Herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Lusaka Province, Zambia: A cross-sectional, multicentre study

• Published in: Complementary therapies in clinical practice Vol. 40; p. 101218
• Main Authors: El Hajj, Magalie, Sitali, Doreen Chilolo, Vwalika, Bellington, Holst, Lone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Clinics; Common colds; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drugs; Female; Health behavior; Health status; Herbal medicine; Herbalism; Herbs; Humans; Lusaka Province; Maternal characteristics; Maternal health; Multicenter studies; Nausea; Nursing; Phytotherapy - methods; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Public health; Regression analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vomiting; Womens health; Young Adult; Zambia; Zambia - epidemiology; Zambia; Herbal medicine; Lusaka Province; Pregnancy; Zambia; Maternal health
• ISSN: 1744-3881; 1873-6947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101218

The study of herbal medicine (HM) use which is related to maternal health, a public health priority in many sub-Saharan African countries including Zambia, has been limited. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of HM use during pregnancy in Lusaka Province, Zambia. A survey-based (interviewer-administered), cross-sectional, multicentre study was conducted in 446 adult pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in June/July 2019. Overall, 57.8% of participants reported using HM during their current pregnancy, with a mean of 2.0 ± 1.5 remedies/woman. Logistic regression analysis showed that HM use was significantly associated with HM use in prior pregnancies (p < 0.001) and willingness to use HM in the future (p < 0.001). The most commonly used herbs were lemon for nausea/vomiting and common cold, soybean to boost energy, ginger for common cold and nausea/vomiting, and Aloe vera for skin care. The perceived safety of HM (37.6%) and its complementary action with conventional medicines (35.3%) were the main reasons for HM use. HM use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Lusaka Province, Zambia is common, and a wide range of herbs is used. •Herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Lusaka Province, Zambia was widespread, at a prevalence of 57.8%.•More than 40 herbal remedies were cited in the present study, with the most commonly used herbs during pregnancy being lemon, soybean, ginger, and Aloe vera.•More than two-thirds of users did not disclose their herbal medicine use to health care providers.•Health care providers should routinely discuss and educate pregnant women on potential risks and benefits associated with herbal medicine use.