AAU Institutional Repository (AAU-ETD)

Addis Ababa University Institutional repository is an open access repository that collects,preserves, and disseminates scholarly outputs of the university. AAU-ETD archives' collection of master's theses, doctoral dissertations and preprints showcase the wide range of academic research undertaken by AAU students over the course of the University's long history.

How to Submit Your Work

The repository contains scholarly work, both unpublished and published, by current or former AAU faculty, staff, and students, including Works by AAU students as part of their masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral research

  • All AAU faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit their work to the repository. Please contact the library at your college.

You may contact digirep@aau.edu.et.with any questions about the repository

 

Recent Submissions

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ABO and Rh Blood Groups Association with Preeclampsia Risk: Maternal Factors, Adverse Outcomes, and Hematological Profiles at Nekemte Hospital, Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06-04) Debissa Kefiyalew; Abebaye Aragaw
Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex, multisystem disorder that causes significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent studies suggest an association between ABO/Rh blood groups and preeclampsia, but studies that examined these associations in Ethiopia remain shortcoming. Objective: To investigate the association between ABO/Rh blood groups and preeclampsia risk, by assessing maternal factors, adverse outcomes, and hematological profiles among pregnant women at Nekemte Hospitals that is located in Wallaga, Western Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based comparative prospective study was conducted in Nekemte town that included 208 pregnant women (104 with PE and 104 normotensives), chosen using a convenience sampling technique. Data were entered in Epi Info (version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS® (version 27). Chi-square tests and logistic regression (p< 0.05), Higher RDW (32.942.17 vs. 24.831.50%, p< 0.05), and elevated neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts among PE women compared to normotensive controls (p < 0.05). Regarding maternal outcomes, PE was linked to higher cesarean section (71.4%), and pregnancy termination rates (94.7%) (p < 0.05). Neonates of PE women had lower mean birth weights (2608.1754.54 gm. vs. 3281.25 46.01 gm. p< 0.05), reduced APGAR scores, higher preterm birth (83.3%), IUFD, and early neonatal death (p < 0.05). Most of PE cases (70.2%) occurred after 34 weeks of gestation. However, adverse neonatal outcomes such as low birth weight and reduced APGAR scores were significantly more common in pregnancies between 20-34 weeks (p < 0.05). Conclusion: No association was found between PE and ABO/Rh blood group and BMI. PE was linked to poor ANC follow-up, proteinuria, altered hematological parameters, and adverse neonatal outcomes. This effect suggests the necessity for a better follow-up of pregnant women visiting Nekemte Hospital.
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The Association Between Low Maternal Serum Magnesium and Calcium Levels with Preterm Delivery and Low Birth Weight; in East Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-02-01) Hailay Kiros; Muluken Walle
Background: Micronutrients like magnesium and calcium have a significant impact on the health of pregnant women and the growing fetus. They are involved in protein synthesis, bone matrix development, energy metabolism, regulation of muscle contraction, and hormone secretion. The deficiency of these micronutrients in pregnant women could be associated with adverse birth outcomes like low birth weight and preterm delivery. However, their association with preterm delivery and low birth weight in Ethiopia has not been determined. Objective: To determine the association between maternal serum magnesium and total calcium levels with preterm delivery and low birth weight in East Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cohort study was conducted among 196 pregnant women with preterm births (24), term births (172), normal birth weight (168) and low birth weight (28) from June 2019 to December 2020. A questionnaire adopted from EDHS and FIGO was used to collect data on the socio demographic characteristics, anthropometric and obstetric conditions of pregnant women. 5ml of blood was collected and the maternal serum Mg2+ and Ca levels were measured using a chemistry analyzer; UniCel Dxl. All statistical data were performed by using SPSS version 25.0. Independent t test was used to compare the means of magnesium and calcium levels between the groups. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the occurrence of preterm delivery and/or due to hypomagnesemia and/or hypocalcemia. A P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: The mean ± SD age of the study participants was 25.98 ±4.37 (range:16-38). The majority were married (99%), between 21-30 years (73.0%), house wives (41.3%), had completed senior secondary education (31.3%) and live in urban areas (85.8 %) with medium income (45.5%). Moreover, more than half of the participants (52.6%) were primigravida. The prevalence of PTD and LBW in the study population was 12.2 % and 14.28 % respectively. Maternal serum magnesium level was significantly associated with preterm delivery (t=-6.323, P
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The Moderating Effect of Top Management Support in the Relationship Between Project Managers’ Leadership Styles and Project Success: the Case of Building Megaprojects in Addis Ababa
(A.A.U, 2025-06-04) Lelisa Markos; Asres Abitie (PhD)
