This study aimed to determine the seasonality, feed balance, and copying mechanisms oflivestock feed in the east Gojjam Zone of northwestern ethiopia. to collect the data, the zonedivided into three agroecologies (lowland, midland, and highland) and randomly selected twodistricts from each agroecology to represent appropriate agroecologies. the study involved540 respondents – 45 from each peasant association – and utilized key informant interviews,focus groups, questionnaires, and direct observations for data collection. According to thefindings, the study reveals that feed availability in all agroecologies fluctuates seasonally. thetotal dry matter and crude protein supplies per household per year in highland, midland, andlowland agroecologies were 8.69, 15.49, and 14.94 tons, and 0.05, 0.91, and 0.90 tons,respectively. the yearly dry matter and crude protein requirements for livestock in highland,midland, and lowland agroecologies were 11.9, 22.2, and 19.5 t/hh/yr, and 1.4, 2.6, and 2.5 t/hh/yr, respectively. the total amounts of dry matter and crude protein produced in the studyareas satisfied only 73.3, 69.7, and 76.6%, and 32.1, 35.5, and 36.3% of the livestockrequirements in the highland, midland, and lowland agroecologies, respectively. Producers inthe study areas employ strategies such as purchasing feed, preserving crop residue, andreducing herd sizes to address livestock shortages of dry matter and crude protein. to addressthe issue, a new strategy should be employed, including managing natural pastures, increasingforage crop cultivation, providing protein-rich feed, and improving crop residue quality usingeffective microorganisms.

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the agronomic performance and dry matter yield of thePennisetum pedicellatum varieties (areka, kulmsa, and kindonkosha-591) at Debre Markos University,Ethiopia, during 2023 in a RCBD with three replications. The agronomic performance of all varieties wasmeasured from the six plants that were selected randomly from the middle rows of each plot at 105, 119,and 133 days after planting, and dry matter yield was measured at 135 days after planting. The studyshowed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in plant height, number of tillers and leaves,leaf length, and dry matter yield, but the number of nodes and leaf width were not significantly different(p > 0.05) among varieties. The highest values of plant height, number of tillers and leaves per plant, andleaf length and width were measured from the areka variety, followed by the kulmsa variety, while theleast was recorded from the kindonkosha-591 variety. The plant height, number of tillers per plant,number of leaves per plant, and dry matter yield of the areka variety were significantly higher (p < 0.05)than the kulmsa and kindonkosha-591 varieties. The highest dry matter yield was also produced fromareka (11.55 t/ha), followed by kulmsa (8.52) and kindonkosha −591 (7.99 t/ha). The areka grass varietyshowed superior agronomic performance and dry matter yield, suggesting its potential for improvingfeed shortage constraints in the study areas.
KEYWORDS: Agronomy; Desho grass; dry matter; Pennisetum pedicellatum; varieties

Multidimensional poverty, encompassing deprivations in education, health, and living standards, is a significant challenge in rural Ethiopia. Despite various development initiatives, poverty remains pervasive in the West Gojjam Zone of northern Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the extent of multidimensional poverty in this region and identify key factors contributing to the likelihood of households experiencing it.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the West Gojjam Zone, involving 628 rural households selected through a multi-stage sampling approach. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the multidimensional poverty index (MPI), focusing on poverty incidence, gap, and severity. A binary logistic regression model was applied to examine the relationship between household characteristics and the likelihood of being multidimensionally poor.
Results
The study revealed that 93.95% of households in the West Gojjam Zone experience multidimensional poverty, with an intensity of 61.17% and an adjusted multidimensional headcount ratio of 57.47%. Key factors associated with a lower likelihood of multidimensional poverty include land ownership, off-farm income, year-round road access, the frequency of agricultural extension services, and access to loans. Conversely, the age of household heads is positively associated with an increased likelihood of poverty, with older household heads being more vulnerable.
Conclusions
The findings highlight that multidimensional poverty in the West Gojjam Zone is primarily driven by limited access to land, financial services, infrastructure, and agricultural support. Furthermore, older household heads are particularly at risk. To address these challenges, the study recommends policies that focus on enhancing agricultural productivity, expanding access to financial services, improving road infrastructure, and fostering non-farm income-generating activities. Strengthening agricultural extension services is essential to enhancing household resilience and reducing poverty.

