Causes, Consequences and Policy implications of Squatter Settlement in Gondar Town in the Case of Kebele 18

Abstract                           Objective: the principal objective of the study is to assess the causes and consequences of squatter settlements in the light of unplanned expansion of the built-up area and policy responses to it.Methods: in order to achieve the study objective, in-depth interview with 20 household heads and municipal administrators' documentary analysis and observational techniques were used. Results: major findings of the study indicate that emergence of squatter settlements in the study area is a recent phenomenon that has occurred since 2005. High building standards of the legal houses, delayed responses, and procedural problems of the legal land provision, and high housing rents in the city centre were identified by respondents as the causes of squatting in the study area. In addition, less government control of open spaces, the limited capacity of the code enforcement service to control illegal house construction, lack of a comprehensive legal response towards the problem of squatting, and the practice of land sale by land speculators as a means of making profit are other factors that have contributed to the emergence and proliferation of squatter settlements. Compared to the plot sizes of the legal land provision, the plot sizes of the squatter settlements in the study area are large and there are undeveloped vacant fenced plots between squatter housing units. Thus, land in the area is inefficiently exploited and the situation has greatly contributed to the unplanned and rapid horizontal expansion of the built-up area of the town. Keywords: Squatter settlement, policy implications and illegal hous

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION AND CHALLENGES OF ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY NON-ADHERENCE AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN GONDAR TOWN HEALTH CENTER, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Introduction: The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is affecting individual, and community lives at different levels. To encounter such challenge HIV-positive, individuals are taking ART drugs, but they often faced different challenge for taking the drug. Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the major socio-economic situations challenges of ART non-adherence among HIV/AIDS positives in Gondar town health center. Methods: To do so, I have conducted a cross-sectional study with mixed-method research that is both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, I have employed questionnaires, focus group discussion and in-depth interview to collect the actual data from respondents. Results: Based on the information gathered from respondents’ majority of them are females (78%) whose age lies between 39 and 49, and socioeconomically, their major occupation is daily laborer and unemployed. As to the major challenges of taking ART drug personal, socio-economic situation that is being poor, lack of food, family-level factors, shortage of professional counseling services, and others are responsible. Conclusion: ART non-adherence is associated with the socio-economic condition of patients’ personal, family, and community-level challenges

DETERMINANTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENTS, GONDAR, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA

AbstractObjective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the major determinants of child sexual abuse of female students in Gondar town high schools. Methods: In realizing this objective across-sectional study was conducted by using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative method, as the dominant method, was used to collect data about the major determinants of child sexual abuse from 335 randomly selected high school female students. The data collection was done by standardized self administered questionnaires that was analyzed with descriptive and explanatory (Binary logistic regression model) statistics. The qualitative method was used to supplement the quantitative method by collecting data using key informant interviews. Results: The model revealed that, sexual abuse is prevalent in the study area due to the following factors; emotional disturbance, absence/shortage of education, measures taken against the abusers, counseling services, gender club, student maladaptive behavior and others. The qualitative data also assures those factors are very influential for the prevalence of the problem among female students. In conclusion, the result of this study revealed that the problem of child sexual abuse in Gondar town high schools is prevalent as a result of major socio-demographic, individual and situational factors.                                                                    Keywords: Sexual abuse, Determinants and logistic regressio

PUBLIC'S BELIEFS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER, GONDAR, ETHIOPIA

Abstract Objective: The main purpose of this study was to assess Beliefs hold by the publics about mental illness in the case of Gondar town. Methods: Data were collected from 371 participants on belief about psychological disorder from the public of some selected Kebeles of Gondar town. The participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics specifically t-test and one way ANOVA. Results: The study revealed that females have negative belief in psychological disorder than males while age and educational level of the participants does not influence belief about psychological disorder. In belief about psychological disorder there were three factors that include Dangerousness, Untrustworthiness and embarrassment and incurability factors. Conclusion: The research finding revealed that there exist statistically significant differences in beliefs about psychological disorder among the publics across sex and educational levels.   Keywords: Belief about psychological disorder, dangerousness, Untrustworthiness and embarrassment factor and incurability factors.Â

EXPLORING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF CHILD LABOR EXPLOITATION, GONDAR, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Introduction: The issue of child labor abuse and exploitation becomes a serious problem at local, national and international level and in our context children are engaged in laborious and seriously exploitative working condition due to various socio- economic challenges. Objective: Hence, the main objective of this study was conducted to explore the major socio-economic determinants of child labor exploitation in Gondar town in the case of Arada Area.Methods: in doing this, we have employed mixed research method of survey for quantitative and key informant interview for qualitative research methods. The data was collected from 25 respondents (20 children, 2 residents and 3 non-governmental organizations) which were taken from purposively selected area.Results: The data collected revealed that parental and communal positive attitude towards child labor, low educational status of their family, poverty, early marriage, divorce, lack of community awareness towards child rights and illegitimacy of child labor, death of parents, migration and the presence of abusive working condition at home are the major socio- economic determinants of child labor exploitation in the study area. Conclusion: Child labor exploitation is the result of various socioeconomic situations of children themselves, their families and the surrounding community.Key Words; Child labor Exploitation, Socio-economic determinants and child Â

PERCEIVED CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN GONDAR, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract Beliefs hold by the community about the causes of psychological disorder has remarkable impact on their treatment seeking behavior.  The main purpose of this study was to appraise perceived attribution to causes of psychological disorder and treatment seeking behavior among the public, in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. One way ANOVA and t- test were used in all the factors after ensuring no violations of the assumptions of the tests. A cross sectional survey design with quantitative approach was used. Using multistage cluster sampling technique 371 Participants from the Public were selected. The mean score of the factors were computed to identify the most rated factors. On perceived attribution to causes of psychological disorder, psychosocial factor was most rated than supernatural causes whereas in the treatment seeking behavior; psychosocial factor followed by family care was most favored by the public but no treatment factor was least favored. The researchers found out that attribution to causes of psychological disorder and treatment seeking behavior was not statistically significant across sex, age and educational level of the respondents. Difference in mean score on no treatment factor by sex and mean score difference in medical factor and folk medicine and religious healers by educational level of the respondents was statistically significant whereas the remaining factors were insignificant. At last the researchers conclude that psychosocial causes are believed to be the cause of psychological disorder and psychosocial support and family care as a means for treatment. Keywords: Supernatural Causes, Psychosocial Causes, No Treatment Factor, Folk Medicine   and Religious Healers, Family Care, Medical Factor, Psychosocial Factors

Socio-economic Situations and Determinants of ART Non-Adherence among Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS in Gondar Town Health Center, North west Ethiopia

AbstractIntroduction: The epidemic of HIV / AIDS is affecting individual and community lives at different levels. To encounter such challenge HIV positive individuals are taking ART drugs but they often faced different challenge for taking the drug.Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the major socio-economic situations determinants of ART non- adherence among HIV/ AIDS positives in Gondar Town Health Center.Methods: To do so I have conducted a crossectional study with mixed method research that is both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, I have employed questionnaires, FGD and in-depth interview to collect the actual data from respondents.Results: Based on the information gathered from respondents' majority of them are females (78%) whose age lies between 39-49 and socio-economically their major occupation is daily laborer and unemployed. As to the major challenges of taking ART drug personal, socio-economic situation that is being poor, lack of food, family level factors, shortage of professional counseling services and others are responsible.In conclusion, ART non- adherence is associated with the socio-economic condition of patients' personal, family and community level challenges.Key Words:  HIV/ AIDS non- adherence, Antiretroviral Therapy, Socio- economic Challenge