A cross-sectional study to determine the use of alternative medicines during pregnancy in the district hospitals in Manicaland, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Background: Traditional medicines are widely used in the rapidly growing health system and are of economic importance. The study aimed at determining the frequency, pattern of use and factors that influence traditional medicines use during pregnancy.
 Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at four district hospitals in Manicaland, Zimbabwe, using questionnaire based convenience sampling.
 Results: Traditional medicines use was found to be high with 54% (n = 337) of pregnant women using traditional medicines during pregnancy. The major purpose of use of traditional medicine was found to be preparation for delivery; cervical dila- tion in particular. The following factors showed a significant statistical association for use of traditional medicines: previous mode of delivery (p = 0.006), level of education (p = 0.016), family income (p = 0.007), and residential settlement (p = 0.026). Some of the common traditional medicines used during pregnancy include Camellia sinensis, Aloe, Spirostachys Africana, Thumbergia lancifolia, Dalbergiella nyasae, Steganotaenia oraliacea, Stomatostemma monteiroae and Cussonia arborea.
 Conclusion: A number of pregnant women use traditional medicines as partus preparators (labour aids) throughout the entire pregnancy period. This calls for obstetricians, general practitioners and midwives to inquire about use of traditional medicine in history.
 Keywords: Traditional medicines; pregnancy; Zimbabwe.

Exploring traditional medicine utilisation during antenatal care among women in Bulilima District of Plumtree in Zimbabwe

“…Findings denote that marital status, Tribe, Level of education, employment status, and place of delivery were not significantly associated with traditional medicine utilisation. Studies conducted in Zimbabwe concur with our findings that religion is not related to the use of TMs during pregnancy 34 .…”

Medicinal plants used for the management of respiratory diseases in Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives potential management of COVID-19

“…Several scientific papers were reviewed based on ethno-botanical surveys of different areas of Zimbabwe and are presented in the sections below. Although the numbers could be higher, there is increasing knowledge on the use of plant based medicines and these have been documented ( Gelfand et al, 1985 ; Kambizi and Afolayan, 2001 ; Dombo et al, 2002 ; Mapaura and Timberlake, 2004 ; Chigora et al, 2007 ; Shoko, 2007 ; Shumba et al, 2009 ; Matongo, 2012 ; Mukamuri and Kozanayi, 2014 ; Bhebhe et al, 2015 ; Maroyi and Cheikhyoussef, 2015 ; Ngarivhume et al, 2015 ; Maroyi, 2008 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012a , 2012b , 2013a , 2017c , 2018c ; Dimene et al, 2020 ).…”

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Use of herbal, complementary and alternative medicines among pregnant women in Makoni District, Zimbabwe

“…Research by the United Nations Population Fund showed that maternal death in Zimbabwe is 614 per 100000 live births (UNFPA, 2015). Research by Choguya (2014), Mawoza et al (2019) and Dimene et al (2020) showed that the traditional birth attendants (TBA) are still attending many pregnant women in Zimbabwe. The World Health Organization defines TBA as "a person who assists the mother during childbirth and initially acquired her skills by delivering babies herself or through apprenticeship to other TBAs" (WHO, 1992).…”