Bahir Dar University Research Articles

Evaluation of female university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward human papillomavirus infection and vaccination. Multicenter cross-sectional study

IntroductionHaving good knowledge and a favorable attitude toward human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccinations is the cornerstone for increasing the use of HPV vaccinations and preventing cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV and HPV vaccinations, as well as to identify associated factors among female undergraduate health science students at both the University of Gondar (UoG) and Bahir Dar University (BDU), Amhara, Ethiopia.MethodsInstitutional-based multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1, 2023, to July 30, 2023. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 633 female undergraduate health science students, and data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The data were coded, entered in Epi-data, and exported to SPSS for analysis. Variables with a P-value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were inserted in a multivariate logistic regression model, and those with a P-value of < 0.05 in the multivariate binary logistic regression were considered statistically significant factors for knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding HPV and vaccine against it.ResultsThe study included 600 participants with a mean age of 20.8 ± 0.75 years. Using Bloom’s cutoff points for the KAP study, among the participants, 436 (72.7%) had good knowledge about HPV, whereas 315 (52.5%) had good knowledge about HPV vaccinations. More than half of the participants, 359 (59.8%) heard about HPV vaccinations in Ethiopia. More than half of the participants, 342 (57%) had favorable attitudes toward HPV vaccinations. Only 261 (43.5%) participants believed the HPV vaccine was safe and effective. All participants had never been tested for HPV, and 471 (78.5%) refused to have their samples for regular HPV testing. The factors like ages between 21 and 23 years (AOR, 2.12, 95% CI: 1.22–3.09) and favorable attitudes toward HPV vaccinations (AOR: 1.88; 95%, CI: 1.15–3.41) were associated with the participant’s knowledge about HPV vaccinations. Having good knowledge about the virus (AOR: 1.92; 95%, CI: 1.11–5.88) and its vaccine (AOR:1.60; 95%CI: 1.07–2.47) were factors associated with the attitude of the participants about HPV vaccinations. Additionally, HPV vaccination practice was significantly associated with the attitude of the participants toward HPV vaccinations (AOR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.15–3.45), knowledge about HPV (AOR: 1.18; 95%CI: 0.55–5.50), and HPV vaccinations (AOR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.08–2.44).ConclusionThis study revealed that half of the students had good knowledge and a favorable attitude toward HPV vaccinations, but there was poor HPV vaccination practice. There is still a need for continued health education, training, and counseling services for students to strengthen HPV vaccination practices, improve students’ attitudes and knowledge about the benefits of vaccination, and improve counseling abilities against HPV-induced cancer.

Measuring entrepreneurial orientation of Bahir Dar University students

Measuring entrepreneurial orientation of Bahir Dar University students

Intervention needs assessment in children with heart diseases presenting to Tibebe-Ghion Specialized Teaching Hospital, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia – Tip of the iceberg of the intervention gap in Low-and-middle-income Countries (LMICs)

BackgroundPediatric heart disease is becoming a major contributor to childhood mortality. Almost half of congenital heart defects require intervention, either surgical or trans-catheter. Rheumatic heart disease also remains a global health problem in Low-and-middle-income-countries (LMICs). Intervention timing depends on the natural course and hemodynamic significance of the lesion with an emphasis on earlier intervention to prevent the damage of volume or pressure load and hypoxia. Objectivedescribe the current unmet intervention need of children with heart diseases presenting to Bahir Dar University Tibebe-Ghion Specialized Teaching Hospital. MethodsThis is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving three-hundred-seventy-six children (376) who had echocardiography-confirmed cardiac diseases over fifteen months from August 01, 2022, to October 30, 2023. Variables were analysed using IBM SPSS version 27 software. ResultsOf the 376 children with heart diseases, 54% were boys. The mean (SD) age was 53 (58) months, the median (IQR) being 26 (5–96). Congenital heart defects (CHDs) account for 68% of pediatric heart diseases. 77% of CHDs were acyanotic. Isolated Ventricular septal defect (21%) is the most common acyanotic CHD followed by patent ductus arteriosus (13.2%). Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic CHD (41%). Rheumatic heart disease is the most common acquired heart disease (76.9%). 89.4% (336) of children were eligible for intervention need assessment. 35.4% (119) of intervention-eligible children had delayed presentation. 79.8% (268) of intervention-eligible children need intervention at the current presentation. 61%(163) of children who need intervention had delayed intervention timing. 242/268 (90.3%) of children with intervention needs were candidates for surgery. Only 0.7% of children had intervention. ConclusionOur study illustrates the unmet intervention need for pediatric heart diseases our health facilities faced to achieve the 2030 Sustained-development-goal (SDG) target.

