings indicated that participation in CC programs has promoted desirable HIV/AIDS-related behaviors (awareness about HIV/AIDS, VCT use, safe sexual practice, and non-stigmatizing and non-discriminatory behavior) challenged some harmful and encouraged useful practices. Opportunities for ‘experience sharing’, ‘members’ cohesiveness’, and ‘self- disclosure’ were amongst the major factors for the success of the CC programs. However, evidences also suggested that a number of technical, professional and budgetary constraints were affecting the implementation of these programs.Conclusion and recommendations: The findings of this study generally suggested that the CC programs implemented so far in Adama appeared to make contributions to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and, hence, need to be scaled up. Suggestions were given as to how to improve and scale up these approaches so as to address the growing needs in the country for intervention strategies to quell the spread of the virus

The disability paradox:Better opportunities versus the hardships of high-achieving disabled women of Ethiopia

Purpose: This study aims to provide a better understanding of the life experiences of educated disabled women in Ethiopia. The research focuses on opportunities resulting from their disabilities, as well as the role that obstacles play in the lives of successful disabled women. Method: Qualitative, in-depth, and semi-structured interviews along with personal observations were used to explore the full experiences of participants from their own points of view, as told in their own words. Results: The analysis was based on interviews with 13 educated disabled women with various physical disabilities. The results of the interviews indicated the hardships faced by high- achieving disabled women and the different opportunities that resulted from these hardships (stated as paradoxes throughout the study). The categorized paradoxes consist of: paradox of disability and educational opportunity, paradox of separation from family and success, paradox of hardship in obtaining employment and related opportunities and strength, paradox of disability hardships and self-confidence and self-reliance, paradox of disability and improved quality of life, paradox of support and dependency. Conclusion: This study highlights how difficult life experiences can be challenging but serves to contribute to the resilience of disabled women in their working life. Keywords: Disability paradox; Better opportunities of disabled women; Hardships of disabled women; educated disabled women; Ethiopi

Self-Regulatory Behavior of Adolescent Students in Ethiopia –The Case of Ayer Tena High School, Kolfe Keranio Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Self-regulatory behavior is an important personal skill that strengthens in the course of transition from childhood to adulthood. While self-regulation promotes healthy and successful transitioning to adulthood, deficiency in self-regulation would expose the growing persons to a host of undesirable behaviors including impulsivity, violence, health risky behaviors etc. The aim of this study was to examine adolescents. self-regulatory behavior and how it was associated with parental involvement and such other background factors as age, gender, family structure, and socio-economic status. A total of 211 secondary school adolescent students were selected as data sources. Socio-Economic Status Inventory, Self-Regulation Scale and Parental Involvement Scale were employed for data collection. Findings indicated that the level of self-regulatory behavior was significantly higher among the adolescents. The same pattern was exhibited in all the three dimensions of self-regulation. While sex and parental involvement were found to have significant relationship with self-regulatory behavior, age, socio-economic status, fathers. educational level, and family structure were, however, minimally correlated. Discussing the findings against a backdrop, basically of, socio-cultural reality of the study setting, further research was suggested to unveil this context of self-regulation using mixed research design

Effectiveness of modular training at farmers’ training centers: The case of Mieso Woreda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

In order to bring a realistic transformation in Ethiopian agriculture, farmers need to improve their knowledge, skill and attitude & have access to information and technologies, markets etc. Currently, Farmers Training Centres are designed to provide services of extension, trainings, demonstration, information, advice, etc at grassroots level. Modular training is one of the main functions of the centers. In the study area, modular training has been offered since 2007. However, evaluation was not made to determine effectiveness in terms of changes in farmers. knowledge, attitude and practice levels, & relevance to the needs and priorities of rural households to make improvements. On the other hand farmers seem to have been reluctant to participate in the modular training. There is poor communication between research, extension and farmers. Thus, this study focused on effectiveness of the modular training and exploration of institutional and organizational dimensions of Farmers. Training Centers. A multi-stage sampling strategy was used to select sample peasant associations.140 sample households were selected randomly from four peasant associations. Semi-structured interview schedule and checklist were managed to collect both qualitative & quantitative data. Descriptive statistics and tests of significance (chisquare & t-test) were adopted for analysis of quantitative data. Thematic transcriptions, narrations and Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Knowledge Systems (RAAKS) tools were used for qualitative data analysis. The findings revealed training needs assessment was not conducted in the study area before the training. However, the content of training topics was relevant, need-based & harmonious with the farming practices. The results also demonstrated that, the modular training offered has improved knowledge, attitude and practice levels to enhance performance. Significant differences were observed between mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice tests of trained and untrained sample households. The technologies included in the trainings were market-oriented and have higher demand. Institutional support service, such as inputs supply, credit, product marketing and cooperatives are poorly functioning. Moreover, poor communication and weak linkages exist between relevant institutions presumed to work with Farmers. Training Centres at local level. Women participation was very low in the modular training. Adaptation and dissemination of improved technologies, fairs, video show, accessing market information for rural households & literacy programme are the positive deviances accomplished in the study area. These are uncommon strategies created by deviant FTCs and help provide better solutions for local challenges. It would contribute better if these positive remarks scaled-out to other similar contexts. In general, governmental & non-governmental organizations should give emphasis to support and strengthen Farmers. Training Centers to sustain effective implementation of the modular training programme

