Mean difference in timing of first antenatal checks across regions and associated factors among pregnant women attending health facilities in Ethiopia: evidence from Ethiopian demographic health survey, 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Early initiation of antenatal care visits is an essential component of services to improve maternal health. Conducting a detailed study about the mean difference in timing at first antenatal checks across regions and factors associated with timing at first antenatal checks among women attending antenatal in Ethiopia is essential to ensure maternal and newborn health. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the mean difference in timing at first antenatal visits and associated factors among pregnant women attending different health facilities across regions in Ethiopia. METHOD: The Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in 2019. In this study, data about the timing of the first antenatal check-ups were requested from the Demographic Health Survey in February 2023, and the required variables were downloaded in SAS and SPSS formats from the data set. A total of 2935 women from nine regional states and two city administrations with an age range of 15 to 49 years were included in the study. The mean difference in timing at first antenatal check-ups, its correlation and various factors were estimated using multiple linear regressions to identify factors. RESULT: The majority of the 2034 (69.3%) of pregnant women who participated in the study were rural residents. The mean (± SD) age of the pregnant women was 29 (± 6.5) years. Approximately 32.5% of pregnant women visited their first antenatal check after 4 months of pregnancy. The results showed that counselling by health workers during a previous pregnancy (p < 0.01) significantly predicts timing at first antenatal checks in months holding previous delivery, previous antenatal care at both government and private facilities, ever attended school, and highest educational level. Timing at the first antenatal check-in months is expected to decrease by 0.99 months for every counselling session at each pregnancy. The results of the analysis suggested that the regression model significantly predicted timing at the first antenatal check (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The mean difference in timing at the first antenatal check in months among Ethiopian pregnant women relatively significantly varies in two regions. Previous pregnancy counselling by health workers positively influences the timing of first antenatal check-ups for subsequent antenatal check follow-ups in Ethiopia.

Species composition, infection rate and detection of resistant alleles in Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Lare, a malaria hotspot district of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Anopheles funestus, which is considered as secondary vector of malaria in Ethiopia, is known to have several morphologically indistinguishable (sibling) species. Accurate identification of sibling species is crucial to understand their biology, behaviour and vector competence. In this study, molecular identification was conducted on the Ethiopian An. funestus populations. Moreover, insecticide resistance mechanism markers were detected, including ace N485I, kdr L1014F, L1014S, and CYP6P9a TaqMan qPCR was used to detect the infective stage of the parasite from field collected adult female An. funestus populations. METHODS: Adult female mosquito collection was conducted from Lare, Gambella Regional State of Ethiopia between June 2018 to July 2020 using CDC light traps and HLC. Sub-samples of the morphologically identified An. funestus mosquitoes were molecularly identified using species-specific PCR, and the possible presence of insecticide resistance alleles was investigated using TaqMan qPCR (N485I-Ace-1), PCR-Sanger sequencing (L1014F-kdr), and PCR-RFLP (CYP6P9a resistance allele). Following head/thorax dissection, the TaqMan qPCR assay was used to investigate the presence of the infective stage Plasmodium parasite species. RESULTS: A total of 1086 adult female An. funestus mosquitoes were collected during the study period. All sub-samples (N = 20) that were morphologically identified as An. funestus sensu lato (s.l.) were identified as An. funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) using species- specific PCR assay. The PCR-RFLP assay that detects the CYP6P9a resistance allele that confers pyrethroid resistance in An. funestus was applied in N = 30 randomly selected An. funestus s.l. SPECIMENS: None of the specimens showed a digestion pattern consistent with the presence of the CYP6P9a resistance allele in contrast to what was observed in the positive control. Consequently, all samples were characterized as wild type. The qPCR TaqMan assay that detects the N485I acetylcholinesterase-1 mutation conferring resistance to organophosphates/carbamates in An. funestus was used in (N = 144) samples. All samples were characterized as wild type. The kdr L1014F and L1014S mutations in the VGSC gene that confer resistance to pyrethroids and DDT were analysed with direct Sanger sequencing after PCR and clean-up of the PCR products were also characterized as wild type. None of the samples (N = 169) were found positive for Plasmodium (P. falciparum/ovale/malariae/vivax) detection. CONCLUSION: All An. funestus s.l. samples from Lare were molecularly identified as An. funestus s.s. No CYP6P9, N485I acetylcholinesterase 1, kdr L1014F or L1014S mutations were detected in the An. funestus samples. None of the An. funestus samples were positive for Plasmodium. Although the current study did not detect any insecticide resistant mechanism, it provides a reference for future vector monitoring programmes. Regular monitoring of resistance mechanisms covering wider geographical areas of Ethiopia where this vector is distributed is important for improving the efficacy of vector control programs.

Phosphate Solubilization Potential of Rhizosphere Fungi Isolated from Plants in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

Phosphorus (P) is one of the major bioelements limiting agricultural production. Phosphate solubilizing fungi play a noteworthy role in increasing the bioavailability of soil phosphates for plants. The present study was aimed at isolating and characterizing phosphate solubilizing fungi from different rhizospheres using both solid and liquid Pikovskaya (PVK) medium. A total of 359 fungal isolates were obtained from 150 rhizosphere soil samples of haricot bean, faba bean, cabbage, tomato, and sugarcane. Among the isolates, 167 (46.52%) solubilized inorganic phosphate. The isolated phosphate solubilizing fungi belonged to genera of Aspergillus (55.69%), Penicillium spp. (23.35%), and Fusarium (9.58%). Solubilization index (SI) ranged from 1.10 to 3.05. Isolates designated as JUHbF95 (Aspergillus sp.) and JUFbF59 (Penicillium sp.) solubilized maximum amount of P 728.77 µg·mL(-1) and 514.44 µg mL(-1), respectively, from TCP (tricalcium phosphate) after 15 days of incubation. The highest (363 µg mL(-1)) soluble-P was released from RP with the inoculation of JUHbF95 in the PVK broth after 10 days of incubation. The present study indicated the presence of diverse plant associated P-solubilizing fungi that may serve as potential biofertilizers.

In vitro antibacterial activities of compounds isolated from roots of Caylusea abyssinica.

BACKGROUND: Caylusea absyssinica, a plant used as vegetable and for medicinal purposes was selected for in vitro antibacterial evaluation in this study. The main aim of this study was to isolate compounds from the plant roots and evaluate their antibacterial activities on clinical bacterial test strains. METHODS: Compounds from roots of Caylusea absyssinica (fresen) were identified based on observed spectral (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and IR) data and physical properties (melting point) as well as reported literature. Disk diffusion method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of the isolated compounds on four test bacterial strains namely, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25903), Escherichia coli (ATCC25722), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (DSMZ1117) and Salmonella thyphimurium (ATCC13311). RESULTS: Two compounds, CA1 and CA2 were isolated from the methanol crude extract of the roots of Caylusea absyssinica (fresen). The compounds were identified as ß-sitosterol and stigmasterol, respectively. Evaluation of antibacterial activities revealed that the compounds are active against all the bacterial strains in the experiment, showing inhibition zones ranging from 12 mm-15 mm by CA1 and 11 mm-18 mm by CA2 against the different test strains. However, the compounds were less active than the reference drug (Gentamycine), which showed minimum inhibition zone of 21 mm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and maximum of 28 mm (Escherichia coli) inhibition zone. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The isolation of the compounds is the first report from roots of Caylusea abyssinica and could be potential candidates for future antibacterial drug development programs.