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Item Fertility and Child Mortality in Agricultural Households of Rural Ethiopia: The Case of Arssi Administrative Region(Addis Ababa University, 1986-04) Seleshi, KebedeItem Employment and Income in the Urban Informal Sector; A case Study of Katikala Producers in Assela Town(Addis Ababa University, 1999-06) Wolde, TesfayeKatikala, which in the past was a traditional home made alcoholic drink, has now became a commercial item and is supporting considerable number of labour force (of female), particularly in urban parts of Ethiopia. The purpose of this study is to assess employment and income generating capacity of katikala business in Assela town. In order to achieve this, a multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. Usable questionnaires were collected from 200 katikala producing households in six systematically selected kebeles andfrom 30 katikala distributors. In order to achieve this objective, both descriptive and statistical analytical techniques have been utilized. Pearson's product moment model was employed so as to measure the degree of association between the dependent variable (income) and the different independent variables. The Dega and Weina-Dega partsof Arsi Zone have excess production of crops like barley, wheat, tef!, etc. while the adjacent low-lands (kola) parts are producing excess volume of maize, sorghum and others. As a result all the inputs for the production of Katikala are available in and around Assela. The finding indicated that Katikala industry is found to support huge labour force (almost entirely of female) particularly in the production sector. Lack of job opportunity, family responsibility, insufficient family income from other sources are found to be the major pushing factors for the operators to be involved into the activity. The producers are using simple and rudimentary tools and they work unsanitary conditions. The finding further revealed that Katikala producers generate average monthly income of Birr J 02. 9, while the distributors get average monthly income of Birr 260. O. Both the producers and distributors of Katikala are carrying out other side line activities in Katikala business to augment their incomes. Of the total volume of Katikala produced in Assela, 68 to 80% is exported and destined at Addis Ababa (Akaki and Kality), Nazreth (including Wonji), Methehara, Harar, Dire-Dawa and others. These towns constitute substantial proportion of industrial labour force whose monthly income is amongst the lowest in the country. These low salaried and waged people are found to be the major consumers of such liquors as Tella and Katikala.As the study underscored, monthly income of the producers was influenced by lack of capital, family size as well as the level of income from other sideline activities. Similarly, investing capital, work experience and their age are found to be the principal determinants of income of the distributors. The problems of housing, fluctuation of cost of input and out put, inadequate infrastructural facilities, the rudimentary equipment used in the activity and the backward techniques of production are found to be major constraints among the producers. On the distributors side, absence of defined or predetermined location for sale of katikala in the open market, inadequacy of the existing transportation and the excessive governmental tax were reported as major constraintsItem The Survival Mechanisms o£ Female Household Heads in a Small Town of Et.hiopia: The Cese o£ Holote Genet.(Addis Ababa University, 1999-06) Toma, Senbetie; Mulugeta, Solomon (PhD)Female household heads are common all round the world. Their number is also increasing. Above all they are a severely disadvantaged group of society both socially and economically. The urban female household heads, in particular, are the most vulnerable group of the society to most of the urban problems. This study, therefore, aims at assessing the socio-economic and survival mechanisms of urban female household heads. The town of Holota Genet is the study area. The data used in the study was gathered through a questionnaire survey by considering 122 female household heads. About 64 percent of the respondents were widows and 26 percent were divorcees. The rest (10%) became household heads because of other reasons. All of the respondents were engaged in the informal sector at the time of the survey. As a common feature of this sector, the income of the respondents was relatively very low. Most of the respondents reported that they have decreased their level of participation in traditional savings such as Idir and Iqub because of their financial constraints. The divorcees were more likely to engage in prostitution than the widowed. The widows, on the other hand, were more likely to own their dwelling units than the divorcees. The female household heads use various survival mechanisms. Some of them send their children to work in order to generate income. Some others have given their children to adoptive parents and relatives. Remarriage, geographic mobility, sale of assets, diversification of items of sale, borrowing of money and cohabitation with male partners are also commonly observed among the female household heads. Among the identified survival mechanisms, borrowing money was reported by almost all of the respondents. Change of residence, change of occupation and giving away children to adoptive parent followed it in importance.Item Evaluation of the Implementation of Science Radio Broadcasts in the Primary Schools of Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2001-06) Tadesse, Tefera; Nekatibeb, Teshome (PhD)Item Social Networks , Conflict and Indigenous Conflict Resolution Mechanisms Among the Derba Oromo of North Shewa(Addis Ababa University, 2005-01) Gudisa, Demissie; Tolera (ph.D), AsefaThe Oromo of Derba had been engaged in endemic