Determinants of Agricultural Technology adoption: the case of improved groundnut varieties in Malawi

This paper applies the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) framework on data obtained from a random cross-section sample of 594 farmers in Malawi to document the actual and potential adoption rates of improved groundnut varieties and their determinants conditional on farmers’ awareness of the technology. The fact that not all farmers are exposed to the new technologies makes it difficult to obtain consistent estimates of population adoption rates and their determinants using direct sample estimates and classical adoption models such as probit or tobit. Our approach tries to control for exposure and selection bias in assessing the adoption rate of technology and its determinants. Results indicate that only 26% of the sampled farmers grew at least one of the improved groundnut varieties. The potential adoption rate of improved groundnut for the population is estimated at 37% and the adoption gap resulting from the incomplete exposure of the population to the improved groundnut is 12%. We further find that the awareness of improved varieties is mainly influenced by information access variables, while adoption is largely influenced by economic constraints. The findings are indicative of the relatively large unmet demand for improved groundnut varieties suggesting that there is scope for increasing the adoption rate of improved groundnut varieties in Malawi once the farmers are made aware of the technologies and if other constraints such as lack of access to credit are addressed.groundnuts, adoption, Average Treatment Effect, Malawi, Crop Production/Industries,

Eighth order Predictor-Corrector Method to Solve Quadratic Riccati Differential Equations

In this paper, the eighth-order predictor-corrector method is presented for solving quadratic Riccati differential equations. First, the interval is discretized and then the method is formulated by using Newton’s backward difference interpolation formula. The stability and convergence of the method have been investigated. To validate the applicability of the proposed method, two model examples with exact solutions have been considered and numerically solved. Maximum absolute errors are presented in tables and figures for different values of mesh size h and the present method gives better results than some existing numerical methods reported in the literature. &nbsp

Therapeutic efficacy of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in children

No Abstract Available Ethiop.J.Health Dev. Vol.19 (1) 2005: 11-1

Psychosocial problems among students in preparatory school, in Dessie town, north east Ethiopia

Background: The family environment is critical in supporting a healthy adolescent development. With the establishment of preparatory schools, many students of school age move from rural areas to nearby towns leading to changes in their living arrangement and possibly family connectedness. However, whether this phenomenon predisposes adolescents to greater psychosocial problems is not clear.Objective: This study assesses differential vulnerabilities of preparatory school adolescents to psychosocial problems with reference to their living arrangement and parental attachment. Method: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 667(512 male and 155 female) preparatory school students in Dessie town, north east Ethiopia in 2004 using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. Qualitative information was also obtained from four focus group discussions. Result: Approximately a quarter of the students included in the study reported feeling of sadness which made them stop performing some regular activities. Six percent of the adolescents also reported having attempted suicide in the 12 months preceding the study. The study revealed that lower family connectedness and having a living arrangement separate from both biological parents (or living with friends, relatives or alone) were associated with increased odds of having a depressive symptom after controlling for observed covariates. Suicide attempts reported in the 12 months preceding the study were linked to having a history of suicide attempt in the family or among friends, female gender and sexual activity but not with family connectedness.Conclusions: The findings indicate that the burden of psychosocial concerns including depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are high and living with both biological parents and good parent-teen connectedness are related to better psychosocial health. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 20(1) 2006: 47-5

Modelling the relationship between groundwater depth and NDVI using time series regression with Distributed Lag M

Groundwater plays a key role in hydrological processes, including in determining aboveground vegetal growth characteristics and species distribution. This study aimed at estimating time-series data of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) using groundwater depth as a predictor in two land cover types: grassland and shrubland. The study also investigated the significance of past (lagged) groundwater and NDVI in estimating the current NDVI. Results showed that lagged groundwater depth and vegetation conditions influence the amount of current NDVI. It was also observed that first lags of groundwater depth and NDVI were significant predictors of NDVI in grassland. In addition, first and second lags of NDVI were consistently significant predictors of NDVI in shrubland. This shows the importance of vegetation type when modelling the relationship between groundwater depth and NDVI.Keywords: Groundwater depth; Landsat NDVI; Time-series analysis; Distributed Lag Model

