Socio-demographic Determinants of Herbal Medicine Use in Pregnancy Among Nigerian Women Attending Clinics in a Tertiary Hospital in Imo State, South-East, Nigeria

Introduction: The use of herbal medicines has been on the increase in many developing and industrialized countries. This high use may be due to accessibility, affordability, availability and acceptability by majority of the population especially in developing countries. Aim: This was to assess the socio-demographic factors affecting the pattern of herbal use during pregnancy among pregnant and nursing mothers attending clinics in a Tertiary Hospital in South East, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a hospital based cross-sectional study of 500 pregnant and nursing mothers attending clinics in a Tertiary Hospital in South East, Nigeria. Data was collected using a pretested, semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire and participants were selected using the systematic sampling technique. Data was analyzed using a computer software package (EPI-Info 7.1.3) and p-value was set at 0.05 significant levels. Results: The prevalence of herbal medicine use among the participants was 36.8% (184) and the commonest herbal used was bitter leaf/iron weed plant (vernonia Amygdalina), 54.3%. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants found to affect herbal medicine use in pregnancy were; age, (p=0.035), marital Status, (p=0.000), educational level, (p=0.000), educational level of partner, (p=0.014) and monthly income, (p=0.003). Conclusion: Prevalence of herbal medicine use was high and most of the determinants observed are modifiable, thus there is need to institute control appropriate measures by relevant authorities to tackle this problem.