A multicenter study on practices and related factors of traditional medicinal plant use during pregnancy among women receiving antenatal care in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

BackgroundLittle is known about the practice of traditional medicinal plant use, especially during pregnancy in Ethiopia. Moreover, there has been no previous studies conducted on practices and related factors of medicinal plant use among pregnant women in Gojjam, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA multicentered facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 to 30 2021. A total of 423 pregnant mothers receiving antenatal care were included in this study. To recruit study participants, multistage sampling techniques were used. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. SPSS version 20.0 statistical package was used for statistical analysis. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to the medicinal plants' utilization status in pregnant mothers. The study results were presented in both descriptive statistics (percents, tables, graphs, mean, and dispersion measurements like standard deviation) and inferential statistics (odds ratio).ResultsThe magnitude of traditional medicinal plants' utilization during pregnancy was 47.7% (95%CI: 42.8–52.8%). Pregnant mothers residing in rural areas [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.13; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.53, 6.41], who are illiterate (AOR = 2.99; 95%CI:1.097, 8.17), have illiterate husbands (AOR = 3.08; 95%CI:1.29, 7.33), married farmers (AOR = 4.92; 95%CI:1.87, 12.94), married merchants (AOR = 0.27; 95%CI:0.09, 0.78), have a divorced and widowed marital status (AOR = 3.93; 95%CI:1.25, 12.395), have low antenatal care visits (AOR = 4.76; 95%CI:1.93, 11.74), substance use history (AOR = 7.21; 95%CI:3.49, 14.9), and used medicinal plants in previous pregnancy (AOR = 4.06; 95%CI:2.03, 8.13) had statistically significant association with medicinal plant use during current pregnancy.ConclusionsThe present study revealed that a relatively large number of mothers used medicinal plants of various types during their current pregnancy. Area of residence, maternal educational status, husband's education level, husband's occupation status, marital status, number of antenatal care visits, use of medicinal plants in previous pregnancies, and substance use history were among the factors which were significantly associated with the use of traditional medicinal plants during the current pregnancy. Overall, the current finding provides scientific evidence useful for health sector leaders and healthcare professionals on the utilization of unprescribed medicinal plants during pregnancy and the factors associated with the utilization of the plants. Hence, they may consider creating awareness and providing advice on the careful use of unprescribed medicinal plants among pregnant mothers, especially those residing in rural areas, who are illiterate, who have divorced and widowed marital status, and who have a previous history of herbal and substance use. This is because using traditional medicines without prior discussion with a healthcare expert may harm pregnant mothers and their unborn child, as the safety of the utilized plants in the current study area is not scientifically proven. Prospective studies which need to confirm the safety of the plants used are recommended mainly in the present study area

Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and related factors in East Gojjam (NW Ethiopia) in 2016: a community-based study

Introduction. Currently, diabetes is the second most common non-communicable disease (NCD) in Ethiopia. Its burden is 4.8% in this country, even though three quarter of its population live with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM), which causes complications like heart failure, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves damages. Early detection of DM is vital for a timely intervention to prevent these life threatening complications. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of undiagnosed DM and related factors in East Gojjam, North West Ethiopia, in 2016. Materials and methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 757 individuals in East Gojjam from June to September 2016. The sampled population was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling method. Basic data were collected in Amharic (local language) and a pretested interviewer administered the questionnaire. Peripheral blood samples were collected by puncturing the ring finger in order to measure fasting blood glucose. Univarite and multivariate logistic regressions analysis were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0. Results. The percentage of undiagnosed DM in the study area was 11.5% (95%CI=9.2, 13.7). The prevalence was 11.3% among male vs. 11.8% among female; 13.4% in urban areas vs. 10.3% in rural areas. The occurrence of undiagnosed DM was mainly associated with older age (AOR=5.99, 95%CI=1.54, 23.24), family history of diabetes (AOR=9.86, 95%CI=4.25, 22.89), history of gestational diabetes (AOR=3.01, 95%CI=1.17, 8.39) and sedentary behaviour >4 hours per day (AOR=2.13, 95%CI=1.04, 4.34). Being non-smoker (AOR=0.05, 95%CI=0.01, 0.17) and unmarried (AOR=0.09, 95%CI=0.02, 0.42) were also predictive characteristics for undiagnosed DM in the study area. Conclusions. In conclusion, this study revealed a relatively high prevalence of undiagnosed DM in the study area. The occurrence of undiagnosed DM was significantly higher when associated with the age of the participants, their marital status, history of hypertension, diabetes family history, history of gestational diabetes mellitus, current smoking practices and sedentary behaviour. Thus, efforts have to be made, particularly by the individuals involved in health practice, to early detect the disease and thereby initiate a suitable therapeutic service, before complications arise

