Use of traditional medicines in treatment of malaria among pregnant women in two urban slums in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria in pregnancy can lead to malaria-related anaemia, a condition that when left untreated, can result in death, especially among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. Malaria can lead to severe anaemia and maternal and foetal death. This study aimed at exploring the perception and use of traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Ngenevu and Udi siding communities. A descriptive cross-sectional survey method was adopted for the study. Study population was 93 pregnant women purposively selected from two urban slums of Ngenevu and Udi siding, Enugu state. Structured questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.75 was used for data collection. Health Research Ethics Committee of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu approved the study. Data collection was on the spot and was analysed with SPSS/IBM version 23. Inferential statistics was used to test the significance of income and educational level in determining the use of traditional medicine among pregnant women at p<0.05 level of significance. Majority (93.5%) of pregnant women in Udi siding and Ngenevu used traditional medicine to treat malaria. More than half (87.1%) perceived traditional medicine used in treating malaria as effective. Of the 32 women who reported to have experienced side effects, 81.3% had nausea and vomiting of which 57.7% and 42.3% are from Udi Siding and Ngenevu respectively. There was a significant relationship between income and level of education and use of traditional medicine in treatment of malaria in pregnancy (p<0.05). Pregnant women in the two urban slums utilized traditional medicine in treating malaria. Efforts should be intensified to discourage and reduce to the barest minimum the use of traditional medicines in treating malaria in pregnancy. This will help in stemming the tide of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in these urban slums.