conflicts among themselves through out their history. Homicide and the Guma resolution mechanism have continued to the present decade though the imposition of the state laws to ban the indigenous mechanisms is beyond expectation. This thesis attempts to explain the underlying causes, motives, types and nature of Derba Oromo conflict in general. It reviews some theoretical approaches to the study of social networks, conflicting human behavior and demonstrates that the Derba Oromo conflict was rooted in their social structure. This study clearly reveals that networks playa significant role in conflict enhancing or as a means of bringing peace. Thus, individuals can manipulate their contacts to destroy their enemy. On the contrary, members of lineage could ostracize their members who are provocative and always tend to drag them into conflict. This way avoiding the notorious network member is preferred to entering the unjustifiable conflict with their neighbors. Among the Derba Oromo Walwaalechaa (kinship relationship) is still intact as it fulfills the expected kinship obligations. Moreover, important contacts and coalitions are proved to enable individuals to attain their goals even though the alliance is temporary. Despite the imposition from the government that litigants should t!'ike their cases to courts, the people still prefer the traditional Jaarssumma (moot) to settle their disputes. Thus, they try to avoid the legal courtroom as much as possible and go to the therapeutic and conciliatory moot. This research has found out that, using the traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, the Derba Oromo go to the extent of settling homicide cases through Seera Waadaa (Agre~ment reached among the Woreda elderly). This way homicide cases are resolved by the payment of Guma (compensation), which is facilitated by Daachii (selected elders). It also shows the role of the Qallu in conflict resolution process. A litigant who refuses to settle conflict is forced by the Qallu to uphold the approved patterns of social conduct. The Qallu is highly respected and feared that if anyone is pleaded by the name of the Ayyaana responds quickly. So the Qallu institution is visited by its followers time and again not only for spiritual ceremony. The institution serves as the center of dispute resolution. Most of the time people settle their disputes at the Qallu center with mutual understanding ' and the interference of the Qallu himself.Item Practice of Inter-Country Adoption in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2005-06-20) Alemu, Tenagane; Peras, Donna(Professor)This qualitative study explores and describes the practice of inter-country adoption in Ethiopia. The study sample included 13 key informants, 11 in-depth interviewees, 15 participants in FGDs, and physical observation of the court, agencies and orphanages. Major findings included that while inter-country adoption serves many children well, inter-country adoption as practice in Ethiopia has various problems that compromise its effectiveness, such as: working relationships among organizations facilitating inter-country adoption, time and cost required to complete the process, reliability of documents presented to the concerned governmental agencies, and the legal structure of the process. Recommendations include that the Ethiopian government should revise the legal provisions to establish an effective system for inter-country adoption, illegal actors should be legally challenged, and technical provisions and supervisory mechanisms should support the working relationships among all legal actorsItem Life Skill and its Contribution to Competent Workforce Development: The Case of Sociology and Social Anthropology and Psychology Undergraduate Students in Addis Ababa University(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Assefa, Abebe; Alice K., Johnson (PhD)Undertaking major investment in education to achieve rapid economic growth that will enable poor people to be the beneficiary has been taken as one of the means for Ethiopia to relay on. However, the links between policies and practices are not yet harmonized. This is mainly because of the lack of integration of life skill development, which includes value, identity and interpersonal development components with the intellectual development programs in the higher education system. This research therefore assessed the contribution of life skill to competent workforce development using both student survey and employer’s key informant interview. The research findings indicate the lack of life skill development survives in the university system on the one hand and the existence of informal services that have been influencing student’s life skills in the university on the other hand. Accordingly, the contribution of friends, relatives, religious leaders and politician to help students learn some of the life skills while attending their study in the university are found to be the four top influential bodiesItem Determining Factors that Affect Pregnant Women’s Utilization of PMTCT Services in Ethiopia: The Case of Health Facilities at Nazareth/Adama(2006-06) Tesfahun, HaileMichael; Linsk, Nathan L. (Professor)Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT) has infected a large number of infants in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. However, the risk of MTCT has dropped to as low as 2% in developed countries since the introduction of antiretroviral drugs. MTCT can occur during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and after birth through breast-feeding. The prevention of MTCT depends on the health care system and community based organizations and structures. The purpose of this qualitative and evaluative study was to find out the factors determining the seropositive mothers’ PMTCT service utilization and know where the gap is. Findings revealed a number of factors for