Predicting Trends, Seasonal Effects, and Future Yields in Cow’s Milk through Time Series Analysis

A dairy is a place that is used for handling milk and milk products. Dairy products are basically based on milk. Milk is used to prepare dairy products, such as butter, cheese, and milk powder. There is always a great demand for milk and milk products among people. This study attempted to investigate the trends in the actual yield of cow’s milk production at Andassa dairy farm. We used secondary data for the study of the daily milk production of cows at Andassa dairy farm. The specific objectives of the study were—to identify whether the milk production is time-dependent or not; to predict in which season the milk production is high or low; to examine the daily trend analysis of milk production; to fit the appropriate model; and to forecast the milk production for the future. The study was conducted based on quantitative variables. So, the dependent variable is the average daily milk, and the independent variable is the time measure at which milk production is measured each day. The study used both descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data that were collected from the dairy farms in the sector. This study covered a total of 179 days of milk production. The results reveal that the milk yield of cows is declining, and that milk output is time-dependent, according to the time series plot, and that the model is ARIMA

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility level of typhoid fever in Ethiopia:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Typhoid fever continues to be a health challenge in low-and middle-income countries where access to clean water and sanitation infrastructure is scarce. The non-confirmatory diagnostic method continues to hinder effective diagnosis and treatment, ensuring in a high antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility level of typhoid fever in Ethiopia. The review was designed based on the condition-context-population review approach. Fifteen eligible articles were identified from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases. Risk of bias and quality of studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s appraisal criteria. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and I(2) statistics. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021224478). The estimated pooled prevalence of typhoid fever from blood and stool culture diagnosis was 3% (95% CI: 2%–4%, p < 0.01) (I(2) = 82.25) and Widal test examination 33% (95% CI: 22%–44%) (I(2) = 99.14). The sub-group analyses identified a lower detection of typhoid fever of 2% (95% CI: 1%–3%) among febrile patients compared to typhoid suspected cases of 6% (95% CI: 2%–9%). The stool culture test identified was twofold higher, value of 4% (95% CI: 2%-7%) salmonella S. Typhi infection than blood culture test of 2% (95% CI: 1%–4%). The antimicrobial susceptibility of salmonella S. Typhi for antibiotics was 94%, 80% and 65% for ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and gentamycin respectively. Low susceptibility of salmonella S. Typhi isolates against nalidixic acid 22% (95% CI: 2%–46%) and chloramphenicol 11% (95% CI: 2%–20%) were observed. The diagnosis of typhoid fever was under or overestimated depending on the diagnostic modality. The Widal test which identified as nonreliable has long been used in Ethiopia for the diagnosis of salmonella S. Typhi causing high diagnosis uncertainties. Antimicrobial susceptibility of salmonella S. Typhi was low for most nationally recommended antibiotics. Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority must strengthen its continued monitoring and enhanced national antimicrobial surveillance system using the best available state-of-the-art technology and or tools to inform the rising resistance of salmonella S. Typhi towards the prescription of standard antibiotics. Finally, it is crucial to develop an evidence-based clinical decision-making support system for the diagnosis, empiric treatment and prevention of antimicrobial resistance

African Linguistics in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Nordic Countries

Non peer reviewe

Caring for the land : best practice in soil and water conservation in Beressa watershed, highlands of Ethiopia

