ABSTRACT
Purpose: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory viral infectious disease transmitted by respiratory and fomites. The incidence of this disease is growing exponentially and affects millions of the world population. Consequently, it has become most urgent public health risk. Thus, the intention of this research is searching indigenous knowledge on COVID-19 and related infectious disease prevention and mitigation mechanisms which were not scientifically known. Therefore, this study targeted to explore local traditional knowledge of (COVID-19) or related diseases in the study area. Methods: Phenomenological design was used to explore traditional knowledge of medicine. The source populations were all elder peoples, who were known for their traditional medicine. The individuals were purposively selected from source population by using snowball sampling technique. Since study was qualitative method, the sample size was determined by the level of saturation of information as result 40 study participants were interviewed and recorded their audio using tape recorder. Then, data were analyzed using a thematic analysis with a combination of inductive and deductive methods. Results: The study reveals that coronavirus like disease was appeared past times. Such diseases were called "Alwoba" or "Marya" which is named by the local language and it has similar signs and symptoms with coronavirus disease. The key informants reported that traditional medicines were available that cured those diseases. This study infers there had been COVID-19 related diseases about 100 years back because those diseases had a similar symptoms and ways of transmission with COVID-19. They use different types of traditional medicines for those diseases which have been inherited to generations and cured them. Conclusion: This evidence explored that the existence of traditional medicine for COVID-19 related diseases. Hence, this study strongly suggested that to undertake experimental research for medical approval on the available traditional medicine.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality can be reduced by providing essential newborn care. However, it is overlooked by most healthcare providers in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aims to examine immediate essential newborn care practices and associated factors among healthcare providers in Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 214 healthcare providers from November 11 to December 19, 2020, at a selected South Gondar health facility. Data were entered into Epi-data 4.2 and then exported to STATA14.0 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression with a 95% confidence interval were computed. The variable that had a p-value less than 0.25 in bivariable logistic regression was entered into the multivariable logistic regression. In multivariable logistic regression, variables having a p-value < 0.05 were considered a statistically significant association with the poor practice of essential newborn care practice. RESULTS: The overall essential newborn care practice among healthcare providers was found to be 74.8% (95% CI: 68.4, 80.2). Diploma educational status (AOR = 7.8, 95% CI:2.80-21.9), presence of workload (AOR = 9.7, 95% CI: 2.76-23.9), unavailability of drugs and vaccines (AOR = 9.8, 95% CI: 6.95-17.7), and having no training (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.73-8.92) were found to be predictors for poor essential newborn care practices. CONCLUSION: Essential newborn care practice among healthcare providers at South Gondar health institutions was found to be low. Being diploma educational status, presence of workload, unavailability of drugs and vaccines, and having no training were found to be independent predictors for poor practice of essential newborn care. Hence, periodic evaluation and strategies are needed for those predictor variables to address the gaps.
