scholarly journals The Traditional Medicine Practitioner’s Concept of Cancer, Herbal medicine use and the Patients Perceived benefits (Clinical outcomes) in Selected Districts of Central Uganda: An Exploratory Study Protocol

Author(s):  
◽  
Prakash B. Nagendrappa ◽  
Esther C. Atukunda ◽  
Grace Nambozi ◽  
Casim U. Tolo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, herbal medicine for cancer is dispensed by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) to a large extent, who may not have adequate knowledge about the disease and this has been found to contribute to the late presentation of cancer patients to clinics and hospitals leading to poor patient outcomes.Aim: This study will investigate the traditional medicine practitioner's concept of cancer, its care, herbal medicine use, and the patients' perceived benefits (clinical outcomes) in selected districts of Central Uganda.Methods: This study will use a convergent parallel mixed-method design. TMPs claiming to treat cancer, with at least 10 years of experience will be recruited and interviewed about their understanding of cancer as a disease (grounded theory design) and the herbs used in cancer treatment (ethnobotanical survey). We will also conduct a prospective observational study to obtain the data on the perceived clinical outcomes of using herbal medicine. Adult patients (>18years) with a medical diagnosis of cancer signposted by TMPs will be recruited and followed up at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Study outcomes will include a change in the quality of life score, cancer symptoms score, perceived benefits score, and adverse reactions. The researcher will analyze qualitative data using Open, axial, selective coding techniques. We will analyze the quantitative data using descriptive statistics and results presented in frequencies, percentages and measures of central tendency (mean) where applicable. Additional analyzes such as bivariate (paired t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA), and multivariate (linear mixed effects model) analysis for the repeated measures data shall be undertaken to analyze the prospective observational data. P- Values of <0.05 will be considered statistically significant.Discussion: This study will aid researchers in further understanding the TMPs' conceptualization of cancer, how that links to the treatment dispensed to their patients, and ultimately the patient-perceived outcomes.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laban Muteebwa ◽  
Ali Ssetaala ◽  
Dan Muramuzi ◽  
Annet Nanvubya ◽  
Yunia Mayanja

Abstract BackgroundThere is widespread use of herbal medicines among populations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, pregnant women should be conscious about medication taken during pregnancy including herbal medicines because their safety profiles are not known and some of them might affect the mother, fetus and pregnancy outcomes. Knowledge about use and safety of herbs in pregnant women is limited. This study aimed to assess the extent of use and the factors associated with use of herbal medicine in pregnancy.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving 385 women 6 weeks post-partum and below, receiving post-natal services at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Western Uganda was conducted during May to August 2016. Simple random sampling was used to select participants. A structured pretested questionnaire was administered after written informed consent. Data was analyzed using logistic regression (STATA- 14).ResultsOf 385 respondents, 70.4% reported to have used herbal medicine during their most recent pregnancy. Associated factors were perception that herbal medicines are safe (aOR 9.8, 95% CI (4.2-23.0), perception that herbal medicines are important (aOR 12.4, 95% CI (5.2-29.5), staying more than 10KM from the heath facility (aOR 3.1, 95%CI (1.4-6.9), being a first time mother (aOR 2.6, 95%CI (1.1-6.2) and dissatisfaction with ANC services at health facility (aOR 2.6, 95%CI (1.1-6.3)ConclusionHerbal medicine use in pregnancy is common in the study area. Community Sensitization drives about the dangers of herbal medicine use in pregnancy is recommended. Healthcare workers should routinely screen for herbal medicine use during antenatal care visits and labor.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Bourhia ◽  
Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat ◽  
Omer Mohammed Almarfadi ◽  
Fahd Ali Naser ◽  
Wael Mostafa Abdelmageed ◽  
...  

