Addis Ababa University Research Articles

Impacts of insufficient instructional materials on teaching biology: Higher education systems in focus

The purpose of this study was to assess and determine impacts of insufficient instructional materials and ineffective lesson delivery methods on teaching in biology higher education. The participants of this study were 60 trainees who graduated in Bachelor of Sciences from eight public universities in majoring biology. Data for the study was collected while these trainees were attending the course of Biology Teaching Methods in the Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching, both in the regular and summer 2015/2016 training programs at Addis Ababa University. The study employs a mixed method design of both qualitative and quantitative data evaluations. Data was collected through classroom observations and interviews with the trainees. The findings indicated that insufficient instructional materials and ineffective teaching methods in higher education had negative impacts; that have affected the skills of performing biological tasks of graduates 71%. In the course of the Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching training, trainees were unsuccessful to conduct essential biological tasks expected from graduates of biology upon the completion of their undergraduate study program. The study was concluded with emphasis on the need to integrate theory and practice through using adequate instructional materials and proper teaching methods in the higher education biology teaching. Keywords: systems, instruction, materials, insufficient and soft data.

P0263 / #302: PROFILE, RISK FACTORS AND OUTCOME OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN CRITICALLY ILL PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN TIKUR ANBESSA SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Aims & Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the pattern, risk factors and outcome of Acute Kidney Injury in critically ill pediatrics patients admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa University Department of Pediatrics and Child Health. . Methods: A prospective cross sectional observational study was conducted on critically ill patients admitted to pediatrics emergency and PICU of TASH from April 2018 to August 2018. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) definition was used to diagnose and stage AKI. Results: Of the 198 patients admitted to the PICU and pediatrics emergency resuscitation unit 36 patients (18.2%) developed AKI. Seven patients (19.4%) were classified as stage 1, 19 patients (52.8%) as stage 2 and 10 patients (27.8%) were stage 3. Six patients (16.7%) required dialysis. The independent risk factors for development of AKI were severe sepsis and septic shock. Patients with AKI had significantly longer PICU stay (11 days vs 6 days, p = 0.006) and higher mortality (38.9% vs 9.3%). Conclusions: AKI is common in critically ill patients especially those with severe sepsis and septic shock. Patients with AKI had longer PICU stay and the risk of hospital mortality was 6 times higher for children with AKI.

Maintaining a global health partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic: a road map from the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine.

The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine (TAAAC-EM) is an educational global health partnership established 10 years ago to support the growth of EM in Ethiopia. In-person global health partnership activities were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe our five-step process for transitioning our global health partnership to a virtual space. Each step was conducted in collaboration between the University of Toronto and Addis Ababa University EM physicians: (1) risk identification and needs assessment, (2) discussing mitigation strategies, (3) crafting and piloting an approach, (4) revising based on pilot results, 5) implementation with continuous evaluation and revision. Teaching was modified iteratively in response to feedback. Our experience shows that virtual teaching, while not a replacement for in-person engagement, can be a valuable tool both to supplement partnership activities when travel is not possible, and to enhance global health partnerships long term. This approach can also inform the transition of other forms of medical education to the virtual space.

The Prevalence of Addiction to Social Networking Sites and Its Impact on Well-Being among Students of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

The emergence of Social Networking Sites (SNS) has been changing many aspects of the students’ daily activities positively. But, inappropriate use of social networking sites may have negative effects like Social Networking Sites Addiction (SNSA) and disturbance of psychological and social well-being. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of SNSA and its impact on well-being among Addis Ababa University, Main Campus students. A cross-sectional research design was employed to collect and analyse data for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select participants from the colleges. Two hundred nineteen (290) samples (141 males and 132 females) were selected from the total 1,143 3rd year students in the Campus. A standardized and pilot tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s Product-Moment correlation coefficient and linear regression were employed to analyse the data. The finding revealed that majority of the respondents was at the age of 21 - 25. All of the participants included in the analysis were a member of at least one SNS and most of them access SNS several times per day. According to the findings, 3.3% of participants were severely addicted to SNS and there is no gender difference in SNSA. The findings also showed that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between SNSA and both Psychological and Social Well-being. Moreover, recommendations were drawn based on the findings of the study. Keywords: Addiction , Prevalence, Social Networking Sites, Well-being DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/95-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Incidence and Risk Factors of Thrombocytopenia in Neonates Admitted With Surgical Disorders to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital; A One-Year Observational Prospective Cohort Study From a Low-Income Country

