Changes in selected hematological parameters in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that causes hyperglycemia and various life-threatening health problems. Although hematological parameters play a significant role in the progression and pathogenesis of diabetes, many studies have explored contradictory findings. Therefore, this evidence-based study aimed to determine the pooled mean difference of white blood cell and red blood cell parameters in diabetic patients in order to investigate hematological dysfunctions in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Articles were extensively searched in bibliographic databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, online archives and university repositories) using appropriate entry terms. For studies meeting the eligibility criteria, the first author's name, year of publication, study design and area, type of diabetes mellitus, sample size, and mean and standard deviation of hematological parameters were extracted using Microsoft Excel and exported to Stata 11 for meta-analysis. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was determined using the random effects model, and heterogeneity was quantified using Higgins' I2 statistics. Egger's test and funnel plot were performed to measure bias. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the small study effect. Results: Initially 39, 222 articles were identified. After screening of the entire methodology, 22 articles with 14,041 study participants (6,146 T2DM, 416 T1DM patients and 7,479 healthy controls) were included in this study. The pooled SMD in TLC (109/L) was 0.66 and -0.21, in T2DM and T1DM, respectively. Differences in absolute differential WBC counts for neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes in T2DM were 0.84, -1.59, 3.20, 0.36 and 0.26, respectively. The differences in relative differential counts (%) in T2DM were as follows: neutrophils: 1.31, eosinophils: -0.99, basophils: 0.34, lymphocytes: -0.19 and monocyte: -0.64. The SMD of differential counts of WBC (109/L) parameters; neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils in T1DM were -0.10, -0.69, 0.19, and -0.32, respectively. The pooled SMD in RBC parameters in T2DM were as follows: RBC: -0.57 (106/µL), Hb: -0.73 g/dL and HCT: -1.22%, Where as in T1DM RBC, Hb and HCT were -1.23 (106/µL), -0.80 g/dL and -0.29%, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with T2DM had significantly increased TLC counts, absolute neutrophil, basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte counts and relative counts of neutrophils and basophils in comparison to controls. On the contrary, the absolute eosinophil count and relative lymphocyte, eosinophil and monocyte counts were decreased. In T1DM, WBC parameters were significantly decreased except monocytes. RBC parameters were found to be significantly decreased in T2DM patients. In T1DM, Hb and HCT were significantly decreased. However, there is no significant difference in RBC as compared with non-diabetic controls. The findings indicated a significant alteration of WBC and RBC parameters in both diabetic patients suggesting the considerable metabolic effect of diabetes on hematologic parameters. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/export_details_pdf.php, identifier [CRD42023413486].

Malaria prevalence and associated factors among symptomatic children aged under five years attending Sheko District Health Center, Southwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five worldwide. Although various malaria elimination measures have been implemented over the past decades, malaria remains a serious threat to public health, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Ethiopia has set targets for eliminating malaria by 2030. No research has been conducted in the study area concerning malaria among children, who are the most malaria-prone segment of a community. The purpose of this study was to assess malaria prevalence and the factors associated with it among children under five years of age who attended the Sheko Health Center, Southwest Ethiopia, from June 1 to October 30, 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed from June 1 to October 30, 2022, at the Sheko Health Center. Capillary blood samples were collected from 286 randomly selected symptomatic children. Data on socio-demographics and associated factors were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, and data on parents' and guardians' knowledge about malaria was recorded on Excel 2016 Spreadsheets after interviewing them, and their responses were presented by a frequency table. Data were entered into Epi Data Manager (v4.0.2.101) and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Associated factors of malaria were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULT: Overall, 23.4% (95% CI = 18.6-28.8%) malaria infection was recorded among the children whose blood samples were examined, with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, and mixed infections (both species) representing 52.2%, 34.3%, and 13.4% of the cases, respectively. The majority of the parents or guardians believed that malaria is transmissible but could be prevented, and 80% of them considered mosquito bites to be the main mode of malaria transmission. Insecticide-treated net (ITN) was mentioned as a malaria prevention strategy by more than half of the respondents, while indoor residual spraying (IRS) was considered only by 19.6%. Based on multivariable logistic regression analysis, a significant association was found in children between the ages of 12 and 36 months (adjusted odds ratio = 5.050; 95% CI: 1.964-12.982), children who lived in rural areas (adjusted odds ratio = 2.901; 95% CI: 1.439-5.845), and children who did not use ITN the past two weeks before sample collection (adjusted odds ratio = 3.341; 95% CI: 1.646-6.781). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high malaria prevalence among children aged under five years. Attention must be paid to improving the coverage of the ITN and its use in the study area, which could help reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Health education for the guardians of the children could also help to raise awareness about the prevention and control strategies for malaria transmission and further reduce the impact of the disease.

