Assessment of effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine in managing HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa

Abstract Background: Current research indicates that chronic kidney disease is a global problem which poses a major health threat to people of poor countries who have HIV/AIDS and are on antiretroviral treatment. In this study, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and the factors associated with it were investigated among the HIV/AIDS patients in a rural community of South Africa. Methods: A cohort of HIV+ terminal ill patients was retrospectively followed from 2010 to 2017 until chronic kidney disease was diagnosed or until the end of the observation period at two hospitals (Carolina and Embhuleni). Patient information was obtained from the routine hospitals’ records, and the data were analysed using logistic regression and survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier hazard functions and ratios, and log-rank tests) methods. Results: Out of a random sample of 357 HIV/AIDS patients, 53 patients (14.85%) had chronic kidney disease. The factors associated with chronic kidney disease were: Gender (p-value<0.0024); Age (p-value<0.0420); Baseline creatinine (p-value<0.0116); Baseline alanine transaminase (p-value<0.0111); Treatment regimen 1 (p-value<0.0001); ART adherence (poor, fair, good) (p-value<0.0005); Hospital (p-value<0.0001); and Lost to follow-up (ye, no) (p-value<0.0069). Discussion: Whilst antiretroviral treatment is associated with some improvement in virology and immunology in HIV-infected patients, research is still needed for the assessment of the impact of ART and other risk factors on renal function in marginalised communities in Africa. Conclusion: The research findings on HIV+ patients in Albert Luthuli Municipality concurred with several previous research findings on risk factors to CKD. The expected action to alleviate the health threat due to CKD in South Africa is to educate the nation on prevention, early detection and on the management of the disease. The study established diverse baseline statistics against which future research may be based.

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Cox regression of factors associated with the onset of chronic kidney disease in HIV/AIDS patients in Albert Luthuli Municipality of South Africa

10.21203/rs.3.rs-61124/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Pepukai Bengura ◽

Principal Ndlovu ◽

Mulalo Annah Managa

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Cox Regression ◽

P Value ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Research Findings ◽

Hiv Aids

Abstract Background: Current research indicates that chronic kidney disease is a global problem which poses a major health threat to people of poor countries with HIV/AIDS and on antiretroviral treatment. In this study, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and the factors associated with it were investigated among the HIV/AIDS patients in a rural community of South Africa. Methods: A cohort of HIV+ terminal ill patients was retrospectively followed from 2010 to 2017 until chronic kidney disease was diagnosed or until the end of the observation period at two hospitals (Carolina and Embhuleni). Patient information was obtained from the routine hospitals’ records, and the data were analysed using Cox regression and survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier hazard functions and ratios, and log-rank tests) methods. Results: Out of a random sample of 320 HIV/AIDS patients, 51 patients (15.9%) had chronic kidney disease. The factors associated with chronic kidney disease were: Gender (p-value=0.0356), Age (p-value=0.00077), Baseline creatinine (p-value=0.00253), Follow-up alanine transaminase (p-value=0.0152), ART treatments (p-value<0.00193) and Hospital (p-value=0.00258). Discussion: Whilst antiretroviral treatment is associated with some improvement in virology and immunology in HIV-infected patients, research is still needed for the assessment of the impact of ART and other risk factors on renal function in marginalised communities in Africa. Conclusion: The research findings on HIV+ patients in Albert Luthuli Municipality concurred with several previous research findings on risk factors to CKD. The expected action to alleviate the health threat due to CKD in South Africa is to educate the nation on prevention, early detection and on the management of the disease.

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Prevalence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in drinking water and its predicted impact on diarrhoeic HIV/AIDS patients in the Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Water SA ◽

10.4314/wsa.v34i3.180631 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 365 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

MNB Momba ◽

BO Abong’o ◽

JN Mwambakana

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

South Africa ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Hiv Aids

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Use of Traditional Herbal Medicine by AIDS Patients in Kabarole District, Western Uganda

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.2007.77.757 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 757-763 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Deanne Langlois-Klassen ◽

Gian S. Jhangri ◽

Walter Kipp ◽

Tom Rubaale

Keyword(s):

Herbal Medicine ◽

Traditional Herbal Medicine ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Western Uganda

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Concomitant use of medicinal plants with antiretroviral drugs among HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal ◽

10.4314/epj.v35i1.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 59-66

Author(s):

Arebu Issa Bilal ◽

Bruck Messele ◽

Dawit Teshome ◽

Zelalem Tilahun ◽

Teferi Gedif Fenta

Keyword(s):

Herbal Medicine ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Modern Medicine ◽

Antiretroviral Drugs ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Keywords Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

In spite of an increase in the health service coverage of the country, studies reported that significant proportion of the Ethiopian population still relies on traditional medicine, particularly on the herbal aspect, for their healthcare. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of the concomitant use of herbal medicines with modern antiretroviral medicines and identify the commonly used herbs among patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2017 among HIV/AIDS patients in five hospitals selected from four regions and one city Administration (Addis Ababa). A total of 768 HIV/AIDS patients were successfully interviewed and included in the analysis. Most 480 (62.5%) of them were on tenofovir-disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus lamivudine (3TC)and efavirenz (EFV) regimen. Two hundred nineteen (28.5%) patients reported that they had used herbal medicines to treat their illness; of these 145 (66.2%) used herbal products along with modern medicine. Of those who reported to have used herbal medicine with modern medicine, 53 (40.8%) claimed that they took the herbal medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, while 51(39.2%) used for treating co-morbid diseases. Only 33 (15.0%) of those who used herbal medicines along with modern drugs discussed the issue either with their physicians or pharmacists. A total of 31 plant species were reported to be used for the treatment as well as alleviation of symptoms associated with the disease. The most commonly cited herbal medicines that have been used by HIV/AIDS patients to treat their comorbid diseases were Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. (Moringaceae) (35.6%) followed by Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. (Lamiaceae) (18.0%), Zheneria scabra Sond. (Cucurbitaceae) (7.2%), Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae) (5.7%), and Ruta chalapensis L. (Rutaceae) (5.7%). The study revealed that close to one-third of HIV/AIDS patients interviewed reported use of herbal medicine and almost two-thirds of them did so concomitantly with modern medicine. Only small percentage of the patients who used herbal medicines along with modern drugs disclose the use either to their treating physicians or to counselling pharmacists. Practitioners involved in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics, therefore, need to inquire information related to the use of herbal medicines and accordingly advise the patients. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, medicinal plant, cross-sectional study, concomitant use, Ethiopia

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