The use of long acting contraceptive methods is a commonpractice among women seeking to prevent unintended pregnanciesand plan their families. This study seeks to identify factors associ-ated with the practice of long-acting contraceptive methods, par-ticularly in a conflict-affected area in Awi zone, North WestEthiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a multistagerandom sample of 1,334 women’s. Bivariable and multivariablebinary logistic regression has been applied to identify determinantfactors. Among the 1,334 women surveyed, 25.49% reportedusing long-acting contraceptive methods. The analysis revealedthat women’s educational level, wealth index, being visited byhealth extension, marital status, use of children as a source ofincome, and occupational status of women were factors signifi-cantly hindering the use of long-acting contraceptive methods inthe area. In conclusion, higher contraceptive use was observedamong educated, married women, women who used children as asource of income, and women employed by the government. It istherefore recommended that government officials in Awi Zone andpolicy makers should implement programs to increase female edu-cation and employment, which could lead to greater use of contra-ceptive methods for effective family planning.
Key words: Awi Zone, contraceptive methods, family planning, multiple logistic regression, Ethiopia.

Melioidosis is a significant health problem in tropical and subtropical regions, especially inSoutheast Asia and Northern Australia. Recurrent melioidosis is a major obstacle to eliminatingthe disease from the community in these nations. This work aims to propose and analyzea human melioidosis model with recurrent phenomena and an optimal control model byincorporating time-dependent control functions. The basic reproduction number (𝑅0) of theuncontrolled model is derived using the method of the next-generation matrix. Using theconstruction of a Lyapunov functional, we present the global asymptotic dynamics of theautonomous model in the presence of recurrent for both disease-free and endemic equilibria. Theglobal asymptotic stability of the model’s equilibria shows the absence of a backward bifurcationfor the model in both cases, whether in the absence or presence of relapse. The sensitivityanalysis aims to identify the parameters that have the most significant impact on the model’sdynamics. Furthermore, qualitative analysis of the model’s global dynamics and the changingeffect of the most influential parameters on 𝑅0 are supported by numerical experiments, with theresults being illustrated graphically. The model with time-dependent controls is analyzed usingoptimal control theory to assess the impact of various intervention strategies on the spread ofthe epidemic. The numerical results of the optimality system are carried out using the Forward–Backward Sweep method in Matlab. We also conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis using twoapproaches: the average cost-effectiveness ratio and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.
Keywords: Melioidosis model; B.pseudomallei; Recurrent; Global stability; Optimal control; Cost-effective strategy

This study investigates the status of biomass stove usage in East Gojjam, Ethiopia, and evaluates the health, economic, and environmental benefits of an improved biomass stove which was designed and fabricated using locally available materials. Major challenges in the study areas were uses of traditional three-stone stoves, which are inefficient and produce harmful emissions. The study aims to assess the status of stoves used, source, amount and type of biomass consumption per household, to analyze the health impact of improved biomass stove with conventional stove and to analyze the economic and environmental impact of the conventional and improved stove.Two stove models were fabricated: one for household use and another for institutional settings. Construction materials included angle iron, sheet metal, ceramic tiles, sand, and clay for insulation. Eucalyptus wood a commonly used local biomass fuel was standardized for all testing, including oven drying and storage procedures. Performance evaluation was based on cooking time, fuel consumption, and emissions (CO and PM2.5), using laboratory and field tests. Additional data were collected through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and direct observations from 400 households across three districts: Dejen, Yedwuha and Debrework.According to the result; the improved biomass stove significantly outperformed the conventional three stone stove: reducing cooking time by 51.61%, fuel consumption by 12.34%, carbon monoxide emissions by 99.72%, and PM2.5 emissions by 75.52%. It also demonstrated substantial environmental benefits, including lower firewood demand and reduced deforestation. Economically, households saved over 3,225 birr per year in fuel and time costs.In conclusion, the improved biomass stove offers a viable, scalable solution to Ethiopia’s household energy and health challenges. Its adoption can significantly mitigate household air pollution, improve public health, reduce environmental degradation, and strengthen economic resilience, particularly for women and children. The study recommends expanding the dissemination of the improved biomass stoves through targeted policy support, community education, and financing mechanisms.

