Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors and measure prevalence of depression disorder and coping mechanisms of migrant returnees from Middle East countries in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods:Mixed method explanatory research design was employed on 376 randomly selected migrant returnees in six nominated towns of the region. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Abusive Behavioral Checklist (ABC) and Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) were employed for assessment. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and interview were also utilized. Descriptive statistics, independent ttest, dependent t-test and ANOVA were utilized to analyze the collected data. Result:The general life time prevalence of depression disorder was 34.8%. Specifically, headache, stomachache and irritability were most frequently reported core symptoms of depression by most of returnees, but suicidal thoughts, pessimism, and sadness occur as well. Likewise, imprisonment, ill health condition without access to medical care, serious physical injury from combat situation, witness of beatings to head or body, witness of torture, forced for separation from family members, isolation from others, for lack of shelter, lack of food or water, for evacuation under dangerous conditions, witness of rape or sexual abuse and physical abuse like beating to the body were highly reported traumatic experience by domestic migrant returnees respectively. In this study, the independent t-test result shows that there was statistically significant mean difference in sex (t(374)=-4.075, p<0.05), employment status (t(374)=2.178, p<0.05) and legal status of migrant returnees (t(374)=-9.058, p<0.05) in experiencing depression disorder. Besides, ANOVA result revealed that age (F(3,372)=19.003, p<0.05), educational status (F(2,372)=6.939, p<0.05), average monthly income of the returnees in Middle East countries (F(2,373)=44.072, p˂0.05), types of abuse that returnees' face (F(3,372)=2.996, p˂0.05) had statistically significant effect on depression disorder of migrant returnees. Finally, problem solving, seeking social support and avoidance coping mechanisms were utilized by returnees in their due order. Conclusion:The life time prevalence of depression disorder was very high. Therefore, mental health service providers shall consider in diagnosing and treating depression disorder among migrant returnees.

The study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of stress among Ambo University students. Institute based cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 343 undergraduate students at Ambo University. Data were collected using the Student-life Stress Inventory. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient were utilized to analyze the collected data using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. The general life time prevalence of stress was 24.5%. More specifically, fear of academic failure, fear of family disappointment, lack of motivation and interpersonal relationship problem were highly reported symptom of stress students. Likewise, academic overload, projects or assignments timings, political situation of country, financial strain, high family expectations, study skill problem, being alone, procrastination, living away from home, difficulty reading materials, language barrier, acculturation, relationship with opposite sex, lack of entertainment in the University, lack of family support, inability to socialize with peers, adjustment with roommate, family problems, time management problem, and lack of personal interest in their department were frequently reported causes of stress in the University respectively. In this study, the independent t-test result shows that there was a statistically significant mean difference in experiencing stress across students' sex and residential area. Besides, ANOVA result revealed that year of study, students' perceived social support and perceived parenting style of the respondents had a significant effect on stress. However, statistical significant mean differences were not observed in experiencing stress across respondents' monthly family income. Also, a statistically significant negative and moderate relationship was reported between stress and academic achievement. Nearly one fourth of students were suffering from measureable stress. Therefore, Ambo University management shall strengthen the academic counseling and preventive mental health services for the students so as to provide a conducive learning environment.

