The Political Impact of Chewing Khat (Chat) on Chewers: In the Case of Woldia City Administration of North Wollo, Amhara National Regional State

The main aim of this study was to investigate the political impact of chewing khat on the chewers in Woldia City Administration of North Wollo, Amhara National Regional State. As far as the researcher's reading, no research was conducted in Ethiopia dealing with the political impact of chewing khat on chewers. Accordingly, this study was conducted using qualitative methods of data collection. Semi-structured in-depth interview, focus group discussion (FGD), and complete observation were employed during data collection. The study used phenomenology design and the findings were analyzed thematically. The study found that khat chewers’ political unconsciousness, utopian involvement in politics, and fail in conspired politics were associated with khat chewing practices. Based on this findings, the researchers recommend that awarness creation about the anxiety of khat in political life is in need.

Socioeconomic determinants of micro and small enterprise growth in North Wollo and Waghimira Zone selected towns

This study aims to investigate the socioeconomic determinant factors that affect the growth of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in North Wollo and Waghimira Zone selected towns. In this study, a cross-sectional research design with both descriptive and explanatory research design has been employed, and 303 owners of enterprises have participated. The towns were selected purposely, and the respondents were also selected by using a simple random sampling technique. The data were analyzed by using STATA v-14 and applied descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis (odds ratio). The finding of the study revealed that age of the owner, access to finance, family business background, and interest rate most likely affect the growth of the enterprises with the statistically significant level. On the contrary, entrepreneurship training, the experience of the owner, the inflation rate, and competition less likely affect the growth of the enterprises with a statistical significant level. The remaining factors such as gender of the owners, education background, business age, business type, business location, social responsibility, tax rate, and social attitude were not statistically significant to determine the growth of MSEs.

ETHIOPIA: ABEGAR INDIGENOUS CONFLICT RESOLUTION SYSTEM – COMMUNITY BASED RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation is inevitable for restoring harmony among a society and making peaceful interaction between those who are at variance. The main objective of this study is to investigate the Abegar indigenous conflict resolution system based on community reconciliation in Haberu Woreda, North Wollo. This study employs a qualitative research design and descriptive nature. The study collected primary data from different informants by employing such qualitative data collection techniques as the interview, focus group discussions and observation. The finding of the study revealed that Abegars indigenous conflict resolution system aims at the restoration of order and harmony of the community. The types of conflicts presented and resolved in the community are inter-personal, homicide, inter-group in nature which stemmed from abduction of girls and women, violation of social values, theft, conflict over claims of a girl, competition over ownership of land, and drunkenness. The findings further show that family reconciliation, blood reconciliation (demmaderk) and compensation performance are the major community reconciliation procedures (methods) of conflict management used by the studied community depending on the nature and types of conflicts. Moreover, the ritual ceremony has symbolic and practical significance to established trust between conflicting parties that their relationship is restored. Keywords: Conflict Resolution, Indigenous, Reconciliation, Community

Diversity and potential contribution of wild edible plants to sustainable food security in North Wollo, Ethiopia

Hassen A. 2021. Diversity and potential contribution of wild edible plants to sustainable food security in North Wollo, Ethiopia. Biodiversitas 22: 2501-2510. Rural communities in different parts of the world use WEPs as supplementary food to increase dietary diversity. The findings of this study showed that 40.7% of the participants were food insecure in the study area. They are significantly dependent on WEPs when sudden drought exists. There were no significant studies conducted about ethnobotany in the study area. Therefore, this study was the first attempt to survey the perception of local people towards the potential resources of WEPs for sustainable food security, and conservation and management trends in North Wollo. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews (135 participants), tour-guided field observation, and focus group discussion (45 participants) to get relevant and adequate data. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and preference ranking were used to analyze and interpret the quantitative data. A total of 66 locally available WEPs belong to 30 families found in the study area. Respondents’ preference revealed that O. ficus-indica, Z.spina-christ, C. spinarum, F. sur, and U. sinesis were ranked first, second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. Hence, this study will provide relevant information for policy-makers and managers to combat food insecurity in the study area.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude towards Palliative Care and Associated Factors among Nurses Working in North Wollo Hospitals

BACKGROUND: Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients facing a life-threatening illness. Nurses should improve their caregiving capacity. In Ethiopia, palliative care is underestimated. The availability of data regarding the knowledge and attitude of nurses towards palliative care is critically important. Thus, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of nurses towards palliative care.METHODS: Institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in North Wollo hospitals. A simple random sampling technique was used. The data was collected using structured selfadministered questionnaires from February to March 2019. The analysis was done using a binary logistic regression model. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.RESULTS: The result revealed that 59.7% of the respondents had good knowledge and 44.2% had a favorable attitude towards palliative care. Level of education, experience in caring for chronically ill patients, and experience in caring for dying family members within the last 6 months had a significant association with the knowledge of nurses. Monthly income, experience in caring for chronically ill patients, formal palliative care education, and knowledge were found statistically significant with the attitude of nurses towards palliative care.CONCLUSION: More than half of the nurses had good knowledge, but less than half of the respondents had a favorable attitude towards palliative care. Attention should be given towards palliative care by the health policy and needs to be incorporated into the national curriculum of nursing education.

Determinants of diabetes ketoacidosis among diabetes mellitus patients at North Wollo and Waghimra zone public hospitals, Amhara region, Northern Ethiopia

Background Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder associated with acute and chronic complications. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the most serious diabetic emergency in patients with type one and type two diabetes mellitus. It is the leading cause of mortality in children and young adults. Even though the burden of DKA has increased, no research has been conducted on the determinants of Diabetes ketoacidosis in Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara region. Thus, this study aimed to identify the determinants of diabetes Ketoacidosis among Diabetes Mellitus patients at North Wollo and Waghimra Zone public Hospitals. Methods An institution-based unmatched case-control study design was employed among 408 patients at North Wollo and Waghimra Zone Public Hospitals from March 1st to April 30th, 2020. A consecutive sampling method was used to select study participants. The data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questioners and reviewing of patient charts. The analysis was done using a binary logistic regression model. Then, P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 46.96 (± 15.175 SD) years. Irregular follow-up in diabetes clinic (AOR:4.19, 95% CI: 2.28–7.71), not received diabetic education (AOR: 2.87, 95% CI:1.44–5.72), alcohol drinking (AOR:2.99, 95% CI: 1.46–6.12), discontinuation of medications (AOR: 4.31, 95% CI:1.92–9.68), presence of comorbidity (AOR:2.57, 95% CI: 1.37–4.84), and being type one of diabetes mellitus (AOR: 2.01, 95% CI:1.11–3.63) were determinant factors of diabetic ketoacidosis . Conclusions This study showed that the behavioral and clinical characteristics of diabetic patients were determinant factors of DKA. Follow-up in the diabetic clinic, diabetic education, discontinuation of medications, alcohol drinking, presence of comorbidities, and type of diabetes mellitus were independent determinants of diabetic ketoacidosis.