Southern Ethiopia Research Articles

Level of option B+PMTCT drug adherence with male partner involvement and associated factors among breastfeeding women until 18 months in North Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: a multicentre cross-sectional study

BackgroundAdherence to option B+antiretroviral therapy medication is crucial for the effective implementation of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme. Ethiopia has adopted the WHO’s target of achieving over 95%...

Vaginal candidiasis prevalence, associated factors, and antifungal susceptibility patterns among pregnant women attending antenatal care at bule hora university teaching hospital, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundVulvovaginitis is common in women of reproductive age group characterized by purulent white discharge. The incidence of vulvovaginitis has risen recently due to the resistance of Candida species to commonly used antifungal agents and recurrent infections.ObjectiveThe study aimed to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and antifungal susceptibility patterns of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women attending Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023 to August 2023. Using systematic random sampling, 317 pregnant women participated in the study. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Chromogenic Candida Differential Agar were used to isolate and identify Candida species from clinical samples. Antifungal susceptibility was performed using a modified disc diffusion method. Epi data version 4.6 was used for data entry and Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 25 was used for statistical analysis. A P-value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant.ResultThe prevalence of vaginal candidiasis was 26.8% (95%, CI 21.9–31.72%). History of using contraceptives (AOR = 5.03, 95%CI, 1.21–11.37), past vaginal candidiasis (AOR = 6, 95%CI, 1.61–12.92), pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (AOR = 4.24, 95%CI, 1.23–14.14), diabetic mellitus (AOR = 2.17, 95%CI, 1.02–4.64), history of antibiotic use (AOR = 3.55, 95%CI, 1.67–12.75), pregnant women in third trimester (AOR = 8.72, 95%CI, 1.30–23.07), were the significantly associated factors for vaginal candidiasis. The study revealed that itraconazole, amphotericin B, and miconazole were the most effective antifungal drugs for all Candida isolates.ConclusionThe present study has identified a high prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women. The isolated Candida species showed resistance to fluconazole, ketoconazole, and clotrimazole. Therefore, healthcare providers should increase awareness of the risks of Candida infections to reduce Candida species among pregnant women. Physicians should prescribe suitable medications based on antifungal drug test outcomes to treat pregnant women with vaginal candidiasis.

Antibacterial Activity of Apis mellifera Bees Honey, Garlic Extracts and Their Combinations against Salmonella in Wolayta Sodo, Southern Ethiopia

Antibacterial Activity of Apis mellifera Bees Honey, Garlic Extracts and Their Combinations against Salmonella in Wolayta Sodo, Southern Ethiopia

Modern Drip Irrigation Technology on Tomato and Head Cabbage Production and Its Economic Feasibility at Misrak Silti District, Siltie Zone, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia various techniques were applied to improve on-farm irrigation water management under surface irrigation, especially on furrow irrigation system for last many years, however, it was very difficult to achieve threshold limit of water use efficiency, wisely use of scarce water resources in irrigated field, crop water productivity, precisely controlled application of irrigation water to plant roots, uniform water delivery to all plants, crop yield and its quality, regulate flow, deliver optimum crop water requirement, field water losses, groundwater withdrawal and save labor. It is great practical significance and series of measures using drip irrigation system to solve mentioned problems in irrigated field, because the irrigated agriculture is largest water-consuming sector in this area. This study was aimed to demonstrate drip irrigation technology, prove its economic feasibility and create skills of farmers and extension experts on implementation of the drip system on tomato (Galila 555) and head cabbage (Copen Hagen) productions within groundwater source area on Balo koriso main station in Misrak Silti woreda, Siltie zone, southern Ethiopia. The activity was done for four consecutive years (2019 to 2022 G. C) on fixed plot of 2500 square meter area in collaboration with Agricultural Research Institute and Techno serve project. During demonstration all the costs were considered to economic feasibility including initial investment cost. The study found that the use of drip irrigation saved 3690 m&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;/ha of water compared with use of furrow irrigation. This saved water may irrigate additional 2ha area of land by drip irrigation. This study also revealed that, a net income of 313066.04 ETB/ha in single irrigation season was obtained using modern drip irrigation technology. The farmers and local experts recognized noticeable saving water, fuel cost, irrigating time and labour, good crop performance from demonstrated drip irrigation system and shown interest to use the technology abundantly. Therefore, scaling up locally manageable drip irrigation system around the study area through comprehensive training of farmers and supportive staffs and allowing sufficient local market for drip kits and incentives or loan will be economically feasible and affordable to increase income and saves irrigation water.

