Medicinal uses of plants by traditional birth attendants to facilitate childbirth among Djimini women in Dabakala (Center-North of Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

Background: Today, due to the still high rates of maternal death and incessant caesareans, the high cost of pharmaceutical drugs, parturients are turning to traditional midwives to facilitate childbirth. The purpose of this study is to identify and document the medicinal plants traditionally used for their oxytocic effect by the traditional midwives in the department of Dabakala.Methods: an ethnobotanical survey was conducted with 71 traditional midwives from the department of Dabakala. The data were analyzed with Epidata and SPSS 20.0 software. The Chi-square test was used to compare the percentages of the parts used, the method of preparation and the method of administration. To better interpret the cultural medicinal value of plants, several quantitative ethnobotanical indices have been used such as the Consensus for the Part of the Plant (CPP), the Contribution of each plant in the constitution of recipes (Cpr), the consensual value of types of use (Cs) the Frequency of recipes (Fr) and Relative frequency of citation (FRC). Results:The results of this survey indicated that 48 species in 41 genera and 28 families are used by midwives for their oxytocic effect. The most represented family is the Fabaceae. Among the species cited, Portulaca oleracea, Alternanthera pungens, Ocimum americanum, Uvaria tortilis, Blighia sapida are the plants most used for their oxytocic effect in the department of Dabakala. Conclusion:These results constitute a database for subsequent studies aimed at assessing the biological and chemical composition of these plants.

An ethnobotanical survey of traditional medicinal plants used against tuberculosis and symptoms associated in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

“…This education could promote the adoption of good practices in storing and delivering commercialized medicinal plants. On the other hand, previous studies conducted in other regions of Côte d'Ivoire by Gnagne et al (2017), Sidio et al (2020), and Koman et al (2021) show that this activity is practiced mostly by uneducated people.…”

Medicinal plants used to treat maternal and paediatric health related ailments in the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga province, South Africa

“…They serve a multitude of purposes, such as preventing miscarriages, alleviating abdominal discomfort, morning sickness, and swelling of extremities during pregnancy (Abdillahi & Van Staden 2013). Moreover, these plants are employed during labor to stimulate contractions and facilitate the expulsion of retained placentas (De Boer & Lamxay 2009, Koman et al 2021. Postpartum, medicinal plants are used as purgatives to cleanse the womb, stimulate lactation, reduce postpartum haemorrhage, and alleviate abdominal pains (Abdillahi & Van Staden 2013, Khadim et al 2023.…”

Phytochemical Constituents of the Stem Barks of <i>Uvaria tortilis</i>, an Endemic Annonaceae from Côte d’Ivoire

“…This species grows only in the undergrowth of the tropical forests and savannahs where it is used to treat amenorrhea and as uterotonic [9] [10]. Previous phytochemical studies realized on the essential oils of its stem barks revealed the presence of γ-terpinene, β-caryophyllene and germacrene D as major components [2].…”