Predictors of Herbal Medicine Use amongst Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in an Urban Setting in Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is currently a major global public health burden associated with elevated blood glucose. The use of herbal medicine in the management of type 2 diabetes is currently on the rise both in developed and developing countries. This study sets out to determine the prevalence of herbal medicine use and to identify the factors associated with herbal medicine use amongst type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study involves 123 adults living with type 2 diabetes (90 males and 30 females), mean age 58.7 ± 9.5 years in the Bamenda III health district of the North West Region of Cameroon. Data on the different types of herbs used, frequency and mode of herbal medicine use as well as reasons for using herbal medicines in the management of T2DM were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric and diabetes related measurements were carried out following standard procedures. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of herbal medicine use. Results: The prevalence of herbal medicine use was 24.4% (n = 30) amongst which 37.4 % used both herbs and orthodox medicine. A higher proportion of diabetic males used herbal medicines compared to females and this difference was significant (X 2 = 5.243, p < 0.027). Also, a higher proportion of patients who had attained secondary/tertiary education used herbal medicine compared to those who had attained only primary education and this difference was significant (X 2 = 10.75, p = 0.005). The most commonly used herbs were Vernonia amygdalina leaves (19.10%), Aloe vera (13.48%), Mangifera indica leaves (11.24%) including its bark and Carica papaya leaves (8.99%). Bivariate analysis indicated that being male (OR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.14 -6.79) and having attained secondary/tertiary education

Prevalence and Determinants of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use Among Subjects with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in a Tertiary Institution in South East Nigeria

“…Egypt24 , 24.4% in Cameroun25 , 53% in South Africa26 , 33% in Guinea27 , 12.4% in Kenya28 , and 77.1% in Tanzania29 . Other studies around the world showed varying prevalence of CAM use ranging from 8% to 70% and above, depending on the country.…”