Land degradation in the form of soil erosion and nutrient loss is a major constraint to farming activities and agricultural development in the highlands of Ethiopia. Though large-scale conservation projects have been initiated and carried out by the government during the past few decades, the conservation measures introduced have not been sustained by most farmers and land degradation continued to be a problem. The main objective of this research was to examine soil and water conservation practices in the Beressa watershed of the Ethiopian central highlands and identify the constraints and opportunities for a better conservation intervention. The analysis was carried out in view of the history of land use dynamics, farming and livelihood changes, past conservation activities, and policy regime changes.Chapter  2: Long-term dynamics in land resource use and the driving forces  The dynamics in land resources use between 1957 and 2000 was analysed. It was revealed that the watershed area underwent through substantial land use changes during the 43-year period. The most important changes were destruction of the natural vegetation cover, increased plantations, and expansion of grazing land. Cropland, which comprised of the largest proportion of the watershed area, increased slightly despite a quadrupling in the density of human population. The land use changes were driven by a combination of several factors; demographic pressure, soil degradation and water scarcity, introduction of cattle breeding program, and policy (land, economic) regime changes. It was indicated that farmers tended to change gradually from sole dependence on annual cropping to tree planting and livestock production to cope with the problems of soil degradation and smaller farm size. Functioning rural markets stimulated farmers to participate in tree planting and selling dung-cakes. Apparently, little attention has been paid to investments in SWC and local soil fertility amendments to combat degradation problems. It was concluded that increased erosion and related nutrient losses due to limited conservation investments as well as the removal of potentially available soil nutrients through the sale of manure are real threats to the future of agriculture in the area. Chapter  3: The dung-cakes threaten agricultural development  The extent of farmers' involvement in making and selling dung-cakes and the implications on agricultural activities in general and soil fertility management in particular was investigated. Estimates of the amount of dung-cakes households sell annually and the loss of soil nutrients was analysed. Data were obtained by employing a combination of methods that include socio-economic survey, soil sample analysis, market survey, discussions with the local farmers and literature review. It was shown that farmers in the downstream part of the watershed area were more involved in dung-cake selling. Most farmers process about 90% of their cattle manure into the dung-cakes. It was revealed that 40% of the household income was obtained from the sale of the dung-cakes in the market in Debre Birhan town. On average a farm household exports about 43.5 kg N, 9.0 kg P, and 41.4 kg K y -1 through the sale of the dung-cakes. While there is increased demand for chemical fertilizers by the farmers, actual utilization is constrained by high and increasing market prices, lack of credit services and risks associated with rainfall failure. It was concluded that poverty, market access, and soil degradation were the most important factors influencing farmers' participation in selling dung-cakes.Chapter  4: Farmers' knowledge and practicesA survey was conducted to explore farmers' perception of erosion problems and soil fertility changes as well as their conservation knowledge and practices in the watershed area. The results showed 72% of the 147 interviewed farmers recognized erosion problems. But most of the farmers associated severity of erosion problems with the appearance of visual evidence (rills and gullies) only. It was indicated that the majority of the farmers believe erosion could be stopped, and they applied a range of practices for erosion control and fertility improvement; stone terraces/bunds, waterways, drainage ditches, and contour ploughing. It was found that farmers have been changing and adapting the measures to fit local requirements. Apart from erosion control, the farmers also applied various practices for soil fertility maintenance which include crop rotation and animal manure.Though farmers were aware of the multiple benefits of organic matter for fertility improvement, intensity of manure application was largely limited by the use for fuel and sale as well as distant farm locations that impose labour constraints. Farmers tend to accept and use conservation practices that offer them short-term benefits instead of technologies that require long-term investments. It was concluded that conservation interventions should consider farmers' knowledge and practices in the design of conservation technologies.   Chapter  5: Determinants of adoption and continued use of stone terraces In this section, the determinants of sustained adoption of introduced stone terraces that have been widely promoted in past conservation interventions were analysed. A sequential decision-making model using the bivariate probit approach was employed to identify the factors influencing farmers' adoption decision and continued investments. The results revealed that adoption was influenced by farmers' age, farm size, perception of the technology's profitability, slope, livestock number, and soil fertility, while the decision to continue using the practice is influenced by actual technology profitability, slope, soil fertility, family size, farm size and participation in off-farm work. The results indicated the importance of household/farm and plot level factors in farmers' conservation decision. It was concluded that:analysis of the determinants of adoption per se may not provide a full understanding of the range of factors influencing farmers' decision of continued investmentsconservation interventions should not focus only on the biophysical performance of the measures but also on economic benefits that can be obtained to the farmers in the short runa 'blanket approach' to conservation intervention could make the measures inappropriate to local circumstances and eventually unacceptable by the farmersChapter  6: Participatory evaluation of soil and water conservation practicesA farmer participatory evaluation of currently used SWC practices was carried out. The Regime method in multicriteria analysis was employed to identify the best measures on the different categories of cultivated land based on farmers' evaluation criteria and rankings. It was revealed that farmers consider a range of criteria in choosing the conservation measures. Most of these criteria account for the costs and the benefits relating to the use of the conservation practices. The results indicated stone terraces the best measures on the steep slopes, followed by the waterways. On the medium slopes, soil bunds were considered best measures followed by contour ploughing. And on the gentle slopes where drainage problems were more serious than soil loss, drainage ditches were found to be the best measures. The results further underlined the relevance of farmers' knowledge and experience in the development of appropriate conservation technologies.Chapter  7: Creating enabling conditions for soil and water conservationA framework for better conservation intervention in the watershed area and other areas of the highlands with comparable situations was developed. The framework comprised of a set of enabling conditions that should be considered at three levels of decision-making, viz. local/household, village/community, and national/regional levels. Participatory technology development and farmers' participation in local level conservation activities were indicated most important. At the village/community level, the interaction between the farmers and extension workers should be improved. In addition, monitoring and evaluation of conservation activities, together with the farmers, was indicated necessary for checking the progress of interventions. It was also noted that national/regional level decisions should support and encourage local level actions by the farmers. Policies related to demographic pressure, security of land tenure, and efficient market and credit services require serious attention

