Herbal Medicine Use highly practiced during Pregnancy Among Women: Study
Herbal medicine is described by the World Health
Organization (WHO) as plant-derived compounds, either raw or processed, that
are thought to have therapeutic advantages. Herbal medication is becoming more
and more popular worldwide, particularly during pregnancy. The WHO estimates
that 80% of people utilize herbal remedies. In Ethiopia, grandmothers and
grandfathers frequently use herbal medicine at home to treat common health
issues. Instead of using medically proven treatments during their pregnancy,
the majority of expectant mothers trust herbal remedies.
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
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