Complications of Fracture Treatment by Traditional Bone Setters in Wolaita Sodo, southern Ethiopia

Introduction: Majority of the population in developing countries use traditional medicine due to the fact that the majority reside in rural areas where modern health service is relatively inaccessible and expensive. Methods: Prospective hospital based cross sectional survey was conducted in Wolaita Sodo to assess complications of fractures treatment by traditional bone setters admitted at Sodo Christian Teaching Hospital (SCGH), Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. All patients with fractures presented to SCGH during the period from March – August 2012 were included in the study. Results: Among patients exhibited complications during their first visit for fracture treatment at emergency unit in the hospital 70 (56.91%) had a history of having fracture treatment by TBS. Out of which 37 patients (52.87%) had stiffness of joint, 6 patients (8.57%) developed infection, 6 patients (8.57%) had mal union, 4 patients (5.71%) had lengthening discrepancy, 4 patients (5.71%) had nonunion, 4 patients (5.71%) had Volkman's ischemic contracture, 3 patients (4.29%) developed gangrene, 3 patient (4.29%) had swelling, 1 patient (1.43%) had nerve injury, 1 patient’s (1.43%) case resulted in delayed union and 1(1.43%) resulted in instability. Multivariate analysis indicated the presence of significant association between treatment of fractures by TBS and falling accident with complications. Conclusion: Treatment of fractures by TBS and falling accident were found associated with complication. However, the majority believe in the importance of the role of TBS in treating fracture. Key words: Traditional Bone Setters, Fracture Treatment, Complicatio

High prevalence of drug-resistance mutations in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in southern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, malaria is caused by both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Drug resistance of P. falciparum to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and chloroquine (CQ) is frequent and intense in some areas. METHODS: In 100 patients with uncomplicated malaria from Dilla, southern Ethiopia, P. falciparum dhfr and dhps mutations as well as P. vivax dhfr polymorphisms associated with resistance to SP and P. falciparum pfcrt and pfmdr1 mutations conferring CQ resistance were assessed. RESULTS: P. falciparum and P. vivax were observed in 69% and 31% of the patients, respectively. Pfdhfr triple mutations and pfdhfr/pfdhps quintuple mutations occurred in 87% and 86% of P. falciparum isolates, respectively. Pfcrt T76 was seen in all and pfmdr1 Y86 in 81% of P. falciparum. The P. vivax dhfr core mutations N117 and R58 were present in 94% and 74%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data point to an extraordinarily high frequency of drug-resistance mutations in both P. falciparum and P. vivax in southern Ethiopia, and strongly support that both SP and CQ are inadequate drugs for this region