DSpace Collection: ILS Proceedings - The 19th Annual Conference

LEVELS, DIFFERENTIALS AND DETERMINANTS OF MALNUTRITION AMONG WOMEN IN ETHIOPIA

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:09:04 GMT

Title: LEVELS, DIFFERENTIALS AND DETERMINANTS OF MALNUTRITION AMONG WOMEN IN ETHIOPIA

Authors: FIKREWOLD HADDIS

Abstract: ABSTRACT The millennium development goal (MDG 5) of reducing maternal mortality by three quarters between 1990 and 2015 is highly related with poor women’s nutritional status. Poor maternal nutrition is directly associated with mother’s resistance to infection or maternal ill health during pregnancy and child birth. Therefore providing obstetric care alone is not going to be enough solution for the problem, unless otherwise poor women’s nutritional status is resolved. In depth understanding women’s nutritional status is therefore crucial in any attempt to attain the goal of reducing maternal mortality level and food security. In this regard, this study examines the levels, differentials and determinants of malnutrition among women in Ethiopia. The main purpose of the study is to assess the levels, socio-economic and demographic differentials and to analyse their determinants. The paper uses the large data set from the 2005 Ethiopian demographic and health survey on 4080 non pregnant and non lactating women aged 15-49 in rural and urban parts of the country. Women’s body mass index (Kg/m2) is used for the purpose of analysing women’s nutritional status and those with BMI value less than 18.5 are at risk of chronic energy deficiency (CED). Logistic regression model was employed at multivariate analysis to identify important determinant factors of women’s malnutrition. The study reveals that 27.6 percent of the women are malnourished of which 23.1 percent are moderately and 4.5 percent are severely deprived. Levels were almost 2 times higher in rural areas than urban areas. The study identifies women’s age, parity, current marital status, place of residence, region, house hold economic status, occupation and women decision making autonomy as important factors in explaining the variation in women’s nutritional status. In rural areas non educated women in the age group 15-19 and 45-49, living in regions Tigray ,Gambella Amhara Ben-shangul Gumuz and Somali are found to be under nourished. In urban areas where as never married and divorced women, with poor and very poor household economic status living in regions Tigray and Gambella are at risk.Hence to improve the situation the Policy should focus on creating mechanisms and opportunities to increase agricultural production and women’s education as well as providing better access to health care, particularly, in rural areas.

Description: A THESIS SUBMITTED TO: THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN POPULATION STUDIES

DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CORRELATES OF AGRICULTURAL INCOME IN SIBU-SIRE DISTRICT, EAST WELLEGA OF OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:03:49 GMT

Title: DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CORRELATES OF AGRICULTURAL INCOME IN SIBU-SIRE DISTRICT, EAST WELLEGA OF OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Authors: DANIEL EBBA

Abstract: ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to examine the demographic and socio economic correlates of agricultural income in Sibu Sire district, East Wellega Zone. The basic data for the study was obtained from randomly selected households on the basis of survey questionnaire, FGDs and Key informant’s using checklists and guidelines. Various descriptive statistics like percentages, means, and coefficient of variations were employed to analyze the data. The findings show that demographic variables like age, marital status, and household size have a direct impact on income generated from agricultural productions. In this case married respondents have more income than the other forms of marital status. Concerning age of the respondents, older age groups have more income than the younger age groups. From socio-economic correlates farm size and farm inputs (like fertilizer, pesticide and improved seed) have direct relation with the amount of income generated from agricultural productions. On the basis of the findings of the study, the following key recommendations are forwarded: • Attempts being made at present to increase agricultural productivity have to be strengthened and encouraged. • Measures should be taken to efficiently utilize human resources in order to improve agricultural income. • Special attention should also be given for the stability of marriage. • Proper attention should be given for how to use and manage farm lands because a given household head on average in Ethiopia has nearly half a hectare. • The emphasis given for the provision and dissemination of modern farm inputs like fertilizer, pesticide and selected seed by the governments and other stakeholders should be strengthen.

Description: IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN POPULATION STUDIES

CAUSES OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE COUNTER MEASURES ON ADDIS ABABA-SHASHEMENE ROADS

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:56:09 GMT

Title: CAUSES OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE COUNTER MEASURES ON ADDIS ABABA-SHASHEMENE ROADS

