Herbal medicine use among patients with viral and non-viral Hepatitis in Uganda: prevalence, patterns and related factors

Abstract

Background: There is some evidence that patients with liver diseases commonly use complementary and alternative therapies to address general and liver-disease specific health concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess and describe prevalence, patterns and related factors of herbal medicine use among adults diagnosed with viral and non-viral hepatitis in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 adult patients attending the gastrointestinal clinic in Mulago hospital referral hospital in Kampala. Data on prevalence, types and reasons for herbal medicine use was collected using standardized questionnaires and focus group discussions. Modified Poisson regression analyses were used to examine factors related to use. Results: Usage of various herbal remedies within 12 months prior to April 2018 was reported by 46.1% (143/310) of patients with 27.3% (39/143) of these reporting having used conventional and herbal therapies concurrently. Herbal remedies were used to treat various health conditions including hepatitis. Patients with hepatitis C virus infection (PRR = 1.16, p = 0.02) compared to those with hepatitis B virus infection, and those who believed that it was safe to use herbal and conventional therapies concurrently (PRR = 1.23, p = 0.008) had higher prevalence odds of herbal medicine use. Conversely, patients who had been newly diagnosed with hepatitis (PRR = 0.69, p = 0.03) compared to those who had been diagnosed more than one-year prior, had lower prevalence odds of herbal medicine use. Various types of local herbs were reported as most commonly used however most patients did not know the ingredients of commercially prepared herbal therapies. Conclusion: A high prevalence of herbal medicine use was found among newly-diagnosed patients and patients with hepatitis C more likely to use herbal remedies after adjusting for other factors. Usage was influenced by the belief that herbal medicine is safe and effective. Health workers need to consistently elicit information about herbal remedy use. Research is needed on benefits, adverse effects and outcomes in patients who use herbal remedies to treat primary liver diseases in order to facilitate evidence of efficacy and product safety.

<p>Knowledge, Attitude, and Associated Factors Towards Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Tertiary Hospitals in Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…For these reasons, persons infected with hepatitis viruses seek traditional healers than health institutions. 27 This calls for the Ministry of Health to promote health education on hepatitis virus transmission and its prevention through mass media like television, radio, mobile phone, and using health extension workers through door-to-door and health professionals in public health institutions. Furthermore, raise national awareness of viral hepatitis by promoting the national plan celebrating the World Hepatitis Day (July 28), engaging the community and political leader advocates, and ``Champions``.…”

Traditional medicinal plants used for treating emerging and re-emerging viral diseases in northern Nigeria

“…Likewise, Acacia nilotica Guiera senegalesis and Leptadenia hastate among others cited herein for treatment of hepatitis are also used to treat the same viral disease in Burkina Faso ( Table 7 ) with pharmacological study validating the anti-hepatitis C activity of A. nilotica [15] . An ethnomedicinal study identified M. indica, Aloe vera, Vernonia amygdalina, Z. officinale as medicinal used by patients diagnosed with viral and non-viral hepatitis in Uganda [16] . This is consistent with the present study although herein, Z. officinale was only used to treat yellow fever and COVID-19.…”

Knowledge of hepatitis C and awareness of reinfection risk among people who successfully completed direct acting antiviral therapy

“…It is worth noting that while knowledge of transmission and re-infection were noticeably high in our sample, the least knowledge was observed with respect to safe consumption of herbal medicine. This is while an African study has reported high prevalence of herbal remedies among newly diagnosed patients with HCV [ 33 ]. Herbal products are also popular among indigenous people and have been used for centuries to treat illnesses [ 34 ].…”