Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Level 8, Building 10, 235-253 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Women Birth. 2018 Oct;31(5):e302-e309. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.12.006. Epub 2017 Dec 16.
The influence of complementary therapies on maternal health has attracted the attention of policy makers, health professionals and researchers globally especially in developing countries. However, there is lack of evidence on whether Sierra Leonean women use herbal medicine during pregnancy which limit the chance of providing better maternity care.
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and pattern of herbal medicines use among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at a tertiary maternal hospital in Sierra Leone.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women (n=134) who were at least 18 years of age and who have had at least one previous pregnancy, using face to face interview. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis.
The response rate was 82.7%. Nearly two-thirds of pregnant women reported using herbal medicine (62.7%). Herbal medicine users were more likely to be Muslim than Christian. Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb was the most cited herbal medicine used and was mostly indicated for urinary tract infection and pedal oedema. Perceived effectiveness and safety over conventional medicine (70.2%) was key driver for use, and majority did not disclose their use of herbs to their maternal health professional (95.2%).
Herbal medicine use among pregnant women in this study was widespread. Maternal health providers should be aware of this relatively common practice and routinely discuss and educate pregnant women on the potential risks and benefits associated with the use of herbs.
补充疗法对产妇健康的影响引起了政策制定者、卫生专业人员和研究人员的关注，尤其是在发展中国家。然而，由于缺乏塞拉利昂妇女在怀孕期间是否使用草药的证据，这限制了提供更好的产妇护理的机会。
本研究旨在确定在塞拉利昂一家三级妇产医院的产前诊所就诊的孕妇使用草药的流行率和模式。
采用面对面访谈的方式，对至少 18 岁且至少有一次既往妊娠的孕妇（n=134）进行了横断面研究。采用描述性统计、单变量和多变量逻辑回归分析进行数据分析。
应答率为 82.7%。近三分之二的孕妇报告使用了草药（62.7%）。草药使用者更有可能是穆斯林而不是基督徒。丝瓜（Luffa acutangula（L.）Roxb）是最常被引用的草药，主要用于治疗尿路感染和足肿。与传统药物相比，草药被认为更有效且更安全（70.2%），是使用的主要驱动因素，大多数孕妇并未向其孕产妇保健专业人员透露她们使用草药（95.2%）。
本研究中孕妇使用草药的情况较为普遍。孕产妇保健提供者应意识到这一相对常见的做法，并定期与孕妇讨论和教育她们使用草药的潜在风险和益处。