Parasitic etiology of diarrhea and associated factors among under-five-year children attending Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.

Introduction: globally, an estimated two billion cases of diarrhea occur every year, and an estimated 1.7 million children under the age of five years, mostly in developing countries die due to diarrheal cases. It is caused by different enteropathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Diarrhea caused by parasitic etiology is common in under-five-year children in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective was to investigate the parasitic etiology of diarrhea among under-five-year children in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2021. A total of 300 under-five-year children presenting with diarrhea in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital were included in the study. Data used to assess associated factors for intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) was collected using a structured questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected from the study participants for investigations of the parasitic etiology of diarrhea. The specimens were processed microscopically using direct wet mount and formol ether concentration techniques. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining of formol-ether concentrated specimens was also performed. Data was entered using Epi-Data version 4.6.0 and analyzed using Stata/SE version 14.0. Crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio were used to determine the association. Results: from a total of 300 children who participated in this study, 68 (22.67%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. E. histolytica23(7.67%) and G. lamblia17(5.67%) were the predominant parasitic etiologies and 28(9.33%) were positive for intestinal helminthic parasites; 11(3.67%) Ascaris lumbricoides, 10(3.33%) Trichuris trichiura, 4(1.33%) Hymenolepsis nana, and 3(1%) were double infection with Trichuris trichuria and Ascaris lumbricoides. Multivariable analysis revealed the age group category 2-3 years of age children was more attributable to intestinal parasitic infections (AOR= 0.466, 95% CI: 0.204-0.976). Conclusion: the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in this study was 22.67%. Diarrheal etiology of intestinal parasites among under five years of children identified in this study were significantly associated with maternal/ guardians´ educational status, (AOR=94.900, 95% CI: 24.664-365.155) use of unprotected water for drinking, (AOR =25.189, 95% CI: 4.671-135.847).

Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The proactive identification of asymptomatic patients and the mitigation of associated problems are essential to the elimination of malaria. For asymptomatic malaria and related variables among pregnant women in Ethiopia, there are no national pooled estimates. As a result, the goal of this study is to compile thorough and compelling data from several Ethiopian investigations. Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopes, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and African Journals Online were a few of the electronic resources that were accessed. The investigation included all observational studies. STATA version 15 was used to extract the data from the Microsoft Excel file and conduct the analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women was calculated using a random-effects model. An inverse variance index (I2) analysis was utilized to find heterogeneity. To assess the publication bias, funnel plots, and Egger's statistical tests were used. The study determined that the combined prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women was 7.20 (95% confidence interval = 4.22, 10.18) and 4.69 (95% confidence interval = 2.77, 6.62) by microscopy and rapid diagnostic test, respectively. The presence of stagnant water near their home (odds ratio = 4.31; 95% confidence interval = 1.66, 11.20); not using insecticide-treated nets (odds ratio = 6.93; 95% confidence interval = 3.27, 14.71); the lack of indoor residual spray service (odds ratio = 2.68; 95% confidence interval = 1.63, 4.40); and the presence of pregnant women in their neighborhood (odds ratio = 3.14; 95% confidence interval = 1.4). This study showed that pregnant women have a high pooled prevalence of asymptomatic malaria. Women living in rural areas near stagnant water and those who never used insecticide-treated nets had a two-, four-, or six-fold higher prevalence of asymptomatic malaria, respectively. The use of advanced diagnostic techniques could produce a higher magnitude of the disease. For effective intervention toward elimination, active case detection at the community level is also advised. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023411385; identifier, CRD42023411385.

