Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania
Abstract Background The demand for herbal medicines continues to increase globally. However, community perceptions on their effectiveness and factors influencing their use have not been extensively investigated, notably in the Tanga Region, North-eastern Tanzania, where their use in treating various...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00537-5 |
| _version_ | 1797451405186826240 |
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| author | Edwin Liheluka Nyasiro Sophia Gibore John P. A. Lusingu Samwel Gesase Daniel T. R. Minja Maike Lamshöft Denise Dekker Theodora Bali |
| author_facet | Edwin Liheluka Nyasiro Sophia Gibore John P. A. Lusingu Samwel Gesase Daniel T. R. Minja Maike Lamshöft Denise Dekker Theodora Bali |
| author_sort | Edwin Liheluka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The demand for herbal medicines continues to increase globally. However, community perceptions on their effectiveness and factors influencing their use have not been extensively investigated, notably in the Tanga Region, North-eastern Tanzania, where their use in treating various diseases, including paediatric diarrhoea, has flourished. According to studies, Tanga Region has a high prevalence of diarrhoea among under-five children. This study explored community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania. Methods A qualitative approach and a narrative design were employed by the present study since they had the potential to reveal unrecognized or unreported research problems. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used to facilitate data collection from June 2022 to February 2023. The methods were chosen since they are the most common sources of qualitative data in health research. Purposive sampling method was used to select 247 participants, which included 171 caretakers, 52 traditional healers, and 24 paediatric health workers. Interviews were conducted until the saturation point was reached. The purposive technique was considered since it was a method that enabled the researcher to select participants who were knowledgeable about the study topic. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis. Results Economic hardship, culture and heritage, superstitious beliefs, failure to recover after receiving hospital medication, easy accessibility of herbal medicines, and long distance to the health facility were the factors perceived to be potentially associated with persistent use of herbal medicines among caretakers. The majority of participants believed that herbal treatments were harmless and effective in treating diarrhoea. Conclusion Superstitious beliefs, culture, and heritage were the primary justifications for using herbal medicines. It is vital for the relevant authority to educate the community on the risk of using unproven herbal medicines in order to diminish the effects that may arise from using uninvestigated herbs. As things stand, the use of herbal medications will continue owing to their relevance to the lives of people in the study setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:54:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-622c180822e34b59ae867fe5e0723f49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1349-4147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:54:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-622c180822e34b59ae867fe5e0723f492023-11-26T14:17:03ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472023-08-0151111510.1186/s41182-023-00537-5Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern TanzaniaEdwin Liheluka0Nyasiro Sophia Gibore1John P. A. Lusingu2Samwel Gesase3Daniel T. R. Minja4Maike Lamshöft5Denise Dekker6Theodora Bali7Department of Public Health and Community Nursing, University of DodomaDepartment of Public Health and Community Nursing, University of DodomaNational Institute for Medical Research, NIMR, Tanga CentreNational Institute for Medical Research, NIMR, Tanga CentreNational Institute for Medical Research, NIMR, Tanga CentreBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, BNITMBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, BNITMDepartment of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies, University of DodomaAbstract Background The demand for herbal medicines continues to increase globally. However, community perceptions on their effectiveness and factors influencing their use have not been extensively investigated, notably in the Tanga Region, North-eastern Tanzania, where their use in treating various diseases, including paediatric diarrhoea, has flourished. According to studies, Tanga Region has a high prevalence of diarrhoea among under-five children. This study explored community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania. Methods A qualitative approach and a narrative design were employed by the present study since they had the potential to reveal unrecognized or unreported research problems. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used to facilitate data collection from June 2022 to February 2023. The methods were chosen since they are the most common sources of qualitative data in health research. Purposive sampling method was used to select 247 participants, which included 171 caretakers, 52 traditional healers, and 24 paediatric health workers. Interviews were conducted until the saturation point was reached. The purposive technique was considered since it was a method that enabled the researcher to select participants who were knowledgeable about the study topic. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis. Results Economic hardship, culture and heritage, superstitious beliefs, failure to recover after receiving hospital medication, easy accessibility of herbal medicines, and long distance to the health facility were the factors perceived to be potentially associated with persistent use of herbal medicines among caretakers. The majority of participants believed that herbal treatments were harmless and effective in treating diarrhoea. Conclusion Superstitious beliefs, culture, and heritage were the primary justifications for using herbal medicines. It is vital for the relevant authority to educate the community on the risk of using unproven herbal medicines in order to diminish the effects that may arise from using uninvestigated herbs. As things stand, the use of herbal medications will continue owing to their relevance to the lives of people in the study setting.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00537-5Herbal medicinesDiarrhoeal diseasesUnder-five childrenPaediatric health workersCaretakers of under-five childrenAnd traditional healers |
| spellingShingle | Edwin Liheluka Nyasiro Sophia Gibore John P. A. Lusingu Samwel Gesase Daniel T. R. Minja Maike Lamshöft Denise Dekker Theodora Bali Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania Tropical Medicine and Health Herbal medicines Diarrhoeal diseases Under-five children Paediatric health workers Caretakers of under-five children And traditional healers |
| title | Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania |
| title_full | Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania |
| title_short | Community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania |
| title_sort | community perceptions on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and factors associated with their use in managing diarrhoea among under five children in north eastern tanzania |
| topic | Herbal medicines Diarrhoeal diseases Under-five children Paediatric health workers Caretakers of under-five children And traditional healers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00537-5 |
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