Prevalence of Herbal Medicine Use Among Pregnant Women in Zirobwe Health Centre III, Luwero District in Uganda.

Abstract

Background:

The prevalence of herbal medicine use is on the rise across the world, especially amongst pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of herbal medicine use among pregnant women in Zirobwe Health Center III, Luwero District in Uganda.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional research design was used on pregnant women aged between 18-38 years, selected using a simple random sampling method and questionnaires to collect data which was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results:

 All respondents 68(100%) used an herbal medicine during pregnancy, (58.8%) used herbal medicine mostly in the first 3 months of the pregnancy, (100%) sometimes used herbal medicine concurrently with conventional medicine, (97.1%) never disclosed herbal medicine used to the physician/health care provider. The most common condition was nausea and vomiting (95.5%), induce/enhance labor (91.1%), keep the baby healthy (88.3%), abdominal/waist pain (85.2%) and to boast or maintain health (73.5%). Reasons for using herbal medicine during pregnancy were; parental/relative advice (88.3%), safe during pregnancy (85.2%), cheaper than conventional medicine (73.5%), readily available (70.5%), used when conventional medicine fails (58.8%), complementing conventional medicine (47.1%), more effective than conventional medicine (44.1%), and being part of the culture to use it (26.4%). 

Conclusion and recommendations:

The use of herbal medicines in pregnancy was high and attention should be given to the education of pregnant women and the community as a whole on the potentials if any and side effects of traditional medicine use during pregnancy.