The influence of socio-demographic variables was widely explored to evaluate their impact on indigenous and local ethnobotanical knowledge. However, the studies conducted in Ethiopia mainly focused on rural areas. They were limited to exploring and documenting ethnobotanical knowledge and the associated impacts of socio-demographic variables in rural–urban interface areas among ethnic groups. Hence, this study aimed to document plant-based indigenous and local ethnomedicinal knowledge and the associated impacts of socio-demographic variables among selected three ethnic groups in south-central Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 189 key informants, floristic species inventories, and field observations. Quantitative approaches were used to evaluate the use values (UV) of the most important medicinal plants, the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), and rank-order priority (ROP). Statistical tests were applied to evaluate the influences of socio-demographic factors and associations between variables on local ethnobotanical knowledge across ethnic groups in different informant categories. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean number of medicinal plants reported among age categories. There was also a positive association between the respondent's age and plant knowledge acquisition. Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile, Albizia gummifera C.A.Sm., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Aloe macrocarpa Tod., Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip., Calpurnia aurea (Aiton) Benth, and Allium sativum L. had the highest use values among ethnic groups. The highest informant consensus factor values were recorded for circulatory system disorders (0.68) followed by febrile illness and reproductive organ complications (0.66 each) across the three studied ethnic groups. The highest FL, RPL, and ROP values were noted for Lactuca inermis Forssk., Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Allium sativum L., Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, Ricinus communis L., Schinus molle L., Antiaris toxicaria (J.F.Gmel.) Lesch., Brucea antidysenterica J.F.Mill., Echinops kebericho Mesfin, Ocimum jamesii Sebald, Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N.Page, Searsia natalensis (Bernh. ex Krauss) F.A.Barkley, and Ricinus communis L. across ethnic groups in the study areas, which showed the conformity of knowledge on species curing potential and their prevalent uses. The study revealed that the ethnic groups of Gedeo, Oromo, and Sidama have considerable indigenous and local ethnobotanical knowledge practices. Statistical analysis shown high variation in the acquisition of local ethnobotanical knowledge among age groups, which boosted our understanding of the effects of socio-demographic factors on the local ethnobotanical knowledge dynamics. Thus, this finding advocates for efforts to repair the observed generation gap via continued professional support and educating local communities to preserve traditional knowledge and practices through systematic documentation.

中文翻译：

---

社会人口因素对埃塞俄比亚中南部三个特定民族药用植物知识的影响

人们广泛探讨了社会人口变量的影响，以评估其对土著和当地民族植物学知识的影响。然而，在埃塞俄比亚进行的研究主要集中在农村地区。他们仅限于探索和记录民族植物学知识以及民族群体之间城乡交界地区社会人口变量的相关影响。因此，本研究旨在记录埃塞俄比亚中南部选定的三个民族中基于植物的土著和当地民族医学知识以及社会人口变量的相关影响。通过对 189 名关键知情人进行半结构化访谈、植物区系物种清查和实地观察来收集民族植物学数据。采用定量方法评估最重要的药用植物的使用价值（UV）、知情者共识因子（ICF）、保真度水平（FL）、相对流行水平（RPL）和排序优先级（ROP）。应用统计检验来评估社会人口因素的影响以及变量之间的关联对不同种族群体的当地民族植物学知识的影响。统计分析显示不同年龄组报告的药用植物平均数量存在显着差异（p < 0.05）。受访者的年龄和植物知识的获取之间也存在正相关。巴豆大穗属 Hochst。其中，ex Delile、Albizia gigmifera CASm.、Zingiber officinale Roscoe、Aloe macrocarpa Tod.、Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip.、Calpurnia aurea (Aiton) Benth、Allium sativum L.在族群中利用价值最高。在三个研究种族中，循环系统疾病的知情者共识因子值最高（0.68），其次是发热性疾病和生殖器官并发症（各 0.66）。FL、RPL 和 ROP 值最高的是 Lactuca inermis Forssk.、Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod.、Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal、Allium sativum L.、Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck、Ricinus communis L.、Schinus molle L.、Antiaris pestaria (JFGmel.) Lesch.、Brucea antidysenterica JFMill.、Echinops kebericho Mesfin、Ocimum jamesii Sebald、Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) CNPage、Searsia natalensis (Bernh. ex Krauss) FABarkley 和 Ricinus研究区域各族裔群体中的Communis L.，这表明物种治愈潜力及其普遍用途的知识是一致的。研究表明，吉德奥、奥罗莫和西达马等民族拥有相当多的土著和当地民族植物学知识实践。统计分析显示，不同年龄组对当地民族植物学知识的获取存在很大差异，这增强了我们对社会人口因素对当地民族植物学知识动态影响的理解。因此，