Assessing Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Traditional Medicine Utilization Among Pregnant Women in Namwendwa Health Center IV, Kamuli District

Abstract

AbstractBackground:In Uganda, there is a great tendency for majority of women to utilize traditional therapies at each stage of pregnancy and only resort to the health services if absolutely required. This study Assessed the Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Traditional Medicine Utilization among Pregnant Women in Namwendwa, Health Center IV, Kamuli District.Methods:health facility based cross sectional study design was employed. Only quantitative data collection approach was used. Frequency distribution was used to describe the characteristics of the respondents with variables studied. Chi-square test was used to asses level of association between utilization of traditional medicine and independent variable while binary logistics regression model was fitted to determine influence of categorical predictor variables on utilization of maternal health services and the results were reported using odds ratio at 95% level of confidence.Results:419 respondents participated in the study,69.21% had utilized traditional medicine during pregnancy. The factors found associated with utilization of maternal services included; monthly earnings less than 100,000 shillings and those 100,000 shillings (OR=2.379;95%CI:1.065 to 5.314; p=0.034) and (OR=2.614;95%CI:1.102 to 6.199; p=0.029). Initiation of traditional medicine at five to eight months (OR=2.298;95%CI:1.273 to 4.151; p=0.006). Awareness of any medicine taken during pregnancy (OR=1.847;95%CI:1.097 to 3.112; p=0.021). gestational age of initiating utilization of traditional medicine (0.05), duration of use of local herbs (p=0.004). cultural acceptance of use of traditional medicine, history of sickness during pregnancy, and knowledge about of dangers of using traditional medicine.Conclusion:the utilization of traditional medicine among pregnant women in this study was (69.21%). Cultural beliefs, low monthly income, history of sickness during pregnancy were the factors that influenced uptake of traditional medicine among pregnant women.Recommendation:The health care workers need stakeholder engagement such as religious and cultural leaders to emphasis on the importance of taking modern medicine during pregnancy to the community. The pregnant mothers need to initiate antenatal care attendance within first trimester so that they can be informed about medicines to be taken in pregnancy.