Amhara Region Of Ethiopia Research Articles

Correlates of sexual faithfulness among low-literate rural males in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

HIV is a major threat to the people of the rural Amhara Region, northwest Ethiopia. To date, numerous studies have focused on condom use for HIV prevention. Using the theory of planned behaviour, this study investigates the psychosocial determinants of intended sexual faithfulness among rural males in the Amhara Region. In February 2008, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 100 males, with an age range of 20–50 years (mean age 38 years), in Dejen Woreda. The participants were illiterate or had a low level of literacy and all were rural farmers. Consequently, 10 literate male data collectors were recruited from the same community to assist in collecting data by means of a structured questionnaire. In the analysis of social cognitions as determinants of sexual faithfulness, attitude to faithfulness emerged as the best predictor of intended faithfulness, with significant contributions from self-efficacy and social norm for faithfulness. Thus, balanced and comprehensive HIV interventions focusing on attitudes, self-efficacy and social norms pertaining to faithfulness, sexual abstinence and condom use are needed to halt the spread of HIV among low-literate males in rural Amhara.

Ex Ante Evaluation of Drought‐Tolerant Varieties in Eastern and Central Africa

AbstractThis study presents a model to estimate potential benefits of drought‐tolerant varieties of maize, sorghum and millet in Kenya, Uganda and the Amhara region of Ethiopia. In addition to the benefits from mean yield increases, the model takes into account risk benefits associated with yield‐stabilising varieties. Ex ante estimates provided for different drought zones and for different household types within drought zones of each country suggest that drought resistance generates substantial benefits from both mean yield improvements and yield variance reductions for both consumers and small, medium and large producers.

Factors related to exclusive breast feeding and dietary diversity of complementary foods: A case study in Amhara region of Ethiopia

Factors affecting infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) were evaluated for indicators related to key nutrition, health and sanitation practices. UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey methodology was used to carry out the assessment of 2,208 households selected for interviews. Fifty percent of the mothers were between 14–30 y. Only 60% of all mothers initiated breast feeding within 1 hr of birth and nearly 50% discarded colostrum. Only 19% of mothers of 0–5 m infants practiced exclusive breast feeding (EBF). On the other hand, 24% of mothers of 6–11 m infants were still practicing EBF. More than 65% of 6–8 m children did not receive complementary foods. Factors such as maternal education, trained delivery services and antenatal clinic visits (ANC) were associated with EBF (OR: 5.10, 2.37 and 5.27, respectively ‐ p<0.005). For example, one unit increase of maternal education, trained delivery assistance, or ANC visit increased exclusive breast feeding by factors of 5.10, 2.37 and 5.27 respectively. Maternal education was also associated with improved dietary diversity score of complementary feeding for the children (OR 1.8, p<0.05). More effort is needed to increase girls’ education and expand community‐based skilled delivery and ANC services to improve child health. (Funded by US Agency for International Development to Academy for Educational Development, Cooperative Agreement HRN–A–0097–00007‐08)

Causes and impacts of seasonal migration on rural livelihoods: Case studies from Amhara Region in Ethiopia

The article examines the characteristics, motivation factors and impacts of seasonal migration in Ethiopia. The study was underpinned by the Sustainable Livelihood Framework. Both urban and rural areas as places of destination and rural villages as origins of migrants have been considered. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and household case studies. Shortage of farmland, debt, lack of viable non-farm activities locally, and the desire to earn additional income are the major reasons for seasonal migration of labour. Social networks and information flows are also important factors in migration. The research found that single men are predominantly involved in migration while the participation of women is negligible. The earnings obtained have allowed rural households to supplement their income from agriculture and indirectly contributed to overcoming the problem of farmland scarcity. The timing of movement which coincides with the agricultural slack season at home makes the impacts of seasonal out-migration on agriculture minimal. Rather than viewing it as a livelihood option of the rural poor which contributes to reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of the poor, migration is still perceived negatively, and there has been little awareness of its significance.

Can treatment delay be utilized as a key variable for monitoring the pool of infectious tuberculosis in a population?

