**2.1 Description of the study area**

This study was conducted within the 6.36°–7.14°N Latitude and 38.01°–38.56°E Longitude area in Ethiopia (**Figure 2**).

The study area is located in Sidama administrative region in Ethiopia. According to annual statistical report of the Sidama zone—now Sidama regional state— Finance and Economic Development Sector [16], Sidama Administration Zone was one of the 14 zones in the SNNPRS region. It is located in the north eastern part of the region and bounded by Oromia in the North, East, and South East, with Gedeo Zone in the South, and Wolayta Zone in the West. Its geographic location of Sidama regional state lies between 6°140 –7°18<sup>0</sup> North Latitude and 37°92<sup>0</sup> –39°14<sup>0</sup> East Longitude.

The region consists 30/Thirty/woredas (administrative districts), which are: Hawassa Zuria, Malga, Wondo-genet, Gorche, Wonsho, [Aleta] Chuko, Loka-abaya, Bursa, Bona-zuriya, Chire, Shebedino, Dalle, Aleta-wondo, Dara, Hula, Aroresa, Bensa, A[Ha]rbegona, Boricha, Hawela, Darara, Bilate-Zuria, Dara-Otilicho, Teticha, Shafamo, Chirone, Chabe-Gambeltu, Bura, Daela, and Hokko Woreda. Whereas, Aleta wondo, Aleta Chuko, Yirgalem, Leku, Chuko, and Daye are City Administrations. Total population of Sidama [17], is projected to be 4,271,739. The average population density of Sidama region in the 2017/18 is 635 person per/km<sup>2</sup> . It is one of the densely populated regions in the country. The total area of the region is 6981.9 km<sup>2</sup> . Its western part tilts towards southern part of Great East African Rift Valley in Ethiopia [18].