Backgrounds Poverty is a complex and multifaceted global public health issue, particularly prevalent in Ethiopia,including the East Gojjam Zone. Previous studies on poverty have largely relied on unidimensional measures,providing limited evidence on multidimensional poverty (MP). Therefore, this study tried to assess the prevalenceand identify the associated factors of MP among rural households in selected woredas of East Gojjam Zone, NorthernEthiopia.Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the fall of 2020 in randomly selectedworedas of East Gojjam zone, involving 770 rural households. Multistage cluster sampling was used, and data werecollected through structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires covering eleven MP indicators. The globalmultidimensional poverty index (MPI) was applied to assess poverty status. The multivariable partial proportionalodds model (PPOM) was employed to identify the associated factors of MP, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 wereconsidered as significant.Results Among 770 rural households considered 37.27% (25.45% moderately and 11.82% severely) of them wereclassified as multidimensionally poor. The standard of living dimension accounted for the largest contribution to MP.Household head aged, 30–45years (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.15) and those over 45 years (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.42,5.33), weather condition(Kolla) (AOR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.05, 3.07), experiencing drought in the preceding 12 months(AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.41), dependency ratio (AOR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.13,1.59), and adult equivalence (AOR = 1.13,95%CI: 1.07,1.19) were more likely to experience MP. Conversely, marital status (being married) (AOR = 0.36, 95%CI:0.21, 0.64), woreda, Machakel (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.86), Sinan (AOR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.95), and road accessibilityin the village (AOR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37, 0.81) were significantly associated with lower odds of MP among ruralhouseholds in the study area.
Conclusion: Approximately 37% of rural household’s experience moderate to severe MP, and living standardsdimension accounted for the largest contribution. Various socio-demographic, agro-ecological, and related factorshave been identified to rural MP. To address this issue, stakeholders should prioritize to promote climate-resilientagriculture and strengthening drought coping mechanisms. Furthermore, it is essential to account for the variations inpoverty levels across different administrative units and ecological zones to effectively eradicate poverty among ruralhouseholds.Keywords: East Gojjam zone, Ethiopia, Multidimensional poverty, Partial proportional odds model, Rural household

Evidence shows that financial inclusion plays a key role in driving economic growth and social development by strengthen-ing the financial system and reducing poverty and income inequality. However, its impact on the financial performance ofbanks remains inconclusive. This paper explores the relationship between financial inclusion and the financial performanceof commercial banks in Ethiopia, using a sample of 16 banks. We analyse 10 years of data (2013–2022) collected manuallyfrom the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and the annual reports of commercial banks. A two-step system GeneralizedMethod of Moments (GMM) is employed, alongside other linear panel data model estimators. The findings reveal that in-creased financial inclusion has a significant positive impact on the financial performance (ROA and ROE) of commercialbanks in Ethiopia. The GMM estimation result also shows that bank performance indicators (ROA and ROE) are positivelyassociated with their past realizations. Regarding bank-specific control variables, the cost-efficiency ratio has a significantnegative impact on bank profitability. The study recommends that banks improve accessibility by expanding branch net-works and ATMs and by offering innovative financial products to enhance profitability.Keywords: financial inclusion, GMM, bank performance, Ethiopia

Background: Heart failure is a leading cause of hospital readmissions in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia.Aim: This study aimed to determine the number of readmissions and identify the determinants among patients with heartfailure at referral hospitals in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2023.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 663 heart failure patients in Amhara region referral hospitals fromSeptember 2022 to February 2023. Simple random sampling was used for patient selection, and data were collected throughchart reviews and interviewer‐administered questionnaires. Zero‐inflated negative binomial models were applied for dataanalysis. Data collection tools were pre‐tested for reliability and validity.Results: Among 663 patients, 237 (35.7%) were readmitted at least once. An increased respiratory rate (IRR = 1.015; 95%CI: 1.0004, 1.031; p < 0.044) and longer medication duration (IRR = 1.011; 95% CI: 1.016, 1.051; p < 0.0001) were asso-ciated with more readmissions. Patients with poor social support had 59.4% fewer readmissions compared to those withgood social support (IRR = −1.595; 95% CI: −0.02, −0.005; p < 0.041). A higher body mass index (IRR = 0.115; 95% CI:0.035, 0.196; p < 0.004) was linked with a higher likelihood of remaining in the “always‐zero” group, while an increasedpulse rate reduced the odds (IRR = −0.013; 95% CI: −0.025, −0.008; p < 0.036). The mortality rate among readmittedpatients was 11.39%.Conclusion: This study found significant readmission rates among HF patients. Factors such as respiratory rate andmedication duration were linked to increased readmissions, while poor social support was associated with fewerreadmissions, this likely reflects limited healthcare access in low‐ and middle‐income countries among individuals withlower social support. The high mortality rate underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve patientoutcomes.