Background: Thrombocytopenia is one of the most common hematologic disorders affecting neonates who are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with a reported incidence of 18-35%. Several maternal, neonatal and perinatal factors contribute to the development of thrombocytopenia. This study is aimed to determine the incidence and associated risk factors of neonatal thrombocytopenia. Methods: An observational prospective cohort study was conducted and all neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital with surgical disorders in the study period were included. Data was collected using a checklist and analysed by SPSS version 23. Chi square test and independent sample T- test were used to asses the association among different variables. Findings: A total of 210 neonates were included in the study out of which 56.2% were males. The incidence of thrombocytopenia in the study period was 55.8%. Among neonates with thrombocytopenia, 90.9% had a late onset thrombocytopenia and half of them were in the severe range (<50,000/µl). The presence of sepsis(P=0.000) and atresia (P=0.000) were found to be significantly associated with the development of thrombocytopenia. The mean non feeding hours were found to be significantly longer for patients with thrombocytopenia (t (199), 5.81, P= 0.000). Interpretation: The incidence of thrombocytopenia in neonates admitted with surgical disorders was high in our institution. Preventive methods towards neonatal sepsis including antenatal and postnatal measures should be given due emphasis. Initiation of oral feedings in neonates as early as feasible is recommended. Funding Statement: Addis Ababa University has granted the fund for this study. Declaration of Interests: None. Ethics Approval Statement: Written informed consent was taken from parents of enrolled neonates and each neonate’s clinical data was kept in confidential manner using a coding system. Ethical clearance for this study was obtained from ethical board of the medical college.

Being Visible in the Policy Process: The Experience of the School of Social Work at Addis Ababa University

Abstract Social work faculty regularly encourage students to engage in policy practice, often structuring course assignments to allow students to apply their social work knowledge and skills to the policy process. Faculty members, as part of the expectation that they engage in community service, often are themselves involved with community groups, agencies, organisations and government bodies to develop, revise and evaluate policies to promote social and economic justice. Less is known about how social work education programmes, as organisations, work to fulfil the profession’s expectations and mandates regarding promoting more just policies and programmes. Hence, qualitative data were collected from twenty participants, forty-nine documents and more than seventy email conversations to understand the experience of School of Social Work at Addis Ababa University. The School’s experience offers an example of how an educational enterprise using its faculty members can be involved in policy practice. This article identifies various activities in which the School has been involved over the past fifteen years as well as the challenges and benefits of being engaged in these forms of policy practice.

Excess Mortality in the Face of COVID-19: Evidence from Addis Ababa Mortality Surveillance Program

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major global public health disaster causing huge number of deaths. However, there is knowledge gap in understanding the impact of COVID-19 on mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries like Ethiopia where registration systems of vital events are incomplete. This study aimed to assess excess mortality due to COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, using burial site based mortality surveillance. Methods: Mortality data from all cemeteries in Addis Ababa since 2015 was analyzed to assess whether the adult mortality during the pandemic (January 2020 to September 2020) was different from the expected mortality for that period. The analysis was stratified by sex and by age. In addition, data on COVID-19 symptoms were collected using InterVA COVID-19 rapid mortality surveillance (CRMS) tool to estimate the probability of death involved COVID-19 in the third quarter of 2020. Finding: The number of deaths (3,747) during the third quarter of 2020 was higher than the upper limit of the 99% confidence interval for the expected deaths for that period, which was 2,893 (99% confidence interval: 2522, 3263)—i.e., about 30% excess mortality. The statistically significant excess mortality (p<0.1) was higher among males and older age groups. From all deceased individuals in the third quarter of 2020, probable number of the death involved COVID-19 was 699 (95% confidence interval: 664, 735), which is 21.5%. Interpretation: This study has indicated an excess mortality in Addis Ababa likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding Statement: Addis Ababa University and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Declaration of Interests: BS was supported by research funding from the Bill and Melinda gates foundation and Addis Ababa University. All other authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, approved the research.

