scholarly journals Prevalence and Correlates of Herbal Medicine Use among Women Seeking Care for Infertility in Freetown, Sierra Leone

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bai James ◽  
Lexina Taidy-Leigh ◽  
Abdulai Jawo Bah ◽  
Joseph Sam Kanu ◽  
Jia Bainga Kangbai ◽  
...  

In resource-poor countries where access to infertility care is limited, women may turn to traditional medicine to achieve motherhood. It is unknown whether Sierra Leonean women with such condition use herbal medicine. This study investigates the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use among women seeking care for infertility. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among women seeking care for infertility at various clinics within Freetown, Sierra Leone. Data analysis included Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Out of the 167 women that participated, 36.5% used herbal medicine for infertility treatment. Women with no formal (AOR 4.03, CL: 1.38–11.76, p=0.011), primary education (AOR: 6.23, CL: 2.02–19.23, p=0.001) and those that visited a traditional medicine practitioner (AOR: 20.05, CL: 2.10–192.28, p=0.009) as well as women suffering from other reproductive health problems (AOR: 2.57, CL: 1.13–5.83, p=0.024) were more likely to use herbal medicines. Friends and family (n=57, 96.7%) were the main influencers of herbal medicine use. Only (n=12) 19.7% of users disclosed their status to their healthcare provider. Over half (n=32, 52.5%) could not remember the name of the herb they used. Luffa acutangula (n=29, 100%) was the herbal medicinal plant users could recall. Herbal medicine use among women seeking care for infertility in Freetown is common. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential dyadic use of herbal and allopathic medicines by their patients and be knowledgeable about commonly used herbal remedies as well as being proactive in communicating the potential risks and benefits associated with their use.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Mohamad Aljofan ◽  
Suhaib Alkhamaiseh

Objectives: The increasing prevalence of herbal medicine use is a global public health concern. Critically, many women continue to use herbal medicines during pregnancy despite potential maternofetal risks. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2017. An Arabic-language 33-item survey assessing herbal medicine use was designed and distributed to 879 random women attending outpatient clinics at governmental and private hospitals in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Only women who were pregnant or had been pregnant in the previous 10 years were included. Results: The mean age of the participants was 29.5 years, with 49% under 30 years old. Overall, 33% of the respondents claimed to have used herbal medicines during pregnancy. The most common reasons for doing so were to improve lactation (73%), improve the course of the pregnancy (56%) and facilitate labour (49%). Women who worked full-time and those with high school diplomas or above were significantly more likely to use herbal medicines during pregnancy (P <0.001 each). Conclusion: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to determine the prevalence and associated factors of herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Hail. The results showed a high prevalence of herbal medicine use among pregnant women in the region. Healthcare providers should therefore ensure that patients disclose the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy to avoid treatment complications or adverse herb-drug interactions.Keywords: Herbal Medicine; Plant Preparations; Pregnancy; Complementary Therapies; Health Behaviors; Prevalence; Herb-Drug Interactions; Saudi Arabia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30
Author(s):  
Mohammed W. Al-Rabia ◽  
Hani Z. Asfour

Background: Herbal remedies became common in both developed and developing countries although it is more prevalent in the latter. It is considered as a natural, acceptable, safe alternative to routine medicines. Objectives: This study aims to determine the extent and the character of herbal medicine use among Saudis in Jeddah and to identify the reasons behind its use and perceptions about its therapeutic outcome. Subjects and Methods: This comparative cross sectional study was conducted in randomly selected three primary health care centers in south Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over two consecutive weeks in 2016 by using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16.Results: Three hundred Saudis participated in the study with mean age (25 ± 11.4) year. 70% of the participants were using herbs in the past with 70% of them having used it for the treatment of acute conditions. A high significant prevalence of herbal use was recognized among the older age group (86.20%), females (87.50%), and people with low educational levels (83.40%). Myrrh (57.10%), ginger (50.40%), and black seeds (42.80%) were the most commonly used herbs by the participants. The most common reasons behind herbal use as a medication were accessibility (50%) and family and friends recommendation (50%). Conclusion: Herbal medicine use is considered common among Saudi citizens in Jeddah, especially among the older age, females and low educational levels and these groups should be targeted with orientation programs about the eff ectiveness, benefi ts and side effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205031212097800
Author(s):  
Damtew Asrat ◽  
Atsede Alle ◽  
Bekalu Kebede ◽  
Bekalu Dessie