PMTCT service utilization. These center on lack of resource capacity at the health facilities to render necessary services, lack of coordinated care and support, lack of male partners’ involvement, lack of home based care, safe-home birth practices, and lack of community involvement in the program. On provision of a range of services, the MTCT should not only focus on saving the child but also on the health and psychosocial well-being of the mother and the familyItem Parents and Children in ‘Empty Shell’ Families: A Case Study on Selected Families Residing In Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Barry, Aissetu; Jhoshi, Sandhya (Professor)Empty-shell’ family is a family setting where couples have no more sexual and emotional ties while they are still living together under the same roof with their children. This research is a case study that incorporates 15 individuals who are from five families, i.e. five couples who are parents and five children. The research tries to assess the causes that prompt families to be an ‘empty-shell’ and consequences of being in ‘empty- shell’ families on parents and their children. Furthermore, the underlying reasons why parents choose to stay in ‘empty shell’ families are assessed and the implication of social work for ‘empty-shell’ families is identified. This paper has also taken into consideration the ethical and cultural issuesItem Effects of Gender Disparity on the Lives of Women: The Case of Kibet Town of Silti Woreda in Snnpr(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Yigezu, Tena; Joshi, Sandya (Professor)The paper is aimed to study the effects of gender disparity on the lives of women in Kibet town of Silti woreda. The paper has tried to assess the living condition of women, their contribution in the household, their legal rights and their general socio-economic situation. Survey is the method used to generate data from sample respondents. In support of the primary data, available literature was reviewed.The survey result indicated that due to the socially constructed gender disparity women are deprived of their basic rights and over burdened with domestic tasks. They are also made to hold subordinate position in the household. The secondary position of women in the household affected the exercise of their legal rights. They are excluded from control and ownership of resources, access to education, credit services and other basic services. The low access to education resulted in low employment opportunities. In addition, lack of control and ownership over productive resources impede their decision-making power in both the household and the community. Due to all these factors, they are limited to the tedious and routine household tasks. With a little help from children, they perform all these activities from early in the morning to mid nightItem Cross Sectonal Assessment of Violence Against Female Domestic Workers in Gulele Sub-City for Local Level Intervention(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Getachew, Yared; Rollin, James(PhD)There has been growing public and professional concerns in Ethiopia on the issue of violence against women. Though domestic workers had been among the most vulnerable groups to violence in the country, it has hardly got the research attention of the ongoing nation wide activities of anti-violence campaign. The present study has tried to contribute to filling in the research gab in the area in the country by aiming at undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the context, magnitude and consequences of violence being committed against female domestic workers in Gulele Sub-city of Addis Ababa. A total of 82 female domestic workers were purposively selected for the study from different sites in the sub-city. The assessment was made using adapted Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSC-25), structured interview schedules and unstructured interviews. The following were among the major findings of the study: The reasons given by most of the domestic workers for becoming domestic workers were escape from violence or lack of subsistence in their family and marriage life or both. The results of the study on the involvement of intermediaries and the use of the un-kept promises (i.e. deception) in the process of turning the target subjects into domestic workers was found to involve - trafficking, which was not only gender based violence but also major crime in the penal code. It was observed that most of the target domestic workers have experienced sexual violence as well as economic violence by the brokers. The results of the study on the work conditions of the domestic workers, the absence of legally binding work agreement by the employers and the very meager amount of salary being paid while they were working all day long without little or no break seem to demonstrate the prevalence of major violation of the rights of the domestic workers. It was observed that the work relationship between the domestic workers and their employers found to be characterized by negative behaviors that strongly suggest the high level of mental cruelty of the latter. The results seem to confirm the violation of the rights of domestic workers i.e. citizenship, political, social and cultural rights. The very high prevalence rate results observed in all the violence assessment subscales strongly suggest that the target domestic workers had had experienced pervasive violent behaviors examined in the study namely; psychological aggression, physical assault, sexual harassment/abuse and mental cruelty by their employers in the last 12 months. As to the chronicity of violence, it observed that the extent of violent behaviors experienced by the domestic workers over the past year was ‘most chronic’. The statistically significant gender difference observed in both the prevalence and chronicity of violence committed against the