Nursing students challenges towards clinical learning environment at the school of nursing and Midwifery in Addis Ababa University. A qualitative study

BackgroundNursing is a practice based profession that is built on theoretical knowledge, both of which gained through nursing education program. Clinical learning environment component has a great role in providing students with professional abilities by combining cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills. Evidences have identified clinical learning environment as one of the key factor to achieve the desired out comes. Students often face challenges during the courses of clinical learning, which may affect their competence. The aim was to explore challenges faced by nursing students in clinical learning environment. MethodAn exploratory approach qualitative method was used in Addis Ababa University, Department of Nursing in January 2018. Semi-structured data collection tool was designed to gather information from students. Final year nursing students were purposively selected and interviewed about their experiences and challenges they faced in the clinical learning environment during their stay in the school. Data was audio record, verbatim transcribed, condensed, coded and analyzed based on content analysis. The data was peer reviewed to ensure its trustworthiness. ResultThe participants consisted of nine nursing students, five males and four females aged between 22 and 24 years were involved. Three major themes including Theme 1: learner’s non-readiness, Theme 2: insufficient clinical supervision and Theme 3: unsupportive clinical environment were emerged. Conclusionproper preparation of students, good selection of ideal clinical environment that fulfill the objective and adequate coaching, guidance and supervision may be necessary to enhance quality education and to produce competent nurse professionals.

The PhD Journey at Addis Ababa University: Study Delays, Causes and Coping Mechanisms

Aim/Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the rate of delay, explanatory causes, and coping strategies of PhD candidates at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia’s premier university, over the last ten years. Background: Delayed graduation is a common theme in doctoral education around the world. It continues to draw the concern of governments, universities, and the candidates themselves, calling for different forms of intervention. Addressing these challenges is key to resolving the many obstacles into doctoral education. Methodology: Ten-year archival data consisting of 1,711 PhD students and in-depth interviews with ten PhD candidates were used as data-generation tools. The data collection focused on progression patterns, reasons for study delays, and the coping mechanisms used by doctoral students when they face challenges. While the candidates were interviewed to narrate their lived experience pertinent to the objectives of the study, the archival data regarding the PhD students were collected from the Registrar Office of the University under study. Contribution: Amid an ongoing global debate about best practices in doctoral education, the research on study delays contributes not only to filling the existing empirical gap in the area but also in identifying factors, for example, related to financial matters, family commitment, and student-supervisor rapport, that help address the challenges faced and improving the provision of doctoral education. Findings: The findings of this study revealed that the cumulative average completion time for a PhD study was 6.19 years— over two years more than the four years given as the optimum duration for completing a PhD program. The institutional pattern of delays over the last ten years indicates that doctoral students are requiring more and more years to complete their PhDs. The study further revealed that completing a PhD in time is a process that can be influenced by many interacting factors, which include student commitment and preparation, favourable academic and research environment, and positive student-supervisor rapport. Recommendations for Practitioners: It is important for practitioners and higher education institutions to find ways to improve the on-time completion of doctoral programmes in order to minimise the continued financial, emotional, and opportunity costs the higher education sector is currently incurring. Recommendation for Researchers: The fact that this study was limited to a single institution by itself warrants more studies about time-to-degree in PhD programs and causes for study delays as well as studies about successful interventions in doctoral education. Future research should particularly explore the nature of the advisor/advisee relationship and other critical factors that appear to have a significant role in addressing the challenges of study delay. Impact on Society: The expansion of PhD programmes is an encouraging development in Ethiopia. The findings of this study may help improve completion rates of doctoral students and reduce program duration, which would have significant implication to minimise the ensuing financial, emotional, and opportunity costs involved at individual, national, and institutional levels. Future Research: Given the growing number of universities in Ethiopia and their possible diversity, PhD students’ profiles, backgrounds, and expectations, more research is needed to examine how this diversity may impact doctoral students’ progression and persistence.