The concept of project success in today’s project management is the core concern due to increased project failures. So many studies have been done in this area because several factors contributed to the projects’ success. The leadership skills of project managers are one of the critical factors contributing to the success of projects. The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of top management support in the relationship between project managers' leadership styles and project success on mega projects undertaken by the Addis Ababa City Government Mega Projects Construction Office. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey of descriptive and explanatory design with a quantitative approach to test the study hypothesis. Data were collected from the total population of the study area because it was small and accessible. Eleven (11) projects were selected for the study sample, all the projects currently run under the authority of the Addis Ababa City Government Mega Projects Construction Office. One (1) project manager and 3 (three) key respondents from each project were selected for the questionnaire. Among the total forty-four (44) distributed questionnaires only 36 were responded to and used for analysis. The result of the study shows that transformational and democratic leadership have a statistically significant positive relationship with project success. However, no statistically significant relationship between transactional, laissez-faire, and authoritarian leadership and project success. This implies that contractors and project owners should emphasize the leadership style of the project managers before assigning them to lead projects. In addition, top management support strengthens the relationship between project success and transformational, transactional, and democratic leadership. Nonetheless, top management support did not have a significant role in the relationship between project success and laissez-faire and authoritarian leadership. It shows that to enable the success of a project the multidimensional contribution of the top management on the project has a crucial impact by strengthening the relationship between project success and project managers' leadership styles.
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The Effects of Corporate Governance on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks of Ethiopia
(A.A.U, 2025-06-05) Zenebech Koroto; Temesgen W. (PhD)
This study investigates the effects of corporate governance mechanisms on the financial performance of commercial banks in Ethiopia. In light of the increasingly complex and regulated financial environment, sound corporate governance has emerged as a critical determinant of organizational performance, especially in banking institutions that face heightened agency problems due to information asymmetries. Drawing on agency theory, stakeholder theory, and resource dependency theory, this study employed a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative analysis of panel data from 2019 to 2023 with qualitative insights gathered through interviews with board members from five major commercial banks in Ethiopia. The study examined six key governance variables—board size, board meeting frequency, board gender diversity, directors’ educational qualifications, directors’ industry experience, and chief executive officer (CEO) compensation—and assessed their influence on bank performance, as measured by return on assets (ROA). The regression analysis revealed that board size, frequency of board meetings, educational qualifications of directors, and industry-specific experience were positively and significantly associated with financial performance. However, gender diversity and CEO compensation showed no statistically significant effect. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening governance frameworks tailored to the unique structural and regulatory environment of the Ethiopian banking sector. This research provides empirical evidence to inform policymaking by the National Bank of Ethiopia and bank shareholders, and contributes to the literature on corporate governance in emerging economies, highlighting the context-specific nature of effective governance structures. It also offers practical implications for aligning governance reforms with performance enhancement in the Ethiopian banking industry.
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The Impact of National Culture on Manager's Attitudes: implications for organizational change - Evidence from Ethiopia
(A.A.U, 2025-05-09) Abel Haileselassie; Yohannes Workaferahu (PhD)
This thesis analyze how Ethiopian culture can impact the manager’s attitude in Ethiopia. It examines how Ethiopian cultural standards influence managerial practices, decision-making, and leadership styles using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as a theoretical framework. The study highlights key dimensions such as Power distance, Individualism and Collectivism, Uncertainty avoidance, Masculinity and femininity, and Indulgence and Restraint, with their implications for Ethiopian managers. By analyzing Ethiopia’s cultural traits and their influence on management, the paper aims to give valuable results for both local and international businesses working in Ethiopia. The study is exploratory and it examines the impact of national culture on managers attitudes in Ethiopia using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. A survey-based approach is used to collect data, analyzed data through both descriptive (including mean, standard deviation, frequency analysis) and inferential (including correlation and regression analysis) statistical methods. these methods are used together to create a more comprehensive understanding of the data and the nexus between variables. The findings are Power Distance was significantly high, indicating a preference for hierarchical leadership and respect for authority among Ethiopian managers. High Uncertainty avoidance conducted, which is an indicative of managers' risk avoidance behavior, desire for stability and predictability in workplace, and strong preference for regulated work environments.Collectivism is seen as the managerial preference with in companies in Ethiopia which prioritize on group objectives, interdependence, and loyalty, cooperation, and harmony within the group affiliation judgment. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of cultural influences on management and offer practical implications for organizations operating in Ethiopia and can help to improve managerial effectiveness and cross-cultural communication within the country.