Boosting First-year Undergraduate Student Motivation for physical fitness workouts through Quality Instruction: A Study at Bahir Dar University

There is a relationship between quality physical fitness instruction and motivation of students for its workouts. However, the degree that quality physical fitness instruction predicts the motivation of students' for its workouts is not examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent that quality physical fitness instruction to predict the motivation of first-year undergraduate students for physical fitness workouts. For this, the study used a cross-sectional survey design, collecting quantitative data. The sample included 323 students from 32 sections at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, who volunteered to participate in the study. The study used adapted standardized questionnaire for assess the motivation of students and quality of physical fitness instruction. The analysis involves Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions. The correlation results indicate students' motivation for attending physical fitness course workouts is strongly and directly associated with most quality physical fitness service variables (p&lt;.01). In this study, the regression analysis confirmed that students' identified regulation and external motivation for physical fitness course workouts was moderately (26.7%), 16% and 10.7% predicted by quality physical fitness instructional service variables (p&lt;.05). This finding suggests that providing high-quality fitness instruction is crucial for enhancing student motivation in exercise programs within higher education contexts.

Two-Dimensional and Doppler trans-thoracic echocardiographic patterns of suspected pediatric heart diseases at Tibebe--Ghion specialized Teaching Hospital and Adinas General Hospital, Bahir Dar, North-west Ethiopia:-An experience from an LMIC.

Transthoracic Echocardiography is the first-line, non-invasive, and accessible imaging modality to evaluate heart disease anatomy, physiology, and hemodynamics. We aim to describe the trans-thoracic echocardiography pattern of pediatric heart diseases and reasons for referral in children referred to Bahir Dar University Tibebe-Ghion Hospital and Adinas General Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study of the archived Transthoracic, Two Dimensional, and Doppler Echocardiography assessments of children from birth to fifteen years of age performed between June 2019 to May 2023 was done. Data were collected retrospectively from February 01, 2023 -May 31, 2023. Categorical variables like gender, referral reasons for echocardiography, and patterns of pediatric heart lesions were analyzed in the form of proportions and presented in tables and figures. Discrete variables including age were summarized as means (SD) and medians(IQR). Out of 3,647 Children enrolled; 1,917 (52.6%) were males and 1,730 (47.4%) were females. The median (IQR) age of children enrolled was 24 months (5 to 96). Cardiac murmur (33%) was the most common reason for echocardiography followed by, Respiratory Distress (18%), Syndromic Child (15%), easy fatigability/ Diaphoresis (14.3%), congestive heart failure (14%), and rheumatic fever (13.2%). Congenital heart defect (CHD) accounts for 70% of all heart diseases, followed by rheumatic heart disease (21%). Isolated ventricular septal defect(VSD) was the most common CHD (21%) followed by isolated Patent ductus arteriosus (15%), isolated atrial septal defect (10%), Isolated atrioventricular septal defect (6%) and isolated pulmonary stenosis (5%). Cyanotic CHD accounts for 11.5% of all heart diseases. Tetralogy of Fallot (30%), d-TGA (20%), and double outlet right ventricle (19%) were the most common cyanotic CHDs. In our study, congenital heart lesions are the most common diagnosis and cardiac murmurs are the most common presenting reasons for echocardiography evaluation.

