Regional State Of Ethiopia Research Articles

Autonomy and Minority Disempowerment in Ethiopia’s Federal System

Abstract This paper explores Ethiopia’s federal system and the systematic disempowerment of non-territorial minorities. The 1995 constitution granted autonomy for minorities based on territorial boundaries empowering self-rule and regional control. However, smaller ethnic groups living outside their ethnic regions were left without political and socio-economic rights. An exception to this is the Amhara Regional State’s Oromo Special Zone. Non-territorial minorities in Oromia, Afar, Gambella, Tigray, Somali, Southern Nations, and Benishangul-Gumuz are left without political, resources and social empowerment. This contradicts the provisions outlined in undrip, ilo 169, the osce, Lund Recommendations, udhr, and iccpr. The study examines paradoxes that territorial autonomy benefits dominant ethnic groups while disempowering non-territorial minorities. This undermines inclusion, equality, democratic participation and equality. The study argues that all regional states in Ethiopia should learn from the Amhara region to protect the non-territorial rights of minorities, ensuring equal access to political power, resource ownership, and cultural recognition.

Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Bishoftu City, Oromia Regional State Ethiopia

This study investigates the land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in Bishoftu City, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, The LULC analysis from 1990 to 2020 in the area reveals significant transformations in land use categories: cropland, vegetation, settlements, and wetlands. Initially, in 1990, cropland dominated the landscape, covering 76% of the total area, with vegetation at 14%, settlements at 6%, and wetlands at 4%. Over the three decades, cropland consistently decreased, dropping to 74% in 2000, 73% in 2010, and 64.7% by 2020. Vegetation cover also saw a decline from 14% in 1990 to 10% in 2020. In contrast, settlement areas increased substantially, from 6% in 1990 to 22.8% in 2020. Wetlands showed a minor but consistent reduction, decreasing from 4% in 1990 to 2.6% in 2020. These changes are predominantly driven by urban expansion, deforestation, agricultural activities, and economic development. Accuracy assessments of classified maps revealed high reliability, with overall accuracy ranging from 96% to 98%. The study highlights the urgent need for sustainable urban planning, reforestation efforts, wetland conservation, and effective land use regulations to mitigate adverse environmental impacts. In conclusion, the research underscores the critical role of understanding and addressing LULC dynamics for sustainable development. Recommendations include enhancing land use regulations, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, developing wetland conservation programs, and improving public awareness and education. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners to make informed decisions and promotes sustainable land management practices in Bishoftu City.

Does Bank Agricultural Credit Reduce Poverty Level and Income Inequality in Ethiopia: Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) Approach

Harshly, the problem of poverty and income inequality overwhelmed a significant portion of the world’s population and remained one of the economic curses posing catastrophic consequences on society’s economic as well as social well-being. Hence, this study investigated the effects of extending bank agricultural credit on Ethiopia’s poverty level and income inequality. The study used unbalanced panel data from 2000 to 2021 collected from all 11 regional states in Ethiopia. The study also included other macroeconomic variables that affect poverty and income inequality to avoid the variable omission problem. When analyzing the relationship between agricultural credit granted by banks and poverty level and income inequality, the study adopted the Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) method basing its robust feature on effectively controlling spatial correlation, heteroscedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence in panel data sets. Additionally, pre-estimation tests like cross-sectional dependence, co-integration, and unit root tests were conducted to identify the presence of associated problems. The study reveals that bank agricultural credit has a significant and negative effect on the poverty level in Ethiopia. Moreover, bank agricultural credit has a significant inverse relationship with income inequality. Therefore, renovating the credit distribution aimed at directing the magnitude towards the agricultural sector is vital to flourishing the society’s economic well-being.