domestic workers suggest the higher rate of involvement in the perpetration of the violence behaviors by female employers than male employers The results of the self-ratings of the domestic workers on HSCL-25 showed that most of them have been experiencing the symptoms of major depression and anxiety disorders. Likewise the results on PTSD assessment indicated that the majority of the domestic workers (i.e. above 70 percent) experienced the symptoms of the post-traumatic stress disorders. The study also identified the major risks and vulnerabilities, social networks, coping mechanisms and strengths of female domestic workers and came up with recommendationsItem Care and support and people living with HIV and AIDS at Holy water: An assessment at four selected sites in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Berhanu, Zena; Linsk, Nathan(PhD)The world at large, with various social and health problems is demanding remedies that would help improve the lives of citizens. HIV/AIDS being one of the greatest challenges of this century compels nations to respond to the situation in whatever way is possible. This assessment is done in a way to look for alternative response mechanisms to HIV/AIDS that could in the long run be complemented and integrated to the widely known bio-medical approach of HIV treatments. The selected four holy water sites could show the need to search for other cultural or alternative ways of responses being utilized by individuals to counter act the effect of the epidemic. By applying mainly in-depth interview and other forms of interviews, the assessment tried to identify various issues such as attitude and experience of PLWHAs using the holy water and other spiritual treatments as well as anti-HIV/AIDS drugs. In addition, the various needs and problems associated with the PLWHAs and the system at the sites are assessed. Holy water use in the form of drink and shower is the main treatment used by the PLWHAs together with other spiritual practices. And people in most cases are in need of compromising the spiritual practices together with the medical knowledge through counseling or other models, which are not available, let alone to access and utilize. At the same time due to the widespread poverty, this section of the population is also affected very much. Fulfilling basic needs is difficult to most of them. In addition the social isolation from their families relatives and friends is very common to the majority to these communitiesItem The Situation of Scavenging Children on the Waste Dumping Sites of Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Abera, Deribe; Rollin, James E.(Professor)This research is conducted on the situation of scavenging children on the biggest waste dumping site of Addis Ababa. Currently there are more than 458 scavenging children with the age range of 4 – 18 years old. While we have such big number of vulnerable children who are scavenging on the waste dump site, waste is dumped by anyone with no control mechanism. So, the researcher has made an attempt to investigate the impact of such uncontrolled waste disposal practice, the psychosocial impact of being scavenging children, their group dynamic, family background, problems and causes of scavenging, risk factors including the possibility of being exposed to hazardous chemicals including lead, and radio active elements, laws and regulation related to children and waste management and the policy gaps, poor waste disposal practice and its adverse effect, on the life of children. As a result of this, it is found that the life of the children is at absolute risk because of higher possibility for exposure to hazardous chemicals and vector of diseases. The policy gaps with reluctant position of governmental institutions are identified. Important and affordable as well as applicable recommendations, policy alternatives, and operational suggestions are given in this research work including laws ratification, institutional strengthening, start up of new projects for psychosocial rehabilitation and preventive intervention on the site are suggested. At the end the implication of the problem to the social work profession is also mentionedItem Situational Analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children: The Case of Bahir Dar Town, Northwest Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Tiruneh, Gardachew; Linsk, Nathan L. (Professor)The purpose of this study was to analyze and present the current situations of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in BahirDar town. OVC were the unit of analysis for the study. Exploratory research design was employed. The data was gathered from OVC, caregivers, organizations working with children and community leaders, and FGD and IDIs methods was used to gather data. The findings of the study show the problems OVC becomes a great concern or threat for communities. HIV/AIDS was identified as number one factor for the increasing number of OVC. These children faced problems of food, clothes, access to school, medical care, stigma/neglect, improper inheritance of properties and psychosocial problems. OVC's accessibility for education was considered as their main needs. Community members were aware of the situation of OVC but they view OVC as the responsibility of their families, NGOs or government. Some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and Faith Based Organizations (FBO) were undertaking the support of OVC. More input at community level is needed for the safety nets of OVC. Local government and community leaders need to ensure children are getting their rights to education. Foster families need assistance to learn how to cope with more dependents and how to settle bereaved children through family life skill training. There is an increased need for grass root community action to curb the pandemic. The different players have different roles but currently