Determinants of farmers’ perception to invest in soil and water conservation technologies in the North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia

Soil erosion by water is a severe and continuous ecological problem in the north-western Highlands of Ethiopia. Limited perception of farmers to practice soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies is one of the major causes that have resulted accelerated soil erosion. Therefore, this paper examines the major determinants of farmers’ perception to use and invest in SWC technologies in Ankasha District, north-western highlands of Ethiopia. A detailed field survey was carried out among 338 households, randomly selected from two rural sample kebeles (called villages here after). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression model were used to analyse the effects of multiple variables on farmers’ perception. The results indicate that educational level of the respondents and their access to trainings were found to have a positive and very significant association (P<0.01) with farmers’ perception. Likewise, land ownership, plot size, slope type, and extension contact positively and significantly influenced farmers’ perception at 5% level of significance. On the other hand, the influence of respondents’ age and plot distance from the homestead was found to be negative and significant (P<0.05). The overall results of this study indicate that the perception of farmers to invest in SWC technologies was highly determined by socioeconomic, institutional, attitudinal and biophysical factors. Thus, a better understanding of constrains that influence farmers' perception is very important while designing and implementing SWC technologies. Frequent contacts between farmers and extension agents and continues agricultural trainings are also needed to increase awareness of the impacts of SWC benefits

Table_1_A multicenter study on practices and related factors of traditional medicinal plant use during pregnancy among women receiving antenatal care in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.DOCX

BackgroundLittle is known about the practice of traditional medicinal plant use, especially during pregnancy in Ethiopia. Moreover, there has been no previous studies conducted on practices and related factors of medicinal plant use among pregnant women in Gojjam, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA multicentered facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 to 30 2021. A total of 423 pregnant mothers receiving antenatal care were included in this study. To recruit study participants, multistage sampling techniques were used. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. SPSS version 20.0 statistical package was used for statistical analysis. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to the medicinal plants' utilization status in pregnant mothers. The study results were presented in both descriptive statistics (percents, tables, graphs, mean, and dispersion measurements like standard deviation) and inferential statistics (odds ratio).ResultsThe magnitude of traditional medicinal plants' utilization during pregnancy was 47.7% (95%CI: 42.8–52.8%). Pregnant mothers residing in rural areas [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.13; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.53, 6.41], who are illiterate (AOR = 2.99; 95%CI:1.097, 8.17), have illiterate husbands (AOR = 3.08; 95%CI:1.29, 7.33), married farmers (AOR = 4.92; 95%CI:1.87, 12.94), married merchants (AOR = 0.27; 95%CI:0.09, 0.78), have a divorced and widowed marital status (AOR = 3.93; 95%CI:1.25, 12.395), have low antenatal care visits (AOR = 4.76; 95%CI:1.93, 11.74), substance use history (AOR = 7.21; 95%CI:3.49, 14.9), and used medicinal plants in previous pregnancy (AOR = 4.06; 95%CI:2.03, 8.13) had statistically significant association with medicinal plant use during current pregnancy.ConclusionsThe present study revealed that a relatively large number of mothers used medicinal plants of various types during their current pregnancy. Area of residence, maternal educational status, husband's education level, husband's occupation status, marital status, number of antenatal care visits, use of medicinal plants in previous pregnancies, and substance use history were among the factors which were significantly associated with the use of traditional medicinal plants during the current pregnancy. Overall, the current finding provides scientific evidence useful for health sector leaders and healthcare professionals on the utilization of unprescribed medicinal plants during pregnancy and the factors associated with the utilization of the plants. Hence, they may consider creating awareness and providing advice on the careful use of unprescribed medicinal plants among pregnant mothers, especially those residing in rural areas, who are illiterate, who have divorced and widowed marital status, and who have a previous history of herbal and substance use. This is because using traditional medicines without prior discussion with a healthcare expert may harm pregnant mothers and their unborn child, as the safety of the utilized plants in the current study area is not scientifically proven. Prospective studies which need to confirm the safety of the plants used are recommended mainly in the present study area.</p