The Prevalence of Addiction to Social Networking Sites and Its Impact on Well-Being among Students of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

The emergence of Social Networking Sites (SNS) has been changing many aspects of the students’ daily activities positively. But, inappropriate use of social networking sites may have negative effects like Social Networking Sites Addiction (SNSA) and disturbance of psychological and social well-being. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of SNSA and its impact on well-being among Addis Ababa University, Main Campus students. A cross-sectional research design was employed to collect and analyse data for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select participants from the colleges. Two hundred nineteen (290) samples (141 males and 132 females) were selected from the total 1,143 3rd year students in the Campus. A standardized and pilot tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s Product-Moment correlation coefficient and linear regression were employed to analyse the data. The finding revealed that majority of the respondents was at the age of 21 - 25. All of the participants included in the analysis were a member of at least one SNS and most of them access SNS several times per day. According to the findings, 3.3% of participants were severely addicted to SNS and there is no gender difference in SNSA. The findings also showed that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between SNSA and both Psychological and Social Well-being. Moreover, recommendations were drawn based on the findings of the study. Keywords: Addiction , Prevalence, Social Networking Sites, Well-being DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/95-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Prevalence of Substance Use in University Students, Ethiopia.

Background:Although substance use is a known public health problem and a pressing issue in Ethiopia, its real extent and magnitude are not yet properly explored. The current study aimed to determine the extent and predictors of substance use among regular undergraduate students in the Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University.Methods:An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried among 794 undergraduate regular students at the Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, using a self-administered structured questionnaire filled by study participants. Data entry, cleaning, and coding were performed by EPI-INFO version 3.5.1. Statistical Package for Social Sciences; AOR: Adjusted odds ratio (SPSS) SPSS version 21 software was used to analyze data by performing descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analysis.Results:73.7% of the study participants used substances at least once. The lifetime use of each substance includes alcohol (68.2%), khat (53.6%), cigarettes (46.1%), and illicit drugs (23.3%). Loss of family (AOR [95%CI], 34.50 [7.569, 157.263]), pocket money between 500 and 999 Ethiopian birr (AOR [95%CI], 9.978 [1.240, 80.280]), and above 1000 Ethiopian birr (AOR [95%CI], 10.831 [1.333, 87.971]) were identified predictors for khat use. The odds of lifetime alcohol use was higher among students coming from a divorced family (AOR [95%CI], 9.346 [3.162, 27.625]), lost one (AOR [95%CI], 37.406 [11.375, 123.008]), or both of their parents (AOR [95%CI], 18.750 [5.798, 60.633]). Students of urban origin (AOR [95%CI], 3.214 [1.950, 5.296]), and students with anxiety symptoms (AOR [95%CI], 2.655 [1.981, 3.557]) have a higher odds of lifetime cigarette smoking. The lifetime exposure to illicit drugs is higher among students in age groups between 20 and 24 years (AOR [95%CI], 5.963 [1.361, 26.135]), students coming from substance user family (AOR [95%CI], 2.172 [1.161, 4.063]), and students of urban origin (AOR [95%CI], 2.661 [1.202, 5.889]).Conclusion:A higher prevalence of substance use requiring administrative and educational interventions was observed. Awareness creation interventions on the potential impacts of substance abuse should be performed.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Recurrence Among HIV Positive and Negative Ethiopian Women after Cryotherapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Early testing and treatment is among the successful strategies for the prevention and control of cervical pre-cancer and invasive cancer which is costly in low-income countries. In Ethiopia, visual inspection using acetic acid for screening and Cryotherapy treatment is commonly practiced, though the recurrence of the infection has not been well documented. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from January to April 2021. The objective was to investigate the association of HIV status and the recurrence of cervical pre-cancer after Cryotherapy among Ethiopian women. The time to the incidence of recurrence was compared between HIV positive and HIV negative women. The effect of confounding of pre-specified variables were then adjusted by running the Cox regression model. Variables having a p-value of at most 0.25 in univariate analysis were considered in the multivariate analysis. Findings : A total of 140 eligible patient cards were included in the analysis with the median follow-up of 15.5 months. The overall recurrence was 15.7% and it was significantly higher among HIV positives as compared with HIV negatives (p-value=0.008). In addition, age and corticosteroid use were the predictors of the recurrence of cervical pre-cancer. Interpretation: The recurrence of the infection was higher among women above 39 years of age (hazard ratio (HR) of 11.94 (95% CI, 1.07-133.04; P=0.04), and those women who used corticosteroid (HR=7.82, 95% CI=1.04-58.75; P=0.046) compared with counterparts. The current finding might highlight the performance of Cryotherapy and seek for prospective cohort study including other available treatment modalities to set forth a guideline for clinicians and an input for policy makers. Funding: Seed money was obtained from Addis Ababa University, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology Declaration of Interest: All authors declare that, there is no any competing interest Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), National Research Ethics (NRERC), Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, City Government of Addis Ababa Health Bureau, and St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College

