Assessment of psychotropic medications prescribing pattern in Gebretsadik Shawo General Hospital, South West Ethiopia.

Introduction: due to the widespread prescription of antipsychotic medications, their usage is cumulative. Evidence on the trends of medication use in Ethiopia and other parts of the world is lacking. The scant information on prescription trends and medication usage suggests that drug use is generally not sensible in both industrialized and emerging nations. So, the aim of this study was to assess the psychotropic medications prescribing pattern in Gebretsadik Shawo General Hospital, South West Ethiopia. Methods: from June 1st to July 31st, 2019, a cross-sectional study on prescriptions for psychiatric drugs was conducted at Gebretsadik Shawo General Hospital. Using systematic random sampling, prescription records were obtained from the pharmacy dispensing book. Version 21 of the statistical program for social science was used to code and analyze the data. Results: the study included 355 prescription records containing psychotropic drugs in total. The bulk of those taking the psychotropic medication were aged 20 to 49. The most often administered classes of drugs remained antipsychotic, followed by tricyclic antidepressants, antiepileptics, anxiolytics/sedatives, anticholinergic and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The most often ordered antipsychotic medication, which included 102 (23.18%) medications, was chlorpromazine. Tricyclic antidepressants, which included 56 medicines (12.73%) and 24 medications (5.45%), included amitriptyline and imipramine. Conclusion: the results of this investigation showed that psychiatrists preferred traditional psychotropic medications, such as Antipsychotic tricyclic, antidepressants (TCAs) and phenothiazines, in high amounts possibly because these medications were readily available in this hospital and their prices suited patients' needs. Health care workers' interdisciplinary relationships and coherence would improve for the benefit of patients and services of higher quality.

Assessment of Psychological Distress and Associated Factors among Hospitalized Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic at Selected Hospitals in Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors among hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic at three selected hospitals in southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Tepi General Hospital, and Gebre Tsadik Shawo General Hospital, southwest Ethiopia from May 10 to August 10, 2020. Sample size was computed using a single-proportion formula, and systematic sampling was employed to recruit study participants. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, which has been validated in Ethiopia. SPSS 21.0 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characteristize the study population. Predictors of psychological distress were identified by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Among the 337 study participants enrolled, about 41% were aged 25-34 years. The overall prevalence of psychological distress was 57.9% (95% CI 52.8%-63.5%). Being female (AOR 3.69, 95% CI 2.08-6.55), having high (AOR 5.45, 95% CI 2.35-12.66) and medium perceived life threat (AOR 3.37, 95% CI 1.75-6.48), poor (AOR 3.97, 95% CI 1.70-9.29) and moderate social support (AOR 3.17, 95% CI 1.36-7.41), and current khat use (AOR 4.16, 95% CI 1.67-10.35) were statistically associated with psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic at P value <0.05. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of psychological distress was high among hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings highlight the need to develop psychological support strategies to improve mental health and psychological resilience.

Ethnobotanical Assessment and Physicochemical Properties of Commonly Used Medicinal Plants in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: Traditional Healers Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The demand for traditional herbal medicine is increasing and about 85% of the world population use herbal medicines for the prevention and treatment of diseases. More than 62.5% of the forest areas in Ethiopia are found in the southwest region, which have been used as a source of traditional medicine to treat different human and livestock ailments. The aim of this study was the investigation of the ethnobotanical and physicochemical properties of commonly used medicinal plants in Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the district of Jimma zone from June 1 to 30, 2017. The ethnobotanical data were collected from traditional healers through semi-structured questionnaires. Specimens collected from various habitats were taken into Jimma University, Herbarium laboratory, dried, and prepared using standard herbarium specimen techniques for identification. Physicochemical analysis was done for selected medicinal plants. RESULTS: A total of 72 medicinal plants categorized under 61 genera and 39 families were stated by the respondents for the treatment of different human and livestock ailments. Herbs constitute the largest category (28 species, 38.89%) followed by shrubs (21 species, 29.17%), trees (20 species, 27.78%) and climbers (3 species, 4.17%). Leaves (39.19%) were the most commonly used plant parts followed by roots (27%) and seeds (10.81%). Traditional healers reported processing remedies mainly through crushing (46.91%), powdering (18.52%), pounding (11.11%), and pressing (9.88%). The water-soluble extractive value of the selected medicinal plants were between 1.825 to 18.507%w/w and the alcohol-soluble extractive value were between 0.143 to 1.107%w/w. The moisture content (%LOD) of Barleria argentea Balf. f. was higher than the recommended standard which consisted of 21.063%w/w and followed by high %LOD of Crateva adansonii D.C. Prodr (8.143%w/w) and Euphorbia abbyssinica J.F. Gmel. (16.347%w/w). The highest total ash value was registered in Dioscorea quartiniana A.Rich. species which consisted of 18.563%w/w and followed by Crateva adansonii D.C. Prodr (16.033%w/w) and Barleria argentea Balf. f. (15.648%w/w). High acid-insoluble ash value (7.227%w/w) and water-soluble ash (6.731%w/w) was recorded in Euphorbia abbyssinica J.F. Gmel. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the water-soluble extractive value of the selected medicinal plants indicates the presence of water-soluble components such as sugar, acids, and inorganic compounds. In the future, these characters can be used to check the genuine nature of the crude drug; thus, it plays an important role in preventing the possible steps of adulteration.