Medicinal plants played an important role in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases since antiquities. The aim of the study is to carry out an ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants used traditionally in cancer treatment in the region of Greater Casablanca-Morocco, and to enhance the traditional herbal medicine knowledge. 110 traditional healers in the study area were interviewed face to face to response a survey questionnaire including the names of plants used in cancer treatment, used parts, methods of preparation, and route of administration. Indices of Fidelity Level (FL), Use Value (UV), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated to identify the most effective plants used for cancer treatment. Eight species were specified including Aristolochia baetica, Aristolochia paucinervis, Bryonia dioica, Aquilaria malaccensis, Marrubium vulgare, Lavandula maroccana, Ephedra alata, and Euphorbia resinifera belonging to 7 families. Aristolochiaceae, Aquilariaceae, and Cucurbitaceae were the most useful families in cancer treatment with high significant indices of UV, FL, and RFC with values of 1, 100%, and 1, respectively. Roots and leaves were the most commonly used plant parts. Decoction and powder mixed with honey were the frequently used method for remedies preparation. The present study showed that the people living in Morocco’s economic capital are still highly dependent on traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, it seems that herbal medicine still plays a crucial role in the primary healthcare system for the local population. During this survey, it was reported that even some plant families are highly toxic for humans like Aristolochiaceae that are frequently used in cancer treatment in the study area. As many people still rely on natural traditional medicine considering (it is safe with no side effects), so combined effort between all social categories including scientists and traditional healers should be established for involving the scientific validity of the used plants in the treatment of diseases.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1395-1405
Author(s):  
Eve Namisango ◽  
Nickhill Bhakta ◽  
Joanne Wolfe ◽  
Michael J. McNeil ◽  
Richard A. Powell ◽  
...  

PURPOSE The burden of cancer disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. Low 5-year survival figures for children with cancer in low-income countries are due to late presentation at diagnosis, treatment abandonment, absence of sophisticated multidisciplinary care, and lack of adequate resources. The reasons for late presentation are partly due to limited awareness of cancer symptoms, high treatment costs, and facility-level barriers to timely access to treatment. Given the systemic challenges, the regional need for palliative oncology care for children care is high. Despite the enormity of the need for palliative oncology for children with cancer in Africa, its level of development remains poor. This paper presents the evidence on the status of palliative oncology care for children in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS This review provides an overview of the current status of palliative oncology care for children in sub-Saharan Africa, using the WHO building blocks for health systems strengthening as reference points, before proposing a forward-looking prioritized agenda for its development. RESULTS We noted that survival rates for children with cancer remain much poorer in Africa compared with developed countries and palliative oncology care resources are scant. Our results also show low coverage for palliative oncology care services for children, lack of a critical mass of health workers with the skills to deliver the care, a lack of robust documentation of the burden of cancer, widespread lack of access to essential controlled medicines, limited funding from government and limited coverage for palliative oncology care in most cancer control plans. CONCLUSION This review highlights priority areas for action that align to the WHO health system building blocks for strengthening health systems.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bai James ◽  
Lexina Taidy-Leigh ◽  
Abdulai Jawo Bah ◽  
Joseph Sam Kanu ◽  
Jia Bainga Kangbai ◽  
...  

In resource-poor countries where access to infertility care is limited, women may turn to traditional medicine to achieve motherhood. It is unknown whether Sierra Leonean women with such condition use herbal medicine. This study investigates the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use among women seeking care for infertility. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among women seeking care for infertility at various clinics within Freetown, Sierra Leone. Data analysis included Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Out of the 167 women that participated, 36.5% used herbal medicine for infertility treatment. Women with no formal (AOR 4.03, CL: 1.38–11.76, p=0.011), primary education (AOR: 6.23, CL: 2.02–19.23, p=0.001) and those that visited a traditional medicine practitioner (AOR: 20.05, CL: 2.10–192.28, p=0.009) as well as women suffering from other reproductive health problems (AOR: 2.57, CL: 1.13–5.83, p=0.024) were more likely to use herbal medicines. Friends and family (n=57, 96.7%) were the main influencers of herbal medicine use. Only (n=12) 19.7% of users disclosed their status to their healthcare provider. Over half (n=32, 52.5%) could not remember the name of the herb they used. Luffa acutangula (n=29, 100%) was the herbal medicinal plant users could recall. Herbal medicine use among women seeking care for infertility in Freetown is common. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential dyadic use of herbal and allopathic medicines by their patients and be knowledgeable about commonly used herbal remedies as well as being proactive in communicating the potential risks and benefits associated with their use.