Early detection and management of major non-communicable diseases in urban primary healthcare facilities in Ethiopia: a study protocol for a type-3 hybrid implementation-effectiveness design

IntroductionIntegrating early detection and management of non-communicable diseases in primary healthcare has an unprecedented role in making healthcare more accessible particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia. This...

Glycemic Control and Self-Care Practice Among Adult Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Dawro Tercha Hospital, Ethiopia; 2020

Background: According to WHO Global report, in low-income countries, more than half of deaths attributable to poor glycemic control are premature. Studies compassed the prevalence of poor self-care practice and glycemic control is by now in the tip of the iceberg above diabetes by becoming a primary offender for fired morbidity and mortality but; they are a neglected tragedy. Currently, diabetes patients are exposed to the intolerable costs of dialysis and organ transplantation because of poor glycemic control and self-care practice induced complications; which in turn increased the beggar population and prevalence of suicidal attempts. Studies underlined optimum self-care practice is needed to avert these complications via adjusting glycemic control status. However, only a minute of relevant studies were conducted in Ethiopia to assess this problem. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess glycemic control and self-care practice among diabetes patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess glycemic control and self-care practice among diabetes patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 participants selected by systematic sampling technique. The collected data using a structured questionnaire developed for this study from related tools was coded and entered into Epi Data latent version and exported in to SPSS. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify independent predictors. Result: Status of self-care practice and glycemic control became good for 24.9% and 23%, respectively. Age, diabetes complications, medication adherence, glucometer, and appointment adherence for glycemic control and; whereas education, diabetes complications, diabetes category, distance, and appointment adherence became independent predictors for self-care practice. Furthermore, the presence of a significant association between glycemic control and self-care practice was assured. Conclusion: Status of good glycemic control and self-care practice were shine red lumps, since it indicates majority of the patients were closed to face premature death and permanent disability. Association between glycemic control and self-care practice, on the other hand, further brightened the need of maximum effort to enhance self-care practice to ease roads to good glycemic control and finally to save diabetes patients from the coming fatal consequences. Responsible bodies have to work hard to raise the coverage of a hospital or to enhance the material capacity of available primary hospitals to enable them to serve diabetes follow-up patients. Health education team has to be formed to provide problem solving-centered education supported by audio visual aids. Funding Statement: Not applicable. Declaration of Interests: No competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval was obtained from Addis Ababa university Institutional Review Board having protocol number: 037/20/SNM and meeting number: 09/2012EC.

Strengthened by challenges: the path of the social work education in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Although the situations in many African countries require the presence of social workers, social work education is not yet well established in many parts of the Continent. The lack of social work educators presents a significant challenge to developing and running social work education programs. Hence, understanding how a social work education program can be opened despite such a shortage is very important. This article presents innovative strategies for developing a social work education program when local social work educators are not in place. It documents how Ethiopian graduate students assumed academic roles with the support of international social work faculty to manage and implement a social work education program. In 15 years, this initial program has resulted in the blossoming of social work education in Ethiopia, with 12 other universities and colleges currently offering social work degrees. Yet there have been many challenges along the way to this success. How these challenges became opportunities is instructive. This article documents the strategies used to overcome these challenges and make the School of Social Work at Addis Ababa University a sustainable national model. Lessons for social work educators and those interested in starting social work education programs are discussed.

Lack of pocket money impacts Ethiopian undergraduate health science students learning activities.

