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Plants are commonly used during the antenatal stage in pregnancy to manage different ailments in Africa. In Uganda, both medicinal and food plants are used to handle common pregnancy related conditions. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Iganga district, eastern Uganda. Seven traditional birth attendants (TBA) and 46 mothers were interviewed. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and household interviews. The TBAs were identified using snowball sampling. A total of 33 plant species, belonging to 23 families were documented. Out of these, the pregnant mothers used 45.5 % as both food and medicine. The most frequently used plant life form was herbs (58.8%). The leaves are the most commonly used plant parts (59%). Most of the plants (58.8%) were semi cultivated and were being domesticated in crop fields and home gardens. Most of the plants were used to manage anaemia and for child development and good health among the pregnant women. The pregnant women and TBAs in Namungalwe sub County have diverse knowledge on medicinal and nutri-medicinal plants in the management of common pregnancy related diseases, which can be used to supplement modern antenatal services, inspite of the ban of the activities of TBA. Further research on the bioavailability of nutrients, efficacy and safety of the medicinal plants used by pregnant women should be done. RésuméLes plantes sont couramment utilisées pendant le stade prénatal pendant la grossesse pour gérer les différentes maladies en Afrique. En Ouganda, les plantes médicinales et alimentaires sont utilisées pour traiter des conditions courantes liées à la grossesse et pour compléter les services de soins prénatals modernes. Une enquête ethnobotanique a été menée dans le district d'Iganga, dans l'est de l'Ouganda. Sept accoucheuses traditionnelles (AT) et 46 mères ont été interviewées. Les données ont été recueillies à l'aide des questionnaires structurés et d'entrevues auprès des ménages. Les AT ont été identifiées en utilisant un échantillonnage en boule de neige. Un total de 33 espèces végétales appartenant à 23 familles ont été documentées. Parmi cellesci, les femmes enceintes consommaient 45,5% de nourriture et des médicaments. La forme de vie végétale la plus fréquemment utilisée était les herbes (58,8%). Les feuilles sont les parties de plantes les plus utilisées (59%). La plupart des plantes (58,8%) étaient semi-cultivées et étaient domestiquées dans les champs cultivés et dans les jardins potagers. La plupart des plantes étaient utilisées pour gérer l'anémie et pour le développement de l'enfant et une bonne santé chez les femmes enceintes. Les femmes enceintes et les accoucheuses traditionnelles dans le sous-comté de Namungalwe avaient des connaissances diverses sur les plantes médicinales et nutri-médicinales dans la prise en charge des maladies courantes liées à la grossesse, qui peuvent être utilisées pour compléter les services prénataux modernes. (Afr J Reprod Health 2017; 21[4]: 33-44).

Background: An ethnobotanical study was carried out in Namungalwe Sub County, Iganga District Eastern Uganda, to document medicinal plant species used in disease management among children. Methods: Ethnobotanical data was collected through interviews with households and key informants, Focus Group Discussions and the Snow ball technique. This was complemented by field observations and photography. Results: A total of 61 plant species and one mushroom species, Termitomyces microcarpus were reported to be used as medicinal plants used in the disease management among children. These species belonged to 36 families and 58 genera. The most commonly mentioned medicinal plant species were Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Chenopodium opulifolium Schrad. ex W.D.J.Koch & Ziz and Albizia corialia (Schum. & Thonn.) Benth. Most of the medicinal plant species belonged to the family Leguminosae (29.7%).The most commonly used plant life forms for peadiatric health care were herbs (45.2%), and leaves (53.1%) were the most used plant parts. Most of the medicines were prepared as decoctions. Malaria and diarhoea were the most frequently occurring ailment among children. Conclusion: There is diversity of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants used in the management of ailments among children in the study area. Mothers and other care takers in homes are the custodians of this knowledge.

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Background and Aims Acute gastroenteritis is responsible for dehydration in many children. The viruses are considered the main agents of gastroenteritis, and these are included by rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus. Evaluation of the symptoms, clinical findings and hospitalization requirements were aimed in cases of dehydration. Methods The distribution of age, symptoms, clinical and laboratory findings and hospitalization requirements of viral gastroenteritis cases who have moderate to severe dehydration were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 156 patients with moderate to severe dehydration caused by acute viral gastroenteritis were evaluated. Patients were between 3 months to 16 years of age (mean: 38.7 months). Rotavirus, Norovirus and Adenovirus were detected by immunochromatographic method, as the causes of gastroenteritis. Results Dehydration were detected in 156 patients with acute gastroenteritis (156/278), which included patients with Rotavirus (48%), Norovirus (41%) and Adenovirus (13.5%), respectively. Norovirus was mostly detected (51.8%) in the first 24 months of age, however, Rotavirus was mostly detected in >24 months of age (61.3%). The common symptoms of all patients were vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and malaise, although fever was seen mostly the cases with Rotavirus. A total of 59 patients were hospitalized, they were Rotavirus cases mostly (n=35, 59.3%). Conclusions The main agents of acute gastroenteritis which caused in dehydration were Norovirus and Rotavirus in our patients. Norovirus was the mostly detected agent in infants and young children who were < 24 months of age. Rotavirus was detected in the most of hospitalized patients, it had caused to most of the severe symptoms.