Determinants of preference for herbal remedies over modern medicine in Kampala slums. A case of Nakulabye slum area

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of preference for herbal remedies over modern medicine among residents of Nakulabye slum, Kampala. Despite advances in modern healthcare, many residents continue to rely on traditional herbal treatments, raising questions about the factors influencing this preference. The study aimed to assess the influence of socio-economic factors, healthcare accessibility and affordability, and cultural beliefs on the use and preference of herbal remedies. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, using structured questionnaires administered to 205 adult residents selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression to identify significant predictors of herbal medicine preference. Both MS Excel 19 and STATA 15 were used for analysis. The results revealed that 46% of respondents always or often used herbal remedies, with 34% considering them more effective than modern medicine. The main sources of herbal remedies were local vendors (38%) and herbal clinics (21%). Socio-economic factors such as age (25– 44 years, OR=1.82-2.04, p1 hour for 57%) and perceived high costs (40% found services not affordable) pushed residents toward herbal remedies. Cultural trust in traditional healers and positive perceptions of herbal safety (63%) and effectiveness (40%) were also significant determinants of usage. Preference for herbal remedies in Preference for herbal remedies in Nakulabye is driven by intertwined socio-economic hardships, limited accessibility and affordability of modern healthcare, and strong cultural beliefs. The study recommends targeted health education, economic empowerment, and improved healthcare service delivery to enhance modern medicine uptake. Collaboration with traditional healers could facilitate safer integration of herbal practices. Future research should investigate the clinical efficacy of herbal remedies and explore culturally informed health interventions in slum settings. Keywords: herbal medicine, modern healthcare, socio-economic factors, accessibility, cultural beliefs, Nakulabye slum.