The cost of university presents various challenges with regards to students' daily learning activities. This is particularly evident in developing countries, where higher education students face acute financial problems that greatly affect their daily educational activities. In Ethiopia, public university students do benefit from governmental cost-sharing programs. Moreover, health sciences students have additional costs during their clinical placements that are above the common expenses for university students. Authors aim to explore the challenges that undergraduate health sciences students in their clinical year face with limited pocket money, as well as how students perceive these limited funds affecting their learning activities and their ability to meet challenges. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted at the Department of Medical Radiologic Technology, College of Health Sciences, at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. Interviews were conducted between January 28, 2019 and February 1, 2019 with twelve students; and only ten participants were included in the study. The semi-structured questions explored participants' experiences and perceptions regarding the challenges of a lack of pocket money and its impacts on their learning activities. Their reaction to financial challenges was assessed. Four themes that are related to the impact of a lack of money on learning activities emerged from our interviews. First, students believed that their difficulty in obtaining pocket money from family or other funding sources contributed to their financial stress, which negatively impacted their learning. Moreover, their difficulty in affording the basic needs for a student greatly affected their learning abilities in the classroom as well as in their clinical placements. The ability to self-manage was also a significant concern for students, with the pressure to use self-control and proper money management adding to their financial stress. Lastly, students observed that the lack of pocket money affected their ability to make social connections at university, which they saw as negatively impacting their learning abilities. Ethiopian undergraduate health sciences students faced many challenges due to the lack of pocket money and these challenges affected student learning both directly or indirectly. Based on our data, we believe that the underlying causes of student financial hardship can be addressed by increasing public awareness of university expenses, clarifying the cost-sharing system to the public, redesigning the cost-sharing policy, and improving university services. Additionally, teaching students self-management skills is also another area that could increase student success.

The Imperial Policies in Land Reform and the Conditions of Peasants in Highland Gimbi, Western Wallaga, Ethiopia (1941-974): Historical Perspective

Land has been an economic and political basis in the history of Ethiopia.The feudal governments since the time of Minilik II measured, confiscated and redistributed land to those politically important individuals. The objective of this study is to assess the imperial policies in land reform and the conditions of peasants in highland Gimbi, Western Wallaga from 1941 to 1974. This study has used both primary and secondary sources to examine the imperial government land reform and the conditions of peasants in highland Gimbi from 1941 to 1974. Archival sources from Wolde-Mesqal Archival center at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University, and oral sources [1] collected through in-depth interview are extremely important in this regard. Under the imperial government in post-liberation period, land reform and its grants to officials and others concentrated land in few hands whereas the number of the landless peasants highly increased. Even though, the 1952 imperial order theoretically enabled the landless farmers to get half gasha of land, in Gimbi no grant was made to the landless peasants. Land privatization was aggravated under the restored government. Above all, with the intensification of coffee cultivation, in highland Gimbi the price of land was exacerbated to the extent that only the well-to-do class members were able to buy land at the expense of the majority of the peasants. Overall, the study of the imperial policies in land reform and its impacts on the population at the grassroot level enable us to have a better historical perspective towards land tenure system and the peasants whose livelihood directly tied to it. Keywords - Land tenure, land reform, land measurement, landless peasants, Gimbi DOI: 10.7176/HRL/52-03 Publication date: December 31 st 2020 1 Informants were willing to share their views on the issues they were interviewed, but some asked for confidentiality of their identities. So, instead of mentioning their name the researcher prefer to indicate them by number in reference

Development of list of biological agents of security concern to enhance biosecurity and One Health collaborations: Ethiopia's experience

Background: Central to the Global Health Security Agenda and One Health of nations is creation by a country of a list of agents of concern. It is an official recognition by a nation that there are specific infectious agents and toxins that present severe hazards and a threat to the economy of the country. Creating list raises awareness of the scientific community, government and public that measures must be implemented. Cognizant to this, Ethiopia developed its own list namely Ethiopia's Hazardous Pathogens and Toxins List (ESHPT) with the objectives to protect the public from the agents on the list such as ability to detect the agents, prepare for rapid response, control the possession, use and transport of the agents, implement prevention and therapeutic capability, control entry of the agents into the country and support research. Methods and materials: The Ethiopian Public Health Institute's (EPHI) with the technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Select Agent and Toxins (DSAT) established technical working group (TWG) in April 2016 for the purpose of developing an ESHPT list for Ethiopia. The technical working group was made up of individuals from the EPHI, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and its technical arms and Addis Ababa University Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology. Results: After successive TWG meetings total of 68 list of pathogens and toxins identified to be included in Ethiopia's Hazardous Pathogens and Toxins List. The list is updated every 2 years and included 22 Zoonotic bacterial agents, 34 Viruses, 12 Toxins. The list was submitted to both Ministries of Health and Agriculture and got approval. The TWG enhanced the one health collaborations. Development of the list led to preparation of biosafety and biosecurity requirements proclamation which is under submission to parliament for the regulation of entities handling the agents. More than 30 potential entities are identified for enrollment into the regulation system. Conclusion: Emergence of Global Health Security Agenda and One Health initiative helped Ethiopia helped to develop country specific list pathogens and toxins which pose biosecurity concern to the country. Formation of the TWG enhanced collaborations between Health, Animal and environment sectors.

Vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Emergence of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) become a major health problem since it was first reported. VRE are among the most common resistant pathogens frequently causing healthcare associated infections and a growing concern for health care professionals. The rising proportions of VRE infections are being reported worldwide. This study aims at assessing the burden of VRE and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of enterococci in Ethiopia Methods and materials: Literature search was done at PubMed, EMBASE, Google scholar, African Journals online (AJOL) and Addis Ababa University repository following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines/checklists. Both published and unpublished studies reporting the prevalence of VRE were included. Data were extracted and copied to CMA 2.0 for analysis. Pooled estimate of VRE was computed using the random effects model at 95% CIs. The level of heterogeneity was assessed by I2 and publication bias was checked by funnel plots supported by Begg's and Egger's test. Results: Twenty studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and found with relevant data. A total of 831 enterococci and 71 VRE isolates were included. The pooled prevalence of VRE was 14.8% (95% CI; 8.7–24.3). Compared to vancomycin resistance, enterococci had higher rate of resistance to penicillin (60.7%), amoxicillin (56.5%), doxycycline (55.1%) and tetracycline (53.7%). Relatively low rate of resistance was found for daptomycin and linezolid with a pooled estimate of 3.2% (95% CI; 0.5–19.7%) and 9.9% (95% CI; 2.8–29.0%); respectively. The overall pooled multidrug resistance (MDR) rate of enterococci was 60.0% (95% CI; 42.9–75.0%). Conclusion: High proportion of VRE and drug resistant enterococci are emerging in Ethiopia. Enterococcal isolates showed resistance to one or more of drug of choices in different or same drug lines. High resistance to commonly used antibiotics and MDR enterococci were observed. Although rate was low, the emergence of resistance to daptomycin and linezolid is an alarm for searching new ways for the treatment control of VRE infections.

Development of list of biological agents of security concern to enhance biosecurity and one health collaborations: Ethiopia's experience

Background: Central to the Global Health Security Agenda and One Health of nations is creation by a country of a list of agents of concern.It is an official recognition by a nation that there are specific infectious agents and toxins that present severe hazards and a threat to the economy of the country.Creating list raises awareness of the scientific community, governmentand public that measures must be implemented. Cognizant to this, Ethiopia developed its own list namely Ethiopia's Hazardous Pathogens and Toxins List (ESHPT) with the objectives to protect the public from the agents on the list such as ability to detectthe agents, prepare for rapid response, control the possession, use and transport of the agents,implement prevention and therapeutic capability, control entry of the agents into the country and support research. Methods and materials: The Ethiopian Public Health Institute's (EPHI) with the technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Select Agent and Toxins (DSAT) established technical working group (TWG) in April 2016 for the purpose of developing an ESHPT list for Ethiopia. The technical working group was made up of individuals from the EPHI, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and its technical arms and Addis Ababa University Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology. Results: After successive TWG meetings total of 68 list of pathogens and toxins identified to be included in Ethiopia's Hazardous Pathogens and Toxins List. The list is updated every 2 years and included 22 Zoonotic bacterial agents, 34 Viruses, 12 Toxins. The list was submitted to both Ministries of Health and Agriculture and got approval. The TWG enhanced the one health collaborations. Development of the list led to preparation of biosafety and biosecurity requirements proclamation which is under submission to parliament for the regulation of entities handling the agents. More than 30 potential entities are identified for enrollment into the regulation system. Conclusion: Emergence of Global Health Security Agenda and One Health initiative helped Ethiopia helped to develop country specific list pathogens and toxins which pose biosecurity concern to the country. Formation of the TWG enhanced collaborations between Health, Animal and environment sectors.