Internal parasites of equines and associated risk factors in and around Guder town, West Shewa, central Ethiopia

Internal parasites directly affect the health and production of working equines, which contributes to the reduction in their work output and ultimately in the income of the owner and the community. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 in and around Guder town, west Shewa, central Ethiopia to estimate the prevalence of equine internal parasites and assess the potential associated risk factors. A total of 384 faecal samples from equine species (152 donkeys, 107 horses, 125 mules) were collected and examined for the presence of eggs of parasites using standard coprological methods. Out of these, 341(88.8%) equines were found positive for one or more internal parasites. The prevalence of internal parasites in donkeys, horses, and mules was 95.4%, 89.7%, and 80% respectively.Out of 341 positive samples, the species of parasites found were Strongylus spp. (40.8%), Parascaris equorum, (25.5%), Oxyuris equi, (17.6%), Strongyloides species(8.8%), Fasciola (10.6%), Dictyocoulus arnifieldi,(10%) and Anoplocephala species (1.5%). Single (86.2%) and mixed (13.8%) parasite species. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence between species (χ2= 16.47, p=0.001) and the purpose of keeping equines (χ2=12.41, p=0.006) in which more number of donkeys and pack animals were positive for parasites than other animals. However, there was no statistically significant difference among, age, sex, house, feed, and body conditions of study animals. In conclusion, this study revealed that the occurrence of internal parasites in equine species in the study area was common phenomenon, especially in donkeys. Hence,strategic prevention and control of internal parasites should be implemented.Keywords: Distribution; Equines; Guder town; Identification; Internal parasite

An analysis of milk production, butter marketing and household use of inputs in rural Ethiopia

Global Affairs Canad

Why do women prefer home births in Ethiopia?

Background: Skilled attendants during labor, delivery, and in the early postpartum period, can prevent up to 75% or more of maternal death. However, in many developing countries, very few mothers make at least one antenatal visit and even less receive delivery care from skilled professionals. The present study reports findings from a region where key challenges related to transportation and availability of obstetric services were addressed by an ongoing project, giving a unique opportunity to understand why women might continue to prefer home delivery even when facility based delivery is available at minimal cost. Methods: The study took place in Ethiopia using a mixed study design employing a cross sectional household survey among 15–49 year old women combined with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Results: Seventy one percent of mothers received antenatal care from a health professional (doctor, health officer, nurse, or midwife) for their most recent birth in the one year preceding the survey. Overall only 16% of deliveries were assisted by health professionals, while a significant majority (78%) was attended by traditional birth attendants. The most important reasons for not seeking institutional delivery were the belief that it is not necessary (42%) and not customary (36%), followed by high cost (22%) and distance or lack of transportation (8%). The group discussions and interviews identified several reasons for the preference of traditional birth attendants over health facilities. Traditional birth attendants were seen as culturally acceptable and competent health workers. Women reported poor quality of care and previous negative experiences with health facilities. In addition, women’s low awareness on the advantages of skilled attendance at delivery, little role in making decisions (even when they want), and economic constraints during referral contribute to the low level of service utilization. Conclusions: The study indicated the crucial role of proper health care provider-client communication and providing a more client centered and culturally sensitive care if utilization of existing health facilities is to be maximized. Implications of findings for maternal health programs and further research are discussed

Research Based Mathematics Problem Solving and Proving skills Competences

Research findings indicate that addressing problem solving and proving activities each day in the class would affect the thinking and reasoning skills of the students. We discovered that the students became more adept at mathematics problem solving and proving mathematical statements as they practiced various types of mathematical problems and mathematical statements. We also discovered that students worked more diligently on problems of interest to them. Also, some problems are better solved individually, and some are more geared as a group activity. We also proved that they develop the expected skills competences as they practices solving various mathematics problems and proving various mathematical statements

Deriving Formulas for Three Integers Such That the Sum of Their Squares and the Sum of Products of Their Squares are Both Perfect Square Integers

In this research study we will derive formulas for three integers whose squares sum and the sum of their squares products are both perfect square integers. That is if and  are three integers, then   and  are both perfect square integers. Proofs are most often arrived at through deductive reasoning. A proof is an argument where a given statement is true. In this proof the so called direct proof had used