Local community perception on medicinal plant knowledge use and influencing variables among three ethnic groups in peri-urban areas of south-central Ethiopia

Background: In Ethiopia, affordability, religious beliefs, and access to healthcare facilities are theoretically linked with the preferences for medicinal plant knowledge uses. Yet, there is still insufficient information about the factors contributing to the link between medicinal plant knowledge use and associated drivers. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing local communities' preferences and perceptions of medicinal plant knowledge practice among Gedeo, Oromo, and Sidama ethnic groups. Methods: The study used ethnobotanical data from 837 participants from Gedeo, Oromo, and Sidama ethnic group, collected through semi-structured interviews. A five-dimensional Likert scale was used to determine preferences and factors affecting the perceived use of medicinal plant knowledge. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared test was appled to examine the impact of socio-demographic variables on perceived use of medicinal plant knowledge among informants. Results: The study found that efficacy was the most significant reason for practicing medicinal plant knowledge against several human ailments (RII = 0.686). Misleading communication is a major factor that alters the perceived use of medicinal plant knowledge among ethnic groups (RII = 0.719). Age, gnder, education, and marital status are significantly (P < 0.05) associated variables with the perceived use of medicinal plant knowledge among the variables compared. Conclusion: The study found that traditional knowledge is widely accepted among the three ethnic groups studied. The effectiveness and beliefs of traditional knowledge is considerable, indicating the need for publicizing its benefits and risks. Moreover, further research needed on safety, validity, and efficacy to make it widely available as an alternative medicine. Keywords: Ethiopia, perception, rural-urban interface, socio-demographic variables, traditional plant medicine