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Liwa ◽  
Luke R. Smart ◽  
Amara Frumkin ◽  
Helen-Ann B. Epstein ◽  
Daniel W. Fitzgerald ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Faizah Wardhina ◽  
Fakhriyah Fakhriyah ◽  
Rusdiana Rusdiana

ABSTRACT Introduction: Traditional Medicine is a natural ingredient which is well known and believed by people as a mild treatment used in maintenance of health and in the prevention of illnes and well being. People in in Sungai Kitano still utilize that culture, include traditional medicine for postpartum maternal. Aims: This study aimed to know about desciption of behaviour in using traditional medicine among post partum maternal at Sungai Kitano Village. Method: The study aimed to determine the behavior of traditional medicine use for postpartum mothers in the Sungai Kitano Village By using descriptive type of research, the sample in this study were mothers who were postpartum and who had postpartum not more than 3 years and lived in the Sungai Kitano Village. Sample are 48 peoples, using total population. Result: Postpartum maternal who use traditional medicine during the puerperal period as much as (95.83%), types of traditional medicine that are widely used: herbal medicine 37 people (77.08%), a rajangan form of traditional medicine that is widely used: 28 people (58, 33%), the most widely used by drinking 31 people (64.58%), the most reason for using traditional medicine because of the customs / habits of their parents are 28 people (62.5%),who feels the benefit are 46 people (95.83%),and who has no side effects: 42 people (86.95%). Conclusion:Post Partum maternal in Sungai Kitano Village mostly use traditional medicine in rajangan form, which is drank because of the customs / habits of their parents and had felt its benefit. Suggested for maternal who is using traditional medicine for paying attention in how to use, especially in the process of making in order to keep its cleaning.


Author(s):  
Ezzan Kunna ◽  
Taro Yamamoto ◽  
Ahmed Fahal

Abstract Background Mycetoma patients frequently present with advanced disease, the cause of which is multi-factorial, but the use of traditional medicine modalities has been shown to be an important one. Traditional medicine is an integral part of the Sudanese culture and many mycetoma patients revert to it because it is accessible, cheap and available. Methods To confirm this anecdotal observation, the pattern and characteristics of traditional medicine use among a group of mycetoma patients seen at the Mycetoma Research Center in Khartoum, Sudan, were studied. Results In this descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study, 389 mycetoma-confirmed patients were included. All of them had used traditional medicine at some stage of their mycetoma treatment. Among them, 66% had first consulted traditional healers for mycetoma treatment. In this study, 58% had consulted religious healers known as fakis, while the majority (72%) of those who consulted specialist healers had consulted herbalists. The most frequent type of traditional medicine received by patients from religious healers was al-azima (31%) and the most common treatment given by the specialist healers was herbal medicine (46%). Conclusion Traditional medicine can lead to a delay in seeking medical care and serious complications. Collaboration with traditional healers, and training and educating them to refer mycetoma patients to specialised centres is vital to ensure that they receive proper treatment in a timely and efficient manner.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Liwa ◽  
Rebecca Roediger ◽  
Hyasinta Jaka ◽  
Amina Bougaila ◽  
Luke Smart ◽  
...  

Background. Hypertension is increasingly common in sub-Saharan Africa where traditional medicine use is also common. We conducted a hospital-based, mixed-methods study to determine prevalence, pattern, and correlates of herbal and alternative medicine use in Tanzanian adults hospitalized with hypertension. Methods. A standardized questionnaire was administered. In-depth interviews were performed on a subset of participants. Factors associated with herbal medicine use were determined by logistic regression. The association between traditional medicine uses and allopathic medication adherence was determined using ordinal logistic regression. Qualitative data were analyzed according to grounded theory. Results. Of 213 adults enrolled, 52 (24.4%) reported using herbs during the previous month and 47 (22.1%) reported concurrent use of herbs and allopathic medicines. Lower educational level, nonprofessional employment, and lack of health insurance were significantly associated with herbal medicine use. Alternative medicines use was not associated with lower medication adherence. Qualitative interviews identified several important themes including reasons for herbal medicine use. Conclusion. The use of traditional medicines is very common among patients with hypertension. Adults from low socioeconomic status, those with misunderstandings about hypertension, and those without health insurance were more likely to take herbs. Open, nonjudgmental communication between healthcare workers and patients regarding use of traditional medicines must be encouraged in Africa.


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