Impacts of Congenital Deafness on Language and Cognitive Development of Primary Schools Deaf Students in Addis Ababa

Alemayehu TekileMariam   

This study explores the effects of congenitally profound deafness on language and cognitive development of deaf students in primary schools, in Addis Ababa. A qualitative case study design was used to investigate the problem by selecting four deaf students, their mothers and two teachers using purposive sampling. Interview was employed as the main instrument for collecting data from participants of the study and observation and focus group discussion were used to supplement data obtained through interviews. Data were analysed using themes and narrations. The outcomes of the study suggest that the language and cognitive development of deaf students were significantly limited due mainly to the inadequacy of the socio-linguistic environment provided for them. It is, therefore, essential to understand deaf students properly and help parents, school administration and teachers to provide the environment suitable for them to obtain better education.

Gender and Social Inclusion in the Cashew Nut Value Chain: The Role of Women and Youth in Agro processing in Tanzania

Paschal Mihyo, Zuki Mihyo, Stella Msami, Mbarwa Kivuyo and Audax Rukonge

The main thrust of the article is that women and youth play significant roles in the cashew nut value chain, that is, from production, processing, to marketing and trade but they face more constraints than other social groups, especially in production, processing and marketing because of lack of ownership and access to productive resources such as land, credit, and membership in marketing cooperatives. Their lack of recognition deprives them of opportunities to enter into gainful transactions that can improve their working capital, activities and productivity. Their production and processing activities still depend on crude, hazardous, ineffective and inefficient inputs, implements and technologies. Furthermore, they lack the necessary knowledge, confidence and networks that can help them to secure access to inputs and markets without having to go through intermediaries. In addition, they also lack the necessary information, knowledge and skills that can help them to comply with the national regulations for registering of food processing enterprises, national and international food quality standards to qualify them to take part in dynamic domestic and export markets. The article recommends a gender and youth inclusive approach that increases women and youth entitlement to the ownership of productive assets, access to credit, awareness of technical standards required for cashew nuts on local and international markets and modern equipment and technology.   

Effect Of Credit Constraints On Intensity Of Fertilzer Adoption And Agriclutural Productivity In Amhara Region, Ethiopia: An Endogenous Switching Regression Analysis

Mulat Goshu

The study was conducted to examine impact of irrigation on poverty alleviation and its determinants on the use of water resources in South Wollo. Gerado small-scale irrigation canal was purposively selected in two Kebele Administrations. Data was collected from 150 farmers and a Propensity score matching econometric model analysis was carried out. The outcome variables were household consumption expenditure and asset building mainly livestock. A logistic robust regression model was fitted to analyze the potential variables affecting household participation in the programme in the study area. Among 10 explanatory variables included in the logistic model, 6 of them were significant. The result indicated that programme participation and the daily calorie intake of the households in the area were significantly influenced by farm size, labor availability; access to extension service, age and size of the household. The programme intervention resulted in a positive and statically significant mean difference between two groups in terms of the outcomes variables daily calorie intake in terms of consumption expenditure and livestock holding. The logit result revealed that the food security of the household was improved by irrigation programme intervention in the study area. The multiple linear regression model estimated results revealed that households who had a larger farm size,  frequently contacted office of agricultural extension agents, and had some labor available in farming were less likely to be food in-secure. However, the older the age of the household and the larger the household sizes were, the more likely to be food in-secure. Accordingly, access to irrigation through small and large scale irrigation must be ensured to increase productivity and hence reduce and alleviate poverty in the region. This would help to adapt to the increasing hostile climate change the country is facing. People are poor due to shortage of resources or inability to use them. Therefore, farm household asset formation and provision of extension and credit services should be given priority. Such actions may, in turn, alleviate the current problem of food insecurity and lead in the long run to economic development. Population planning intervention along with holistic approach to improve the education level is needed to overcome the poverty problem.

Ebola Shapes Society: No Partner, No Family, No Friends

Jerome Ntege, Wotsuna Khamalwa and Eria Olowo Onyango

Ebola is examined as a Critical Event which shaped the communities in Bundibugyo district. The local framing of ebola epidemic 2007-8 as a curse to the particular ethnic groups affected the social networks and individual identities within communities. Ethnographic interviews and observations among victims of ebola were used as data, and a phenomenological approach was used to guide the research process. The paper recovers the lost moments and experiences of ebola survivors. The epidemic altered the socio-cultural set-up of the community and its impact have lasted for a long time; including stigma, discrimination, trauma, poverty and the orphan problem. 

Livelihood impacts of Development-induced Displacements An investigation into Post-Project livelihoods of PAPs

Ataklti Gebreyesus and Shishay Tadesse

This research was conducted with the primary objective of assessing the Livelihood impacts of Development-induced Displacements on Project Affected People (PAP). The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) underpins this research and a descriptive study with both qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data; whereas conceptual interpretation and coding and developing category systems applied to analyze qualitative data. Thus, Negative impacts for the affected people were economic in that PAPs were displaced from their farmlands and were forced to practice farming on a smaller pieces of land. Financial Compensation paid to PAPs was also not adequate enough to restore livelihoods. Despite small in number, there were also some PAPs who benefited from wise use of compensation money and whose asset ownership increased. Jobs requiring unskilled and semi-skilled labor also expanded in the study areas following the projects. In general, despite some who benefited directly or indirectly, as a result of the projects; the negative side of the projects outweighed to a majority of the PAPs.