Physical and psychological impact of HIV/AIDS toward youths in Southwest Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

BackgroundYouths with HIV/AIDS encounter a variety of unique challenges that impact their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. These challenges and experiences differ across settings, populations, cultures, and the broader socio-economic and political contexts. This study focuses on exploring the life challenges, experiences, and coping mechanisms of youths living with HIV/AIDS in public hospital facilities in southwest Ethiopia.Methods and study approachThe study was conducted in two regional states of Ethiopia. Using a phenomenological study approach, researchers focused on purposefully selected youths living with HIV/AIDS in public hospital facilities. Data were gathered through life history and in-depth interview techniques, delving deeply into the participants’ lived experiences and feelings about the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS. The study population consisted of youths with HIV/AIDS who were currently using antiretroviral medication in two selected public hospitals. A total of 12 participants were employed and completed the study.ResultsThe findings indicated that youths with HIV/AIDS face complex life challenges, influenced by psychological, emotional, and social factors. These intertwined challenges impact their self-management, treatment adherence, and ability to create and maintain healthy social relationships and roles. Many youths avoid social interactions and do not seek the necessary social support, believing they are unworthy of respect and care. Consequently, they may live in despair and constant fear of rejection, lacking the social support they desperately need. Substance abuse is prevalent among these youths due to the psychosocial, biological, emotional, and material aspects of their experiences.

Assessment of Stingless Bee Production Potentials, Distribution, and Constraints in West Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

The study was proposed to assess the stingless bee production potentials, distribution, and constraints in West Hararghe Zone Oromia Regional State Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was used. A structured and semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and data were collected by using the purposive sampling method. A total of 80 respondents were interviewed and practical field investigations were conducted. According to the study results, about 59.26%, 100%, 77.78%, and 21.05% of respondents in Sire Gudo, Sire Qallo, Sire Qallo Gato, and Sire Qallo Haro Xaxe respectively get stingless bees suddenly without searching. As per the study's findings about 74.07%, 0%, 44.44% and 68.42% of respondents in Sire Gudo, Sire Qallo, Sire Qallo Gato and Sire Qallo Haro Xaxe kebeles reported that no management was given for stingless bee. According to the present findings about 51.85%, 0%, 22.22%, and 21.05% of respondents in Sire Gudo, Sire Qallo, Sire Qallo Gato and Sire Qallo Haro Xaxe kebeles reported that honey harvesting is the challenge of stingless bee production. In Gemechis district there was indigenous knowledge regarding stingless bee production, the searching method of stingless bees, honey harvesting from stingless bees, the use of stingless bees, and constraints/challenges of stingless bee production. The main challenge of stingless bee production in the study district was nest destruction during honey harvesting. In general, the overall stingless bee production in the study area was hopeful and to establish a sustainable stingless bee production, proper management and adaptation of stingless bees in artificial hive is essential. Once more, further study is required to study the production potential, of this bee in the rest part of the West Hararghe Zone.

From political priority to service delivery: complexities to real-life priority of abortion services in Ethiopia.

Improving access to abortion services has been coined a high priority by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health. Nevertheless, many women are still struggling to access abortion services. The dedicated commitment to expanding abortion services by central authorities and the difficulties in further improving access to the services make for an interesting case to explore the real-life complexities of health priority setting. This article thus explores what it means to make abortion services a priority by drawing on in-depth interviews with healthcare bureaucrats and key stakeholders working closely with abortion service policy and implementation. Data were collected from February to April 2022. Health bureaucrats from 9 of the 12 regional states in Ethiopia and the Federal Ministry of Health were interviewed in addition to key stakeholders from professional organizations and NGOs. The study found that political will and priority to abortion services by central authorities were not necessarily enough to ensure access to the service across the health sector. At the regional and local level, there were considerable challenges with a lack of funding, equipment and human resources for implementing and expanding access to abortion services. The inadequacy of indicators and reporting systems hindered accountability and made it difficult to give priority to abortion services among the series of health programmes and priorities that local health authorities had to implement. The situation was further challenged by the contested nature of the abortion issue itself, both in the general population, but also amongst health bureaucrats and hospital leaders. This study casts a light on the complex and entangled processes of turning national-level priorities into on-the-ground practice and highlights the real-life challenges of setting and implementing health priorities.

