Prevalence of, and risk factors for, malaria infection among patients visiting Goljota Health Center, Heben Arsi District, West Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: A retrospective and an institution-based cross-sectional study

AbstractBackground: Malaria infections in Ethiopia are a significant health problem that varies across regions. Malaria’s public health and socio-economic impact is huge and contributes significantly to the country’s poverty and underdevelopment. The aim of this study was to determine the five-year trend of malaria (2012-2016), and to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of malaria infection among patients visiting Goljota Health Center from September to December 2017. Methods: The present study is a retrospective and an institution-based cross-sectional study on the prevalence of malaria. For the cross-sectional study, blood samples collected from 422 patients were processed using thin and thick blood film methods. Also, five years of retrospective data were collected to determine the trend of malaria prevalence. Socio-demographic factors were assessed and logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the independent risk factors for malaria infection. Results: The prevalence of malaria was 14.8% in 2012, 21.4% in 2013, 14.2% in 2014, 12.9% in 2015 and 13.2% in 2016. The majority of malaria positives were male, with Plasmodium vivax accounting for most infections. The highest number of infections were in the ≤10-year-old age group. The overall prevalence of malaria infection in the cross-sectional study was 13% in Heben Arsi Woreda (District). Being male (AOR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.06-2.2, p<0.02), using bed nets when sleeping (AOR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.22-0.60, p<0.01), implementing indoor residual spraying in the past five months (AOR 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03-0.10, p<0.01), home not close to breeding site (AOR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.29-0.98, p<0.04), and the absence of an opening/hole in an external house wall (AOR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27-0.92, p=0.026) showed a negative significant association with malaria infection. So, these factors are protective in relation to malaria infection. Using thatched roof material (AOR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.0-2.7, p<0.02) and having an income of <500 Ethiopian birr per month (AOR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.24-7.9, p=0.02) had a positive significant association with malaria infection. Conclusions: A strong relationship exists between malaria infection and socio-demographic risk factors. There was a decreasing malaria trend from 2013 to 2015, followed by a small increase in 2016. To further decrease the prevalence rate, intervention strategies should be designed and implemented to address current and local malaria-associated health problems that could help to reduce the problem of malaria among the population in the study area. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2021; 35(1):50-57] Key words: Malaria, health, risk factors, prevalence, south central Ethiopi

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium Inoculation on Growth and Yield of Glycine max L. Varieties

Biofertilizers are preparations containing living cells that help crop plants in the uptake of nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of coinoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium species on the growth and nutrient uptake of three varieties of Glycine max: Belsa 95, Afgat M5, and Nova E3, in the greenhouse and the field. These varieties were obtained from the Gambela research center of Ethiopia. Commercial Rhizobium inoculants were obtained from the Menagesha Biotechnology Institute (MBI), and the previously isolated indigenous AMF inoculants were mass-produced using Sorghum bicolor as a trap plant. Two kilograms of sterilized soil and sand in a 2:1 ratio were used for greenhouse treatments, and 2 m × 3 m plots were used for field treatments. In the greenhouse trials, for all the three varieties was recorded better yield plant−1 in coinoculated treatments with fertilizer application and without fertilizer application, respectively. The highest root number plant−1 (10.0 ± 1.2 and 10.0 ± 1.7) was recorded for variety 1 with the application of only fertilizer and fertilizer + Rhizobium, respectively, and the highest values (8.7 ± 1.9 and 4.7 ± 0.8) were recorded for coinoculated treatments with fertilizer application for varieties 2 and 3, respectively. For sole mycorrhiza-inoculated treatments in the greenhouse was recorded higher dry biomass (16.67% for V1, 42.20% for V2, and 22.18% for V3) as compared with the control. Moreover, for combined inoculation of AMF + Rhizobium and AMF + Rhizobium + fertilizer were recorded 27.01% and 66.99% for V1, 42.20% and 70.33% for V2, and 36.84 and 80.20% for V3, respectively. That means tripartite interactions favor the growth response in association with higher P and N uptake. Finally, it is recommended to apply biofertilizers as the plant-fungi-Rhizobium interactions may have a bigger potential role in maintaining sustainable agriculture with effective environmental resilience

The Effect of Wet Coffee Processing Plant Effluent on Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Receiving Rivers Used by Local Community: Case of Aroresa District, Sidama, Ethiopia

Freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and their biodiversity are being threatened with water pollution from industrial effluents and household sewages. The main objective of this study is to assess the effects of wet coffee processing plants effluent on the physicochemical and bacteriological properties of receiving rivers. Four rivers and 4 sampling points of the selected rivers were included in the study. Focus group discussion and interview were employed to gather primary data. The result showed that parameters of water quality for downstream of the rivers were significant, particularly in the dry season with BODs ranging from 45 ± 1 to 782.6 ± 97 g/ml, COD ranges from 71 ± 21 to 1072 ± 183 g/ml, Conductivity ranges from 75.5 ± 6.6 to 943 ± 56.3, Turbidity ranges from 7 ± 0.43 to 105 ± 6.2, TDS ranges from 62 ± 6.4 to 1059.6 ± 121 g/ml, temperature ranges from 20.1 to 33 ± 1, T. coli form ranges from 77 ± 1.1 to 493 ± 66 and E. coli ranges from 28 ± 1 to 213 ± 41 were significantly higher and DO ranges from 2.6 ± 0.15 to 6.1 ± 0.78 g/ml, NH 4 ranges from 1.85 ± 0.4 to 3.3 ± 0.5 g/ml, and pH ranges from 3.6 ± 0.2 to 7.3 ± 0.45 were significantly lower. Most of the samples taken from wastewater and downstream parts of the river showed high level of water contaminants that are significantly greater than the EEPA discharge limits for surface water. Moreover, the qualitative data indicated that the community was affected by bad smell and color change on rivers, skin irritation, malarial case in human due to coffee processing plant effluents. Therefore, coffee processing plants should treat their effluents before they discharge it into the rivers. Responsible government bodies should authorize activities of coffee processing plants in line with the regulations set for environmental safety

Antibacterial activities of Calpurnia aurea and Ocimum lamiifolium extracts against selected gram positive and gram-negative bacteria

Indigenous knowledge, literature reports and ethnobotanical records suggest that plants are the basis for medicines. This study was designed to examine in-vitro antibacterial activity of Calpurnia aurea (leaf, bark) and Ocimum lamiifolium (leaf, flower) collected from Wonsho and Shebedino districts of Sidama Zone, southern Ethiopia, with different solvents against three Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria in 2018. The leaf and bark of Calpurnia aurea and leaf and flower of Ocimum lamiifolium were dried, powdered and extracted with 80% acetone, ethanol, methanol and distilled water. Disc diffusion method was used for the antibacterial assay and measuring the zone of inhibition and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was determined by broth macrodilution method. The highest percentage yield of crude bioactive agents, i.e., 36.9% was obtained from Ocimum lamiifolium leaf with methanol as a solvent, while the lowest yield 12.6% was obtained from Calpurnia aurea bark with acetone extract. All crude extracts from the different plant parts showed antibacterial activity. Accordingly, Calpurnia aurea bark with methanol extract exhibited the highest antibacterial activity 22.64±0.95 (mm) against S. aureus which was comparable to standard antibiotic disc Ciprofloxacin with inhibition zone of 24.00 ±0.19 (mm), while the lowest inhibition of 6.12±0.41 (mm) was recorded from Ocimum lamiifolium flower with water crude extract against P. aeruginosa. The MIC of 3.13mg/ml was observed from methanol crude extract of bark of Calpurina aurea on S. aurea. Crude bark extract of Methanol showed the highest antibacterial activity. The studies revealed that antibacterial activity of the crude extracts from the different parts of the plant were variable when extracted by different solvents, however, possesses good antimicrobial activity which support the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of bacterial infections under study. Finally, to support the traditional users, scientific verification on phytochemical analysis and toxicity test should be carried out to confirm users’ safety

Bacterial Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Urinary Tract Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Ethiopia

Background. Urinary tract infection is one of the most common bacterial infections encountered in pregnant women with significant morbidity. This study aimed to determine the bacterial profile and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of urinary tract infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at a Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH), Southern Ethiopia. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which consecutive pregnant women enrolled in the study from March to June 2019. The structured questionnaire used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data in a face-to-face interview. Midstream urine was collected from pregnant women using sterile containers. Culture and sensitivity were performed using a standard operating procedure of the microbiology laboratory. Data entry and analysis were conducted using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive and logistic regression was used to conduct the output of the data. The odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was considered as a statistically significant association with a p value <0.05. Result. The overall magnitude of urinary tract infection in this study was 7.8% (4.7–10.8%). Escherichia coli was found to be the most frequently isolated (47.8%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.7%), Klebsiella ozaenae, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, Citrobacter spp., Salmonella group A, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Enterobacter cloacae each (4.3%). Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to 78.3%, 91.3%, and 100% of ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and nitrofurantoin, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to clindamycin (100%), gentamicin (100%), and nitrofurantoin (100%) and fully resistant to ceftriaxone (100%) and cefuroxime (100%). There is no statistically significant association (p < 0.05) between the risk factor of urinary tract infection and UTI. Conclusion. The overall prevalence of urinary tract infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care was 7.8%. Escherichia coli were the dominant isolate followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Gram-negative isolates are highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, and ceftriaxone and Gram-positive isolates to gentamicin, clindamycin, and nitrofurantoin. Most of the bacteria are resistant to cotrimoxazole and cefuroxime. There is no statistically significantly associated variable. Screening for the presence of urinary tract infection during pregnancy will improve the quality of antenatal care further reducing complication. The above antibiotics can be prescribed based on the side effect to pregnant women in case empirical treatment is mandatory in the study area