Enhancing Coffee Agroforestry Systems Suitability Using Geospatial Analysis and Sentinel Satellite Data in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia.

The Gedeo zone agroforestry systems are the main source of Ethiopia's coffee beans. However, land-use and suitability analyses are not well documented due to complex topography, heterogeneous agroforestry, and lack of information. This research aimed to map the coffee coverage and identify land suitability for coffee plantations using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia. Remote sensing classifiers often confuse agroforestry and plantations like coffee cover with forest cover because of their similar spectral signatures. Mapping shaded coffee in Gedeo agroforestry using optical or multispectral remote sensing is challenging. To address this, the study identified and mapped coffee coverage from Sentinel-1 data with a decibel (dB) value matched to actual coffee coverage. The actual field data were overlaid on Sentinel-1, which was used to extract the raster value. Pre-processing, classification, standardization, and reclassification of thematic layers were performed to find potential areas for coffee plantation. Hierarchy levels of the main criteria were formed based on climatological, edaphological, physiographic, and socioeconomic factors. These criteria were divided into 14 sub-criteria, reclassified based on their impact on coffee growing, with their relative weights derived using AHP. From the total study area of 1356.2 km2, the mapped coffee coverage is 583 km2. The outcome of the final computed factor weight indicated that average annual temperature and mean annual rainfall are the primary factors, followed by annual mean maximum temperature, elevation, annual mean minimum temperature, soil pH, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), soil texture, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), slope, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), aspect, distance to roads, and distance to water, respectively. The identified coffee plantation potential land suitability reveals unsuitable (413 km2), sub-suitable (596.1 km2), and suitable (347.1 km2) areas. This study provides comprehensive spatial details for Ethiopian cultivators, government officials, and agricultural extension specialists to select optimal coffee farming locations, enhancing food security and economic prosperity.

Assessing the effectiveness of integrated watershed management practices and suggesting innovative strategies in southern Ethiopia

Integrated watershed management plays a vital role in promoting sustainable water resource management and addressing environmental challenges. This study aims to analyze and assess the effectiveness of existing IWM practices and develop new strategies to improve watershed management. The data collection process encompassed comprehensive field observations, surveys, and consultations with the stakeholders. According to a hydrometer test, loam soil was the average dominant soil type in Elgo and Kola shell kebele. The assessment of existing soil water conservation initiatives adhered to the rigorous standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture. From 2016 to 2022, Elgo Kebele saw significant land use changes: agriculture expanded by 11.24 %, bare land by 2.05 %, water bodies by 1.79 %, and settlements by 0.54 %, while forests declined by 15.34 %. In Kola Shele, agriculture, water bodies, and settlements slightly increased by 0.5 %, 1.03 %, and 0.033 %, respectively, with decreases in bare land (1.82 %) and forest (0.05 %). Only 25 % of sampled plots met the criteria for effective soil water conservation systems, indicating challenges in current practices. For cultivated land with less than a 15 % slope and vertisol, recommended conservation practices include broad bed and furrow, conservation tillage, grass strips, grassland improvement, and mulching. For slopes greater than 50 %, hillside terracing, graded bunds, and trenches are advised. Additional measures, such as water harvesting, grass waterways, revegetation, and actions against illegal farming, were proposed. In summary, this study highlights the urgent need for improved IWM practices, and used to enhance watershed management, address environmental and socio-economic issues, and promote sustainable land use in the study.

Undernutrition and its determinants among children aged 6–59 months in Southern Ethiopia

