Browsing by Author "Assefa, Selam"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Assessment on Offenders with Mental Health Problems at Lideta First Instance Court in Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2020-05) Assefa, Selam; Kebede (PhD), Emebet
    The study assessed court process on offenders with mental` health problems at Lideta First Instance Court in Addis Ababa. Qualitative research design and methods were employed to generate study participants‘ experiences at the Court. Qualitative data were collected from six case informants and 11 key informants using appropriate tools. To ensure the quality of the data, Data triangulation implemented and then collected them from different sources. To analyze qualitative data, phenomenological theme analysis and content analysis employed. Findings indicate the participants aware objectives of establishing the Court; there was screening, but no standardized practices of follow-up, supervision, and monitoring and evaluation; and the doctor engaged in psychoanalysis techniques supported by prosecutors and their families, but without social workers, sociologists, and psychiatrists‘ professional interventions in actual practice of handling offenders with mental problems. Opportunities created due to the MHC include: reducing time elapsed for trial of the cases, creating context for close consultation and easy exchange of information about the offenders‘ previous histories related to their mental health conditions by their families and the medical doctor, promoting ad sharing knowledge and skills related to handling cases on mental illness, and there were instances of establishing networks and partnerships between the Court and the relevant agencies in Addis Ababa. There were also inter-dependent gaps in the practice, including practice was not performed based on grassroots approach in that there were no required and relevant professionals as team members in the MHC; knowledge gaps in MHC principles and approach in the specialized Court; no triangulation of evidence on mental health status of the offenders diagnosed by the medical doctor; a violation of the offenders‘ rights; no established rehabilitation centre where the offender with mental problem would stay before and after Court‘s decisions; no well-coordinated and organized professional interventions provided; and no awareness creation of the problems among members of society. Consequently, there was no practice of registering insane persons at Ethiopian lowest administrative unit. Evidence further documented challenges like usage of improper words to express one‘s offence, being silent for longer time or throughout the interrogation session, being reluctant to go to the Court, and causing injuries to other criminals in the prison. In conclusion, actual practice at the Court is not comprehensive and lacks globally accepted standards for its establishment, creates certain limited opportunities for the offenders with mental illness, their families, and team members who participate in the process. Thus, all these have implications for social work practice at different levels in Ethiopian. Concomitantly, exploratory further studies using mixed methods in various Ethiopian contexts should be undertaken. Key words: Mental health, practice, challenge, Addis Ababa, offenders
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Estimating the Outdoor Recreational Value of Lake Hawassa: An Application of Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM)
    (Addis Ababa University, 2013-08) Assefa, Selam; Gelo, Dambala (PhD
    Many natural resources with great potential for outdoor recreation, in Ethiopia, are not studied well and are subject for various kinds of pollution that may even lead them to irreversible damages. Lake Hawassa, no different from this, is a source of natural attraction and a great place for outdoor recreation. But various problems and different values of the Lake are hindering its sustainability as a place where people can recreate outdoor. Hence a study of its value as an outdoor recreational area is necessary and this study uses the Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM) of environmental valuation technique for this purpose. Therefore with the main objective of estimating the outdoor recreational value of Lake Hawassa, 155 on site visitor samples were surveyed using a face to face interview. From the results age, travel cost and income were found to be significant determinants of demand for outdoor recreation while the other socio economic variables were insignificant. Using the Truncated Poisson Model (TPM) of regression the individual and total annual outdoor recreational benefit of Lake Hawassa was estimated to be Birr 446.3626 and Birr 72,572,760.12 respectively; while the individual and total annual consumer surplus was estimated to be Birr 227.8583 and Birr 37,046,811.82. Based on the results it is suggested that both the city administration and potential investors should use the result of the study as a base for current and future investment decisions. In addition, as the health of the lake, the flora and fauna species are being endangered by pollution of various types, care has to be given by all and there should be the enactment and implementation of policies and rules that hinder polluting activities and encourage protection of the lake to make sure the sustainable use of the resource.