Herbal Medicine Use highly practiced during Pregnancy Among Women: Study

The aim of the study by Hailemikael Gebrekidan and Gebregziabher Kidanemariam was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of herbal medicine use during pregnancy among women attending antenatal care in public health institutions of central Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 01 to May 15, 2020. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data manager version 7.2.5 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Both binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to assess the associated factors. Variables with p value less the 0.2 in bivariate analysis were transferred to multivariate analysis, and variables with p value ≤ 0.05 were considered as significant.

Out of the total 333 respondents, making a response rate of 100%, 176 (52.9%) used herbal medicine during current pregnancy. The most common medicines used during pregnancy were garlic (59.4%) and ginger (51.7%). Occupation that is housewife had educational status (AOR = 11.816, 95% CI 1.848–35.535), illiterate (AOR = 1.886, 95% CI 1.586–2.241), residency/rural (AOR = 2.905, 95% CI 1.173–7.197), and average monthly income less than 500 Ethiopian birrs (AOR = 7.621, 95% CI 2.691–21.585) were factors that are significantly associated with the use of herbal medicine during pregnancy.

In Ethiopia and other developing countries, as well as in this study area, herbal medicine use during pregnancy is a major health problem. The study result shows that out of the total of 333 pregnant women, 176 (52.9%) and 99 (56.3%) had used herbal medicine during current pregnancy and during their first trimester, respectively. Educational status, monthly income, employed occupation, and residency had significant association with herbal medicine use during pregnancy.

The magnitude of herbal medicine uses during pregnancy in this study is high. Occupation, residence, average monthly income, and educational level were associated with herbal medicine uses during current pregnancy in this study. Out of the users, most of the respondents did not inform their health care provider. Therefore, behavioral change communication and information (BCC) is very important. There is need to educate and counsel pregnant women on the harmful effects of herbal medicine use during pregnancy by the health care personnel and health extension worker.

Source: Hailemikael Gebrekidan and Gebregziabher Kidanemariam; Wiley Journal of Pregnancy Volume 2024, Article ID 9932851, 8 pageshttps://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9932851