A Five-Year Retrospective Investigation of the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Intestinal parasites are responsible for a significant amount of disease and mortality around the world. In developing nations, intestinal parasites are a severe public health issue. Intestinal parasite infections are one of the most common illnesses in the world. They're frequently linked to poor personal and environmental cleanliness, as well as low-quality drinking water. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their shifting trends during a five-year period at Mizan-Tepi University of Teaching Hospital (MTUTH). Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective survey using the past five years' (2017 to 2021) clinical records obtained from MTUTH Mizan-Aman town Southern west Ethiopia. Patients with complete age, sex, and stool parasite examination (direct wet mount or concentration techniques) records on the parasitology registration book were included. Data were entered and analysed using a Microsoft Excel sheet. The parasite prevalence was calculated using frequency and percentages. Results: Overall, 17,030 patient records of the past five years were reviewed from the registration books of parasitology laboratory departments at MTUTH and only 546 records were taken for this study. Of these 336 (61.50%) were female and the rest 210 (38.50%) were males. One hundred eighty-two (182) 33.33% of patients had one or more intestinal parasites over five years from 2017 to 2021. From total of 546 patients' records 17.77% in 2017, 18.89% in 2018, 23.44% in 2019, 19.96% in 2020 and 19.96% in 2021 had complete information. Conclusion: Intestinal parasite prevalence was high among patients who visited the Mizan-Tepi University of Teaching Hospital during the five-year period. Helminthes and protozoan parasites prevalence was higher in the 15-45 years age category. In order to avoid intestinal parasite-related disease, strategies other than mass drug administration are required.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites among Children under Five Years of Age Attended at Bachuma Primary Hospital, West Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In regions of the world with low resources, such as Ethiopia, intestinal parasite diseases are still highly prevalent, especially in children. Poor personal and environmental hygiene, as well as unsafe and low-quality drinking water, are the main causes of this. This investigation aimed to determine the frequency of intestinal parasites and risk factors among children under 5 years age at Bachuma Primary Hospital in 2022. Materials and Methods: : A cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2022 to December 2022 at Bachuma Primary Hospital, West Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Stool sample was collected from randomly selected children who were ordered to have their stool examined at the hospital laboratory and wet mount was prepared using normal saline to detect the different stage of intestinal parasites microscopically. Moreover, data related to the sociodemographic and associated risk factors was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed to describe the characteristics of the study participants and determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites. Data were entered into Epi-data manager and analysed using statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, with variables with a p value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Result: : Infection with at least one intestinal parasite among children was 29.4% (95% CI: 24.5-34.7). Ascaris lumbricoide and Giardia lamblia were responsible for 8% (26/323) and 4% (13/323) of the prevalence of helminth and protozoans, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that children whose residence was rural had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 5.048 (p=0.001), those who did not wash their hands before meals had an AOR of 7.749 (p=0.001), a child with not trimmed fingernails had an AOR of 2.752 (p=0.010), a child who frequently experienced stomach pain and whose source of water was pond had an AOR of 2.415 (p=0.028) and 3.796 (p=0.040), respectively. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of intestinal parasites recorded was low. Rural residency, absence of child hand washing practice before meal, and not trimming fingernail were among factors significantly associated with intestinal parasite infection.

Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infection and Associated Factors in Selected Districts of the Kaffa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Malaria remains a serious public health problem, particularly in resource scarce areas of the world. The number of malaria cases has dropped remarkably in Ethiopia over the last decade, and efforts to eliminate the disease are underway. Asymptomatic infections may pose significant challenges to the elimination program. The essence of this study was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium infection and the associated factors among communities of the selected districts in the Kaffa zone. Materials and Methods: April to May and September to October 2021, were the two seasons in which the community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted. Capillary blood from a finger prick was examined by light microscopy (LM) and screened using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The participants' sociodemographic characteristics and malaria prevention measures were collected using a pretested semistructured questionnaire. Data entry and analyses were carried out using EpiData and SPSS version 25.0. Logistic regression (bivariate and multivariable) analyses were carried out to assess the possible associations between the dependent variable and the associated factors. Results: 566 study participants were involved in the two cross-sectional surveys, including 234 male and 332 female subjects with a mean age of 18.486 (SD ± 15.167). Thirty-eight blood samples (6.7%) were found to be positive for Plasmodium species tested by both LM and RDT. Last night's use of long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) (AOR = 2.448, 95% CI: 1.009 5.938, p=0.048), presence of eave (AOR = 4.144, 95% CI: 1.049-16.363, p=0.043), and house sprayed in the last year (AOR = 5.206, 95% CI: 2.176-12.455, p < 0.001) were among factors that showed significant association with asymptomatic Plasmodium infection. Conclusion: The asymptomatic Plasmodium infection prevalence recorded in the study area was low. Last night's LLIN usage, the presence of an eave, a house sprayed in the last year, and the presence of stagnant water near the home of the study participants were among the factors associated with an increased risk of catching the disease.

SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Clinical Characteristics, and Related Risk Factors: The First 8 Months Surveillance Study Conducted in Southwest Ethiopia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and became pandemic after emerging in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infections in districts of southwest Ethiopia. A study was conducted on COVID-19 surveillance data in the diagnostic center of the southwest district of Ethiopia from July 1, 2020, to February 30, 2021. A total of 10 618 nasopharyngeal specimens were tested for SARS-COV-2 using the detection of unique sequences of virus RNA by reverse transcriptase PCR. Data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between COVID-19 and risk factors, with a significance level of P = 0.05. A total of 10 618 individuals were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 419 (3.9%) patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among a total of 419 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 80.2% were asymptomatic, 264 (63.0%) were males, and 233 (55.6%) were aged 19 to 35 years. Comorbidity was present in 37 (8.8%). The risk of getting SARS-CoV-2 infections was increased with male sex (AOR = 1.248; 95% CI: 1.007, 1.547), health workers (AOR = 3.187; 95% CI: 1.960, 5.182), prisoners (AOR = 2.118; 95% CI: 1.104, 4.062), and comorbid conditions (AOR = 2.972; 95% CI: 1.649, 5.358), such as diabetes (AOR = 4.765; 95% CI: 1.977-11.485) and other respiratory problems (AOR = 3.267; 95% CI: 1.146-9.317). Despite the fact that overall laboratories confirmed prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the study area was low and dynamic, it was spread to all zones of the study area. This highlights the importance of implementing the most effective public health strategies to prevent the further spread and reduce the burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Trends of Malaria Prevalence in Selected Districts of Kaffa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Malaria remains one of the world's major public health issues, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, cases have declined over the last decade, and attempts to eradicate the illness are underway. The purpose of this study was to determine trends in malaria prevalence in selected areas of the Kaffa zone during the last five years (Decha and Gimbo districts). Methods: All malaria cases registered from 2017 to 2021 were reviewed to assess the trends of malaria prevalence. A checklist was used to collect the secondary data from registers and entered it into an Excel spreadsheet, which was then exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for analysis. The malaria incidence rate was calculated with the total number of person-years as the denominator and the number of new cases as the numerator. Seasons, years, gender, age, and malaria parasite species were all used to show trends in malaria transmission in the areas. Tables and figures were used to present the data. Results: Out of 20,045 individuals screened for malaria, 13.6% (2,732/20,045) of them were recorded to have Plasmodium species tested using microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, and mixed infections (Plasmodium falciparum + Plasmodium vivax) accounted for 1200 (5.9%), 1114 (5.56%), and 418 (2.09%) of the confirmed malaria cases, respectively. Overall, malaria incidence decreased with an interannual variation, from 4.08 cases per 1000 person-years in 2017 to 3.62 cases per 1000 person-years in 2018, then increased to 4.94 cases per 1000 person-years in 2021. Conclusion: The malaria trend over the last five years has revealed a nonconsistent pattern of cases in different years. The number of malaria cases has shown an increase over the period of 2017 to 2021. Interannual and intra-annual variations have been observed in the transmission of the disease.

Malaria prevalence and risk factors among patients visiting Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia is among sub-Saharan African countries with a high number of malaria cases each year, with most of the landmass favoring the breeding of the vectors. There have been extensive efforts to control and prevent the transmission of malaria, which is part of the country's prevention-based health policy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine malaria prevalence and associated risk factors among patients visiting Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital (MTUTH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2021 among patients visiting MTUTH, Southwest Ethiopia. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, and a capillary blood sample was collected after obtaining written informed consent from the study participants. The data were entered into Epi-data manager (v4.0.2.101) and analyzed with SPSS version 25.0, with a P-value of < 0.05 set as a significance. RESULTS: A total of 439 patients participated, of which 20.7% (91) were positive for malaria parasites, with a higher prevalence observed among the age group interval of 25-34 years (5.5%). Inadequate access to insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) 23.9% (105) and a low level of ITN usage 20.5% (90) were recorded. Patients living in areas of stagnant water were more likely to get infected with the malaria parasite (AOR = 16.191, 95% CI: 9.137, 28.692) compared to those who live away from stagnant water, and individuals living in houses not sprayed with insecticides were more susceptible to malaria infection (AOR = 0.215, 95% CI: 0.128, 0.360). CONCLUSION: The overall malaria prevalence in this study was 20.7% (91), which proves that malaria remains a major threat to the communities in the study area, with Plasmodium falciparum contributing to most of the cases. Improving the habits of ITN usage and indoor residual spray through health education may help to reduce the impact of malaria in the study area.