there is too much reliance on NGOs. The challenge is to find low cost intervention which communities themselves can start. Communities need to advocate against cultural and social practices that are spreading HIV in their communityItem A New Frontier in the Inter Ethnic Relationship in Multi Ethnic Ethiopia: A Study on the Role of Religion in Promoting Social Integration in Beni Shangul(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Hassen, Uthman; Rollins, James (Professor)One of the greatest challenges of Ethiopia is to promote wider societal development because the notions of ethnicity are fall prey to atomized competitions, hostility or conflicts. These fraudulent competitions are directed in the struggle for political power, public offices, and socio-economic opportunities by mobilizing their constituencies to think except ‘their own members’ are in power, they are unable to secure the national benefits. Nevertheless, ethnicity does neither inherently revolutionary nor impermeable, as many multiethnic nations do not have major troubles with their diversities but a potential factor for cultivation. The problem lies on political elites who emphasis those things that separate Ethiopians to organize ethnicity as a determining variables, if not inevitably a problem, in a democratic government where supreme loyalty is fully submitted to the collectively agreed constitution while every citizen feel loyal to a specific ethnicity without making divisive demands. At this time, regional states are the center for archaic competitions against the arithmetic of ‘historic territory vis-à-vis numeral calculus that does not sustain political peace and tolerance, as is not the cardinal virtue on which the pluralistic Ethiopian society bases its collective interests. Therefore, for a viable society, we must begin with the practical recognition that all citizens are where they are and what they are in position by good worth of how they actually live and how they potentially rich to reshape their existence. Otherwise, if we are obsessed in politicizing our conflictual historical relations, we should put them in their own contexts to avoid sociological-historical distortions. Secondly, we, Ethiopians, have been undeniably multiethnic society, at least for the grass root population, with apolitically constructed social spaces that promote the complementarities of different ethnic or agro-ecological communities for millennia. These are enormously rooted in our cultures of inter-marriage, population settlements, religious solidarities and ceremonies, conflict transformations, economic exchanges and patriotic-coalitions against frequent colonial aggressions. Therefore, the findings showed that, if renovated, these institutions could be a paramount importance for social workers in cross-cultural policy analyses, policymaking and practicing. Eventually, they could have an instrumental role in sustaining a non-violent political formula for mainstreaming development by the continual need to live with others of different identities while maintaining own identity without trespassing upon the wellbeing of othersItem The Situation of Children of Imprisoned Mothers: The Case of Addis Ababa Prison(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Abebe, Selamawit; Rollin, James E.(PhD)Despite the increasing number of women in prison who have children, little is known about their children’s situation during their imprisonment. This study attempts to assess the situation of children of imprisoned mothers. Survey method was mainly used for the purpose of data collection. Accordingly, 34 mothers in Addis Ababa Prison were asked about the situation of their 61 children. In addition, five children were interviewed about their condition. The findings indicate that children of imprisoned mothers live in a very difficult situation deprived of their basic needs and right. The findings have led to some recommendations that will help to curb the unfortunate situation of the childrenItem A Study on Contributing Factors to Adolescents Reproductive Behavior in Slum Areas of Addis Ababa: The Case of Teklehaimanot Area(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Goshu, Mulumebet; Jhoshi, Sandhya (PhD)Adolescents’ reproductive behavior is mostly determined by interrelated factors. Therefore, this study has tried to see the underlying environmental factors and reproductive behavior of slum adolescents. For this purpose, 186 adolescents, in the age range of 15-19 and are residents of Teklehaimanot slum area, were identified through systematic random sampling. Among them, 54.8 percent and 45.2percent are female and male, respectively. Descriptive data and bivariate analysis were used to explore the existence of association between different variables. Accordingly, both male and female adolescents are well aware of the social values towards pre-marital sex and have perception of their vulnerability to reproductive problems. However, the majority are engaged in early sexual practice. The study has found that factors like dropping out of school, poverty, involvement in risky behaviors contribute for their sexual behavior. Therefore, a well integrated, social work intervention, implemented at different levels, is very crucialItem HIV/AIDS and Its Impact on the Traditional Support Networks of the Elderly: The Case of Arada Sub City In Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Tezazu, Mussie; Linsk, Nathan L. (Professor)The purpose of this study is to assess and analyze the consequences HIV/AIDS on the traditional support networks of the elderly in Arada sub-city. The study focuses on assessing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the traditional support networks of the elderly; problems, aggravating factors and coping mechanisms of older people; and policy responses and the existing practices to address problems of older people. The