Animal source food consumption practice and factors associated among infant and young children from selected rural districts in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Children are recommended to consume animal source foods (ASF) as part of diversified diets. However, ASF consumption practice of infant and young children (IYC) is less studied and contributing factors are not exhaustively identified. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess consumption of ASF and identify associated factors among 6-23 months old IYC from selected rural districts in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 606 IYC from selected rural districts of Oromia and Sidama regional states in Ethiopia. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages and mean scores with standard deviations were generated to describe participants and report univariate outcomes. Consumption of ASF was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify contributing factors contributed to IYC's ASF consumption practice. Dairy, eggs and meat were consumed by 41.2%, 16.4% and 2.3% of IYC, respectively. Household food security increased odds of dairy [AOR = 1.66 (95%CI: 1.16 2.38), P = 0.006], eggs [AOR = 2.15 (95%CI: 1.33, 3.49), P = 0.002] and meat [AOR = 5.08 (95%CI: 1.09, 23.71), P = 0.039] consumption. Cow [AOR = 1.86 (95%CI: 1.28, 2.70), P = 0.001], donkey [AOR = 1.83 (95%CI: 1.08, 3.11), P = 0.024] and chicken [AOR = 1.53 (95%CI: 1.05, 2.22), P = 0.027] ownership increased the odds of dairy consumption. Grades 5-8 [AOR = 1.74 (95%CI: 1.06, 2.86), P = 0.028] or ≥9 [AOR = 2.96 (95%CI: 1.62, 5.42), P <0.001] maternal educational achievements were also associated with better dairy consumption. Children from households that owned chicken [AOR = 3.20 (95%CI: 1.97, 5.19), P <0.001] or produce root crops [AOR = 1.67 (95%CI: 1.05, 2.66), P = 0.031] were with increased odds to consume eggs. Low proportion of children consumed ASF. Household food security, livestock ownership, household income, root crop production and maternal education contributed to ASF consumption. Nutrition sensitive agricultural extension activities aided by nutrition education should be considered and evaluated for their effect on IYC's ASF consumption practice.

Isolation and Characterization of Pasteurella spps from Pneumonic Cases of Livestock in Three Regional States of Ethiopia: Evidence of Differences between Field and Vaccine Biotypes

Pneumonic pasteurellosis is the leading cause of recurrent morbidity and mortality in ruminant livestock in Ethiopia. Its control is mainly done using an annual vaccination with a monovalent whole broth culture of Pasteurella (P.) multocida. However, the multiplicity of the serotypes circulating in the field and the lack of cross-protective immunity hinder the effectiveness of the vaccination program warranting the development of a vaccine with better efficacy. To this effect, the identification, and characterization of the strains from different regions of the country is necessary. In this paper, Pasteurella organisms collected from camels, cattle, goats, and sheep with respiratory signs suggestive of pasteurellosis in the Afar, Tigray, and Benishangul Gumuz regional states were isolated, and characterized. From clinically pneumonic cases, 793 nasal swabs (286 goats, 276 sheep, 168 camels, and 63 cattle) were collected aseptically and cultured on Blood Agar. Bacteria pathogens were identified at the species level by biochemical tests. Culture positivity was 29.3% (243/793). The isolation frequencies of B. trehalosi, M. haemolytica, and P.multocida were 47.7% (116/243), 43.2% (105/243), and 9.1% (22/243), respectively. A higher isolation rate was observed in sheep (37.4%), and the lowest in cattle (6.2%). Mixed infection with B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica was observed in sheep, goats, and camels. Despite the higher frequencies of isolation of B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica from all host species, the vaccine currently being used in Ethiopia consists of only P. multocida biotypes A for sheep and goats and biotype B for cattle. Moreover, camels are not considered in the pasteurellosis vaccination program in the country. Therefore, the result of the study suggests the need to include B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica in the vaccine preparation as well as underlines the relevance of considering camels in the vaccination program.