ABSTRACT In Amhara region of Ethiopia, armed conflict was affecting the multiple dimensions of human life, encompassing social structures, economic systems, education access, healthcare availability, and political landscapes. This research report aimed to comprehensively analyze the socio-economic and political consequences of the ongoing armed conflict in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, particularly in the East and West Gojjam Zones. By employing an integrated research approach, the study investigated three main themes: economic effect, social effect, and political implications. The economic aspect assessed effects on household poverty, living costs, market dynamics, and key economic sectors using poverty indices and other metrics. Social effect had been evaluated through health and education facilities, maternal and child health services, availability of medical supplies, and humanitarian costs like displacement and loss of lives. Additionally, political ramifications, including effects on democratic institutions, crime, human rights violations, and local governance structures explored properly. A stratified random sampling technique was employed. Cross-sectional household survey was conducted from 1078 urban and rural households. Data  collected through surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and document reviews in selected towns and districts within the East and West Gojjam Zones, ensuring representation of affected populations. A comparative analysis technique was used to compare the parameters before and after the ongoing armed conflict. The findings of the study revealed that the ongoing armed conflict in East and West Gojjam Zones has resulted in profound economic, social, and political consequences. Due to the conflict, households are experiencing increasing poverty as a result of unstable markets, rising living expenses, and disrupted livelihoods. Financial insecurity has increased as a result of large losses in important industries including trade and agriculture. The region's economic resilience has been further strained by the conflict's significant human and material costs. Regarding to the social effect, public health and education services have been negatively damaged by the conflict on a social level. Medical supply shortages and decreased use of maternity and child health services plague health institutions, and disruptions in education services restrict access to educational possibilities. There has been a significant humanitarian cost, with long-term social instability brought on by relocation and fatalities. Finally, in terms of politics, the war has undermined democratic institutions and systems of government. While human rights breaches continue to be a major concern, insecurity has increased due to the proliferation of crimes like looting and extrajudicial killings. The instability of local administration has complicated recovery attempts. The findings aim to deepen understanding of the conflict's effects, informing evidence-based interventions and policies for mitigating adverse effects and promoting sustainable peace and development. In order to address these effects and guarantee long-term peace and prosperity in the study area, priorities should be given to conflict resolution and peace building efforts followed by development of recovery programs such as reconstruct social services, restore economic stability, and fortify political institutions. Key Words: Armed conflict; socioeconomic effect; Political effect; Amhara Region; East Gojjam Zone; West Gojjam Zone; Ethiopia 

Background
Anemia is a critical complication among hemodialysis patients, often leading to poor outcomes. This study aimed to assess anemia prevalence and identify predictors among hemodialysis patients at Felege Hiote Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022.


Research design and methods
A retrospective cohort study analyzed 410 hemodialysis patients from January 2018 to February 2022. Data was collected from medical records, entered using Epi-data Version 4.1, and analyzed with STATA Version 14. Kaplan-Meier survival curves assessed survival time, while Cox regression identified anemia predictors.


Results
Of 410 patients, 66 (16.1%) developed anemia, with an incidence rate of 7.9 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 3.1–13.5). Significant predictors included female sex (IRR: 1.5, p = 0.04), rural residence (IRR: 2.5, p = 0.01), low body mass index (IRR: 1.6, p = 0.02), and congestive heart failure (IRR: 6.9, p = 0.02).


Conclusions
Anemia prevalence among hemodialysis patients is high, with key predictors including gender, residence, body mass index, and comorbidities. Interventions targeting these factors, especially in rural areas, could reduce anemia incidence. Study limitations include single-center data, incomplete variables, and lack of causality.





