| dc.description.abstract | ABSTRACT
Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited chronic disease and remains a global
public health threat. Studies have reported use of complementary and alternative medicines in
chronic diseases such as sickle cell. However, in Uganda, the extent to which herbal medicines
are used in management of children with sickle cell disease has not been documented. This study
was conducted to determine the prevalence of herbal medicine (HM) use and associated factors
among caregivers of children with SCD at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in March 2019 at
Mulago Sickle cell clinic. A sample of 384 caretakers was consecutively recruited and a
structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the caretakers.
Data was managed using SPSS version 23. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify
the factors associated with HM use. Factors with p-value <0.05 were regarded significant.
Results: In this study, 298 of 384 (77.6%) caregivers used herbal medicine. Multivariate analysis
of the various factors associated with HM use revealed that the odds of a caregiver who agreed
that HM cures symptoms faster than conventional medicine (CM) using HM were 3 times those
of caregivers who disagree with this statement (AOR =3.439, 95% CI: 1.447 - 8.176). The odds
that a caregiver who agreed that HM has fewer side effects than CM were almost 4 times those
of caregivers who disagree with this statement (AOR =3.528, 95% CI: 1.917 -6.494). The odds
that a caregiver who agreed that marketing HM through televisions adverts encourages HM use
were 4 times those of caregivers who disagree with this statement (AOR =4.185, 95% CI:2.036 -
8.603).
Conclusion: This study reports a high prevalence of HM use among caregivers of children with
SCD. The practice is significantly influenced by caretakers’ perception that HM cures symptoms
faster than CM, HM has fewer side effects than CM and the use of television adverts in
marketing HM. More effort is therefore needed to explore the various perceptions caretakers
have about HM and assessment of the various television adverts on HM for their credibility and
authenticity. There is also need for studies to identify the common HM used so that their efficacy
and safety are well studied. | en_US |
