Indigenous people of a given community have their own local specific knowledge on plant use, management, and conservation. The objective of this study was to document medicinal plants used to treat human and livestock ailments in Hulet Eju Enese Woreda. The data were collected using semistructured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations with local people. A total of 100 informants over the age of 20 years were selected to collect information on medicinal plant use. Descriptive statistics (percentage and frequency), Jaccard’s similarity index, independent sample t-test and analysis of variance, informant consensus factor, fidelity level, preference ranking, and direct matrix ranking were computed. A total of 80 medicinal plant species belonging to 75 genera and 52 families were documented. In terms of species diversity, Solanaceae stood first with 5 species followed by Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae with 4 species each. Out of eighty medicinal plants, 53 species were used to treat only human ailments, 8 species were used to treat only livestock ailments, and the remaining 19 species were used for treating both human and livestock ailments. From the total medicinal plant species, shrub constitutes the largest number with 42.5% species. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves, accounting for 28.9%. The major routes of administration were oral accounts, 81 (57%), followed by dermal, 45 (31.7%), nasal, 6 (4.2%), and others, 10 (7%). In the disease category with the highest informant consensus factor (0.83) value was sudden sickness. There was highest preference (49) for Phytolacca dodecandra to treat rabies. Cordia africana was shown to be the top multipurpose species. This study revealed that the study area was rich in medicinal plants. Agricultural expansion, charcoal making, and firewood collection were considered major threats to medicinal plants. Therefore, awareness creation to the youth and training to the healers play a pivotal role to prevent the loss of indigenous knowledge.

Background. Foodborne diseases remain a major public health problem globally, but the problem is severe in developing countries like Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess food safety practices and associated factors among food handlers of Fiche town. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 food handlers working in food and drink establishments. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Data were entered and coded into SPSS for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictor variables associated with the practice of food handlers ( p < 0.05 ). Result. 61.6% of food handlers knew the potential risk of contaminating food with dirty hands, and 70% washed hands with soap before working with food. 52.8% of food handlers covered the hair with restraints. 66.8% of food handlers used outer garments, and the majority of food handlers (71.1%) had a trimmed fingernail. Two hundred thirteen (50.5%) of food handlers had good food handling practices. Medical checkup (AOR = 3.16; 95% CI 1.89, 5.26), sanitary inspection (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.16, 2.69), knowledge (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.53, 3.48), service year (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI 1.53, 6.31), and educational status (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.29, 9.04) were found to be significantly associated with food handling practices. Conclusion. The food handlers should take various training concerning food hygiene and safety to enhance their knowledge and practice. Regular sanitary inspection of food and drink establishments is recommended.

Background. Foodborne illness is one of the major public health problems globally. The majority of foodborne diseases arise from foods of animal origin. Hence, this study was proposed to evaluate meat handling practices and associated factors working in butcher shops in North Shewa Zone. Methods. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with meat handling practice. Result. The majority, 128 (57.1%), of meat handlers smoke in workplaces, and 20 (8.9%) of meat handlers handled money while processing meat. 180 (80.4%) of meat handlers process/handle meat when they had cuts, wounds, bruises, or injuries on their hands. 12.1% and 15.6% of meat handlers took food safety training and medical checkups, respectively. 51.3% of meat handlers had good meat handling practices. Knowledge (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73-5.15), attitude ( AOR = 1.94 , 95% CI: 1.12-3.37), experience ( AOR = 4.27 , 95% CI: 2.34-9.85), medical checkup ( AOR = 3.87 , 95% CI: 1.67-8.96), and educational status ( AOR = 5.50 , 95% CI: 1.05-28.75) were significantly associated with meat handling practices. Conclusions. Food hygiene training before employment and awareness creation for meat handlers should be strengthened. Routine inspections by responsible authorities are also recommended. Future studies should focus on the enumeration of bacterial load from utensils and meat handlers.

Street food is food obtained from a street side vendor, often from a makeshift or portable stall and it feeds millions of people daily with a wide variety of foods that are relatively cheap and easily accessible. Street food is intimately connected with take-out, junk food, snacks, and fast foods but it is not protected against insects, dust etc; which may harbor foodborne pathogens. Pathogens present in street vended foods come from different sources and practices, such as, improper food handling, improper waste disposal, contaminated water and improper storage temperature and reheating. Food borne illnesses are defined as diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food. Like other African and World countries there are many food vendors in Ethiopia where they sell both raw and cooked food items along the streets of different cities but it is far more unhygienic due to several reasons. So the objective of this review paper was to assess the existing research about street food safety, types, hygiene knowledge, and preparation and forward suggestion for stakeholders/policy makers to bridge the gap. Majority of street vended foods in Ethiopia are contaminated by bacteria like Salmonella, S aureus, E coli so the Government should intervene and solve the issue before it is too late.

Background: Poor solid waste management is a major public health and environmental concern in developing countries like Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the status of household solid waste management and associated factors in Fiche town. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 236 residents of Fiche town from January to March 2022. Both questionnaire and field observation was used to collect data from households in the town. Data were first checked manually for completeness, then coded and entered into SPSS version 20, then descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were done. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to assess the potential predictors of the outcome variable ( P < .05). Result: In the present study, 185 (78.4%), of residents uses improper solid waste management practices. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that knowledge of reduce, reuse and recycle (3R) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.94, 14.87), access to door to door waste collection (AOR = 3.91; 95% CI 2.03, 7.51), treating waste as a resource (AOR = 3.06; 95% CI 1.47, 6.36) and knowledge about the rule and regulations of solid waste management (AOR = 6.49; 95% CI 3.09, 13.61) were found to be significantly associated with waste management practices. Conclusion: Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness about solid waste management at the community level using different pieces of training. In addition, the city municipality needs to strengthen door to door waste collection services.