The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi

dc.contributor.advisorKrause, Stephanie
dc.contributor.advisorBates, Maya Jane
dc.contributor.authorChisaka, Joseph Wangisani
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-09T07:34:17Z
dc.date.available2020-03-09T07:34:17Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.date.updated2020-03-06T13:52:08Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: The prevalence of use of traditional medicines by patients receiving palliative care is poorly documented. In 2002, the World Health Organisation estimated about 4 billion people (80% of the world’s population) used traditional medicines for some aspect of primary healthcare, with 90% of users living in low and middle income countries. Studies in Africa have shown that patients on palliative care are more likely to use traditional medicines especially after the diagnosis of cancer. This study describes the prevalence of and reasons for TM use amongst PC patients and also explores the common herbs used by this population. Methodology: A mixed method descriptive cross sectional study design was used including the following: questionnaire administered to patients attending palliative care clinic and focus group discussions with palliative care patients. Results: 60.4% of palliative care patients (n = 96; males = 53%) reported use of traditional herbal medicines. The majority of survey participants had the diagnosis of cancer (94%; n = 90) and HIV (89%; n = 85). Traditional herbal medicine use was common in participants who had the following symptoms: diarrhoea 83%, anorexia 63%, pain 61% etc. Traditional medicine use was not associated with age, gender, education, occupation, distance from hospital, diagnosis or symptom. 62% of the participants who used herbal medicines did not know the herbs they were taking. Kigelia Africana, Moringa oleifera, Cyphostema sp, and Strychnos innocua were the common herbs used. Cultural practices, limitations of conventional health system and credibility of traditional healers were the main reasons for using traditional herbal medicines. Conclusion: Use of traditional herbal medicines is high among patients receiving palliative care at Mulanje Mission hospital mainly for symptom management and cancer. Further research is needed to investigate effectiveness of identified herbs and also assess their potential herb-drug interactions. Ongoing work including liaison with traditional healers would assist to formulate effective local palliative care management programs that are sensitive to traditional medicine practices.
dc.identifier.apacitationChisaka, J. W. (2019). <i>The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi</i>. (). ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31511en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChisaka, Joseph Wangisani. <i>"The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi."</i> ., ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31511en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChisaka, J.W. 2019. The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi. . ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31511en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Chisaka, Joseph Wangisani AB - Background: The prevalence of use of traditional medicines by patients receiving palliative care is poorly documented. In 2002, the World Health Organisation estimated about 4 billion people (80% of the world’s population) used traditional medicines for some aspect of primary healthcare, with 90% of users living in low and middle income countries. Studies in Africa have shown that patients on palliative care are more likely to use traditional medicines especially after the diagnosis of cancer. This study describes the prevalence of and reasons for TM use amongst PC patients and also explores the common herbs used by this population. Methodology: A mixed method descriptive cross sectional study design was used including the following: questionnaire administered to patients attending palliative care clinic and focus group discussions with palliative care patients. Results: 60.4% of palliative care patients (n = 96; males = 53%) reported use of traditional herbal medicines. The majority of survey participants had the diagnosis of cancer (94%; n = 90) and HIV (89%; n = 85). Traditional herbal medicine use was common in participants who had the following symptoms: diarrhoea 83%, anorexia 63%, pain 61% etc. Traditional medicine use was not associated with age, gender, education, occupation, distance from hospital, diagnosis or symptom. 62% of the participants who used herbal medicines did not know the herbs they were taking. Kigelia Africana, Moringa oleifera, Cyphostema sp, and Strychnos innocua were the common herbs used. Cultural practices, limitations of conventional health system and credibility of traditional healers were the main reasons for using traditional herbal medicines. Conclusion: Use of traditional herbal medicines is high among patients receiving palliative care at Mulanje Mission hospital mainly for symptom management and cancer. Further research is needed to investigate effectiveness of identified herbs and also assess their potential herb-drug interactions. Ongoing work including liaison with traditional healers would assist to formulate effective local palliative care management programs that are sensitive to traditional medicine practices. DA - 2019 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Palliative Medicine LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi TI - The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31511 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/31511
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChisaka JW. The use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi. []. ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2019 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31511en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.subjectPalliative Medicine
dc.titleThe use of traditional herbal medicines among palliative care patients at Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhil
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