A major goal of tuberculosis control programs is to stop community transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, this can not be rapidly accomplished because, in endemic areas, most of the population is already infected, serving as a reservoir that continuously contributes to the pool of infectious cases. Tuberculin surveys are the main tools used to monitor the infectious pool, but there are serious methodological constraints, and they require resources and expertise that are often unavailable. There is an urgent need for alternative means to monitor the epidemic at the local level. We investigated whether a systematic registration of treatment delay in the tuberculosis program records of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia could be utilized to estimate the infectious pool of tuberculosis. The study showed that the total number of infectious days and hence an estimate of the infectious pool could be calculated by recording the treatment delay for new TB cases, retreatment cases and failures, and by estimating the number of undiagnosed cases. Of these categories, treatment delay among new smear-positive tuberculosis cases contributes the greatest number of infectious days. A local tuberculosis program can use a systematic recording of treatment delay as a quantifiable variable to monitor the infectious pool, and can also serve as a key indicator of program performance.

Integrating aquaculture with traditional farming system: socioeconomic assessment in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Semi-intensive aquaculture practice started in 2005 in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. An evaluation survey was undertaken in September 2009. Beneficiaries, key informants and various groups were interviewed. Constructed aquaculture ponds were different in source of water, structure, age, original purpose, level of integration and the type of fish stocked. Farming households integrated aquaculture with different production subsystems and increased the flow of nutrients. At the same time they gained different benefits. However, the practice has been also constrained by various challenges. Farmers’ research extension group approach, provision of gillnets, appropriate fish species and mono-sex culture, capacity building of the research and extension system, and proper follow up are the recommendations for integrated aquaculture expansion.

Tenure Security, Resource Endowments, and Tree Growing: Evidence from the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

We analyze roles of tenure insecurity and household endowments in explaining tree growing in Ethiopia, where farmers cannot sell or mortgage land and factor markets are imperfect. Unlike most other studies, we use panel data and examine determinants of the decision and intensity of tree growing. Unlike other studies, we compare the decision to keep trees and the decision to plant in the recent past. The results suggest that land-tenure insecurity influences the decision to grow trees but not the number of trees households grow. Household endowments, time, and location also explain tree growing by farmers.

Impacts of micro-basin water harvesting structures in improving vegetative cover in degraded hillslope areas of north-east Ethiopia

Water is one of the most important entry points to improve rural livelihoods in drought affected areas of the north-eastern Amhara region in Ethiopia. Various attempts have been made to overcome this problem by making use of different water harvesting structures. However, the choice of structures has been difficult because of a lack of empirical evidence on the relative effectiveness of the different structures. An experiment was conducted from 2002 to 2004 to compare and evaluate three different water harvesting structures (eye-brow basin, half-moon and trench) against the normal seedling plantation practice by farmers (normal pit) as a control. Data on root collar diameter (RCD), diameter at breast height (DBH), height and survival rate of Acacia saligna tree seedlings was collected at 3-month intervals after planting and annual grass biomass production was also measured. Trench and eye-brow basin structures produced 68, 95, 52 and 44% increases in RCD, DBH, height and survival rate, respectively, 15 months after planting compared with the normal pit. Trench structures increased grass biomass by 41.1% compared with normal pits. Eye-brow basins are recommended on hillsides where stone is available while trenchs could be used where stone is scarce. The results indicated that well designed water harvesting micro-basin structures can mitigate the effect of dry spell shocks on tree seedling performance and land cover rehabilitation. They were also very effective in increasing grass biomass production indicating the potential for improving livestock feed on the available barren hillsides.

UNDERUTILIZED FOREST PLANTS IN TRADITIONAL HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION IN SEKOTA WOREDA, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

An ethnobotanical study was conducted in Sekota District (Woreda), Amhara Region of Ethiopia to identify some of the underutilized forest plants used in traditional healthcare and nutrition. This became necessary to provide the baseline data and records on these important species for further scientific developments. The methods of study were group discussions, visual observations, and the use of pre-tested questionnaires administered on some respondents purposively selected among nonwood forest products (NWFP) exploiters in the district. The results showed that 68 plant species from different families had some of their parts such as leaves, barks, fruits, and roots exploited as nonwood forest products (NWFP) for traditional health care and nutrition. Twenty six of these are composed of trees (18 species), shrubs (seven species), and climber (one species) and fall under the purview of underutilized plant species (UPS) because the respondents relied on the wild forests as the major sources of supply. The results further revealed that the exploitation of the plants were male dominated, with women mostly involved in the processing and marketing. UPS were found to provide off-season employment, income, and livelihood generation to the respondents. The conclusion was reached based on the present rate of deforestation in Ethiopia, estimated at about 200,000 ha/year. There is likewise the possibility of losing Ethiopia's entire productive forests by the year 2020, a genetic erosion of these species before their potentials are fully realized is imminent. Hence plausible suggestions were made to ensure the continued availability of these plants for a sustainable livelihood and environment.