Malnutrition is responsible for over one-third of deaths among children under the age of five in low-and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia, and is largely preventable. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and its contributing factors among children aged 6–59 months in the Gedio zone of Southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was used, and data were collected from 403 children and their mothers selected through random sampling technique. Anthropometric measures were converted to Z-scores using WHO-Anthro version 3.2.2 software. The prevalence of underweight, wasting, and stunting were 19.7% (95% CI 16-24%), 10% (95% CI 7–13%), and 49% (95% CI 44–54%) respectively. Low birth weight (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI (1.585–4.895), feeding non-diversified diet (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI (1.036–3.497), and being unvaccinated (AOR: 2.0; 95%CI (1.013–4.197) were significantly associated with being underweight. Family size of ≥ 5 (AOR = 4.4, CI (1.274–5.059), meal frequency of < 3 times per a day (AOR = 2.3, CI (1.037–5.024), and index birth interval of < 24 months (AOR = 2.2, CI (1.015–4.843) were significantly associated with wasting. Similarly, children aged ≥ 24 months (AOR = 2.8, CI (1.769–4.474), feeding non-diversified diet (AOR = 1.8, CI (1.153–2.894), total duration of breast-feeding < 12 months (AOR = 4.0, CI (2.547–6.429), and mothers BMI below 18.5 (AOR = 2.2, CI (1.328–3.718) were identified as a predictors of stunting. The study revealed significant levels of undernutrition, including underweight, wasting, and stunting, among children in the study area. Factors such as birth weight, dietary diversity score, and vaccine status were found to be strongly linked to underweight. Additionally, living in a large family, meal frequency, and birth interval were significantly associated with wasting. The age of the child, duration of breastfeeding, dietary diversity score, and maternal BMI status were also significantly linked to stunting. To address this issue, the study recommends promoting healthier feeding practices, dietary diversification, optimal breastfeeding, complete vaccination, wider birth intervals, and improving maternal nutrition to reduce undernutrition among children aged 6–59 months in the area. Implementing these measures could significantly improve the health of children in the study area.

Peripheral neuropathy and associated factors among children living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundPeripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common neurological complication of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) that can significantly affect patients’ quality of life. In Ethiopia, children living with HIV are at an increased risk of developing peripheral neuropathy due to comorbidities such as anemia, tuberculosis, malnutrition, and poor socio-economic status. Our study aims to evaluate the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among children living with HIV in Ethiopia using a simple clinical screening tool.MethodsA health institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 children aged 5 to 18 years living with HIV who are receiving treatment at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic of the randomly selected public health institutions in the Gamo zone. An interview and neurologic examination were conducted. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in the bi-variable logistic regression analysis were entered and checked for association in a multivariable logistic regression model. The level of statistical significance was declared at the p-value < 0.05.ResultIn this study, 148 children participated, making a response rate of 97.5%. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of the respondents was 15.03 ± 2.99 years, and 81(54.7%) were male. The magnitude of PN was 20.9% (31/148). Children in the age category of 15–18 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.88, 95%CI; 1.24–4.60), low BMI for age (AOR = 1.66, 95%CI; 1.12–4.15), last exposure to isoniazid within 1 year (AOR = 2.31, 95%CI; 1.12–8.53). Longer duration of HIV illness (AOR = 2.17, 95%CI; 1.54–4.64), and past tuberculosis (TB) treatment (AOR = 2.11, 95%CI; 1.08–7.48) were significantly associated factors with peripheral neuropathy.ConclusionOur analysis revealed that being in the age category of 15–18 years, low BMI for age, Isoniazid exposure, longer Duration of HIV illness, and past TB treatment were significantly associated with peripheral neuropathy in children living with HIV. These disease-related factors may contribute to the development and progression of peripheral neuropathy in this population.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

The Practice of Urban Planning In Managing Urban Expansion: The Case of Level-I Towns in Southern Ethiopia

The world’s urbanization continues to grow rapidly occurring in developing regions. The rapid pace of urbanization without equivalent economic growth causes uneven spatial dispersion, land speculation, urban sprawl, ecological damage, and socio-cultural chaos. Urban planning is a key tool in managing such urbanization and particularly urban expansion challenges through several strategies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the practice of urban planning in managing urban expansion by applying both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The first-hand data was collected by a structured questionnaire survey, interview, and physical observation, whereas secondary data was analyzed from spatial and non-spatial data of the study towns, national urban policy and strategy documents, and the national urban development spatial plan. Descriptive analysis, principal factor analysis, spatial trend analysis, and content analysis techniques were applied with the help of the SPSS and GIS analysis tools to reach the findings. The practices of urban planning in managing the urban expansion of the study town were evaluated on the basis of factors including urban spatial growth management, community engagement, economic change, and peri-urban communities’ understanding of urban planning. The major findings indicated that these variables are poorly practical, and their failure has been collectively posing significant obstacles to the effectiveness of urban planning. This implies that the urban planning practice in managing urban expansion was insignificant in the study towns. Therefore, it is best to use the alternative expansion area planning strategy, that promotes planned spatial growth, community inclusivity, mixed economic activity, environmental sustainability, and the community’s awareness of expansion areas.

Incidence and risk factors of common infections among children in Wonago, southern Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study

ObjectiveThere are limited data in Ethiopia on common childhood illnesses. We aimed to measure the incidence and risk factors of common childhood illnesses in rural parts of southern Ethiopia.DesignA community-based...

Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Producing Actinomycetes from Soils of Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia

Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Producing Actinomycetes from Soils of Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia

Bovine Mastitis: Staphylococcus aureus isolation and identification from Small holder Dairy Farms located in and around Hawassa town, Southern Ethiopia

Bovine Mastitis: Staphylococcus aureus isolation and identification from Small holder Dairy Farms located in and around Hawassa town, Southern Ethiopia

Performance Evaluation of Woybo Irrigation Scheme: Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Performance evaluation of irrigation scheme is vital for realizing the present status and identifying the area for improvement. The study was conducted in Woybo irrigation scheme which is located in Boloso Sore district, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of Woybo irrigation scheme with internal performance indicators. A total of nine demonstrating farmers&amp;apos; fields were selected from three canal reaches (head, middle, and tail) through purposive sampling. Primary and secondary data were collected, recorded, and analyzed. To measure the water applied to each experimental field, Parshall flume was installed, and soil samples were taken to determine soil texture, field capacity, permanent wilting point, and soil moisture content before and after each irrigation event at regular soil depth intervals. The results revealed that the mean conveyance efficiency was 60.85% and the application efficiency was 48.53%. Water distribution uniformity, deep percolation, and storage efficiencies were 84.56%, 51.47%, and 85.22%, respectively. However, the overall irrigation efficiency was found to be 29.53%, which was poorly performed due to inadequate water application, ineffective field water management, and low efficiency in water delivery systems. The main factors contributing to the poor water delivery performance included failures in water regulating gates, leakages, and siltation of canals. To address these problems, recommendations are made such as improvements in water application techniques should be implemented, through proper irrigation scheduling, water conservation practices, surge irrigation techniques, and providing extension support, training, and experience sharing. Additionally, maintenance and lining of earthen canals are necessary, along with the replacement and repair of leakages and broken water regulating and controlling structures. These measures can help to upgrade water delivery efficiency and improve the overall performance of the irrigation scheme.

Population Dynamics of Coffee Thrips (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Diarthrothrips coffeae&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Using Sticky Traps with Different Essential Oils

Coffee (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Coffea arabica &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;L.) is one of the most traded commodities worldwide, and it is grown in about 80 coffee producing countries. Ethiopia is the origin of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;coffea arabica&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L which is grown in different production systems. Insect pests are one of the biotic factors that contribute to low yield and quality. Thrips are key insect pests in several coffee-producing regions in Southern Ethiopia. This study evaluated blue sticky traps treated with different essential oils to monitor the population dynamics of coffee thrips over three years. The experiment was conducted at the Awada sub center research site on established coffee plots, with six treatments and three replications. The results showed a significantly different in the number of coffee thrips populations per week, month and year. In the 2021 cropping season, the highest number of coffee thrips was caught on sage oil-treated sticky traps in the second week of trap installation (WK2=77.50). In the 2022 cropping season, the highest number of coffee thrips was caught on lavander oil-treated sticky traps in the third week of trap installation (WK3=1,100.33). In the 2023 cropping season, the highest number of coffee thrips was caught on lavander oil-treated sticky traps in the third week of trap installation (WK3=2,320.00). Thus, the blue sticky trap treated with lavender oil attracted a higher thrips population in 2022 and 2023 year. Therefore, lavander oil is a promising essential oil along with the blue sticky trap for monitoring coffee thrips populations.

Impacts of Climate Change on Temperature and Rainfall on Dawa Sub-watershed, Genale Dawa River Basin, Southern Ethiopia

Understanding how climate change affects the frequency and length of temperature and rainfall is global issue. Climate change is statistical variations over an extended period in the features of the climate system, such as variations in global temperatures and precipitation, caused by human and natural sources. In this work coordinated regional climate downscaling experiment for Africa, which integrates climate forecasts from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project5 based on an ensemble of GCM RCM model was used to statistically downscale the climate change scenarios. This study aimed to estimate climate change impacts on temperature and rainfall. The impact of climate change has been evaluated by reporting under RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. For the extraction and bias correction of the daily maximum and minimum temperature, as well as rainfall of 30-year overlap periods, CMhyd has been employed. The annual minimum temperatures are predicted to increase by 2.94, 3.45, 3.21, and 3.59°C and annual maximum temperatures increased by 2.61, 2.83, 2.71 and 3.36°C for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 respectively. The change in rainfall reveals annual average decreases of 8.45 to 9.3% and 10.5 to 10.95% at RCP4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Considering the evaluated parameters, minimum and maximum temperatures increased trends but for the rainfall, large fluctuations were predicted. Moreover, in the study years for the parameters in all simulated models, the RCP8.5 scenario estimated a higher amount than the RCP4.5 scenario. Implement various trees, apply water harvesting structure, Surface runoff harvesting and more multiple GCM-RCM driving models with various RCM outputs to improve more prediction accuracy in the future studies.