KEYWORDS: Anemia, incidence, predictors of anemia, end stage kidney disease, hemodialysis

Introduction Functional disability in older adults refers to difficulties in performing daily activities. It is usuallyevaluated based on an individual’s ability to carry out basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of dailyliving. Although existing studies provide valuable insights, comprehensive global data on functional disability inbasic and instrumental activities of daily living among older adults remain limited. This study aims to review existingresearch worldwide to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of functional disability in these areas.Methods Systematic searches were conducted across EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar fromMay 5 to July 11, 2024. Cross-sectional studies worldwide on functional disability in basic and instrumental activitiesof daily living among adults aged 60 and older, published in English up to July 11, 2024 were included. Studies wereexcluded if they did not report the outcomes of interest, were inaccessible, case reports, low quality, review articles,or published in languages other than English. Data extraction and cleaning were performed using Microsoft Excel,and STATA version 17 was used to compute the pooled effect size with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for functionaldisability in both basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living among older adults. Toderive these estimates, we used weighted averages, where each study’s prevalence was weighted by the inverse ofits variance. Study heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane I² statistic and its associated p-value. Subgroupanalysis and meta-regression were conducted to identify sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was used toevaluate the impact of individual studies on the overall results. Publication bias was assessed with Egger’s test andfunnel plots, and was addressed through trim-and-fill analysis.Results This review includes 35 studies with a total of 133,827 participants. The pooled prevalence of functionaldisability in basic activities of daily living was estimated at 26.07% (95% CI: 19.04–32.74), while on instrumentalactivities of daily living, it was estimated at 45.15% (95% CI: 36.02–54.29). After applying the trim-and-fill method,the adjusted overall prevalence of disability in basic activities of daily living was 15.12%, (a 95% CI: 11.25–19.13%).
subgroup analysis showed highest prevalence in Africa (BADL: 42.91%, IADL: 69.34%) and lowest in Asia (BADL:19.15%, IADL: 32.66%). Participants aged 65 and above, those in institutional settings, and studies with smaller samplesizes tended to report higher levels of functional disability.Conclusions Nearly one-fourth of the study participants had functional disability related to basic activities of dailyliving, while about half experienced disability in instrumental activities of daily living. This emphasizes the needfor continued effort in improving the quality of life and support systems for individuals facing functional disability,particularly in instrumental activities.Keywords Basic activities of daily living, Functional disability, Instrumental activities of daily living, Older adults.

ntroduction: Cognitive impairment is a medical condition caused by neurodegeneration, marked by a gradualdecline in neurological, motor, psychological, and cognitive domain functions, as well as daily activities. Itprimarily affects individuals with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus,cancer, epilepsy, dementia, and other chronic illnesses, as well as older adults. While some individual studieshave explored the effects of cognitive impairment, there is a lack of nationwide research to provide a compre-hensive understanding of its burden among individuals with chronic diseases.Objective: To assess the pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associated factors among individualswith chronic diseases in Ethiopia.Methods: Several databases were examined to find available articles. The data were extracted and sorted inMicrosoft Excel before being exported to STATA/MP 17.0 for analysis. A random-effects Der Simonian-Lairdmodel with a 95 % confidence interval was used to pool the data. Cochrane I2 statistics and Egger’s test wereused to evaluate heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. To determine the cause of heterogeneity,subgroup analysis was performed. A log-odds ratio was utilized to illustrate the association between cognitiveimpairment and its associated factors. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Result: This study included 22 individual articles comprising a total of 6818 participants. The overall prevalenceof cognitive impairment among individuals with chronic diseases was 44.43 % (95 % CI: 37.76–51.10). Studiesconducted in Addis Ababa reported a higher prevalence of 50.89 % (95 % CI: 34.59–67.19). Similarly, researchfocusing on older adults indicated the highest prevalence, at 57.58 % (95 % CI: 28.78–86.39). Participants whoare unable to read and write were 3.82 times more likely to experience cognitive impairment compared to thosewho had completed primary education (AOR = 3.82; 95 % CI: 2.97–4.91).Conclusion: This review found a high prevalence of cognitive impairment among Ethiopians with chronic dis-eases, especially in older adults and those in Addis Ababa. Illiteracy significantly increased the risk. Thesefindings highlight the need for targeted cognitive screening and integration of cognitive care into chronic diseasemanagement.
Keywords: Cognition, Cognitive impairment, Associated factors, Ethiopia