Clinical practice competence and associated factors among undergraduate midwifery and nursing sciences students at Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Competence describes actions that will be demonstrated or observed and assessed while competency refers to the skill itself. Following appropriate theoretical and practical training, clinical experience is required to achieve the highest level of clinical competence. It is estimated that many women and newborns die each year due to a lack of qualified health professional around the world. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors influencing clinical competency in the study area. Methods: An Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 12 August to 12 September 2022, among 403 undergraduate health sciences students of Bahir Dar University. Participants were approached through simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire through a face-to-face interview, and entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 22. The prevalence was reported using proportion with 95% CI and summary measures. Predictors were assessed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis model and reported using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI. Statistical significance was declared at P value less than 0.05. Results: Overall, the prevalence of clinical practice competency was 36.5% [95% CI; 33.5, 39.1]. Students who were provided a logbook (AOR=5.40, 95% CI 2.91, 10.02), adequate clinical cases in the clinical practice placement (AOR=2.72, 95% CI 1.60, 4.60), preceptor show different procedures (AOR=2.50, 95% CI 1.33, 4.71), student’s confidence during conducting procedure (AOR=4.16, 95% CI 1.67, 10.35) and the suitability of the way of teaching to the learning styles of students during skills demonstration (AOR=2.10, 95% CI 1.00, 4.40) were factors statistically associated with clinical practice competence. Conclusions: According to this study, more than three out of every five participants were found to be clinically incompetent. Providing logbooks, adequate clinical cases, preceptors showing different procedures, students’ confidence, and suitability of the way of teaching to the learning styles of students were significantly associated with clinical practice competence. Implementing logbooks, selecting clinical sites, enhancing the confidence of students, preferred teaching/learning styles, and clinical preceptor support were important to improve the clinical competence of students.

Perceptions of Bahir Dar University Teacher Educators about Functions of Education in Ethiopia

Perceptions of Bahir Dar University Teacher Educators about Functions of Education in Ethiopia

From the Great Nationalism to Narrower Ethnonationalism in Post-1991 Ethiopian Federalism: Counter Narrative Advent of the Amhara Ethnic Nationalist Movements Sibuh Gebeyaw Tareke Department of Political Science and International Studies Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Email: sibuh2003@gmail.com

Ethiopia is a multiethnic and multi-linguistic state. The country's political history has shown that it has been an empire state since ancient times. However, its diverse ethnic groups existed together as Ethiopian nationalists. Following the introduction of the socialist-oriented federal state in 1991, ethnonational movements took place in Ethiopian politics. The 1995 FDRE constitution gives the sovereign power to "nations, nationalities, and peoples" to maintain unity along with diversity. It also created ethnic federalism-based territorial units to liberate other ethnic groups from the past Amhara 'Neftegna' domination system. However, the recognition of these rights has promoted ethnonationalism rather than Ethiopianism. And also creates a tendency in other regions as Amharans have historically oppressed the different ethnic groups. Thus, the Amhara people who live in other areas have been discriminated against. This phenomenon has intensified the advent of Amhara nationalist movements. This study explores the theoretical frameworks of ethnonationalism and federalism. It also examined the causes and impacts of the deterioration of Ethiopianism and the advent of the Amhara nationalist movements in the case study areas. In the end, it provides mechanisms to maintain unity along with diversity in future Ethiopia.

Assessing the Motivation of First-year Undergraduate Students for Physical Fitness Workout and Contextual Differences at Bahir Dar University

Assessing the Motivation of First-year Undergraduate Students for Physical Fitness Workout and Contextual Differences at Bahir Dar University

Maternal near-miss prediction model development among pregnant women in Bahir Dar City administration, northwest Ethiopia: a study protocol

IntroductionMaternal near-miss is a condition when a woman nearly died but survived from complications that happened during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days after delivery. Maternal near-miss is more prevalent...

Intention to Donate Kidney and Associated Factors Among Students in Bahir Dar University: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior.

Kidney donation is the donation of a kidney from a living or dead person to another living person who requires transplantation. The scarcity of kidneys is a great public health concern worldwide, owing to an increase in end-stage renal failure. There is no sufficient evidence regarding the intention to donate kidneys in Ethiopia. To assess the intention to donate kidneys and its associated factors among Bahir Dar University students in Ethiopia in 2023 by the application of theory of planned behavior. This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 7 to April 5, 2023. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 630 participants. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6, and exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Findings with a p-value <0.05 at the 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant and interpreted by the unstandardized beta (ß) coefficient. The mean score of intention to donate the kidney was 12.9 ± 4.1 standard deviation. Direct attitude (B = 0.341, 95% CI = 0.265, 0.416), direct subjective norm (B = 0.088, 95% CI = 0.010, 0.167), direct perceived behavioral control (B = 0.353, 95% CI 0.251, 0.455), knowledge (B = 0.417, 95% CI 0.251, 0.583), and previous experience of blood donation (B = 0.915, 95% CI 0.321, 1.510) were factors associated with intention to kidney donation. The mean score of intention to donate kidneys was 12.9 ± 4.1 SD. Direct attitude, direct subjective norm, direct perceived behavioral control, experience with blood donation, and knowledge of participants were significant factors for the intention to donate kidneys. Therefore, social and behavioral change communication strategies should address these factors in order to increase kidney donation.

