Prevalence and patterns of prenatal use of traditional medicine among women at selected harare clinics: a cross-sectional study

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Charles C Maponga¹  Tsitsi G Monera¹  Dudzai D Mureyi¹ 

[1] Drug and Toxicology Information Service, University of Zimbabwe School of Medicine, Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe

关键词: Prevalence;    Prenatal;    Traditional medicine;   

Others  :  1231994
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6882-12-164

 received in 2011-12-27, accepted in 2012-09-21,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Prenatal use of traditional medicine or complementary and alternative medicine is widespread globally despite the lack of evidence of the effectiveness of these therapeutic options. Documentation on the prevalence and patterns of this maternal practice in the Zimbabwean setting was also lacking.

Methods

A cross sectional survey of 248 women at selected health centres in Harare was carried out to address the need for such data using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Results

Fifty-two (52%) (95% C.I. 44%-60%) of the participants reported to have used at least one traditional medicine intervention during the third trimester of their most recent pregnancy to induce labour, avoid perineal tearing and improve the safety of their delivery process. The study found prenatal use of traditional medicine to be significantly associated with nulliparity and nulligravidity. Such practice was also significant among participants residing in a particular high density suburb located in close proximity to informal traders of traditional medicines. Prenatal traditional medicine use was not significantly linked to experiencing an obstetrics-related adverse event. Instead, participants who reported not using any traditional medicine during pregnancy reported experiencing significantly more adverse events, mainly perineal tearing during delivery.

Conclusions

The practice of prenatal use of traditional medicine was significant in the study setting, with a prevalence of 52%. A variety of products were used in various dosage forms for differing indications. Nulliparity, nulligavidity and possible accessibility of these products were the factors significantly associated with prenatal use of traditional medicine. Prenatal use of traditional medicine was not significantly associated with any obstetric adverse event.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Mureyi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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