Ethnotaxonomy and ethnomedicine of Ensete Ventricosum in Gedebano-Gutazer-Welene district, Gurage zone, Southern nations, nationalities and peoples’ (snnp) Regional state, Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to document local knowledge on classification and medicinal uses of Ensete ventricosum (enset) in Gedebano-Gutazer-Welene district. Seven study sites (kebeles) were selected on the basis of well managed enset gardens. A total of 150 informants were involved, among which 30 were key informants. Ethnobotanical data collection was conducted by using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques. Degree of dissimilarities among the enset varieties was done by using Principal Coordinate Analyses (PCoA). A total of 33 farmers’ varieties were reported, which were clustered in two defined groups within which six subgroups were included. This indicates the high intra-specific variation of the species, which might be the result of rapid adaptive radiation. The result may have taxonomic implication adding to the existing knowledge on farmers’ variety as well as posing query to molecular systematics. In addition to its importance as staple food, different parts of enset are very crucial in the local health care system. Broken bone, wound, compromised immunity and other maternity related problems are treated with enset. Different varieties of this plant are utilized to induce milk production during breast feeding and as inhibitor when it is needed. The wide range of medicinal uses might indicate a high intra-specific diversification mainly in the biochemical characters of the species. Having tremendous uses and being an indigenous plant species, the plant should be given conservation attention. The usefulness of the plant also calls for better processing and production technologies for its sustainable and widespread use.Keywords/phrases: Enset, Farmers’ variety, Principal Coordinate AnalysesEthiop. J. Biol. Sci. 16(2): 143–170, 201

Tuberculosis among Jimma University Undergraduate Students: First Insight about the Burden of Tuberculosis in Ethiopia Universities—Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Ethiopian universities are facilities where students live in relative overcrowding condition. This might favor the chance of tuberculosis transmission among students. This study was done to determine the magnitude and associated factors of tuberculosis among Jimma University students. Methods. A cross-sectional study was done from February 2015 to July 2015. Hundred twenty-nine consented participants were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Biological specimens were collected and cultured on Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex verification was done by SD BIOLINE TB Ag MPT64 Rapid test. Frequency distribution, logistic regression, and independent sample t-test were used to analyze the data using SPSS Version 20. Result. Magnitude of all forms of tuberculosis among Jimma University undergraduate students was 209.1 per 100000-student population. Contact history [AOR: 4.76, 95% CI (1.31–17.31)], smoking [AOR: 6.67, 95% CI (1.51–29.44)], khat chewing [AOR: 5.56, 95% CI (1.66–18.69)], and low body mass index [AOR: 5.37, 95% CI (1.46–19.78)] were determinants of tuberculosis. Conclusion. The magnitude of tuberculosis among Jimma University undergraduate students is high. TB is associated with previous tuberculosis patient contact and behavioral factors. Hence, students with these risk factors should be given enough attention for the control of TB in Jimma University

Drug resistance-conferring mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Southwest Ethiopia

Objective/background: The nature and frequency of mutations in rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates vary considerably according to geographic locations. However, information regarding specific mutational patterns in Ethiopia remains limited. Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out among confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Southwest Ethiopia. Mutations associated with RIF and INH resistances were studied using GenoType MTBDRplus line probe assay in 112 M. tuberculosis isolates. Culture (MGIT960) and identification tests were performed at the Mycobacteriology Research Center of Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. Results: Mutations conferring resistance to INH, RIF, and multidrug resistance were detected in 36.6% (41/112), 30.4% (34/112), and 27.7% (31/112) of M. tuberculosis isolates respectively. Among 34 RIF-resistant isolates, 82.4% (28/34) had rpoB gene mutations at S531L, 2.9% (1/34) at H526D, and 14.7% (5/34) had mutations only at wild type probes. Of 41 INH-resistant strains, 87.8% (36/41) had mutations in the katG gene at Ser315Thr1 and 9.8% (4/41) had mutations in the inhA gene at C15T. Mutations in inhA promoter region were strongly associated with INH monoresistance. Conclusion: A high rate of drug resistance was commonly observed among failure cases. The most frequent gene mutations associated with the resistance to INH and RIF were observed in the codon 315 of the katG gene and codon 531 of the rpoB gene, respectively. Further studies on mutations in different geographic regions using DNA sequencing techniques are warranted to improve the kit by including more specific mutation probes in the kit

Resistance to pyrazinamide in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from previously treated tuberculosis cases in Southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia

Objective: Pyrazinamide (PZA) susceptibility testing is important to develop evidence-based algorithms for case management. We aimed to assess the prevalence of PZA-resistance and its impact on treatment outcomes in previously treated tuberculosis (TB) cases in southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods: A Phenotypic Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) of PZA with BACTEC MGIT 960 was conducted at the Mycobacteriology Research Center of Jimma University (MRC-JU) from June to November 2021 on sixty-six Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates from previously treated TB cases. SPSS software package version 21 was used. The differences in the proportion of PZA resistance between the groups were compared using the chi squared test. Logistic regression was used to identify the association between PZA resistance and treatment outcomes. Results: Among 66 MTBC isolates (49 rifampicin-resistant and 17 rifampicin-sensitive) included in this study, 31.8 % were resistant to PZA. The proportion of PZA resistance was almost three times higher in previously treated TB cases with rifampicin resistance than in rifampicin-sensitive patients (38.8 % vs. 11.8 %, p = 0.039). An unfavorable treatment outcome was documented for 23 % (15/65) of the participants. Patients with PZA resistance were almost four times more likely to have an unfavorable treatment outcome than patients with PZA sensitive (aOR 4.2, 95 % CI: 1.13–15.3). Conclusions: The prevalence of PZA resistance was high compared to the pooled PZA resistance estimated worldwide. The majority of TB cases with PZA resistance had an unfavorable treatment outcome. PZA susceptibility testing should be included in the multidrug-resistant TB diagnostic algorithm to improve management of these patients

Factors associated with decision-making autonomy among postpartum mothers in Shashamane town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2021.

Factors associated with decision-making autonomy among postpartum mothers in Shashamane town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2021.</p

Maternal decision-making autonomy among postpartum mothers in Shashamate town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2021 (N = 410).

Maternal decision-making autonomy among postpartum mothers in Shashamate town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2021 (N = 410).</p

Proportionally allocated sample of postpartum mothers in Shashamane town, Oomia, Ethiopia, 2021.

Proportionally allocated sample of postpartum mothers in Shashamane town, Oomia, Ethiopia, 2021.</p

English version information sheet and consent form.

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