Illnesses associated with consuming infected milk and milk products are a widespread problem inlow and middle-income countries. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a bacteriumcommonly found in raw milk and causes foodborne diseases ranging from mild diarrhea to severehemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the viru-lence gene and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains isolatedfrom raw milk in dairy farms in and around Bahir Dar town. Raw milk samples (n = 128)collected from December 2021 to July 2022 were cultured, and E. coli strains were isolated usingstandard methods. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains were identified genotypically by thepresence of the virulence markers using a single-plex polymerase chain reaction. The antibioticsusceptibility testing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli isolates was done by the agar disk diffusionmethod. In total, 32 E. coli isolates were recovered from milk samples from lactating animals. PCRscreening of these isolates resulted in 19 (59.3%) positives for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Thestx2 gene was detected in 53% of cases, followed by stx1 (31%) and eae (16%. The STEC isolateswere highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin (94.7%) and kanamycin (89.5%), while exhibiting signif-icant resistance to amoxicillin (89.5%) and streptomycin (73.7%). The present study points outthe occurrence of virulent and antibiotic-resistant Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains in raw milkthat could pose a potential risk to public health. Further analysis by whole genome sequencing isnecessary for an in-depth assessment and understanding of their virulence and resistance factors.Moreover, large-scale studies are needed to identify the prevalence and potential risk factors andto prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant STEC strains in the milk production chain.

Background Due to the high burden of mortality from acute communicable and non-communicable diseases,emergency department’s mortality has become one of the major health indices in Ethiopia that should be evaluatedregularly in every health institution. However, there are inconsistencies between studies, and there is no systematicreview or meta-analysis study about the prevalence of mortality in the emergency department. Therefore, this studyaimed to determine the pooled prevalence of mortality and identify its determinants in the emergency departmentsof Ethiopian hospitals.Methods This systematic review was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items forSystematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and has been registered with PROSPERO. A structured search ofdatabases (Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, EMBASE, HINARI, and Web of Science) was undertaken. Allobservational studies reporting the prevalence of mortality of patients in emergency departments of Ethiopianhospitals, and published in English up to December 16, 2023, were considered for this review. Two reviewersindependently assess the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed to estimate the pooled prevalence. The heterogeneity ofstudies was assessed using I2 statistics, and to identify the possible causes of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis andmeta-regression were used. Egger’s test and funnel plots were used to assess publication bias. STATA version 17.0software was used for all the statistical analyses. A p-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.Results A total of 1363 articles were retrieved through electronic search databases. Subsequently, eighteen studiescomprised 21,582 study participants were included for analysis. The pooled prevalence of mortality among patients inthe Emergency Department (ED) was 7.71% (95% CI: 3.62, 11.80). Regional subgroup analysis showed that the pooledprevalence of mortality was 16.7%, 12.89%, 10.28%, and 4.35% in Dire Dawa, Amhara, Oromia, and Addis Ababa,respectively. Moreover, subgroup analysis based on patients’ age revealed that the pooled prevalence of mortalityamong adults and children was 8.23% (95% CI: 3.51, 12.94) and 4.48% (95% CI: 2.88, 6.08), respectively. Being a ruralresident (OR; 2.30, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.58), unconsciousness (OR; 3.86, 95% CI: 1.35, 11.04), comorbidity (OR; 2.82, 95% CI:1.56, 5.09), and time to reach a nearby health facility (OR; 4.73, 95% CI: 2.19, 10.21) were determinants of mortality forpatients in the emergency departments.
Conclusion and recommendations This study found that the overall prevalence of mortality among patients inemergency departments of Ethiopian hospitals was high, which requires collaboration between all stakeholdersto improve outcomes. Being a rural resident, unconsciousness, comorbidity, and time elapsed to reach healthfacilities were determinants of mortality. Improving pre-hospital care, training healthcare providers, early referral, andimproving first-line management at referral hospitals will help to reduce the high mortality in our country.Keywords Associated factors, Emergency department, Ethiopia, Meta-analysis, Mortality