Accessibility In equality to Basic Education in Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Accessibility to basic educational attainment has been identified as collateral for economic development in the 21st century. It has a fundamental role in moving Africa countries out of its present tragic state of underdevelopment. This article examines the situation of basic educational services in Amhara region of Ethiopia in terms of availability and accessibility at both primary and secondary levels. It revealed that there is a gross inadequacy in the provision of facilities and personnel to adequately prepare the youth for their future, in Amhara region. It also revealed the inequality of accessibility to basic education services among the eleven administrative zones in the region with antecedent impact on the development levels among the zones and the region at large. It thus called for serious intervention in the education sector of the region, if the goal of education for development is to be realized, not only in the region but in the country at large.. Keywords: Accessibility, Basic Education, Development, Inequality, Amhara, Ethiopia Ethiopian Journal of Education and Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2008: pp. 11-26

Employment and Income Potentiality of Tourism Development in Amhara Region Ethiopia.

A few members of less developed countries of sub-Sahara Africa have realized the potential of tourism development for rapid socio-economic development, capable of generating foreign exchange; reduce unemployment and improving the standard of the people. Amhara region of Ethiopia is an example of regions blessed with abundance and diversified tourism sites with potentials of contributing to the socio-economic development not only of the region but also to the country at large. This paper examines four Tourism Enterprises which include Hotel, Souvenir, Tour guide and Water transport businesses to pin point the potentiality of tourism as catalyst of development. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources, using inventory field survey and questionnaire administration. Data generated were analysed using simple statistical methods as frequencies and percentages. It concludes that developments of Tourism Businesses are generators of employment and income not only for the entrepreneurs but to the entire region with a high multiplier effect on the national economy. Keywords: Tourism Enterprises, Employment, Income, Amhara Region and Ethiopia.Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies of Management Vol. 1 (2) 2008: pp. 74-82

Farmers' perceptions of sugarcane stem borers and farm management practices in the Amhara region of Ethiopia

Surveys were conducted in the Amhara region of Ethiopia in order to gain insights into farm management practices, farmers' perceptions of sugarcane stem borers and the relative importance together with the effect of stem borers in farmers' livelihood systems. Surveys of 94 farmers revealed a wide range of variation, among heads, in households' age, educational background and understanding of stem borer problems on sugarcane farms. Fifty-six percent of the respondents identified stem borers as one of the most important production constraints. Farmers are aware of the effect of stem borers on the quantity of sugarcane produced; however, their knowledge of the effect of borers on sugarcane quality is very poor. Farmers generally relied on natural control for stem borers and only few (15%) of the interviewed farmers use cultural practices for the control of stem borers. The importance of information on farmers' perceptions and the need for agricultural extension services to develop control strategies that meet farmer aspirations is discussed and priority areas for future research are identified.

Rainfall Variability and Agricultural Vulnerability in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Ethiopian agriculture is mostly rain fed, whereas inter-annual and seasonal rainfall variability is high and droughts are frequent in many parts of the country. Rainfall variability has historically been a major cause of food insecurity and famines in the country. Surprisingly, however, the relationships between rainfall variability and fluctuations in agricultural production at regional and sub-regional scales have not been studied in detail. The objective of this study is to analyze rainfall variability and trends, and examine vulnerability of food grain production to rainfall variability in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The data used for the study were historical rainfall records from 12 stations (for the 1975-2003 period) and available time series data on area coverage, production and yield of cereals during the meher season- main growing season (for the 1994-2003 period). The results reveal that there are significant intra-regional differences in rainfall amount, variability and trend; and the variability increases as rainfall amount decreases. Rainfall amount is higher and its variability lower in the western part of the region than in the eastern. Four drought years have occurred over the period 1975-2003, of which two were extreme in severity. Examination of trends in annual and seasonal rainfall generally shows absence of any systematic patterns of change across the region. Significant correlations were observed between the seasonal rainfall and crop production. Inter-annual and seasonal rainfall variability is therefore an important influence on food security of farming households; it also suggests that predicted climatic change will have significant impacts. Hence, water resources development including household level rainwater harvesting needs to be widely undertaken as it has a potential to serve as an adaptation strategy to current rainfall variability as well as to future changes in the climate.Ethiopian Journal of Development Research Vol. 29 (1) 2007: pp. 1-34

