Predictors of herbal medicine use among pregnant women accessing prenatal care from the Kumasi- South hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Herbal medicines are valuable for the sustenance of human health. The use of these products among Ghanaian women during pregnancy is well documented. This study determined the predictors of herbal medicine use among pregnant women accessing care from a Ghanaian public health facility. A quantitative cross-sectional study was undertaken. A systematic sampling method was used to select the participants. Primary data were collected from 367 consenting participants using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 37.0% of the respondents confirmed that they had used herbal medicine during pregnancy. Respondents’ level of education (AOR = 19.3, 95% CI = 2.67 - 139.24), religion (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.23 - 5.95), ethnic background (AOR = 5.3, 95% CI = 1.71 - 16.31) and household income (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.21 - 4.09) predicted the use of herbal medicine during pregnancy. The study concludes that level of education, religion, ethnic background and household income were the predictors of herbal medicine use among pregnant women. Also, awareness about the existence of an herbal medicine unit at the hospital was very poor; hence there was no reliance on the unit as a source of advice on herbal medicine use during pregnancy.