Enhancing Students’ Linear Algebra I Learning Using Assessment Through STACK

E-learning is seen as a new philosophy of education that encompasses all existing forms of education, including full-time education. Currently, there is a wide variety of software for developing interactive content. The aim of this study is to improve students’ learning of Linear Algebra I using STACK (the system for teaching and assessment using a computer algebra kernel) at Bahir Dar University. The experience of using STACK questions has shown that their application helps students of all forms of education in learning Linear Algebra I and greatly facilitates the learning process of students, allowing them to master the contents of Linear Algebra I. In a mastery quiz, students try different algebra content repeatedly until they understand the concept. After students have mastered the content, they take a test quiz. Moreover, STACK helps teachers in a scoring (cumulative) system of knowledge assessment, makes the learning outcomes more visible and convenient for analysis. In addition, it is noted in the research that the STACK tasks allow students to review analytical solutions to complex types of problems and organize hints that help them to solve tasks. The approach saves the teacher’s time to check solutions at any time and give students individual options for tasks. As part of the study, the STACK tasks were analysed, which revealed a greater number of advantages of learning and assessment compared to its disadvantages and revealed the possibility of its application in the educational process. It is recommended that educational policy makers must integrate STACK into a curriculum of Mathematics.

Academic Staff Engagement in Research and Its Relation to Classroom Teaching in Public Universities in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

This study’s primary objective was to investigate the existing context of academic staff engagement in research and its relation to classroom teaching at public higher institutions located in the Amhara national regional state. A cross-sectional type of survey design was used to achieve this objective. The sample units and individuals were chosen using stratified random sampling procedure. Injibara University, Debre Markos University, and Bahir Dar University were three sample public universities located in Amhara Regional State that provided 251 participants for the study. A survey questionnaire was used to obtain the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to assess the data that had been gathered. The findings showed that the sample universities had very low levels of academic staff engagement in research activities. Most importantly, the results of this study also showed a weak but negative correlation between academic staff engagement in research and classroom teaching. Finally, possible recommendations were made based on the key results and conclusions.

The effects of Social Media Marketing on Consumers Buying Decision Making Processes evidence from College of Business and Economics Students, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

The effects of Social Media Marketing on Consumers Buying Decision Making Processes evidence from College of Business and Economics Students, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

The academy of pedagogy: From a teacher training college to a vibrant university

Based mainly on archival documents gathered from Bahir Dar University (BDU) record office and the UNESCO Head Office in Paris, this qualitative study chronicles and analyzes the history of the Academy of Pedagogy from its inception until it transformed itself into Bahir Dar University. The establishment of the Academy of Pedagogy was the result of a meticulous but ambitious feasibility study conducted by two education experts from the University of London employed by UNESCO as consultants. The consultants recommended the establishment of a college specializing in training teacher educators in a four-year program in Bahir Dar. The study also recommended the construction of a primary school and a teacher training institute to enable teacher trainers to undertake teaching practice, curriculum revision, and action research. Other recommendations included the installation of an educational broadcasting service and the commencement of in-service training for primary school teachers. The study was so ambitious that it suggested the establishment of a Child Development Research Unit, an Ethiopian Arts Center, a Textbook and Journal Publishing Unit, a Comparative African Studies Institute, a Rural Sociology Research Unit, a Health Education Unit, an Evaluation and Archives Unit, and a Model Community. However, the outbreak of the Ethiopian revolution in 1974, forced the academy to follow a different path. Since then, a lot of changes including curriculum revision took place. In 1980, the Academy was renamed Bahir Dar Teachers College (BDTC). Finally, in 2000, BDTC joined the Polytechnic Institute to form Bahir Dar University.