Hand Washing Practice and Food Insecurity are Associated With Undernutrition of Breastfeeding Mothers in Rural Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study.

Breastfeeding mothers are prone to undernutrition. However, factors contributing to maternal undernutrition are not exhaustively understood. Hence, this study aimed to determine prevalence of undernutrition among breastfeeding mothers and identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 606 breastfeeding mothers from selected rural districts in Oromia and Sidama regional states of Ethiopia. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with maternal undernutrition. One out of ten breastfeeding mothers was found undernourished as determined by BMI (12.6%) and MUAC (10.7%). Mothers who did not practice hand washing after cleaning children's bottom were 2 and 3 times more likely to be undernourished compared to their counters, as measured by BMI (AOR = 2.29, P = .002) and MUAC (AOR = 3.03, P < .001), respectively. Mothers living in mildly or moderately food insecure households (AOR = 2.37, P = .019) were more than two times more likely to be undernourished as determined by MUAC. Mothers who breastfed children in the age range of 9 to 11 (AOR = 2.79, P = .025) or 12 to 23 (AOR = 2.57, P = .018) months were more than two and half times more likely to be undernourished as determined by BMI. Maternal undernutrition is a medium-level public health problem in rural districts of Oromia and Sidama regional states in Ethiopia. The lack of hand washing practice after cleaning a child's bottom, household food insecurity and higher child age increased the odds of maternal undernutrition. Mothers should prioritize and improve their nutritional care as the age of their breastfed child increases. Nutrition programs in rural districts of Ethiopia should also aim to improve personal hygiene practices and food insecurity integrated with implementation researches to evaluate program's impact on nutritional status of breastfeeding mothers.

Ethno-taxonomy and potential uses of highland bamboo (Oldeania alpina) landraces in Ethiopia

Ethno-taxonomy and potential uses of highland bamboo (Oldeania alpina) landraces in Ethiopia

Characterization of Goat Husbandry Practices in Dollo Zone, Somali Regional State Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to characterize goat husbandry practices in Dollo zone, Somali Regional state, Ethiopia. Three districts namely Warder, Danod and Daratole were purposively selected based on the goat production potential. Three kebeles were also purposively selected from each district based on the goat production potential. The relevant data for this study were collected through semi-structured questionnaire applied on 156 sample households, key informants interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations the study revealed that the major available water sources in wet season were dams/ponds (92.9%) and pipe water (7.1%), whereas, rig water (65.4%), water wells (17.8%) and dams/ponds (16.7%) were major water sources in dry season and watering frequency of goats varied according to the season, with the dry season having a higher watering frequency due to the inaccessibility of watering points within short distances. The major feed sources for goats during wet season were natural pasture and fodder trees with 63.5% &amp; 36.5%, respectively. On the other side, the major sources of feed in the dry season were natural pasture (42.3%) followed by fodder trees (30.8%) and crop residues (26.9%), respectively. Goats were housed in an open kraal enclosed with branches of acacia tree which don’t protect them from extreme weather conditions. The majority (75.6%) of the goat owners practiced an uncontrolled breeding system. Ethno-veterinary practices through use of herbal and non-herbal ways were practiced in the study area. Drought, feed shortage, water shortage, diseases, predators, and market problems were the major constraints that hindered goat production in the study area. Therefore, the study suggests the need for improving the overall management practices of goats to enhance productivity through awareness creation and extension service. The study also suggests further studies on the implications of suboptimal husbandry practices on goat production and productivity.

Role of male partner in women's fertility decision and family planning utilization in four regional states of Ethiopia: A mixed-method study.

Role of male partner in women's fertility decision and family planning utilization in four regional states of Ethiopia: A mixed-method study.

