Browsing by Author "Mesfin, Meron"

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    Evaluation of writing tasks: Grade Nine New Textbook in focus By Meron Mesfin Advisor: Dr.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-05) Mesfin, Meron; Beriso, Italo (PhD)
    The main purpose of this study was to analyze the extent to which the writing tasks (activities) in the currently in use Grade 9 English textbook are well structured and organized in such a way that they could promote writing skills. The writing tasks were identified and analyzed base on the basic components of communicative tasks as well as the evaluation checklist for the communicative tasks suggested by Nunan (1989). Textbook analysis (content analysis), focus group discussion and questionnaire were the instruments used by the researcher, for availably sampled teachers and randomly selected students. To evaluate and interpret the data, the researcher wed qualitative methods. Findings of the study revealed that most of the writing activities do not fulfill many of the relevant criteria stated in the checklist which enable the students to communicate through writing in and outside the classroom. The findings also indicated although the goals (Objective) of the writing tasks clearly stated in the textbook for the students and teachers, they lack variety. Similarly, the contents as inputs are familiar to the students and satisfy the needs and interests of the learners but they do not provide enough information due to lack of adequate authentic materials together with their implementation. In a similar fashion, the activities in the course book satisfy the principle of meaningfulness, purposefulness, real worldliness and suitability of the use of pair/group work, yet they lack motivational values, variety, and authenticity; and are barley limited in including stages of tasks and topics raising high level of thought. Furthermore, the roles of students and teacher are clearly stated in the textbook, teacher’s guide and syllabus in giving guidance, facilitating and counseling roles to the teacher leaving the entire task to the learners. However, in a few activities the teacher’s roles are not clearly stated. Finally, the settings of the activities are flexible rather than fixed even if they do not provoke the use of pair/group work to a large extent. It is, therefore, recommended that textbook writers consider incorporating the six basic components of communicative tasks in the learner’s textbook when preparing the materials.
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    Health-Related Quality of life in Patients with non-traumatic myelopathy at two neurology referral clinics in Addis Ababa : Facility-based cross-sectional study
    (Addis Abeba University, 2020-11) Mesfin, Meron; Mamushet, Yared( MD, MSC); Belachew, Ayele (MD,MPH ); Alemayehu, Biniyam( MD)
    Background: Non-traumatic spinal cord injury is to a range of conditions caused by infection,autoimmune, vascular, neoplastic, metastatic, and compressive lesions. The health care option to patients with spinal cord injury, usually supportive and rehabilitative, assumes to have a longterm benefit, hence requires continuous monitoring of Quality of life as an outcome measure,with the overall goal of optimizing patient functioning and well-being. There is little information available on the quality of life in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury in Ethiopia. This study identifies the health-related quality of life in patients with non-traumatic myelopathy at two neurology referral clinics Of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and & Zewditu Memorial Hospital. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 50 patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury, using short-form -36 questionnaires to determine the Health-related Quality of life. The data was collected through face-to-face and through phoneinterviews from Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital from March 2019-October 2020. Results- The mean age of the patients was 42.5±14.33. 23(46%) of them were males and 27(54%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.1. 45(90%) patients were paraparetic and 18(36%) were bowel and bladder incontinent. The most common cause of non-traumatic myelopathy was compressive myelopathy (42%), followed by Transverse myelitis (34%). HIV myelopathy was seen in 4(8%) patients. The mean HRQOL was 37.08±25.41. 29(58%) patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury fall in the lower range of HRQOL (0-33) while 12(24%) and 9(18%) in the moderate range (34-66), and higher range (67-100) respectively. The role of physical and role emotional domains were significantly affected. The body pain domain was least affected. Patients who walk supported were found to have significantly lower HRQOL compared to those unsupported patients (OR= 0.009, 95%CI: 0.001-0.097, P-Value= 0.01). Patients with sphincter dysfunction have lower HRQOL compared to those patients with no sphincter dysfunction (OR =1.600, 95%CI: 1.223- 2.093). Unemployment was found to have a significant association with low HRQOL (OR=0.014, 95% CI 0.004-0.0092, P-value =0.0021). Conclusion -Patients with non-traumatic myelopathy have a low health-related quality of life. Walking with support, unemployed, and patients with sphincter dysfunction have low HRQOL. The role physical and role of the emotional domain were significantly affected so that physiological and emotional support should be part of the rehabilitation therapy. Government and non-government organization should involve NTSCI patients by forming platforms to suit employment of this group of patients.