Bekele Gebreamanule

Introduction: Zootherapy involves using animals and their derivatives for medicinal purposes and is a vital component of traditional medicine worldwide. Traditional zootherapeutic knowledge (TZK) is crucial to biodiversity conservation and indigenous healing. This study investigated TZK practices, important determinants, and ecological ramifications among communities in Northwestern Ethiopia’s Awi Zone to advance sustainable practices that positively impact public health and biodiversity conservation. The main goal of this study was to understand the usage of species, cultural importance, and sociodemographic factors in Northwestern Ethiopia’s TZK. Methods: Using a purposive sampling technique, 200 respondents who had TZK and practice were selected from four districts (Ankasha Guagusa, Guagusa Shekudad, Fagita Lekoma, and Dangila), and structured interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the data. Then, data were analyzed using binary logistic regression, ANOVA, and ethnozoological indices such as the informant consensus factor, use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), and relative frequency of citation (RFC) with R and SPSS software. Results: The maximum UV (0.82) was detected in key stone species honeybees from 20 animal species used to treat 38 ailments. Rural, older (51–60 years), and less educated people were more likely to have TZK, and farmers had the highest chances (OR = 4.29, p < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis revealed that cultural background (OR = 19.29, p < 0.001) and confidence in the effectiveness of zootherapy (OR = 19.94, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of TZK. Significant correlations between TZK and ecological elements, such as species conservation and biodiversity awareness, were also confirmed. Conclusion: In the Awi Zone, TZK is important to the local healthcare system and cultural legacy. Ecological and sociodemographic aspects influence its practice, underscoring the importance of including TZK within plans for biodiversity protection. Maintaining this knowledge while ensuring ecological health requires sustainable use of animal species, conserving TZK to sustain biodiversity.

Honey has been used for the treatment of various illnesses since time immemorial. Honey is employed as a remedy for the treatment of burns, microbial infections, cardiovascular disorders, and gastrointestinal problems. The objectives of this study were to evaluate physicochemical characteristics and in vitro antibacterial properties of honey produced by Apis mellifera against Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Honey samples were collected from three districts of the Awi zone from April to June 2023. The pH and moisture of collected honey were determined following the standard procedure. An antimicrobial susceptibility test of honey samples was performed using an agar well diffusion assay. The moisture contents and pH of collected honey samples from the three study sites were 13 ± 0.07–20 ± 0.09 and 3.76–4.01, respectively. There was no significant ( p > 0.05) difference in pH between honey samples collected from the three sites. Similarly, there was no significant statistical association among the moisture content of honey samples ( p > 0.05). Pure 100% honey samples showed the greatest inhibition zone against E. coli (19.20 mm) and the lowest against P. aeruginosa (2.4 mm). Honey concentration of 25% showed the lowest inhibition zone against all tested bacterial pathogens. Antibacterial effects of honey solutions decreased upon serial dilution from 100% to 25%. Our finding suggests that raw honey can be used as therapeutic agents against bacterial disease.

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici (FOC) is a significant pepper disease with huge economic implications resulting in substantial yield losses, potentially up to 80%, at various growth stages of the crop. Using resistant varieties/accessions is the best management option for Fusarium wilt. This study aimed to screen 52 Ethiopian hot pepper accessions against FOC under greenhouse conditions using a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replications. The findings revealed that the reaction of accessions to FOC varied significantly ( p ≤ 0.05). Out of the evaluated 52 hot pepper accessions, based on disease incidence (DI), two accessions (225733 and 25828) showed resistant reactions with an incidence of 8.3% and 9.4% respectively. Based on the Disease Severity Index (DSI), six accessions (225733, 25828, 9806, 20869, 19974 and 20856) exhibited resistance reactions with < 10% DSI. The lowest Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) value was recorded from accession 225733 (AUDPC = 7.1%), and it is considered resistant. At each assessment stage, accessions showed variable responses to the disease; some had resistant reactions, and others were susceptible. As the plant ages, disease severity increases and it becomes wilted or dead. In all disease assessment methods, such as disease incidence, severity and AUDPC values, two accessions (225733 and 25828) were found resistant. These genetic materials can be used for future breeding to generate resistant and productive pepper varieties. However, further research and field validation are recommended to confirm their performance under natural conditions.

