Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
BMJ Open. 2024 Jun 3;14(6):e079719. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079719.
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of indigenous herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
A facility-based cross-sectional study design.
The study was conducted in seven public health facilities (one referral hospital, three urban and three rural health centres) in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, from October to November 2022.
628 pregnant women of any gestational age who had been on ANC follow-up at selected public health facilities were included.
Prevalence of indigenous herbal medicine (users vs non-users) and associated factors.
The study revealed that 47.8% (95% CI 43.8% to 51.6%) of pregnant women used herbal medicines. Lack of formal education (adjusted OR, AOR 5.47, 95% CI 2.40 to 12.46), primary level (AOR 4.74, 95% CI 2.15 to 10.44), housewives (AOR 4.15, 95% CI 1.83 to 9.37), number of ANC visits (AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.27 to 5.25), insufficient knowledge (AOR 4.58, 95% CI 3.02 to 6.77) and favourable perception (AOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.77) were factors significantly associated with herbal medicine use. The most commonly used herbs were garden cress () (32%), bitter leaf () (25.2%), moringa () (24.%). indications were related to gastrointestinal problems, blood pressure and sugar.
The prevalence of herbal medicine use is high (one in two pregnant women) and significantly associated with education level, occupation, ANC visits, knowledge and perceptions. The study's findings are helpful in advancing comprehension of herbal medicines using status, types and enforcing factors. It is essential that health facilities provide herbal counselling during ANC visits, and health regulatory bodies ought to raise awareness and implement interventions to lower the risks from over-the-counter herbal medicine use by pregnant women.
本研究旨在调查埃塞俄比亚迪雷达瓦市公立卫生机构产前保健（ANC）孕妇中使用本土草药的流行情况及其相关因素。
基于设施的横断面研究设计。
本研究于 2022 年 10 月至 11 月在埃塞俄比亚迪雷达瓦的 7 个公立卫生机构（1 家转诊医院、3 家城市和 3 家农村医疗中心）进行。
纳入了在选定公立卫生机构接受 ANC 随访的任何孕龄的 628 名孕妇。
本土草药（使用者与非使用者）的流行情况及相关因素。
研究表明，47.8%（95%CI 43.8%至 51.6%）的孕妇使用草药。缺乏正规教育（调整后的 OR，AOR 5.47，95%CI 2.40 至 12.46）、小学学历（AOR 4.74，95%CI 2.15 至 10.44）、家庭主妇（AOR 4.15，95%CI 1.83 至 9.37）、ANC 就诊次数（AOR 2.58，95%CI 1.27 至 5.25）、知识不足（AOR 4.58，95%CI 3.02 至 6.77）和有利的认知（AOR 2.54，95%CI 1.71 至 3.77）与草药使用显著相关。最常使用的草药有西洋菜（）（32%）、苦叶（）（25.2%）、辣木（）（24%）。用途与胃肠道问题、血压和血糖有关。
草药使用率高（每两名孕妇中就有一名），且与教育水平、职业、ANC 就诊次数、知识和认知显著相关。该研究结果有助于深入了解草药使用的现状、类型和影响因素。卫生机构在 ANC 就诊期间提供草药咨询，以及卫生监管机构提高认识并实施干预措施，以降低孕妇自行购买和使用草药的风险，这一点至关重要。