National and subnational burden of under-5, infant, and neonatal mortality in Ethiopia, 1990-2019: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

The under-5 mortality rate is a commonly used indicator of population health and socioeconomic status worldwide. However, as in most low- and middle-income countries settings, deaths among children under-5 and in any age group in Ethiopia remain underreported and fragmented. We aimed to systematically estimate neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality trends, identify underlying causes, and make subnational (regional and chartered cities) comparisons between 1990 and 2019. We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2019) to estimate three key under-5 mortality indicators-the probability of death between the date of birth and 28 days (neonatal mortality rate, NMR), the date of birth and 1 year (infant mortality rate, IMR), and the date of birth and 5 years (under-5 mortality rate, U5MR). The causes of death by age groups, sex, and year were estimated using Cause of Death Ensemble modelling (CODEm). Specifically, this involved a multi-stage process that includes a non-linear mixed-effects model, source bias correction, spatiotemporal smoothing, and a Gaussian process regression to synthesise mortality estimates by age, sex, location, and year. In 2019, an estimated 190,173 (95% uncertainty interval 149,789-242,575) under-5 deaths occurred in Ethiopia. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of under-5 deaths in 2019 were within the first year of life, and over half (52%) in the first 28 days. The overall U5MR, IMR, and NMR in the country were estimated to be 52.4 (44.7-62.4), 41.5 (35.2-50.0), and 26.6 (22.6-31.5) deaths per 1000 livebirths, respectively, with substantial variations between administrative regions. Over three-quarters of under-5 deaths in 2019 were due to five leading causes, namely neonatal disorders (40.7%), diarrhoeal diseases (13.2%), lower respiratory infections (10.3%), congenital birth defects (7.0%), and malaria (6.0%). During the same period, neonatal disorders alone accounted for about 76.4% (70.2-79.6) of neonatal and 54.7% (51.9-57.2) of infant deaths in Ethiopia. While all regional states in Ethiopia have experienced a decline in under-5, infant, and neonatal mortality rates in the past three decades, the rate of change was not large enough to meet the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Inter-regional disparities in under 5 mortality also remain significant, with the biggest differences being in the neonatal period. A concerted effort is required to improve neonatal survival and lessen regional disparity, which may require strengthening essential obstetric and neonatal care services, among others. Our study also highlights the urgent need for primary studies to improve the accuracy of regional estimates in Ethiopia, particularly in pastoralist regions.

Responsible governance of land tenure in the context of agricultural investment from theory to Practice: Lessons from Ethiopia

Responsible governance of land tenure in the context of agricultural investment from theory to Practice: Lessons from Ethiopia

Opportunities and Status of Wheat Row Planting in Smallholder Farmers in Elfeta District Oromia Regional State Ethiopia

To enhance wheat yield, adoption and management practices have become a major concern of agricultural extension activities and low produce of wheat is partly due to poor agronomic practices in Ethiopia. Compared to broadcasting system, row planting gives better yield with quality of the seed at harvesting period. The study was conducted to assess the opportunities and status of wheat row planting by farmers. This study was used descriptive research design and employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Primary data were collected from 141_sample households which were selected randomly. Additional information was obtained from focus group discussion and key informant interview. The data has been analyzed by using simple descriptive statistics such as mean, percentage and standard deviation. Moreover, inferential statistics like chi-square and t-test were used. The result shows that, education level, family size, farmers experience, seeding rate per hectare, yield per hectare, fertilizer rate per hectare and income of household were positive association with wheat row planting in the study area. Also, non-adopter farmers was not use the existing opportunity such as off-farm income generating activities, contact with extension agents, credit use, membership in cooperatives and improved seed in the study area. Moreover, more than half of smallholders not adopt the wheat row planting system; meaning, still they use broadcasting system of Planting in their farms. Therefore, the study concludes that, Policies and strategies that focus on farmers’ education, implementation of well-established extension package are helpful so as to achieve wider adoption of row planting technology of smallholder farmer in the study area.