This study presents a novel approach for optimizing UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) Multicircularflight control by developing a fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID)-based hybridEagle strategy particle swarm optimization ant lion optimizer (HESPSOALO). The proposed algorithmcombines the strengths of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the ant lion optimizer (ALO), whichare enhanced by the Eagle strategy to systematically fine-tune the FOPID controller parameters.This hybrid optimization method aims to improve system stability, responsiveness, and disturbancerejection in UAVs, particularly in challenging dynamic flight conditions. The proposed approachwas validated against traditional control methods that utilize FOPID (Base), the Base HESPSOALOalgorithm, the FOPID-based HPSOGWO (Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization-Gray Wolf Optimizer),and the FOPID-based HGWOALO (Hybrid Gray Wolf Optimization-Ant Lion Optimizer) with a setof benchmark functions used in the analysis. The results demonstrate a minimization of positionand angular errors, reduced oscillations, and overall improved control stability for the FOPID-basedHESPSOALO compared with the other methods. Furthermore, a multicriteria decision-making(MCDM) framework is applied to evaluate the overall performance of alternative control strategiesutilizing the CRiteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) and technique of orderpreference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) techniques. The MCDM analysis demonstratesthat among the evaluated criteria, Kp has the highest importance, with a weight of 0.244019,whereas Kd is deemed the least significant, with a weight of 0.161023. The ranking results revealthat the HESPSOALO algorithm (Base) is the best-performing controller method, with a rankingscore of 0.571161, indicating its superior control performance across major metrics. In contrast, theFOPID + HPSOGWO controller method ranks the lowest, with a score of 0.282794. The findings havesignificant industrial implications, particularly in sectors where UAVs are critical for precision tasks,such as logistics, agriculture, surveillance, and environmental monitoring. By optimizing the FOPIDcontroller parameters, the HESPSOALO algorithm enhances UAV stability, responsiveness, andreliability in dynamic environments, resulting in more precise control and robust performance undervarying conditions. This improvement may reduce operational risks and maintenance costs whileincreasing efficiency, prolonging UAV service life, and achieving energy savings. This study provides arobust solution for UAV control based on the potential of hybrid optimization algorithms to improveUAV precision and reliability in autonomous flight.Keywords: UAV multicircular flight control, FOPID, Hybrid optimization, CRITIC, TOPSIS

This study investigates how effectively Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has addressed the crisis in Somalia since 1991, using realism theory as its analytical framework. It employs a qualitative case study approach to delve into IGAD's interventions and their implications, conducting an in-depth analysis of IGAD's official documents, resolutions, and crisisrelated reports concerning Somalia. By applying realism theory, the study scrutinizes IGAD's actions and motivations from a perspective centered on power politics, highlighting the significance of state interests and regional stability. It suggests that IGAD member states may resist to cooperate when they perceive IGAD's engagement in Somalia is regarded as a threat to their security interests. Despite IGAD's numerous peace initiatives, achieving sustainable peace in Somalia remains elusive. The paper asserts that while IGAD has made substantial efforts to resolve the Somalia conflict, its effectiveness has been constrained by the complexity of the conflict, external influences, and divergent interests among member states. To enhance IGAD's effectiveness, the study recommends various actions, including promoting regional economic integration, mobilizing external resources, improving transparency and accountability, fostering regional identity and solidarity, and maintaining a balanced power dynamic to prevent dominance by any single entity. Applying these measures could significantly improve IGAD's capacity to support peace and stability in Somalia and the entire East Africa region.



Keywords: Horn of Africa, IGAD, Somalia, Peace and security, Realism theory, Regional cooperation

Neo-colonialism is considered by many writers to be a strategy of the former colonialpowers and the new superpowers to implement various socioeconomic and politicalstrategies in developing countries. the Horn of africa, as a parcel of a developingregion, is recognized as a piece of the ‘grand chessboard’ of world geopolitics. inparticular, Us neo-colonialism has become an invisible government in almost allcountries in the Horn of africa. therefore, the main objective of this paper is to examineand write about the origin, discourses, concealment (mask), normative agents, andpotential perils of american neo-colonialism in the Horn of africa. indeed, the paperalso answers the question of whether the Us is a straightforward ally or a neo-colonialistin the Horn of africa. to document this, the paper would be limited to primary sourcessuch as letters, reports, and published secondary texts that have been available to thiswriter to date.
EYWORDS: Neocolonialism; Us concealment; Horn of africa; normative agents

Neo-colonialism is considered by many writers to be a strategy of the former colonialpowers and the new superpowers to implement various socioeconomic and politicalstrategies in developing countries. the Horn of africa, as a parcel of a developingregion, is recognized as a piece of the ‘grand chessboard’ of world geopolitics. inparticular, Us neo-colonialism has become an invisible government in almost allcountries in the Horn of africa. therefore, the main objective of this paper is to examineand write about the origin, discourses, concealment (mask), normative agents, andpotential perils of american neo-colonialism in the Horn of africa. indeed, the paperalso answers the question of whether the Us is a straightforward ally or a neo-colonialistin the Horn of africa. to document this, the paper would be limited to primary sourcessuch as letters, reports, and published secondary texts that have been available to thiswriter to date.
KEYWORDS: Neocolonialism; Us concealment; Horn ofafrica; normative agents

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.