Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of the use of traditional medicine in hypertensive patients and to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of these patients. Materials and Methods: This is a single cross-sectionalstudy with descriptive purpose that was carried out over a 4 month-period, from 1 January 2017 to 30 April 2017, in the outpatient department of the Heart Institute of Abidjan. It involved patients who consulted during this period for high blood pressure. An informed questionnaire was submitted to patients. A pre-test was performed on 20 patients prior to the start of the survey. Results: The prevalence was 34%, with a slight male predominance (52.4%). The average age of our patients was 51.7 years ± 20 years. Males (52.4%) and females (47.6%) were roughly in the same proportions in our study with a slight male predominance. Patients with a higher level of education used traditional medicine in 30.6% that is about one third of the cases. Nearly one third of the patients had a monthly income above 300,000 FCFA (28.5%). Almost half of the patients (45%) had social insurance coverage. Conclusion: The use of traditional medicine by hypertensive patients is a practice that exists and is growing rapidly. The profile of hypertensive patients using traditional medicine can be summarized as a young subject, a male with a higher education level, a high monthly income and social coverage. It is the place to insist on the therapeutic education of our hypertensive patients’ only way for a good control of the blood pressure figures.
Highlights
The profile of hypertensive patients using traditional medicine can be summarized as a young subject, a male with a higher education level, a high monthly income and social coverage
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, different countries use traditional medicine to meet some of their primary health care needs
It is estimated that 80% of Africans use traditional medicine to treat themselves [1]
Summary
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, different countries use traditional medicine to meet some of their primary health care needs. It is estimated that 80% of Africans use traditional medicine to treat themselves [1]. Harris Memel-Fote [2] in Cote d’Ivoire states that the quest for health as a source of life justifies and explains the use of all the means that can restore or do recover health. Who is this African who can claim to have not received since his childhood has a traditional treatment? “complementary” or “parallel” or “alternative” medicine is the equivalent of traditional medicine [1]
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