Prevalence, perceived benefits and effectiveness of herbal medicine in the management of symptoms of opportunistic fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

It has been reported that about 75% of HIV-infected patients use remedies from complementary or African traditional medicine in South Africa. The multiplicity of these medicines led not only to potentially severe side effects, but also to clinically significant interactions with antiretrovirals (ARVs) and other medicines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, perceived benefit and efficacy of herbal medicine in the management of opportunistic fungal infections (OFIs) in HIV/AIDS patients. This study is part of a larger study which includes the evaluation of the antifungal activity and toxicity of medicinal plants in the management of opportunistic fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Following Ethics Committee approval, 101 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited through convenience sampling into an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire study. More than one-third (39.6%, 40/101) was reported to be using herbal medicine for treating signs/symptoms of OFIs. Close to half (21, 52.5%) of the 40 HIV/AIDS patients who used herbal medicine reported that the herbal medicine did not help their condition, while 13 (32.5%) patients disclosed that the herbal medicine had a significant and great contribution towards the management of their signs/symptoms of OFIs. Six themes were identified as regards the rationale behind the use of herbal medicine by the HIV/AIDS patients.

Key words: Herbal medicine, symptoms, opportunistic fungal infections, HIV/AIDS.