Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use for Musculoskeletal and Other Health Conditions –A Comparative Study Between two Ethnic Groups in Nigeria

Abstract

Background Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)are used for health promotion and disease treatment. Many options of CAM are exist. Methods Comparative cross-sectional studyamong residents of Yoruba and Hausa ethnicity in Ibadan, Nigeria.WHO modified cluster sampling technique wasused to select 800 respondents, 400 from each study groups. Data were collected using semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire. Results Lifetime CAM use was reported by 88.5% of Yoruba and 95.8% of Hausa respondents (p < 0.05) while 75.0% of Yoruba and 88.0% of Hausa were current CAM users (p < 0.05). The most commonly used CAM were unprocessed herbal preparations by 64.0% of Yoruba and 79.5% of Hausa respondents (p < 0.05). Conditions for which respondents used unprocessed herbal preparation included febrile illnesses (Yoruba 45.1%, Hausa 41.9%), gastrointestinal conditions (Yoruba 4.9%, Hausa 4.7%), musculoskeletal conditions (Yoruba 2.8%, Hausa 2.2%) as well as for health promotion (Yoruba 4.9%, Hausa 1.6%); there was no statistical difference. Predictors of lifetime CAM use were: being currently married [OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.46-3.39], Islamic religion [OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.02-2.62] and Hausa ethnicity [OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.02-4.93]. Similarly, the predictors of current CAM use were being currently married [OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.49-5.16], Islamic religion [OR 2.70; 95% CI 1.35-5.41] and Hausa ethnicity [OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.00-2.13]. Conclusion A high prevalence of CAM use was reported in both study groups. The conditions for which CAM was used were not significantly different.