Integrating an NTD with One of “The Big Three”: Combined Malaria and Trachoma Survey in Amhara Region of Ethiopia

BackgroundAmhara Regional State of Ethiopia has a population of approximately 19.6 million, is prone to unstable and epidemic malaria, and is severely affected by trachoma. An integrated malaria and trachoma control program is being implemented by the Regional Health Bureau. To provide baseline data, a survey was conducted during December 2006 to estimate malaria parasite prevalence, malaria indicators, prevalence of trachoma, and trachoma risk factors in households and people of all ages in each of the ten zones of the state, excluding three urban centers (0.4% of the population).Methodology/Principal FindingsThe study was designed to provide prevalence estimates at zone and state levels. Using multi-stage cluster random sampling, 16 clusters of 25 households were randomly selected in each of the ten zones. Household heads were interviewed for malaria indicators and trachoma risk factors (N = 4,101). All people were examined for trachoma signs (N = 17,242), and those in even-numbered households provided blood films for malaria parasite detection (N = 7,745); both thick and thin blood films were read.Zonal malaria parasite prevalence ranged from 2.4% to 6.1%, with the overall state-wide prevalence being 4.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8%–5.6%). The Plasmodium falciparum: Plasmodium vivax ratio ranged from 0.9–2.1 with an overall regional ratio of 1.2. A total of 14.8% of households reported indoor residual spraying in the past year, 34.7% had at least one mosquito net, and 16.1% had one or more long-lasting insecticidal net. Zonal trachoma prevalence (trachomatous inflammation follicular [WHO grade TF] in children aged 1–9 years) ranged from 12.6% to 60.1%, with the overall state-wide prevalence being 32.7% (95% CI: 29.2%–36.5%). State-wide prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in persons aged over fifteen was 6.2% (95% CI: 5.3–7.4), and 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2–0.5) in children aged 0–14 years. Overall, an estimated 643,904 persons (lower bound 419,274, upper bound 975,635) have TT and require immediate corrective surgery.Conclusions/SignificanceThe results provide extensive baseline data to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of the integrated malaria and trachoma control program in Amhara. The success of the integrated survey is the first step towards demonstration that control of priority neglected tropical diseases can be integrated with one of the “big three” killer diseases.

Determinants of Uptake of Surgical Treatment for Trachomatous Trichiasis in North Ethiopia

Background: Surgery for trachomatous trichiasis prevents blindness. However people still decline surgery despite the availability of services in nearby health facilities. Objectives: To assess what proportion of cases of trichiasis had surgical treatment and to investigate the determinants of uptake of surgery. Methods: Eight villages in Enebse Sarmidir district of Amhara Region-Ethiopia were randomly selected and all self-reported cases of trichiasis were approached. Both operated and un-operated trichiasis cases were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Result: The study employed a case control study design with patients with untreated trichiasis being cases (135) and those operated, controls (141). The main reasons given for not having surgery were burden of household tasks, indirect cost of surgery, lack of companion and fear of surgery. Uptake of surgery was found to rise with duration of illness (Chi Square for trend = 26.62, P < 0.05). Longer walking distance (more than one hour) to the nearby health facility was a negative predictor of uptake of surgical treatment (adjusted odd ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.15–0.67). Conclusion: Behavior change communication interventions targeted on early uptake of surgery are very important. Village-based surgical service provision may be worthwhile in settings of high blinding trachoma burden.

A note on the temporal and spatial variability of rainfall in the drought‐prone Amhara region of Ethiopia

AbstractThe aim of this study is to characterise rainfall variability and trend in the drought‐prone Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia using standard rainfall statistical descriptors. A review of previous studies of Ethiopian rainfall shows different conclusions between studies about the existence of trends primarily due to their use of different periods of analysis. Various rainfall indicator series are presented and analysed for trend on annual, seasonal and daily time steps (including wet‐day amounts and probabilities, percentiles and dry spell lengths). Two periods are used for analysis: 1975–2003 (12 stations) to optimise station density and 1961–2003 (five stations) to optimise record length in this relatively poorly monitored region.A complex picture of rainfall variability emerges from the analysis, both in terms of spatial variability and temporal variability, from decadal to daily timescales. The results generally support those of the previous studies in Ethiopia with the additional findings that: (1) High levels of spatial variability exist at subregional scales in Ethiopia that are unlikely to be fully explained by large‐scale climate influences; (2) Choice of study period strongly influences the results of trend analysis in this region due to the effects of decadal variability (particularly because the 1980s was the driest decade and the 1990s the wettest decade on record); (3) Annual rainfall in the region recovered during the 1990s, although 2001–2003 were average or slightly lower; and (4) There are no consistent emergent patterns or trends in daily rainfall characteristics in this part of Ethiopia. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society

