Prevalence and associated factors of herbal medicine use among adult diabetes mellitus patients at government hospital, Ethiopia: An institutional-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with HM use among DM patients Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 395 diabetic patients visiting the diabetes care service of Debre Tabor General Hospitalfrom August 1 to September 28, 2020. Interview guided self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results Out of 395 diabetic patients, 231(58.5%) participants were used herbal medicine. The most dominant herbal products used were M.stenoptela (53.2%), N. sativa (42.0%) , Z. officinale (32.5%) , A. sativum (20.8%), A. vera (13.4%), P.gracilis (10.4%), T.schimperi (7.5%), V. amygdalina (5.2%), T. foenumgraecum (3.5%),and D.penninervum (2.2%).The odds of HM use in female participants were 1.98 times (AOR=1.98, 95% CI=1.72, 3.25) higher compared to male participants. The odds of HM use among participants who develop DM complications were 1.77 times (AOR=1.77, 95% CI=1.03, 2.83) higher than in participants without DM complications. The odds of HM use among participants with a family history of DM were 2.89 times (AOR=2.89, 95% CI=1.42, 3.19) higher than in participants without a family history of DM. Conclusion The prevalence of herbal medicine use among diabetic patients was high. Educational level, gender, residence, educational level, duration of DM, presence of DM complication, and family history of DMwere the independent predictors' of HM use.

Prevalence and Patterns of Herbal Medicine Use among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients at the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka

“…However, 11.8% of herbal medicine users stated that it was not important for their doctors to know about it. The fi ndings of the concomitant use of herbal medicines with oral hypoglycemic agents are similar to several studies in Morocco [27], Saudi Arabia [31] and Russia [52]. As demonstrated in our study, patients were sceptical about informing doctors and healthcare professionals about their use of herbal medicine because they believed they would not be supported to use the herbs [31], had insuffi cient information, and believed the doctor did not need to know [27].…”

“…The fi ndings of the concomitant use of herbal medicines with oral hypoglycemic agents are similar to several studies in Morocco [27], Saudi Arabia [31] and Russia [52]. As demonstrated in our study, patients were sceptical about informing doctors and healthcare professionals about their use of herbal medicine because they believed they would not be supported to use the herbs [31], had insuffi cient information, and believed the doctor did not need to know [27]. The major reason cited by [24] for not discussing with the doctor was due to forestalling negative responses about herbal medicine use.…”

“…According to a similar study conducted in Ethiopia, those with a family history of diabetes were nearly three times more likely to use traditional medicines than those without a family history of herbal medicine use in diabetes [27]. This is similar to a study in Jamaica where 98% of the respondents used herbal medicines [28].…”

“…Additionally, Mekuria, et al [24] also reported that family and friends were the main sources of information about herbal medicine use. However, in a diabetic care service of Debre Tabor General Hospital, located in Debre Tabor town, South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia, they found that patients using herbal medicines were the primary source of information, while family and friends stood in second place as sources of information [27]. The diff erences observed could be as a result of diff erences in geographical locations and cultural practices.…”

“…Studies in Ethiopia and Sudan also found that Aloe spp. and Allium sativum were among the most commonly used herbal medicines [22,27,33]. In a systematic review of herbs and supplements clinically used for glycemic control, Allium sativum, Aloe vera, and Momordica charantia were the only identifi ed plants used in Nigeria.…”