Utilization of herbal medicines among diabetic patients attending KenyattaNational Hospital outpatient clinic
Abstract
World Health Organization has estimated that 70-90 % of Africa's
population still relies on herbal remedies in order to meet their healthcare needs.
Although the role of herbal medicines in the management of diabetes is an emerging
health issue, use of herb remedies is common among diabetics.
General objective: To evaluate knowledge, perception and describe the pattern of
utilization of herbal medicines among diabetic outpatients at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Study design, setting and methodology: The study was a tertiary hospital-based cross
sectional study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 251 adult diabetic
outpatients. Patients who gave informed consent and also met the inclusion criteria were
enrolled into the study. Data was obtained from the participants by use of questionnaires.
Data Management and Analysis: Data was captured into Microsoft Excel computer
software and then exported to SPSS version 17.0 for analysis. Descriptive data was
analyzed quantitatively and presented as numbers, percentages, means, medians and inter
quartile ranges and in form of charts and tables as appropriate. Statistical significance
was determined using Pearson Chi Square at p<0.05. Chi-Square was performed on the
discrete variables to test for associations using the level of significance at 0.05. Where
numbers of participants were too small, Fishers exact results were used.
Results: The prevalence of use of herbal remedies for managing diabetes was 7.2%.
However, the total prevalence of use of herbs among the diabetic outpatients was 39.5%
implying that 32.3% of the study participants 'used herbs for other medical conditions.
The commonest herbs used were ginger and aloe vera used by 50% of the herbal users.
Almost half of the herb users did not regard it important to inform the doctor about their
use of herbs. The reasons given for use of herbal medicines were varied; the commonest
being that herbs could easily be accessed 13 (13.1%) of the herbal users. There was no
statistically significant relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and use of
herbs (P>0.05).
Conclusion: About 40% of diabetic outpatients are in some form of herbal remedy. In
addition, lout of 5 of diabetic herbal users use them for managing diabetes; commonest
herbs being aloe vera and ginger. Therefore, healthcare workers and researchers should
find ways of harmonizing the utilization of herbal and conventional medicines amongst
diabetic patients.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
M.Pharmacy