Collective action in community management of grazing lands: the case of the highlands of northern Ethiopia

Collective action can play a significant role in sustainable management of common grazing lands through restricting access and regulating use. However, it is not clear why there are often violations of grazing restrictions in equilibrium. This paper first presents a theoretical framework of collective action in community management of grazing lands that explicitly models individual violations behaviour. Then data from the highlands of Amhara region of Ethiopia are used to test the model predictions to examine the impact of policy-relevant factors on collective establishment of grazing restrictions and violations of grazing restrictions. Econometric results show that collective action in community grazing land management is likely to be more beneficial and effective in communities with better market access or higher populations. Collective action, on the other hand, is less likely to be successful in communities with greater social, economic, or cultural heterogeneity or more affluent members. Factors related to greater livestock profitability, such as rainfall, or fixed costs of negotiating agreements, such as total land area of the community, have ambiguous effects, as they are associated with establishment of grazing restrictions as well as violating the restrictions.

Health Service Utilization in Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Background: Information on health service utilization is crucial for planning, organizing and evaluation of health services. Objective: Assess perceived morbidity and examine the factors associated with utilization of health services by a sample of the population of the Amhara Region. Methods: Questionnaire was administered in 7 urban and 14 rural kebeles in four administrative zones. A total of 17780 people were included in the study. Results: Of the 200 reported deaths 118 (59%) visited health institutions for the killer disease. Over the two weeks period preceding the survey, 995 (5.6%) people claimed that they were sick and 38.7% of them visited health institutions. The most important reasons for not visiting health institutions were believed that the disease did not need treatment in health institutions (31.9%), bought drugs from drug vendors (27.2) and visited traditional healers (20.2%). In multivariate analysis urban residence (OR= 2.8, 95%CI 1.8, 4.5) and educational status of head of household (OR =3.4 95%CI 2.1,5.5) were significantly related to utilization of modern health institutions. Teenagers and persons above the age of 60 were less likely to visit modern health services. Conclusion: There is a wide gap between perceived morbidity, mortality, and modern health service utilization. In addition to the problems of accessibility and illiteracy of household heads, assumptions that modern health institutions are not helpful for certain disease conditions appear to be the main reason for low utilization of health services. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2003;17(2):141-147]

Women and Illiteracy: The Interplay of Gender Subordination and Poverty

Illiteracy should not be equated with ignorance nor should literacy be seen as determining the acquisition of personal power or the attainment of national development. Yet, the ability to write and read in an increasingly technological society is a fundamental need. For those groups that find themselves missing out in the benefits of both modernization and democratization-particularly rural populations, ethnic minorities, and women-literacy constitutes an essential tool in their efforts to gain legal and socioeconomic rights. The proportion of illiterates in the world population, be they men or women, is steadily decreasing, and each new generation has more education than the preceding one. With today's large population, however, the absolute numbers of illiterates are overwhelming. Unesco projects that by the year 2000-a mere 10 years from now-there will be one billion illiterates. While there are differences in the national definitions of literacy and the degree of accuracy measuring it, there is agreement that the statistics underestimate actual illiteracy conditions. Except for a few countries (particularly Jamaica and Lesotho), women have lower levels of literacy than men; in developing countries this disparity averages a 21 percent difference.' Moreover, according to Unesco reports, the proportion of illiterate women is increasing. In 1960, 58 percent of the adult illiterates were women, by 1970 this proportion had increased to 60 percent, and by 1985 it reached 63 percent. In 43 of the 85 developing countries, 50 percent or more of the female adults are illiterate. Illiterate women are numerous in India, China, and sub-Saharan Africa. Female illiteracy in 1985 was 19 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 47 percent in Asia, and 65 percent in Africa.2 The comparison of literacy statistics from 1960 to 1985 reveals that, of the 154 million new illiterates during that period, 133 million were women. The greatest numerical increase was in Asia, where the population of illiterates grew by 109 million. In Africa the absolute increase was smaller due to its smaller population, but the rate of increase was the largest as the number of illiterate women rose by 44 percent, from 68 to