Prevalence of Malaria and Associated Risk Factors among the Community of Mizan-Aman Town and Its Catchment Area in Southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia is a Sub-Saharan African country with a high annual malaria case count, owing to the majority of the country's geography favoring vector rearing. As part of the country's prevention-based health policy, substantial efforts have been made to control and prevent malaria transmission. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and the associated factors in the community of Mizan-Aman and its catchment. Materials and Methods: From September to October 2021, a community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken among the communities of Mizan-Aman town and its catchment area in Southwest Ethiopia. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, as well as a capillary blood sample from each study participant. Epi-data manager (v4.0.2.101) was used to enter the data and analyzed by SPSS version 25.0. A statistical significance was set at a P value of <0.05. Result: The study comprised a total of 412 people, of which 87 (21.1%) tested positive for malaria parasites, with a greater prevalence reported among those aged 25 to 34 years (5.8%). Individuals who lived near stagnant water were more likely to become infected with the malaria parasite (AOR = 8.996, 95% CI: 5.087-15.908) compared to those who lived further away, in warm climates, and those who did not use insecticide-treated bed nets were more susceptible to malaria parasite infection (AOR = 4.647, 95% CI: 1.257-17.184) compared to those who did use ITN and With (AOR = 0.466, 95% CI: 0.218-0.996 and AOR = 0.352, 95% CI: 0.206-0.604); participants with a history of antimalarial medication appear to have a protective function against malaria infection, respectively. Conclusion: The overall malaria prevalence in this study was 87 (21.1%), demonstrating that malaria remains a significant concern to the populations in the study area, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for the vast majority of cases.

Antiplasmodial Activity of the Crude Extract and Solvent Fractions of Stem Barks of Gardenia ternifolia in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice.

BACKGROUND: The evolution of resistance to currently used malaria medicines together with the severe economic burden of malaria initiates the search for novel antimalarial drugs. Thus, the present experiment was intended to assess the in vivo antiplasmodial effect of Gardenia ternifolia based on the traditional claims and in vitro antimalarial effect of the plant. METHODS: For the crude extraction of stem barks of G. ternifolia, a cold maceration method using hydromethanol as a solvent was employed. The hydroalcoholic extract was then fractionated by three solvents (chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous solvent) with different polarity indexes. Swiss albino mice infected with the chloroquine-sensitive malaria parasite (Plasmodium berghei) were used in this study. Acute oral toxicity study was done according to standard protocols. Four-day suppressive (hydromethanolic crude extract and solvent fractions), Rane's (crude extract), and repository (crude extract) tests were used to examine the antiplasmodial effects of the study plant. RESULTS: The chemosuppressive study revealed that all doses of the crude extract and its fractions displayed a significant (P < 0.001) inhibition of parasitemia compared with the vehicle (negative control). The crude extract's highest dose (600 mg/kg) showed the maximum (57.84%) parasitemia suppression during the chemosuppressive test. The crude extract also produced significant (P < 0.001) curative and prophylactic effects at all doses in Rane's and repository tests compared with the negative control. In the 4-day test, the n-butanol fraction produced parasitemia suppression higher than the chloroform fraction but lower than the crude extract. Of these, water fractions demonstrated the lowest chemosuppressive effect. Anthraquinone, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids were qualitatively detected in the plant material. CONCLUSION: The current results showed that the hydromethanolic extract and fractions of G. ternifolia stem barks have antiplasmodial action with a high curative effect. Chloroform and n-butanol fractions were more active among the fractions, indicating that the nonpolar and semipolar constituents of the plant are responsible for the antimalarial effects.

Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors among waiters working in food and drinking establishments in Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Waiters working in different food and drinking establishments have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and transmitting the infection to others because they interact with many people. Most COVID-19 related studies in Ethiopia mainly focused on the general population, whereas, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors among waiters in Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1 to June 15, 2020, among waiters working in food and drinking establishments found in Mizan-Aman, Jemu, and Masha towns in Southwest Ethiopia. A total of 422 waiters were selected using a simple random sampling technique, and the data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi-data manager version 4.0.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of good preventive behaviors at a p-value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixteen respondents participated in this study, with a response rate of 98.6%. A significant proportion of participants know the cause, route of transmission, symptoms, and prevention methods of COVID-19 virus. However, very few (21.2%) had good preventive behaviors. The study showed that good preventive behavior was positively associated with female sex (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.38-3.94), higher schooling (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17-0.88), high-risk perception (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.51-4.32), and high perceived self-efficacy (AOR = 1.1.75, 95% CI: 1.05-2.90). CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of waiters know common symptoms of COVID 19, route of transmission, and its prevention methods. However, the preventive behavior was very low. Thus, all concerned bodies working on the prevention and control of COVID-19 should give attention to this population group to enhance compliance with recommended preventive behaviors.