In Ethiopia studies on high school students’ mathematics self-efficacy and associated factors are scarce. The present study examined students’ mathematics self-efficacy and associated predictors among high school students in Addis Ababa. Data were collected using adapted questionnaire from 120 students (9th and 10th graders) recruited via multi-stage sampling. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square and logistic regressions were utilized to analyze the collected data. In the study it was found that students have more than average mathematics self-efficacy even though significant numbers of students (44.2%) have low mathematics self-efficacy. It was also revealed that differences in grade level [t(118) = 2.545, p &lt; 0.05] and students’ expected grade in the upcoming national exam [F(3,116) = 5.553, p &lt; 0.05] were statistically significant. Living arrangements (AOR = 6.704, 95% CI = 1.598–28.118), expected grade in the upcoming national exam (AOR = 5.808, 95% CI = 1.804–18.696) and expected marks in the semester (AOR = 1.126, 95% CI = 1.055–1.202) are significant predictors of students’ mathematics self-efficacy. Generally educational expectations are important predictors of students’ mathematics self-efficacy. Therefore, researchers and organizations need to gear their attention towards improving students’ mathematics self-efficacy.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of public health importance and one of the leading causes of permanent physical disability. Nevertheless, the drop in prevalence following multidrug therapy has resulted in the neglect of leprosy. The prevalence and annual incidence of new cases of leprosy is persistently high for the past 10 years in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, belief and attitude of the community towards leprosy patients in Gindeberet Woreda, Oromia region, Ethiopia. A community based cross sectional survey design was carried out on a sample of 571 randomly selected adults. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, point bi-serial and Chi-square were utilized to analyze the collected data. As a result, 453 (79.3%) and 351 (61.5%) of respondents had poor knowledge and negative attitude towards leprosy respectively. More specifically, 263 (48.7%) of the respondents correctly believed that leprosy was caused by germs. However, 431 (75.5%), 413 (72.3%), 355(62.2%), 333 (58.3%) and 275 (48.1%) of respondents were attributed vitamin deficiency, unclean environment, impure blood, eating too much cooling food and hereditary as the causes of leprosy while only 14% and 10.5% 10.5% believed that leprosy was a punishment for sins/curse and evil spirits respectively. Hence, nearly half of respondents stated that leprosy could be transmitted from mother to infant and personal contact. Also, 140(24.5%) correctly reported that leprosy could be treated with anti-leprosy drugs. In fact, 107 (36.15%) did not want to sit with leprosy patients. Besides, 67% of the respondents were not able to list down the cardinal signs of leprosy correctly and 71% didn't know the patho-physiology of disability in leprosy. In this study, the level of leprosy knowledge was associated with the sex, age, educational status, and religion of respondents. Moreover, sex, age and educational status had statistically significant effect on respondents' attitude towards leprosy. In addition, among all examined variables, only sex and educational status had an interaction effect on respondents' attitude towards leprosy. Strong positive correlation was observed between the knowledge and attitudes of the community towards leprosy patients. In conclusion, an overall lack of knowledge and prevalence of delusion regarding the cause, transmission and outcome of leprosy was identified among the community. Stigmatizing attitudes towards leprosy

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors and measure prevalence rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Coping Mechanisms of migrant returnees from Middle East countries in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods: Mixed method explanatory research design was employed on 376 randomly selected migrant returnees in six nominated towns of the region. PTSD checklist and Coping Strategy Indicator were employed for assessment. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and interview were also utilized. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test and MANOVA were utilized to analyze the collected data. Result: The general life time prevalence rate of PTSD was 26.2%. Correspondingly, avoidance, intrusive thought and hyper arousal were reported core symptoms of PTSD in their due order. Likewise, to improve quality of life, failure in educational endeavor, peer and family pressure, unemployment and poverty were the major factors for migration to Middle East. In this study, the independent t-test result shows that there was statistically significant mean difference between male and female respondents in experiencing intrusive thought (t (374)=-2.62, p<0.05), avoidance (t (374)=-3.14, p<0.05) and hyper arousal (t (374)=-2.86, p< 0.05). Besides, current employment status of returnees had statistically significant effect in experiencing intrusive thought (t (374)=2.45, p<0.05), avoidance (t (374)=-2.42, p<0.05) and hyper arousal (t (374) = 2.10, p<0.05). In addition, a MANOVA result revealed that there were statistically significant differences between participants with their respective age (F (6,522)=2.230, p˂0.05), educational status (F (9,665)=3.051, p<0.05), average monthly income (F (6,522)=0.867, p˂0. 05) and types of abuse they faced (F (9,635)=2.113, p˂0. 05) on PTSD dimensions (intrusive thought, avoidance and hyper arousal). Correspondingly, ANOVA result disclosed that age, educational status, types of abuse returnees’ face and monthly income in the Middle East had statistically significant effect on intrusive thought, avoidance and hyper arousal separately. As contributing factors for PTSD, limitations on freedom of movement, enforced cultural isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, excessive working hours, being arrested, confiscation of documents, withholding of wage and life threatening trial were highly reported problems. Finally, problem solving, seeking social support and avoidance coping mechanisms were utilized in their due order. Conclusion: The life time prevalence rate of PTSD were very high. Therefore, mental health service providers shall consider in diagnosing and treating PTSD among migrant returnee