OMO International Journal of Sciences

Enhancing Environmental Sustainability and Income Diversification through Agroforestry Practices in the Dollo Watershed, Kamba Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia

Yohannes Dikola, Aynalem Gochera, Ayele Chora — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:55:00 +0300

This study evaluated the contributions of agroforestry to community welfare and environmental health in targeted regions. Data were collected from 231 farm households across five villages using close-ended and open-ended questionnaires, complemented by focus group discussions with community leaders, male and female heads of households, and farmers with various experience levels. A relative scoring method was employed to rank preferred woody species, with results indicating that 90% of participating farmers integrated agroforestry with monocropping, while only 9% practiced non-agroforestry agricultural activities. Among the 32 most preferred tree species identified for agroforestry, 79% were native and 21% were exotic. The findings revealed that 91% of respondents viewed agroforestry as their primary source of income while the 9% relied on non-agroforestry agricultural activities. Furthermore, 51% of households believed that agroforestry enhances biodiversity compared to monoculture, and 66.67% recognized increased crop output as its main advantage. However, as data collection was confined to a specific timeframe, seasonal variations in agroforestry systems and income generation were not fully captured. This underscores the necessity for innovative extension services and proactive engagement from governmental and non-governmental organizations to enhance the role of agroforestry in improving rural livelihoods and the environment.

Keyword: Community; carbon sequestration; environmental sustainably; income; soil improvement

Barriers and Facilitators to Infection Prevention and Control Practice among Healthcare Professionals at Arba Minch General Hospital, South Ethiopia Regional State: Phenomenological Qualitative Study

Mesfin Kote, Mahlet Tamirat, Behailu Merdekios — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:13:39 +0300

Hospital-acquired infections pose a significant global safety concern for patients and healthcare professionals. In Ethiopia, the issue is exacerbated by overcrowding, understaffing, and a lack of trained professionals. This study investigated barriers and facilitators to infection prevention and control identified by healthcare workers at Arba Minch General Hospital, South Ethiopia, using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety framework. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at the 260-bed hospital. Semi-structured interviews were held from July 19 to August 23, 2019, involving eight healthcare professionals (three physicians, one environmental health professional, two midwives, and two nurses) from various clinical departments, selected through purposive sampling. Data were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using Open Code software (version 3.6), with themes coded based on the conceptual framework. Key barriers included poor facility design, overcrowding, inadequate handwashing facilities, limited budget, lack of knowledge and training, insufficient and poor-quality personal protective equipment, inadequate waste management, high workload, and poor sterilization practices. Facilitators highlighted were the formation of an infection prevention and control committee, dedicated staff, and leadership roles for nurses and physicians in ongoing infection prevention and control initiatives. Tailored logistical and administrative actions addressing local conditions are essential. The study underscores the need for comprehensive training programs and infection prevention and control care packages to improve infection prevention and control practices in Ethiopian hospitals.

Keywords: Infection Barriers, Ethiopia, Facilitators, Healthcare Professionals Prevention and Control

Identification, characterization and diversity of cultivated Ensete ventricosum landraces in Gamo highlands, South Ethiopia

Muluken Getahun, Sabura Shara, Gezahegn Garo — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:32:49 +0300

Enset-based indigenous knowledge and associated agro-ecological niche is often confined within cultural groups of enset growing regions, limiting further expansion of cultivation and development. This study aimed to identify and characterize enset landraces using farmers’ knowledge and assess extent of diversity at two of enset growing districts in Gamo zone, South Ethiopia. Six localities encompassing 1530 to 3000 m.a.s.l were sampled at Chencha and Kogota districts. Observations, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were employed on 204 households. Names and quantities of enset landraces in the homegardens were recorded at a 10x10m2 quadrant laid out per household. Totally, 38 enset landraces were recorded and grouped as processing (kocho, bulla) and cooking (amicho) types on the basis of characteristics described by farmers. These were locally distinguished as ‘Wodala Uhthi’ or Mac’c’a‘ Uuthi’ in Gamo language. The Shannon index ranged from 2.75 at high altitude of Chencha to 0.75 at low altitude of Kogota suggesting diversity and altitude were directly proportional. The indigenous knowledge associated with enset landraces needs to be enhanced to ensure food security and resilience of the smallholder livelihood. Conservation initiatives such as Dorze Enset Field Gene Bank and around by Arba Minch University are highly encouraged.

Keywords: Amicho; Diversity; Enset; Kocho; Landrace

Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants in Boreda Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Bedilu Bekele Mengistu, Tsegaye Samuel Nawule — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 14:05:06 +0300

Plants are the major and cheap sources of traditional medicine. Countries like Ethiopia with ethnic and cultural diversity own a vast treasure of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants. However, much of this knowledge remained undiscovered for generations. The objective of this study was to investigate the traditional knowledge of medicinal values of plants in Boreda woreda in two kebeles. A survey was conducted on purposively selected five key informants of healers and 25 elders who provide traditional healing service in the locality. An informant consensus factor and preference matrix analysis was employed to analyze the data. Identification of taxonomic class of plants was carried out using expert methods and Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Overall, 35 medicinal plant species belonging to 22 families were recorded. About 63% of the plants found to be herbs and 20% of them were trees, and the remaining were shrubs. About 75% of the plants were used for treatment of human ailment. Leaves of herbs were the most widely used part of the plants followed by root and stem. According to preference matrix analysis Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck, Nigella sativa L. and Ocimum forskolei Benth., were the first three priority plants by the indigenous people for internal pain treatment. There is high level (0.78) of consensus of using medicinal plants for various diseases treatment among the community. Therefore, such high value indigenous knowledge should be conserved and the medicinal plants need to be protected.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Boreda, Ethnobotany, Hambissa, Medicinal plant

Evaluation of In vivo Anti-trypanosomal Activity of Methanol and Aqueous Extracted Allium sativum and Lepidium sativum against Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma congolense in Southern Ethiopia

Selamu Mekonen, Workagegnew Israel , Lema Lale — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:15:20 +0300

The present study was conducted in Arba Minch town, from September 2022 to April 2023 with the objective of evaluating the anti-trypanosomal activity of aqueous and methanol extract of Allium sativum bulbs and Lepidium sativum seeds against T. evansi and T. congolense. This experimental study utilized a total of 195 Swiss albino mice. Mice were assigned into 13 treatment groups, the first group was used as the control group while the rest up to13th groups were infected intraperitoneally with 1*107 trypanosoma and treated with Allium sativum bulbs and Lepidium sativum seeds extracts at a dose of 150, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight and 28mg/kg body weight of Diminazine aceturate once a day for a period of five days and observed for up to 42 days. The mouse infected with T. congolense and methanol extracted Allium sativum at a dose of 250mg/kg body weight showed a decrease in body weight for a week at post infection, then after their body weight started to increase rapidly. Treating of infected mouse using 250mg/kg body weight had shown increased body weight, decreased parasitemia, maximizing packed cell volume and improving mean revival survival time of mouse. In addition,
intra-peritoneal administration of the extracts to mice at 5,000mg/kg body weight did not result in deaths during the acute toxicity trial. Therefore, Allium sativum and Lepidium sativum extracted using methanol and aqueous at 250mg/kg body weight had shown promising effect against T. congolense and T. evansi and provided a quantitative basis to explain the traditional uses of both medicinal plants.

Keywords: Allium sativum, aqueous, extract, Lepidium sativum, methanol, Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma congolense