Background: Over the last 100 years, the development and mass production of chemically synthesized drugs have revolutionized health care in most parts of the world. However, large sections of the population in developing countries still depend on traditional medicines for their primary health care needs. More than 88% of Ethiopian parents use different forms of traditional medicine for their children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors associated with parental traditional medicine use for children in Fagita Lekoma Woreda. Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 30 March 2019 in Fagita Lekoma Woreda. Data collection tool was a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data. Odds ratio and binary and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Results: Among 858 participants, 71% of parents had used traditional medicine for their children within the last 12 months. Parents who cannot read and write (adjusted odds ratio = 6.42, 95% confidence interval = 2.1–19.7), parents with low monthly income (adjusted odds ratio = 4.38, 95% confidence interval = 1.58–12.1), and those who had accesses to traditional medicine (adjusted odds ratio = 2.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.23–3.98) were more likely to use traditional medicine for their children. Urban residents (adjusted odds ratio = 0.20, 95% confidence interval = 0.11–0.38) and members of community-based health insurance (adjusted odds ratio = 0.421, 95% confidence interval = 0.211–0.84) were less likely to use traditional medicine for their children. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the prevalence of traditional medicine remains high. Educational status, monthly income, residence, accessibility to traditional medicine, and being a member of community-based health insurance were predictors of potential traditional medicine use. Therefore, the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine should be strengthened. Community education and further study on efficacy and safety of traditional medicines should be also given great attention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansoor Ahmed ◽  
Hyea Bin Im ◽  
Jung Hye Hwang ◽  
Dongwoon Han

Abstract Background Pregnant women’s disclosure of herbal medicine (HM) use to their health care providers during pregnancy is crucial, as misuse of HM can have a detrimental effect on both pregnant woman and the fetus. However, the lack of disclosure of HM use to physicians remains a public health concern in developing countries such as Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 postpartum women admitted at Maternity and Women’s Hospital located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The survey instrument included 30 questions on the use of HM during pregnancy, sociodemographic and health characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. Chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted for data analysis using SPSS ver. 21.0., and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results 60.3% of respondents used at least one herbal remedy during their previous pregnancy, and the overall disclosure rate of HM use to healthcare providers was 54.6%. Women with secondary education level and four or more antenatal care visits were more likely to disclose their HM use to healthcare providers. Conclusions This study highlights that despite the popular use of HM among pregnant women in Nepal, most women obtained HM-related information from informal sources and did not disclose their HM use to physicians. To ensure the safe use of HM, physicians should integrate questions regarding patients’ HM use into their routine patient assessments to facilitate active communication and improve the quality of care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 410-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Lima Melro ◽  
S. A. Fonseca ◽  
J. M. Silva Júnior ◽  
S. P. B. Franco ◽  
M. A. Souza ◽  
...  

Abstract This study aimed to assess diagnosis of Unique Health System (SUS) users profile with regard to herbal medicine. This is a cross-sectional study with observational data collection conducted in the city of Marechal Deodoro, through a semi-structured questionnaire with questions related to socioeconomic data, use, and knowledge of medicinal plants and herbal medicines and satisfaction with the use of medicinal herbs (MH) and interactions of phytotherapeutic drugs (PD). Among the topics, 86.89% of users used herbal medicines often, especially lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.). It was also observed that the plants are generally used as a sedative (21.74%) and as tea (87.84%). 82.32% of respondents claim to have acquired the knowledge of herbal medicine through a family member and 85.36% make use of medicinal plants without having received any information on the use of MH and PD. 61% of the plants described that coincided with the form of use and therapeutic properties found in the literature. With regard to satisfaction by treatment with MH and PD, it was found that 56.67% are satisfied. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to this aspect of usage, in order to avoid possible drug interactions or adverse reactions resulting from the incorrect use.


Author(s):  
Babajide J. Ogunrinde ◽  
Adedotun A. Adetunji ◽  
Sufiyan A. Muyibi ◽  
Joshua O. Akinyemi