The experiences of children with disabilities and primary caregivers on the social inclusion of children with disabilities in Ethiopia

This article presents the findings of a qualitative study on the social inclusion of children with disabilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and how this affects their achievement of valued life goals. The study is based on focus group discussions with children with disabilities and primary caregivers of such children. The thematic analysis is based on family quality of life and the capability approach, which are used to explain the effects of social inclusion (and exclusion) on children with disabilities and their families in three areas of quality of life: being, belonging, and becoming. The study also looked at how the social inclusion of children with disabilities can be actualised. The results of the study confirm the existence of considerable challenges to the social inclusion of children with disabilities in Addis Ababa, which is reflected in their capabilities. The results suggest that children with disabilities need assistance and support to achieve a good quality of life. They also indicate the need for the involvement of the wider community to support children with disabilities and their families to enhance the capability of such children, and so improve their family quality of life

Health Extension Workers' diagnostic accuracy for common childhood illnesses in four regions of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: The Ethiopian primary care of sick children is provided within the integrated Community Case Management of childhood illnesses by Health Extension Workers (HEW). There is limited knowledge whether this cadre correctly assess and classify common diseases. The aim was to study their ability to correctly classify common childhood illnesses. METHODS: A survey was conducted from December 2016 to February 2017 in four regions of Ethiopia. Observations of the HEWs' assessment and classification of sick children were followed by child re-examination by a trained health officer. RESULTS: The classification by the HEWs of 620 sick children as compared to the re-examiner had a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 94% for diarrhoea, sensitivity 52% and specificity 91% for febrile disorders, and a sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 94% for acute respiratory tract infection. Malnutrition and ear infection had a sensitivity of 39 and 61%, and a specificity of 99 and 99%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most cases of diarrhoea were correctly classified, while other illnesses were not frequently identified. The identification of malnutrition was especially at fault. These findings suggest that a significant number of sick children were undiagnosed that could lead to absent or incorrect management and treatment

Type of anaesthesia for caesarean section and failure rate in Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana\u2019s largest referral hospital

Background: Caesarean Section (CS) is a mode of delivery to decrease maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the type of anaesthesia used for CS among live-birth deliveries; and the failure rate of spinal anaesthesia (SA) in Princess Marina Referral Hospital, Botswana. Methods: Women who underwent CS from May-December 2017 were enrolled in the study. Data were recorded from anaesthesia charts and abstracted using Excel spreadsheet. We established the type of anaesthesia used, comparing the rate of elective versus emergency indications, and failure rate of SA using STATA. Fisher\u2019s exact test used to compare results. Results: Among 2775 live-birth deliveries, 30.2% (837/2775) was by CS. Of those, 95.2% (797/837) had had SA and 4.8% (40/837) were GA. Under SA, 27.4% (218/797) were elective, and 72.6% (579/797) were emergency. Under GA 10% (4/40) were elective and 90.0% (36/40) were emergency. The overall failure rate of SA was 2% (16/813), that is 0.9% (2/220) for elective and 2.4% (14/593) among emergency indications; Fisher\u2019s exact test p = 0.2959. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that single shot SA is the most commonly preferred type of anaesthesia for both elective and emergency CS. The overall failure rate of SA was less common in our settings than previously reported

Cardiorenal Biomarkers, Canagliflozin, and Outcomes in Diabetic Kidney Disease: The CREDENCE Trial

BACKGROUND: People with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria are at an elevated risk for cardiac and renal events. The optimal biomarkers to aid disease prediction and to understand the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition remain unclear. METHODS: Among 2627 study participants in the CREDENCE trial (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), concentrations of NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, growth differentiation factor-15, and IGFBP7 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7) were measured. The effect of canagliflozin on biomarker concentrations was evaluated. The prognostic potential of each biomarker on the primary outcome (a composite of end-stage kidney disease [dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate of <15 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2], doubling of the serum creatinine level, or renal death or cardiovascular death) was assessed. RESULTS: The median (quartiles 1 and 3) concentration of each biomarker was generally elevated: NT-proBNP, 180 ng/L (82, 442 ng/L); high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, 19 ng/L (12, 29 ng/L); growth differentiation factor-15, 2595 ng/L (1852, 3775 ng/L); and IGFBP7, 121.8 ng/mL (105.4, 141.5 ng/mL). At 1 year, the biomarkers all rose by 6% to 29% in the placebo arm but only by 3% to 10% in the canagliflozin arm (all P<0.01 in multivariable linear mixed-effect models). Baseline concentrations of each biomarker were strongly predictive of cardiac and renal outcomes. When the biomarkers were analyzed together in a multimarker panel, individuals with high risk scores (hazard ratio [HR], 4.01 [95% CI, 2.52-6.35]) and moderate risk scores (HR, 2.39 [95% CI, 1.48-3.87]) showed a higher risk for the primary outcome compared with those with low risk scores. By 1 year, a 50% increase in NT-proBNP (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.08-1.15]), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (HR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.64-2.10]), growth differentiation factor-15 (HR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.24-1.70]), and IGFBP7 (HR, 3.76 [95% CI, 2.54-5.56]) was associated with risk of the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple cardiorenal stress biomarkers are strongly prognostic in people with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria. Canagliflozin modestly reduced the longitudinal trajectory of rise in each biomarker. Change in the biomarker level in addition to the baseline level augments the primary outcome prediction. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02065791