Evaluation of the use of herbal drugs by pregnant women in Nigeria

Abstract

Women are increasingly recognized as the main users of alternative medicine, although data is limited on the extent of women's use of herbal medicine during pregnancy to help with the discomforts of pregnancy and labour. However, questions remain about the safety of many herbal drugs, especially within the first and second trimester. For this reason, this study aimed to ascertain patterns of use of herbal medicinal products by pregnant women in selected health care centers in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The study utilized a descriptive survey/research design using a structured questionnaire for data collection. Data were collected from 60 respondents. The findings from the study showed that a greater percentage of the women (58.3%) (n = 35) used herbal drugs in pregnancy-free periods while 41.7% (n = 25) used them in the current pregnancy. The pattern of herbal drug use in pregnancy was irregular, although the first trimester showed the highest percentage (23.3%) (n = 14). When asked for their reasons for using the products, a good number of the pregnant women (n = 27; 45%) asserted it is safer and the majority (n = 33; 55%) said it works better than orthodox medicine. However, half of the women (n = 30; 50%) considered herbal products to be harmful to the baby during pregnancy, and yet 25 of the women (41.7%) were still taking it in their current pregnancy. From the findings of this study, it is recommended that a comprehensive coordinated health approach is needed to provide information about medication in pregnancy and this should be made available and translated into safe and effective use. Proper history taking on drug use (including herbal drugs) should be included in antenatal care sessions in order to exclude the possibility of drug interactions and consequent effects on pregnancy.