Background The BMI, formerly known as the Quetelet Index, is a measure of the nutritional status of adults. It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters (kg/m2). According to research in Ethiopia, 44% of children under the age of 5 are underdeveloped (growth retarded), and 21% of them are severely underdeveloped. The incidence of stunting increases as the age of the child increases, with the highest incidence of chronic malnutrition found in children aged 24–35 months (57%) and the lowest in children under six months (ten percent). Male children are slightly more likely to be malnourished than female children (46 and 43 respectively). Methods The study design was surveyed by the central statistical agency to conduct the Ethiopian Rural Socioeconomic Survey, and the study design for this study is clarified. CSA followed the scientific sampling method, a total of 12 households were randomly nominated from the sample of 30 Health Sample Survey households. A generalized linear mixed model was proper to conduct data analysis, and statistical software to run the analysis should be incorporated. The average value, variances, and covariances of body mass index are estimated over the study periods using a generalized linear mixed-effect model. Unstructured is selected for covariance structure which approves the dynamic and monotonic nature of variance displayed by variance function. Result The study presents data on the mean and standard deviation of children's body mass index categorized by demographic factors. It reveals that 52% of the children are male while 48% are female, with the average family size being 5.61 children and the mean age at the first wave being 27.32 months. The research also observes that 34.5% of the children reside in small towns and 65.5% in rural areas, with the overall average body mass index showing a decline from the first wave to the third wave. Regional variations are evident, with SNNP having the highest average body mass index and Somalia the lowest. Additionally, the study examines average trends based on location, region, income, gender, and maternal educational level, and concludes that there is a decreasing trend in the average body mass index, with decreasing variability over the study period. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors that impact children's body mass index. Conclusion In general, current study focused on assessing children's body mass index (BMI) in the Ethiopian Rural Socio-economic Survey data. A random intercept and trend model with an unstructured covariance structure for random effects was employed. The results indicated a decreasing average BMI over the study period, with variations across regions and lower average BMI for females. Both genders showed a decline in BMI over time. Modeling the covariance structure and fixed effects were integral to the analysis. The final model highlighted significant effects of region and age on BMI, implying decreasing average BMI over time with regional variations, influenced mainly by region and age. This study yields valuable insights into children's BMI, presenting compelling evidence for further research.

Higher educational institutions were forced to stop face-to-face classes and shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government of Ethiopia closed schools in all educational institutions on 16 March 2020, and then directed educational institutions to teach students online. This study was conducted to discover the determinants of online teaching practices at teachers training colleges. A cross-sectional study design was conducted using randomly selected 343 students from Injibara College of Teacher's Education, Ethiopia. Results of the statistical analyses revealed that socio-demographic characteristics of students do not affect the effectiveness of the online learning system; but determinates that are directly related to the online learning system, such as infrastructure, access to the internet, parent support, and technological resources have a significant effect. Online learning at the study area was only 77% effective, which indicates that there is a need for intervention to make it more effective. Therefore, we recommend to governmental and non-governmental institutions to establish ICT centers and provide online learning trainings.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is a health care intervention intended to ensure the safety of pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, at least four ANC visits are recommended for a healthy pregnancy. However, whether this recommended number of visits was followed or not in the rural areas of Southwestern Ethiopia is not known. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and the associated factors of ANC utilization by pregnant women in the rural areas of Southwestern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used in three rural zones. The data were collected from n = 978 women through a structured questionnaire with face-to-face interview. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a multiple binary logistic regression model. Results: The results showed that 56% of women made the recommended minimum number of ANC visits and the remaining 44% of them underutilized the ANC service. The multiple binary logistic regression model identified zone, marital status of the woman, educational level of the husband, occupation of the husband, knowledge of danger signs of pregnancy, birth interval, source of information, timely visits, and transportation problem to be statistically significant factors affecting the prevalence of ANC visit utilization of women. Bench Maji zone had smaller odds ratio of ANC visit prevalence as compared to Kaffa zone. Women who lived in the rural area of Sheko zone are 2.67 times less likely to utilize ANC visit than those who lived in the rural area of Kaffa zone keeping other variables constant. Conclusion: The study results highlight the need to increase the number of ANC visits, and the importance of using an appropriate model to determine the important socio-demographic factors that ANC service providers shall focus on to improve the health of the unborn baby and the mother during pregnancy.