Abstract:
Typhoid fever is a disease caused by Salmonella enterica serotype typhi (S. typhi). It is a lifethreatening illness associated with fever and potentially affects all peoples of Ethiopia. Salmonella
is widely prevalent in developing countries, probably due to poor sanitation, inadequate personal
and food hygiene and poor water quality. The aim of this study was to assess the status of Typhoid
fever and determine associated risk factors that contributed to the observed prevalence at
Shishinda Health Center, Shishinda district, Southwest Ethiopia. A community based crosssectional study design method was conducted the study from April 2022 to June 2022 by collecting
blood samples from patients displaying symptom of typhoid fever at the Shishinda Health Center. A
total of 384 outpatients seeking medication at the study area during the study period were
recruited for the study. Widal test was used to test the collected blood samples for presence of the
etiological agent. The blood samples were transported, using icebox, to Jimma University
Research and Postgraduate Laboratory for further analysis. Antimicrobial activities of selected
medicinal plants (Lepedium sativum, Brassica nigra & Allium sativum) against Salmonella were
evaluated using disk diffusion technique). Phytochemical components of the selected medicinal
plants responsible for their antimicrobial activities were determined. Antimicrobial activities of the
plant extracts against salmonella was detected by measuring zone of inhibition (mm). The growth
of Salmonella was detected by its characteristic appearance on Xylose Lysine Deoxychecolate
Agar (red, black-centered colonies). Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The
overall status of typhoid fever in the study area was 16.7%. The status was relatively higher among
females (22.8%) than males (9.9%). The highest prevalence of S.typhi infection, 22.4% (17/76),
was observed among patients aged 43 years and above. Poor sanitation and low level of awareness
towards typhoid fever were among the major risk factors associated with infection of typhoid fever.
The studies revealed that antibacterial activity of the crude extracts were variable when extracted
by different solvents; however, it possesses good anti-Salmonella activity. Extracts of L. sativum
had the highest zone of inhibition (43.8mm) compared to B. nigra (34.2mm) and A. sativum(35.2)
against Salmonella typhi. Health facilities should incorporate topics on typhoid fever as part of
their health education system within the health facility and in the community in a more enhanced
way