methodology of the study was qualitative where primary and secondary sources of data were used. To collect the necessary data, the researcher employed key informant interview, focus group discussion, semi-structured interview, observation, in-depth interview and document analysis as major techniques. In this regard, interview guides, topical outlines, and observation checklists have been used. In the course of analysis, family care giving, community care and support through its institutions, supports of religious institutions, alms giving, and sporadic initiatives by associations and private enterprises have been identified as traditional support networks of the elderly. Lack of basic needs; financial constraints; age related health problems; psychosocial stress and trauma; social exclusions; etc are the major problems of older people. Whereas, poverty, lack attention, absence of social security, death of children from AIDS, the myths and misconception related to aging and lack of elderly-targeted programs are the identified aggravating factors. HIV/AIDS is affecting the traditional support networks of the elderly in a variety of ways. It was concluded that though it is difficult to figure out the number of older people infected/affected by the epidemic. HIV/AIDS is changing the roles of the elderly from being the recipient of care to providers of care and support. In this regard, the researcher suggests a number of relevant areas of social work practice to address problems of the elderly. Accordingly, policy responses; advocacy and awareness raising to maintain the traditional support networks, and designing and implementing participatory older peoplefocused relevant social word interventions at micro, mezzo and macro levels are recommendedItem Community Response to Provision of Care and Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Constraints, Challenges and Opportunities: The Case of Chagni Town, Guangua Woreda(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Mekuriaw, Yohannes; Johnson, Alice K. (PhD)The impact of HIV/AIDS on orphan and vulnerable children is one of the challenges that communities in sub-Saharan countries encounter. Yet, in countries such as Ethiopia, the effort that communities exert to combat and address the problem and extent of the response has not been fully documented. This thesis begins to address this gap in existing scholarship by presenting a case study of one community’s response to the care of orphan and vulnerable children (OVC). Its purpose is to come up with inputs for designing community-based programs and strategies to address the problem in the study area. The study was conducted in Guangua woreda, Awi Zone, Amhara National Regional state. The methods employed are qualitative, utilizing data collection techniques such as interviews with OVC caregivers, service providers, community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society associations, and faith-based organizations (FBOs). The research methods also include three case interviews with OVC and field observation. The main findings suggest that community awareness to the problem of OVC is relatively high in Chagni- town, but response to the problem is low. HIV/AIDS and poverty are the main factors that attribute to the vulnerability and problems of OVC and their caregivers. Almost all OVC and their caregivers live in abject poverty and are unable to meet their basic needs. The extended family and local HIV/AIDS projects are the main providers of care and support to OVC in the community. Nevertheless, some community initiatives exist. These include Egna-Legna Orphan and Street Children Association (ELOSCA), an OVC association, and care and support by community iddirs. The types of care and support provisions are mainly financial and material; medical, legal support and psychosocial support are generally non-existent. The main challenges that the community encounters in OVC care and support are stigma and discrimination, poverty and lack of OVC policy and guidelines on community-based care and support. Policy and practice implications of the study include the need for more extensive community assessments of the situation of OVC and their caregivers. There is also a need to build the capacity of local communities to respond to OVC, including advocating and lobbying for adoption and foster care, as well as resource mobilization for comprehensive care and support for OVC living in the community. Moreover, there is a need for the endorsement of OVC policy as guidelines for implementing community care and support. The study also suggests the need for more comprehensive communitybased, integrative approaches that incorporate the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the community and poverty alleviation programs for children and familiesItem Guddifachaa Practice as Child Problem Intervention in Oromo Society: The Case of Ada’a Liban District(Addis Ababa University, 2006-06) Negeri, Dessalegn; Rollin, James (Professor)The practice of adoption as an institution has existed long period in Ethiopian societies where the term guddifachaa used to represent it. It implies adopting a child by satisfying the economic, legal, and social rights. Guddifachaa practices assume different socioeconomic purposes, not studied widely. This paper presents about the guddifachaa practice as community based child problem intervention. It creates just environment for the next generations especially for vulnerable children, when the Cultural knowledge and practices revitalized within the existing social structures. A research attempts to define the social work profession with country’s socio cultural context in that the Guddifachaa practice needs less resource, skills, and less expertise in the process. This practice has significant effect with the social work advocacy, lobby and integration to children welfare policies in the country