Background: Although shreds of evidence are emerging to show the role of illness perceptions in the health outcomes of patients, most of the previous studies have been on single chronic conditions.Aim: To assess the illness perceptions and the associated factors amongst adults with multimorbidity.Setting: General outpatient clinics of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a systematic sample of 403 adults with multimorbidity. Data on illness perception and other variables were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t-test and analysis of variance were employed for analyses.Results: The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 97 years, with a mean of 60.9 years (standard deviation [s.d.] ± 14.3 years). The majority of participants (57.3%) were women. Ninety-four (23.3%) respondents had only two morbid conditions, whilst 31.2% had at least four morbid conditions. Prioritisation sub-domain of illness perception recorded the highest score (mean = 2.0, s.d. ± 0.8), whilst the treatment burden sub-domain was the lowest (mean = 0.8, s.d. ± 0.7). A significant bivariate relationship was observed between emotional representation (p = 0.001), prioritisation (p = 0.013) and causal relationship (p = 0.013) sub-domains and age group of study participants. Emotional burden associated with illnesses declined as educational level increased (p = 0.039).Conclusion: Patient’s characteristics such as age, education and the number of morbidities are associated with illness perception. Healthcare providers should pay attention to these factors whilst addressing illness perception as a way to achieve better clinical outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
Arebu Issa Bilal ◽  
Bruck Messele ◽  
Dawit Teshome ◽  
Zelalem Tilahun ◽  
Teferi Gedif Fenta

In spite of an increase in the health service coverage of the country, studies reported that significant proportion of the Ethiopian population still relies on traditional medicine, particularly on the herbal aspect, for their healthcare. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of the concomitant use of herbal medicines with modern antiretroviral medicines and identify the commonly used herbs among patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2017 among HIV/AIDS patients in five hospitals selected from four regions and one city Administration (Addis Ababa). A total of 768 HIV/AIDS patients were successfully interviewed and included in the analysis. Most 480 (62.5%) of them were on tenofovir-disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus lamivudine (3TC)and efavirenz (EFV) regimen. Two hundred nineteen (28.5%) patients reported that they had used herbal medicines to treat their illness; of these 145 (66.2%) used herbal products along with modern medicine. Of those who reported to have used herbal medicine with modern medicine, 53 (40.8%) claimed that they took the herbal medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, while 51(39.2%) used for treating co-morbid diseases. Only 33 (15.0%) of those who used herbal medicines along with modern drugs discussed the issue either with their physicians or pharmacists. A total of 31 plant species were reported to be used for the treatment as well as alleviation of symptoms associated with the disease. The most commonly cited herbal medicines that  have been used by HIV/AIDS patients to treat their comorbid diseases were Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. (Moringaceae) (35.6%) followed by Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. (Lamiaceae) (18.0%), Zheneria scabra Sond. (Cucurbitaceae) (7.2%), Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae) (5.7%), and Ruta chalapensis L. (Rutaceae) (5.7%). The study revealed that close to one-third of HIV/AIDS patients interviewed reported use of herbal medicine and almost two-thirds of them did so concomitantly with modern medicine. Only small percentage of the patients who used herbal medicines along with modern drugs disclose the use either to their treating physicians or to counselling pharmacists. Practitioners involved in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics, therefore, need to inquire information related to the use of herbal medicines and accordingly advise the patients. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, medicinal plant, cross-sectional study, concomitant use, Ethiopia  


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e035217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Secor ◽  
Rose Macauley ◽  
Laurentiu Stan ◽  
Meba Kagone ◽  
Sidibe Sidikiba ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo describe the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety among adult Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.DesignCross-sectional.SettingOne-on-one surveys were conducted in EVD-affected communities in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in early 2018.Participants1495 adult EVD survivors (726 male, 769 female).Primary and secondary outcome measuresPatient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scores and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scores.ResultsPrevalence and severity of depression and anxiety varied across the three countries. Sierra Leone had the highest prevalence of depression, with 22.0% of participants meeting the criteria for a tentative diagnosis of depression, compared with 20.2% in Liberia and 13.0% in Guinea. Sierra Leone also showed the highest prevalence of anxiety, with 10.7% of participants meeting criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7 score ≥10), compared with 9.9% in Liberia and 4.2% in Guinea. Between one-third and one-half of respondents reported little interest or pleasure in doing things in the previous 2 weeks (range: 47.0% in Liberia to 37.6% in Sierra Leone), and more than 1 in 10 respondents reported ideation of self-harm or suicide (range: 19.4% in Sierra Leone to 10.4% in Guinea). Higher depression and anxiety scores were statistically significantly associated with each other and with experiences of health facility-based stigma in all three countries. Other associations between mental health scores and respondent characteristics varied across countries.ConclusionsOur results indicate that both depression and anxiety are common among EVD survivors in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, but that there is country-level heterogeneity in prevalence, severity and correlates of these conditions. All three countries should work to make mental health services available for survivors, and governments and organisations should consider the intersection between EVD-related stigma and mental health when designing programmes and training healthcare providers.


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