RESUMO
PURPOSE: Despite the recognized benefits, access to assistive technology (AT) remains limited. Identifying the current usage patterns and unmet needs of AT users could help address the challenges of students with disabilities. Thus, this study aimed to investigate AT use and its associated factors. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional mixed study was conducted on higher education students with disabilities in Ethiopia. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and an in-depth interview technique were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were used to analyse the quantitative data, while inductive thematic analysis was undertaken for the qualitative data. RESULTS: A total of 233 (74.68%) with (95% CI: 70%-80%) students with disabilities used at least one form of AT. Four themes emerged which include experiences of AT use and disability, benefits and challenges of using AT, perception of the community towards AT, and responsibility for the provision of AT. Students with vision problems or those with severe disability types were most likely to be AT users. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: A significant proportion of students with disabilities had unmet needs for AT. Capacity at universities or rehabilitation centres would enhance access, usage of AT, and the unmet needs of students with disabilities.
Will help to solve the barriers to accessing assistive technology and associated factors in the access and provision of assistive technology.Will help policymakers and stakeholders to design evidence-based rehabilitation strategies in the provision of assistive technology to persons with disabilities.Provide insight into the role of assistive technology in an educational platform to engage people with disabilities in education, improve their quality of life and lead them to become part of a productive society.
RESUMO
The aim of the study is to analyze the spatio-temporal variability and projection of rainfall and temperature (2021-2040) in Suha watershed, North West highlands of Ethiopia. The study used 4 km × 4 km reconstructed (blended) monthly rainfall and temperature data from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia (NMAE) and Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) of Cen Trends v1 (0.25° × 0.25°), respectively. Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator, coefficient of variation, autoregressive integrated model , and the inverse distance weighted tool were used to analysis the rainfall and temperature variability for different timescale and agroecology. The coefficient of variation showed the existence of high seasonal variability than the year-to-year in the watershed. Kiremt (main rainy season) rainfall showed substantial inter-annual variability throughout the time of observation (1990-2020). Besides, the Mann-Kendall test and the Sen's slope estimator detected that except, Belg (little rainy season) rainfall, all the others including the annual exhibited a nonsignificant increasing trend at p < 0.05. Spatially, the upper part of the watershed is wetter than the lower portion and a large portion of it (40%) received 930-1024 mm of rainfall per year. The minimum temperature showed a decreasing trend (0.01 °C per year), while the maximum temperature exhibited the opposite result (0.02 °C per year). The seasonal variability in both cases showed mixed outcomes. Forty-two percent of the watershed experiences a minimum temperature of 10.6-12.0 °C, whereas 45% experiences a maximum temperature between 24.1 and 26.0 °C. Meanwhile, the projected result showed that there is a decreasing trend for mean annual rainfall and an increasing trend for mean annual temperature from 2021 to 2040. Hence, policymakers have to give priority to the designing and application of area-specific adaptive strategies to curb the impact of climate variability. Rainwater harvesting and small-scale irrigation practice could be possible options.
