Purpose: Globally, adolescent mental health problems reportedly manifest more severely in individuals with lower mental health literacy. Mental health curriculum interventions using social media have been associated with positive implementation outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether such an intervention significantly improves adolescent mental health literacy and is associated with positive implementation outcome measures. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design, comparing the before-and-after difference between the intervention group (n₁=77) and the control group (n₁=76). A mental health literacy module was delivered using social media. Data were collected using validated questionnaires. Effect size and difference-in-differences model calculations (and associated 95% confidence intervals, CI) were conducted alongside other descriptive analyses. Results: The estimated intervention effect size and difference-in-differences estimates were greater than zero. The effect was greater in the intervention than in the control group (p< 0.05) despite sex and age differences. The effect size estimate provided by Cohen’s d and Hedges’ g values was medium-to-large (d/g=0.429– 0.767, p< 0.05). The difference-in-differences reflected a significant effect (DID=0.348, CI: 0.154– 0.542, p< 0.001) in increasing mental health literacy despite differences associated with sex, age, and school grade. The intervention program was acceptable, appropriate, feasible, and satisfactory, and more than 80% of participants said they agree to completely agree with these implementation outcomes. Resources and personal and family-related factors were among the perceived influencing factors determining the effectiveness and implementation outcome measures. Conclusion: The intervention program effectively improved the mental health literacy of adolescents. It has been highlighted that social media interventions for mental health promotion could be practical and scalable; however, there is a need to take into account socio-demographic differences and barriers to inclusion/compliance.

This study was conducted to assess the psychosocial and material services provision of Wolisso Kalehiwot Church project/center. Qualitative research design employing phenomenological approach was conducted as to reach on identifying the strengths and challenges practiced in the center. Purposive sampling techniques was used to draw ten respondents from the center (8 from orphans, 2 from staff) to respond to interview questions. The result of this study indicated that the effort made by the project is so effective in addressing the immediate need of the orphans including survival and wellbeing of these children. Consequently, the weakness in the project observed was initial recruitment problem of the orphans and unskilled staffs involving in the project and the inability to be proactive for the sustainability request for the project were seen as major. The challenges faced were identified as characteristics of the staff to handle the growing needs of the orphans, emotional instability of the children, limited access to social integration, negative attitude of the community towards institutionalization and segregation were observed as critical. Hence, institutional capacity building from both external and internal funders to maintain the projects sustainability with clear goal and policy direction is mandatory.

Analyzing agricultural and hydrological drought at different timescales is essential for designing adaptation strategies. This study aimed to assess agricultural and hydrological drought in the Abbay Basin of Ethiopia by using multiple indices, namely the standardized precipitation index (SPI), standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), vegetation condition index (VCI), and drought severity index (DSI). Climate extremes were assessed over the Abbay Basin between 1981 and 2022. The results indicate that the years 1982 and 2014 were the most drought-prone, while the year 1988 was the wettest year in the Abbay Basin. The results revealed the presence of extremely dry and severely dry conditions, potentially impacting agricultural output in the region. Agricultural drought was identified during the main crop seasons (June to September). The VCI results indicated the presence of extremely wet and severely wet conditions. In 2012, 65% of the area was affected by extreme drought conditions, while nearly half of the Basin experienced extreme drought in 2013 and 2022. The DSI results indicated the occurrence of agricultural drought, although the spatial coverage of extreme dry conditions was lower than that of the other indices. In 2003, 78.49% of the Basin experienced moderate drought conditions, whereas severe drought affected 20% of the region. In 2010, about 90% of the Basin experienced moderate drought. This study provides valuable insights for agricultural communities, enabling them to mitigate the impact of drought on crop yields by utilizing different adaptation strategies. An adequate knowledge of agricultural and hydrological drought is essential for policymakers to assess the potential effects of drought on socioeconomic activities and to recognize the significance of implementing climate change adaptation measures.

RESUMO: Entrevista semiestruturada e FGD foi empregada para extrair informações de treze entrevistados selecionados propositalmente. O resultado do estudo revelou que o aconselhamento matrimonial e familiar é uma tradição entre a comunidade Oromo logo após a depilação dos cabelos nascidos. Principalmente, o pai assume a responsabilidade do homem e a mãe segue a filha. 'Kuchu' e aconselhamento de engajamento, e conhecimento de bênção e maldição estão entre as principais áreas de preocupação. Conseqüentemente, os princípios de aconselhamento matrimonial e familiar, procedimentos e idades de aplicação são fundamentais. A incorporação de conhecimentos indígenas e habilidades de aconselhamento no currículo educacional e treinamento para sua sustentabilidade foi recomendada para atualização. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: aconselhamento familiar; aconselhamento indígena; aconselhamento matrimonial.

Today’s children in developing countries are growing up in an increasingly stressful circumstance. As consumption of substances is increased, the of age of beginning is falling. Hence, this research examined street children’s drug abuse, their psychosocial actualities synchronized with intervention strategies. Explanatory sequential research design was employed. A total of 150 street children and four key informants were selected through simple random sampling using lottery methods and purposive sampling technique respectively. Questionnaire, interview guide, FGD probes and observation checklist were employed as tools of data collection. The result of the study portrayed that sniffing glue and gasoline were becoming the drugs of choice for most children living on the street. Further, street children faced various psychological and social strainsfrom absence of meeting their basic social needs and services to certain disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress. Government bodies’ interventions were limited andinconsistentthat only undergoesinformal education thatcould not bring considerable change; it lacks solidity and incompatibility with the number of street children runway over a time in the study area. In conclusion, most of the street children in South west Ethiopia are at adversary peak of drug abuse and psychosocial challenges. Thus, South-West areas Women and Children Affairs Offices, Labor and Social Affairs Offices and GOs and NGOs working on these matters ought to take these issues into greater consideration and act accordingly. In collaboration with professionals, they also need to work on drug free child sensitive preventive and rehabilitation counseling and other psychosocial support.

Even though the concept of counseling in the modern society and indigenous community vary vibrantly, the purpose of counseling is the same globally. Counseling is a serving approach for individuals ‘within the system’. Oromo as a larger community in Ethiopia, Africa, has its own wisdom and way of living which is not studied well. Accordingly, this study was intended to analyze the efficacy of indigenous counseling approaches ever practiced among Oromo community. Five districts/zones/employing indigenous counseling services in their intervention were covered utilizing purposive sampling. Qualitative study method employing semi-structured interview, observation and focus group discussions were used to gather information. The study result discloses that counseling is the tradition among Oromo community in Ethiopia even if there was no attempt made by higher institutions and the government to incorporate the cultural values of counseling in the education curriculum of the country. The indigenous counseling system was mistreated area prone to alteration from the usual business. Moreover, cultural invasion by alien religious denominations, high intrusion of the dominant ruling classes through times and displacement of the local natives by the pseudo-urbanization has a moribund effect in stunting indigenous counseling systems. The methods employed, techniques and procedures used by indigenous counselors are well organized aided by the rules and regulations of Gada administration enacted on the general assembly (Gumii Gayyoo). Integrating the indigenous counseling system to the education curriculum of the country and adaptation of the modern counseling methods to the level of harmonizing and pertaining to the local community custom was recommended as key component.