Effects of integrated fertilizer application on selected soil properties and yield attributes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on different soil types

In Ethiopia, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity remains low because of low soil fertility. However, both plant production and soil fertility benefit from integrated application of fertilizers. Thus, this study investigates the effect of integrated application of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers on selected soil properties and yield components of common bean. A field experiment was conducted at three sites in southern Ethiopia, under two consecutive cropping season (2021 and 2022). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments included three levels of inorganic fertilizer (Triple Superphosphate, TSP), applied at 0, 42.5, and 85 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Kokate; 0, 29, and 58 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Hawassa; and 0, 35.5, and 71 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Alage, tailored to the specific conditions of each site. Additionally, the experiment incorporated three levels of organic inputs 0, 5 t biochar ha⁻1, and 5 t compost ha⁻1 as well as Rhizobium inoculation (HB-429) applied at 500 g ha⁻1. These treatments were designed to assess the combined effects of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers on soil health and crop performance. Results showed that the integrated application of inorganic, and organic fertilizers significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved soil pH, soil organic carbon, and available P compared with the sole fertilizer application plots. Similarly, the integrated use of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers increased nodule numbers, seed weight, grain yield, and biomass yield. We also found that 23 and 24 % higher grain yield were achieved with integrated applications of TSP fertilizer with compost on Hawassa and Alage sites than sole inorganic fertilizer application. On the other hand, the integrated application of TSP fertilizer with biochar increased by 18 % grain yield on Kokate over the sole application of inorganic fertilizer. The highest economic benefit of 69,460 and 63,250 ETB was obtained from the integrated application of TSP fertilizer with compost at Hawassa and Alage sites, respectively. The highest economic benefit for the Kokate site was 53,583 ETB at TSP fertilizer with biochar application. Overall, the study confirms that site-specific integrated soil fertility management appears to be a prerequisite for sustainable and profitable common bean production over sole fertilizer application in southern Ethiopia.

Prevalence and determinants of occupational depression, anxiety, and stress among Ethiopian healthcare workers

Studies on the prevalence and factors of depression, and anxiety symptoms from a work-ascribed or causal perspective are not available and studies on the prevalence of occupational stress in Ethiopia are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational depression, job anxiety, and occupational stress, and to identify their determinants in healthcare workers. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study in selected public hospitals in the Central and Southern Ethiopia from 16th January to 28th February 2023. We used stratified random sampling to select 9 public hospitals from three strata: primary, general and tertiary hospitals. We collected data using scales of perceived occupational stress, occupational depression inventory, and job anxiety. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis followed by determining the prevalence of those mental symptoms and identifying independent factors using multiple ordinal logistic regression. Among 1426 healthcare workers, the overall prevalence of occupational depressive, job anxiety, and occupational stress symptoms were 39.0%, 57.6%, and 68.0%, respectively. Females, medical specialists, participants with a history of disease or injury, those with low job dissatisfaction, higher sleeping disorder scores, higher life-threatening events (LTEs) scores, and longer working hours were more likely to report occupational depressive symptoms. Participants with poor perceived health significantly increased the odds of reporting job anxiety symptoms. Participants with low job satisfaction, a history of workplace verbal violence, higher scores for sleep disorders, and higher LTEs score had significantly greater odds of reporting both job anxiety and occupational stress symptoms. Younger participants were also more likely to report occupational stress symptoms. Our study highlights the need to prioritize workplace mental health interventions for healthcare workers. The study also suggested the need to address gender, educational level, job satisfaction, and sleep hygiene, develop coping mechanisms for LTEs, prevent workplace violence, and manage of working hours per week to enhance the mental well-being of healthcare workers in Ethiopia.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-POSITIVE women in Southern Ethiopia.

Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) medication is the major predictor of HIV/AIDS treatment success. Poor adherence to HAART creates the risk of transmitting HIV, deteriorating health conditions, treatment failure, increased occurrences of drug-resistant HIV, morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to explore and describe factors influencing HAART adherence among HIV-positive women in Southern Ethiopia. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was used among 220 randomly selected respondents. Data was collected with a structured interview guide after each respondent had given consent to take part in the study. The collected data was entered into and analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program version 27. The level of self-reported adherence (measured by dose) to HAART in the past 30days was found to be 82.7%. In multivariate analysis, the divorced/separated HIV-positive women had poor adherence to their HAART medication as compared to those who were married [AOR: 2.94, 95% CI: (1.02-8.44)]. Respondents who used reminders in their medication were 75% less likely to be poorly adherent to their HAART medication than those who did not use reminders [AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: (0.06-0.97)]. Those who self-reported depression, perceived stigma, and low perceived susceptibility had poor adherence to their HAART than those who did not report depression, perceived stigma, and low perceived susceptibility [AOR:2.34, 95% CI: (1.01-5.42)], [AOR:2.37, 95% CI: (1.06-5.34)], and [AOR: 4.1, 95% CI: (1.53-11.1)] respectively. HIV-positive women who self-reported low perceived severity were poorly adherent to HAART than those who self-reported high perceived severity [AOR: 2.92, 95% CI: (1.14-7.47)]. Factors including being divorced/separated, not using reminders, depression, perceived stigma, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity negatively impact HIV-positive women's adherence to HAART.

The Effect of Inventory Management Practices on Service Delivery: A Study of Sawula General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of inventory management practices on service delivery of Sawula General Hospital. The study employed both descriptive and explanatory research designs to conduct this research. It contained a qualitative and quantitative component that enables the researcher to assess the study easily. The total population of this study was 459 and the researcher takes 293 as sample size from staff’s members, Health department experts and patients. The sampling technique of the study was stratified sampling technique. Primary data were mainly collected using self- administered questionnaires consisting of closed ended questions with 5-point Likert Scale. Data were also collected through questionnaires and interview. The collected data were quantitatively analyzed using SPSS to produce descriptive and inferential statistics and regression analysis. The key findings from the study revealed that there is gap on Sawula General Hospital was relation to applying poor inventory management practice which caused dissatisfaction of the patient/client with the service delivery. Moreover, the finding shows that the inventory management practice was also challenged by shortage of budget and lack of training on inventory management, bureaucratic process and lack of computerized system to manage the inventory. Based on the major findings, the study recommends that applying the scientific concepts of inventory management practices and implementing awareness creation mechanisms to develop patients’ perception of service delivery to increase proper inventory management which realize improved customer service and inventory management by responsible bodies. Moreover, it was also recommended that, the hospital should create ways in solving the critical challenges by allocating enough budgets, avoiding bureaucratic process in procurement, filling knowledge gaps through different trainings.

Fatal landslides in Kencho, Shacha & Gozdi villages, Gofa zone, Ethiopia: A detailed investigation (Geological, Geotechnical, geophysical & geospatial) of the July 22, 2024 catastrophe and its socioeconomic repercussions

A landslide is one of the geological hazards that cause the most disaster in densely populated areas. The landslide that occurred in Gezie Gofa woreda, Gofa Zone, Kencho Shacha Gozdi village, killed more than 250 people. Two landslides occurred on July 22, 2024, at 8:30 and 10:40 AM The first landslide killed six people and demolished three houses. The second landslide killed more than 245 people, including those who came to the site to excavate the buried bodies during the first landslide. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the landslide causative factors, model the landslide susceptibility, and characterize the landslide disaster on socioeconomic effects that occurred on July 22, 2024. The landslide inventory data, field surveys, laboratory analyses, and various geophysical surveys characterized the current and past landslides of the area. The landslide susceptibility model was modeled using a statistical approach in the GIS. environment. The socioeconomic effects were assessed using field surveys and systematic interviews with the victims. The conditioning factors selected for landslide susceptibility modeling are lithology, geological structures, groundwater, slope, land use or land cover, aspect, curvature, and elevation. The major triggering factor of the landslide in the area was heavy rainfall, which occurred on July 21–22, 2024, between 3:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. The results reveal that the significant conditioning factors of the landslide in the study area are geological structures (both visible and inferred), groundwater, slopes, and human activities. The characterized socioeconomic effects include the destruction of agricultural land, the demolishing of houses, and the loss of human lives, as well as several people evacuated and sheltered under tents and churches. However, the most momentous disaster in the area is the loss of human life. Based on the research results, it would be better to relocate those people living in the high landslide susceptible zones, and all high landslide-prone areas and mountainous terrain in southern Ethiopia should be mapped, and the people should be aware of the landslide risk areas.