Infrastructure inequities and its effect on poverty reduction across regional states in Ethiopia

Sustainable development aims to enhance the quality of life in an inclusive manner, including economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental protection. Megaprojects are ‘large unique projects’ where public actors play a significant role and are often the conduit of corruption, and eradication of corruption is one of the critical challenges in most parts of the world, particularly the developing countries. Besides, corruption in construction can decrease the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of infrastructure and services, resulting in the execution of ‘white elephant’ projects that are neither growth-inducing nor relevant to needs. Therefore, lack of access to roads, electricity, mobile phones, and the Internet limits the potential earnings of modern accessibilities and facilities in developing countries, and it also has a negative impact on poverty reduction. Although there are high perceptions about infrastructure inequity in Ethiopia, the difference between relatively developed and underdeveloped regions or states is not clear, especially in the equitable allocation of infrastructure resources. By analysing regional infrastructure, the states are categorised based on the results of the Composite Infrastructure Index, thereby exposing the unequal distribution of infrastructure and services. This paper shows gross inequity of public investments in Ethiopia, hindering the country's nation-building process. In substantially unequal societies, elite groups are more able to manipulate and influence policymakers to their advantage. Understanding the nature and extent of regional inequities in Ethiopia, as exemplified by regional infrastructure differentials, and finding sustainable solutions is imperative to socioeconomic development and shared prosperity.

Exploring the opportunities and challenges of female health leaders in three regional states of Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

BackgroundGender equity involves fairness in all aspects of life for women and men and is usually determined by social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. The proportion of female leaders in healthcare within the health sector is low. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences, opportunities, and challenges faced by women in their path towards becoming leaders within the health sector.MethodsThis study was conducted using the phenomenological method of qualitative inquiry. The approach was chosen for its merits to narratively explore and describe the lived stories and shared experiences of women leaders in the healthcare system. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify six women leaders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted through telephone by the investigators. The qualitative data analysis was conducted parallel with data collection, using steps of thematic analysis.ResultsThis study identified individual, societal, and organizational level opportunities and challenges that had an influence on the career paths of female health leaders in Ethiopia. The leadership positions were an opportunity in the career development of women who had long-term goals, were known for their empathy, and exercised wise use of resources. In addition, women who had the support of close family members and their peers are more likely to compete and rise to leadership positions. Furthermore, women who received organizational support in the form of affirmative action, training, development, and recognition also tended to rise to leadership positions. However, women who assumed leadership positions but whose day-to-day decision-making was influenced by their supervisors, those who had experienced sexual harassment, and those under the influence of societal norms were less likely to attain leadership positions.ConclusionThe opinions and experiences of female health leaders revealed that individual behaiour whileassumming a leadership positon, empathy, and wise resource management positivey influence their career development. In addition, female health workers who had support form close family members and peers strived for growth to leadership positions. Furthermore, the presence of organizational support, in the form of affirmative actions, and succession planning were another opportunity for females in their career paths. Conversely, some social norms were found to deter female health workers from advanicing to leadership positions. Therefore, enhancing the leadership capacity of women and improving social and organizational support is recommended. In addition, addressing the low level of self-image among women and patriarchal societal norms at the community level is recommended.

Prevalence Rate and Associated Risk Factors of Anaemia among under Five Years Children in Ethiopia.

