Abstract
Background: The use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) is becoming apparent among many populations, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses. Although this is a concern to clinicians, especially on safety and potential health risks, there is a paucity of data on TCAM usage and related factors among patients receiving healthcare in Lesotho. Objective: To determine the prevalence of TCAM usage and associated factors among patients receiving healthcare in a health facility in Lesotho. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 336 patients receiving healthcare in the Maseru district, Lesotho. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and lifestyle factors, disease and treatment profile, treatment challenges, and TCAM usage, reasons/purpose, disclosure, healing system, duration, costs, sources and types. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain any relationships with TCAM usage. Results: The response rate was 98%. The mean age of participants was 51±16years. Unemployment (63%) was high and, over half of the patients (59%) attained primary school education. Patients were mostly on treatment for sexually transmitted infections (42%), non-communicable diseases (30%) and comorbidities (19%), with 98% taking prescribed medication. TCAM usage was 15% with Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) being the most widely used. Common THM were Dicoma Anomala, Eriocephalus Punctulatus, Aloiampelos Striatula, Artemisia Afra and Allium Sativum, obtained from the traditional healers (53%), followed by relative/friends (16%), pharmacists (13%), open market (12%), and accessed at low costs. TCAM was used to treat infectious (23%) and non-infectious (77%) diseases, but disclosure (7%) to healthcare workers was low. Multivariate analysis showed that TCAM usage was associated with self-employment AOR=6.3, 95%CI; 2.57-15.21, and being a student AOR=3.6, 95%CI; 0.99–12.71. Conclusion: THM was the most widespread type of TCAM among the study population in Lesotho. Prospective studies on TCAM usage are necessary to inform proper practice and safety in Lesotho.
Highlights
IntroductionThe push factors of TCAM use are mainly centered on the dissatisfaction with conventional healthcare [17]
Similar to South African studies, traditional medicines such as Aloe ferox mill, Hypoxis hemerocallide (i.e. African potato) and Aloe vera have been reported to be used to meet primary health care needs [75, 76]. These results suggest the possibility of the interaction between TCAM usage, especially with Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM), and conventional medicine, considering the high use of THM, while half of the participants did not know whether there is an interaction of TCAM use with conventional medication
The THM system was widespread and this emphasizes the substantial role as a source of basic healthcare in the study populations in Lesotho
Summary
The push factors of TCAM use are mainly centered on the dissatisfaction with conventional healthcare [17] This includes issues, such as long-distance to health facilities, unavailability of drugs, difficulty and inequity in accessing care, negative attitude of healthcare providers, long waiting time, lengthy procedures and fear of being diagnosed with a serious disease [18 - 21]. The use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) is becoming apparent among many populations, those suffering from chronic illnesses. This is a concern to clinicians, especially on safety and potential health risks, there is a paucity of data on TCAM usage and related factors among patients receiving healthcare in Lesotho
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