Authors: Getu Segni

Abstract: ABSTRACT Road traffic accidents occur as a result of several factors associated with the traffic system, namely: road users, road environment and vehicles. In year 2004/5, 93% of all accidents involved human factors, 5% accounted for vehicle factors, and 2% were associated with road environments according to the Federal police report. Despite having low road network density and vehicle ownership, Ethiopia has a relatively high accident records. In this regards, the traffic accident death rate per ten thousand motor vehicles in 2001/02-2004/5 was in the range of 129 and 145. Road accidents are concentrated in few of the regions in the country. The capital city of Addis Ababa and Oromia region account for 58 per cent of all fatal accidents and two thirds of all injuries. This study is carried out to identify black spots and possible causes of road traffic accidents and to identify low cost engineering countermeasures. The research is done by reviewing road traffic growth, the existing legislative framework of road transport, and road traffic accidents for the last four years in the country. Previous studies were also reviewed having access to the information in other countries in order to understand the existing knowledge and experiences. Road and traffic data were collected from fieldwork and accident data were gathered from pertinent police stations. Each accident spots was measured with reference to kilo meter post that is available in the Addis Ababa-Shashemene road. A total of 1108 reported accidents were collected out of which 309 were fatal accidents, 206 were serious injuries, and 86 were slight injuries and 507 were property damages. Statistical analysis was made on the collected accident data. The characteristics of accident in built-up (towns) and non built up (rural) areas were tabulated and analyzed separately. Fortysix per cent of the accidents occurred in built-up areas, which covered only 17.7 percent of the study road length. Pedestrian accidents and multiple-vehicle accidents were dominated in urban areas. Single vehicle non-pedestrian and rollover accidents were higher in non-built-up areas. Fifty-two percent of the accidents occurred at tangent and level section of the roads. This is associated with speed limit violation. The results of the study indicated that increases in accident rates were highly associated with gradient and sharp curves. ADT, numbers of lanes and grade have positive relationships with accident rates i.e. the section with less traffic, lanes and grades resulted in less accident rates whenever these variables increased. Similarly, accidents were plotted using GIS software and nine accident black spots were identified. Out of these, six were on scheme roads and three were at intersections. Greater or equal to ninety percentile of accident rate for schemes and junctions were applied in order to select these dangerous sections. At ninety percentile, rate of accident was 3.459 Mvkm for scheme. Six road sections were found above either of the two accident rates. In case of junctions, ninety percentile was 0.728626 Mv junctions. Three spots had above the ninth percentile value and considered for in-depth study. The main causes of accidents at black spots were identified to be unavailability of proper pedestrian facilities, high volume of pedestrian traffic, drivers’ fatigue, lack of awareness of traffic rules and regulations, and violation of speed limit. In addition, densities of accidents per kilometer were verified as a function of access points in towns. Narrow bridges, inadequate sight distances at curves, road curvature, no proper traffic signs, and faded road markings are usually causes of accidents. Finally, low cost engineering measures are recommended to reduce the number of road accidents at identified black spots and other sections. However, the effect should be evaluated after some period.

STREAM FLOW SIMULATION FOR THE UPPER AWASH BASIN

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:45:57 GMT

Title: STREAM FLOW SIMULATION FOR THE UPPER AWASH BASIN

Authors: Shimelis Behailu

Abstract: Abstract The Awash Basin is the most utilized and most developed basin in Ethiopia. After the construction of the Koka dam the feature of the basin is changed in large extent. Heavy rainfall in the upstream catchments causes large inflow discharges to Koka Lake. At times where the water level is already close to the maximum water level, the excess water must be discharged through the spillways in order to prevent overtopping of the dam. The discharge through the spillway, together with the water discharged through the power plant turbines, has in the past caused flooding in the downstream areas, most notably in August 1996. To prevent the downstream areas from flooding, the water level in the lake could be lowered in advance provided the inflows could be forecasted. For this reason, the FEWS-SFM was calibrated for the Upper Awash Basin using five years (1991-1995) of stream flow and rainfall records. The model was verified using another five years data (1996-2000). Ground observed data were used for the calibration for both the physical characteristics of the basin and the dynamic inputs: rainfall and potential evapotranspiration. Simulation was done in three scenarios of defining the basin. First the basin is defined to have a single outlet at Melka Hombole hydrologic station. The second scenario divided the basin into six subbasins and the last scenario is made by dividing the catchment to thirty five subbasins. It is seen that the second scenario represented the rainfall runoff to an acceptable range both visually and statistically. The Nash and Sutcliff goodness of criteria (R2) was used for testing the model performance. R2 = 0.63 was obtained for the calibration and the verification yield R2 = 0.6. The simulation of the basin has underestimated the peak summer (July – August) and overestimated flow from March to June. The dry period flow is underestimated. However, further refinement of the DEM and investigation on the DEM and investigation on the way soil properties influencing the rainfall runoff process in the model may improve the model main rainy period flow and overestimation of the small rainfall period. From the results obtained further investigation on the way soil properties influencing the rainfall runoff process in the model is necessary.

Description: A thesis submitted to School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Masters of Science in Civil Engineering