Background: Anaemia is a condition characterised by a decrease in the concentration of haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood. Anaemia suffers under five years children about 47.4% and 67.6% worldwide and developing countries including Ethiopia, respectively. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate and the associated socio-economic, geographic and demographic factors of anaemia status of under five years children in Ethiopia. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the 2011 Ethiopia National Malaria Indicator Survey (EMIS 2011). A sample of 4356 under five years age children was obtained from three regional states of Ethiopia. Based on haemoglobin level, child anaemia status was ordered and takes an ordinal value as no anaemia, mild anaemia, moderate anaemia and severe anaemia, respectively. Ordinal logistic regression model, specifically the proportional odds model was used by considering with and without survey design features. Results: Of the 4356 complete cases, 2190 (50.28%) were male and 1966 (49.72%) were female children under five years old. The children overall mean (SD) age was 2.68 (1.21) years. It was observed that both the mean ages and their variabilities in the regions are approximately equal to the overall mean and variability. It was also observed that in Amhara, Oromiya and SNNP regions 72.28%, 67.99% and 73.63% of the children, respectively had no anaemia; 15.93%, 13.47% and 13.56% of the children, respectively had mild anaemia; 10.99%, 15.61% and 11.33% of the children, respectively had moderate anaemia; and only 0.81%, 2.93% and 1.49% had severe anaemia, respectively. The prevalence of severe child anaemia status was higher in Oromiya region compared to Amhara and SNNP regions, respectively. Our result indicates that age, use of mosquito net, malaria RDT outcome, type of toilet facility, household wealth index, region and median altitude were significantly related to child anaemia status. However, it was observed that some covariates were model dependent, for example household wealth index and type of toilet facility were not significant when considering survey features. Conclusions: Anaemia burden remains high particularly in developing countries. Controlling the burden of anaemia necessitates the formulation of integrated interventions which prioritise the highest risk groups including children under five years. The statistical model used in this paper identified individual, household and cluster level risk factors of child anaemia. The identified risk factors for example not having improved toilet facility in the dwelling where a child lived as well as poorest household wealth index suggest the policymakers should target to focus more on children from poor community. Further, the strong association between malaria infection and anaemia suggests that malaria preventative methods such as vector control methods namely, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying of households with insecticides and including case diagnostic testing and treatment may be the most effective ways to reduce infections associated with anaemia. Such collective assessment approach may lead to more effective public health strategies and could have important policy implications for health promotion and for the reduction of health disparities.

Level of Inequality and Welfare Change Across Vulnerable Groups in Emerging Regional States of Ethiopia: The Atkinson-Gini Social Welfare Analysis

Economic growth in Ethiopia, particularly in developing regions, would follow fair income distributions and lower inequality that cannot affect social welfare. In line with the adopted pro-poor fiscal policies since 1995-96, the study looked at how price, tax reforms, and income growth affected social welfare. The study used survey data from the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency by applying the Atkinson-Gini Index to estimate the level of inequality and social welfare of vulnerable groups. From the analysis, Ethiopia's economic growth was inflationary growth dominate. Price rises increased inequality and reduced consumption than tax reform. The findings invalidated the aim of income growth to mitigate the inflationary impact on welfare increase. Finally, the study found that providing social welfare support to these groups did not increase their ability to withstand the risks of declining welfare. Thus, the study recommended that income redistribution measures aided by pro-poor policies be implemented with caution.

Carbon Stock Potential across Different Land Covers in Tropical Ecosystems of Damota Natural Vegetation, Eastern Ethiopia

The research was carried out in Damota kebele, in the Oromia regional state of Ethiopia, to examine the carbon sequestration potentials under three land covers (i.e., farmland (FL); bushland (BL), and woodland (WL)). In the three land covers, 60 squares of 20 m × 20 m, 5 m × 5 m, and 1 m × 1 m with six horizontal transect lines were employed to gather data on tree, shrub, herbaceous, and soil, respectively. To estimate organic carbon percentage, soil parameters were collected from three soil profiles (i.e., 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm). The results showed that MA had significantly higher above-ground carbon (AGC) with 67.9 ± 11.4 Mg ha−1, whereas BL had significantly higher below-ground carbon (BGC) stocks with 16.32 ± 5.5 Mg ha−1, compared to other gradients. However, FL had the lowest AGC (53.2 ± 4.5 Mg ha−1) and BGC (8.04 ± 2.9 Mg ha−1). FL exhibited a significantly higher SOC value than the other two land covers followed by WL. The BL had the lowest SOC value. SOC across the three soil profiles follows a reduction trend from topsoil depth to lower soil depth with significant variation. WL had relatively higher TC than the other gradients. But FL had the lowest TC stock. Due to a high amount of human and animal interference in FL, weak security, and law enforcement measures, it has low TC. In conclusion, FL should embrace the better ecological, policy, and socioeconomic considerations than the other land covers.