Browsing by Author "Berhane, Helen"

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    The impact of empty running trucks on economy and environment: (A case study on the Addis Ababa- Djibouti Corridor)
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-03) Berhane, Helen; Gebresenbet, Girma (Professor)
    Road transport is the backbone of the real economy but its future health depends on providing better environmental and economic benefits, not simply more transport. And hence it calls for an efficient transport to improve the economic growth that takes into account the emissions that drives climate change. Vehicle utilization level is a measure of how efficiently the freight sector is transporting goods. When transporters cannot arrange for a return shipment, the empty truck move doesn‟t generate revenue, but accumulates costs in labor, equipment wear, and fuel and produce hazardous emissions. Currently, in Ethiopia, the gap in trade balance is very wide resulting in poor vehicle utilization level (for transport between the capital city and port), transparency is lacking and responsibilities are fragmented, and hence that the current road freight transport system is not taking advantage of its large scale. The main objective of this research was focused on providing a better understanding of goods transport along Addis Ababa – Djibouti corridor and describing the impact of vehicle utilization level inefficiency on the environment with respect to CO2 emission and on the economy of the country in terms of vehicle operating costs and loss of foreign currency in Ethiopia. A combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in this study. To reflect on the efficiency performance of the freight transport in Ethiopia particularly along Addis Ababa – Djibouti corridor, the goods flow, different stakeholders and constraints were mapped out and discussed based on the literature review and the interviews. Secondary data was collected from the different stakeholders and was analyzed using formulas from literature reviews to assess the load factor and empty running rates along Addis Ababa – Djibouti corridor. CO2 emission, truck operating costs, trade balance deficit and the loss in foreign currency due to the empty running trucks was also estimated. The study showed that the trade balance deficit is found to be the main transport inefficiency factor amounting to 90% trade imbalance, The rate of empty running which mainly results from the trade balance deficit is estimated to be 46% and the country is losing around 300 million dollars of foreign currency per year accompanied by a 200,000tons of unnecessary CO2 emission per year. This paper does not attempt to suggest that partly loaded or empty running trucks can be fully eliminated; however there is a room for improving the economic sector of the country by increasing export volume while sustaining the same CO2 emission level The impact of empty running truck on economy and environment (A case study on the Addis Ababa- Djibouti corridor) III if not decreasing the disadvantage that the emission contributes to the environment. Keywords: Road freight transport, empty running trucks, back-loading, trade balance deficit, efficiency
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    Reactions, Challenges and Coping Mechanisms of Mothers Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): the Case of Addis Ababa City
    (Addis Ababa University, 2016-02) Berhane, Helen; Betre, Yonas (PhD)
    Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurological disorder which causes impairments in multiple areas of development including social interaction, communication, and behavior. There is clear evidence that parents of children with autism face many challenges in dealing with their children‟s difficult behaviors that can lead to negative psychological outcomes, including exhaustion, stress and depression. Moreover, it is evident that parents encounter social challenges such as problems on family relationship and lack of understanding attached to the disorder by society that lead to discrimination not only of the autistic child but also of the family as a whole. However, despite the many challenges parents of children with autism usually identify coping strategies that will work for them. This study therefore aims to explore the lived experiences of mothers raising children diagnosed with autism on the psychological and social challenges they faced as well as coping mechanisms they found effective in dealing with those challenges. A qualitative phenomenological research design guided the data collection and analysis which included six deep interviews that were recorded. The results that were conceptualized under the four research questions containing fourteen themes indicate that raising a child with autism is characterized by many psychological and social challenges such as mothers lack of information and support during the time of diagnosis, worry about child‟s future, stress from managing a child with autism, not having a time for oneself, effect on family, difficulty finding education and treatment for their children and lack of understanding followed by negative comments from the society