Becoming a research university as a strategic choice in Bahir Dar university፡ A resource dependency perspective

This paper explored how the need for research universities in Ethiopia is justified, practiced, and could be improved using the strategic tactics of the resource dependency perspective. Bahir Dar University (hereafter referred to as BDU) was taken as a case to understand the need for a research university and its practices. Document analysis was used as a source of data. Consequently, an analysis of various institutional and national secondary sources revealed that the existing uncertainties related to critical resources motivated Bahir Dar University to devise a strategic choice of becoming a research university. The uncertainties are justified in terms of economic, political and institutional conditions. Although the university envisioned becoming a research university by 2025, the existing institutional and national conditions seem to be immature to sustain the necessary resources and conditions that a research university requires. As a result, following the higher education differentiation effort, BDU had to revise its vision and extend the possible time its vision could be realized to 2030. It is concluded that the need for BDU to become a research university seems to be challenging and needs much effort to be realized. Hence, institutional re-arrangements following the strategic tactics of the resource dependency perspective need to be devised to realize the strategic choice of becoming a research university.

Publication output of Bahir Dar university: A Scopus-based bibliometric overview

Bahir Dar University (BDU) is one of Ethiopia's oldest and leading universities and has recently been granted the status of a research university within the country's system of differentiation of higher education. Despite this, there has been a lack of systematic mapping of the research output of the university. To address this issue, this study takes a 22-year dataset of publications from Scopus to analyze publication output affiliated with the university as represented in the international domain. The analysis encompasses several dimensions, including overall productivity, collaboration patterns, dominant research areas, primary publication outlets, and languages of publication. The findings reveal a notable increase in research productivity at the university since 2010. The top five research areas impacting this productivity include medicine, agriculture, environmental science, social sciences, and engineering. In addition, the majority of publications are found to be published in biomedical science journals, English being the dominant language of publication. Though at the institutional level, the university’s collaborators are predominantly other Ethiopian public universities, at the country level, BDU’s top collaborators come from the USA, Germany, South Africa, the UK, Japan, and Belgium. Based on the results, we argue that the university still needs a robust research funding and incentivization system, though research productivity has considerably improved over the past two decades. Furthermore, we recommend that the university's journals, which the Ministry of Education has accredited, be indexed in reputable international journal databases to enhance their visibility.&#x0D;

Perceptions of Bahir Dar University teacher educators about functions of education in Ethiopia

Using the four major philosophies of education (Perennialism, Essentialism, Progressivism, and Social Reconstructionism) as its theoretical framework, this study examined the perceptions of teacher educators about the functions of education in Ethiopia. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and employed the case study as a design. Through a purposeful criterion-based sampling technique, six teacher educators from Bahir Dar University were selected as participants in the study. Data pertinent to the study were collected through semi-structured interviews and document reviews. The data collected through these methods were thematically analyzed. The results of the study revealed the existence of multifarious perceptions among teacher educators. To be specific, the teacher educators were found to be proponents of the perennialist, essentialist, and progressivist educational purposes. As far as the function of education in Ethiopia was concerned, the study revealed that the perennialist and essentialist purposes of education were dominant. Educational purposes advocated by the progressive educational philosophy were also found to be important. The social reconstructionist function of education, however, was not given an adequate place. Finally, the implications of these findings for the country’s teacher education programs and policymaking initiatives are indicated.

Using a cooperative learning strategy to increase undergraduate students’ engagement and performance: Bahir Dar university Psychology graduating students in focus

In the 21st century, preparing university students for real work and lifelong learning requires instructors to serve as facilitators of learning rather than as providers of information. Instruction needs to be learner-centered, active, enjoyable and engaging. As one form of active learning strategy, cooperative learning (e.g. group assignment) helps students to collaborate in the task actively and this in turn improves their learning engagement and performance. However, in my undergraduate course, when I encourage students to do assignments in groups, many of them do not take it seriously and are not committed, the final product being poor in terms of quality and participation. The objective of this action research was to improve the educational value of group assignment as one form of cooperative learning strategy by way of designing the task thoughtfully, following up and motivating students, providing constructive and timely feedback and ensuring greater engagement of students in the task. Third year psychology students volunteered to participate in the project. Phase I and Phase II (preliminary and actual action implementation make up the action research project). The outcomes of the preliminary and actual action implementation were then compared. The findings revealed that as a result of the intervention, students developed positive attitudes towards group assignment and they were more engaged in the second assignment as compared to the first (t= 6.51, p= 0.05). Students’ performances in the second test and group project was also improved (t= 2.80, p=0.05 and t=7.67, p=0.05 respectively). Based on the findings, implications for further research and action are suggested

The Association Between Demographic Factors and the Organizational Commitment of the Academic Staff: The Case at Bahir Dar University

The Association Between Demographic Factors and the Organizational Commitment of the Academic Staff: The Case at Bahir Dar University